Panther. Susan Seddon Boulet, Animal Spirits Knowledge Cards.
I am seeing a lot of women in my life take on physical activities that they've never engaged in before. Some are running marathons, cycling 50 miles at a time, dancing Zumba and Nia, taking trapeze lessons, and leading their bodies to the outer limits. I want to hear more about what is taking place with this. It seems to be beyond an ordinary seasonal shift into Spring.
I sat in circle with Sarah Jane (Auntie Sunjay) and the others on Saturday and she proposed an idea that if our daily system of life includes keeping a certain pace, then our chosen physical activities should match them. I think this sounds brilliant.
That is to say that running at a steady pace may be more suited for someone who really must have endurance in order to meet their requirements for the work they choose. It makes sense to me. Now to try to figure out how to move my body in a way that will help create energy and balance. Juggling? Obstacle course? Hmmm.
And I was also gifted a giant ball of onyx from my teacher this weekend, which she instructed me was akin to Panther. "Pace yourself in work, rest and play. Do not push too far or hard on one thing."
As I attempt to re-enter my studio and make plans for painting and creating, I am hesitant. I know that I cannot come back the same way I was here before. To do so would be to dishonor the many lessons of health and home that winter delivered straight to my doorstep.
I'm feeling much more myself; energized and ready to take some kind of action. And yet, something has let go and made room for a new way to come in. Except I don't know what that new way looks like. So I feel a bit like I'm fumbling through the dark trying to find my way to the new way. I feel renewed and full of potential, but also cautious not to step my paw into the trap of overdoing and obsessing about things which do not need to be obsessed about.
Creativity has many faces around here these days. I've begun creating a medicine wheel in my yard, so perhaps as I make my way around it, the answers will come. Until then, magical, mystical Panther will be at my side. Perhaps together, and with my other helpers, I'll discover a new little offshoot from my path that is fresh, less traveled and pointed true north.
