On Wednesday evening I attended lovely fellow yoga teacher @yogaearthed Rachel’s Summer Solstice woodland yoga mini retreat. It was such a magical way to pause and mark the turn of the year, and it made me reflect on my experience back in December, when I attended the same event to mark the Winter Solstice and how things have unfolded since then.
Rachel’s events always include some beautiful activities alongside the yoga. Back in December, one of those activities was to set our intentions for the year ahead by writing them down on a piece of paper and putting them into a communal jar. After the yoga session we each picked one out, and without looking or reading it, we dropped it into the fire and sent those intentions out into the ether.
And so, a little over six months since that evening, I think enough time has passed for me to share what I wrote as my intention for the season ahead –
“Find the magic amongst the weeds.”
Let me explain, in the hope that others might understand this too.
Last year, for a lot of reasons and none at all – I really felt like I was getting stuck in the weeds – sweating the relatively small stuff and losing perspective on my one wild and precious life. I can’t say anything dramatic happened, it’s just this season of life I’m in is definitely the rush-hour. I’m sure you might be able to relate.
Anyway, as someone who is generally considered a chirpy kind of person who loves marveling at full moons, skeins of geese flying overhead, or random patterns in tree bark. It felt really disconcerting to no longer be able to get as excited as I usually could about these things.
And so, since sending that intention out into the Universe back in December, I’ve gradually been making my way back, trying to remove things from my plate where I can, and listen to my body when it says we need to take a walk. Exploring outside with my kids (who are of course, absolute naturals at this), and actively looking out for the everyday magic – which is absolutely bloody everywhere when you look for it.
It really is a practice, just as much as movement and meditation.
Some examples just from Wednesday morning:
- waking up to sunshine and the dawn chorus as the birds welcomed in the solstice at daybreak.
- And, waking up to newly ripened strawberries in the pots outside our back door.
- The teeniest tiniest snail making its way across a pile of hay while the horses enjoyed their breakfast.
- Discovering two ladybirds sleeping in my cat’s tail (who was also sleeping).
- My 6-year old’s face as she leapt down the stairs (completely naked) with a £1 coin in her hand after her first visit from the tooth fairy.
- The comforting sound of a downpour on hastily closed roof windows.
It’s a cliché but only because it’s true, but God really is in the details.
Last Saturday we had a day out with old friends at Clumber Park. We took part in building a piece of natural art with natural artist James Brunt. I won’t lie, it was very hot and I was not feeling the most enthusiastic team member when we started, but, searching the ground for leaves, blossom, twigs, and beech nut shells brought me into the present moment. From doubt that we would find anything at all – to creating this wonderful piece of art that was left for all to enjoy. Just another example of how wonder and magic that is all there at our fingertips – should we just look for it.
The solstice this week isn’t just a moment in the calendar to reflect and observe traditions, but also a chance to remind ourselves that we humans are all part of this too. We aren’t separate, however hard we try and make it so. We ARE part of the detail, and that, my friends, is also magic.
As Einstein said:
there are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
If I have to choose, I know how I want to live.
Claire x