Practices

do you have a self-care toolkit?

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.

~Viktor Frankl

Practices have the power to shape who we are and who we aspire to become.

A practice is different from a routine. While routines are often habitual, a practice is a habit we consciously choose to do regularly. No matter how much we think or read or plan or schedule for change, there’s no substitute for showing up for ourselves and doing the thing.

Every day, I engage in practices like meditation, morning pages, and yoga. Writing this post to you each week is also a practice, as is reading fiction for pleasure and eating something directly from the land every day.

As we look ahead to the new year—a natural time to reset—it’s worth reflecting: What practices truly nourish us? And what practices help shape us into the people we want to become?

When you’re in need of care, what are your practices?

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

What practices do you feed?

Writing has been central to my profession throughout my adult life, so I was hesitant to embrace it as a tool for personal care. But nurturing my writing practice has done more for my mental health than any therapist I’ve worked with. It’s become an act of self-acceptance I didn’t even know was possible.

As we step into the new year, I’m offering a 12-week Artist’s Way practice for anyone interested in committing to their creativity, even if you don’t consider yourself a writer. Whether you join on your own or with your reading or writing group, this experience is designed to deepen your connection with your creative self.

If you’re feeling hesitant, I get it—I was too. My first experience with The Artist’s Way was through an online group (that no longer meets), and it completely transformed my relationship with writing—and with myself.

Here’s how it works: All paid subscribers will receive a Zoom link and instructions for our first meeting, but the first step is simply to grab a copy of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and read the introduction. If you have friends who want to join, they can sign up as monthly or annual subscribers and automatically receive the link and details.

Not ready to commit? No problem—show up to our first session on January 4th, and decide from there. I’m confident that one meeting will inspire you to continue.

The Artist’s Way is Julia Cameron’s seminal guide to cultivating creativity. Her 12-week program focuses on two core practices:

• Morning Pages: Three pages of free-form, handwritten journaling done daily to clear your mind.

• Artist’s Dates: Weekly solo adventures to connect with your inner artist.

Our group will convene on Zoom starting Saturday, January 4th, at 1:00 PM PT, for 12 weeks of a clearly delineated combitation of self-directed study, guided support, written weekly check-ins and monthly Zoom meetings.

I can’t wait to explore this journey with you! It’s an opportunity to reset, reflect, and recommit to your creativity in the new year. Is a writing practice calling to you?

What practices are working for you right now?

Which ones do you want to keep? What do you want to add?

What practices are worth feeding?

Speaking of the new year, the winner of the drawing for the solo night in the tiny cottage is Dr. Deborah Vinall. She’ll guest post here after her stay, so you can vicariously experience it!

If you’d like to gift a subscription to Forager Fridays to someone you love for Christmas, click below! A Substack subscription is a ticket to our upcoming artist’s way series.

Current Offerings (In-person and Remote)

1. If you’re in southern California, you’re invited to join me at Storyscapes: A Nature-Inspired Writing Retreat on Sunday, January 5th from 9:30-4. Reconnect with your writing in nature. Storyscapes offers guided inspiration, an intimate community, an art journal, and a colorful, nourishing lunch. Click here to register.

2. Artist’s Way group - The Artists’ Way is Julia Cameron’s seminal book on cultivating creativity. There are two main components in her 12-week program: daily Morning Pages (three sheets of unfiltered, anything-goes journaling, written by hand) and weekly Artist’s Dates (solo adventures during which you spend time with your inner artist). Our cohort will convene on Zoom on Saturday, January 4th at 1:00 PT for 12 weeks of self-directed study and guided support. Before the end of December, all paid subscribers will receive a note on how to prepare for our first meeting, as well as the Zoom link for our chats.

3. Self-care workshop at Claremont Yoga. Deepen your practice with meditation, breath work self-reflection and self-care techniques. Workshop counts for the philosophy and meditation portion of your 200 or 500 hour teacher training program or 25 hours of continuing education for teachers through Yoga Alliance. Or, it’s just a great way to create a personal lifelong toolkit to ground you when your life feels like a mess. Sundays from 1:30-4:00 pm on: January 12 & 26, February 9 & 23, March 9 & 23 and April 13
   Cost: $350 for series. Open to all levels. Attending to our needs is often at the end of our ‘to do’ list. Attention, awareness and action are body intelligences we can learn. This yoga alliance program will incorporate yoga philosophy, pranayama and meditation to help you check in with yourself and develop practices to support you, on and off the mat. Our time together, and the time you commit to yourself between sessions, will help you cultivate your personal wellness and wisdom. For more information about this workshop or Claremont YOGA’s 200 Hour Teacher Training Program, email studio@claremontyoga.com or click here to register for the workshop.

Thank you for being on this journey with me. I am grateful for the gift of your presence. Walking this path, knowing so many of you are walking it too, gives me hope. May we recognize our interbeing, with one another and the anima mundi, supporting each other in growth and recovery, like a mycelial network.