January: Beauty – Wisdom – Alchemy

BEAUTY

WISDOM
Welcome to my refreshed blog – Beauty, Wisdom, Alchemy. Beauty, as expressed through photography, is my love language. Imagery will be chosen that carries the vibration of the theme that emerges each month. I’ll then attempt to convey whatever wisdom has been moving through me, and hopefully open into a sharing of any alchemical shift that’s occurred, with an eye toward what’s coming next.

January’s theme for me was moving from recovery to re-discovery, turning the page on the new year at my own pace, emerging from the dark. Surgery is done. Physical body is recovering. Now, my energy and Spirit bodies are re-awakening. Shaking the cocoon goo from my wintering chrysalis of recovery, I emerge slowly, cautiously and ask: “How do you want to show up in this new year?  What prophetic wisdom is stuck in your throat?  How can that which brings you joy, serve the world?”

Great questions, especially as it feels like we are collectively still shaking off the imposed isolation of the pandemic, while carrying the mounting grief and trauma around our impending geo-political-eco systems breakdown. Pluto entered Aquarius on January 20 for the next two decades. From the astrology pundits I’m reading, the world is in for an even bumpier ride. Perhaps you’re riding a rollercoaster of feelings as I am, alternately wanting to be in community and wanting to remain isolated while wondering, what can any one person do to effect positive change?

My sleep most nights is interrupted by back pain and a tightness that makes deep breathing a bit of a stretch. On the physical plane this is my back body becoming accustomed to the restructuring of my abdominal muscles. As my energy and Spirit bodies come back on line, my third-eye burns most mornings upon waking. When I mentioned this to spiritual direction colleagues they asked, “what might your intuition say in response to your questions?”

In stillness, I asked and listened. I had the felt sense of both seeing and hearing an orchestral score written in nature’s handwriting:

Air whispers through Woodwinds – follow daily synchronicities like awareness of the time 1:11, 2:22, 3:33. Stay open and receptive to repeat messages, articles in your social media feed, the movies you choose to watch, the questions on so many lips.

Water sings through Strings – ask what pulls at your heart, seeds your dreams, is an offering to others. It’s not what you thought it was from the thinking mind, but a return to something more life-affirming from the feeling heart.

Fire calls out through Brass – fan the embers of your creativity in service to your own heart and the hearts of so many that are breaking. Allow your passion to combust into compassion. Wear your Andrea Gibson¹ t-shirt proudly that says, “Let your heart break so your Spirit doesn’t.”  ¹Andrea Gibson is Colorado’s Poet Laureate

Earth hums through Percussion – trust that you are in sync with Mother nature’s rhythms, and guide others into that same attunement to help raise their vibration and alleviate eco-distress. Let go of distractions and reestablish connections. We are all in this together.

ALCHEMY
Okay, thank you for the messages received. I’m setting aside the training from last year to be an End-of-Life Doula and to integrate Internal Family Systems theory into my spiritual direction practice, in favor of returning to what seeds my dreams and brings me joy. My intention is to help others ease their climate distress, connect more deeply with the spirit of nature, and cultivate their own resiliency in a world that is breaking. I plan to do this with my Beauty as Medicine workshops, contemplative circles, books and other offerings. Over the coming months I’ll be gathering materials, dates and locations. More will be revealed soon on my website page titled Beauty as Medicine. If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive launch information and invitations, message me on my contact page.

Feb 1 – Imbolc – Celebrates the return of the light, the hope & excitement it brings, the new life buzzing in the deep dark soil below.

Peace, Love, and Blessings,
Rev. Lisa

Spiritual Companion/Guide
Contemplative Photographer
Interfaith Chaplain/Eco-Minister

Free Photos at Pexels
Inspirational Photography Books at Blurb
“The earth is full of thresholds where beauty awaits the wonder of our gaze.” John O’Donohue