Happy 1st August! The Romans gave this 8th month of the calendar year its name in honour of their emperor Augustus Ceasar, but the Anglo-Saxons called it Weod month because they acknowledged and celebrated that the weeds flourished as much as the plants in the summer month of August – the balance and alignment of nature
August is a month for reflection and alignment for the new season ahead. In August, those of us in the Northern Hemisphere can look back and celebrate what we have achieved through winter, spring and early summer of 2024, and look forward to the last month of the summer season, whilst aligning our intentions and goals for the Autumn and Winter to come. In folklore if the first week of August be warm, the winter will be white and long.
The act of pausing to reflect and celebrate how far you’ve come is often forgotten in the fast paced and future focused society we live in. Taking the time to acknowledge where we have come from, where we have got to and the goals we have achieved (or decided to cease working towards) allows us to be grateful for what we have here and now and celebrate ourselves for continuously moving forward. Showing yourself self-respect, self-compassion and self-love is not selfish but is how we can fill our cups, build our resilience and align to face the future and whatever it may hold.
This August why not try:
- Taking some time to reflect and journal all that you have achieved so far this year (be that personal or professional achievements)
- Setting or aligning goals for what you want to achieve in your personal and/or professional progress for the remaining seasons of 2024
- Planning some activities to look forward to in Autumn and Winter of 2024 – working with the energy of the seasons and planning activities to support your wellbeing for the rest of the year
- Praising and celebrate a friend or colleague for something they have achieved this year and give them the boost of acknowledgement
- Moving with love – notice how you get up in the morning, how you move when you walk, how to sit – are you moving in a way to get things done, fast and aggressive, or are you moving with care and appreciation of your body? Be conscious and intentional in the way you move to help you live in alignment
- Caring for yourself with gentle activities such as yoga, walking in nature, swimming, having a massage or giving yourself a pamper evening – whatever fills your cup and boosts your self-appreciation
- Practicing the following affirmations in the morning in front of the mirror
o I am proud of how far I have come
o I live in alignment with my goals
o I trust in my own unwavering resilience and strength
How do you align your goals to your intentions and celebrate all that you have achieved? Let me know in the comments below.
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