Timeout for Maintenance - how do you?
There is always so much going on in the world of energy it seems! Sometimes I need to step away. How do you reset?
Grounding with Mother Earth is my ‘go to’ and I recently had a few days away from home with limited electronic access. I love it!
I took rambles along trails and dirt roads, marvelling at the majesty of the colours of the trees, the sky, the fields and revelling in the warmth on the breeze. There is very little other noise beyond birds speaking with each other and the occasional cow calling her calf.
We were unexpectedly invited on a hike to the ridge above our cabin. I have looked at it many times over various visits and wondered how to get to that point - so you can imagine the split second it took to say ‘yes’! and accept.
It is a landlocked area that needs the surrounding property owners’ permission to move through their land and into the nature reserve. Oh what a blessing and the gift of a surreally beautiful day!
The energy always feels ancient and magical… and now I know why. I could sense Aboriginal Ancestors marking the path, treading the grass, and gifting a message, but more on that in another post.
It is fun to play ‘locals’ - I grew up in a much more remote area than this and the low-key community lifestyle is a lovely balance between remote and suburbia. A favourite cafe delivers the most delicious wholefoods and I always enjoy the banter. The local Tea Party was mentioned and so we wandered to the exhibition. So many warmly welcoming and talented people - it grounds my sense of community.
While spending a little time with people in a relaxed environment is pleasant, enjoying the creeks and waterways is a soothing balm to the soul. It always feels like a mini meditation. I hope it speaks to you too - enjoy!
There is also joy in having room for the spontaneous and our rambles brought the nearby area of Toryburn to our attention. It is touted as one of the inspirations for Dorothea MacKellar’s classic poem, My Country.
Extract from My Country
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!
And so, refreshed and revitalised, I return to my daily life.
It doesn’t matter how we reset, it only matters that we do. Thankfully I have a reserve nearby and often walk through the trees and bird soundscape to reset and reground in smaller doses.
There are so many other ways we can create space for ourselves and I’d love to hear what makes your heart sing - please share how you reset!
With gratitude
Michelle x
Michelle Cowles
Spiritual Leader/Teacher/Learner
Copyright Michelle Cowles 2023
Disclaimer: The information on this page is general, lifestyle information and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If this article raises mental health issues, please contact your General Practitioner, mental health worker, or Lifeline on 13 11 14
Gardening and being with my pets is a great way for me to recharge. My pets help me feel joy, which is very therapeutic when I am suffering from stress, anxiety and depression. Gardening helps me to ground myself and be present with nature. I love my plants and care about them and feel better when I know they're looked after. Also going to the beach when I can. Being immersed in water a very meditative and healing. Reading a book, listening to a podcast, painting and studying are things I prioritise nowadays to keep myself healthy. I realise I need to make time for myself to relax and enjoy life.
Being a parent I'm constantly thinking about my actions and whether they're enabling vs learning in regards to my children. I believe my Mum's approach allowed me to learn, making me independent and self reliant. But sometimes her approach left me feeling unprotected. It's a natural response for me to over compensated in trying to 'protect' my children. I have to be mindful to back off and allow them to learn their lessons. Walking the fine line of enough nurture for safe development.
Beautiful and healing words. Thanks Michelle xxx Suzanna