April 23, 2024
Full Moon in Scorpio π π¦
Sun in Taurus π β
Full Moon greetings, dear Friendsβ£οΈ
Thank you for meeting me here and for your ongoing support! I'm writing on a cold April afternoon, under the waning presence of a potent solar eclipse in Aries and on the cusp of a powerful full moon in Scorpio.
Wherever you go, there you are
This resonates with me at the moment. There's a recent undercurrent of energy that I can't quite define. It's a feeling of restlessness, coupled with a deep urge to wander and retreat into nature, alongside sensing profound shifts and feelings of uncertainty. There's even a sense of longing.
I yearn to be somewhere I'm not, whether it's the future, the woods, the beach, the mountains, or a retreat. In my mind, I'm constantly planning the next move but seldom taking action. Instead, I've immersed myself in reading and fantasizing about crafting the ideal life that embodies a sense of freedom. It feels like the opposite of presence.
Being present doesn't feel settling as usual, yet I know I'm okay. It's merely acknowledging the internal cycles inherent to human nature. I'm on a quest for healing, attempting to reclaim my lost and grieving soul. Like a blossoming spring flower, I'm opening up to the mystery of this profound moment of soul excavation.
I feel this is part of my grieving process. It'll be two years since Sierra's passing this July. I'm grappling with her loss as time goes on while continuously inviting the presence of her spirit. I am also realizing that I'm grieving more than just Sierra's loss. I didn't properly mourn the loss of my Dad in 2007 and Grandmother in 2009.
I'm mourning the state of humanity and an uncertain future due to ecocide and global warming. Grief isn't linear; it's both personal and collective. We all face a pivotal moment concerning the global condition we're confronting together. This isn't just my problem; it's our problem.
A path of the heart
This unsettled feeling might also originate from the responsibility associated with my current career choice and the challenge of building something new. It's about proving to myself and others that I can make this work and embrace a more heart-centered approach to my profession.
This week marks one year since I turned my long-time side gig of teaching meditation into my full-time life's work. I made this decision while in a state of deep grief and mourning. I simply couldn't bear the thought of getting up every day to go to a job that didn't honor my sense of purpose, especially during such an intense period of mourning. Yet, it was the right choice for this inflection point.
In March 2023, I reintroduced my meditation offerings with a fresh approach. Since then, I've undergone a transformation of the soul, self, and my work. I've revamped my logo, redesigned my website, and launched various offerings to help others find moments of softening, sweetness, and acceptance through meditation.
My first online community meditation session took place on April 19, 2023, and I intend to continue holding these sessions weekly indefinitely. In addition to these weekly community offerings, I've expanded to private coaching, employee wellness, and my first online course, Meditation Demystified. I plan to introduce more offerings once I establish a broader client base.
I'm incredibly grateful to finally focus my career on something that feels meaningful and purposeful, offering something to the world that has incredible value. I aim to contribute to the greater good by inspiring others to take short, sweet moments to listen, notice, and feel what's truly present in each quiet moment of practice. This is genuinely the path of my heart.
A Mercury Retrograde Review
While promoting my offerings on LinkedIn last week, I took a moment to review my profile and job history. Allow me to walk you through the various careers and life choices that have led me to this point. My journey includes roles such as Retail Sales, Executive Assistant, School Bus Driver (!!!), Museum Guest Services Associate, Museum Education Administration, Human Resources, Payroll, and Project Coordinator. Simultaneously, I pursued side gigs as a Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Community Builder, Blogger, and Podcaster while raising two children. Quite a journey indeed!
It's a long list of varied positions, all chosen primarily to benefit my family's needs rather than my own, except for my side gig. These career choices were driven mainly by a scarcity mindset. Throughout my committed partnership with my husband, we lived paycheck to paycheck while raising two kids. We were often unsure if we could cover all our monthly bills, deciding which to skip during particularly tight months. I suspect many of you can relate to this feeling.
I'm beginning to understand how traumatic it was at times, struggling to raise a family and make ends meet. The stress from that period, I now realize, has settled into my body - my bones, tissues, vital organs, breath, mind, and especially my heart. That said, I wouldn't take any of it back. I did what I did because it felt right at those moments. Being married to my husband, a gentle, hardworking, dedicated man with a big heart, and raising a family together has been my greatest honor. The reality is that, for many, raising a family within the constraints of capitalism is incredibly fucking hard in numerous ways.
Softening and De-armoring
I'm in the early stages of establishing and nurturing the roots of my work, aiming to grow, blossom, and bloom in harmony with the rhythms of life and the seasons of my mind, body, and spirit. Over the past month, I've been enlightened by numerous revelations triggered by various sources. These include the turbulent astrological environment of this eclipse season, where I witnessed the totality of a solar eclipse in Aries with my own eyes, Mercury retrograde in Aries, an inspiring and soulful reading list, and a profound encounter with The Madonna and Child, who have appeared to me in various ways over the past month. I plan to explore and write about these experiences in the future.
I'm now fully awakened to a process of softening and de-armoring, which I plan to share through my meditation offerings. What does this entail? What does it look like? I don't know yet.Β
From my perspective, it feels like a profound release of tension, a letting go of the desperate need to cling to life. It's like a physical softening of the armor in my muscles and deep tissues. It feels like a long, slow exhale, a release from years of striving to claim what's mine in this life to support and care for my family. It feels like permitting and opening myself to accept things back into my heart that I had pushed away, to let everything unfold as it should over time.Β
I want to believe that within this process of softening and de-armoring lies a new way of living that contradicts the norms I'm expected to follow, the exact opposite of how patriarchal capitalism pushes me to behave.
Promises
A promise to myself: I won't blame myself if things don't go as planned while establishing roots and cultivating something meaningful. I trust I'm creating something valuable for myself and those who participate. I believe the perfect group of individuals who need my offerings will discover them, and this community of like-minded seekers will provide mutual support for them as it does for me. I trust I will receive the appropriate guidance to make optimal decisions and adjust my work and offerings. I believe I will prosper and develop within this work and community, taking as much time as necessary.
A promise to you: My offerings will cater to wherever you are in your journey. I will support every moment of your practice with profound sincerity. I aim to inspire you to connect with the intertwined essence of your humanity and your natural environment. I won't insist on loyalty to me or my offerings alone. There is a teacher for everyone, even if it's not me. I won't push you to strive for better in your practice. Instead, I will encourage you to lean into the moment and trust the unfolding process. I will urge you to rely on your wisdom and intuition as your greatest teacher. I will advocate for self-compassion within your practice. I will help you understand that meditation is an intensely personal and individual experience. I will assure you that there is no wrong way to sit quietly, witness a few moments of your existence, and experience what it feels like to be human.
An invitation
This newsletter is as integral to my offerings as the weekly community meditation sessions. It serves as a platform to share my personal practice, healing, and awakening journey. I hope you relate to my journey and feel encouraged and inspired to embrace your journey with all its meandering paths.
Let's be human together! These offerings invite us to share our humanity and find softness and sweetness together. It's a space to share our victories, defeats, trials, and tribulations. It's an opportunity to just be, to settle into quiet moments and witness the magic of life on this magnificent planet we call home. Together.
Again, thank you for meeting me here. I'm grateful for your presence. I'm sending you and your loved ones lots of love and blessings.
With care and kindness,
Jennifer π«ππ«
Planetary Bodies πͺ
Full Moon in Scorpio on April 23, 2024 π π¦
This Full moon is known as Lunar Beltane β€οΈβπ₯β‘
Mercury in Aries stations direct on April 25, 2024 β β‘οΈ
Mars conjunct Neptune in Pisces on April 28, 2024 πββοΈ π
Venus in Aries moves into Taurus on April 29, 2024β β‘οΈ β
Waning half-moon in Aquarius on May 1, 2024 π β
New moon in Taurus on April 7, 2024Β
Full Moon Affirmations: I am open to purging and releasing what holds me back. As I cleanse and reset, I embrace the transformative energy to create positive change in my life. With this full moon, I shine a light on the areas of my life that need my attention, and I welcome this clarity and use it to propel me forward.
Art Feature π¨
Icon of the Mother of God and Infant Christ (Virgin Eleousa), c. 1425β50. Attributed to Angelos Akotantos (Greek, d. 1450). Tempera and gold on wood panel; unframed: 96 x 70 cm (37 13/16 x 27 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 2010.154
I had the recent privilege of experiencing the performance of Antennae, a composition commissioned by the Cleveland Museum of Art for contemporary composer Aleksandra Vrebalov. This devotional piece was centered around this work of art that hangs in the Byzantine galleries at the CMA. The performance and experience were unlike any I've ever witnessed. I was moved to tears of both sorrow and joy multiple times throughout the piece. Click here to learn more about this performance.
Current + Upcoming Offerings - Planet PranaΒ Meditation SpaceποΈ
Β πΈ The Heart of Spring β a delightful 7-day online meditation journey that will rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit! Soften into the moment and connect with the sweetness of the season. Join us for a contemplative exploration of the changing seasons within ourselves. Each day, you will be guided through calming meditations to help you become grounded, present, and embodied by tapping into the essence of this season.Β
May 5 through May 11, 2024 β Live Daily at 7 AM ET πΌβ¨πΏπ·
You can attend live for free by joining us daily for the entire week or dropping into a convenient session. Iβll share the daily recordings on Substack with my paid subscribers.Β
Weekly Community Sessions Live on Zoom: We meet for 30 minutes every Monday + Wednesday at 12:30 pm. Monday Meditation offers an opportunity to create a purposeful and intentional mindset for the week. The Midweek Mindfulness Break on Wednesdays allows us to connect with our body, mind, and spirit, fostering calm, ease, and acceptance. We invite you to join us!
If you prefer flexibility - practice on-demand βΆοΈ
πͺ΄ The on-demand meditation library is growing.
πͺ΄ 10-minute short practices: Simple 10-minute guided meditation can help you feel grounded, present, and connected to your body. These practices cater to the varying needs of our body, mind, and spirit, helping us understand our needs at different times.
πͺ΄ New! Meditation Demystified: This new four-part series aims to provide a clear understanding of what meditation is and what it isn't. It is designed to inspire and motivate you to begin or restart your meditation practice.
Join me for the 2024 Cleveland.com Women's Summit, where empowerment meets inspiration! Experience a day filled with motivation, connection, and invaluable networking opportunities to enhance your personal and professional journey. I will lead a short guided meditation session for the group, and as a presenter, I am excited to offer a 35% discount on registration. Simply use the code "jenniferB35" when you sign up. Click here to learn more and sign up!