This December, I wanted to be intentional about selecting self-care and seasonal activities to carry me throughout the winter months. And I have a few gorgeous and seasonally immersive resources to inspire the magic of the month that I can’t wait to tell you about.
In the spirit of celebrating (which is our theme for our next circle 🥳), I want to first share how I accidentally started a new hobby 🙊.
Every year, one of the things that brings me so much delight in December is to create an advent calendar for the boys. I usually pick a theme and I will either create it DIY style or buy them a pre-made “box”.
Turns out a bath bomb advent calendar is upwards of $200 …. that was a hard no. And that’s when I couldn’t help myself … I ordered the supplies to make them at home 💃.
There are several reasons I’m so giddy over this.
#1. I live in Canada. For anyone who has ever read a DIY blog post from the United States stating it cost them pennies on the dollar, only to get your hopes up, buy your supplies and realize you spent MORE to make the DIY version. Urgh! So this was genuinely the first time it was #worthit
#2. I’m a Manifesting Generator. I live to try new hobbies!
Here they are my first ever home made bath bombs!
#reads
This year, I’m shifting our December advent activities to include more stories, folklore and mythology from around the world.
These are the two books I’ll be reading through with my kids, my husband, and my 83 year old mother in law who is just as eager to hear them! Yes, my mother in law lives with us ;)!
The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice by Carolyn McVickar Edwards
Winter Tales: Stories and Folktales from Around the World by Dawn Casey
I plan on reading through The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice during December and Winter Tales throughout January and February.
#loves
As we make the transition from fall to winter, my old self wants to start planning what life will look like in January and beyond. There’s nothing wrong with that except that my old self would also fit in my self-care or activities that light me up as the very last priority. Very often, there will be little room for them to fit in my packed schedule and thus sending me on a perfect trajectory to burnout-land before I even start.
But this is Rooted Rhythms after all. I invite you to do things differently with me.
Plan your self-tending and activities that fill you with delight first!
This year, I’m leaning into two resources.
#1 Advent Calendar - A season of Magic by Wild Flowers and the Moon
I love how each activity gently drops you further and further into the magic of the winter solstice and the holidays!
#2 Botanical Anthology: Winter 2023 by Plant Wonder Collective
This is a feast for your senses!
Note: These are not affiliate links … I just love them a lot!
In terms of free inspiration these are some suggested places you let yourself explore seasonal activities that rplenish your wells👇
—> Pinterest
#icymi (in case you missed it)
🔔 A few updates and reminders
🌟 I have changed the name of this newsletter publication to Rooted Rhythms (previously The Sanctum).
🟠 December Circle: Amplifying Celebrations, Deep Listening to Wisdom, and Entering in the Dreaming of Winter
Save the Date: Thursday, December 14th, 2023
Time: 1 pm EDT
Register: https://anamariajanes.substack.com/p/upcoming-events
This is our last gathering meditation to end the cycle of autumn! Please note that our circles are an exclusive perk for those Souls who have subscribed to a monthly or annual plan to support my work.
✨ This winter, in lieu of a Solstice gathering on December 21st, we will get together on January 11th, 2024 for a 1 day mini retreat to explore wintering, our ability to frop in energy space, and enter the dreaming for what is to come next. I’ll share how you can access your own Akashic Records anytime you desire.
There will be no planning and no new year resolutions. We simply enter the next stage of the creation cycle, the fertile soil of your underworld where all possibilities exist and your only task is to feel into what you desire to experience next.
#RootedWeek
This week has the flavour of completion and celebration in unexpected ways.
The Devoted Energy Coaching School (the program from which I have graduated as an Energy Coach) will be celebrating the new graduates. This is extra special to me as I have served as a team member and continued my studies as an Apprentice inside the school. I was blessed to witness the blooming of our graduating GEMS!!!
To be able to celebrate, we must first take stock of what we have finished AND what we consciously choose to not complete at this time.
Here is Your Rooted Week Self-Inquiry:
Are you ready to take an inventory of what you have accomplished so far?
Can you sense into the areas of life, tasks or projects that are ready to be completed or be brought to a short pause until their next iteration?
Are you able to identify areas of life, tasks or projects you are having trouble letting go of? These are the ones where it feels like you are pushing a boulder uphill. Where the energy you input seems like it’s not yielding progress. Places and spaces where you feel stuck and need to try something differently. Can you let go of the current way you’ve been engaging with them to make room for something new, even though you don’t know what that might be yet.
Can you celebrate how far you’ve come without judgment about what your mind or the outside world tells you where you should be?
Until next time … stay rooted and be true to your rhythm.
xox,
Ana-Maria