This category contains the intention-setting ideas from the monthly newsletter.

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Improve the Health of Mother Earth

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As I finished working on my vision board for the first half of 2021 under the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ on December 21st, a clear intention emerged:  a renewed focus my desire to support the health of Mother Earth, through whatever efforts are available to me.  One of the things the pandemic has brought into our awareness more profoundly is that nature is a key element in maintaining our mental and physical health.  And we all are stewards of our precious resources.

2020 was also the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the ‘Do Just 1 Thing’ campaign was launched, to help individuals to not feel so overwhelmed with the existential threat of global climate change.  If each of us simply embrace just one small thing, together we will have a huge impact on protecting the habitats of wildlife, cleaning up polluted air, water and land, and conserving out natural resources.

So, below I have listed some intentions, some simple and some offering a stretch.  What one thing might light the fire of your ecological passion?  I hope you will consider trying one!

  1. Practice 3Rs.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  The picture above is the new setup in my kitchen to support this effort moving into 2021.  I’m passionate (maybe a little obsessive some would say) about recycling and am setting the intention to take it up a notch.  Perhaps your kitchen offers the space for the same setup.  If so, I hope you will consider adding it to the project list soon.
  2. Turn Off/Unplug.  If your ecological passion might also tie to saving some money, then consider turning off the lights when you leave the room, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, turn off the car when waiting, and even unplug your appliances when not in use.  Contrary to popular belief, restarting your car does not burn more fuel than leaving it idling.  In fact, leaving your car idle for just 10 seconds wastes more gas than restarting the engine.
  3. Clean up. Since we feel so isolated due to the pandemic, consider participating in a community clean up.  Such efforts can be done wearing a face mask while also maintaining the required physical distancing to ensure safety.  What a way to rev up your internal engine/energy while making a small corner of the world more beautiful!
  4. Buy organic, local and electric.  When we think of the entire food chain system, it is a huge energy consumer.  Fossil fuels are used in the manufacturing of fertilizers, food processing, and the transportation to bring the food to you.  If we buy more local and organic foods we would reduce that fuel consumption and if we all do just a little in this area, together we would increase the market share enough to shift the market dynamics. Also, if you happen to be in the market for a new stove or car in the next few years, consider setting an intention to purchase electric.  I know I am!
  5. Get educated and share.  When you learn more about the movement, you can help others to understand the importance and value of our natural resources.  Consider watching one (or more!) of the 20 best climate change documentaries, including Oscar-winning An Inconvenient Truth, according to Mashable.  If you feel yourself passionate about something you learn, perhaps post it on your social media so others learn that this is an issue that is important to you.  Also, don’t forget to tag the local businesses whose products and services align with your passion, so others can support your efforts and let their money influence the desired change.  Don’t discount the impact that one person can make – if you influence just one other person, the ripple effect can last generations!

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Support Counting Your Blessings

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This pandemic has no doubt brought change into our lives.  Now the challenge is to see how those changes brought beauty as well.

With all of the loss that we have experienced since March, it can be difficult to see the silver linings in the clouds of grief.  It is in times of loss that I remind myself there must be destruction before conscious construction.  Equinimity can only be achieved when we hold both in our awareness and honor both sides of every coin.

As we enter the month of December, we have entered into the final eclipse season of the year.  In addition to the eclipses, December also brings a rare and special planetary alignment on the 21st that suggests the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, referred to as the Great Conjunction, where Saturn and Jupiter meet at the same degree of the zodiac.  This event is going to kickstart a new era for us human beings, supporting our global intention for equinimity.  (To read more about the Great Conjunction, click here!)

So, below I offer 5 intention-setting tools to support drawing your awareness to the other side of the coin, where there is light in the darkness, wherein there lies beauty.  I hope you will consider trying one!

  1. Reflect.  Consider setting aside some time to sit in reflection with the intention of identifying what has changed for you and how you have navigated that change.  The simple act of labeling what has changed, along with noticing how you responded to it is quite powerful.  What space may have been created by the destructive energy and what filled up that space in the conscious construction phase?  Remember to release any attachment to judgment and keep in mind there were no ‘right answers’ to the question of how best to navigate a pandemic.
  2. Recognize.  If you accomplished something that you have had on your ‘To Do’ list for awhile or maintained a personal goal during this time, perhaps take a moment to give yourself some recognition!  Possibly you learned to cook, a new language, a musical instrument or completed some required CEs, returned to, maintained or expanded your self-care practices or discovered a new found joy in connecting with the other beings living in your space.  We don’t offer take time to congratulate ourselves on our accomplishments and instead tend to minimize them and raise our expectations, sometimes to superhuman impossible-to-meet levels.  Whatever it is we have been able to do during this time, even if it is to get up every morning and do our best to move through the day, celebrate it!!
  3. Reframe.  A simple, yet not-so-easy tool for finding the beauty in the destruction is reframing your experience.  Reframing creates a different way of looking at a situation, trying to consider a different perspective in order to change its meaning.  It’s the old glass half empty/half full scenario.  For me, one of the things I miss most is connecting with friends over tea at a local eatery.  However, the restrictions around indoor dining created space for more outdoor dining, which I absolutely love.  Instead of a local eatery, we started meeting at the beach or at a local park where we could bring our take-out meal and sit on a blanket physically distanced in order to connect.  I could either look at this as an inconvenience or I could look at it as an opportunity to have more picnics in the park.  I reminded myself how this change brought two loves of mine together – eating and nature!  Perhaps take a scenario that has felt disappointing to you and see if you can see it in a different light.  If you are not able to come up with any different perspectives by yourself, consider reaching out to someone and ask them for their perspective.  You might ask more than one person and write down the various angles to stimulate the change in lenses to support future opportunities for reframing.
  4. Reconnect.  With so much restriction in what we can do, it has created opportunities for more being.  So consider who you have been being with more.  Who might have you deepened your connection with – your child, your spouse, yourself, nature?  What have you learned from this chance to reconnect, about yourself, about someone else, about the world in which we live?  We were heading down a pretty disconnected path prior to Covid-19 and the last nine months have shown us clearly that the ideal of independence is a myth.  It has laid bare the fact that humans are wired for connection and has created space for a paradigm shift towards an ideal of interdependence.  In this paradigm shift, we can find space for growth through our relationships.
  5. Refocus.  Destruction often brings what we value most forward into our more conscious minds.  Consider what your priorities were a year ago.  Have they changed in any way? If so, how?  What has that shift in priorities created in your life now?  In a culture that values multi-tasking, it is not uncommon to feel like we had competing priorities, juggling so many balls in the air, that there was no time to focus or give anything our undivided attention.  Perhaps this pandemic caused us to simplify, scale back, reduce, or limit in order to refocus our energy.  This refocused energy often become a powerful force for conscious construction.  What do you want to construct moving forward into the new year?  If it is not quite clear yet, no worries.  Perhaps plan to do a vision board before the end of the year to allow the beauty to be co-created!

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Make a Difference

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Sometimes things can feel so overwhelming and we think what can one person do when the problems of the world seem so insurmountable?  It is in moments like these that it’s important to remember the social changes that grew from grassroots movements and shaped history.  When we take time to reflect on those social movements, we can tap into the energy to be inspired and motivated to keep doing what we can, whenever we can, and where we can.  It does make a difference!

We don’t need a lot of money to make a difference.  We don’t need to make grand gestures to make a difference.  We don’t need to be in positions of power to make a difference.  All we need is the intention, focus and courage to take some small steps.

Below are intention-setting ideas for making a difference.  I hope you will consider trying one!

  1. VOTE.  The right to vote didn’t come easy and is a shining star in the examples of how grassroots movement created social and political change.  We all need to be active, engaged citizens.  And one way to make a difference is to simply vote.  In addition, perhaps set an intention to encourage and support someone that is eligible to vote for the first time by offering to go to the polls with them to guide them through the process.  See it as an investment in the future.
  2. Vote with your wallet.  Money is a major form of energy exchange.  Where and how we spend our hard-earned dollars matters.  In fact, for each dollar you spend, it represents a vote in favor of what you purchased.  When you begin to view money in this way, and become more conscious of your buying decisions, you can align with purchases that represent your values, perhaps ones that are more socially responsible.  Perhaps understanding this concept will motivate you to purchase only organically grown and humanely raised food or fair-trade goods.
  3. Celebrate World Kindness Day. World Kindness Day is celebrated November 13th and its intention is remind us that compassion is what connects all of us.  The energy of kindness has large and broad ripple effects.  Consider setting an intention to complete one act of kindness every day for one week this month and then commit to noticing how that kindness boomerangs back to you!
  4. Pay it forward.  If you haven’t seen this movie, start by setting an intention to watch it.  From there, try it out, and make World Kindness Day an every day event!
  5. Teach tolerance.  This intention starts from the inside.  When we start with tolerance, move into acceptance and then expand to compassion for ourselves as a human being, we model and become a beacon of light to others.  The process might start by inviting those parts of ourselves that others see as different, even scary, to step forward and sit with us, giving them space to express themselves.  The parts of ourselves we reject won’t go away and, instead, will actually rise up in rebellion unless we really see, hear and value what they have to offer.  The conflict within each of us – with our shadow sides – is reflected in the conflicts of the world.  What we might perceive as a flaw is actually fertile ground for growth.  So the teaching of tolerance starts within us.  It takes courage to tolerate and accept our limitations as spiritual beings having a human experience, yet those limitations do not have to hold us back from our spiritual evolution – which is fueled by compassion and a basic human need to belong.

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Move Through Depression

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National Depression Education & Awareness Month!

As we move into the 8th month of learning to live with the Covid-19 virus, many of us continue to struggle with symptoms of depression emanating from the physical distancing and the many other losses we have experienced, including amongst others the loss of loved ones, loss of employment, inability to be with loved ones when they are sick or in the hospital, inability to give and receive hugs, and the changes to regular pleasurable activities that might have included going to the movies or taking an in-person yoga class with our favorite teacher.

There are many positives that are occurring during this time too, yet it can be difficult to focus on them when caught in the throws of depression.  As my husband has been known to say “Not every day can be a home run”, it’s when more days than not that we feel like we struck out that becomes concerning.

According to the National Institute for Mental Health, “Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S.” There is no one cause for depression, yet it often stems from family history, major life changes, trauma, and/or stress, biological or other environmental factors.  It impacts all people, regardless of age, race, ethnicity or gender, although prevalence rates are highest amongst adults identifying as two or more races.

Depression is typically treated with a combination of psychotherapy, medication and brain stimulation therapies.

Below I provide intention-setting ideas that might prove helpful to you or your loved ones when moving through depression:

  1. Breathe.  Try Breath of Joy each morning.  Standing with your feet a little wider than your hips, arms by your side to start.  Take a 3-part inhale, raising both arms out in front of you on the first part of the inhale, moving both arms out to the sides at heart level on the second part of the inhale, and raising both arms to the sky on the third part of the inhale (YES, like you are conducting an orchestra), and then, as you exhale open your mouth, make a loud sighing out noise, as you swing your arms down along the sides of the body, fold the body over towards the ground while bending your knees.  Repeat these steps while taking 3-5 more breaths.  Afterwards, come back to standing with your arms along your sides, drawing your awareness to your hands, becoming aware of any sensations that might be present, while allowing your breath to return to a natural rhythm.  Sense into how you can feel your energy moving!
  2. Set One Daily Goal.  Make one goal that is especially meaningful to you.  Start out small, knowing you can grow it if and when you are ready.  Perhaps it is to make your favorite cup of tea in the morning and allow yourself 15 minutes (or more) to simply sit and enjoy drinking it.  Or perhaps it is to use your mala or prayer beads to allow yourself to sit for 5-10 minutes saying your prayers first thing in the morning or the last thing before bed.  Or it might be to read your favorite book or read the book that you have been meaning to read, but haven’t gotten to.  And, the most important part is to give yourself a pat on the back when you accomplish your goad and NOT beat yourself up when you don’t.  Be kind to yourself and simply set the goal again for the next day.  Maybe the goal changes to simply be kind to myself!
  3. Be active.  Exercise not only moves our body but also moves our e-motions (energy in motion).  So, although it may be difficult or even feel impossible on some days to get up and move, moving helps!  Walking as little as 15 minutes a day can help shift our energy and release some of the weight of depression.  Gentle yoga is perhaps another option to try and, thanks to the pandemic, you don’t even need to leave the house to attend a virtual class.
  4. Reach out.  The symptoms of depression tend to encourage us to withdraw and stay isolated, thinking that we don’t want to burden others with what we are going through.  However, being with others helps us feel better and is one of the best coping strategies for moving through depression.  And we don’t always have to put on our “happy mask” either.  When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and share our experiences, often we discover we are not alone in our challenges and, through sharing, we validate not only our experiences but the experiences of others.  Humans were designed to feel good when helping others, so allow others to help by listening to us when we are not having one of those “home run” kind of days.
  5. Gratitude journaling.  Practicing gratitude has been shown to increase our sense of peace and happiness.  Again, when trying to identify what you might be grateful for, think small.  This is another practice that will begin to grow as you continue to practice it.  Some of the most mundane, routine things might begin to look and feel differently when sprinkled with gratitude.  My most favorite items to add to my journal are:  running hot water, a bed to sleep in, a roof over my head, and my furbabies who love me no matter what!  I’d love to hear back from you what some of your favorites might be!

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Destigmatize Mental Health Challenges

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Psychotherapy Day – September 25th

It might appear as an act of self-promotion, yet my intention is to share research, wherever and whenever possible, so everyone might move forward making more informed decisions when it comes to their own health, mind, body and spirit!

Psychotherapy works, especially when there is a genuine connection and deep understanding of the root causes to health challenges.  And that deep understanding grows from the knowledge that it is not what is wrong with you, but what happened to you!

As I share again in this month’s Blog (see below), the research is unequivocal when showing the link between what happened to us (mental health) and the leading causes of morbidity and mortality (physical health).  So, if we truly want to have a healthier world, we need to start with a focus on the mind and, if we do, the body will follow.  This focus on the mind – and what traumatizes it – is the only way to break the transgenerational transmission of what ails the world.

Below I provide intention-settings idea to start to destigmatize mental health challenges to help shift the collective healthcare mindset from treating the long-term physical effects of trauma to prevention by inviting in more nurturing, compassion, understanding, belonging and acceptance into our lives:

  1. TALK about Mental Health.  Do you remember the last time a conflict was resolved by silence?  Neither do I!  The only way to truly bring about collaboration and community is to talk things out.  The act of talking takes courage and strength as it also requires us to listen deeply and with curiosity.  Our minds want to make sense of the world, even when experiences may not be logical – we are meaning making vibrational beings.  And often what makes the vibrations uncomfortable are the emotions of relationships.  Human beings are wired for connection to others, as the pandemic has so clearly laid bare for us to feel.  It is only when we can hold our relational emotions alongside of the rational thoughts that meaning mine opens wide for us to look into for the gold.  Sometimes this is impossible to do without the support of another, who can welcome and hold the emotions with us, making space for the light.  So it is my hope that all of us can set an intention to talk openly about our mental health, without shame, to remind us that we are not alone in our struggles.
  2. WRITE/BLOG about Mental Health.  For those that are active on social media, I encourage you to set an intention to write or blog (or even vlog) about a small piece of your story, remembering that it is what happened to you, so you may begin to shine the light on any shame that you might be carrying.  I like to compare shame as Toxic Mold that grows and thrives (and slowly kills) in the dark.  If the light can reach it, it dies.  When writing/sharing our stories, we are opening a window to let the light shine in and let the shame out.  Remember the shame is not yours and no longer needs to be carried!
  3. Volunteer for Mental Health. If you always felt a heart tug to volunteer, yet haven’t found the “just right” organization or cause, perhaps consider mental health.  As a starting point, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness or Mental Health America websites for more information.  Support is needed in all walks of life and all stages of life.
  4. Donate for Mental Health.  If you find that you don’t have the time to volunteer right now, perhaps you might consider a financial donation.  You might even look into whether or not your company might match your donation, as many organizations have such programs.  Any energy expended with intention creates ripples in the universe far beyond what the human eye can see or mind can know, so every little bit counts!
  5. Read/Share Research on Mental Health.  And last but certainly not least (and my favorite!) is read the research!  And, after reading it, share it!!  Remember the old Faberge Organics Shampoo commercial with Heather Locklear where she shared her experience with two friends . . . who shared it with two friends . . . etc., perhaps we can replicate that today by sharing something vitally important to the health of the world. It is this intention that might have the greatest impact on cutting short the public mental health crisis we have been challenged by for so many years.  The research is crystal clear – work with the mind first to prevent diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Foster Peace

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International Peace Month!

August was designated International Peace Month back at the time that the First World War ended, specifically on August 16, 1926, at the Democratic Peace Conference in Germany.  As time continues to pass along with the heroes of that time, it it critical that new generations are educated about the unthinkable tragedies that grew from that conflict, to learn the lessons in order to build a strong foundation of peace and avoid repeating the same mistakes that led to the Great War.

I am not a history teacher, yet I do honor our ancestors that fought so hard for peace.  Therefore, below I am offering intention-setting ideas to foster peace (inside and out) so that we all may do our small parts.  I hope you will consider trying one!

  1. Study history.  Consider reading a book on this Great War to better understand the worldwide devastation and how it changed Western culture.  It is vital that the world does not forget the devastating effects of the war.  Some books to consider include:  All Quiet On the Western Front by E.M. Remarque, Paths of Glory by Humphrey Cobb; The Great War And Modern Memory by Paul Fussell; The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman; and/or Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.
  2. Social media.  If you use social media, perhaps include #InternationalPeaceMonth in all of your posts this month.  See what response you might get and perhaps offer a bit of education if anyone asks why you included it your post.
  3. Peace tree. A lot of us are finding ourselves in our gardens more during this pandemic, so consider planting a peace tree.  You might plant it in honor of our war veterans in general, or perhaps a specific one.  I recently learned that my grandfather fought in the Great War, so this is my intention this month.
  4. Explore a current conflict.  Perhaps you do this with your child or a friend or significant other.  Some questions to get you started on the journey of exploration might include “Whose point of view is expressed in the story?” and “What other voices or points of view are missing?” Brainstorm what you both think the other voices that are missing would likely say.
  5. Local heroes.  Our local CBS talk/news AM radio station (KNX) highlights a local hero of the week.  Recently, it was my neighbor’s greyhound who donated blood for other animals in need.  It always warms my heart to hear these stories.  Consider discussing local heroes who promote peace with someone you love.  Examples might be medical personal, teachers, and rescue workers.  Share how these people play a part in the peace process.

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Support Racial Equity

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National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month!

As I continue to ride the waves of so many mixed emotions – pain, hope, rage, compassion, fear, love, shame, humility, sadness, gratitude, discomfort – I try to remind myself of my own humanity, flawed and limited yet filled with a desire to contribute to positive change.  In the light that is being shined on recent events, reflecting the depth and breadth of systems of oppression and racism, it is critical to highlight National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and honor the fact that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) experience unique struggles in regards to maintaining mental health when experiencing disproportionate inequities.

“I can’t breathe”.  As a human and a yogi, these words struck deep in my soul.  Breath is one of our most basic human rights – the right to life – and it is one of the vital yoga practices to attaining inner peace.  The pain and sadness I felt when I heard those words was indescribable and I can only imagine what it felt like within BIPOC communities.  As a white woman, I carry the collective shame that comes from knowing my roots grew from the toxic soils that fostered such inequities.  I am grateful for the light that shines on this shame.  The dialogues and actions that have arisen from the growing awareness and acknowledgement of ongoing social injustices bring me humility and hope.

I am sitting with my own discomfort knowing that it is required for transformation.  It is often when the pain becomes unbearable that action emerges.  So when I see and hear how white allies are moving into action to partner with the courageous BIPOC to expand awareness and understanding of the need for inclusivity, equity, and accessibility, it fills my heart with love and compassion.  Love as the fuel for the courage and compassion for the collective suffering.

I also recognize that at times my fear overwhelms me and I feel helpless, not knowing what the right thing to do is in the moment.  Not wanting to offend or unconsciously show my white privilege, I sometimes want to withdraw and not do or say anything.  It is in times like these that I remind myself that inactivity breeds fear and shame.  I want to be a part of the dialogue and the solution, not part of the problems.

If you too have been experiencing emotional effects of the violence and injustice, I humbly provide the following intention-setting ideas that can be put into action now to support personal growth and collective change.  I encourage leaning in with an open heart and mind:

  1. Look within.  Transformational shifts start with each individual welcoming and embracing their shadow side.  Unless we actively work to make the unconscious conscious, we will be continually motivated to act from the shadow.  When our unsettling behaviors create conflict – within ourselves or with others – it is an invitation to take a journey of exploration within our inner landscapes.  It is important to be kind to ourselves on this journey, so when powerful emotions such as anger and shame present themselves, we can simply invite them to sit with us for a moment.  We can befriend our emotions and ask them to let us know what they are trying to tell us.  Consider befriending one powerful emotion that might scare you a little and write about it unfiltered for 5 minutes or 5 pages.  Set it aside afterwards, sense into your body, place a hand on the space in the body where the mind is drawn to and simply ask yourself “What do I need right now?”.  Listen deeply to the response and follow through on the request.
  2. Educate yourself.  It is a personal belief of mine that education is vital to the growth of not only the individual but the collective consciousness of the world.  Education does not need to come in the form of “formal, higher education” although it is an option.  However, we can take immediate steps to educate ourselves more on systemic social injustice through reading books, watching movies, listening to podcasts, and/or visiting websites.  Please consider committing some time to broadening and deepening your growth by challenging hidden implicit biases.  Below I have provided some options to consider:
    • Books:
      • White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People To Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
      • How To Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
      • So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
      • How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy and the Racial Divide by Crystal Fleming
      • White Rage; the Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
    • Movies:
      • Just Mercy (2019)
      • Rosewood (1997)
      • Harriet (2019)
      • Selma (2014)
      • Queen & Slim (2019)
      • The Hate You Give (2018)
      • 12 Years A Slave (2013)
      • Hidden Figures (2016)
    • Podcasts:
      • 1619
      • Code Switch
      • United States of Anxiety
      • The Stoop
      • Still Processing
    • Websites:
  3. Have a difficult conversation. Talking about racial inequity may be difficult, yet they are mission critical to lasting change.  Thoughtful conversations with an open heart allows differences in perspectives to be heard and validates a person’s lived experiences through being seen and felt.  Knowing and honoring the fact that the conversation will bring discomfort is a good starting point, one that might open the door.  Invite your curious part to lead the dialogue, asking open ended questions.  Asking your judgmental part to take a short vacation is also helpful.  Keep in mind one of the habits from Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People book of ‘Seek first to understand, then to be understood’ as a good mantra for keeping the door open during these conversations.
  4. Take political action.  The most powerful way to get our voices heard when change is needed is to vote, so it is my hope that if you only set one intention this month, let it be to show up at the polls on November 3, 2020.  In the meantime, perhaps you contact your local or state leaders by sending a letter or making a call to voice your concerns and desire for change.  Another option to consider is to simply sign a petition or two as there is powerful energy behind adding your name to a cause.  Petitions are one of the rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.  Here are a few to consider:
  5. Safely join a protest.  The protests that have arisen recently in response to the violent effects of the deeply ingrained social inequity represent a wave of change that hopefully will not be silenced or ignored any longer.  The people showing up to protest truly reflect the diversity of America, including white allies.  If you consider joining one, please do so carefully, respecting the rights of all during this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas from the Planets during the Eclipse Retrograde Season

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The Eclipse Season is upon us this month and it brings 5 planets in retrograde (with a 6th planet (Neptune) being added in retrograde from 6/22-6/24!), so I thought we might take the lead from the Universe at this time to guide us on our journeys within this month!

When a planet slows down in its rotation and appears to be moving backward (retrograde) in the sky, the energy of that planet encourages us to slow down with it, reflect, and recognize how that energy is manifesting within us on an internal level.  This means the work we do now will create shifts in our inner world, to prepare us for the outward expression once these planets begin to rotate faster and go direct again.

On the other hand, eclipses tend to accelerate the pace of change, offering dramatic turning points to motivate us to get us moving forward and into action.  They tend to shine light on the areas of our life that need to change to elevate our consciousness.

Therefore, combining the accelerated energy of the 3 eclipses with the slower energy of the retrograde planets, we have a fantastic opportunity to burn through anything that has been holding us back if we are willing to dig deep!

Below I provide an intention-setting idea from each of the 5 planets that are retrograde this month.  If one of them speaks to the depth of your soul, have your journal (or shovel?) ready, as the eclipse energy will ease the excavation of what is no longer serving you, and thus the universe.  I hope you will consider trying one!

  1. Pluto Retrograde (4/25-10/4).  Pluto is the planet that represents death, destruction and rebirth and it has been very active since October until is recently went retrograde at the end of April.  This retrograde cycle is a very spiritual time and is asking us to reflect on what it is we would like to see rebirthed personally or in the world.  Consider asking the questions ‘What needs to be transformed?’ and ‘What is it safe for me to let go of now?’ and use your journal to write or draw your response or vision for moving forward.
  2. Saturn Retrograde (5/10-11-9/29).  Saturn is the planet that represents social expectations, such as rules, boundaries, structure, authority, hard work, and discipline.  This retrograde cycle will be asking us to reflect on where have we been guided to set boundaries or, perhaps, to knock them down.  Consider asking yourself the question “What boundary have I set for myself that is holding me back on my journey?” and use your journal to explore how it served you in the past but have now discovered it is outdated.
  3. Venus Retrograde (5/13-6/25)  Venus is the planet that represents love, relationships, beauty, pleasure, creativity and art and it rules over the divine feminine.  This retrograde cycle will be encouraging us to reflect on old heart wounds in order to move us through the heartache and towards forgiveness, so we can live heart-led lives with more ease.  Consider taking a moment to place your right hand over your heart and asking yourself “What do I need right now?” and then writing down in your journal whatever comes up without filtering it.  Our analytical mind tends to hold us back from expressing ourselves authentically, from our essence that resides in our heart chakra, for fear of judgment.  Now is the time to honor your needs and by doing so, clearing space for your heart energy to expand!
  4. Jupiter Retrograde (5/14-9/12).  Jupiter is the planet that represents luck, growth, opportunity and abundance and rules over expansive areas such as beliefs, law, religion, intuition and culture.  This retrograde cycle will be pushing us to examine our views of the world, our vision of truth and our connection with global humanitarian issues.  Consider posing the question “What limiting beliefs do I hold that were forced upon me by my environment?” and letting your intuition guide you to rewrite those beliefs.  When we allow ourselves to sit at the feet of our inner guru, we create space for growth and expansion by removing any obstacle that has been holding us back.
  5. Mercury Retrograde (6/18-7/12).  Mercury is the planet the represents communication, e-commerce and movement and rules the mind, learning, knowledge, and helping us to make sense of what we hear and manage what we say.  This retrograde cycle will inspire us to delve into the past to reconsider our attitudes and will offer space to sort through our emotions and rearrange our inner dialog.  Perhaps now is a time to reflect on how we are choosing to talk to ourselves, exploring the question “What judgments am I placing on myself that are weighing me down?” so any repressed emotions can be felt and dealt with, maybe by giving them some air time to be heard through writing in your journal.  It is vital to your health to honor your emotions and nurture the sanctuary of your heart, so replacing the judgment with soothing self-talk and inviting in soothing self-care practices will be important during this time.

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Honor the New Normal

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National Mental Health Month

The COVID-19 virus has taken a lot away from how we experienced the world in the past, so there is much to grieve.  And grief is heavy.  It can make us feel like we are walking in quicksand or moving through molasses.  Our thoughts lost in a thick fog.  It takes time to navigate all the emotions that present themselves and sort through the thoughts that grow from the uncertainty.

So to help us all move through the collective conscious grief the world is currently experiencing, I thought it was important to honor National Mental Health Month by looking for the silver linings Mother Earth is calling on us to see at this time.  After destruction, comes construction.  After the rain, comes the sun and rainbow.  After the dark night, comes the light of day.

So, take a moment to consider the following intention-setting ideas being offered to us by Mother Earth to honor the silver linings that may define our new normal moving forward:

  1. Better public health hygiene.  Consider the benefits of the international attention given to the proper way to wash your hands.  This ongoing world campaign has raised the collective consciousness to a new level.  Back in 2008, October 15th was designated Global Handwashing Day to raise awareness that washing our hands with soap is a key factor in disease prevention, specifically to reduce respiratory and intestinal diseases by 25-50%.  With the heightened level of fear currently, perhaps we are taking this advice more seriously and will continue the practice of frequent, proper hand washing or using the hand sanitizers that are being installed in more public spaces.
  2. Healthier greeting rituals.  Do you know the history of the handshake as a greeting?  Perhaps take a moment to do a little research on it.  From there, consider how you might want to begin your own ritual for greeting someone you meet for the first time without physical contact to reduce the spreading of germs.  I personally always struggled with hand shaking, especially when I had to be taught how to do it right!  I much prefer to use Namaste, the age-old traditional greeting in India.  Namaste simply invites the palms together at the heart center with the thumbs close to or touching your heart center (aka Anjali mudra) as you tilt your head forward and say ‘Namaste’.  Perhaps you might prefer the traditional Japanese greeting of bowing.  Either option will allow us to maintain the physical distance recommended while also demonstrating through our body language that we honor the connection to others.
  3. Respecting Mother Earth.  Someone shared something with me recently that moved me deeply.  I was reminded that the trees are the earth’s lungs, as they inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen (aka photosynthesis) for us to breathe.  With the increased worldwide number and severity of fires we experienced last year, we burned Mother Earth’s lungs.  So is it really so surprising that she would push back with a respiratory disease that brings us high fevers and shortness of breath?  She is crying out for our collective attention and respect.  And when we could not figure out ourselves how to work together to reduce climate change, she created a situation that no country could ignore and forced our hands to join forces.  With the drastic reduction in cars on the roads, airplanes in the sky, and boats on the water, look how she is rewarding us with cleaner air and clearer water.  And, although these observations will be temporary, might they be drastic enough to support major infrastructure and/or societal changes to support Mother Earth’s intention to help us thrive?  Might we all agree to set this as a collective intention?.
  4. Working from home.  The benefits are many, running the gamut from more individual flexibility to less traffic on the roads.  As we have seen through this crisis, we are finding news way of doing our jobs remotely.  There has been a significant reduction in severe car accidents, so much so many car insurance companies are giving people refunds.  Might companies embrace letting (us) introverts remain working from home on a permanent basis?  If this became the new normal, we would reduce all costs associated with onsite work by somewhere between 25-50% (the guestimate of the number of introverts), such as the wear-and-tear on our roads, pollution (both air and noise) office space, gas, and car repairs, none-the-less the boost in our mental and emotional health from eliminated time stuck in traffic and away from our families.  Productivity and job satisfaction has been shown to increase in an environment that supports less distractions and sick time is reduced.  And, oh by the way, less people in the office means less sick people in the office which equals less spreading of germs! What do we really have to lose?!
  5. Back to Basics.  This time has challenged all of us to really reflect on what we will end up missing in our lives by being forced to pause for longer than a moment.  It brings to mind the mantra, less is more.  It provides each of us an opportunity to create a new baseline measurement of what we sense feeds our souls versus simply filling our lives with distractions.  As we are finding ourselves getting back to the basics of what is needed for good physical health, including regular sleep, conscious eating and daily exercise, we can give ourselves permission to decide for ourselves what truly nourishes our mental, emotional and spiritual health,  Doing less and being more supports Mother Earth, reduces our stress, invites peace of mind, and supports a deeper connection with ourselves and others.  When we can learn to simplify our lives, living with less and loving the freedom it brings, we can truly understand that less is more!

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!

5 Intention-setting Ideas to Spread Hope

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National Month of Hope

At the time of this writing, most of the country has been instructed to follow physical distancing guidelines and/or an order to “stay-at-home” to battle the unprecedented spread of the COVID-19 virus.  Although such mandated imposed physical isolation guidelines may be critical to the physical safety and health of many during such a pandemic, it is wrecking havoc on the mental health and well-being of all of us.As humans, we all have a basic need for connection, as connections have been essential for survival historically.  We also have a need for meaning in our lives, having a purpose or reason to get us up in the morning and move us forward, no matter what chaos may be swirling around us.  Some of these basic human needs are being challenged right now.

So, I thought it might be helpful at this time to highlight the fact that April is the National Month of Hope and offer some intention-setting ideas to spread hope.  At some level, I don’t think the timing of these two events is ironic.  Mother Nature has always been the great equalizer and demands our respect.  It seems that when there is an extended period of a lack of respect, she stirs something up to create a global shift to wake us all up!

Now, more than ever, might be a time to re-invite such respect into our lives as it can be a powerful guide to our ever evolving purpose and subsequent behaviors.  Perhaps we might recommit ourselves to such purposes as a healthier world, a more diverse, interconnected community, or a more just society that works towards reducing the suffering of others.  When we are able to clearly define our purpose, it brings hope as it can anchor and steer us in establishing and working toward goals that bring more meaning to our lives.

In addition, there has been much research on the impact of connection, purpose, meaning and hope on our health and well-being.  Hope is the spark that ignites our internal fire, while having a purpose that brings deeper connection and meaning is the gentle breeze that fans the flames of that fire, keeping our light vibrant and bright.  Hope keeps the collective light on during the dark times of such a global shift.  So, what can we do to spread hope now to increase the current of connective energy needed to move us through these dark moments in time?  Below are some intention-setting ideas to try this month:

  1. Use Social Media.  Consider setting an intention to post words of hope on your social media outlet of choice.  Perhaps challenge yourself to see if you can do so for the next 30 days. Or you might share a personal story when you overcame a difficult time, providing a source of inspiration to others that might be experiencing an increased sense of fear and anxiety at this time.
  2. Write Cards or Letters to Loved Ones.  If you are not a big social media user (like me!), perhaps set an intention to write a card or letter containing words of hope to someone you care about that you are unable to see in person at this time.  Personal, heart-felt written words may provide a longer-lasting effect, as they are a more tangible representation of your connection, that is available to be read again anytime that person might need a reminder that they are not alone.
  3. Reach Out to Keep Others Informed.  Stress can tend to make us focus on the negative and fear can make us withdraw even more from the world.  The simple act of reaching out to someone to keep them informed signals to them that they are important to you, that they are not alone, and provides you with an opportunity to express your concern for their well-being.  Even if the information may be considered negative, the act of sharing it demonstrates that you are not only thinking about yourself, but are thinking of them.  During this time, if you come across some news that brought you a sense of hope, consider sharing it with others in order to remind them that not all hope is lost and this too shall pass.
  4. Contribute Kindness and Encouragement.  Say “thank you” often.  We are being asked to rely more on virtual communication at this time to stay connected, so consider setting an intention to demonstrate the power of a sincere ‘thank you’ in each connection you make.  Feeling heard and valued by others can bring comfort when we are feeling unsettled, lonely or scared.  Hearing words of appreciation encourages us to continue what we are doing and reinforces our sense of purpose, inviting hope (Helping Others by Providing Encouragement), acceptance and meaning.
  5. Take Care of Yourself.  The world needs us at our best right now, which demands us to step up our self-care efforts.  Taking care of ourselves empowers others to do the same.  Because many of our sources for connection and well-being are closed right now, consider returning to the basics of health and well-being, which includes sleep, eating healthy, exercising the body and mind, and deep breathing.  When you take deep breaths, it facilitates the reduction of negative stress chemicals in the body and supports an increase in the positive ones the invite calmness into your entire system.  From the emotional shift that is a result of your own deep breathing, you are in a better position to help others who might need some support in making that same emotional shift.  So, if you are one of the many of us that struggle to prioritize our self-care, perhaps set an intention to spend some time reflecting on what self-care means to you.  Unfortunately, many of us were taught to think that self-care is selfish.  However, as the airlines inform us during each flight’s physical safety instructions, we must put on our own oxygen mask first, before helping others to ensure we are available to help others.  So, when you are able to maintain your own health (emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical), it is much easier to support and spread hope to others!

As always, if you try any of these intention-setting ideas for holistic health, I would love to hear about the impact they might have had for you.  Please send me an email at linda@sanctuary4compassion.com to share!