By Deb Matlock
www.wild-rhythms.com
We live in a world of rhythms; seasonal change, day and night, asleep and awake, slow and fast…the list goes on and on…and on.
Rhythm is what allows us to live, breath, think, feel, and be an intimate part of the dance of life on this amazing planet. Every beat of our hearts, every inhale or exhale, every time we close our eyes to sleep, we are participating in the fantastic and mysterious dance of life. This is a universal truth for all life. Rhythms tie us together.
We also live in a world moving at an enormously fast pace. We are asked to digest information constantly through email, advertising, radio, television, and the internet. We often go hours or days without knowing the phase of the moon, which birds are currently migrating through our area, what our companion animals are feeling, or what it feels like to live in our own natural and wild rhythms.
While our fast-paced life has certainly afforded us opportunity beyond measure, we must also be conscious of our deep and wild roots as natural beings living in a very intimate dance with the rest of the natural world. Understanding how we dance through our days with these rhythms can truly change not only our own lives, but the lives of those who depend on us…every living being on this earth.
So, how do we get to know our own rhythms and learn to live within these personal patterns? Below are some ideas.
• Observe when you have the most energy during your day. Are you a morning person, a lover of the night, or a zesty afternoon type person? How might you plan your days in accordance to your own rhythm?
• Ask yourself what season makes you feel the most outgoing and productive? What season makes you want to crawl into a cocoon? Do you notice seasonal preferences and patterns in your life?
• Become aware of when your body ask for rest and sleep? Do you need a certain number of hours of sleep, or rest breaks during the day? What wild animals hold similar sleeping patterns? How does this sleeping pattern effect your life? Can you work with it to further engage your natural rhythm?
• Explore the landscapes that tug at your heart and mind. Are you an ocean person or do you feel a deeper resonance with forests or prairies? What rhythms does your preferred landscape hold and how do those rhythms reflect in your life? Can you arrange your days and weeks to connect with these rhythms further?
• Inquire whether there are specific wild animals with whom you feel a special connection? Do you relate to hummingbirds, whales, snakes, or…? What rhythms are embodied by the animals you feel closest to? How do those rhythms reflect in your own life? Can you bring those rhythms into your days more so?
Above is a list…albeit incomplete…as any such list would go on and on just as do rhythms. Hopefully, though, this list will provide a starting point and some inspiration for your own rhythmic journey into your wild and authentic self. Understanding how we dance through our days with these rhythms can truly change not only our own lives, but the lives of those who depend on us…every living being on this earth.
Deb Matlock grew up in the mountains of Colorado and is deeply committed to nurturing the connection between people, animals, earth, and spirit. She has spent twenty-five years working as a professional environmental and humane educator and naturalist. Additionally, Deb offers shamanic-style spiritual guidance, animal communication, nature connection workshops, and retreats through her business, Wild Rhythms. She is passionate about helping people find connection and deep spiritual meaning in their lives and in the places where they live. Deb holds a Master of Arts in Environmental Education from Prescott College and is pursuing her doctoral degree in environmental studies at Antioch University New England.
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For more information about the work of Deb Matlock and Wild Rhythms, please visit https://wild-rhythms.com/