Morning Rituals

Good Morning !

Yesterday, in our SUPPORTED teachers meeting, we covered a segment of The LIGHT CODE Planner : The importance of MORNING RITUALS and ideas on how to navigate your sacred morning space to set you up for a successful day.

Here is a passage of The LIGHT CODE Planner for you :

Morning Ritual

What is your morning ritual? I highly suggest you spare yourself some time first thing in the morning, and wake up earlier if you have to, this is imperative. So important. It will set you up for a successful day. Wake up with a morning routine and make sure to take a moment to yourself. Everyone is different and there is no right or wrong here. The most important thing is that you honor yourself.

Here are some examples: my morning routine consists of walking my dogs, grounding (placing my feet on the earth) feeding my animals, a mindful tea practice, journaling, and oftentimes meditation. A good friend of mine likes to wake up before her family is awake and take a nice relaxing long bath with salts, this sets her up for a successful day.

Another person I know wakes up and loves to unload the dishwasher first thing in the morning, after that he takes care of his animals and his plants, harvests his garden (this makes him super happy), following this he does breath-work, prayers, and visualizations for the day. His morning rituals set him up for success. Morning visualizations are super powerful. Check out the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza for more on visualizations. Another friend loves to stretch first thing in the morning and go out in the sun for at least 10 minutes, and another friend loves to wake up before the sun and watch the sunrise, this lights up her day.

What is your morning routine? Remember they can be whatever you want them to be and they do not have to be static, everything is always changing. Welcome each morning as a brand new day with infinite possibilities.

Your morning sacred space, can be a great time to work on your art, or any creative project.

If you have a full household you may need to wake up an hour or two before everyone in your family, furry ones included. Many students I work with, tell me this is their only quiet time each day.

We all need quiet, sacred time to be with ourselves, to gather our energy so that we can show up to others at our fullest authentic Self and be present for whatever life brings forth.

Make sure you get enough rest. If you made the decision to wake up earlier, do you need to go to bed earlier?

Reprogram your life so that all your needs are met.

My mornings are also one of my non-negotiables, and with exceptions here and there I don't take meetings before 11AM. Implementing this simple rule has been one of the best decisions I've ever made, a game changer for me.

Remember there is no ONE WAY-----> there is only YOUR WAY.

As we know too well things are always changing, therefore embrace each season of your life as a new one and see what changes you want to create to make life work for you.

Lot’s of Love,

Nathalie Croix

Restoring In Winter Months ~ Self Care Practices

As we gradually approach winter, we’re offered an opportunity to slow down and look inward.

Introspection is not simple; it calls for self-awareness, deliberate effort, and quiet contemplation.

How do we do it?

Ask yourself:

Are my thoughts and actions in harmony with the type of person I want to be?

Am I living my life intentionally and deliberately to reach my goal?

When we reflect and courageously bring our lives into alignment, we are on the pathways that lead us to peace.

A note from our friend Colin Hudon from Living Tea..

Reception…

Tis the season to transition into reception and introspection in the Northern Hemisphere. We are gently being invited to slow down, harvest and store food (resources) for winter, and let go of what we have been holding onto internally. This opportunity creates “space” for new experiences with ‘self’ and others that help us learn, grow and enjoy the moments that are unfolding around us.

Letting Go…

In addition, the Fall provides us with the conditions to welcome us to let go of self arising and unresolved grief. When, we hold onto unresolved grief, past stories and/or repress grief that naturally arises in the present moment, we weaken the energy of the lungs.

A simply approach to processing grief and sadness is to provide yourself the space to be with the emotions, digest them and then eliminate them (let them go). Letting go means lying them down. You do not need to keep returning to the old story, memory or situation. You can give yourself permission to find neutral and move forward. When this occurs, you create more space for positive emotions to fill our lives and hearts. The sadness and/or grief actually is providing you with the opportunity to clean house and welcome in the new. It is our attachment to a situation, person and/or place that prevents us from moving

on.

Activities to support the LET GO…

Deep Breathing. DAILY. Fill the belly and lungs to capacity with air. As you exhale, release through the mouth and gently press the tongue against the teeth.

Eat warm foods. Primary flavor…Pungent. Some supportive foods: garlic, leek, onion, ginger, sweet potato, cabbage, asparagus, broccoli, celery, cucumber, mustard greens, radish, walnuts, almonds, black pepper, chili, cinnamon, cardamom, rice, navy beans, soy beans, miso, apricot, pear, banana and eggs.

Integrative approach: Self Care (meditation, self massage, walks in nature, conserve energy, sleep more), Acupuncture, Massage and herbal supplements as prescribed. ​

NOW IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO:

. Get to bed early. The hours of 10 PM to 6 AM are your best for the most restorative sleep.

. Create a luxurious morning or evening ritual that stimulates each sense.

. Read more for enjoyment.

.Take long baths with candles, incense, and music.

. Slow down by removing things from your schedule and to do list.

. Take care of your skin. Using high-quality organic products of course.

The more you space you create for yourself to receive enjoyment from life, the more abundance you’ll experience overall.

SOME THINGS TO INCLUDE, HOLISTICALLY SPEAKING…

• Eat more root vegetables (i.e. beets, sweet potatoes, onions), warming spices (i.e. ginger, turmeric, garlic) and cooked vegetables

• Include more soups, stews

• Practice Yin yoga

• Get cozy and snuggle with loved ones

• Make time for soulful conversations and connection with your girlfriends

• Create time to connect with yourself through meditation, journaling, and listening to your body and intuition

• Create a practice of letting go regularly. Contemplate what you can let go of today. Is it self-judgment, perfectionism, fear, anxiety or worry? Write it down, burn the paper or allow it to dissolve in water.