Guest Post: Self-Care as A Spiritual Act by Louise Racine

What comes to mind when you think of self-care?  Is it a concept you embrace out of necessity? Perhaps something required when you reach your burnout point?  Or a mandatory commitment to prevent exhaustion or illness? What if you made the choice to take a preventative approach?  What if you started looking after your needs before you are forced to?

The specifics of what self-care entails will vary for each of us. For some, it might mean time alone, for others it could be going out with a friend. You might relish a massage, someone else might delight in reading a book. It doesn’t really matter how you do self-care, only that you make it a priority. 

Often it seems that we are a culture that relishes in being busy. Always moaning about how much we have to do, perhaps with a tinge of pride and bit of poor me thrown in for good measure.  The victim role does not serve us or anyone we care about. 

Do you even know what you need to take care of yourself? Is it your body, your mind, or your spirit that needs tending to?  Whatever you define as your self-care need is likely exactly what you need.  

As women, especially those of us in mid-life, we are mainly focused on everyone else’s needs.  It’s how we’re conditioned. More than likely we got the message that to do otherwise was selfish. To speak out was being bold. 

Then, once we are no longer needed by our families or our jobs, we can be find ourselves empty and unsatisfied. Perhaps even depressed. It’s so uncomfortable for some women, they seek out other opportunities to be of service to everyone but themselves. 

While the younger generations have made “me” more of a priority, are their self-care practices serving them or are they destructive?  Is there too much emphasis on the outward appearances, consumerism, and distractions? That’s not the path to feeling whole either.

It’s fine to be nurturing, to be of service, to be kind. We just have to remember and make time to do it for ourselves.  

Louise Racine

Thirteen Moons Wellness

www.thirteenmoons.ca

Offering space, events, products, and services to women who are ready to make their self-care a priority since 2001.

Who Has Time For Love?

We hear about how love is the truth, and that we are here on this earth journey to learn these lessons and how to grow spiritually. 

But, honestly, much of the journey of being human is difficult – there are real threats or dangers and divisions, much less the issue of being a fragile person who needs to create some stability in life. Often times, our immediate needs can over-ride our soul’s voice and we lose touch with who we really are and why we’re really here. 

This is why I created the Open Your Heart Webinar Series and am offering for FREE this coming Tuesday Oct 27^th and Thurs October 29^th. I’ve invited four people who I deeply respect because they have shown dedication and commitment to their passion and service in the world. 

Russell Scott – my love partner – will be the first speaker. He’s the author of the book Awaken the Guru in You, and he’s a stellar retreat leader (If I may say so, even with my biased opinion).  He helps people awaken to their true self through a unique contemplative technique. What takes years for some people can take days on his retreats. For real! He will be speaking about “Living From the Heart” on Tuesday the 27^th at 1:00 p.m. EST  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFO

Moragh Lippert – a long-time friend and colleague – will present next on the topic of “The Heart of Forgiveness”. Moragh is a holistic nutritionist and yoga/meditation teacher. She will share stories on how forgiveness is a key component on the path to health.  She specializes in serving people with addictions and mood disorders and understands that self-forgiveness is the most important aspect to the recovery path.  She will be presenting on Tues Oct 27^th at 4:00 p.m. EST  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFO

Louise Racine – she is the Goddess hearth matron of Thirteen Moons Wellness where I host my retreats. She has made a life path of serving women to slow down and to take care of themselves from the inside out as an Retreat Owner, Holistic Nutritionist and Arbonne Consultant. She has a lot to share on the topic of “Self-Care as a Spiritual Act” on Thurs Oct 29^th at 2:00 p.m. EST  CLICK HERE TO REGISTEROR FOR MORE INFO

Lori Bateman – a woman I met a few years ago who I have deep respect for in her commitment to creating a unique business, Open Heart Journals, which keeps people in their hearts through journaling as a gift and expression of love. She has personal experience with the transformative power of simply writing out and creating books that capture memories, loves and vulnerabilities so that relationships can be cherished. She will speak about “Giving and Receiving Love” on Thurs Oct 29^th at 7:30 p.m. EST  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFO

All 4 Speakers will be offering specials for those who register for the Webinar Series. I will also announce discounts and options for my upcoming Open Your Heart Weekend Retreat for Women – there are only 4 spots left for it! – in November 13th-15th.

So be sure to reserve your spot ASAP and join us on the webinar.

Aligning the Heart In Your Life

As many of you know, I'm passionate about getting people more into their heart, knowing that this is where true satisfaction, love, wisdom and honesty lives.

Each time I peel away at a layer of my soul, revealing a new truth or understanding, I find that my life takes a drastic turn. Though this can feel unstable for a while, I always trust that it's leading me to where it is more authentic for me.  I encourage every person going through difficult changes to try and see that perhaps this is in one's life to guide one closer to what is in integrity, which is the "state of being whole, undivided."

Often times we get upset when things don't work out for us, believing we "attracted this into our life" and have the power to "unattract it".  On one level, yes, we have brought this in, but on another level it is also be a form of divine guidance or protection from our guides and angels, ensuring that we are making choices that are in alignment with our true nature, not our ego.

The spiritual path is, ultimately, the way of the heart.

When we can see clearly the meaning and the higher movement to our circumstances, it's amazing the way doors will open afterwards -- that spiritual gateway that reveals why and how and who we are.

This year has been filled with a ton of changes for me -- leading me closer to my artist self.  Without these changes, I wouldn't have been passionate about getting my children's book, The Stellar Queen of Oaxaca, out to the world. Nor would I have had the courage to give my notice in where I was working at the Terrace because I wasn't feeling the support of like-hearted people in the building. I took a risk, not knowing where I would go next. Then, voila, a door opened to set up my business for 3 days a week at Silence Sounds - a funky music, community arts and energetic healing venue in downtown Guelph. I'm now surrounded with people who are "like me" in our goals, outlooks, values, etc.

It takes courage to listen to your heart and follow it, trusting that doors will open and opportunities will align.

I invite you to really look into your truth, examine what feels loving, honest, deep and real for you. When you go to that place, you will feel the heartbeat of the Creator, and feel in harmony with all other beings in life.