“To let go does not mean to get rid of.
To let go means to let be.
When we let be with compassion,
things come and go on their own.”
~~ Jack Kornfield
We are in the midst of major shifts during this Leap Year 2024, the Year of Possibilities during the reign of the Green Wood Dragon! The weather, the cosmos, financial and political structures, wars, famines, and natural disasters continue to simmer and erupt. We are all part of the fabric of the world we inhabit, and believe it or not, we are all linked inextricably to each other. On our cellular level, all of the exterior disharmony has been registering, interrupting and interfering with our human energetic vibrations as we make attempts to find harmony in the cataclysm of shift and change that surrounds us.
On Monday, April 8, the much anticipated Solar eclipse will occur, and this link provided by NASA gives you an overview: Solar Eclipse 2024. Consider and remember this: eclipses do much to conceal and hide things behind the shadow, even as they disrupt the status quo on all levels, from personal relationships to local, national and global interactions. Since the Lunar eclipse on March 25th – symbolized by the Baltimore bridge collapse – we are being shaken, stirred, and rattled as the cosmos travel along the Aries pathway to the Super Moon Total Solar eclipse.
This Solar eclipse serves as a warning system to be aware and take care. Expect to feel tired, wired and generally frazzled by the solar magnetics that occur before the eclipse and throughout the month. Choose to make rest, sleep, grounding and extra hydration a priority and commit to trusting your YES that might also be accompanied by your NO. This is a perfect opportunity to let go and release the things you keep bumping up against – habits, beliefs, routines, relationships. What have you been saying YES to when you really mean NO? Consider this your homework for the week – kindly take note of what is irritating, frustrating, and where you might be suppressing your true feelings. Just allow yourself to observe these messages with gentleness – the time for shift is upon you – but not yet.
The deep space eclipse wave effecting the Earth, and hence, our bodies, will find its expression in the body, so be prepared for the somatic releases of stored emotions. Above all, begin to find refuge in the consistency of change, and choose to allow your Self more ease and flow. Compassionately focus on what is emerging as you bear witness to a cosmic birth of possibilities while surrendering control.
Astrological eyes will be focused on Chiron, the “wounded healer”, a small planet that orbits between traditional Saturn and radical Uranus. On April 8, 2024, Chiron sits right next to the total Solar eclipse! Symbolized by a key, Chiron helps us unlock the wisdom gained from our hardships, and will make its presence known in April. Keep watch and take note – signs and synchronicities will appear. Insights and epiphanies are available to you when you drop the need for them to have bells, whistles and drama.
Pema Chödrön is a well-known and beloved American-born Buddhist nun and author of many spiritual classics. Pema talks about managing emotions: “Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are. The greatest obstacle to connecting with our joy is resentment.”
The focus of “letting go” is really one of choosing release over suppression. Suppressed emotions are KNOWN to be contributing factors to a host of syndromes and dis-eases. The beginning of disharmony might take years and decades to take form and Chinese medicine theory establishes this as a clear origin of illness. Consider this: no one is born with suppressed emotions. Dr. Gabor Mate points out that infants have no problem sharing their emotions, as many a parent can attest to. Babies are unedited, connected to their body’s message and flowing with their Qi as needed. But somewhere along the journey, the baby, the young child, begins to express differently, and changes its behavior as a result of a programmed response to a childhood experience. Someone gave them the message that if you are truly yourself, expressing your emotions, you might not be acceptable, or tolerated. So the child learns to adapt their behavior to fit the needs of those around them, establishing the patterns that will create the foundation for all other interactions in the future.
This understanding of how all of us carry around thoughts, behaviors, and adaptive patterns is critical to being able to reconnect our emotional selves to our physical selves. Gentle observation about how you react and how you feel will give you insight and clues as to what might be out of alignment with your needs and desires. As Pema Chödrön mentioned, our emotions … are like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. So ask yourself, today: What is your body saying NO to? What aspect of your life feels stalled, stuck, or out of alignment with your dreams?
In the the Irish language, “Saoi” (see) describes a wise and learned person. This person holds a place of reverence, signifying not just as wise and learned but one who has attained mastery in their skill or profession. It’s a term that echoes with the depth of profound knowledge and the resonance of true understanding. ‘Saoi’ embodies the wisdom that comes with a deep connection to one’s craft and to life itself.
In accordance with this week’s theme of letting go, ‘saoi’ invites us to reflect on the wisdom inherent in understanding when to hold on and when to release. For the saoi, mastery is not just about accumulating knowledge or honing a skill; it’s also about recognizing the beauty and strength in surrender, in the acceptance that true wisdom often lies in letting go of what no longer serves us, be it beliefs, practices, or even identities that have defined our journey.
Letting go, in the context of ‘saoi’, is an act of profound wisdom and courage. It’s a testament to the understanding that growth and learning are dynamic processes, requiring us to evolve and adapt. This might mean releasing outdated methods to embrace new techniques, letting go of ego to foster collaboration, or relinquishing control to allow creativity and innovation to flourish.
As we contemplate the essence of saoi in our lives, let us consider the areas where we are called to demonstrate wisdom and mastery. How can we apply the concept of letting go to deepen our knowledge and enhance our skills? What can we release to move closer to becoming a saoi in our chosen fields and in the art of living?
The time for shift, change and recalibration has never been more important. In accordance with the Solar eclipse on April 8, there will be many opportunities to examine patterns, behaviors, habits, and all levels of relationships, requiring choices for letting go and letting it be. If you are feeling the need to reconnect the body-mind relationship, and would like some guidance along the journey, schedule a call today to discuss how ancient medicine and the spirit of Anam Cara can support your choices.
