ANCIENT PATHWAYS LOADING...

Sometimes the void is where the goods hideout...

Aloha Kakou,

Hoping everyone made it through hurricane Lala without too much property damage and are all safe at home. Although that storm has passed, I know we have a couple more headed our way, and storm season - whether internal or external - can make big waves of emotion surface through our nervous system being activated for longer stretches of time and with more intensity. When your body and mind's safety feel at risk, things can go into overdrive and autopilot much quicker. Let's get into how to help with that.

But first, a short background. For thousands of years, humans have had various ways of both connecting to their lands and to each other. It's innate and it's also adjustable. In Hawai'i, Japan, Native American lands, etc., we often view stones, the waters, plants, etc. as having their own spirits, energies, and personalities. It can be the same for storms - clearing away and setting anew. Even when it doesn't feel well. Even when it is devastating and difficult. We cannot enjoy the beauty of the nature that surrounds us without also expecting and accepting the uproars. Without events pointing us to imbalances in our systems (ie. too many rapid fire data centers popping up, not enough emphasis on sustainable, eco-friendly systems and govt. protocols). Same goes with our inner worlds pointing to our own imbalances within (emotions left unchecked, hormones, nervous system, endocrine and respiratory systems out of balance, etc.).

We cannot only expect to be happy and lighthearted all the time, although many of us would lovee to stay in that state (used to be me, so I get it!). Instead, the more we can allow alllll ranges of allllll types of emotions to roll through us and out, the more we can appreciate each moment for what it actually is, then move through whatever joys or hardships come our way regardless of how we feel about them. The bonus is that the more we practice this, the faster the 'tougher' emotions can move through, and we can more easily return to enjoying our lives in full.

Our ancestors surely survived many emotions but also lived in much more primal environments - less artificial lighting, no electronics, more time within nature, less processed foods, the list goes on. The pros of this are that they were likely more often grounded than we naturally are. The cons are that they likely stuffed down a lot of emotional processing in order to survive the day, leaving it all in the body for centuries or decades later (aka for you, yey!).

Some of the feelings of agitation, exhaustion, relief, guilt, or elation may be from whatever your week entailed, or it may also be heightened from unprocessed situations triggered in your body from similar feeling situations your family had gone through before you, or from you empathetically absorbing them from your community. Either way, they don't need to stay around if they are no longer serving your greater purpose and wellbeing. It's time to alchemize them.

Here are some ways to come back to yourself and get out of overdrive this weekend:

• Coming back to the present: Deep inhale to 5, deep exhale to 7. Repeat 5x.
• Releasing restlessness: SHAKE IT OUT. Start with little heel bounces and shaking out your arms, then gradually include your lips, head, shoulders, hips, and hop around shaking all about. 2 minutes straight.
• Stay fresh: I gargle, clear out my nose, and tongue scrape. Every. Day. Even 2-3x/day during high allergy, storm or cold/flu season. Highly recommend helping your immune system have to fight less ingested at once since storms and end of summer gatherings tend to stir up a lot.
• Relaxing before bed: Body scan. Lay on your back, eyes closed, and imagine releasing tension from every segment of your body, starting at your toes, through the ankles, calves, thighs, hips, belly, chest, shoulders, arms, neck and finally your head. You can imagine a 'cleansing color' along with this to help your mind hold onto something if just the release itself is difficult. Deep breaths; let the day go until you fall asleep.
• Journal: 3 things you're grateful for today. Do this for the next 7 days and see how your perspective starts to shift.
• Speaking while activated: Feeling a lot but have to get through a work call, presentation, discipline for your kids? Take a breath in through the nose, and let out a deep, low, hum. Do that 3x. Let's your vagus nerve and vocal chords work together to improve vagal tone and lower stress.

If you're wanting to dive deeper into self-care this weekend on a more holistic and spiritual level, grab our Self-Care Set below. Tune into one of the mood boards, pop on a curated playlist, and tap into other practices that'll help you feel more grounded and alive. Enjoy the in between ~

xx,

Aiko

P.S. I write these without AI and from what I have come to know in my mind, heart, and updated research. Reply what you got from it if you like. Love hearing from y'all <3

P.P.S. If you're looking to stay on top of the news, but without all the hyper-sensualization and doom/gloom, I've been loving the Morning Brew. Simple, to the point, and relevant. Click below to subscribe there too.

Aiko Leia Kang, OD, ERYT

Founder, Aileia Healing Arts Collective

Holistic High Performance, Energy Healings, Workshops, and Retreats