The Present: June
Great thoughts come directly from the heart. - Luc De Vauvenargues
Hello, and welcome to The Present, the 2023 Flourish Integral Health newsletter. If you find what I am sharing about intentions, joy, and being true to yourself helpful, please join and share.
How is it already the end of June?! This month zoomed. If you have fallen out of the habit of using the journaling pages in Flourish, now is a good time to jump back in and finish the end of the year strong - knowing you did your best to keep attention on following your joy and on your intentional energy transformations.
This month I drew inspiration from two concepts in Michael A. Singer’s newest book Living Untethered: Beyond the Human Predicament about keeping focus on making your inside beautiful and how to best serve the unfolding moment. I also gained vision from a vibrant message received around 4am on June 8th.
Onto intentions…
If this is your initial reading, my intention is to share how I’m using Flourish, A 365-Day Guided Path Towards Love to heal, grow, and be where I want to be. I hope these examples help you with your aspirations. Instead of sharing the details of a goal, this month’s letter highlights an encouraging concept that relates to several of my year’s intentions.
I received a whimsical firefly gift (and beautiful card) on the 7th. The energy of firefly light is what inspired each chapter header’s yellow dots. I placed the present in the area where I do a modified version of Bikram daily (which feels like another home altar space) before going to sleep. Early the next morning (at a time I’m rarely ever awake) a new idea was present. This early morning message was to go on a book tour; visit 21 charming bookstores to introduce myself and Flourish.
On the 7th I also received an energy session with an intention of strength and clarity. I like to examine what happened right before “the thing” happened. There is always a connection (and it can often be symbolic or woo-woo).
I felt so much joy initially thinking about this idea under the bed covers. Since then I’ve been researching independent booksellers, holding The Last Holiday ideas in my mind (do what you really want), and following the signs. I started writing about the process each day. This has been helpful to calm my anxiety about the adventure and remind me that everyday I’m being guided. I finalized a travel route this week as well as booked my airfare and car rentals (primarily on United miles!) to take 21 days to visit 21 charming bookstores. I’m going to 18 plus cities, including an overnight in Ames to visit my oldest son. The journey starts here in Chicago on July 10th.
Before finalizing the trip, I journaled. I wrote about why I am doing this, how, my intentions, my hopes, and my expectations. I plan to arrive at each shop with two copies of my book and a promotional sheet. Each book will include the gold Nautilus sticker and a handwritten message. In addition to intending Flourish makes it onto bookshelves, I am doing this so the book makes it into more people hand’s who see its benefits, purchase, gain healing, and help foster. I’m looking forward to the joy of being in each bookstore (more than 75% of the shops are new for me), meeting new like-minded people, and promoting independent booksellers. For 2024 “Soulful Reads”, I plan to ask booksellers about their favorite personal growth books, purchase (and do some reading/ listening while traveling) for possible feature in the Energy Magazine column with author Q&As. I also intend to write an essay about what I learned visiting 21 charming bookstores in the USA with my Gold Nautilus Award book in hand and publish it. I am hopeful my Paris energy will re-emerge and predominately push long-Covid symptoms aside (for good), travel is smooth, and to find what’s next for me. Basically, I’m expecting all the best possible outcomes.
Looking forward to Month No. 7: Journaling to Connect, I plan to continue writing about the book tour each day. One of my four “Your Intentions” trackers looks like this:
Onto joy -
This weekend we’ll be turning the page to “Your Midpoint Celebration” (if you began the book in January). For me, the comforting singing voice in the forest is James Taylor’s. While planning the book route last Thursday, I googled to see if his summer tour would dovetail and discovered he was playing Saturday in Milwaukee. I bought tickets - so much happiness was present! (I love how he is in his songs on stage.) Who is that voice for you and are you able to go see them perform?
I’ll be making the three celebratory recipes while celebrating the 4th of July with my family at the lake in Oconomowoc, WI. A reader successfully made a GF rendition of Grandma McCabe’s cupcakes. She used Bob’s Red Mill GF 1-1 flour as a substitute. She suggests spraying the cups prior to adding the batter. I’m SUPER excited to try this adaptation! If you make them with a twist, please share in the comments.
And I am joy-filled to share my feature in The North Shore Weekend with caricature by long time illustrator for The New Yorker, Tom Bachtell. This is in the running for my 5 Star Review top 10 best moments of this year’s journey (on p. 269). What is on your list so far?
Happy 4th of July and joyful Midpoint celebrations to you!
Holding space for your joy, your intentions, and being true to yourself.
Best,
Allison