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.
🌀 Collective Consciousness is Real—Here’s How It’s Impacting You
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The Energy of You Volume XX Issue #12 Hi Reader, The month has been a whirlwind of activity, yet I don't feel like I've gotten much done. A growing to-do list and seemingly fewer hours to do it in had me a little spinny. I could blame it on the recent eclipse, but there's more to it than that. A few weeks ago, I shared thoughts on the energy of the collective consciousness (you can catch up here). If you’re not familiar with the term, think of it as the shared beliefs, emotions, energy, and rituals that subtly influence all of us—what society is thinking, fearing, celebrating. It has its own energetic flow, one we’re all swimming in whether we realize it or not. Think of attending a child's birthday party with all the unbounded excitement, cake, games, and playing with friends versus a dinner party full of adults, a much more constrained, formal energy with all the pressure of which fork do I use. How do you feel in each situation? Currently, we are in an environment with significant divisive and chaotic energy. The power dynamics in society are shifting. This affects all of us in one way or another and creates a great deal of uncertainty. Each of us is unique, and our experience is shaped by so many different things. How we are influenced by the energy that surrounds us differs. Taking a few moments to check in and scan for the source of what you’re feeling can be helpful in choosing how to respond. The collective consciousness can amplify an emotion or skew it in a different direction. Checking in to see if it’s an internal or external influence can give you some distance to help diffuse something that may not be yours to deal with. One of the themes I am seeing is an increase in baseline fear. A generalized fear that is making even small decisions feel big. What to have for lunch becomes an existential crisis. Fear has its place. It can help keep us safe, and it can also inhibit our growth. When this generalized fear is in the driver's seat, decisions are made from a very narrow viewpoint. We become hypervigilant about making the right choice, often to the point of taking no action. The amount of uncertainty and fear in the collective consciousness turns up the volume of it in our personal energy field. The higher the level of fear, the more disconnected we become with our own wisdom. It’s an amygdala hijack, the primitive brain taking over and bypassing your rational brain. Our nervous system stays activated, and we don't get enough rest or reprieve. This crowds out our ability to enjoy life. For example, you might find yourself delaying a medical decision, second-guessing a relationship conversation, or avoiding a financial move—all because the background hum of fear makes every choice feel riskier and adds to your uncertainty. Each of these small practices helps pull us out of the collective swirl and back into our own grounded energy. Here are a few that work for me. Reclaiming Your Energy: Practices that Help Start With the PositiveI have a morning routine filled with little pleasures. While the coffee brews in my French Press, I step outside to greet the day. Taking a moment to close my eyes and set my intention for the day. I sip that first cup slowly, savoring it. I let my mind wander toward what I’m grateful for, what excites me, and what feels soothing. No rushing. No phone. Here’s the why: Beginning the day with a simple pleasure paves the way for a calmer day and tunes you into the positive. It anchors you in the here and now, reminding you where and how you focus is within your control. Get Outside—Even If You Don’t Feel Like ItI get outside every day, even when the weather's less than inviting(less of a problem here in sunny California, for sure). There’s something grounding about feeling the earth under your feet or the sun on your face. I also know that sometimes I resist the very thing that could shift my energy…. Take a moment to check in and give yourself permission to try it just for a couple of minutes. I’ve written about my practice of walking a mini labyrinth barefoot first thing in the morning; it grounds and centers me, soothing that busy, busy mind of mine. I love a walk on the beach or a hike in the redwoods, but it’s not just about the activity; it’s about anchoring myself in the knowledge that I’m part of something bigger. Here’s the why: Nature has its own pulse. It regulates our nervous system by helping us become coherent with its natural rhythm. It reminds us we’re part of a much larger interconnected ecosystem, and somehow, that always makes the whirling dervish of worries quiet down. UnplugThis is one I have to continually work on (revenge bedtime scrolling is a real thing!) You know... that late-night scrolling that keeps you up even though you're tired? It's real—and it drains your energy. Setting your phone down, stepping away from the computer and electronic devices help remind you the crazy pace of society is not mandatory. We are in sensory overload much of the time. When I’m writing, I need to put my phone in the other room because when I get a little stuck, rather than muddle through it, I’ll pick up the phone and check for messages. I drive down to Santa Barbara to visit a friend with some regularity. It’s a four-hour drive. I listen to podcasts or music and chat with friends, and I make sure I have at least thirty minutes with nothing but my thoughts. It is surprisingly rejuvenating. Here’s the why: Stepping back from technology gives all of your senses a rest. It helps your body and mind remember it’s safe, right here, right now. Your energy flow slows and evens out, able to support you rather than racing to the next spike in urgency. You engage with the world that’s right in front of you rather than the one behind the screen. None of this is instant. But little by little, these practices help quiet the noise—inside and out. They remind me (and maybe you) that meaning is found right here: in a cup of coffee, a barefoot walk, a laugh with a friend. What’s one small practice that helps you find your way back to yourself? Cathy P.S. If you like this newsletter and want to support it, there are 3 Ways! PICK ONE right now before you forget🌺 |
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.
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