At no other time than autumn does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost.
—Rilke
Hello, friends & strangers! Happy October.
There is a small tree outside our kitchen window, and at a certain hour in the morning, the light wraps around it in the most ethereal way. It’s one of those simple-but-profound gratitude moments, when I stop to notice it, and I’ve been trying to let myself absorb that feeling each day when I stand at the sink. I’m feeling more and more drawn to rooting down and tending to my home space now. I want to paint the bedroom, I want to cook, I want to buy a new pack of cleaning rags, I want to throw things away and sell my clothes and sweep the floor and clear, clear, clear. I’m taking so much pleasure in this right now.
Outside of this slow, domestic grounding, things are ramping up personally/locally/work-wise; I have 3 births to attend in the next 4 months, I’m teaching a Slow Flow & Massage workshop with my massage therapist friend (who was also my doula!) this weekend, and teaching lots of 1-on-1 prenatal yoga. It feels good, and I’m glad to have that busyness firmly rooted in my local environment now that the echo of summer has completely faded.
Anyways, onto the yoga (oh wait… it’s all yoga, right?) Here is a cozy morning practice from the archives for you. In it, we explore Hakini mudra, said to help bring balance, concentration, and clarity into the mind. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (one of the philosophies of Yin Yoga) Fall is associated with the Metal element. Metal is discerning, precise, boundaried, and clarifying. This isn’t a Yin class, but we do set an intention of clarity and focus, so in this way it feels very “Metal season” to me. Our movement here is energizing, strengthening and meditative, but the mood is so very gentle. I think it’s such a nice one for a chilly fall morning :)
I also think that practicing walking meditation is particularly lovely this time of year. Here’s a recording from me, if you want some guidance. Otherwise, just take yourself out into the woods or to a quiet stretch of sidewalk, clasp your hands (ever so gently, like you’re holding the hand of someone you love) behind your back, and open your senses to the world around you. Listen to the slow crunch of the leaves, smell the “bitter, ripe, honeysweet” air, and focus your attention on your weight moving from one foot to the other. Walk slower than you want to— this is the hard part.
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Everyone: thanks for being here!
Take good care,
Berlin
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