YOU ARE THE FIRE!

“The best thing you could do is MASTER the chaos in you. You are not thrown into the fire, you ARE THE FIRE.” Mama Indigo

I love to watch a good fire. Maybe because of the numerous camping trips of my youth. What is it about fire that is so mesmerizing? Man has used fire since the beginning of time for warmth, cooking, transforming metals and creating elixirs. This magical process of alchemy is truly a miracle when you think about it. We often think of alchemy as this medieval concept that applies to sorcerers and scientists, but nothing could be further from the truth!

Building a fire is a process that involves several steps, but the reward is the dance of a bright orange flame with a smell that ignites something deep within our bones. The element of fire is both creative AND destructive when out of control. This masculine element shows up in our lives as power, passion, creativity, change, motivation, and sensuality. When out of balance fire can consume everything in its wake. Just think of how anger can destroy a relationship and fire/heat in the body and cause inflammation and disease.

Maybe you’ve never thought about how self-care is alchemic. If you haven’t I implore you to think about it a little more deeply. Alchemy is defined as a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.

Personally, I can think of hundreds of ways that my self-care practices have transformed me through the years. I’ve seen these transformations in our clients as well. If there’s one thing I want you to know it’s this: self-care is the greatest transformation tool there is! Your self-care practices have the power to enact the most impressive changes not only for you, but for your children, your friends, your family and everyone you come into contact with!

"Most of us think that being authentic is about being true to what we want and who we are, without regard for the impact it has on others. On the contrary, the authentic self is an intelligence at the core of who we are that is inspired, centered and connected to those we lead. When we are in this centered place o being we are able to choose behavior that serves the greatest good." Henna Inam

Each day we are faced with multiple decisions about how to navigate our lives. Each choice we make is transforming not only our bodies, but the world around us. If we look inside ourselves we can see that our choices affect the 30 trillion cells that make up our bodies. When we sleep our brain clears out waste from the central nervous system via our glymphatic system. It also regulates emotions via the amygdala so that we don’t get angry (fire!) and emotionally hijacked at the drop of a hat! Additionally, our brain consolidates memories and repairs cells so that it is strong, stable and able to thrive and continually grow! Sleep has the power to transform our lives in impressive ways. Alchemy!

Fueling our bodies is no different. Fill it with cheap, processed foods and you will end up with inflammation (fire!), clogged arteries and a cloudy brain. Nourish your body properly and notice how creative and energized you are, driven by passion and enthusiasm (again- fire!)

Meditation helps to shine a light on our deepest truths and exercise also energizes us and heats our bodies to the point of sweating so that we can cleanse our organs of toxins. Once again- alchemy!

One of the greatest stories ever told about alchemy is a book called The Alchemist written by Paulo Coelho. With over 65 millions copies being sold, on the New York Times bestseller list for over 315 weeks and being translated into 80 different languages it set the record as the most translated book by a living author in the Guiness Book of World Records! I happened upon The Alchemist on a return trip from Africa many years ago. I had heard of this book before, but as I searched the airport shop looking for something to read this book practically jumped out at me. Needless to say, I was so captivated by this story of a young shepherd boy’s journey to find a hidden treasure, that I read it in one sitting on my flight from London back to the United States.

With each step on Santiago’s journey he discovered truths and strengths within that he never knew existed. The book reveals the “greatest lie”, which is transformative in itself:

“...at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world's greatest lie.”

I believe this to be true in reality. Though there is much that we cannot control we can always control our choices, our reactions and our beliefs. We choose. We choose how to take care of ourselves. And this care causes us to be as stable and strong as we can be. We choose to get the rest our body needs so that we can feel restored. We choose the food that we put into our bodies so that we are nourished and healthy. We choose to be still and get quiet so that we can hear the whisperings of our heart and know what to do. We choose to move our bodies so that we can energize ourselves and move through life with ease and joy. These practices transform our lives every day.

Here’s another choice: practice The Four Seeds of Self-Care. Each decision you make to #beselfcentered is like adding kindling to the fire. It starts small. But with each bite of food, each moment you stop and take a breath, each hour of sleep and every step you take you are adding kindling to the fire. Mia Hamm says this, “I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment I light the fire.”

Channel your inner alchemist by using your self-care practices to fan the flames of your transformation by joining us on our ReConnect Retreat next month. This day retreat will fan the flame that is within you by cultivating the very practices that add fuel to your fire! Make no mistake- YOU ARE THE FIRE!

With Love and Gratitude,

Kinda and Rachel

With Love and Gratitude,

Kinda and Rachel