Let's add to that the sprained ankle. My hubby and I went on an architecture tour thingy of an old church in a nifty, gentrifying area of Chicago we'd never explored before. I walked up to the altar to take a snap, then turned and saw something else I wanted to take a snap of - forgetting about the two little steps I took initially. As my Mom would say, "You sprained it but GOOD." And I did. It turned every color found in an autumnal garden. After just over two weeks, I'm finally being able to consider taking normal steps down a staircase, rather than doing this oddball sideways descent, somehow reminiscent of an elderly, nearsighted crab.
Ah, the joys of being sidelined.
No, really. The Joys of Being Sidelined.
Being super busy with the musical revue has taught me a couple things. One, always lead with love. I knew this from past directorial endeavors, but it's really hitting this time. After my friend Steve passed, my co-conspirator for this production, I had more than a passing thought of, "Well, the show is done. How can I do this without him?" But the answer is of course, the show must go on. There is no other choice. So, while the process can be bittersweet at times, anxiety-inducing at others, what keeps me anchored is knowing that Steve still has a hand in this process, that the finished product will be a delightful romp - and a heartfelt ode.
It's also taught me that, while directing and performing are in my heart, work in coaching, tarot, astrology, and the metaphysical run parallel in my soul. By not being able to attend certain spirit-focused lectures and group activities, I realized just how important this work is for me. My goal for next year is to build and grow the coaching, blend it with tarot, and become a certified astrologer, combining all three disciplines to help people explore and deepen the meaning in their lives.
And the sprained ankle? Having to slow down to a hobble has really made me take time to consider the things above more deeply. If it wasn't for the imposed slowdown, I wouldn't have had the time to read, meditate, listen to enlightening podcasts, and start planning my next moves as far as career and spirit work.
Oh yeah, Mercury retrograde. This one is in Scorpio. It's asking us to delve deeply, to psychically sink back and take stock of the last three weeks or so and glean the lessons from that time period. It's asking us to slow down and consider the gifts we've been given. Shift your pace, take your foot off the gas, don't run quickly to the next "pretty shiny" - you're likely to fall off a church. It's an astrological sideline which can be embraced, not feared.
Go to your favorite coffee house. Order a comforting beverage. Sit down, do some writing. And reflect on how, as of late, life has actually given you some mighty fine lemons for your lemonade.
