: the process of becoming visible after being concealed.
"It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed." Doe Zantamata
I definitely feel a sense of emergence in a lot of ways this week. I feel a sense of expectance, I'm still feeling rooted in the dark, but the light is getting in!
A real sense of readying myself, tentative steps emerging from the shadows, little by little, showing up more as my full self. I'm starting to shake off the dark and heavy winter, feeling energy and enthusiasm beginning to stir. Yet there is some resistance, a residual heaviness - the kapha energy as we move into spring. This presents as a lack of energy, mentally, emotionally and physically, I'm not able to sustain any of that energy for long! This perhaps shows where I didn't put in place good boundaries I intended to last month, or didn't honour the ones that would have served me better. Nevertheless, in moments of pausing and reflection, I remind myself nothing is wasted. (see last month's blog)
It can feel difficult and vulnerable to emerge, to show up as you truly feel. It requires a gentle strength like the snow drop. No need to shout your arrival or open up all at once, just little by little builds deep, long lasting strength and beauty. If all the flowers arrived now, they wouldn't last, would suffer in the coming cold before we truly move into spring an summer. Emergence is about opening up gently, anchored to the strength and intuition rooted in the wisdom of your self. Patience and timing are the fruits of strength and intuition.
"We have just celebrated Imbolc which marks the esoteric or hidden start of Spring. The etymology of name Imbolc, pronounced Im-Blk, comes from the old Irish word Imbolc meaning âin the bellyâ as well as the word imb-fholc meaning âto cleanseâ. This is a potent time of fertility, where can can go within to reconnect with what is truly important in order to manifest greater blessings in our lives. Simultaneously this is a powerful time for purification and cleansing."
Practicing self care, self love and self compassion, but also practicing a determined push through the challenges, the self doubt and the expectations from others, that might weigh heavy on us as we emerge.
Feel as if we're incubating life, which essentially we are! If we were growing life within us we would be careful and considerate with what we take in, what we surround ourselves with, what we feel and do. We wouldn't over do things but also we would embrace the challenges to ensure we remained strong, healthy and physically fit ready for birthing this new life. This month we will use our yoga practice as a way to prepare for our emergence into spring and summer.
Think grounding practices, married with gentle heart openers and feelings of expansion as we build more 'movement' into our practice. We need to start moving more to reduce the heaviness of winter but we don't want to rush in and do it all too soon - we'll save that for our Spring practice. Be patient, lets take it gently. Take a moment to feel the pulse of life within you, savour this precious period of preparation, expectation and anticipation.
"EMERGENCE - In philosophy, systems theory, science, and art, emergence occurs when an entity is observed to have properties its parts do not have on their own, properties or behaviours which emerge only when the parts interact in a wider whole."
This definition resonates really well for me. I recently ran a poll on Instagram asking whether followers of my content wanted to see more 'yoga specific' content - my account doesn't obviously look like it's about yoga! I had doubts whether I was posting the right sort of content to keep people interested and inspired. There it was - the challenge and heaviness of self-doubt! I sat in the dark of this dilemma until the light appeared, not from people voting, but from rooting into my own intuition/wisdom. This may all sound rather dramatic but I feel how we show up in the world, how we are influenced by our social environment, does actually require dramatic reflection! Despite more people voting for 'yoga specific' content I decided to keep my content as it has always been, a representation of what yoga means to me.
"Yoga is a way of life, it is intention and compassionate, considered action, it is space for considered thinking and intuition, it is sharing kindness and connection ,it is being part of something bigger - yoga is humbling. Yoga is present on my mat, it is present when I walk in nature, it is present when I immerse in cold water, it is present when I have an authentic connection with another living being, it is present within me, always. Sometimes it feels deeply buried beneath the stuff of life, other times it's like a bright pervading light radiating through me. This is what yoga means to me, this is what I share." - Me
And so this is how I am emerging this month, honouring my deepest intuition, taking the journey slowly and tenderly so I stay connected to my deepest wisdom allowing me to nurture this wonderful life continuing to grow within me, ready to emerge whole and radiant in the coming months, I hope you'll join me.
See you on the mat
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Sophia
Lot's of ideas are being tenderly brought to the surface and ready to share with you all:
I excited to run the Menopause Workshops and building our menopause community. Whether you're at the start or thought it was long behind you - join us, on the workshops or on the imminent forum. There is so much to learn and so much wisdom to be shared between us all.
The Spring- Yoga & Ayurveda retreat day (Nature of Yoga) is going to be the ultimate birthing of energy and light, I can't wait to share some practices that will nourish and energise you, leaving you radiant from within!
All details are on the website for retreats and workshops
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Sophia