Tools for this Season

Creating states of peace

Do you feel an undercurrent of stress in the collective? The source could be from the election, our Climate Change crisis, cold and flu season, the holidays approaching, or something else that feels like a personal transformation. Maybe it’s all of the above. Growth cycles often come disguised as challenges and feel akin to climbing Mount Everest, but you never even wanted to climb a mountain to begin with. 

We grow during discomfort. It is also true that life can feel extra hard when our environment is stressful in a way that is beyond our control. Positive psychologists offer a reminder: “focus on what you can control.” Sage advice. We can be hypnotized by the chaos that we can’t control. 

How can we get better at seeing reality for what it is and then respond to ourselves and each other with kindness, peace, or love? Through a period of introspection, I discovered that both profound and subtle perspective shifts are possible.

Interestingly, I remembered what I had forgotten when I gave myself time to be alone. Hurricane Helene was a traumatic event in my hometown of Asheville, NC. Other personal events piled on. I phoned a friend and she invited me to her AirBNB that was sitting vacant. I asked, “is there running water?” This has become a standard question in Western North Carolina since the hurricane. Her response, “yes, we have a well. The water is clean. We also have a bathtub.” The excitement and relief came to me as the gift I unknowingly needed. 

I gathered my things and drove up the sketchy dirt road and landed in a place of stillness. Not even the trees spoke. Peace rolled in immediately. I went inside the home and found what I was seeking, the bathtub. I turned the water on, added a few drops of lavender and clary sage essential oils. Lavender has a soothing effect on the nervous system. And clary sage can significantly decrease cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress.

Next, I put the kettle on the stove to make some nettle tea. A nettle latte is my go to cup of warmth this time of year (recipe below). I went outside onto the deck, and took in the expansive north facing views. The mountains were dull in color, but the dark shadows revealed a raw beauty. 

The bath was ready. I love to soak. My daughters are also big soakers. Having no clean water since September 27th has changed our lifestyle in so many ways. Our self care routine of bathing has been missed. I allowed my body to soak until the water turned cold. The essential oils informed my nervous system that all was well. The herbal tea was coded for immune support. I soaked in the silence. 

My time in this space was so quiet. No music. No podcasts. No children. No responsibilities. I was alone with my own thoughts. My own wisdom. This may sound depressing or lonely, but that couldn’t be further from what I felt. 

The experience was nourishing and supportive. This was peacemaking. And all this time, I had been busy with peacekeeping. There is a subtle difference. I’ll explain and then I’ll share some tools for this season.

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