Season: Autumn
Element: Metal
Moon: Full
Zodiac: Taurus
Happy Friday!
The last eclipse of 2023 will occur tomorrow with a full moon lunar eclipse. For those of us in the United States, we will miss out on seeing it but it will be visible in full for the European and African countries. This full moon has been named the Hunter’s Moon by the Algonquin Native American tribe and is a reminder to start making preparations for winter. See the Rest Recipe below for a good winter staple and join me at the next Rest Event on Sunday, November 12th, 2023 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm to relax and reset. There are still a few spots open, so if you are interested to join, please RVSP at abby@cascadefengshui.com. You are welcome to bring a friend or two. Just let me know in the RSVP.
An eclipse is an opportunity to let go of what is not serving you and embrace new beginnings and passions. Since this full moon lunar eclipse is in Taurus, I encourage you to embody the bull’s patience but reject its stubbornness. In lead up to this full moon, I started reading How We Show Up by Mia Birdsong. Mia is a thought leader, author, and family activist who advocates for the strengthening of communities and the self-determination of low-income people. I was first introduced to her in this 2020 Everything Happens podcast episode in which Kate Bowler and Mia discuss community as a verb. As I read her book through the lens of rest / yin, here are some of my take-aways:
Family beyond blood and law. Family is what you make it.
The village we all need. Rugged individualism is leading to exhaustion. We need to ask for help. We need support from our family, friends, and community.
The sacrifice of bees. (Mia is a beekeeper! Perfect follow up to my post last week.) Honeybees risk themselves to protect their home community and they expend resources for the benefit of the broader community.
In feng shui, there is a whole gua dedicated to family. The family area is connected to the wood element, which represents kindness, flexibility, and growth. As we finish this eclipse season, my plan is to patiently continue to grow and nurture my community because family is more than blood and law, because it takes a village, and because once rooted a community sacrifices to protect and provide for all with kindness. Community is indeed a verb and creating one reminds me of this quote I have been thinking about a lot lately:
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Note: Rest curations, products, and recordings are still in the works, but I am leaving the paid subscriber Rest Readings, Rest Recipes, and Rest Rituals on the newsletter for a month or so. If you want to contribute, consider becoming a paid subscriber through Substack:
REST READING
The Year of Cozy by Adrianna Adarme
How We Show Up by Mia Birdsong
Permission to Rest by Ashley Neese
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve by Stanley Rosenberg
The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hahn
Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Saving Time by Jenny Odell
The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer by Dan Buettner
The Moon Book by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener
Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
Essential Oils to Boost the Brain & Heal the Body by Jodi Cohen
In Praise of Wasting Time by Alan Lightman
The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile
Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
REST RECIPE
The end of the harvest is almost upon us and I am so happy that I can still get fresh herbs from my CSA, Green Wagon Farm. This week I was able to get a bunch of basil and some fresh spinach, so I’ve made fresh pesto to freeze for the winter months. I promise this has nothing to do with the pesto TikTok craze, which my husband just informed me about. As you may have noticed, in Rest Recipes I try to give you simple staples that you can use in multiple meals. Pesto is one of my go-tos and I use it on everything — from pasta to pizza to sandwiches. This recipe was adapted from Adriana Adarme’s Tallarines Verdes recipe. I discovered Adriana when I lucked upon her delightful book, The Year of Cozy, at the library. I’ve put it into Rest Reading for you to check out. So, here is the recipe for Pesto:
2 cups spinach
1 cup basil
5 ounces parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic
1/2 shallot
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper
Cube the cheese, then place all the above ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Store the pesto in a glass jar in the refrigerator or freezer. I like to use Le Parfait 500 ml Super Jars for the fridge and 8 ounce mason jars for the freezer. Also, I have been known to change the parmesan cheese to manchego, the walnuts to pecans or pine nuts, the evaporated milk to almond or oat milk, and will even add some parsley into the mix if I have some to use up. Feel free to be creative.
*Basil contains magnesium, which can help with relaxation, rest, and sleep.
REST RITUAL
For awhile now, I’ve been reframing the way I think about serious issues in terms of macro versus micro. These terms came into my consciousness probably through a podcast, but I’ve been taking them to heart when I am overwhelmed by the state of the world. For instance, I’m very concerned about the environment but it is overwhelming to try to solve the issues at the macro (overall) level. I can however effect change at a micro (community) level. If you journal, when you are feeling overwhelmed try this macro vs. micro ritual.
On a black page, write MACRO on the left side of the page and MICRO on the right side. Below MACRO, list 2-3 issues that are overwhelming you are the moment. Next to each of these issues below the MICRO side, list what you could do at a community level to address these issues. Here is an example:
I find that bringing issues down to the micro level allows you to identify manageable goals. And it is super important to write the goals down. A study done by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University of California, showed that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. Look at your list, focus on the micro list, take three deep breaths, breathing in through the nose feeling empowered by the breath, and out through the nose as you share a deeper connection with your community.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope this has been enjoyable. May your week wrap up with ease and may your weekend be relaxing.
One more reminder on the upcoming events:
What: Rest Event
Where: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft, Alto, Michigan 49302
When: Sunday, November 12th, 2023 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm
Why: Give yourself permission and come join me to REST
Who: Presented by Cascade Rest Curation in partnership with Cascade Feng Shui
How Many: Only 10 spots available, so please RSVP asap to abby@cascadefengshui.com if you would like to attend.
How Much: FREE!
If you cannot make the above date, again no worries. I will be holding the last Rest Event of 2023 on Sunday, December 10th from 1:30pm to 3:00pm.
Mark the date in your calendar and remember to RSVP me for the dates above.
And if you are interested in my feng shui services, please see my website at www.cascadefengshui.com and contact me at abby@cascadefengshui.com. I’m also on Instagram at cascade.feng.shui.