growing radiance

Radiance in a bottle. Place your orders…. kidding. If only it were that easy we would all douse ourselves and ‘radiate’. No deep dives required, no self reflection. But if you’re here reading maybe you’re like me & that you DO :

• self reflect

• sleep on things

• try to live a life that feels intentional

• aim to be on purpose.

You & I try, and that’s the difference between us and the average Joe (or Joanna).

I know that many of you, particularly from my yoga classes or fellow yoga teachers have kept nuggets of ancient wisdom with you as time’s moved on. Lines from a poem, a yoga sutras, a slokas or even my personally created altar cards.

I created one that still seems surprisingly popular, it was a tiny watercolour I did years ago with one written line: just one breath.

Could it be this tiny mantra, these 3 words, help grow a sense of radiance?

I believe so.

How?

Let’s formulate a practice, for growing Radiance.

Just one breath:

Hand to heart,

I commit to just one breath

when

I feel nervous or anxious,

this gives me a sense of time to respond with elegance.

I take just one breath when

I want to be intentional with my values,

Palm to heart,

I commit to whispering my dreams and intentions to myself each morning,

to doing one purposeful act of kindness for myself,

Palm to heart taking one full breath,

I relax into my breathing, welcoming a sense of radiance and softness to my life.

Heart and Palm, together reminding me to sit with my own definition of radiance, taking time to let the answers come to me.

I believe that Radiance comes from inner alignment, which results in a sense of ease. When we feel at ease, in our own lane, aligned it illuminates. We SHIMMER. Its wonderful way to try to live.

An alternative exercise is to sit with this:

What are the practices you need to do, to feel ‘right side up’? What does Radiance mean to you?

If your looking at Radiance through how you feel or look, some fun exercises are:

• Wardrobe - what clothes make you feel relaxed, easeful, happy? What shoes feel good on your feet? Look at your hats, your belts.

• Skincare - moisturise, masks, herbal teas. Does you skincare work enough for you? Lotions and potions might smell nice, but are they doing the job you need them to do?

• Tea & Coffee - what cup or mug, makes you feel good to hold and sip from? Does your tea selection need a revamp? An upgrade?

• Side Table - what books are you reading? How do they make you feel before sleep or/and to wake up to? Crime Reader? I get you, perhaps slide in some poetry to soften before sleep.

Create your own recipe for Radiance. Each morning cast your net wide over your day and create a unique spell for personal radiance. Let me know how you go.