Welcome to October, a time of harvest and transition into autumn. Here in Oaxaca there isn’t a dip in temperature or overcast days to signal autumn has arrived. The seasons are solely split into wet and dry, and having entered the dry season the mountain vista has begun its shift from luscious green to a scorched brown and the daily rain has been replaced with perpetual sunny days.Â
In this harvest time I’ve been reflecting on my year in Oaxaca. September 9th marked the one year anniversary of my move, which has become an entire year of self study and creating what I consider to be a user manual to operate this vessel called Minelli. Looking back on this year is like looking back on a different version of myself but in the same vein it feels like this year has helped me become more me. In the theme of harvesting, here is a list of 30 things I’ve learned during this year of solitude, ritual, and exploration. I hope it serves you on your own journey. Take what serves you and leave the rest.
30 things I’ve learned from a year in Oaxaca
The true boundaries of your character can only be explored outside of your familiar environments.
8.5 - 9 hours of sleep is non-negotiable for optimal living.
You don’t need to be available for work at all times. Delete email apps from your phone, turn off your phone at night and leave it in another room, and only turn it on after you’ve had at least one glass of water in the morning (and after meditating if you’re feeling extra rebellious).Â
Honor your inconsistent energy. Witnessing your cycles of ebbs and flows is key to learning that no matter how far you drift from the norm, you will always come back to equilibrium.
An important part of creating is to not sit on your ideas. Getting them out as quickly as possible proves yourself to be a trustworthy vessel for more creativity to pour through.Â
Portals can be found in many things; a late afternoon sunny spot, a joint, giving belly rubs to puppies, in ritual, friendship, a well curated playlist, your body, a bite of ripe in-season fruit, nature seen through a big framed window, and much more.
When you center your life around pleasure more days are sweet than not.
Allow yourself to linger in the afterglow of a good moment or time even after it’s no longer your reality. The light of the sun is still visible well after it sets.
Intuition is deeply coded within your body and you are born of the same material that makes up the cosmos. Imagine being a god and second guessing yourself.
Trust patterns.
Savor every sensual moment.
Writing is a practice of non-attachment and self study.
Some relationships can deepen with distance.
Creating a space for yourself to play, create, not take yourself seriously, to explore, to learn, to let go, to be malleable, to be witnessed, to be admired, to be encouraged, to be uncomfortable, and to be present is the greatest display of love.
Don’t bury your nose so deep into a plan that you can’t enjoy the mystery of a detour.
Blissful living is found in moments of retreating followed by a burst of fellowship and community.
Filling your cup solely for the purpose of pouring into others isn’t sustainable and selfishness can be healthy.
The hours between 3pm and 6pm are holy hours, especially in a tropical country. If you can, reserve these hours for napping in front of an open window, reading, calling a friend, and preparing dinner.
You will be called brave for doing what you consider the only reasonable course of action. Don’t diminish this label just because you don’t see it in yourself.
Inspiration comes to a low lit, quiet room.
Routines have a better chance of success if they’re simple and require minimal tools. The purpose of a routine is to serve you, not just to be able to say you did it. When a routine becomes stale, don’t be afraid to throw it all away.
Peace can be confused with boredom when you’re used to constantly hustling in order to survive.
Build your mindful toolbox in peaceful times so you know how to use those tools when you need them.
Although nothing is perfect, if you slow down enough you can remember a time when you dreamed of being where you are now.
There’s power in consistent solo practice that is multiplied tenfold in the right community.
Always looking towards the next thing makes happiness just slightly beyond your reach. It’s okay to be still for a while.
Home is seldom in a specific place. Home is people, memories attached to sounds, and a favorite meal.
Be your own muse.
Little practices bookmarked by grand gestures of ritual are heaven’s gate. I’ve found my nirvana to be in 10 minute daily meditation and movement and twice monthly altar building and intention setting with every new and full moon.
Other people’s actions rarely have anything to do with you, so don’t take it personally.
SUPPORTING CLASSES
Here are some of my cannabis-infused yoga and meditation picks to bring in this season of harvest, transitions, and reflection. I invite you to carve out time to practice one class for each day of the week.
Inner Balance – Autumn Equinox Flow – This is the most recent class in the online portal. Embrace your cyclical nature and need for balance with this practice made to bring in autumn, but perfect for anytime. You can find this class in the ‘newest class’ or ‘chill & restorative’ yoga sections of the library.
Let Go To Grow – Autumn shows us how wonderful it is to let go. Surrender what does not serve you and create space for what does. You can find this class in the ‘slow burn’ yoga section of the library.
Slow Burn Yoga for Transitions – This practice focuses on transitions and the time in-between breaths and poses. You can find this class in the ‘slow burn yoga’ section of the library.
Rooted Flow – Feel connected to the earth and your body. This is a breath to movement practice done entirely on the knees and laying down. You can find this class in the ‘chill and restorative yoga’ section of the library.
Yoga for Reflection – This self-study session is great for re-centering; simply a loving awareness of yourself and your breath throughout the practice. You can find this class in the ‘chill and restorative yoga’ section of the library.
Yin Yoga for Quiet Transformation – Deep stretch yoga and affirmations to support you during times of change. You can find this class in the ‘deep stretch yoga’ section of the library.
Turning Inwards – A short meditation for self study. You can find this class in the ‘meditations’ section of the library.
PLAYLIST FOR AUTUMN
Thank you for reading Constantly Becoming, a letter to support your constant unfurling with cannabis and mindfulness. If you enjoyed reading and would like to support the growth of Yoga With Minelli Online, consider becoming a member to gain access to all of my letters as well as the library of cannabis-infused yoga classes.
– minelli eustácio