Full Flower Moon
Seeing ourselves with self love
Season: Spring
Element: Wood
Moon: Full
Happy Sunday! Happy Mother’s Day!
Tomorrow is the Full Flower Moon in the element of wood. Spring is in full swing here in Michigan with the redbuds, forget-me-nots, and violets blooming in vibrant displays of pink, blue, and purple. It is spectacular, but a big transition after this long and cold winter. If you need support, the next Rest Walk is on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 10:00am - 12:00pm and the next Rest Curation is on Sunday, June 1, 2025 from 1:30pm - 3:00pm. And Kara’s June sound curation, Sound + Space Summer Solstice Sound Immersion, is on Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Please sign-up to reserve a spot and remember, as Tricia Hersey writes in her aptly named book, Rest is Resistance.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the time of spring and the element of wood are associated with the eyes. Our eyes relate to our sense of sight and also to the act of seeing. How many of us are familiar with the old adage “seeing is believing”? This turn of phrase is associated with the seventh-century English minister Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) and the entire saying was actually, “seeing is believing, but feeling is truth.” In this age of smoke and mirrors, filters and effects, and augmentation and AI, I think it is difficult sometimes to believe our own eyes. When I look at photos online or people out in the world, I am at times shocked by the level of perfection some are trying to achieve. With their precise weight, toned muscle, glowing tan, controlled hair, flawless looking skin, symmetrical features, and form fitting clothing, I often wonder how much effort it takes to look this way. I used to be in awe, but now when I see these people I honestly just feel tired. If they can effortlessly achieve a perfect appearance when they wake up in the morning then they are truly blessed. But in reality, how much time and money did it take for the exercise, dieting, hair appointments and products, facials, Botox, plastic surgery, make-up, nails, clothes, accessories, and tailoring to achieve that look? I truly hope that all that time and money makes them see a person they love and therefore makes them feel the truth that they are beautiful. However, it does makes me wonder why there is so much ugliness in this world and why some of it is coming from these “beautiful” people?
In my own life, I have never achieved the level of perfection I have seen online or in the world. Even the summer after my freshman year in college when I worked out every single day, starved myself skinny, and got the most expensive hair cut ever, I still found things I wasn’t happy with. As I look back to that September when I was closest to my idea of “perfection” at that time, all I can remember are those three grueling summer months of transformation that were really just painful — not only to my wallet, but to my mind, body, and spirit. All of it did not make me see myself as perfect nor feel the truth that I was beautiful.
After many years of beating myself up for not being by society’s standards thin enough, pretty enough, or symmetrical enough (yes, as I get older one eye is bigger than the other in photos), I am trying to seriously lean into self love. And with this, I try to bring the positives about myself more into focus and keep the negatives a bit more blurry. I try to see myself through self love glasses — like I enjoy seeing silver gray streaks in my ash-brown hair since they look striking, I’ve always appreciated the look and shape of my hands and feet, and my skin, after concocting a homemade face oil that really works for me, is looking fresh and healthy. Of course, there are always parts that are not my favorite (thighs, anyone?) but I’m almost 50 now and I want to finally love this vessel that has so graciously allowed me to occupy it. This wonderful body is my one and only, so I need to treat it preciously and to see all the beauty that it has. In this season of seeing, try to look at yourself with self love, believe the positives, and feel the truth that we are all beautiful in our own unique way. Think about how looking at yourself in this new way may even help to change the way others see themselves and therefore help the world feel the truth of beauty.
These times are trying, so give yourself permission to REST. Information on upcoming Rest Curations, Rest Walks, and Sound Curations are at the bottom of the post. And please pass this Substack onto a friend or family member to broaden this amazing CRC community and to give the gift of rest to those who need it. If you don’t live in West Michigan and want to hold a Rest Curation in your local community, please email me at abby@cascadefengshui.com for the script and music information. Or email me if you would like to organize a private Rest Curation for friends, family, or colleagues.
Note: Rest products are still in the works, but I am leaving the paid subscriber Rest Readings, Rest Recipes, Rest Rituals, and Rest Recordings on the newsletter for a month or so. If you want to contribute, consider becoming a paid subscriber through Substack:
REST READING
Check out all of the rest reading recommendations in Resources on my Substack page.
REST RECIPE
Avocados are a spring fruit that I love! They were on sale this week so my husband got me some knowing that they might be expensive soon. Although I am not a millennial, I adore an avocado toast and make one that might be a bit strange but that I think is super yummy. So here is my take on avocado toast:
1 Ezekiel muffin (you can also use any type of bread)
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon Vegemite
1 avocado*
1/4 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning
1 cup microgreens (I used Green Wagon’s Nicey Spicey)
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
Parmesan cheese, shaved
Halve and toast the muffin. Then spread with butter and Vegemite. Slice the avocado into thin slices or cubes and place on top of the muffin halves. Sprinkle the top of the avocado with the everything bagel seasoning. In a small bowl, toss the microgreens in the sesame oil. Layer the greens on top of the avocado on the muffin halves. Finish with the shavings of Parmesan cheese. Serve with fresh green fruit like grapes or kiwi for a perfect wood element lunch.
*Avocados can be beneficial for sleep due to their nutrient composition, particularly their content of magnesium and potassium, which are linked to improved sleep quality. Avocados also contain tryptophan, an amino acid that can be converted into melatonin and serotonin, both of which play a role in sleep regulation. If my toast is too complicated, check out this recipe from Australian chef Bill Granger who is credited with the creation of avocado toast:
REST RITUAL
Awhile back the good people at Gloojo reached out to me to try out a pair of their Night Ease - Sleep Glasses. They sent me the Cat Eye Orange Sleep Glasses, which are super cute and very comfortable, and I have been using them during the hour before I go to bed when I am reading — especially when I am using my Kindle.
Per Gloojo’s website, these glasses transform your sleep quality with advanced orange-tinted lenses designed to naturally regulate your circadian rhythm and enhance your rest. Their specialized orange lens block 100% of disruptive blue light (400-530nm), helping your body produce melatonin naturally. You can learn more about blue light from the Sleep Foundation’s article Blue Light: What It Is and How It Affects Sleep. I will try anything to improve my sleep and have found these glasses to be a nice addition to my sleep routine. Check them out.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this has been enjoyable. May you have a restful and calm start to your week.
Below are the upcoming 2025 Cascade Rest Curations (links to Eventbrite are underlined):
REST CURATIONS
Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half. All Rest Curations will take place on the Sunday near the new moon at the Liebestraum Chalet in Alto, Michigan:
Rest Curation - Sunday, June 1, 2025 from 1:30pm - 3:00pm
REST WALKS
Monthly dynamic walks to bring both energy and relaxation. These guided walks will start with a circle to stretch and to set an intention to ponder based on the element of the season. The first 30 minutes of the walk will be in noble silence and the last 30 minutes will be open to conversation and observation. The walk will finish with a circle to reflect, share, integrate, and finally stretch. If you have been hesitant to join a Rest Curation, please consider signing up for a Rest Walk since this a more active entry into yin energy. All Rest Walks will take place on the Saturday near the full moon at a park near Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Rest Walk - Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 10:00am - 12:00pm
Rest Walk - Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 10:00am - 12:00pm
SOUND CURATIONS
Join us to celebrate the element of each season with sound immersions by Kara Markovich at the Liebestraum Chalet in Alto, Michigan:
Sound + Space Summer Solstice Sound Immersion - Summer solstice, Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm
And if you are interested in my feng shui and interior design services, please see my website at www.cascadefengshui.com and contact me at abby@cascadefengshui.com.