Happy Thursday beautiful hearts!  Today I want to speak about birth.  I have not had the privilege yet of being a mother, but I do hope that someday I will experience this amazing process.  In the meantime, I am currently taking a class on Pre-Natal and Perinatal Birth Trauma.  This class taught by Dr. William Emerson has transformed my relationship to my birth experience.  

Throughout my life, anyone who knows me, knows that I devour knowledge and am always eager to share my insights with others.  I truly believe that we are here to hold a space of love, healing and kindness as we do our personal work.  The mere fact that we are breathing is hope enough that we can change and reach new levels of understanding about ourselves.  

Dr. William Emerson, a trained birth psychologist has dedicated his life to understanding the traumatic impacts of birth.  Before I go any further, my disclaimer statement is that this information is being offered as a vehicle of curiosity rather than an instrument of shaming.  I am just touching the surface of this astounding field and I profess to be at best a novice in recounting the information.  Dr. Emerson has concluded that infant birth trauma is nearly universal.  With that being said, he has also discovered that 'good things' can rebalance trauma.  He concluded that just because trauma occurred during birth, doesn't mean that the whole birth was traumatic.  He has determined that the imposition of 'interventions' by medical professionals seems to constitute the majority of trauma experienced by both mother and baby.  

One of my assignments in this class is to write a paper on how I imagine my birth experience as well as the impact that my birth experience has had throughout my life.  In doing some of my own personal work with one of my teachers, he has helped me to discover that due to the medical interventions used during my birth, I have unconsciously recapitulated this experience throughout my life.  

To recapitulate in a biological sense means to 'repeat the evolutionary stages of development.'  For instance as I was being born, my mom was given Pitocin.  As this induction method was introduced it created a cascade of effects in my system.  The erroneous belief I took on was that I lacked a clear direction and instantaneously felt a sense of being overwhelmed in the womb.  Mother and baby are naturally designed to work together to allow natural labor to occur.  In my instance, once the Pitocin was introduced, my body froze and my breath became almost non existent.  Studies show that once inductions begin, babies lose 1/2 of their natural ability to push.  The next part of my birth resulted in an emergency C-section.  

Fast forward this 'recapitulation theory' in my present life, and my dear teacher has helped me to identify that when transitions occur in my life, I return to the Pitocin experience in my mothers womb and experience a parasympathetic reaction.  I become over taken by the Pitocin and freeze.  I feel the same biological overwhelm that I felt when I was in the womb.  I marinate in Pitocin time and time again.  My breathing pattern becomes very shallow.  In essence I recapitulate this experience unconsciously.  Researchers suggest that we repeatedly relive our 'womb' experience.  I am here to tell you, this recapitulation experience can be released and transformed!  

I don't know about you, but I find this world of Pre and Perinatal Psychology to be quite astounding.  I share my personal experience in the hopes that it sparks your curiosity.  I also share, because there are trained individuals that can help us to break free from the impacts of the interventions used during our births that cause us to recapitulate our womb experiences in personal relationships, romantic relationships, and work dynamics.  

I am so very grateful on this Thankful Thursday for this life changing information!  If you would like to check out Dr. Emerson's work, click this link.  

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude, 
Sarah 

Happy Wednesday loves!  Virginia Satir's work has inspired the field of Family Therapy since the late 1950's.  This pioneer who, at age five decided to become a 'children's detective on parents' has revolutionized how we view the dynamics of a family.  As we identify our tribes unspoken rules, may we be encouraged to revisit our beliefs and live from the center of our personal truths.  

As I reflect on her quote, I can't help but feel the wild call to curiously and creatively see and hear what's right in front of me.  This is my life.  No sugar coating the tremendous grief.  No excusing the ignorance.  Falling in love with the sweeps of love that seasonally visit my heart.  Continually cultivating the presence of compassion along the way.  I notice the empowered woman inside of me who finds the courage to speak a truth that is all her own.  She echoes this truth from the walls of her heart.  Feeling the raw tenderness of living, she gathers her experiences from a well spring of grace.  I ask this wise woman inside to chose life over fear.  I urge her to step outside of her self imposed comfort zone in order to experience the Divine symphony of life.  I ask her to rock the boat of her soul.  May it sail to far off shores and may she return changed and full of abundant experiences.  I hope that she seeks experiences that thrill her to the very core.  I encourage her to be of service as she gleans inspiration form the tender embrace of life.  Be love I whisper...live in love and entertain a curious relationship to your fears.  

May we all be encouraged to takes risks on behalf of our hearts!
May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude, 
​Sarah 

Happy Tuesday beauties!  Today I want to talk about pendulums.  I had the good fortune of taking a pendulum class with one of my teachers over the weekend.  A pendulum is simply a weight that freely swings from a pivot point.  "A pendulum is a versatile, typically portable device that utilizes gravity and momentum to respond to energy in a way that is meaningful to the pendulum user."  

Pendulums date as far back as eight thousand years.  This earliest recording was found in an ancient cave drawing in Algeria.  Moses was said to have used a pendulum to discover water that was hidden in a rock.  Pendulums have at times received a bad rap, but I truly believe that is because people lacked information about them.   When you think of a pendulum, you can think of a shift in energy.  A stance from yes to no.  A political party that swings far right, or far left.  A decision in which you vacillate from side to side.   

As my teacher so thoughtfully shared over the weekend, pendulums can be thought of as ' a speaker that is connected to our energy field.'  Our bodies are the metaphorical antenna with its diverse senses that is constantly picking up information from the 'seen' and 'unseen' realms.'  This information is stored, converted, conveyed, and interpreted by our intuition.  As you begin to work with your pendulum, you want to make sure you program the pendulum signals for the direction of a YES, NO, and MAYBE.  (There is a lot of information available on the web to help educate you about using your pendulum.)

As you begin to ask questions of your pendulum, you begin to tune into the frequency of your personal speaker.  Using a pendulum is a wonderful way to tune into your personal radio station.  Try it out and see if it is a helpful tool in your life.  lf we judge anything, we perhaps lack all of the information that would swing us into agreement or disagreement with this ancient tool.  

Happy swinging into the gravity and momentum of your life my friends!
May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude, 
Sarah 

Happy Monday beautiful hearts!  Over the past several weeks, a friend on IG has been sharing posts from this amazing book by Lissa Rankin, MD.  As I clicked purchase on iTunes last week, I had no idea how this book would re-energize, excite, and help me to feel more divinely connected to my own hero's journey!  Everyday we reawaken to possibilities...

"You are a hero.  I am a hero.  We are all, every single one of us, on what mythologist Joseph Campbell calls, 'a hero's journey,' carrying within us a Nelson Mandela, or Joan of Arc or Luke Skywalker or Mother Teresa or Helen Keller."

This introduction left me feeling like I had received a giant hug from the Universe.  All of these revered figures both past and present live within each of our hearts.  We have the capacity to observe Mother Teresa's kindness, Mandela's boldness, Joan of Arc's fierceness, and Helen Keller's courage.  As we breath in, we are breathing the stardust of those who have come before us.  As we exhale, we are sending out the stardust of prayers, our desires, our very intentions to the Universe.  

On this Monday morning as you are waking up to a brand new day, a brand new week, have you surveyed your own hero's journey?  Your journey is the divine calling of your life.  The awakening of your heart.  The stirring of your passions.  The commitment to wake up to the purpose of your 'beingness.'  This perhaps only makes sense to you and the higher power that you are walking this path with!  

As Dr. Rankin suggests in her book, "The hero's journey begins with someone who has no idea she has an inner hero...The hero initially refuses the call: 'Hell no, I ain't doing that!'  But then with reluctance, the hero accepts the Divine assignment."    

We are all called to the wild terriority of the 'unknown.'  The space of dangling our hearts in moonlight as we anticipate the glory rays of morning to provide us with the certainty of awakening.  This awakening is individually specific to our souls.   What did you come here to do?  How will you serve humanity?  What is one thing you can do today that brings you closer to the wildness of your journey?  How can you befriend your fears and still move forward along the path?

I recommend this book to anyone who is feeling a lack of awareness at the connectedness of their hearts and spirits.  Give up the arduous task of living someone else's journey.  Surround yourself with a fortress of support.  Identify that you initially might want to say 'HELL NO,' but watch your life take off in exponential ways as you say, "HELL YES!"  

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude, 
​Sarah 

Mother Earth hear your child, As I sit here on your lap of grass, I listen to the echoes of your voice In my brother, the Wind, As he blows from all corners and directions. The soft and gentle raindrops are the Tears you cry for your children Teach me the Lessons you offer: To nurture my children, as you nurture yours, To learn the Lessons of the Four Kingdoms, that make up this World of Physical Things, and To Learn to Walk the Path chosen so long ago. Mother Earth, hear your child, Be a bond between the Worlds of Earth and Spirit. Let the Winds echo the Knowledge of the Grandfathers. Who await, unseen, yet visible if I only turn my eyes to their World. Let me hear their Voices, in the Winds that Blow to the East. 

From the East: I seek the Lessons of Childhood: To see with the trusting innocence of a small one, The Lessons of Spirit, Given in Love by our Creator.

From the South: to Learn the Ways of Questioning: The Fire and Independence of adolescence, The Truths, and how they help us Grow along this Path.

From the West: where the Grandfathers teach us Acceptance of Responsibility That come during the years of Marriage and Family. That my own children grow Strong, and True. 

From the North: where the Elders, who by their long lives Have learned and stored Wisdom and Knowledge. And Learned to Walk in Balance and Harmony with our Mother, the Earth. 
​
Mother Earth, hear your child. Hold my hand as I Walk my Path in this World. Guide me to the Lessons I seek, bring me closer to Our Creator, Until I return to the Western Direction, to once again Enter the World of Spirit, Where the Sacred Fire Awaits, and I rejoin the Council of the Elders, In the Presence of the One Who-Created-All

Happy Thursday beautiful hearts!  In my transpersonal coaching training, we are being presented with very rich and wonderful questions.  As Tony Robbins shares, "The most powerful way to control your focus is through the use of QUESTIONS."  If you aren't aware of your desires of wants, how can you focus in on cultivating your essential self?  

I wanted to share some of the powerful questions that have been at work in my life.  Feel free to grab your journal and start answering them for yourself.  These questions are meant to enrich your experiences.  They are meant to transform your life.  These questions help you to refine your awareness.  As you grow in awareness of your experiences, you will become an expert on the rich questions of life.  If you're ready, here we go!  

1. What's holding you back?
2. What is one thing that helps you to remain present?
3. What would you do if you had unlimited resources?
4. What is the experience that you are looking to create?

These questions are rich with exploration and meaning.  These questions ask you to hit a grand slam!  Your ability to honestly answer them helps you to resource your inner wisdom.  Our mind doesn't recognize the word 'don't' so instead of telling the Universe what you don't want, announce your desires by becoming clear with these powerful questions!!

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude, 
Sarah 

Happy Wednesday beautiful hearts!  I began an online class last evening entitled, "Cultivating Your Essential Self."  In this class we are being encouraged over the next 12 weeks to touch in with the constellation of energies that comprise our essence.   We'll walk through exercises and meditations to help align with our essence.  When was the last time you touched in with your essence?  What does your essence feel like, look like, sound like?  One definition of essence is the "basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or it's significant individual future."  

I am so excited to begin this journey of discovery and exploration.  My teacher Michael shared that there are two very important things required in order for each of us to grow our essence:

1. Courage- This is the ability to lean in when it would be easier to lean back.  This is when you trust and invest in the divine plan of your life.
2. Willingness- This essential readiness allows us to open the gifts of our individuality.   

I invite you to get in touch with your individual essence today.  What is one thing that you can do today to get in touch with your essence?  What is one way that you can honor your essence today?  How can you honor the basic, real and invariable nature of your awesome essence?  

May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude, 
​Sarah 

​“Once there was a young warrior. Her teacher told her that she had to do battle with fear. She didn’t want to do that. It seemed too aggressive; it was scary; it seemed unfriendly. But the teacher said she had to do it and gave her the instructions for the battle. The day arrived. The student warrior stood on one side, and fear stood on the other. The warrior was feeling very small, and fear was looking big and wrathful. They both had their weapons. The young warrior roused herself and went toward fear, prostrated three times, and asked, "May I have permission to go into battle with you?" Fear said, "Thank you for showing me so much respect that you ask permission." Then the young warrior said, "How can I defeat you?" Fear replied, "My weapons are that I talk fast, and I get very close to your face. Then you get completely unnerved, and you do whatever I say. If you don’t do what I tell you, I have no power. You can listen to me, and you can have respect for me. You can even be convinced by me. But if you don’t do what I say, I have no power." In that way, the student warrior learned how to defeat fear. ” 
― Pema Chödrön,

Happy Monday beautiful hearts!  A beautiful teacher shared this with me this morning.  As I sat on my Yoga mat listening to the words of Rabbi Dr. Abraham, I couldn't help but feel the uncomfortableness of my own 'shell.'  The ebb of change and my willingness to only notice the 'warm and fluffiness of love.'  I tried my hardest to put fear in my blindspot, but every good spiritual teacher calls us on our bullshi*t, and that's exactly what Uma did.  

The metaphor of being a lobster seems almost universal to the human spirit.  We encounter moments of growth and then when life gets uncomfortable, we go into story, dissociate, or number ourselves out.  Sound familiar?   Uma helped me recognize today that my method of choice is dissociating from my body.  I notice a feeling and in a moment of terror, I'm down the rabbit hole with the worst case scenario.  As Uma continued working with me this morning she helped me to notice that terror, stress, fear, and disillusionment are constant companions on this journey, it is our job to notice our reaction to our perceptions and move through them.  What is your reaction to fear, to stress, to terror?  And when you notice it can you notice it with kindness?  

Do you retreat to a rock, a bowl of ice cream, a mindless TV show, or any other distraction that helps you to dissociate?  Or on the other hand are you able to stop yourself and say, "Hmmm...here's a limit in my life."  (Wisdom from my teacher Uma!)  What will I do with this limit?  

In times of stress, can we look at stress as a chance to grow?  We truly are all in this together.  As we encourage one another to grow beyond the limits of the mind, we become infinite creators.  We begin to call ourselves out and invest in the notion that stress is simply informing us of our capacity to grow.  Pretty amazing if you ask me!

May you be encouraged to grow through these periods of stress as you notice your limits and expand into opportunity!

Namaste my friends!
May You Sweetly Seek:)
In gratitude, 
Sarah