Issue #16: June’s theme - Nurture
June is now in full swing and my mind has been bursting with new ideas.
I’m relishing the distance from Instagram and I feel so much more energised.
Generally, these are the weeks when we may feel a little more motivated. More willing to put ourselves out there.
This is because the sun is at its highest point in the sky (if you’re in the northern hemisphere), the peak of which will be at the Summer Solstice on the 21st June.
Energetically, this is also the peak time for such things as growth, vibrancy and outward energy.
However, with this time of year being the peak; a final climb to the top of the mountain - where there is a place to pause, before embarking on the gentle descent back down on the other side - I am reminded that amongst all of the activity of the season, we’d be wise to create similar moments to pause in our day-to-day lives.
I like to think of it as stopping to take in the view.
The word “solstice” means “sun stands still”, and it’s been likened by many a yoga teacher to the breath: at the point of full inhalation, just before a long, slow exhale.
And so begins the journey towards autumn. With its focus on retreating and letting go.
I love the solstices! I’ve always found them to be really powerful.
The challenge that I face in summer is balancing the tendency I have to feel socially overwhelmed, thanks to the increased extroversion.
It drains me if it’s not equalised with the more cooling aspects of quiet time and solitude.
The sun stands still
and so can I.
He teaches me
that even the strongest and brightest
of phases
must come to a pause.
That, at a height of being
- so tall and free -
where there’s nothing left to do but
stop
and breathe…
suspended in the blue…
unaware of what’s to come and completely
unbothered
by what has been.
This moment,
that is all.
So, in light of this reminder, I have decided from now on to make The Yoga Letters a monthly offering.
The main reason is that I’d like to allow you, dear reader, a little more space.
The world is just so busy and noisy!
Please think of it as creating a bubble of peace around your time and energy. They are both so precious. Perhaps the most precious commodities to exist.
And, anyway, I’ve realised I can offer the same, if not more, this way.
I will still provide the unique combination of theme-based yogic writing, beautiful playlists, meaningful journal prompts and tailored practice guidance.
But, by being monthly, you will get it all in one dose, and you’ll have longer to absorb everything.
In-between, you can find me on Substack Notes. It’s a bit like Instagram, but with a lot more heart. Download the Substack app and join in!
So, from now on, you can expect to receive a letter from me on the 1st of every month, and, as always, my offerings are complimentary for everybody.
However, if you’d like to make a contribution, then, by all means, that would be most welcome and massively appreciated.
Thank-you to those of you who give so generously.
Anyway, let’s get back to the solstice.
Overall, now is the time to acknowledge all that the summer provides. From the flowers in full bloom, to the long days and warmer evenings, summer reminds us of all the beauty there is the world.
Summer solstice is about noticing how the energies make us feel and then doing what we need to do, in response to our individual needs.
In this sense, the summer is an incredibly physical season. It’s a time when our bodies are subjected to a whole range of sensations and experiences.
It’s also a really great time to deepen our awareness of the Now by noticing how it feels to have the sun on our skin, and by listening to the noises all around us, as the world and all of its creatures are at the height of activity.
Music is another element of the summer.
(Please find the Nurture playlist below!)
The summer is a celebratory season and dancing makes the body feel good.
As does yoga. Lots and lots of yoga!
Suggestions for your practice: Be aware of and acknowledge any desires you have to be near water, or under the canopy of trees, and indulge yourself in nature.
Soak it all in and allow it to heal and nurture you in whichever way you most need.
Don’t think too much about it. Resist the urge to intellectualise it. But listen to your body and let it tell you what it needs.
Also, whenever you meditate or practice yoga, I’d also like you to first imagine an orb of light surrounding you.
Visualise a bright sun or a full moon, if it helps, and allow the light to touch every part of your mind, body and spirit.
Feel it’s warmth. Feel it’s comfort. It’s protection.
Perhaps you could try setting aside a small amount of time each morning and evening to imagine the light all around you and within you. Use this time to centre yourself and connect to your breath.
Also, check out any outdoor yoga classes happening near you. In the U.K., there’s a charity called Park Yoga, and they run free yoga classes in parks up and down the country.
If practicing privately is more your thing, then take your mat outside, or practice near a window so that you can benefit from the extra light.
Lastly, this is the season to do all of the things. To live out your dreams. To chase the rainbows. To be unapologetically you. To dance wildly. To be expressive. To wear bright colours and be creative. To Write. Draw. Paint. To try new things. To cook nutritious food and experiment with new flavours. To travel. To meet with others. To laugh. To cry. To find balance. To retreat. To spend time alone. To cherish your body with love and kindness. To bask in nature. To stay up late and watch the sunset, and rest in the shade and go to bed early. To wish upon the stars. To respond to your body’s unique needs without guilt. To take full, deep breaths. To swim in the rivers and seas and to feel the solid earth beneath your feet.
It’s a time to nurture yourself in the most tender of ways.
It’s a time to be truly present. Here and now.
It’s time for us to climb the mountain.
We’ve only got to remember to pause, so that we can admire the view.
That’s it for June.
I will leave you now with only a couple of questions for your own reflections (please find your journal page below as well):
What is ready to bloom within you and your life?
How can you best nurture this to fruition?
So, until July, nurture yourselves and each other, and thank-you for being here.
Peace, love and endless kindness,
Louisa
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