Thank you so much to all of you who have joined me on my adventure to fill my life more Joy. It’s so wonderful to have you here with me.
My current thoughts are that each Sunday evening I’m going to share with you the moments that have brought me joy this week, almost like my “Joy journal”.
I don’t keep a journal but I can understand why keeping a gratitude/ joy/ happiness journal is a wonderful way to shift your mindset as just reflecting on the things that have brought me joy this week has made me feel more “joyful”.
Its so easy to get bogged down in the day to day and it doesn’t come naturally to many of us to make time for ourselves but when we do we become much happier versions of ourselves which only radiates to those around us too. It’s an on going process and I often feel guilty for doing things for myself as I “should” be doing x, y and z. But I hope that the more I do the more it will just become a part of my every day life and in modelling this to my own daughter I’m helping to change the narrative that looking after ourselves as women is “selfish” or resting is “lazy” or that we constantly need to be busy to be “happy”. That it’s ok to take time, to do the things that bring us joy because that ultimately means we can do all of the other things required of us from a much more balanced and happier place.
This week brought Summer Solstice - mid summer, the longest day and the shortest night of the year. Summer Solstice brought with her some warm sunshine which has been very gratefully received and certainly makes it easier to find joy when you wake up to blue skies and sunshine.
In my decision to create more joy in my life, I’ve been saying yes to more adventures, things I would often look at and think I’d like to go to that but then find a multitude of ways to talk myself out of actually going. So on Friday night I went off on one such adventure to celebrate the summer solstice, I joined a beautiful offering created by one of my wonderful friends.
Lisa hosted an evening of light and sound in the most beautiful yurt in a picture perfect village, as soon as I arrived I felt lighter. You could hear the birds singing outside in the garden, the blue sky lighting up the centre of the yurt and inside Lisa had created a cosy cocoon, her beautiful crystal sound bowls placed in the centre interwoven with fairy lights and then fanning out around the centre we each had our own mat, bolster, pillow and blanket. Above each of our places Lisa had hung a beautiful crystal sphere which refracted light around the yurt and on each of our mats was a thoughtful gift of aromatherapy oils to enhance our experience and to take away with us. They smell divine and have such an uplifting and revitalising aroma, you might even call it joy in a bottle! I know every time I use the oils in the coming weeks I will be transported back to that evening and all of the emotions I felt. My crystal sphere is also hanging in my kitchen window ready for me to look at in those moments when things feel overwhelming.
I arrived feeling tired after a busy week but also carrying with me the trauma of the last few months and my emotions felt high, I could feel the tears forming just listening to Lisa’s voice and wisdom. Lisa is someone radiates joy and warmth and has such a calming graceful presence it’s always so wonderful to be in her company and you cannot help to feel yourself becoming more grounded just by being in her presence.
Lisa created a safe and intimate space to connect with other women and you could feel the collective sigh of relief when we all came together that we all had created this permission to stop for ourselves.
One of the most powerful moments for me was when Lisa got us to sit on our bolsters with our backs facing the centre of the circle, asking us to close our eyes and to look back over the last six months. Allowing us to look at that time with compassion and to gently observe the emotions that came up but to also look forward at all that was to come. As we leave the things that no longer serve us behind and move forward towards the light and joy of the sun and the fullness and renewed energy the summer brings as we emerge from the hibernation of winter. The tears falling down my cheeks as I began to let go.
We then popped on our warming eye masks and laid down wrapped in our blankets and were taken on a wonderful journey of sound and healing. If you’ve never experienced a sound bath before you really should give it a try, the way the sounds permeate through your body into every molecule of your being really is profound. The way the sounds make you feel is incredible, you truly are transported on a journey and become totally absorbed into the sounds.
Lisa told us we would have subconsciously positioned ourselves next to the crystal bowl that we most needed the healing energies from, afterwards she explained what they were and of course she was right.
We were eventually were brought back to earth by listening to the ethereal voices of Beautiful Chorus “My Little Light” - the words felt as though they spoke to my inner being;
“This little light of mine
Used to be too scared to shine
When mine met yours it would run and hide
But in time I came to find
I wanna shine so bright
It makes this whole world smile
And pay back the beautiful feeling
That allows me to be
Whatever I wanna be
And I am gonna be
Free and easy”
You could feel the energy in the Yurt had shifted everyone feeling a renewed sense of peace and calm. Afterwards we chatted over tea and the most delicious dates with nut butter, ginger and apricots.
I feel as though I left Friday evening feeling clearer in my mind, with lots of energy and creativity cursing through my body (hi new substack adventure!). With a genuine joy of all that is to come in the next six months of the year and to fully embrace all the unknowns and trust that things will unfold as they are supposed to. I feel a freeness I’ve not felt in a long time. A moment of true JOY that I’m going to be taking into the coming week with me.
So if you’ve made it this far! Thank you for allowing me to share my evening of joy with you.
A few other things that have brought me joy this week;
Running - it’s been a “good” running week where it’s felt like it’s all clicked together.
Trying out the new “improved” ice bath - five degrees felt COLD and uncomfortably hard but afterwards I felt ALIVE.
Visiting Cambridge and finding a beautiful garden to sit and enjoy lunch in, whilst admiring the impressive buildings around us steeped in history and the stunning tree in the centre and thinking of all of the things that tree must have witnessed and feeling joy that my job allows me such adventures.
I wonder what Joys are awaiting us all in the week ahead?
See you next Sunday!
Lucy