I’ve been ruminating alot lately about the ideas of peace, happiness, and harmony. Maybe cuz there seems to be so much turmoil and change swirling around in the larger world, and in my own little corner of the world. Sometimes it feels like such a struggle to tap into my natural optimism and positivity.
So, that old song, “Let there be Peace on Earth” keeps playing in my head…
“Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.
With every step I take let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”
I know, maybe a little corny, but I absolutely know that if I’m going to able to stand strongly in the midst of the whirlwind, I’ve got to be meticulous with my self-care — my morning “meds” (check them out HERE!), my daily pilates/barre/yoga practice, getting outside for regular “tree-sits”, and spending precious time with friends and family, especially with my grand-cuties and my 93 year-old mom.
And it turns out that last one — nurturing our special relationships — is the #1 key to happiness, according to a famous 85-year Harvard study. The study revealed that close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives. There are a ton of articles and videos about the study online but here’s a good one to start with, then do your own exploring.
So, what does it mean to be a “warrior for peace”?
For starters, it means you get really serious about committing to — or up-leveling — whatever practices infuse you with a sense of happiness and calm. I shared some of mine and I’ve embraced a new powerful practice called the Chair of JOY™ experience… I’ve now added it to my “morning meds”! You’ll hear more about it in the coming months, but if you’re curious, you can go to their website and wander around.
How about you? What self-care practices are you passionately committed to? More importantly, what specific actions can you take to cultivate a deeper sense of inner peace? And taking it one step further, how can you fearlessly bring that energy into the world around you to make a difference?
The energy of this Aries/Libra Full Moon
Now is a good time to act on that peace-loving, harmonious vibe since we’re moving through the Libra season from September 22nd to October 22nd. And you’ll get an extra cosmic dose of that energy on the New Moon on October 14th when the Sun and Moon are both in the sign. In fact, the theme for my Libra New Moon Circles this year is “Embracing Peace & Balance in our Lives & the World” – take a look in the side bar below to join us live or virtually.
But before then, we have the fire-y Aries Full Moon coming up on September 29th. Ruled by the warrior god and planet, Mars, Aries is quintessential fearless, “me first”, full steam ahead energy – the perfect dynamic partner to gentle, loving Libra. Now can you see how this an ideal time to become a “warrior for peace”?
So be sure to join us for my upcoming Aries/Libra Full Moon TeleMeditation this Friday, September 29th — click HERE for details on how to join us. Hope to “hear” you then.
Now check out this month’s Deb’s Picks for a creative mix of harmonious, inner-and-outer peace-related resources!
THE AUTHENTIC WOMAN PLAYBOOK: FALL EDITION by Deborah Roth
With Fall officially upon us (the Autumnal Equinox was on September 22nd), of course, I want to remind you about my favorite seasonal guidebook… a perfect way to deepen your relationship with YOURSELF! I co-authored this magical series 10+ years ago with my dear coach-sisters, Minx Boren & Marsha Lehman. It’s a creative feminine treasure map, complete with revelations and reflections about 13 aspects of our divine feminine nature, along with exquisitely outlined mandalas representing each FemType, just waiting for you to color and claim as your own. Get yours now so you can wander through the Fall season to reap the harvest of both your carefully planned and carelessly playful meanderings of the past several months!
STAND UP SPEAK OUT: EPISODE #3 — REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Produced by my dear friend Katherine Brewster, this entire series totally embodies the fierce, fearless fight for women’s rights over the past 50+ years. I’ve highlighted the first 2 episodes on Equal Pay and Voting Rights in previous Deb’s Picks and this latest episode on Reproductive Rights addressing bodily autonomy is equally powerful. Click on the graphic to learn more and get involved as part of your own Peace Warrior initiative this month!
HEARTMATH INSTITUTE & HEART/BRAIN COHERENCE
I was introduced to HeartMath™ when I first started coaching in the late 90s and have been fascinated to watch their evolution into a global leader in emotional physiology, optimal function and stress-management research. How can you not love an organization whose mission is to “help establish heart-based living and global coherence by inspiring people to connect with the intelligence and guidance of their own hearts”?! They also offer beautiful global peace projects that are so in alignment with our PEACE theme this month. And to further tickle your curiosity, the Chair of JOY™ experience perfectly embodies HeartMath principles as well. I promise I’ll write more about it next month!
“I ME WED” by ROB BREZSNY
I think I’ve mentioned Rob’s newsletter for several months in a row now, but he’s just so brilliant! This latest article is a beautifully written invitation to “master the art of loving yourself ingeniously.” It’s a balls-y/wombs-y concept to re-dedicate yourself to the most important relationship in your life… to YOURSELF. Click on the link to read it and let me know what you think.
MINDFUL BREATHING IN NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS
This blows me away… at the start of this school year, all public schools in New York — from pre-K through grade 12 — are required to offer two to five minutes of mindful breathing every day to improve mental health. As part of this initiative, the city has rolled out a citywide professional development program for educators to make sure at least one staff member in each school is trained in mindful breathing practices. Yaayy for NYC for starting young to create peace warriors! Click on the link above to learn more. Now we just have to get Chairs of JOY™ in every classroom to replace the “time-out” corner.
I hope some of these Picks inspire you to find new ways to celebrate your most important relationships, and to embrace peace within yourself, AND in the world. And as always, if you have any events or resources to share, I’d love to hear them!
With crisp Autumn blessings,
Deborah