If you’re looking for a book to assist you as you navigate the ups and downs in life while you peel away the layers of worldly expectations, this read may be for you.
Have you ever wondered about your life’s dreams and what happened to them? Have you ever had dreams for your life? This book is a wake-up call. A reminder that it is never too late to fulfill that desire burning deep down inside of you. The piece of your soul that is ready to shine and light up your life! Inside the pages of Living, Loving, & Unlearning, I’ve created an easy to follow guideline for you to do just that. As you discover the purity of your own soul, and purpose of your existence here on earth, you will begin to feel the freedom to live your life, your journey, and your truth.
To listen to my talk at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA, please click here. This will give you an inside look into Living, Loving, & Unlearning, how it came about, and how it may help you in your own healing. As an added treat, my brother, Norm Weintraub, also performs a very special song about our Dad and his impact on our lives.
To order your copy of Living, Loving, & Unlearning, please go to my website at cynthiabrennen.com.
I heard this heartfelt song the other day and it got me thinking…about a lot of things. I thought of Mother Mary and her unfathomable unconditional love, bringing into focus my own mother and her human struggles burning beneath her innate love, and the strong wind of love I have for my three daughters. The holiness that lives within each one of us is often forgotten until we’re driven to the precipice of who we truly are underneath our layers of life.
One thing is for sure, Holy Mother hears your cries, particularly when it reverberates above all the lies. The untruths you tell yourself about who you are, and are not. The mother in me believes the child in you is meant to thrive. And the child in me yearns to believe all mothers carry this holiness within. Who do we cry out to when we feel our deepest pain, stripped down to our most vulnerable selves? Whether it’s literal or figurative, it’s most often the maternal nurturers in our lives. The mothers who possess the caress our hearts crave for. The angels born of this earth with the extended wings of Mother Mary. The one who reminds us of the eternal light shining within every one of us, even amongst our sorrows. It is this love that guides us to the stars in the night sky, revealing the truth of our own angel residing inside.
Click here to listen to Eric Clapton and Luciano Pavarotti sing the most beautiful song, “Holy Mother”.
“When there is silence one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself.” ~ Tao Te Ching
Sitting in the quiet may be a daunting task for some, but when practiced the world opens up to the inner seeds of your consciousness. Every thought, every emotion, and every extension toward Source creates the sunflower yearning to grow inside your soul. The most interesting part of sitting in silence is noticing where your thoughts take you, for it is energy that we extend is energy we receive.
We are what we seek. If we seek light, love, kindness, positivity, then that is likely what will surround our environment. That’s not to say that difficulty and darkness doesn’t creep into our lives, but it does speak to the question of how you deal with the darkness. Do you recognize it, wrestle with it, and push it into the space where it belongs, or do you gather it in and allow it to create fear in your heart? There is no right or wrong answer, we all have a shadow side, and we all learn from that side of ourselves. Where you are on your journey of life will likely answer that question for you. Are you still exploring and learning from your shadow or have you learned, and unlearned, and released its hold?
Funny how life twists and turns in so many directions. Just when you think you have it all figured out, another lesson presents itself. Especially when the most difficult lessons hit us, we must ask ourselves, what is the meaning behind this one? What am I meant to learn, and how am I to handle this situation so that I may water the seedling growing inside of me? That’s when surrendering into the silence brings you back to oneness with the universe.
When we trust the surrendering side of ourselves unexpected miracles begin to evolve. I find it so very interesting that it’s in the release that we find that anchoring center of our being. Through practice, over time, this trust becomes a knowing. With patience, time dissipates the fear and reveals the love beneath it all. With every breath and conscious thought you breathe life into the wilting flower that trusted you all along. All it asks is for you to trust yourself enough to move through the process and bring your being into the synthesis of the sunflower.
There comes a time in our lives when many of us begin to question the meaning of the skin we’re in. In a literal sense, our skin reveals our story through scars, wrinkles, aging spots, and tales told through our colorful tattoos. All earned and expressed from our emotions baring underneath. But what if all those experiences were only scratching the surface of our existence. What if we’ve only tapped into an infinitesimal amount of our vibrational force as it connects to nature and all living things. What if, we are on the verge of realizing that through this connectedness with Source, the natural nature of healing and living is at our radiant finger tips.
I discovered Zach Bush a couple of years ago as I was searching for healing modalities that aligned with my holistic practice. He is such a kind, wise, and brilliant healer, I realized it would be selfish of me to keep him to myself. So here you go, click here to take a listen and breathe in the essence of what we all have the ability to create under the skin and bones of our soul song.
Why is it we fear emotional discomfort so much? Is it we’re afraid we’ll never recover from that uncomfortable feeling? In reality, emotions are fleeting and free flowing, if we allow them to run their course. Just like anything in life, emotions move like the ocean. Sometimes calm, sometimes rolling, and sometimes tumultuous. It’s when we freeze in fear of the feeling that we become stuck in the muck. What if, every time we felt this discomfort we allowed ourselves to become the observer of that emotion? We simply step back, take a breath, and recognize its presence. We can then encourage it to move on through us like a wave, recognizing its fluidity and seeing it for what it truly is. An illusion created by our minds.
If our minds are powerful enough to create turmoil then it clearly has the ability to create peace. With each tear felt, and every grip of the heart, we encompass the wherewithal to move our emotions to a place of serenity. I chose the photo above for that exact reason. Although she reveals the sadness she feels, expressed through a tiny tear streaming down her cheek, she is surrounded with the images of soft bunnies, beautiful bluebells, and tender butterflies, bringing her solace. We all hold the power to bring this peace into our being. We simply need to recall our soul’s path and all it entails. Some of our experiences wouldn’t be considered enjoyable by any means, but they are certainly required for our internal growth. While we roll inside of that dark tunnel we must remember light always shines in the distance. And then it becomes brighter and brighter as we glide into the knowingness of our spirit.
Our souls know what is needed for our spiritual growth. It knows how long to sit in grief, how long to contemplate taking action, or not, and how long to wait before looking for the light again. It is always wise to sit with those feelings and listen for the answers. Your intuition will guide you and comfort you where the discomfort lies. Trust this ability you have within yourself and follow the path you came here to live. All the bumps and bruises will illuminate the meaning behind your fears, and open the gateway to your Light. Trust it. follow it. Be it.
Love because it raises everyone’s vibration around you. Love because it brings abundance into your life. Love because it makes you feel good from your head down to your toes. Love just because.
Love because it can’t help but bring a smile to your face and everyone you come in contact with. Love because it’s hard for someone to feel anger when in the presence of love. Love because people need love. Love because it’s hard to hate with love in the room. Love because you like feeling warm. Love just because.
Love because the world needs more love. Love because darkness can’t survive in the light. Love because your Light won’t have it any other way. Love because the devil in me needs your Light. Love because my hand touching yours pulls you out of the depths of despair. Love because there is no other way to thrive in this world. Love just because.
Love because the spirit in you remembers the reason you are here. Love because your purpose is to love. Love because walking your journey here on earth began with love. Love because it is the only way to truly enjoy life. Love because it frees you from the shackles of your mind and allows you to live in the present. Love because what you extend out always bounces back. Love because it reminds you to love yourself just as you are. Love just because.
Love because the angel in me sees the angel in you. I love you just because.
I forgot. I forgot balance is the key to everything. So when I injured my knee, it not only woke up the interconnected muscles and vessels within my body, it woke up my mind. I had already been nursing an achilles tendon injury when I received this second wake-up call, so it became very clear that something needed to change in order for me to unclog my pathway to health.
I love my walks. Experiencing nature with the sun warming my shoulders brings joy to my soul. The only problem is it became too routine. Too much of anything can tip the balance bar and throw you into the abyss if you’re not careful. I forgot to mix up my exercise and stretch other parts of my body, and stretching was exactly what I was missing. Remember the day when you could stretch for two minutes before a run? Now, learning the hard way, I’ve discovered I need to stretch 20 minutes before a walk! My new routine consists of some yoga poses, breathwork, stretching, and fascia rolling. Yep, good old fascia rolling. I remember my chiropractor suggesting this years ago. I felt uncoordinated trying to roll on this hard tube, not to mention it hurt, so I gave up. Not a good decision. If I had kept it up, along with stretching, I may not be in the position I am now. I’ve also discovered a wonderful hand held fascia roller that gets into the tight spots a floor roller cannot. The combination works wonders.
By definition, fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber, and muscle in place. The tissue does more than provide internal structure; fascia has nerves that make it almost as sensitive as skin. When we have stuck energy in our body, it can’t help but clog that connective tissue, creating pain in the body.
Many of you reading this may be experiencing, or have experienced, similar injuries or ailments. You understand the patience that is required to heal. When I had my frozen shoulder 10 years ago I embarked on a similar journey. It’s so important that we listen to our bodies. Our minds may try to trick us and tell us to ignore the pain and move on, but wisdom tells us otherwise. It’s not easy for me to take days off from walking but I’m learning to accept that my yoga/stretching routine may be all that my body requires that day. When I listen, my pains respond with relief.
In doing my own research on fascia I’ve learned a few things that have helped me release the sticky stuckness. I talked about this in my last post, Back in the Saddle!, addressing the emotional side of feeling stuck. When we store stress and unresolved emotions how can it not stick to your bones? In my case, literally. It’s when we make the decision to really do something about it that release is possible. Here are some wonderful fascia busting tips that can bring fluidity back into your body, mind, and soul:
*Stretch at least 10 minutes a day.
*Add collagen to your drinks/smoothies.
*Hydrate with water. Recommended amount is half your body weight in ounces.
*Practice a relaxing yoga such as Yin Yoga.
*Meditate and practice breathwork 5-20 minutes daily. Diaphragmatic breathing (breathing from deep down in your belly rather than your chest) is optimal.
*Roll out your tight spots with a fascia roller.
*Mix cardio into your exercise. Swimming and biking have been great for me! Less jarring on the tendons.
*Take saunas. Especially after a workout.
*Practice Block Therapy. A wonderful new practice in breaking up the fascia.
*Get a nice deep tissue massage (if deep tissue is too painful for you, ask for lighter pressure) and drink lots of water afterward. I had an amazing one recently and felt so much better.
*See an acupuncturist. This has really helped me with healing and with sleep. I also get a shot of B12 on my visits.
*Work with your chiropractor/physical therapist on proper form for stretches.
*Be true to yourself. Express your thoughts and feelings. Honor YOU.
With all this very valuable information being noted, I will never give up my nature walks. I only need to remember to keep them in perspective. Reminding myself it’s the joy of the walk in moderation, along with other forms of exercise. If I walk a mindful mile feeling at one with nature it is far more beneficial than racing through five miles. After all, what value has life if it isn’t enjoyed?
Click here for some valuable information on diaphragmatic breathing and block therapy.
A special thank you to my friend and energy healer, Marci Lubore, who kindly directed me toward this wonderful fascia roller and block therapy. She works wonders through many healing modalities including essential oil blends and energy work. For more information and scheduling, she can be reached at Healing Touch Energy Therapy at marci.lubore@gmail.com.
Grieving and loss have been thick in the air lately. At least it has been in my therapy room. The big question clients have been asking me is, “How long do I have to endure this pain?” After sitting in silence and allowing the energy to settle in, I review what I have witnessed in the grieving process.
The first stage is Reeling. After the shock of loss settles in, we begin to stagger and stumble, not quite knowing where to grab on to life. Feeling lost, we reach for stability but nothing feels like it did before. We begin to wonder if we’ll ever feel sane again, happy again, and just plain want to live again. We may even feel guilty for having those thoughts, and yet, the pain overpowers the guilt. Life as we knew it is gone, with no light in sight.
And then we begin to Feel. Reality of the loss drops in and we realize we’ll never have the old back. As we work through our feelings between the tears, anger, confusion, and bewilderment, a shadow of acceptance begins to crack through the tunnel. We begin to see the light, and then the roller coaster comes winding around again. One minute we feel like life is returning to our normal, and the next minute, the pain hits like a ton of bricks again. It is at this point that I remind my clients that the roller coaster ride is part of the process of grieving. We continue to work through those feelings until the span of peace is longer than the span of unrest. In time, as we work through all emotions the reality of what is now becomes the new normal. This doesn’t mean the loss is forgotten. It simply means the loss is accepted.
Once acceptance has calmed the roller coaster, we move into the healing stage. It is here we begin to have a new relationship with the loss. If it is a loved one who has passed, we may begin to connect with them on a spiritual level. I know when I lost my dad the reeling and feeling stages were excruciating for me. It wasn’t until the healing stage that I began to relate to him through energy, signs, and dimes. Yes, he leaves me dimes. I have a client who knows it’s her mother saying hello every time she sees a cardinal fly by. Another client’s rose-bush blooms in the middle of winter. It was his wife’s favorite part of their garden. A friend of mine sees her father with every butterfly that persistently follows her. Open your heart and notice these signals from your loved ones. They are full of love and light in their world and they want you to feel happiness in yours.
There are many different types of losses that happen in our lives besides losing a loved one who passes through the veil. We experience loss with employment, relationships, money, homes, pets, health, the list goes on. Everyone’s experience and length of time in the stages is different. It took me two years before I came to acceptance of my father’s passing. I was reeling for about six months, just trying to find my footing. And then I was painfully feeling for about a year and a half. It was a day of enlightenment when the light finally broke through the tunnel. I felt joy in the realization I didn’t have to pick up the phone to talk to him anymore, I could talk to him any second, any time of the day. He wasn’t only with me in human form, he was with me and around me always. And we were one. That’s the day my spirit crossed the veil with a new understanding of our spiritual connection. Way beyond this world. Way beyond our intellect. A beautiful dimension extension.
For those of you staggering through this process of grief, doing your best to catch your breath, I ask you to trust not only the grieving process but the spiritual awakening that is inside of all of us. There is so much more to us than these shells we habitate while here on earth. When we stop reeling and move through our feelings, it is our spiritual expansion that delivers the healing. It is then that we realize what we thought was lost never left our side.
Becca Brennen enjoying the beauty of the Finger Lakes Region ~ photograph by Kelley Brennen
Keep your eyes and ears open for my upcoming book, Living, Loving & Unlearning; my guide to healing and living authentically from the inside out. Above is one of the many enlightening photos sprinkled throughout the book. Publication is nearing in early 2014!
The contents of Living, Loving & Unlearning is a compilation of my writing over the past years. I delve into spiritual and emotional wellness, exercise and nutrition, mental health, and personal and professional experiences through all of it. The process of unlearning is a key component, as it focuses on peeling away the layers put upon us by society and individuals in our life, and rebuilding the real you. The soul you were born to be on this earth. Simply, the purity of yourself.
“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” ~Havelock Ellis
I had an amazing yoga therapy session today. So many unexpected happenings presented themselves as my therapist dug deeper into my emotions, spirit & body. I went in with an injured frozen shoulder and came out with a warm heart. We do carry our feminine energy on our left side which happens to be the side of my body that is aching…the ache is much more than physical pain, however, it carries a boatload of emotion too. My boat is empty. Tapped. Giving out so much nurturing energy that I haven’t taken the time to receive. My shoulder is the messenger, it is up to me to receive that message and make change.
So many emotions naturally steamed up from my heart and out of my mouth. Anger, resentments, internal control issues, leading to tears, release and laughter. I was pleasantly surprised to feel the laughter as it was quite unexpected. All the other emotions I had been feeling but when I really looked at the situations on a deeper level I realized just how funny life and people are. Including me!
So What did I get out of this soul search? An amazing cleansing for starters. A whole new look at situations, people and life. And…a new found understanding of forgiveness. We all have a part in chaos in our lives, it’s up to us to own it and observe the drama from the sidelines. It really is quite funny to watch yourself! No one is to blame for the situations we are in. All actors in the play are merely reflections of your own mirror. A glimpse into the light, dark and gray areas of your life. Our desires and experiences complete with pains, sorrows, joys and thrills are all available to us to discover self. Don’t waste it, accept it and run with the path you’re on. It’s all yours to travel.
The time has come for me to receive again. Open myself up enough to trust the process and allow the comforts in. Allowing others to give and requesting a need when it arises. Creating a balance…again. Mixed with the masculine, I am divinely feminine. I am whole.
*It has been an amazing year of healing since I wrote this original post. So much can happen and enter your life in those quick 12 months, some are conscious choices, and some the universe throws you. The mixture of both have renewed my left shoulder and I am happy to report it is healed, along with the rebirth of my feminine energy! She is back in full force and ready to receive as well as give, combining the balance of my soul. I am so grateful for the healers who have helped me along this path, especially my yoga therapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, and physical therapist. I’m also grateful for my intuition for it brought me to these peaceful warriors, along with my decision to get back in the pool. Its own therapy unto itself.
Have a blessed day everyone, and remember, your healing all remains within you. ~Namaste~
Cynthia Brennen, LMSW 
