We cannot live in a world that is not our own,
in a world that is interpreted for us by others.
Part of the terror is to take back our own listening,
to use our own voice,
to see our own light.
~Hildegard de Bingen
Greetings to all my precious people!!!
I inadvertently took a week off from sending out my weekly tidbits. I suppose an interruption here and there is a good test for my recovering Type A – hypervigilant – overly conscientious Self! But I am committed to the sharing and it is back on track now, so hopefully some part of this offering will be helpful to you, or someone you know.
We are in the midst of the seasonal shift, moving past the incubation of Winter into the gathering energetic Qi of Spring. This is a liminal space – the “in-between” space – before the snow has finally melted, before the crocuses are flourishing in their vibrant colored petals. It is a time that is perfectly suited to become more acquainted with our Heart, our inner Being, our divine Spark, our essential Voice and our unique Self.
Hildegard de Bingen was an enormously influential and spiritual woman, who paved the way for other women to succeed in a number of fields from theology to music. She was a mystic writer, who completed three books of her visions. During a time when members of the Catholic Church accorded women little respect, Hildegarde was consulted by bishops and consorted with the Pope, exerting influence over them.
She wrote on topics ranging from philosophy to natural healing with a critical expertise praised by both German advice-seekers and the highest-ranking figure in the Church, Pope Eugenius III. An esteemed advocate for scientific research, Hildegarde was one of the earliest promoters of the use of herbal medicine to treat ailments. She wrote several books on medicine, including Physica, circa 1150, which was primarily concerned with the use of herbs in medicinal treatment.
As a woman of the church, a musical composer, and a pioneer of holistic medicine, Hildegard devoted herself to helping others in the physical world, while simultaneously maintaining a spiritual life. In 2012, Hildegard was canonized and named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI, one of only four women to receive that designation. Her quote above is a reminder that all of us must learn to listen to our own voice, for this is truly where the inner wisdom resides. But how can we do this, when every hour of every day is filled with distractions? This has been the challenge of the ages, to learn to be quiet, to be attentive to the Self, to learn the language of the Self, to be clear about our intention, so we can then direct our attention to serve our life’s purpose.
Learning to listen also means to choose to be quiet, and learn to slow down and rest.
“Scíth” pronounced “shkee” is the Irish word for rest. Scíth encapsulates the essence of taking pause, allowing ourselves to recharge, and honoring the natural rhythm of our bodies and minds. It is a reminder that rest is definitely not a luxury, but instead a fundamental aspect of our well-being and a critical component of the healing process.
Rest, as embodied by scíth, is the quiet after the storm, the stillness that fosters deep healing and rejuvenation. In these moments of pause we find the strength to forgive, the space to reflect, and the clarity to understand. Scíth is about giving ourselves permission to step back from the hustle and the constant striving, to find peace in the present, and to nurture our spirits in preparation for the journey ahead.
Busyness is often equated with importance in our hustle culture world but scíth is a gentle rebellion against the notion that we must always be doing in order to be valuable. Instead, it champions the power of being: being present, being still, and being kind to ourselves. Scíth is an invitation to listen to our needs, to honor our limitations, and to embrace rest as an act of self-love and self-respect.
Take a moment to contemplate the role of scíth in your lives. How can we better incorporate rest into our daily routines? In what ways can we support others in finding their own scíth, especially those who are on their paths to healing and forgiveness? How can we redefine our relationship with rest, seeing it not as inactivity, but as an active choice towards health and harmony?
The best way to incorporate little changes that can make a big difference in our lives is to simply begin. Begin to cultivate awareness in the everyday moments of your life. For example, if you find yourself being annoyed, upset, or frustrated by situations or people, consider that this is a message to examine what the underlying message could be – AND – the reminder that you have a choice in these moments. You can choose how to respond. You can choose how to feel. You get to decide how you want to interact with the person, the situation. When you are clear about your intentions, your values, and your essential framework of how you want to be showing up in the world, you will find that by taking a breath and creating a pause, you can choose what you want to tap into.
Listen – I know: You have read all the books, and done all your research. But are you still feeling stuck and struggling with the same triggers, relationship issues or self-care challenges? It might be time to work with a coach to support and encourage you!! You can reestablish your values, become clear about your dreams and chart the course for your unique Path, measuring the success along the way. If this sounds like something you want to be implementing in your life, schedule a discovery call. Let’s talk about the possibilities!!!
