New Moon, New Year, New Space

In honor of the Aquarius New Moon, Chinese New Year and The Making Space Cleanse that over 50 women have joined together for, I want to share our Day 1 with you on this special day of manifesting the 'new' and calling in our desires.

First we start in stillness, today is a wonderful day to find some time for yourself to sit and dream a little bit about what you would like to make more space in your life for.

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."- Hermann Hesse

Stillness

Beginning anything new usually starts with big excitement. By the end, the energy goes down and our attention is somewhat unfocused. I like to work in 10 day chunks of time for that reason, so there isn't that much time to lose momentum.

The most important part of making more space in our life is to spend time in stillness. Meditation, soft space (time spent doing nothing but being) and daydreaming are ways of being still. For today I’d like for you to sit in stillness and observe. Look at the walls and windows of your home. Spend 5 minutes looking at the books on a book shelf that you see every day, without ever really seeing them at all. Watch a plant in its stillness as you sit and see the way the light shines off of it. Notice the textures of a pillow or the patterns on a rug.

Be still in your space in a new way. Sit somewhere new. Pull up a chair to a spot you’ve never spent time sitting and be still.

Tomorrow’s work will be based around what you observed today, so make some time to be still.

What are your first thoughts when I ask you to sit in stillness? Does it sound too easy, or sound silly, or does stillness feel a bit scary or impossible to get to?

Be still.
Look at what you have chosen (or perhaps not) to be around in your space.
Just notice.
And really look.
Take the time to be present to lights, sounds, textures, colors.
Stillness.

Book of the Day

A Year of Mornings - 3191 Miles Apart

I've had this book for a long time. Just looking at it brings me a comfort and stillness inside. It was the first time I realized how the beauty in pictures of our space could transform not just our own appreciation of our lives, but also affect others deeply.

Why does looking at another tea mug on another counter in another place comfort us? Because we feel connected to the beautiful simplicity that is a part of each of us.

Making Space Soulwork

Inspired by today's book, I want you to take some time to think about your morning routine. Many of us wish that our morning routine was different than it is. We wish we could exercise early or wake to journal or spend some quiet time getting ready for the day before others arise. Or we wish we could sleep in, have more relaxing time.

Notice what you do in the morning. What mug do you have your coffee or tea out of? Do you love that mug? Do you eat a breakfast you love or what you think you should be eating?

Look at your morning routine as though through the eyes of a camera. If you feel inspired to, or are a blogger who is used to capturing pictures, take out the camera and take pictures of your morning. The foggy mirror in the bathroom, your make-up bag, your mug of coffee with toast and jam...capture the moments you are creating.

Looking at our life with the eye of a lens can transform the ordinary into something special, a sacred time. If you notice you are drinking out of cracked old cups, or things that hold no beauty or 'special' ask yourself why? There is always a reason we hold onto things that don't fill us with joy.

After looking at your morning through the lens, think of how you would describe it to someone. What is the feeling that comes from your morning pictures?

Creamy Corn Chowder

3 carrots, diced
3 celery stalks, diced
1 red pepper, diced
4 yellow potatoes, diced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 bag of frozen corn
1 small can of green chillies
1/2 cup of your favorite salsa
2 - 3 cups of broth
1/2 cup coconut milk or almond milk

In a soup pot, start the carrots, celery and red pepper sauteing in some olive oil. Add the potatoes and garlic and continue to cook for about 5 minutes. Add the corn, chillies and salsa and then add about 2 cups of broth and the milk. You can add more broth later if you need it.

Allow to cook for about an hour. With an immersion blender or in your blender blend part of the soup while leaving some of the vegetables whole. Cook for another 1/2 hour until the soup becomes thick and creamy.

Serve with some fresh cilantro and raw cheddar cheese on top. Delicious on a cold day.