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The Dance of SELF and OTHERS
I'm definitely an extrovert... at least that's what my Myers-Briggs® (MBTI) assessments have consistently told me over the years. I enjoy socializing and being with other people, I actively cultivate and nurture my many friendships, and I even love teaching and speaking to groups. I'm no expert in the MBTI model, but one way it's been explained to me is that Extroverts get energized by being with other people while Introverts get re-charged being by themselves.
That said, I'm noticing that as I get older, I sooo value my alone-time, what I call "sanctuary time", settling in to my SELF. I just got back from a 3-day retreat at the Kripalu Yoga Center in the Berkshire Mts. in Massachusetts and it was delicious on so many levels (that's me, with the iconic "Camperdowm Elm" in the woods there). I went by myself, had a tiny little room with just a bed and a sink, and I was in heaven... "forest bathing", taking yoga classes, and eating wonderful food that I didn't have to cook!
Just 2 weeks before that, I did a solo 1-day meditation retreat guided by my amazing, brilliant younger brother, Jeff, who's training to be a minister. And that was luscious and transformational as well.
So does that mean that I want to run off and meditate in a cave for the rest of my life? Of course not. But I have been ruminating on those two very distinct yearnings in myself -- to be happily connecting with other people and to be quietly by myself -- and how they weave together in my being.
One obvious way is that when I return from any kind of intentional "me" time, whether it's a lovely little spa experience or a more extended getaway like the two I've had over the last month, I always feel replenished and ready to re-connect with the important people in my life. While I'm a huge proponent of radical self-care (what I call sacred SELF-Centeredness) for it's own sake, I'm very aware that all those special relationships are also enriched and supported by me taking that sanctuary time as well.
What about you? How has your commitment to carving out alone time benefited your most precious relationships?
And on the 2 1/2 hour drive to and from Kripalu, I finally had a chance to listen to a wonderful interview about friendship that my dear friend Minx had sent me (you can learn more about Minx and the interview in this month's Picks below). And that's when it occurred to me that the upcoming Full Moon in "me first" Aries, with the Sun in friendly Libra, is a perfect time to focus on this dance of Self and Other that I've been contemplating.
The Sun has been in Libra since the Fall Equinox on September 22nd so we've had the cosmic vibe of partnership and harmony running in the background until it moves into Scorpio on October 22nd. In fact, in our Libra New Moon Circle on October 2nd, we focused on how we can celebrate, heal, and/or transform our most important relationships -- you can watch the recording at the Wellness Universe to do your own relationship work.
The Aries Full Moon on October 17th will add it's own fire-y energy to the mix. Aries is all about embracing your individuality, self-discovery, trusting your instincts and taking righteous action to stand up for what you believe in. With Libra reminding us to seek and cultivate beauty and balance in our lives, it's a perfect time to look for ways to integrate seeming polarities... like maybe SELF and OTHERS?!
So, be sure to join us for my Aries/Libra Full Moon TeleMeditation on Thursday, October 17th at Noon -- click HERE for dial-in details. And if you miss it, contact me and I'll send you the recording, or look for it on Facebook & Instagram).
As always, my Deb’s Picks this month are a creative mix of all of the above, sprinkled with a few random offerings to encourage you to explore your own balance of "me time" and time with others. Enjoy!
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