My attention naturally begins to turn inward as the weather cools and fall begins to take hold. What have I harvested from the last year’s cycle of efforts? How am I honoring myself and my loved ones. What do I need to let go of in order to nourish the shift from self rejection to self honoring? Am I living a life that honors who am? Am I taking steps every day to bring the Divine Feminine within myself out of the shadows? These questions always seem to arise when I enter this season.
I woke up today with the recognition that yesterday was one of those perfect days that honors who I am and the life I strive to live as a manifestation and expression of Mary.
I actually woke up feeling a little off. It was a beautiful day, so I put on my hiking boots, strapped on my fanny pack with my harvesting tools and headed out the door for a walk. A walk in the woods on the mountain where I live is a sure way to brig me back to myself. I meandered along the creek and found a huge wild blueberry bush bursting with ripe blueberries. I gathered the berries as I created all kinds of dishes in my head that blueberries could star in. I continued down the road and because we have had a wet summer the bounty of mushrooms growing on the mountain is quite abundant. I gathered what I knew for sure was edible, plus what I thought was a chantrelle, but not 100% sure. If chantrelles are growing in my neighborhood I’m more in heaven than I thought. I stopped by the neighbor’s house and we got out our books to key it out.Yes, a chantrelle!
I continued up the road toward my home and found an elderberry bush full of ripe berries. I have been waiting to make my winter flu remedy from the berries, so this was the day. I stopped and gathered the berries, as many as I could possibly get from one bush.
When I got home I made my flu remedy with the berries. I went out to the garden and picked ripe tomatoes and herbs and made a delicious tomato sauce. I prepared a wild mushroom risotto with the mushrooms gathered on my walk, topped with my garden tomato sauce and served it with steamed collard greens which I bought from a local farmer. I shared my very local meal with a friend and we oohed and aahed over how delicious and nourishing it was. Grounding myself in the wild gatherer in me, eating the foods that live with me on the mountain, whether in my garden or out in the wild and sharing it, making my medicine is honoring who I am when I am left to my own soul’s needs. I realized that when I am off and feeling overwhelmed the best remedy is to just stop and take time to be me. It will bring me back. What a concept. I have discovered yet another good reason to honor myself and let go of what doesn’t serve that. Can I trust that life will support me when I devote myself to being me as I bring the Divine Feminine within myself out of the shadows of my own psyche and let her live in a place of honor in my life? Well, this is my experiment. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. I welcome dialog with anyone who is doing the same experiment.
Tags: Sharing corner
