Quarantine & Chill - Finding Hope & Peace in Chaotic Times

In this unprecedented time, I know a lot of us are experiencing an uptick in anxiety, fear, worry, and even perhaps dipping into depression as the world we once knew is not our current reality any longer.

I know it feels scary. Like the rug was ripped out from under us. But this too shall pass.

How do we work on not suffering and staying grounded as it passes?

We embrace that this is a new normal *for now* and that this is our current reality.

We find acceptance.

We look for the opportunity in the midst of chaos. We keep hope alive in our hearts and spirits.

We remember our spiritual and mental health practices and tools that help keep us grounded and healthy. They are needed now more than ever. And if you’ve accessed the tools in your toolkit before, you can certainly access them now.

Of course we can view the breakdown of the stock markets, schools, government, etc as a negative. That is our first impulse. We can see where we have lost things, where our normal routine has been broken down and even smashed to bits.

But there is another side to this that is not as readily available. And it is that massive positive change can come from things being broken down and started anew.

In tarot, there is a card called the Tower Card. To give you some insight, the card looks somewhat like a burning tower with two individuals falling out of it, fear on their faces. Not the ultimate picture of peace. Lol.

Now, yes, I am the first to admit, I don’t like to receive the tower card in my pulls. It can be unnerving and sometimes even scary and I’d be lying if I said that once or twice when I’ve pulled the Tower Card I put it right back in the deck and shuffled again as if it was an accident that it flew out. lol

If anything – the Tower card means sweeping change is afoot, a change that is out of our control. Whether that be internal change in the form of a spiritual awakening or externally in the form of our recent pandemic. Where there is a tower moment, there is a clearing of the outdated & a restructuring that is happening.

Now the key here is…the tower only falls because it was never built on solid, stable ground to begin with. Think of all these systems that, while we found solace and “comfort” in knowing they were there and in place,… these systems that have never really helped the collective as a whole… at least not minorities, the poor, or disenfranchised populations… More so, it benefited the rich and the white. So if you think about it… these patriarchal and capitalist systems were never really for us. And now, they are crumbling…

At any rate.. following the “Tower Moment” is darkness, a blank canvas as you will. Renewal.

Many brilliant things come from tower moments or “rock bottoms” as they may also be called when they happen in our own personal lives. Survivors, creatives, scientists, teachers, healers, art and life itself - can all blossom out of a tower moment or rock bottom.

In fact, psychology says fundamental change can’t happen unless a person/system becomes so extremely uncomfortable or is in unbearable pain from the way things currently are that it forces them to make a shift/a change in order to not perish.

I view this epidemic as the Tower card in action. Yes – things are breaking down. And the opportunity in that breakdown is undeniable. We as a collective are going to be forming something new, something sustainable, and something uplifting for the collective. We are returning to the ways of our ancestors, community and Mother Earth. Mother Earth is currently getting a breather and cleansing herself, healing herself, from our pause and efforts to socially distance.

Now, here’s the thing – real life is nuts and this social distancing & quarantining is trying your very last nerve. Your kids may be driving you up the wall, you may be totally new to the idea of homeschooling them. I know you may be worried about your job. Maybe even lost your job. Maybe your businesses’ income has slowed (I know mine has). Maybe you have lost something from everything being shut down – graduation, celebrations, moments to shine, moments you may have been preparing for all year or longer – due to the social gathering restrictions that are common place for many states now.

You are grieving. We are all grieving. The loss of normalcy, the way things were, a healthy society and perhaps community in the way you knew it. Honor this. It is okay to honor this and recognize what is happening as a loss.

AND also, what can you gain from this time? How can you use it to support you and your wellbeing, growth and evolution? What can you gain from your kids being home from school? The chance to dive deeper into what they are learning? The opportunity to spend more quality time with them? The chance to prove to yourself that given the opportunity, you can still rise and learn how to do and teach new things? Knowledge that you can do the things you previously told yourself you "can't"?

Maybe your job wasn’t fulfilling and being let go or getting to work from home means you have cleared up space for your dream job to enter or to work on your own passions and projects that light you up. Maybe it means an, albeit, forced break for you. Had you been tired lately? Wiped out? Had no time for yourself? Well then this is the break your body and spirit was asking for. Although it leads to uncertainty on one side – it can lead to rest, rejuvenation and empowerment to go after your truest dreams and purpose on the other side.

How can you look at this time as an opportunity, instead of looking at it as a punishment? How do you focus on the gains over the potential losses?

Now I am no stranger to loss. I am no stranger to grief. And I am certainly no stranger to depression and anxiety.

And, I know from my own experience with all of them, that using my (spiritual and mental health) tools works! I know that I have the choice to use my tools in each and every moment. I know I have the choice to decide which thoughts I cling onto and which thoughts I observe and let flow through me. I know that looking for the opportunity in the situation and staying focused on gratitude (after I’ve given space to feel my feelings of fear, worry and doubt and honor them) are more beneficial for me than diving into a deep rabbit hole about all the negative ‘what ifs’ that haven’t even come to pass.

Life has an interesting way of putting us where we need to be. Of taking things away that don’t serve us if we don’t let them go freely.

I’m not saying you need struggle to be great. But each of us will have struggle in our lives regardless of or circumstances, simply because it is the human experience and the universe will give us challenges so we can develop wisdom, strength and endurance.

People…well … our people… have always overcome struggle. It is in our DNA to persevere and to survive and to be resilient. So we WILL do it. But I want our people to thrive coming out of this. Not just surviving as we have for so long.

The basis of thriving begins within your mindset. Thriving is never just based on one’s circumstances. It is the mindset itself that sets you up for ultimate success. That prepares you to see the opportunity and move forward from a place of abundance and possibility. The other choice is choosing fear and your limited beliefs that have kept you small.

I choose to see this as a time of renewal, a time of creation, a budding Renaissance if you will. A time of rest for the weary and a forced balance of the dominant masculine energy that has ruled for long enough. It is time for balance. I know you’ve been peeping the rise of the divine feminine over the last couple years… What are some elements of the divine feminine?

Creativity, Receiving, Intuition, Awareness of thoughts and feelings, Vulnerability, Sensitivity, Stillness.

It is what we are being guided to call in now and for many of us – it is extremely uncomfortable to shift into. But necessary.

It’s a paradigm shift. Ready or not, it’s here. And it calls you to ground and connect.

Shifting to a hopeful perspective of what is transpiring in the world around us will be the thing that protects us all and allows us to upgrade more easily as a collective. We get to determine where we go from here. As “woo” as it may sound. So right now, in these moments - choose love, choose kindness, choose compassion towards yourself and others. Choose to support the community around you, choose to believe you are safe and protected, choose to look at the opportunity around you. Choose to flow with the waves instead of standing up against them so that they crash into you and have you tumbling around banging your head on the ocean floor. Choose to use the skills you have to protect your mind, body and spirit. Choose to cultivate more of the practices that bring you peace, joy, and train an abundance mindset.

Lavenglow Organics is here to help support you in this massive shift that is happening right now. Find us on Instagram @lavenglow_organics where we share FREE almost daily motivation, therapy tools and wellness knowledge.

In our shop, we have products to support and protect your physical body as you do the energy work – spiritual baths by chakras, intentions, and doshas. I’m feeling the call to create a special bath around protection and healing at this time as well.

Check out the IG hashtag #lavenglowmindfulmoment to see some of the FREE mindfulness tips and activities we have shared in the past. Mindfulness is an excellent, evidenced-based tool to combat anxiety, worry, and fear.

Check out our IG hashtag #21DaysofHolidayCoping to see different tips and tangible coping skills that can aid your mental health at any time (not just for the holidays)!

We also offer various one-on-one coaching packages to help support you in your mental health and wellness journey. You work with Gabrielle Smith, MSW, former eating disorder therapist and owner of Lavenglow, to help uncover your personal limiting core beliefs that fuel the fire of your unhelpful thinking patterns, anxiety and depression. These sessions offer a deep dive into self-awareness, inner child work, body/mind/spirit healing tools, improve the quality of your thoughts and help you incorporate the change you wish to see in your life!

Finally, to my Lavenglow Family, I set the intention that you and yours are healthy, wealthy, guided and protected during these weird times. Sending you love & light and virtual internet hugs. You are not alone in this. We will get through this together and build a brighter future for us all moving forward.

Love & Light,

Gabrielle Smith