August Meditation Guide
Summer Solstice fell just one day before a full moon at the end of June. The longest day of the year is behind us. Now it’s all about savoring the sweetness of the summer days ahead. This meditation guide is here to help take your practice off the mat. Use this guide throughout the month as a touch stone.
Astrologically, we are in the sign of Leo. Leo is the lion- courageous, proud, and loving. Leo is not afraid to stand in the spot light. Harness this energy to move projects along, spark creative passions, stand in your truth, and cultivate the courage to keep moving forward. To me, August is the peak of summer. Full bloom. The next few weeks offer a container to step into your fullest potential. We have a new moon in the sign of Leo on Sunday August 4th. New moons are about stillness and going inward, some refer to it as “the dark side of the moon” - which makes me think of the song ‘Breathe’ by Pink Floyd from the album Dark Side of the Moon. The lyrics go like this…
Breathe, breathe in the air.
Don't be afraid to care.
Leave but don't leave me.
Look around and choose your own ground.
Long you live and high you fly
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
And all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be.
Run, rabbit run.
Dig that hole, forget the sun,
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one.
For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balanced on the biggest wave
You race towards an early grave.
Pink Floyd lyrics are a bit ominous, but that is the way of the new moon. Getting comfortable in the shadows, the mystery, the untraveled path. The patterns of the moon are cyclical and it is common for us to cycle through things we are meant to learn from again and again.
Leo is physiologically associated with the heart, blood pressure, blood circulation, and the heart rate. That being said, here are some yogic shapes you can practice to help bolster these functions of the body.
-Legs up the wall : On your mat, on a rug, blanket, or even lying in bed. Bring your seat against the wall and elevate your legs. The legs do not have to be straight up, you can take this shape with bent knees. If legs up the wall isn’t happening for you, stack some pillows drape your legs and find a way to elevate your legs above your torso. This yogic practice activates the parasympathetic nervous system helping the body to settle into “rest and digest.” This shape also improves blood circulation.
-Supported heart opener: This can be done with blocks, a bolster, or a pillow. The pose is taken by lying back over the support of a prop so that there is a gentle stretch across your chest. I recommend folding a blanket or towel for the back of your head. You want the head to be on the surface of the prop and by placing an extra cushion under your head it will relieve tension from the neck. Legs can be extended or you can bend your knees and keep your feet on the ground. Your low back is touches the base of the prop, the entire spine is supported.
-Cat/Cow: I think we are all familiar with cat-cow. Come to a table top position, if you have sensitive knees be sure to put a blanket or towel down for extra support on top of your mat. Round your spine and tuck your chin tightly into your chest. Arch your spine by opening your chest, lifting your tailbone and dropping your belly. Go back and forth as many times as you like. Don’t be afraid to add extra movements like wagging the tail, making circles with your hips, ect…
-Any shape or movement that opens the heart, increases circulation, and pumps fresh oxygen to the blood will pair nicely with the Leo energy of August.
This month’s muse is the Rose. Roses are said to vibrate at the highest frequency of any flower, 320MHZ, which is said to be the same frequency of LOVE. Summer is truly the season to stop and smell the roses. Summer is an invitation to slow down, to savor, to sun bathe (preferably in the early morning light). Allowing our eyes to adjust to the sun light in the morning helps bring balance to our circadian rhythm which promotes a healthy sleep cycle. Work with the rose this month to access an open heart. Often times we don’t even know when we have shut down parts of ourselves due to stress, fear, or trauma. Think about this process like the rose blooming open slowly over time, like the phases of the moon. The phases of a flower remind us how to let go. Once the rose is fully open and vibrant, petals begin to fall away. I like thinking of the life cycle of a flower as the energy of ‘grace.’ It is a soft process that doesn’t rush, not to mention the ripe beauty and fragrance that occurs during full bloom. Flowers have the ability to bloom over and over again, even in the harshest conditions. Roses are strong and sturdy. Their thorns are a natural form of boundaries. Don’t be afraid to have boundaries. You can still be transparent, giving, and accessible, while also protecting your energy. Practice with this mantra :
“I embody grace by opening my heart, staying true to myself, and holding strong boundaries.”
Journal Prompts
How are you taking care of your self these days?
How can you make more time for your emotional heart health?
What are your top 3 favorite things about summer?
What is your favorite summer meal?
What is your best childhood summertime memory?
What is inspiring you right now?
What is blooming in your life?
What is falling away?
Don’t overthink the process. If you don’t like to write pen to paper you can always answer these questions by typing in your Notes app on your phone. Let yourself free-write. Be unattached to the “point” of it or the outcome. Allow yourself to reflect, process, and digest.
I hope this meditation guide is helpful.
Love,