Ah, November into December—when every passing hour feels like a gentle nudge toward resplendent festivities, gobs of food, and plenty of good cheer.
The Great November-December Crossover
November serves as the opening act to December’s headliner. Think of it as the time to stock up on all things cozy: warm drinks, fuzzy socks, fluffy blankets, and the occasional emotional support pie. Thanksgiving leftovers are still in the fridge when holiday music sneaks its way into our playlists, unapologetically drowning out whatever chill vibes we thought we would stick to.
By the time December arrives, in the Northern hemisphere we have gone from sweater weather to “where is my coat?” The shift happens faster than you can say “holiday spirit.”
November serves as a warm-up for December’s culinary Olympics. After Thanksgiving, we think, “I couldn’t possibly eat another big meal.” Enter December, laughing in the form of cookie platters, eggnog, and a buffet of things you didn’t know could be dipped in chocolate.
For Your Consideration:
December knows how to pile it on—but here is the secret to success: remember that balance you have been working on (yeah, you!) Say yes to the cookie exchange but no to the third Secret Santa. Prioritize what brings you joy, whether that is a full holiday movie binge or a quiet evening with tea and twinkly lights.
So, cheers to a delightful glide from November into and throughout December—may it be a splendid holiday season filled with laughter, snuggly warmth, and just enough time to take a really good nap.
Okay, your turn:
What’s the transition from November into December look like for you? Any traditions you enjoy?
I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2024-11-29 19:16:012024-11-29 19:29:02From November to December: A cozy glide into the holiday season
As October fades into November, there is a noticeable shift in the world around us. The days shorten and the nights stretch longer, casting a twilight hue over our daily routines. Shadows lengthen, and the sun’s journey across the sky seems fleeting. For many, this seasonal change is more than just a visual phenomenon—it is a time of transition that carries with it layers of symbolism, mystery, and a touch of the mystical.
The Long Shadows of Autumn
October is a month of vibrant colors and golden light, but it is also the beginning of a journey toward darkness. As the Earth tilts, the sun’s path across the sky lowers, casting longer shadows and giving everything a softer, almost ethereal glow. It is a time to slow down and take notice of the details that might go unseen in the full glare of summer sunlight.
There is a certain magic in those long shadows. They have a way of stretching out the day, as if trying to hold on to the light just a little bit longer. Inevitably, we edge closer to the darker, colder months, and this transition feels like the world is preparing to rest, to conserve its energy and hibernate.
The Thinning of the Veils
This moment between October and November has long been associated with the “thinning of the veils”—a poetic way of describing the idea that the boundary between the physical world and the spiritual realm becomes less distinct. Cultures around the world have their own ways of acknowledging this thinning. From Halloween and Samhain to Día de los Muertos, there is a shared sense that this is a time when the unseen lures closer, and the world is a little more open to mystery.
It is no coincidence that these traditions focus on honoring the dead and self-reflection on the past. As the natural world prepares for dormancy, we are also prompted to look inward. The longer nights encourage us to slow down, to be still, and to listen to things that might otherwise go unnoticed. It is a time to reconnect—with ourselves, with others, and perhaps with something greater than what we can see and touch.
Light Into Darkness: Embracing the Transition
The transition from October into November is a passage from light into darkness. While this might sound ominous, there’s beauty in it. Darkness has its own kind of clarity; it helps us focus, be more mindful, and appreciate the warmth and light when it does appear. This shift is a gentle reminder to conserve energy and reduce undue labor, not just for nature but for us, too.
Practical Tips for Embracing the Thinning of the Veils
Create a reflection Ritual: Take some time each evening to reflect on the day. Light a candle, write in a journal, or simply sit quietly and observe the shift from light to darkness.
Connect with the Natural World: Go for a walk during sunset and notice the changing light, the lengthening shadows, and the chill in the air. Allow yourself to feel a part of this larger transition.
Celebrate the Darkness: Embrace the longer nights by creating cozy, warm spaces. Light a fire, wrap up in a blanket, and enjoy a hot drink. This is a time to rest and restore.
Honor Your Ancestors: Consider adopting a small ritual to remember those who have passed. It could be as simple as lighting a candle in their memory or sharing stories about them with loved ones.
For Your Consideration:
The period from October into November is not only about losing light; it is about finding beauty in the dark. The thinning veils remind us that there is more to life than what is visible, and the lengthening shadows teach us to appreciate the subtle, silent moments. So, as we move deeper into autumn, let us allow ourselves to slow down, to see what the shadows reveal, and to find comfort in this gentle, quiet space between the worlds.
Okay, your turn:
What does this time as October slides into November mean to you? Do you observe any particular traditions? If so, which ones?
I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2024-10-31 16:47:022024-10-31 17:14:41From Light to Darkness: Embracing the Longer Shadows and the Thinning Veils of Autumn
In today’s fast-paced world, we often find ourselves juggling multiple responsibilities, leaving little room for rest and reflection. Let’s explore how you can stay grounded, conserve your energy, and reduce unnecessary labor, all while having a bit of fun along the way.
1. The Art of Prioritization: Focus on What Truly Matters
Your energy can wane, so choose wisely what you focus on.
Practical Tip: Make a list of your daily tasks and categorize them into three buckets: Must-Do, Should-Do, and Could-Do. Focus on the Must-Do items first, and if you have time and energy left, tackle the Should-Do’s. The Could-Do’s? Save them for a rainy day—or better yet, delegate or delete them!
Fun Twist: Turn prioritizing into a game! Challenge yourself to finish your Must-Do list by noon, so you can spend the afternoon indulging in something fun, like a hobby or a mini-adventure.
2. Delegate Like a Pro: Share the Load
Ever tried to carry all the groceries in one trip? Sure, it feels like an Olympic feat, but it is not the smartest way to conserve energy. The same goes for tasks—carrying the weight of every responsibility is a surefire way to burn out.
Practical Tip: Identify tasks that others can do just as well (or even better) than you. Whether it is at work or home, do not hesitate to delegate. Trust in others’ abilities and let them take some of the load off your shoulders.
Fun Twist: Make delegation a family affair. Turn chores into a family competition with rewards for the best-completed task. Who said doing the dishes couldn’t be fun?
3. The Power of No: Protect Your Energy
Saying “yes” to every request is like hitting the snooze button on your energy reserves—it feels good in the moment, but it drains you over time. Learning to say “no” is one of the most powerful tools in conserving your energy.
Practical Tip: The next time someone asks you to take on an extra task, pause and consider if it aligns with your priorities. If it doesn’t, politely decline or suggest an alternative. Remember, every “yes” to something is a “no” to something else, often your well-being.
Fun Twist: Practice saying “no” with style! Create a list of creative, yet polite, ways to say no. For example, “I’d love to help, but my superhero cape is at the dry cleaners,” or “I’m currently booked with some self-care.”
4. Embrace the Power of Rest: Recharge Regularly
Just like your phone needs to be recharged, so do you. Skimping on rest leads to diminished productivity, and that is the opposite of conserving energy.
Practical Tip: Schedule regular breaks throughout your day, and do not skimp on sleep. Even a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute breathing exercise can work wonders in recharging your mental and physical energy.
Fun Twist: Treat your breaks like mini-vacations. Grab a fancy drink, put on some music, and escape to a “vacation spot” in your mind. It could be a sunny beach or a cozy cabin in the mountains—your imagination takes you there in an instant!
5. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify: Streamline Your Life
Ever notice how clutter can drain your energy? The more things you must manage, the more mental load you carry. Simplifying your life can dramatically reduce undue labor.
Practical Tip: Start by decluttering one area of your life—whether it is your workspace, your closet, or your calendar. Keep only what adds value and joy to your life. Everything else is just noise.
Fun Twist: Make it a challenge! Pick one area to declutter and set a timer. See how much you can simplify in 15 minutes. Reward yourself with something fun afterward—you choose what delights you in that moment.
6. The Magic of Routine: Automate Your Success
Routines might sound boring, but they are your secret weapon for conserving energy. When you create a routine, you reduce the mental energy spent on decision-making.
Practical Tip: Establish a morning and evening routine that sets you up for success. In the morning, focus on activities that energize you. In the evening, wind down with rituals that help you relax and prepare for restful sleep.
Fun Twist: Personalize your routines with elements that make you smile—a favorite song, a comforting cup of tea, or even a few minutes of dance. Routines do not have to be rigid—they can be fun and flexible!
For Your Consideration:
Balancing your life and conserving energy does not mean doing nothing per se—it means doing what matters more efficiently and with more joy. By prioritizing, delegating, saying no, resting, simplifying, and establishing routines, you can create a life that is not only balanced but also fulfilling and fun.
Remember, the key to a happier, more balanced life is to preserve your energy for the things that truly matter—and to enjoy the moments along the way.
Okay, your turn:
When have you noticed yourself overly “efforting” recently, leaving yourself feeling drained and unfulfilled? What did you do to change it up?
I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2024-09-02 14:03:532024-09-02 14:03:55Finding Balance: A Practical Guide to Conserving Energy and Reducing Undue Labor (with a Fun Twist!)
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2023-07-17 21:08:332023-07-17 21:11:21A bonfire blazes
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2022-07-29 22:57:132022-07-29 23:04:49I observe, I experience
Having spent the weekend in the Sierras with a supportive, wonderfully playful, and wildly creative group of co-adventurers who like to hike, I couldn’t help but share with you a poem that I was inspired to write as part of that experience. What in nature speaks to you?
I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2022-06-28 15:25:222022-06-28 18:29:16The trees provide
When we say someone has passed on, have they really left us, truly?
This time of year, with the observance of Samhain, All Hallows’ Eve, All Souls Day, Day of the Dead, all converging upon early November, the connection with the spirit world is stronger than ever. I feel it. I lean into it. I blend with it. With each subsequent year, I emerge more and more connected, more and more at peace, with all that was – and all that – is.
Okay, your turn:
Have you lost loved ones, and if so, did the love leave with them?
I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2021-11-06 19:43:062021-11-06 19:43:08Across the veils
What may be lesser known is this: Soon thereafter, Descartes revised his own saying, to: “I am, I exist.” (1641) Now, THAT’s the spirit!
When you’re thinking, you’re ‘mulling.’ You’re ‘somewhere else.’ Thinking takes you away from, or out of, the present moment. For more on this, refer back to this recent edition of Soul Notes, here.
Take the Olympics, for example. The athletes have prepared years if not even decades, yes. They’re in the best physical condition of their lives, also yes. They’ve ‘put in the work.’ Indeed. And yet, are they thinking much while they’re setting world records? Maybe. I suppose there is still some cognitive strategy at play. Are we thinking as we watch? Maybe, a little.
What draws us in as witnesses to these events, however, is the series of ever present moments. It’s the single points in time and space where everything converges. That’s where the magic is. That is when we are most inspired. That’s when we are in awe. That’s when we are all one.
For Your Consideration
If you’re not thinking, does that mean you no longer exist? This is not a rhetorical question. Of course you (we, I) exist! It is not our thinking which makes it so.
Okay, your turn:
As a carryover from last moon’s edition of Soul Notes, I ask you: Is thinking overrated? I invite you to share your observations, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
(did you know Thanksgiving used to be observed during early October and not late November as it is now in the United States?)
Yes, thankful even this year
2020
and its
harvest
of
stillness
reflection
eye opening
tears inducing
heart opening
heart closing
heart wrenching
heart healing
Awareness
and the time and space
to embrace
thoughtfulness
consideration
discerning
what’s
true
and real
and real(ly) important
For your consideration:
Notice, without jumping to quick conclusions, what this unusually strange and often unsettling year has brought up for you. What are you harvesting? Not from the surface-social-media-finger-pointing-mud-slinging level, but at the level of deep rootedness…feeling into what your heart knows to be true?
For me, among other things, I find myself doing an ongoing life review of sorts. I’m viewing my earlier experiences in a new (dare I say “novel” as in a novel virus) way. This time affords me an opportunity to be not only reflective but more inventive, more innovative, more imaginative, more creative.
Maybe Plato* was on to something!
(*Reference to his dialogue, the Republic and the idea that from necessity comes invention. More on that perhaps in a future blog post!)
Okay, your turn:
What’s been coming up for you during these turbulent times? Are you feeling less rooted? Are you nervous that you’ll be blown over by the winds of change? Will you join me in my pledge to stay rooted throughout it all?
I invite you to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2020-09-19 19:23:522020-09-19 19:27:57All things being equal
Now, before you start thinking I’m about to list out several more adages you may likely find embroidered on a pillow, let me say that these two sayings often resonate because they’re true.
The past few months I’ve been traveling out of state and noticing how much I love to travel to other places, and yet how much I also cherish returning home. The common denominator of course is me. My spirit, my body, my heart. This is the same for all of us, right?
As I have visited with friends at their homes, I have felt deeply nourished not only by our human connection, but also by the beauty of receiving a deeper glimpse into who they are by and through what they bring to their environs. There’s a deep sense of place, and of making it your own.
Celtic history abounds with lyrical devotion to the concept of place. This heritage reveals itself in modern day, too. When I traveled by bicycle for several weeks throughout County Cork (where the Noonans are from) awhile back, I was struck by how truly welcoming the Irish were to me and to all of us traveling through their towns. Several Irish locals told me that they love helping Irish Americans find out more about their ancestry. Many took out time in earnest to help me learn that the Noonans come from the nearby town of Fermoy. Their desire to help me find my roots was loving and strong.
When we were there, each of the townships was vying for the coveted “Tidy Town Award.” We smiled big smiles whenever we’d see a local shop owner delicately sprucing up a flower box, or hand polishing a brass railing, or sweeping up with pride the sidewalk in front of their shop.
When traveling a lot on business years ago, I used to always travel with a particular candle in a small travel container. I liked the idea of making an unfamiliar place feel and be more familiar. I found the warm glow and the inviting scent wafting throughout the space to be calming and grounding. Now that I am traveling again, perhaps I will bring something new with me this next time.
For me, it’s returning to a view of sunsets along the Pacific ocean that tells me I’m home. Although, it’s not as if I have ever truly left. Home is where my heart is. And it’s all okay. Very much okay.
For your consideration:
Meditate on the word “home.”
Make “home” your mantra for this moon cycle.
Allow all the possibilities, all the meanings, to come to the surface. Allow yourself to be surprised!
Jot down the words, the phrases, the messages. Draw or paint the incoming images.
Notice what’s around you when you open your eyes.
Be inspired and take action on what is revealed.
Okay, your turn:
What part of home do you take with you everywhere you go? What’s your favorite part about coming back home? What makes it so?
I invite you to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences by leaving a Reply in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
https://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.png00Lori A. Noonanhttps://lanoonan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Logo-transparent-300x72.pngLori A. Noonan2020-01-25 14:51:492020-01-26 00:06:59Home and a sense of place
When we were there, each of the townships was vying for the coveted “Tidy Town Award.” We smiled big smiles whenever we’d see a local shop owner delicately sprucing up a flower box, or hand polishing a brass railing, or sweeping up with pride the sidewalk in front of their shop.