JULY NEWSLETTER

DUALITY

What's in this newsletter:

• Updates from my world

• Journaling Prompts about Duality

• Song and Poem about Duality

Personal Update From Me 

As I write these words, I'm feeling into the experience of it being my last week in Guatemala before returning to Hamilton. I'll be leaving on Tuesday July 2nd at 2pm (222!) and will be arriving in Toronto at midnight. I've been here for two and a half months and so much has happened. I'll be offering in person sessions outside and from my home. I'm looking forward to reconnecting with some of your in person!

As I reflect on my time here, the concept of duality emerges. Some of my biggest blessings have come through working through the challenges.

Here are some of the challenges:

• Grieving the loss of a friendship, relationship and the death of my grandmother.

• Starting a new relationship with the fellow I came with who is staying in Guatemala when I leave.

• So much shadow stuff rising up because of living with a new person every day.

• 6.7 magnitude earthquake.

• Many days of torrential downpour.

• Flooding - both from nature and my fault.

• Flood broke my travel partner's laptop charger which cost $200 to replace because it's hard to access technology from here.

• Bug infiltrations.

• Crazy boat ride on rough waters to nearby town.

• Getting stuck in the nearby town and having to pay $80 to get back on a boat at night.

• Getting a tuk tuk ride from an 8 year old. He did a great job though!

• Saying goodbye to sweet animal friends I met.

• Finding out my first boyfriend ever was charged with murder.

• Finding out another recent ex is engaged.

• Finding out I have a half sister I never knew about.

• Dealing with the worst sickness I've ever had for a week.

• Enduring the pain of a new stick and poke tattoo.

• Managing people looking after my space, cats and plants from afar.

• Surrendering my office space.

I feel like there's more, but that's enough for now. The challenges have been amazing teachers.
 

Here are some of the magical moments:

• Living in amazing spaces connected to the land.

• Being surrounded by beautiful plants.

• Waking up to dreamy views of lake, volcanos, plants, mountains.

• Having a special moment with a blue dragonfly by the river on the anniversary of my aunt's passing.

• Eating so many delicious home cooked meals with produce from the land nearby.

• Enjoying lots of great fermented foods and kombucha from local companies.

• Living in spaces that I've dreamed of experiencing. The one place is literally on an ancient foot path to a waterfall. You have to hike over rocks just to reach the big iron gate that leads inside.

• After my sickness I had a healing massage, enjoyed some time in the sun by the pool, recovered in the sauna/steam room/cold plunge and enjoyed some amazing mocktales at a nearby spa.

• I brought my PS5 here (a gift I received for Christmas) and I've been loving playing the remake of one my favourite games (Final Fantasy 7) that was released shortly before I left. I also brought a projector for this!

• Purchasing beautiful jewelry and clothing made by locals.

• Enjoying all the synchronicities, especially on the day I got a new tattoo.

• Enjoying discovering all this land has to offer - places I've ventured to, people I've met that are travelling or live here, connecting with the locals and their friendly energy.

I could go on about the details of the magical moments but that would be like a whole book to write!

I honour the duality of this reality.

There are blessings in the challenges.

There are challenges in the blessings.

May we lovingly accept it all.

I'm both saddened and excited to be returning. I know life will never be the same and I'm so grateful for this needed transformation in my life. I'll be taking the summer to process what has transpired and to work on what I've been in the process of creating next. I have some re-branding I've been working on! I have a Therapeutic Animism course I'm creating for mental health practitioners or anyone else interested in integrating animist practices into ways they want to be of service. I'd also love to create more free resources to offer.

I'll be off the first week of July and returning to work the second week of July.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of you in person again!

Journaling Prompts

Contemplating Duality

• Nature's Duality:

  • Spend time observing a natural element that embodies duality, such as a river (calm vs. turbulent) or a tree (nourishing fruit vs. protective thorns). Write about how this element represents both blessings and challenges in nature. How can this duality be seen in your own life?
     

• Personal Growth through Challenges:

  • Reflect on a significant challenge you have faced. How did this challenge serve as a blessing in disguise? What did you learn from this experience, and how did it contribute to your personal growth?
     

• Blessings in Disguise:

  • Think about a time when something that seemed like a blessing initially turned into a challenge. How did this shift in perspective affect you? What did you learn about the nature of blessings and challenges from this experience?

   

• Challenge in Disuguise:

  • Make a list of challenges you have faced in the past year. For each challenge, write down at least one blessing that emerged from it. How does this exercise shift your perspective on facing difficulties?
     

• Sacred Space of Duality:

  • Imagine creating a sacred space that honours both blessings and challenges. What elements would you include to represent this duality? How can this space serve as a reminder to embrace both aspects of life?

   

• Both Sides Now

  • Listen to the lyrics of the song Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell (video is below). Notice what the song brings up for you. What in you life have you looked at from both sides? What are you looking at in your life from only one perspective?

   

Whispers of Duality

In the heart of night and day,

Where shadows stretch and sunlight plays,

There lies a truth, both fierce and kind,

A dance of duality, intertwined.

Yin and Yang, the cosmic flow,

In every heartbeat, ebb and grow,

Life’s own rhythm, soft and grand,

A harmony we understand.

In the silence of the night,

Stars awake, a guiding light,

Blessings cloaked in dark’s embrace,

Revealing grace in hidden place.

Life from death, a sacred turn,

Lessons deep in flames that burn,

Spiritual threads in earthly guise,

Woven in the wise disguise.

In sorrow’s depth, joy does gleam,

In every end, a fresh new dream,

Spirits whisper through the trees,

In every breeze, a soul’s release.

Embrace the dark, embrace the light,

Find the peace in every fight,

For in this dance of shadow’s might,

We find our soul’s true, guiding sight.

Lots of love from Chauntell