90 Days of Pleasure

I’ve been dreaming up a new program that I desire to run this Fall and decided that I’d run it for myself first as a fun way to experiment and see where it leads me.

90 days of doing 1 thing a day to feel pleasure in my body. But here’s the catch: I don’t want this to be performative or just a checking off an item on the list. I desire to deeply listen to my body, feel into what would be the most nourishing thing, do the thing, and then write/reflect on anything that comes up. 

Yesterday was my day off. I thought I wanted to be home all day but halfway through the day I felt the tug to have my feet on the earth and be immersed in the forest. So I went for a hike, it was a beautiful day and it felt good to move my body. 

At one point I came across the sparkling ripples of the water catching the afternoon light and I was mesmerized. I felt the pull to be near the water. After settling in to a patch of soft moss and grass, I laid down and rested, listening to the sounds of nature around me, feeling my breath move my body, the grass and ants & spiders tickling my skin, feeling the warmth of the sun, drifting in and out of a dreamy restful state.

I love being in nature but I realized in that moment that I rarely let myself just be. I’m almost always moving-hiking, paddling, yoga, etc. It felt so nourishing to be fully present to what was around me and do nothing but observe and breathe.

On my way back to my car I found 3 abundant patches of wild Yarrow. Blooms are aplenty this year but it certainly was no coincidence that I only saw these patches after I had rested, after I connected more deeply to myself and the earth. Spiritual meaning of Yarrow: Yarrow is a guardian, a heart protector, and a teacher. It assists in allowing us to work when our cups are full, and not when we are depleted, by creating an energetic boundary. It is an excellent healer for healers. It propels us towards lightness, roots us in the earth, and fortifies the spirit.