SUMMER 25 MOONBOARD
A Summer “Moonboard” of seasonal thoughts, themes, and musings…
this season is all about embracing and adapting to harsh landscapes
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this season is all about embracing and adapting to harsh landscapes 〰️
whether its harsh weather, deteriorating mental health, grief, financial hardship, the political climate of the world, or some combination of the former, we adapt to survive.
and this season is about making the conscious effort to do the hard things to not just survive, but to THRIVE in a society/culture/world that doesn’t support me doing so.
this is my season to allow myself to fill my cup because I cannot pour from an empty, evaporated cup.
Girl with Death Mask, 1938 - by Frida Kahlo
Summer is here and feels monumental for a few reasons…
Turning 36! 🥳 (06.28.89)
John’s and my first wedding anniversary (06.21.24)
our THIRD full summer living in Texas (never thought I’d be saying that!)
my first full summer on SSRIs
the season I am committed to enjoying despite the brutal heat and humidity
My first two summers in Austin, I refused to adapt to the discomfort of my environment and stayed inside, which resulted in seasonal depression. I fought it and ended up losing. But sometimes learning the hard way is my stubborn style (Taurus Moon!).
This year is different. I want to be OUT and making friends with all the creepy, crawly, sweaty, hot + humid, suffocating, uncomfortable things I’ve been avoiding - both in my environment and in my inner world. Facing what is hard, ugly, and uncomfortable is so necessary for my physical health, mental health, wellbeing, and grounding.
Ghibli girly princess friends with bugs and nature inspo.
John and I moved from central ATX to the east side earlier this year and it’s helped immensely by improving the quality of my day-to-day and appreciation for my chapter in Austin. We made the decision to downsize and I love our little bungalow and proximity to so many great areas and small local businesses. There’s also all kinds of little critters in our yards - new-to-me bugs and plants. I told John that this house makes me feel like a Ghibli Princess - embracing the magic of all these little invertebrates.
In embracing the magical and transformative harshness of this season, I’ve been really drawn to equally magical and harsh, sort of unsettling, images of landscapes and the bugs and animals that inhabit (and thrive) in them. It’s recalling a moment from Summers long ago where ants gathered to eat drops of my melting popsicle, and it’s honoring my Chinese Zodiac sign in the year of the (Wood) Snake 2025 (I was born in 1989, year of the Earth Snake).
When researching the meaning of the Earth Snake, this passage resonated:
“There will be many points in their life where they decide its time for a change and shed their old skin and take up a whole new range of activities or sometimes even a completely different area of work.”
One evening on my way to Yin Yoga, I stepped outside of my house and saw a dead Cardinal in the middle of the road.
The sight stopped me in my tracks and left me actually dumbfounded. It was a truly sad sight to see such a magestic animal lifeless.
Cardinals are often believed to be signs bringing messages and reassurance from loved ones who’ve passed away. I’ve never been very fond of birds, but since moving into this neighborhood, I’ve begun seeing a lot more cardinals and appreciate their gentle demeanor and striking red color against the greenery.
I thought about this bird during my practice and how I might be able to safely and gently remove him from the road, but when I returned home, he was gone. I was grateful that someone either felt the same reverence and removed him, or, that nature took its course and an animal was able to be nourished from him.
When searching for the spiritual meaning of dead cardinals, I found this article, which states, “[…]when we encounter a dead cardinal, the message can be even more profound. Rather than being a symbol of endings, it frequently serves as a reminder of life transitions, encouraging you to let go of the past, embrace renewal, and seek spiritual growth.” I was really comforted to see this sign as a good omen, mirroring the life and career transition I find myself in now.
