Dear Friends, Yogis, Lovers of Life,
Happy November to All,
As November prepares for her arrival, the change of seasons is now undeniable. Our bodies know it, sometimes even before our minds do. Maybe that is why so many people I've spoken with over the past week or two have mentioned feeling far more tired than usual. I certainly am!
I take this as a sign that it is once again time to make some seasonal adjustments to my routines, my nutrition, and my expectations about a reasonable pace of life.
Perhaps many of us have matured to the point where we recognize the wisdom of making these adjustments, choosing to live more in alignment with nature rather than resisting its rhythms.
Does that stack of books you've been wanting to read suddenly look more appealing? Perhaps now is the time to return to some of those indoor hobbies or projects that were set aside in favor of outdoor enjoyment. Maybe the shorter days will even make it a little more inviting to spend a few extra minutes meditating or journaling.
Along with tending to our own well-being through nourishing foods, healthy routines, and creative outlets, this coming weekend offers another invitation. Across several spiritual and cultural traditions, it is a time to engage in the sacred practice of remembrance. Perhaps you might consider incorporating a simple ritual or practice that resonates with you.
Across cultures and centuries, this turning of the seasons has been marked by sacred acts of remembrance. In the Celtic tradition of Samhain, the veil between worlds is said to grow thin. Christians celebrate All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, honoring those who have gone before us. In Mexico, Día de los Muertos brings families together around colorful altars filled with flowers, photographs, and offerings of love.
Different traditions, different expressions, yet a shared invitation: to remember those whose lives have touched our own, to honor the love that remains, and perhaps, in the process, to remember something essential about ourselves.
For remembrance is not only about looking back. It is also about awakening to who we are, what we value, and how we wish to live the days still before us.
Remembrance is itself a sacred practice.
We might light a candle, speak a beloved name, look through old photographs, prepare a favorite family recipe, or simply sit quietly and allow a memory to rise. Sometimes remembrance brings tears, sometimes laughter, and often both. Each is an expression of love.
But this season also invites another kind of remembering.
Remembering who we are
beneath the busyness of our lives.
Beneath the roles we play, the expectations we carry, and the endless distractions that pull at our attention, there is a quieter, steadier place within us. A place of presence, compassion, and belonging.
Our spiritual practices help us return to this place. Through mindful movement, breath, stillness, and sacred song, we create space to listen more deeply. We remember what nourishes us, what connects us, and what truly deserves our time and attention.
Perhaps this is one of November's quiet gifts: an invitation to remember not only those who have gone before us, but also the life we are here to live.
As we enter this season of remembrance and gratitude, may we honor those whose love has shaped us, cherish those who walk beside us now, and return again and again to the sacred center of our own hearts.
Sending each of you loving wishes
for peace, health & happiness,
now and always.
With Love & A Deep Bow,
Rev Shelley