This photo was taken of me the day after I moved cross-country from Chicago to San Francisco, 18 years ago…

I had enrolled into the World School Massage to become a Certified Massage Therapist, which would help me fund my modern dance career. 

This image was taken on Day 1 of massage school…pit sweat and all! ;) 

The very first thing we did, before talking logistics or learning massage techniques was for each of us students to break a wooden board, karate chop-style (I know, pretty wild for the first day of massage school huh?!)

The facilitators asked us to write something that we were breaking through on the front of the board, and something that we were breaking through to onto the back of it. 

I wrote that I was breaking through ANXIETY (which I had been suffering from fairly severely for the previous few years) and breaking through to INNER PEACE. 

This powerful ritual was a massive catalyst for me moving through aerophobia (an extreme fear of flying), as well as my anxiety and fearful nature in general, and helped me uncover a newfound courage and strength within myself that I didn’t know was there. 

To me, ritual is a ceremonial act or action performed with intention – that can help us commemorate something, make something special, and create more meaning and joy in our lives.

Ritual can be a one-off experience, or can be ritualized, (ie becoming a series of repeated actions or behaviors) and when done with intention and mindfulness, can help us feel more connected with our sense of purpose, spirituality, nature and inner worlds.

Today, I weave ritual into my daily personal life by way of meditation, breathwork, movement, energetic cleansing and the like – as well as nearly every aspect of my business – whether I’m leading a phone coaching session, group Zoom call, virtual workshop or in person retreat.

As many of you also know, I LOVE playing with the seasons, cycles and rhythms of the natural world in my daily life and work – and we just crossed the threshold where we’re inching away from the Summer Solstice and closer and closer to the Fall Equinox so this time of year is a sweet time for cleansing and clearing rituals. 

It’s a time to take stock of what’s working or serving you, and what’s not (either in your personal life or in your business)…

Taking meditative solo walks in nature near woods and streams, where you pick up stones, rocks or leaves and contemplate/meditate on what it is that you’re ready to shed, release or strip away – and then release them into the stream or on the Earth can be super simple and powerful.

Journaling on what feels heavy or misaligned in your life or business, or what structures or habits need to be stripped down or burned away – is also another potent action to take.

And, speaking of massage, this is also an ideal time for self-massage – awaking the circulatory and lymphatic systems to release and let go of the gunk that has accumulated from lots of summer fun (my mom, brother, son, uncle and cousin – and lots of friends are Leo’s – and it’s time to lay that cake down for sure!!) 

Pick your favorite massage oil, light a candle, and offer yourself loving affirmations as you slowly rub the nourishing oil into your skin…ahhhhh… 🙂

We’ve got just a little over 4 months left of this year, so how do you want to finish it out? 

Take space and time to consider that question through ritual…your whole body and being (and business) will be so grateful you did… <3

Always with love,