Steep In Your Beauty / November 4, 2024

…steep in your beauty.

Hello!

A new season is here to greet us.  I love the gentle light that it brings…so soft as it bounces off the colors that are emerging with this shift into fall.  Mother Nature knows we need a little extra lovin and gentleness right now before crossing the threshold into the winter season.  She is creating a cozy space for us to land as we watch her so gracefully reveal the beauty that emerges with the shedding of layers. 

I pulled our second card a few weeks ago and each time I sat to write - no words came.  I thought, well just cut yourself some slack; your finding your way with writing. I mean the thoughts I share on the wisdom whisper cards do not exceed five words and now I am attempting to expand on them with sentences and paragraphs! It’s like I am attempting to complete the New York Times crossword puzzle with half the alphabet. I was making it overly complicated and now, I realize, I just needed to sit in this cozy space that has been created for us…I needed to steep. 

I took this photo at the Denver Botanical Garden in Colorado. It was my first time visiting a botanical garden, and I was overwhelmed by the energy I was feeling as my eyes jumped from one beautiful sight to another. I didn’t know where to start or what to focus on first. After wandering for awhile, I came across a greenhouse. Stepping inside, a sense of calm washed over me. I felt as if I was wrapped in a cocoon, surrounded by vibrant colors and lush greenery.

One area was filled with tropical flowers, their richness and intricate details drew me in. I wanted to capture a close-up of them, focusing on the delicate patterns in their leaves and petals. But I think because of the humidity, my camera just wouldn’t focus, no matter what I tried. The result was the misty image you see here. I was mesmerized by this blurry effect.

This experience reminded me of how my life—my self-perception and sense of direction can sometimes fall under a blurred lens. But is that necessarily a negative perspective?  I felt myself softening as I gave myself permission to not always have the answers and to sit with the parts of me that I don’t completely like or understand.  While sitting in this space is not always comfortable, it can be quite beautiful as we peel back the layers and discover wisdom that has been hiding in the shadows. 

For me, I’m finding in order to grow and expand, I must honor and love not just my strengths, the open and free areas but also those bits that cause confusion and suffering. I must welcome in and make room for all of it…it all deserves my attention and love.

“The beauty of things shines beneath all that is broken.” - Mark Nepo

May we take time to pause and connect with all the pieces of ourselves, steeping in their beauty.

Thank you for letting me land in this space with you.

love,

Susi

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