Tag: fertility journey

How to Surrender Your Fear

“To engender a sense of freedom, lie on your back and enter into the moods of the sky.” ~ Chrissie Wildwood

The night was so hot and uncomfortable. I went outside to lie down on the grass, the soft green chest of the great mother against my back. I breathed in the dark overcast sky knowing that no Goddess kissed raindrops would fall from it. Bats flew, criss-crossing through secret sky paths above me.

I could feel the tightness of fear and anxiety in my body and the many things that I’m afraid of rising to the surface: Judgement and uncertainty. The fear that I may never overcome the challenges of PCOS or carry a pregnancy to term, despite my efforts to heal and balance my body or nurture my spirit. And also those debilitating moments when I’m so consumed by anxiety that I cannot do simple things that come naturally to everyone around me. Fear has a sneaky way of convincing us that only dead ends lie ahead, even when that’s the furthest thing from the truth.

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I looked up at the tree tops against the dark sky and inhaled their wildness. Their silhouettes swayed in the wind and I drew their freeing energy into the tight places of my body. Let it all go, whispered something in me. So, I tried to. I let my tension dissolve. I wanted to surrender to the night, to become part of it and to free the parts of me that felt locked in shackles. I needed to embrace my fear, surrender to the flow of love regardless, trusting that it would guide me forward to a more nurturing and positive truth. As Gabby Bernstein’s puts it so perfectly in The Universe Has Your Back, “By embracing my fear and surrendering my desire to be free, an even greater pathway to freedom is opened up to me.”

I realised that there is no fear in the wildness of things of the night, just a confident sureness, a deep Trust. So, I recognised that must be like bats who trust whole-heartedly in their inner guidance system to navigate them through the dark. I must trust my truth and the sound of my own voice the way they trust their screeches to reverberate through the quiet air and then return to them as a sounding board. And I must shake off my fear like the wildness of dark tree silhouettes on a windy evening and guide myself back to the confident space of love, trust and hope for new possibilities.

I inhaled the coolness around me and felt myself loosening up, aware of the sense of ease growing within. I remembered how in many difficult moments, surrendering to energy of the Earth and trusting in the Universe offered me refuge and insight, and I felt grateful that these glimpses of wildness have carried me beyond the fear and home to myself again. As I listened to the sky, it seemed to look back down at me and say: “Surrender…Be fearless like the wild night.”

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“The practice that will serve your highest good is the practice of surrendering to the love of the Universe.” ~ Gabrielle Bernstein

Meditation for Surrender: Centre yourself with a few deep breaths. Relax your body and clear your mind. What fears are unsettling you right now? What is causing you anxiety? Take note of what comes up and then set the intention to surrender these fears and anxiety to the Universe. Let it all go. Visualise everything being released from your body, from you mind and your soul as you surrender and let go. Feel the tension melting way more and more as you release. Now think about the more positive thoughts and feelings that you would like to cultivate within yourself. What are they? How do you want to feel? Allow yourself to continue to surrender your fears and replace them with more nurturing beliefs that bring your peace of mind, calmness and joy.

Affirmation: I surrender my fear to the Universe. I choose a loving perspective that serves my highest good instead. I choose to think good thoughts that nurture my soul and help me connect to feelings of deeper peace.

(*Revised/Recycled Post)

Candlelight Breakfasts: A Morning Ritual to Nurture Your Relationship

W A X I N G   M O O N

Water your heart’s seeds with hope.

Nurture what you love.

How else will the important things flourish?

 

Morning rituals are so sacred. They set the tone for the rest of the day, which is exactly why I cherish our candlelight breakfasts.

Each morning, we light candles at our little dining table and sit down to breakfast together, a touch of romance to something ordinary. The thing I hold dearest in my heart is that this simple morning ritual has become a foundation that fosters togetherness so that we move through the rest of the day feeling more connected to one another and grounded in love.

Dealing with fertility issues and overcoming the devastation of miscarriages aren’t the easiest experiences to get to grips with. It comes with a lot of stress and emotional turmoil that can put strain on your marriage. So, in the face of our reality, my husband and I have had to consciously explore pathways for connection and look at how to create a supportive environment in which our love and marriage can continue to thrive despite challenges. Our candlelight breakfast is just one of the things we’ve incorporated into our daily lives to serve those intentions. It’s created the space for us to slow down and check in with one another before the day’s demands take hold.

As part of our morning ritual – between the usual fruit, smoothies, oats, muesli and tea – we do a gratitude practice together, counting our blessings and sharing what we are grateful for. We set our intentions for the week/the day, discussing our core desires, goals and visions. Something I consider very significant is that we make a point of asking the question – How can I support you? We didn’t always know how to ask for support or express our needs, especially in the early days. Learning to do so has taught us to take better care of ourselves and of each other. Keeping the lines of communication open is key in any relationship and knowing how to support each other (whether soothing one another’s pain, sharing chores, offering inspiration or celebrating joys and successes) helps to cement your bond.

This morning ritual offers us the opportunity to be present, connect, communicate and nurture our relationship. It’s been a daily practise for 7 months now, one that I still look forward to every day. I take comfort seeing my husband leave for work in a happy and grounded space and in knowing that I feel that way too. The dynamics of our lives will change when we eventually do have our babies. We won’t always have the same calmness, or the luxury of time. But when that changes, I have no doubt that we will continue to foster new pathways for connection and find our way back to one another.

I recognise that there are no perfect lives. No perfect relationships or marriages. But there are happy ones. Challenges always arise. It’s a natural part of life. The real test, however, is in how we choose to navigate our way through them. And the effect of those choices determines whether two people walk the path together in a healthy and supportive relationship or not. I’m so grateful that my partner in crime is a gentle, wise, loving and understanding soul who has made even the toughest paths so easy to walk together.

Do you feel supported? How to you nurture your relationship?  

Moon Milk: To Nourish Your Feminine Hormones

F U L L   M O O N.

A soothing adaptogenic elixir to nurture the feminine body and soul. Brew yourself a cup at the end of your day. Drink it beneath the stars, moonlight spilling into your eyes, and Goddess love flowing into your heart.

Moon milk has become a daily part of my life. I’m working to healing PCOS naturally and restoring my hormones to balance (with the intention of conceiving a baby), so nutrition and herbs have been important medicine on my journey. Maca, ashwagandha and shatavari are the three most common herbs that are often recommended to me. Since these herbs support the female reproductive system – enhancing libido, balancing hormones and moods, supporting fertility and helping the body to adapt to changes or stress – they’re recommended in the preconception and postpartum stages, but should not be taken during pregnancy. I’ve had quite a bit of experience with maca over the past couple of years, putting it in everything from my smoothies, to hot chocolate to muffins. Yet although I’ve heard lots about ayurvedic ashwagandha and shatavari, I only recently found that they’re finally available at the health stores I order my supplies from.

So, from the moment I got my hands on them, this moon milk magic swiftly became a grounding and soothing caffeine-free part of my afternoon ritual, helping to calm my heart when I take a moment to step aside from the day’s demands, breathe and enjoy the late afternoon sun. I love the warm malty flavour with a hint of honey and cinnamon (if this is not to your taste, then adding a tablespoon of cocoa gives it a lovely chocolaty flavour).  I make my moon milk with almond mylk most of the time, though I must admit that it’s so yummy with coconut milk too. Since I often get asked about the recipes for things I share on Instagram, I thought I’d share this one on the blog today for those who may be interested. See the recipe below.

Ingredients:

1 cup of nut milk (almond, coconut, walnut, etc)

1 tsp of maca

1 tsp of ashwagandha

1 tsp shatavari

¼ tsp of cinnamon

Honey to taste

(Optional – add a tablespoon of cocoa gives it a lovely chocolatey flavour)

Directions:

Warm the nut milk in a sauce pan. Add all dry ingredients into the sauce pan and whisk them slowly until the ingredients have blended together nicely. Then pour the elixir into your cup, add a drizzle of honey and enjoy. Alternatively, warm the nut milk in a sauce pan, then when it is ready pour into your high speed blender. Add all ingredients (including honey), blend it for 30 seconds and then pour the moon milk out into a cup and enjoy. I personally prefer using the high speed blender because its easy and faster.

Full Moon Blessings to You!

 

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Disclaimer – This page is for educational and informational purposes only and may not be construed as medical advice. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by physicians. Consult your personal health care professional for advice on what works best for you.