Winter Reflection Ritual

It’s Ruby here with a HAPPY NEW YEAR message from Star and I (in between power outages, tidal surges and earthquakes...guess where I live haha)! We are grateful you are a part of our Life Camp Community and look forward to coaching you, creating opportunities for your healing and serving you more cutting edge dope content, neuroscience-based tools and trauma-informed strategies for you to live your best current version of life ever!  Cheers to the AMAZING YOU, YOU ARE BECOMING!

The end of 2022 and the start to the New Year has been full of unexpected twists and turns and not just for me, we’ve been hearing from many of you just how tough it’s been from navigating the holiday stress to what seems like everyone getting sick! This LOVE NOTE (and special journaling reset practice) is for you!

Here in Northern California (NorCal as we affectionately call it) we’ve been experiencing a significant number of power outages since early December (!!!)… sometimes they last a few hours, sometimes multiple days. This means almost nothing has been going according to plan.

Cue: flexibility, practicing non-attachment and seizing the day INTERNET when it’s available. Living without power and hot water has greatly increased my appreciation for electricity, frontline workers and creature comforts, to say the least. It feels like a damn miracle every time the lights come back on!

Normally I consider winter solstice the time of year for inward reflection, but this year I’m giving us all an extension (if the gov't can do it for taxes, why not me?).

So light a candle, take a deep breath and let’s get to releasing what we’ve grown out of & what no longer serves the person we are becoming… We are in the season of…

Shedding skins.

Planting seeds of intention.

Igniting our desires.

Nurturing dreams.

I love journaling…it’s a practice I’ve had for over 30 years. I go through cycles and stages with writing; it’s a practice that has grown and evolved with me. A good journaling session always brings me back to me.

Reading old journals can bring a new perspective.

Burning old journals can be a sweet release.

Morning pages clear the creative decks.

Evening “purse dumps” calm a racing mind.

I’d like to share with you my Winter Reflection Ritual. Usually, I complete it before Christmas, hahahahaha, PLOT TWIST! But this year, I’m just now getting to it and thought… let’s do it TOGETHER!

This simple ritual is the perfect antidote to New Year's resolutions and all the expectations around New Year New You. Think of it like a soft reset. Instead of committing to a new massive practice that feels overwhelming and ends up leaving you feeling like a New Year Failure once again, you can mull over a few questions with pen in one hand, coffee/tea/oj/water in the other.

You don’t even need a journal! Just grab a few sheets of paper, or print out this simple guide: Winter Reflection Ritual from Life Camp.pdf  

I like to dedicate a page for each question and jot ideas and insights down over a few days. I’m going to sit with it during my mid-morning coffee time from now till Sunday. You could do it all in one fell swoop over an evening cup of tea or linger over it for a few days with me.

And! It doesn't even have to involve writing!!! You can ponder over the questions in a hot salty bath, walking or sitting in nature, record them and play to yourself during meditation, stretching or yoga or another feel good self-care practice you love.

Lean into it with curiosity: “What can I discover about myself?

Or light a candle, set an intention, take a few slow deep breaths and write with love. If you get stuck, ask your future self for advice!

Once you've finished there are so many options:

Turn on an epic playlist and dance it out

Jump in cold shower and proclaim who you are becoming

Maybe you want to burn it (responsibly i.e. in a sink, bowl or fireplace)

Tear it into pieces, dig a little hole outside and "plant" it in the ground

Toss out winter seeds (wildflowers, poppies) with your intentions

Create affirmations from what you've written and write them on sticky notes

Make a mini vision board and cut out a few images that reflect what you are calling in

Tuck it all away and save it for next year's reflection.

I'm here to give you permission to do this ritual in a way that works for you, brings you joy and lights you up! There is no wrong way to journal (or do this practice), you can’t fuck it up or write/think the wrong thing. You got this!

And, BTW no one gets to read it but you… unless you want to share. This can also be a sweet process to do simultaneously with a friend or loved one, where you come together after you’ve finished and share some of your insights and takeaways.

If you want to download a simple version to print out and take with you click this hot pink link: Winter Reflection Ritual from Life Camp.pdf 

Star and I wish you the best health, happiness, love and orgasms in the year ahead!

If you are needing more support, we've got options, check out the PS section below! I can’t wait to see how you make this #winterreflectionritual your own! Tag me in your stories or posts or reply to this email!

Big hugs and so much LOVE,

Ruby (& Star)

PS: When you're ready, here are a few ways we can support you closing the gap on who you are and who you want to be...

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