MONTHLY QUESTION
We’re continuing on our Come Alive journey with the centering question, “Am I open?”
Remember, there will always be much more to these questions than meets the eye, and that’s intentional! Expansive questions ask us to get curious and open up our perspective (which, in turn, allows us to welcome in more aliveness).
Before going any further, take a little time to listen to our first podcast episode of the month, called: “Am I open?” ◐ Part 1. This’ll help set the stage for what we’ll be exploring together this month.
On the 15th of the month, our second episode of the month will go live, called: “Am I open?” ◑ Part 2 with Brittany Eastman. This one will add another layer of richness to our exploration by bringing in another perspective.
Toolkit Prep
As we touched on in the Resources area, the most important tools for you to bring to your self-study practice are yourself and a sense of curiosity - but you can add in anything else that brings you joy and helps you cultivate a sense of connection.
I personally love a good ritual, and I find that setting a ceremonial space with some of my favorite simple tools creates an awesome-feeling and safe container for me to unfold into.
Have fun with this! Create an experience that speaks directly to who you are and what you love. Even just the simple process of curating your personal toolkit (which will likely change and evolve over time) will facilitate a deeper connection with your intuition, mama nature, and life itself.
My personal favorite tools are both practical and enjoyable - they help me engage in the present moment, delight in my senses, and intentionally shift my vibration - all leading to more aliveness. It’s like I’ve set up a little Pavlov’s Dogs reward system for myself, and I actually wake up pumped to dive into my practice. It just feels so good (which also makes challenging days feel a little softer and kinder).
You’re only limited by your imagination in terms of how many or how few tools you want to include, but as a bare minimum for this practice (in addition to this module on whatever device you’re using), you’ll at least want to have these at-the-ready:
A notebook
A pen/pencil
Headphones
This month’s Podcast episodes (Part 1 released on the 1st, Part 2 released on the 15th)
This month’s essential oil (if applicable - details towards the bottom of this page)
centering meditation
Now that you’ve prepped your self-study toolkit, it’s time to clear some energetic space for your practice and get centered. Take a few moments to find a comfortable seat, pop in your headphones, and close your eyes. Then press play and let me guide you through connecting with the aliveness in and around you, dropping out of your thinking mind and into your heart, and moving into a coherent state with this grounding breathwork meditation.
Self Study
If this is your first time workin’ your way through a Self-Study Module, I am so pumped that you’re here - and I’d encourage you to take a quick little detour over to the Welcome, Start Here! page to get a better feel for how we’re exploring and experimenting with aliveness together.
Before diving into your journal prompts, here are some quick reminders to keep top-of-mind:
Practice radical self-honesty. You don't need to hide from yourself or anyone else.
All of your feelings are welcome, and there's no need to fear them. Let them vibrate through and out of you instead of stuffing them down.
There's no need to set expectations or cast judgments, it'll just make your journey more challenging.
Be gentle with yourself and others, we're all doing the best we can, and we're all at different points on our personal paths.
Regularly question and investigate thoughts, feelings, and actions - especially those that feel constricting. What would have to change to make them feel expansive?
Move in the direction of more freedom, always (even when it's the more challenging option).
Have FUN!
Journal Prompts
Now’s the time to get cozy with your journal and start working your way through this month’s prompts. Word to the wise - don’t feel like you need to get through all of these in one sitting. Allow them to weave themselves through your daily experience over the course of the month, see what type of pace and format feels best to you and go with it.
Each question in the left column is meant to be considered in the context that’s explained at the top of the columns to the right. Let curiosity and honesty lead the way, they’ll never steer you wrong!
Questions
Genuine Curiosity:
How can I explore this concept in my own life?
Dive deeper than surface level.
Sun
Outer Expression:
How would I answer this question in an interview?
How do I think I *should* answer?
Moon
Inner Expression:
How would I answer this question in my journal?
How do I *really* feel?
Align
Outer+Inner Expression Misalignment
What needs to change to align my outer and inner expression?
Noticing+shedding the inauthentic
Earth
Integrated Expression:
How would I answer this question as a fully-integrated, authentic version of myself?
Embodying my innate wholeness.
How does asking myself the question, “am I open?” make me feel?
Do I notice any immediate sensations or emotions? What are they?
What does it feel like to have an open mind and heart
What are some of my telltale signs that I’m embodying this sense of openness?
Thinking about the people in my life, who do I feel most open around?
What is it about them/our relationship that creates this sense of love and trust?
Thinking about the people in my life, who do I feel most closed around?
What is it about them/our relationship that creates this sense of fear and constriction?
On a scale from 1-10, how much do I allow myself to trust in the unfolding of my life (rather than trying to control outcomes)?
If it’s below a 10, what are the main areas that feel challenging to trust?
If it’s below a 10, what am I afraid of, and how could I choose to lean into trust instead?
When I hear someone expressing a viewpoint that I disagree with, how does it feel? How do I usually respond?
Why do I think that is?
If I feel activated or triggered, what are the thoughts that are creating that tension within me? Where do those thoughts come from (what judgements or attachments are creating them)?
How comfortable do I feel with changing my mind and beliefs when presented with new information?
Why do I think that is?
Do I ever hold on to old beliefs and patterns because people have come to expect me to be/do/think/act in a certain way?
Do I allow people in my life to change their minds/beliefs, or do I try to hold them accountable to be an old version of themselves?
How might my life change by consciously focusing on living with an open mind and heart as much as possible?
Integration Experiments
Ready to take your practice out into the real world? It’s experiment time! Pop on your scientist goggles and bring self-study into your daily life with these presence self-check questions (for when you need them, in the moment):
How is my breath? Can I deepen and lengthen it?
How is my breath? Can I deepen and lengthen it?
How open-minded do I feel right now? How could I expand that sense?
How open-hearted do I feel right now? How could I expand that sense?
Am I reacting to this out of habit, or responding out of presence?
What judgements or attachments are making themselves known to me right now - how can I dissolve them?
Where am I feeling constriction within my body? What can I do right now to bring a sense of expansion and softness there.
How can I cultivate feelings of gratitude and love right now?
PLANT MAGIC
Essential oils are my personal favorite plant allies to pair with my self-study practice. They each have their own unique vibrational frequency and energetic actions, and I’m constantly blown away by both the subtle and profound shifts that I experience while working with them intentionally.
While I love to encourage people to let their intuition lead the way when it comes to selecting oils for their practice, I wanted to offer a specific oil each month that I’ve hand-selected (intuitively, of course) to use as an aromatic anchor that’ll help us to sink even deeper into our theme.
If you’ve ever worked with high-quality essential oils, you’ll already know that they’re super powerful for shifting our state and returning to balance in the moment, but there’s also something to be said for choosing to work with a specific essential oil for an extended period of time and leveraging the compound effect.
Creating an intentional connection with one oil each day for a full month will allow your relationship with the plant to deepen, while giving it time and space to work closely and consistently with you - both physically and energetically, and communicate its wisdom to you (which it will convey in all sorts of different ways if you choose to stay receptive).
As for guidance around how to use this month’s essential oil for best results, there are lots of options to choose from, but I lean towards a combo of topical and aromatic use to ensure the max vibration-shifting effects. I’ve included some usage ideas in the PDF below so you can give them a whirl.
Geranium
This month, we’re opening our hearts and minds with Geranium. Check out this PDF to get to know her better.
Community Connection
Human connection makes the world go ‘round, and in the Come Alive community, you’re automatically among friends. Hop into our Community: Conscious Connection area to ask and answer questions, connect with other cool humans, share your experiences with the theme, and anything else that’s coming up for you. We can’t wait to get to know ya better.
