Balance & The Winter Solstice
By: Angela Viesti
The Winter Solstice: 2018’s Longest Night is just ahead of a Full Moon and meteor shower as the earth begins its shift towards balance. This serves as a reminder from the cosmos to check in and identify imbalances in our own lives. The holiday season is nearing its end which makes this a great time to pause and hit reset before we ring in the New Year.
Identifying Imbalances
Often times, one area of imbalance bleeds into another causing holistic disharmony in our lives. The last thing we need when we’re feeling out of alignment is overwhelm. Getting a clear idea of what isn’t working will help us move toward stability. So how do we do this?
A tool I discovered through my health coach training that has helped me gain clarity is the Circle of Life [https://www.integrativenutrition.com/circleoflife] tool from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I’ve made this tool a part of a monthly check-in I do with myself and it’s allowed me to see where I’m thriving, where I can improve, and where patterns exist on a macro level. It paints a clear picture of how satisfied I am with each area of my life and has helped me regain equilibrium. Give this tool a try, and let me know how it worked for you!
Getting clear on where we stand is essential. Simply writing out the things that are taking up the most time and energy can allow us to visualize our imbalances and make the shifts needed to get us to where we wish to go. Freehand writing what’s on your mind will free up mental RAM and give you a sense of what’s bothering you.
Start with a Clean Slate
Now that we’ve identified what needs to shift, we can begin leveling ourselves out. Here are a few ways to recalibrate:
Get moving – I know it’s cold AF right now, but going outside for some fresh air and movement will completely shift your energy and warm you up! If weather permits, go outside for a fast-paced walk while deep breathing for about 20-30 minutes. (You can use this opportunity to light up a Kush Queen cone packed with your favorite strain!) If you’re short on time or you simply can’t bear the weather, try a ten minute high intensity circuit or yoga flow video on YouTube or find some stairs to walk up and down a few times. This will get your heart pumping fresh oxygenated blood through your system and will help you sweat out toxins
Get clear – You’ve cleansed your body, now cleanse your mind. Consider what’s on your plate and write it all down so you can see what you’re working with. Take a dose of Bare to set aside any anxieties or stress while you make 3 lists: One for your responsibilities; one for your career/financial goals; and one for your personal needs and desires. Once you have this on paper you can assess how much energy to dedicate to each area and move forward without wasting your mental space
Let go – Now that you’ve taken care of your physical and mental wellbeing and have a clear picture of your priorities, it’s a great time to practice letting go. Check out our Letting Go Ritual and incorporate any or all of it into your practice. To take the ritual a step further, write down the things you are ready to release in order to regain your balance on a piece of paper before your bath. Burn the piece of paper after you complete the bath ritual and imagine what you are releasing flow back into space and feel the weight of your imbalance shift toward symmetry.
Let it be all about You
This time of year, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to make everyone happy. The most impactful thing you can do for yourself and others is to routinely practice self-care and honor your body’s signals at all times.
No matter what the root cause of your imbalances may be, nothing is permanent and everything is in motion. Empower yourself by taking a step back as often as you need and recalibrating.
We at Kush Queen wish you a happy, healthy, and high holiday season!
We would love to see how you are incorporating Kush Queen tools into your Winter Rituals. Don’t forget to follow and tag @kushqueenshop & @Kushqueenco in your instagram posts and stories!
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