If we are growing, we are rethinking, reassessing, reviewing the ideas and stances we hold as we move through life. Otherwise, we are stagnant. Even if we come to the same conclusions, by reevaluating we are noticing life flowing through us and responding. Mercury Retrograde times are great for this – and the preshadow to the next Retrograde started Monday, September 6, by the way. The actual retrograde starts September 28 and ends October 16. Fun – and reflective – times ahead!

This is also a good time to check in about what is really important – now. What are our priorities now? They can change too. After all, as poet/philosopher Mark Nepo says:

Life is always where we are

―Mark Nepo

So where are you right now? As I’ve been saying in previous newsletters/blog posts, I’ve been reconsidering what really needs to be done in my life right now. My priorities have absolutely changed as my life and responsibilities change. Being a caregiver to my husband has slowed me down, made me let go, give up, surrender how my life was and how I thought things needed to be – and how I needed myself and life to be. Amazing how few things are really important. So surprising how life doesn’t fall apart if I don’t cross items off my To Do list. Rather, I gave up the To Do list altogether.

We are in the Doyo, the time of seasonal change according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Doyo comes four times a year for about two to three weeks each, basically ten days before and after each of the two solstices and equinoxes. We are in flux during this transition. We are moving from the yang of summer to the yin of fall. Everything is up for grabs and shifting. Nature is shifting. The weather is shifting. We are shifting.

Now is a perfect time to take inventory and look at what we want to keep and what we need to let go. We can kindly, lovingly look at who we are and who we want to be. The emotion associated with fall is grief. So allow yourself to grieve as you lovingly let go of what no longer serves your highest good. Wrap yourself in kindness, gentleness and love in this and all times of change. And that buoyant, loving energy will float us where we need to go all year round.