Sacred Rest
Sacred Rest in its simplest description is an invitation for deeper contemplation and radical honesty of ‘what is’. What is revealed when we just sit back and listen to the wisdom of our infinite being and the experiences of our humanness? What is our body craving, our heart needing, and our spirit longing for? What wounded parts of us are speaking the loudest? These often repressed and avoided parts are offering us a direct portal into our deepest transformation and potential.
This process is rooted in contemplation because it honors the different seasons and cycles we go through and recognizes the beautiful mystery of our unique journeys. The sequence of my journey and the medicine that feels true for me could not possibly be the same for you. There of course can be some inspiration and cross over that we share, but do be highly aware of the endless distractions out there claiming to have all the answers.
Here are some highlights from my journey in hopes that it will spark a deeper presence and contemplation into your own experience.
But first, here is a description by Richard Rudd for what I mean when I say contemplation ~
Contemplation uses the sustained pressure of concentration in order to create the conditions for a breakthrough to occur. However, contemplation is a gentler approach than concentration and it doesn’t push too hard in any direction. It presupposes that breakthrough can only occur in a state of relaxation and play. There is a well-known story about the Buddha overhearing a musician. The man said that if you tighten the string of your instrument too far, it will snag, but if you have it too slack it will not play music. Out of this insight the ‘Middle Way’ was born. Like the Middle Way, contemplation is a dance with the opposites. It uses sustained pressure in a playful way and this also makes it a less formal path than concentration or meditation.
It has been an interesting nearly three decade long healing journey. With chronic headaches setting in at age 6, there have been many layers to unpack with this flavor of deeper soul work. I can say that I am truly grateful for what it has catalyzed for me and the many blessings along the way. I guess I prefer the bigger rollercoasters :)
The seed of ‘Sacred Rest’ landed when I was sitting in a freezing cold river in Costa Rica in Nov ‘21. I could not hide anymore from the fact that a big part of me was incredibly exhausted from the healing/personal growth path. The thought of being met by myself or someone else with the energy of trying to fix me felt nauseating. This paradigm of healing felt so deeply engrained that this exhausted part wouldn’t allow it anymore. I saw all of the conditioning I had around productivity, rest, taking breaks, and having my sense of worth wrapped up in what I’m offering in the world. From that moment on I began to pull the string on my crocheted false self, of who I thought I was and all the things I believed to be ‘true’. I gave up the endless search for answers, and got better at asking questions.
What does it mean to truly rest?
Where do I confuse rest with laziness?
What even is laziness?
Where am I neglecting my feminine cyclical nature and trying to live in an imbalanced masculine linear way?
What are the ways I put pressure on myself to show up a certain way?
Where have I given my power away to different teachers and neglected my own inner wisdom?
What are the ways I seek approval of others?
What habits and ways of being are unsustainable?
Where do I over-do things?
Where could I bring in more awareness?
Where can I soften?
This list could keep going for many pages! Your list might look very different. We are all in different cycles and points on the spiral. The radical honesty part of Sacred Rest means being real with where you are, knowing that it could completely change tomorrow. The point is to respect yourself and take time to actually listen to what is happening for you in any given moment. Don’t create a story or identify with it. If you just listen and ask questions, the way simply unfolds before you, and there are no decisions to be made.
So how do I do that?
Do what you want how you like it! There is a good reason we are attracted to certain things, people, places, etc. Trust in what you are naturally drawn to. You will know you’re on the right track if you feel better after. And maybe once in a while the moment is calling for a movie and ice cream enjoyed to the fullest. Our unique medicine sometimes comes in surprising ways.
The practice of Sacred Rest is how we are living. How much we can soften into ‘what is’. Whether that’s doing the dishes or driving to work. Bonus points come from intentionally creating space for resting and digesting life, which might look like spending 10 extra minutes in bed every morning breathing and being present, or enjoying your coffee in the garden. Again, do what you want how you like it.
I was looking back on my instagram and actually found a post from that fateful day in Costa Rica that I wanted to share:
Greetings from Costa Rica 🌴
It has been a while since I have posted any updates, I have been spending the last month here taking a step back from everything.
Taking more time to pause in nature and actually allow myself to rest. 😌
Through this process I have experienced incredible transformations and received clarity from deep within. The journey has been magical, including all of the triggers and deeper shadows that tend to arise when I allow them to.
💻I have recently been contemplating my associations with ‘productivity’ and the programs that have been instilled from an intensely masculine culture. You might know that common question from parents…soo…what are you actually d o I n g there?
It has taken a lot of intention to give myself permission to somewhat pause on my work. Also helped that my computer broke randomly for a month 😂
I am grateful and proud of many of the offerings that have birthed through Inner Light, and also recognize how often there were energies of stress, scarcity, and ‘shoulding’ all over my self 💩. How much time have I spent in the past 7 years spinning in circles?
This past month I have dropped deeper into my feminine wisdom, honoring the cycles of creation. 🥀