This post is sponsored by my friends at Numi Organic Tea
Early mornings, that’s when the quiet is the most appreciated and, to me, the most intentional. Everything wakes in their own time and has their own rhythm and pleasantries in the morning hours. In October, the morning light seems to come through the east facing windows later and later, and morning time feels like it extends far later into the day (so deceptively luxurious!). At the beginning of each month, I try to allow some quiet space in the earliest parts of the day to set a vision for how I want each month to manifest. It’s my visual of setting some personal goals, boundaries and deadlines that I can realistically stick to and sets my mind at so much ease…
October is a time of great transition, both seasonally and energetically. I always feel a strong inward draw when October comes around, with that subtle chill in the air and darker mornings and shorter days and that kind of witchy vibe that accompanies the first full month of autumn. When I make my vision lists for this month while sipping on a warming blend the Numi Vision Teasan blend, clarity and creativity come from the first true flavors of warming gingery spices that truly reflect the seasonal change. Ginger, rosemary, nutmeg and cinnamon are very welcome seasonal companions for this month, and they warm me right through to my core with a stimulating peripheral vigor. The added hints of cooling spearmint, hibiscus and lemon verbena add an etherial sweetness that get my creative juices flowing as I sip on this hour after hour as the sun is rising. My pen barely leaves the page while I feverishly transfer thoughts onto paper…visions into reality. This is truly a perfect morning blend to imbibe for just a subtle hint of caffeine with added guayusa for mental stimulation and to get into that early morning creative flow.
I blend up a full pot (for long, slow mornings) or a single mug of Numi Vision Tea while I work on my monthly vision journal or morning meditations and sip thoughtfully as the reality of my morning turns into mentally attainable daydreams. With the first chill of autumn, endless cups of warm, woodsy, stimulating tea basically become part of my wardrobe. Finding a blend that is so perfectly attuned to my morning ritual is an incredible gift, and sometimes when I sip on another herbalists’ or another company’s herbal tea, I feel completely tended to and taken care of. Like they made it just for me. Herbs are like that. Like little long lost best friends…turning up at just the most serendipitous moments.
With such a gift given to me, one of my visions this month is to pay it forward. I’ll be stocking a supply of Holistic Numi Teasans in my office to share with my co-workers and fellow practitioners, and making sure that I take at least 10 minutes every morning for a grounding and centering practice to put me in the best mental, physical, emotional and spiritual place to tend to my clients. It makes such a huge difference to a whole day – or even just a single conversation! – to share a space wth someone while being calm, compassionate and attentive. It feels good to receive that, and it feels good to offer that.
VISION PRACTICE (10 minutes daily)
Find a quiet space and time to sit in ease. Relax your body, gently close your eyes and slow your breathing, paying attention to the rise and fall of your belly as you inhale and exhale. Bring forth an intention of creativity – a project, idea or vision you want to initiate. Like a daydream, allow whatever feelings, thoughts or sensations come to flow across your mind’s eye. Non-judgmentally and without attachment, allow your mind to travel. Enjoy the ride. Once complete (or even if still in fragments), write it all down and work towards manifesting your story.