Boundaries as a spell of protection

A gift of spaciousness in a season of tests

Each year as I grow more aware of my body, the more aware I am of the boundary work around my practice. I honor that this time of year is incredibly challenging for many of us for many different reasons. I’ve learned that crossing a boundary I’ve made for myself this time of year costs me weeks of peace. I’ve learned that my ease is worth more to me than upholding the standards of comfort for those that relied on me to create that in the past.

I offer that boundary work is a practice. Boundaries take practice. Boundaries can be rigid; boundaries can be soft. We are able to define and redefine as often as we need to in this practice. I honor that this work is challenging. I honor that boundary work can feel unsettling to our nervous systems. I honor that you know where to place a boundary in your practice even if it is different from the boundaries of my own practice. Let these words give you courage to hold space for your boundaries during this season of tests.

Boundary work has changed the way I am able to show up for myself. It has changed the way I am able to show up for others. It’s a slow-built, learned behavior that I continue to strengthen with each season. It’s a practice that’s expanded my resiliency around being misunderstood and even disliked. It’s a practice that takes work around guilt for not showing up in the ways I have in the past. Boundary work is a practice rooted in taking up more space. Boundary work allows me to show up in relationship more fully.

When I am honest with myself about my capacity, I am honest with my practice. Boundary work is one of the greatest protectors of my creative spirit. It takes extra care this time of year to show up with consistency and with compassion. If I am overstepping the boundaries I’ve created for myself this season, then I am telling myself and my work that it is lesser important.

I’ve disassociated my way through many winters. I yearn for greater presence in my body this year. My relationship to observation is heightened. My ability to say no to the spaces that deplete me of my energy allows me to say yes to the spaces of wonder and imagination. This practice allows me to show up with myself more gently. I feel bigger in my body. I feel protected.

The boundary work I’ve been practicing has now rippled into the relationships I hold very close to me. The people in my life can better communicate with me about their needs. Conversations with family members feel less heightened when we’re able to use language around our own capacities. It’s a tool that that is strong enough to uphold my peace. It’s a tool that is malleable enough to be witness by another and adapted for their own needs.

The boundary work I do feels like a spell of protection for all of the sacred work that wants to continue to be made. Boundary work is a spell of liberation from the tasks I no longer wish to complete this time of year. Boundary work is a spell of spaciousness from a smaller version of myself. Boundary work is a gift that keeps on giving.

Boundary work is a spell of protection.

Boundary work protects the sacred work that wants to be made through my body as a vessel of change.

Boundary work is a spell of spaciousness from a smaller version of myself.

Boundary work is a spell of liberation from the tasks I no longer want to complete this time of year.

Boundary work allows for the containers around joy to be recognized.

Boundary work protects the space around imagination and wonder.

Boundary work is a spell of protection for all of the things waiting to be birthed into this world.

Allow the practice of boundaries to feed your spirit.

Allow the practice of boundaries to fuel your creative practice.

Allow the practice of boundaries to expand your resiliency around shame.

Allow the practice of boundaries to diminish resentment and expand joy.

Allow your boundaries to create space for wonder to carry you into the spaces of mystery as the season shifts to a slower pace of observation.

🤎 Aftersun

🤎 Michael C Thorpe’s show Fourteen Years Old at Forum Gallery

🤎 The quilt raffle winner was picked and notified! I’m so grateful to everyone who entered :)

🤎 Faith Ringgold’s art book

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🤎 the Kimono exhibition at The Met

🤎 the many blankets and quilts and rugs in my home that are reminding me to soften my attention to what nourishes me as we move into cooler months

🤎 Transanta

🤎 Sonya renae taylor

🤎 Annika podcast

🤎 Beverly Glenn Copeland

🤎 Early voting for runoffs in GA starts next week, find a polling place here