Mind-body researcher, Energy Healer, RN & author fascinated by how thoughts, beliefs, and subtle energy influence our lives. Helping midlife women create vibrant second acts.
A Little Energetic Housekeeping
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The Energy of You Volume XXI Issue #36 I came home to find the house decorated for Halloween, a nice surprise. Fall is here, with shorter days and longer nights. While we don't have much leaf color here in Santa Cruz, there is still a shift in seasons. Along with the boatload of candy for the steady stream of trick-or-treaters, I bought pumpkins for the front walkway and apples for applesauce, my fall favorite. Do you have fall favorites? There's something about the changing seasons that makes me want to take stock. Just as we make little adjustments to our homes and daily routines, it's also a good time to check in with ourselves and notice what might need a little attention. A couple of years ago I was sitting on a wooden bench outside the hotel ballroom in Santa Fe with Tawnya. We were waiting for a writing workshop with Alex Elle to begin and wondering why no one had bothered to set up the room. A fellow writer wandered over asking where the workshop was, a nice confirmation we weren't getting forgetful. After much digging in our respective emails, we discovered the workshop had been moved to the next day. With an unexpected afternoon on our hands, the three of us set off to find lunch and walk a labyrinth. As I walked the labyrinth, I realized I'd gotten a little lax with my energetic hygiene. My energy felt a bit sluggish, and I realized I'd been going through the motions of my usual practices without really paying attention to what I needed. For many, the idea of energetic hygiene is foreign. It’s one of the first things I work on with clients. Think of it as the energetic equivalent of brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Just as we care for our physical bodies, we can develop practices that help us become aware of and tend to our energy. It looks a little different for each person, but grounding, centering, and clearing are vital. Grounding helps you feel connected and present in your body. Centering brings your attention back to yourself, creating a sense of internal balance. Clearing is the practice of releasing or shifting energy that feels stagnant, disrupted, or no longer supportive. Which practices you choose, and how you incorporate them, will look a little different for everyone, and your needs will likely change over time. My routine at the moment is a barefoot walk through a mini labyrinth (I use the term loosely) in my backyard for grounding, twenty minutes of meditation for centering, and alternating chakra and meridian work for clearing. It's a routine that works well for me, but it isn't set in stone. Some mornings I need more grounding. Other days I might notice that my mind is particularly busy and spend a little more time centering. The important part is paying attention to what I'm experiencing and responding accordingly. You don't need a labyrinth in your backyard or twenty minutes to meditate to begin developing your own energetic hygiene practice. The components can be anything that feels good to you. A few minutes with your feet firmly planted on the ground, some slow intentional breathing, or a simple energy-clearing practice can be a place to start. The key is becoming familiar with your own energetic patterns. What does your energy feel like when you're balanced and flowing well? What are the signals that something needs your attention? And what helps you return to a state that feels supportive? The important thing is to tune in to your energy and use the tools and techniques you have to keep your energy moving smoothly. This is one of the practical applications of conscious living: the art of creating a life you love. As you become more aware of how your mind, body, and energy are interacting, you have more opportunities to make intentional choices about how you want to experience your day. That afternoon in Santa Fe reminded me that even the practices we've been doing for years need an occasional tune-up. Sometimes we become so accustomed to our routines that we forget to check whether they're still meeting our needs. So, as we settle into this new season, I invite you to take a few minutes to become conscious of how your energy is flowing. It can help shift an unhealthy pattern, boost focus or creativity when you need it, or assist in healing an existing issue. I'd love to hear what works for you. Do you have a favorite energetic practice or tool? Hit reply and let me know. Cathy PS.If you like this newsletter and want to support it, there are 3 Ways! PICK ONE right now before you forget🌺
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Cathy Gatto-Brennan
Mind-body researcher, Energy Healer, RN & author fascinated by how thoughts, beliefs, and subtle energy influence our lives. Helping midlife women create vibrant second acts.
The Energy of You Volume XXI Issue #35 Hi Reader, Next Sunday, most of the US will turn the clocks back an hour. I have to admit, I've never been a fan of changing the clocks, especially in the spring when we lose an hour of sleep. It always takes me a few weeks to adjust, and when it starts getting dark earlier, fitting in an evening walk becomes a little more challenging. But as autumn settles in, I've noticed something else. I'm drawn to making stews, spending a little more time indoors,...
The Energy of You Volume XXI Issue #33 Hi Reader, Last Sunday I asked if you had a better word for retirement, and you wrote back. A few of your replies resonated. "At first you wonder what you'll do with all this free time once work is out of the picture. Well, I tell you, life fills it in." "I think I'll continue to work, just fewer hours, as long as I can make a difference for someone else." "I love the idea of a new word. No suggestions, but something more uplifting than withdrawing."...
The Energy of You Volume XXI Issue #32 Hi Reader, I leaned in to blow out the pink, blue, and yellow candles spread out on the cake in a six three formation, too many to have the actual number of candles on the cake. Celebrating another trip around the sun always has me ponder a bit on what’s coming and what’s passed. When I turned sixty I started thinking of the decades as levels in a game. Last year was level 6.2, and it was a challenging one and I’m planning on level 6.3 to be a little...