Tag: #lifelessons

#spiritual, adventure, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Uncategorized

Release the Worms!

emyminzel


Lessons Through Joy ~ Chapter 2

by Emy Minzel

Ready or not here we come!!! Neither of us had never been to the Boundary Waters before. We had no idea what we were getting into. Folks from all over the world come to experience the
grand vastness and purity of our dwindling truly wild wilderness. No cell
signals, no electricity, you carry everything you need on your back and the
canoe too. It offers time and silence I need to get back to the simplicity our
lives are supposed to contain. Over the years it has been a vital necessity for
me to take this time to connect with myself and the earth I appreciate so
greatly.

Before leaving we had scoured the Outfitters website for a list of items to bring and added our own necessities like blow up tubes for floating. At the time we were both excited
to do some fishing in the BWCA. The fish “Up North” are legendarily big and
plentiful. This would be a first for both of us to have to “clean” or filet
own catch. We are both no fuss kind of women who do what needs to be done, even
the hard stuff. I love that about us. We make a great team. We both love
nature, water, and canoeing. We knew we were going to love this!

Our first fishing trip was a success. We reeled them in and released a few. We
didn’t want to take more than we needed for dinner. Both looking to each other
for guidance when we pulled the basket out of the water. After a few failed
attempts to put the fish out of its misery, our hearts deflated a bit. We
decided to let them suffocate on the boulder before cleaning them. Both of us
felt remorseful about what we put the fish through. Yet we were depending on
fish for our food and hunger was prompting us to get through it.

 I will not lie. The fish was delicious. However, this experience of taking a life had gotten to us both. The spirit inside of me felt sad for the fish and maybe even disappointed in myself. Neither of us said anything to each other while we continued to catch and eat fish that year.
Next year we vowed to find a better way to ‘release its spirit’ before we ate it.
At the time it felt empowering to be able to feed myself from the wild in this
way. The men in my life always took care of “gross” things like that.

Yet, when I took the time to contemplate it deeper. I realized there should be nothing ‘gross’ about it at all. It was a transformational experience realizing what it felt like to take an animal’s life and respect its sacrifice. I know it would serve humanity to acknowledge and appreciate the folks who do the work of getting us food from the farm and water to our tables.

I began to honor the hardworking folks and sentient animals who give me the energy needed to live. It was clear to me that I was too far removed from the food I ate. I was part of an ignorant bliss trend in humanity, blind to where my food comes from, how it’s treated, and how it’s processed… I saw I was a piece of capitalism contributing to tragic and detrimental factor in the environment and unethical treatment of animals. I was beginning to see that looking the other way is part of the human behavior damaging the planet and all who reside on it. I had never taken the time to contemplate or acknowledge it until this BWCA experience.

Continuing to the 2nd trip the next year into the BWCA. We brought our fishing
poles, worms and leaches. Try as we may, there were no fish! What the heck?! No bites at all. No matter where we decide to try our luck, not even a nibble. It wasn’t a big deal; we had packed enough food to keep us satisfied without the fish this trip. We were fishing just to pass
time.

One morning we both were on separate ends of our very large camping site with
hundreds of feet between our fishing spots. The spot was a peninsula of boreal
forest beauty. We were doing our best to enjoy the blue sky and warm day when
Stacy walked over to me and asked. “Are you having any luck?”

As I reeled my line in. Seeing the lifeless worm hanging from my hook. I looked at her and said “Nope. Nothing.”

I turned to Stacy and confessed. “I am having a really hard time with what I am
doing to this worm… I am torturing it. Stabbing it with a hook then repeatedly drowning
it until if finally gives up and dies.”

My sensitive heart was empathizing with the experience of this living being. A
creature of nature. Even though it is a creepy creature, I know it has purpose.

She looked at me compassionately and agreed. Then she asked. “Do you want to free the worms?”

I thought about it for a second and answered. “Yes! Yes. I do! I don’t think I
can fish with live bait anymore.” I also felt relieved to be met with empathy
and understanding from my friend. Joy and relief replaced guilt. 

She told me while over on her side of the campsite, she was feeling the same thing.
This happens often with us. Seemingly energetically in sync even when far apart.
It’s the magical workings of the same soul connection that brought us together.

We pulled the white Styrofoam container with the remaining worms out of the cooler
then headed into the woods. We found a nice spot that looked like it had
healthy soil, dug a hole for them and released the worms. It felt so right! It
was my soul acknowledging even the weirdest of creatures has feelings, and
awareness.

I believe all animals are sentient. They absolutely know when it’s
in pain and when death is their destiny. Honoring that knowledge has helped me
become a gentler person. We thanked the worms for the life lesson and said a
prayer for them to live long, happy worm lives.

On this BWCA excursion we decided to only use lures, or faux bait. I still liked the idea of fishing, being on the water in the sun. It gave me pleasant childhood memories of my Uncle Bob who is no longer with me. So, we were loaded up with a bunch of cool little lures and our fish basket. Carrying knowledge learned from last year we had collapsible poles which were far easier to pack and carry. Who knew that was even a thing? Many folks of course! We were catching on one trip at a time. You know what happened after all that planning? We didn’t put a line in the water even once. 

I realized that I was honoring my feelings and didn’t feel right to take a
life. I packed most of the food for our 5-day forest adventure. By this year, Stacy had chosen a pescetarian diet which is mostly vegetarian with sprinkling of fish and eggs. I support her decisions, and she supports mine. We had an abundance of fresh organic veggies, rice, quinoa, beans, and nuts for protein. We both love to cook, and I made sure we had all the ingredients we needed. I realized. Why take something if it’s not needed? We already had plenty.

At the time I was a midwestern woman, raised on meat and potatoes. A Minnesota Tator
tot hotdish making Queen. I appreciate that Stacy is nonjudgemental of other people’s food
choices. However, by just being her, she has raised awareness in me. It made me ask myself. “Do I want to keep eating meat?”

I was completely satisfied with the vegetarian diet we ate while camping with Stacy.
Never feeling deprived or hungry. I told Stacy. “I think I will stop eating so much meat.”

Stacy just smiled and said “You get to make the rules for your life! Do what you feel
is best for you.”

I suppose she has already been through these feelings and this journey. This transition
usually doesn’t happen overnight. I recognize that people stop eating meat for
their own personal beliefs and they are not the same as another’s decision. In the end what others eat is none of my business. I must do what feels right for me, my body, and my spirit.

This experience led to research on where and how mass meat production happens. There are so many great informative documentaries about our food. This knowledge has altered my
appetite and made me a more conscious consumer. I must honor that for the sake
of my animal loving heart. I have tried to be vegetarian, but my body did not agree with my choices. Now I add more veggies and grains and skip the meat several times a week.

I do my best to ensure it is animal products are free range and humanely treated. I choose to support small family farmers, shop the Farmers Market and co-ops when possible. By doing this, I also get to vote with my dollars. I realized change is all about choices. I get to make choices all day every day. I allowed myself to change my minds and habits as I learned more and allowed myself room for growth. I do not judge others and I am not trying to convert anyone either. This is just one of the seeds planted in the BWCA long ago that have sprouted since. 

My opinions and perceptions of life, living sentient beings, spiritual signs, emotional
maturity, and personal growth. We have both changed dramatically since those early years
when we first naively embarked into the BWCA. We had no idea how profoundly these
adventures would contribute to the soulful alignment of our daily lives in
years to come. The story that follows is one of my favorite examples. 

The very last time I went fishing was when I was running for the State House of Representative. I was on a mission to learn about tensions relating to my local and famous
Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota. I was invited by the Band of Ojibwe on a boat and
fishing tour. Where we discussed environmental, and racial political issues dividing our community.

During this trip, I was accompanied by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Natural Resources
Director and the independent Scientist they hired to do research. The Band was
helping and collaborating with the State of Minnesota DNR in hopes of finding
solutions. There were four of us on the boat including my campaign manager Jake,
who is an ecologist.

I brought my own fake lures to use while fishing. Out of curiosity they questioned why.
Using my story about the BWCA trip and the worms to explain my decisions. That I
no longer ‘release the spirits’ of worms, spiders, or bugs as I see them as a
necessary component of nature.  Not one of them gave me guff about this decision. Even after I didn’t catch a darn thing on the lake known for its abundance.

It was if Spirit knew, I didn’t need to. Just being on the water, learning from experts
on how I could support my community and environment if elected was enough. The whole day was an amazing experience I will never forget. All the while realizing that without a doubt; I would have never been on that boat, with those experts, or a congressional candidate. If I had I not stepped foot into the BWCA five years before. This was a life lesson learned through joy!

Fishing on Lake Mille Lacs 2018

The lessons the fish and worms have taught me were to honor my feelings. If it feels bad, don’t do it. The worms were a sudden and final decision to not use live bait.  I still have a great time being on the water with my friends or by myself, and there is no longer a need to fish. I learned to trust my inner guidance and be brave enough to do what feels right for me. Even if it means allowing my voice to shake and tears to flow while doing so. This happened often while campaigning. 

If it had not been for the empowering adventures in the Boundary Waters. I would not have had all of these world expanding experiences. I’ve learned that I am capable
and brave enough to roll with the waves of transformation on my life path. I have the free will to change my mind and my actions. I know deep down; we all do the best we can in the time and space we are given. It’s okay to be human. That’s how we learn and hopefully grow.  

As the wise Maya Angelou said. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when
you know better. Do better.”

With much love,

Emy Minzel

Heart Centered, Nature Lover, Writer, Advocate,
Adventurer, Yogi, and so much more…

EmyMinzel.com

BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook.com

***Public Service Announcement***

We have since learned that worms are an invasive species and should never be released other than where they are found. I feel terrible that I did not know this at the time! I feel it is important to share the wisdom of our blunder. As we certainly would have made a different choice in where we released these worms. Like they say.

“You don’t know, what you don’t know. Until you know.”

Much like learning about washing your boat or canoe off before launching into a different body of water to prevent the spread of invasive weeds or mussels.

Now we know.

#lessonsthroughjoy, #lifelessons, Political

Making the Ask

emyminzel

Lessons Through Joy –

by Emy Minzel

The intention of this book called “Lessons Through Joy!” is to share how adventuring out into the wild wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area has transformed The Adventure Sisters profoundly. The Adventure Sisters consist of two middle aged women. My dear friend Stacy Crep and I.

Together we created BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook page. We created our blogs and began writing this book Lessons Through Joy! then proceeded to craft two other books immediately following. We are posting chapters from Lessons Through Joy! to inspire other women to expand out of the comfort zone into personal growth and joyful living.

The time we spent in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has contributed to the expansion of all the important areas in life. In my confidence, my career, my relationships, spiritual growth, personal development, even my Dharma/life purpose. It is my hope that sharing our escapades in “Lessons through Joy!”  and how they have transformed us, will motivate others to connect to the environment. And hopefully grow National support in the campaign to #SavetheBoundaryWaters.org

My name is Emy Minzel. I am a 47-year-old woman that feels much younger at heart. I have one daughter who is 30. Yep, go ahead and do the math… we are good with it! I would not change a thing. She is my best friend and an amazing human who I am very proud to know. Jason and I have been married for 16 years. We have one dog Hank and two cats, Beatrix Basi, and Sage.

I am an only child. Raised as a free range, latch key kid on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota by a single mother. My mother worked a lot to make sure we had what we needed. She let me follow my instincts and try different extracurricular activities. Now I realize how growing up with so much freedom made me who I am and gave me many skills I still rely on today. I am committed to practicing my best aptitudes in service to the greater good. While bravely allowing myself freedom and vulnerability to gain personal growth and wisdom through diverse experiences.  

I am in love with nature. This may sound weird to you. But I believe love is just a word unless you use it as a verb. Love is an act. Love means you apply action towards expressing that feeling. I consider myself an environmentalist; therefor I am very interested in politics. In 2018 I ran as a Candidate for the Minnesota State Representative. Then in 2022 I ran for Minnesota State Senate seat in my district.

My political effort was spurred on by the proposed permits to allow dangerous copper/sulfide mining. I simply can’t fathom how MN Legislators would even consider allowing mining practice known to cause disastrous pollution in the sacred Boundary Waters Canoe Area. 

These mines exist all over the world and have a 100% failure record of devastating contamination of the regions where they exist. Polluting water with forever chemicals, that are impossible to clean up and last for over 500 years. Thus, causing taxpayers billions of dollars as they will be left with the Super Fund Site cleanup bill after the mining company inevitably declares bankruptcy.

It is my love of water and wilderness of northern Minnesota that inspired me to alter my life path. I am determined to do what I can to protect what I love. What’s left of Minnesota’s clean water, and the undervalued beautiful gem of my home state, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Before my political runs, I was blessed to work from home as a Massage Therapist. Stacy, my Adventure Sister and I, were writing manuscripts together doing our best to manifest publishing a Best-Selling book series. We have written three books together like the one you are reading now. It’s unconventional, with two authors sharing two perspectives.

We think it is appropriate to share how being different from each other is a blessing. The journeys we’ve shared inspired the desire to encourage others to find the resolution to pursue their own adventures. These quests have allowed us both to level up greatly in our lives and we want that for you too.

Of course, I have several other interests that make me who I am. am the kind of girl who nurtures my family, pets and plants, likes to cook, garden and care for my community, and run chainsaw. I love to work with my hands, hiking with my dog, and doing anything in or on the water. The kind of girl who sings gratitude to the water while floating in it or on it, intentionally meditating to send love to the world. Filling my cup with soul food by Volunteering as a Board Member of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in my community. Which gives me the gift of being inspired by good hearted, talented folks, while spending time with outstanding people I admire.

Stacy once told me I am intimidating and that I have big energy. I figure I am only 4’11 ½ “how intimidating can I be?! I would prefer to say I am passionate. Unafraid to give you my opinion in a respectful manner. This is who I am now. Not who I was a decade ago. I was not a joiner, and I was a homebody.

Over a decade ago, before we took our first adventure into the BWCA. I would have just finished Massage Therapy certification program, rented a space in town. Focused on getting clients and aiming for success. Yet, I began to feel there was something missing in my life. Something I couldn’t put my finger on. Feeling restless I had decided to seek spiritual meaning in life.

This is where our story of transformation begins. As divine intervention and divine timing will do. I met my Adventure Sister Stacy at a Stepping into the Metaphysical Energy class. It was taught by Bobby Sullivan in St. Cloud MN, at a store called Mind, Body, Spirit.  Her contributions to the class were insightful, and we came to learn that we both had just completed a Reiki Energy Healing course at the time. We exchanged phone numbers to “trade” energy work and practice. I took her card, left, then promptly forgot her name. To be honest, at that point in my life I was so introverted that I would not have called her to exchange Reiki.

Thank goodness she called me! Stacy was very pleasant in the class which felt safe for me to agree that we meet at my office. When she arrived for our trades, we didn’t really talk too much, just your niceties of acquaintances meeting for the second time, and we got straight to work. There were no words spoken during our first Reiki Energy Healing exchange. Yet, I felt a big energy shifting inside me.

By the end of this session, we both felt as if we were connected in a past life. As if we were sisters in a different lifetime.  We had just met… I was not “woke” by any means. Yet there was no denying we both felt a soul family connection to a woman we just met.

Thankfully Stacy only lived a town away from me at the time. We started trading Reiki often; we both looked forward to seeing each other. Learning little bits and pieces about our lives, and we started looking for more metaphysical classes to take together. Stacy felt like the safe, slightly older sister I never had. It was a bonus that she always picked me up and drove me around! At that time in life, it was very hard to get me out of the house.

We found great classes and events like a book study for the Bhagavad Gita class with Jaja Myra. Whom hosted Homa Fire Ceremonies honoring Ganesha the Indian Elephant headed God known for removing obstacles and Lakshmi the Indian Goddess of Beauty and Success. These ceremonies were powerful movers of energy that helped me expand my mind and spirit.

We would go to Shamanic drumming circles, learning more about shamanism. Attending several events where there were all sorts of new age spiritual modalities to try. It was clear these metaphysical practices were helping me become more aware. Aware of who I really was inside and asking myself. “Why was I hiding from the world?”

About a year later, I was still a homebody surfing the web when Groupon came across my email. It was 3-night, 4-day canoe adventure through Voyager North Outfitters in Ely, MN. I am originally from northern Minnesota. My great-great grandfather immigrated from Germany just before Hitler’s reign and settled in the densely forested land near the Vermillion River. The old farmhouse he built with his hands is still standing. We call it “the farm” and serves as a shared sanctuary and getaway for our family today. Since I am familiar with the beauty of the Boreal Forest in Northern Minnesota. This Groupon adventure called to me.

I thought of Stacy immediately. Probably because she was one of the only friends who would even consider doing something so outdoorsy. On a hunch, I forwarded her the email. Curious and hopeful of her response. I knew I couldn’t afford to go at the time, I believe it was just after Christmas and we were not financially able. It was just after the 2008 recession, and I was struggling with the demands of a new business.

Before I knew it, she emailed me and said, “I hope you are ok with it, I just purchased two of these for us!” She offered to “trade” with me for the purchase price. I felt it was a very fair trade so YES… I was okay with it! We were both excited. We didn’t know it then, but this is the adventure that would change our lives.

This Lesson Through Joy taught me humility and to ask for what you want. Since this lesson 14 years ago. I have lived this philosophy not just preached it. If I want something, I say so. No more hiding in my house or waiting for permission. This one vulnerable ‘ask’ literally changed my life. It helped me grow confidence to self-promote while building a business.

“Making the ask” is a skill I didn’t possess before then. Being brave enough to be vulnerable humbled me then brought me connections to many exceptional people since. It eventually grew to the ability to knock on doors and ask my community for donations and volunteers while campaigning for a position in congress and so much more.

Just last month, I learned of an artist work week retreat opportunity through the Oberholtzer Foundation. In northern Minnesota on the protected Mallard Island. The applications for this retreat were due last November. Since I had just learned about it two months prior to the retreat date. My intuition said. “Just try!” So, I did.

Two weeks later, I got an email saying that a spot had opened. They said I was welcome to go if I was available. The joy I felt while reading that acceptance email was enough to make me cry happy tears. As it happens, I just returned from that trip, July 21st, 2024. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life!

These simple exercises of going out of my comfort zones. Being vulnerable and humble enough to ask for what I want. Really has opened more doors than I ever could have imagined. My advice is to voice your desires into the Universe and anyone who will listen.

It has become one of my favorite pieces of advice to share with others. “The answer is always no, if you don’t ask!”

With much love,

Emy Minzel

Heart Centered, Nature Lover, Writer, Advocate, Adventurer, Yogi, and so much more…

EmyMinzel.com

StacyCrep.com

BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook.com

#lifelessons, #spiritual, Uncategorized

Self-Love

emyminzel

How Kundalini Yoga taught me what it really means to love myself.

I used to think that self-love was taking time for long baths, getting a massage, going the spa, or some kind of timeout from the world to focus on myself. Yes! These are all wonderful and necessary things to do for yourself. However, if you really think about it. These things are just bodily upkeep, not self-love.

It occurred to me the thought of routine maintenance was sort of radical to me and so it felt like it was self-love. And in some ways, it was, because it showed me that taking time for myself was just not something I put on my list of high priorities.

Like many women I was conditioned to give, give, give until I crashed. I would get to the point where I literally got sick because my body was revolting from the lack of care. Does this sound familiar? The self-love I speak of is the kind that nurtures and heals the mind, body, and spirit in a healthy way.

Maybe some people even think of self-love as selfish or something that comes from the ego. “Oh, I’m so great! I’m the best! I am much better than you!” (Inserting sarcasm here.) There are people like this yes, but this is not the kind of self-love I am referring to. Also, I advise you to keep your distance from those folks for many reasons we can discuss another day.

Over the years my thoughts on self-love have swayed from one extreme to the other. None of them were sustainable. As a massage therapist, yoga studio owner and teacher, wife, mother, volunteer, advocate and so much more… I have finally come to realize from experience and witnessing how others do life, what it really means to love yourself.

Trust me, it took many years of learning what self-love NOT was, to see what it truly was. One of my favorite quotes says. “To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid.” This is just a funny way to say how we can and do learn from mistakes. It is important to laugh at yourself and show just as much compassion in the way you speak to yourself as you would to a dear friend.

My journey to actualizing self-love is continuous, as I keep learning more about myself and what I truly need to be balanced. What I have come to see is that self-love is more about parenting yourself with kind discipline. Listen… If you know me at all. The word discipline makes my skin crawl.

My body and mind even react to the word discipline with disgust. I am now able to see that I’ve stored previous traumas from experiencing abuse of power in the name of discipline that makes me react this way. Probably this is the reason I rebelled against ‘self-discipline’ for so darn long!

Once I became a young adult, I had allowed myself way too much freedom frequently rocking it till the wheels fell off. The only regular bodily maintenance I did was, so I stayed clean and didn’t die! Sadly, but not uncommon for lots of folks. This was my only self-care back then. Mind, and spirit health were not even on my radar.

Which put me on the path to heal trauma caused by others and now trauma I had inadvertently caused to myself. I know I am not alone here. So, I have done myself a favor and reframed the word discipline in my mind by changing it to self-love. This means doing the things you don’t want to do just because you know it’s good for you.

Like when a parent teaches you brushing your teeth twice a day is important maintenance. I needed to reframe my thoughts on parenting myself to do the same with my lifestyle choices, my time, and my focus.

I have learned self-love looks like getting up early or eating dinner a little later to get some exercise in because it’s great for my entire being. It is proven exercise has a profound positive effect on your entire being. I’ve learned exercising the body makes the internal systems flow better, it produces endorphins and hormones that boost my mental health, which in turn naturally lifts my spirit. Exercise is truly mind, body, spirit self-love.

When I was able to see exercise that I enjoyed like yoga was not a duty or a bad word. It is truly a gift I can give myself when I make self-love a priority. In yoga we use asana/physical exercise to stress the body then we have savasana which is the rest at the end of our practice. Just like children and puppies… It’s much easier as an adult to rest the body and mind after we have exercised!

Some of us have very physical jobs, like me. Occasionally just to get up when the house is quiet and have meditative time to myself with my coffee feels like self-love. Peace, stillness, and rest are just as important as exercise for the mind, body, spirit.

Meditation is really useful if you have an over active mind that likes to chatter. We call that the monkey mind in yoga. Mantra Meditations, Guided meditation or Yoga Nidra are excellent tools to get into the practice of quieting the mind. Being mindful of your inner dialog is also important. Your body hears what you say about it and so does your spirit. Practicing Ahimsa/non-violence and maintaining a kind inner voice can help stabilize your emotional state.

After several 40-day continuous practices of Kundalini yoga kriyas. This discipline showed me that putting my needs and goals first is self-love! Sometimes self-love/discipline looks like saying no to social functions that sound fun but will throw off my schedule or bump into the priorities that are important. If saying yes, makes me feel guilty about letting myself down by not getting what I desire done. It’s not worth it. My needs are important.

Reframing discipline in this way has really changed my outlook on what self-love truly is.

It looks like boundaries on my time, energy, emotional state in my relationships or work life. It looks like putting off chores to fulfill the needs of my body, mind and spirit. Chores are always going to be there. So what if the house is a bit cluttered! People live here gosh darn it! I learned I was able to tackle it better when I was in a balanced state anyway.

Sometimes we think caring for our spirit only happens on Sunday at church. That is not true at all. Caring for your spirit means you feel peaceful, and content. If the other parts of your life are out of tune, there is no way our soul is serene. You can have feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, or exhaustion just from a neglected spirit!  

Maybe self-love means you must take time to heal relationships with your body, people, work, money, time, rest, play or even your creativity. Maybe you need to get your veggies in or subtract something from your diet. The list is endless. Only you know where you are off balance. Your heart and spirit always know.

Taking the time to get quiet and tune into your mind, body and spirit can really scare some people. It doesn’t have to be scary if you reframe the intention behind it into an act of self-love. Going within to ask yourself the introspective questions that matter most is a good place to start when you are feeling uncomfortable inside.

Just ask yourself why am I uncomfortable today? What do I need most to get back into balance? Where can I start? Practicing listening to your intuition connects you to your higher self. The higher self is another way to speak of the inner voice inside of you that knows better. Yet is often overridden by the ego or outside expectations.

When life gets busy or there is just so much going on I must prioritize. I have a few mantras I have given myself that help me give myself permission to take time I need to care for my mind, body, and spirit.

These ones are my favorite.

“I keep the promises I make to myself, because I am worthy of the life I desire.”

“I give myself permission to make time, to create and heal.”

“I get to make the rules for my life!”

“My body is loved, my mind meditated, and life is balanced. I help my soul to smile.”

“I am important. My needs are important. I matter too.”

I have a great friend and kundalini warrior partner. We do the 40-day kriyas together and check in daily with each other to keep track. Even when those kriya challenges are done we often check in almost daily and ask each other. “What have you done today to make yourself feel loved? What are you proud of today?”

It can look like a walk on a nature path with my dog. A long Epsom salt bath and dry brushing to stimulate lymph flow. It can look like taking a nap if that is what I feel I need most that day. It can even look like getting my annoying taxes done so I can move forward and get that off the to-do list! Maybe you need to go out and play with friends, have some tea and connect. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

The point is we make sure to do something for ourselves daily because our health matters to our mental state, and the mental state matters to our spiritual contentment. These habits and rituals did not come naturally to me until I started practicing yoga. Asana yoga was great for my body but finding kundalini yoga changed my life. Encouraging consistency, discipline/self-love, and dedication to my spiritual practice.

It was the yoga that I felt most encompassed a practice that I could do and enjoy doing daily. Kriyas can be extremely challenging or very gentle depending on which kriya you practice. There is so much variety I am never bored. The way it encompassed the mind, body, and spirit part is what got me hooked. If you are interested in finding out more, I welcome you to try it! I offer classes in the studio and online at spiritriveryoga.com.

It felt important to me to share with you how yoga changed my life. It was not all at once, not in one day, or a week. I look forward to seeing how it will continue to transform me from the inside out as I continue down the yoga path. I hope that this article inspires you in some way to see self-love in a different way. May it help propel a positive change of any kind for you.

Much love and many blessings,

Emy Minzel

CMT – 500RYT

Spirit River Yoga and Massage LLC

Spiritriveryogaandmassage.com

Emyminzel.com

#lifelessons, #naturelover

Finding wisdom in nature

emyminzel

The leaves are turning a stunning array of vibrant colors here in Minnesota. Once the trees are done changing color, they shed its summer shelter releasing what no longer serves it. We can learn a lot from trees, and the cycle of nature. Allowing ourselves to let go of what has lost purpose in our lives makes room for what does!

It a great time to release relationships, behaviors, emotions, careers, and other goals you may have pursued at one time but no longer have passion for. Humans have a lot of feelings about everything. It can be difficult to let things end that you have put so much time and effort into creating.

Nature doesn’t seem to have a problem letting go though. She takes her time and lets it happen in its own rhythm. Yet, when I look out my window. I wonder if it is painful and laborious to change seasons? Somedays it is for me! Witnessing the effort Mother Nature puts into growing in the spring; only to watch it die and disappear in the autumn must feel arduous in some way.

We can feel that way when it’s time to let things go in our lives. Still, if we pay attention, we know that the cyclic nature of Mother Earth reflects in our lives too. If we edit the parts of our lives as ruthlessly as she can. We could see how detached from the outcome she is. She trusts that it is the way it is supposed to be.

Underneath the fallen foliage is next year’s seeds germinating waiting for the right time to burst forth and bloom. If this is the case, why then would it be any different for us? Why do we resist releasing what does not serve our greatest good every once in a while?

Is it only me or do you also have trouble deciding to let parts of your life just wither and die? Sometimes it is easy to let go if you are excited about what’s next! Maybe that is the most important ingredient of it all? Attitude and trusting in the process of life to unfold as it should, undoubtedly will help.

Mother Nature is not worried about the fall because she is ready for her winter rest. I’d like to think that is the case anyway. Nothing in life blooms all year and that is true for me and you, too. We need time and space to rest in the years fresh compost of our experiences to germinate our new beginnings.

My random introverted contemplations help me move through fluctuations in my life. Like the leaves signaling the change of seasons. If I simply allow nature to do its job while harvesting the apples of wisdom I grew through the summer. Life will flow effortlessly into the next beautiful transition of a new year.

Like Mother Nature, I look forward to the changing season. I trust the landscape of my life to be transformed into the divinely guided journey that is our own unique natural cycle of existence. I must allow people, places, feelings, and things to come or go as they please. With a deep knowing that I have no control even if I wanted it. Let go and let God.

Trusting my life to the nature of destiny is easy as I witness the ever-changing landscape from my window year after year. Finding the beauty in every falling leaf of my life lessons is how I give thanks and let go for my own good.

What has nature taught you? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Sending peace, love, and success!

Blessings to you!

Emy Minzel

EmyMinzel.com

#lifelessons, #spiritual, Uncategorized

A beautiful blessing of disaster?

emyminzel

Ugh! Do you ever have big arguments in a close relationship and then you just get lost in them? I mean like, losing days, weeks and even months of your life because they are blanketed with a sense of sadness, anger and disappointment. I realize this from personal experience of course, because that is how I learn best.

Recently, I have let disagreements with loved ones overshadow my love of life. The things I once loved to do have fallen by the wayside so I could focus on being fully and completely pissed off at everything. Do you ever have those times? It’s not in my nature to be so angry for so long, yet I was, and I let it take over.

There are things I know for sure and lots that I have left to learn. What I know for sure is that life isn’t meant to be dreaded, tolerated or merely survived. When the whole world around you seems to be crumbling to the ground, it is our opportunity to pick up those pieces and build the life we truly want, in the way that works for us. In this tough emotional time I had to allow things to crumble to see what stayed.

It’s tough to admit that is up to us to take responsibility, brush ourselves off and get back into the sweet flow of life. Nobody else can do that for you or me, as much as we would like the help up onto our feet.  The Universe says. “Nope. This is your job.” Happiness is an inside job and should not be dependent on your relationships, career, or goals.

You cannot give the responsibility of your contentment or healing to anyone else but yourself. Taking yoga teacher training has helped me do much needed inner work to find what it is that makes me happy beyond these things we let define us. It’s something that I knew in my head yet found hard to put into practice of my life consistently.

We often ask others for advice and I’ve learned it’s better to go within and ask yourself what to do especially with intimate relationships. Once the power of emotion has settled, our inner wisdom has a lot to offer us if we are willing to trust it, and ourselves. This time ruminating was also a blessing that offered healing. I was able to accept responsibility for my part and make the motions to course correct.

Yet, how is it fair if I don’t offer the same compassion, time and opportunity to process these big emotions to the other person in this story? They are hurt and trying to heal too.

Sharing life with loved ones is challenging when we grow at different speeds, in different directions and in different ways. Sometimes it seems clear and apparent we are going in opposite directions testing our skills of communication, compassion and love. This is marriage, this is family, friendship and life. Right? Right.

During this inner conflict, I have learned I must heal myself, and the emotional wounds before moving forward. I learned this because I kept licking it and preventing myself from healing. Dragging out the time I needed to heal the wound that came in between my relationships. I had to do my own inner work.

Pointing fingers, placing blame or denying any responsibility in relationship problems is childish no matter how old you are… Doing the work to accept that maybe we aren’t innocent or perfect after all is entirely better for spiritual growth than forgiving others for wrongs against you.

We only know our version of the story in a relationship. It’s also the only story we have the ability to edit and change what we will except and allow in our lives. Opening our hearts to the possibility we don’t know the whole narrative is hard yet transformative.

To love someone unconditionally means that you love the hurt, wounded parts of them that lash out and bleed all over you and vice versa. The longer you share your life with them the more opportunities we have to allow this happen. So, do we say? “F it. I give up on you.” Or do we choose to say. “Well, this sucks, how do we heal it?”.

Just like an earthquake it takes a long time to recover from an emotional disaster that hits a relationship. It can take years if you aren’t willing, ready or able to take responsibly to do the work of the clean-up. This is true for our own personal growth and awareness too.

Cleaning up your own inner garden, taking care of your part of a relationship, doing the work to heal, or choosing to build a wall around your heart is up to you. You get to choose who you are going to be in this world. You can let someone else define you with their projections, or you can create and define yourself.

What I have learned from the pieces of the tumbling tower of these relationships is that it is up to me to fix it. Well, me and the other person, it takes two to have a relationship. We can wish, hope, pray all we want but if we aren’t willing to take the steps, do the work or put in emotional commitment of effort then it’s not going to happen.

You can live life in the pile of rubble, or you get up, dust off and start rebuilding to something better. Life isn’t always full of joy, sunshine and success, sometimes it hands you the gift of breaking down what no longer serves your highest good so that you can start from scratch to nurture what does.

I’ve learned to let go of the hurt and anger because it was only harming me and preventing growth that the Universe/God was intending to manifest. I also learned that letting go was easier than hanging on to patterns, behaviors, and thoughts that were not working.

So, when we watch the relationship towers fall and crumble before our eyes, along with all the work and effort that took years to build. I see now that it was God saying “Nope. Not like that. Here you go, you still have all the pieces, now try again.” Graciously giving us a chance to rebuild a life, relationships/career, that is better suited for us.

It is a blessing in disguise if we aren’t too busy dwelling on the rubble to start gathering up what is salvageable and begin again.

So here I go, allowing the artist in me to create a new way of moving forward with love in my heart. I bless this pain for it called me out, asking me to take back the responsibility of co-creating my beautiful life.

I trust this path is guided by the ultimate Creator/God and that they know exactly what they are doing. The Universe was just handing me the tools and jolt of awakening I needed to believe that I had the power to do so.

Wishing you all security, joy and unconditional love you deserve!

Blessings of health,

Emy Minzel

P.s I wavered about posting a blog that complains about life while there is so much going on with the Coronavirus. In the end, I decided to post it because I’ve realized how much time I’ve wasted being mad, fearful and just unhappy, to take so much time out of my beautiful life.

I believe this virus will have the same effect on the world as my life lesson experience has had on me. It has changed me, and my perspective going forward in how I grow myself and my relationships. I believe we will be given time look around us and see what is truly important. Look and see the blessings in front of you and enjoy them now.

I also believe this is the Universe helping us to see what is not working for greater good. It’s giving us a chance to fix broken healthcare and political systems. Giving us time to see the good in each other while work together to rebuild with the pieces in the aftermath of a pandemic.

As the world goes through this experience together, we will finally be able to see we are all connected. We will see working in unity will be the only way to survive and thrive. I believe there will be light, hope and love at the end of this life lesson given to the world.

I believe we are learning to be kind, caring and loving humans in this mass awakening.

Peace be with you.

Love, Emy