We just passed the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice this past Halloween. The wheel of time seems to be moving quickly these days. In honor of this powerful time of year, I wanted to address honoring our ancestors and how this can be a bridge to our strengthening and building community.
Turn down the lights and let yourself sink into the mood of this season. Quiet yourself. Many cultures and religions focus on maintaining a connection with our ancestors. Those who have gone before us made it possible for us to be here. Because of this, there is an honoring that is due to our ancestors. By honoring who we come from, we are honoring ourselves as well for we are a part of them and they a part of us.
I am well aware that not all of you reading this may feel an affinity for all of your relatives. Or, you may not know your ancestry. You can, however, go back and, in the universal sense, find a place in your heart to connect with your ancestors. Our ancestors can also be those who have come before us in the work we are doing in the world. Who has paved the road that you are walking upon? Honor those people as well.
While on that spiritual or energetic plane we have the ancestors surrounding us, on the physical plane we have our community surrounding us. So now is a time more than ever to strengthen those bonds of our communities so that we can continue to stand strong together; in whatever form that takes for each of you.
We are in a time where the news is full of scarcity. Let’s think about how can we work toward abundance. Especially abundance for those whose voices are not being listened to; those people who are struggling every day just to survive and have basic rights.
The first question that comes to mind is what gets in our way? For each of us there is something, or several somethings, that prevent us from making the choice to connect rather than disconnect. To reach out rather than withdraw. Often times it comes down to a fear of something, once you get to the root of the matter.
So, what gets in the way of our building community and sharing what wealth we each have? Whether that is the wealth of money itself, or a gift or talent that you have that you could be sharing more with others. And your most valuable gift to the world, the gift of your unique self. What gets in the way of you sharing your gifts with the world?
So, as always, be centered in your power, grounded and present, and cultivate compassion.
The plants are here to help us with this process. Here are some suggestions:
Protection
Fennel – protective, aids in meditation, gives the courage to face danger/adversity
Rosemary – protection, makes a good floor wash when cleansing your house
St. John’s Wort – protection, consider applying the oil to your body wherever you feel vulnerable
Motherwort – protection, feeling held, energy of the universal mother
Overcoming fears
Orange Rose (Rose Chakra FE by Luna Fina) overcoming known fears and phobias
Blue/Mauve Rose (Rose Chakra FE by Luna Fina) trust in self and intuition
Water goddess temple (Bali Essence from Jane Bell Essences) surrounding ourselves with compassion so we can drop into the deep silence and simplicity of who we really are; for contacting your wise heart and ancient wisdom; room for clarity by stilling the mind (what we often have to get out of our way in order to listen to the heart) and allowing the heart to speak
Persian Lilac (Greek Essences) relates to crown chakra, recognizing our wings to take flight into the realms of the spirit world; when you cannot see the beauty of your life; helps keep your heart in your perspective
Petrified sequoia (Greek Tree Essences from Melissa Assilem) survival of the earth; fears about survival and physical health; generational curses, terror and shock; rigid with inherited belief systems; brings fluidity and a flexible loyalty
Night-blooming cereus (Hawaiian Essences from Jane Bell Essences) overcoming the fear of our shadows; able to contact the stunning beauty of our human and holy entirety; holds and radiates so much light it shatters the illusions of unworthiness, lack and imperfection
Thurber’s Gilia (Desert Alchemy) for fear of never emerging from a limiting situation; fear that you may emerge from your limitations; feeling entranced by your fears; penetrates through anything fear related; moving beyond the concept of limitations; accessing the courage to be able to face your fears directly
mountain forest, photo by Madeline Ryan
Connecting with others
Royal Poinciana (Hawaiian Essences from Jane Bell Essences) brings emotional refuge for those who care for others or need to feel safe and cared for; accessing ancient wisdom and trustworthy holding to seed and receive the future
Oleander (Essences of Greece from Melissa Assilem) relates to the throat chakra, about communication; is indicated for people who are always seeking truth from others or demanding others take on a truth that does not belong to them; brings a faith in ones’ own beliefs as it enhances communication with the soul; lets one shout out their real truth
Crown beard (Desert Alchemy) indicated when feeling alienation; defeatism, ‘what’s the use’ attitude; difficulty expressing your needs; experiencing the world as unsupportive or even hostile; fatalistic attitude; fear of being tortured for speaking out; silence, withdrawal; gives: knowing ourselves as worthy of love and abundance; trust that the universe supports us abundantly with what we need; knowing the right actions for relating to people harmoniously; transmutation of fears of hostility from others; aware of seriousness of world situation and working with it while keeping faith and staying optimistic
Mesquite (Desert Alchemy) indicated: emotional remoteness; aloofness; feeling a spiritual desolation within yourself; feeling separated and remote from others or self; gives; accessing the willingness to cross your inner void and find deep spiritual richness within yourself and others; comfortable connecting with others from a place of compassion and warmth; standing inside the circle of human love
Rainbow shower tree (Hawaiian Essences from Jane Bell Essences) feeling showered with safety and angelic grace when we feel vulnerable to allow our full beauty and potential to shine through; encourages group harmony by weaving angelic grace into the fabric of family and community
I’m not saying that taking these essences alone will change the world. Rather, you can use these essences to support your being so that you can go out into the world and work toward that change in the way that your particular circumstances and talents allow for. You have to do the work, inner and outer – the plants just support us in our work.
So get creative and make sure you are taking care of yourself and each other. Cultivate compassion. We need to make our work sustainable for the need is great.
Be well,
Sarah