See. Observe. Know.

Anecdotal Anatomy

Today is a circular conversation that starts with what lives in our blind spots & how our shadows are sometimes connected. When we’re willing to see the world as our mirror, and things as they are, we get to grow. Taking the mirror metaphor a step further, “Things in mirror are closer than they appear” is often etched into a car’s side mirrors. We see & feel those things reflected to us as bigger and closer than they are.

Expansive view practice of Owl Eyes – a little something Theresa brought home with her from her outdoor leadership training, helps to extend our awareness into the peripheral arena. Extend your arms out to the side, wiggle fingers and begin to draw them in until they come into view – that’s your peripheral vision. Take in the full awareness of your Owl Eye View.

The anchor to this conversation, however, leans into our Intuition (Acquired - accumulated wisdom & beliefs) & Instinct (Inherited – primal/ biological/survival) – exploring how both are needed to make decisions and move with discernment through our lives. We can practice intuition as well as we practice more logic-based thinking. One way to work with intuition is to regularly select oracle cards. Ask a question while shuffling and sit with what you select.

Practicing observation is another way to work with being intuitive. Observing human behavior can tap intuition as patterns yield to predictable outcomes.

From the source of the body, we talk about “gut feelings” and “knowing in my heart.” Our bodies provide clues to both our intuitive responses as well as our hard-wired instincts.

“Give that little voice inside awareness.” Theresa Tobin Macy

Senses are crucial to communication as flavors & odors mingle in the messages. Sometimes it’s hard to separate intuition from instinct, but through meditation & mindfulness, we can sharpen awareness as to our response source and to include more from the periphery.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Big Magic, brings creativity into the story of intuition, instinct & inspiration. One of its messages is that it’s creativity’s purpose to be made manifest. When you feel the tap of inspiration on your heart, there’s a window of opportunity to bring that into creation before creativity moves on to its next vessel for expression. Don’t dawdle with the energy of creation!

During this recording, Theresa & Sherry both wore long-sleeved black sweaters, something neither of them have worn in this context until now, and they did not coordinate their wardrobes. Perhaps a bit of intuition was present to guide their choices.

Circling back to Blind Spots, Sherry reads, “Lost in Thought,” from her third poetry collection, Wild & Free – Poetry of Living, Loving & Letting Go.

All of this feeds into the importance of retreat as a means for self-care and a call to widen the lens to reveal what is in those blind spots that may require attention. If we’re not honoring our bodies and all they contain, it’s harder to hear that soft, fierce, guiding, voice. The better you are cared for, the better you will trust your instincts & follow your intuition.

We have a reward/incentive mindset around self-care which caters more to old models of productivity and ignore our innate guidance, rather than bowing to it with reverence.

In preparation for the upcoming Rhythm & Rhyme Retreat, here is a reminder of what self-care looks like from a mundane, yet profound, perspective.

Self-care can look like:

• Paying attention to our hobbies (identify what you’re already doing that brings you ease
• Mindful eating, dressing, etc.
• Using sunscreen
• Having a daily sadhana (practice)
• Reframing what selfish means, adding the positive definition of self-directed love & the reminder that we’re worth it!

Links to articles & books discussed on today’s show:

Practicing Intuition for Self-Care

What Self-Care is and What it Isn’t

Self-Care is Resistance

Instinct & Intuition: Two ends of the spectrum

17 Signs Your Intuition is on Point

Intuition & Inspiration

Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert

Wild & Free - Poetry of Living, Loving & Letting Go - "Lost in Thought" by, Sherry Sadoff Hanck

Anecdotal Anatomy's Amazing Team:

Judith George - Editor (video & audio)

Keith Kenny - Music

Cindy Fatsis - Photography