The Calm Before the Storm
Weekly Reading Topic for April 20, 2019: The Calm Before The Storm
Well, good morning, love! I just opened up a Reading for you, my newsletter readers, and asked the following question:
What do my readers most need to hear this weekend? What is the most important message to send to my beloved readers?
The topic that came was “the calm before the storm”
Ack!!
Now, before you get nervous (which I did when I first heard it) the message is NOT scary. 🙂
What follows is your Weekly Reading. Thank you for inspiring it, and I hope it serves you well.
Weekly Reading │ The Calm Before the Storm
Q: What do we need to know about the calm before the storm?
A: Firstly, take heart, dear one. This is not a message of doom and gloom. Storms come into everyone’s lives. This is not a time to fear. It’s a time to simply … prepare. After all, a storm that you anticipate is one you can meet with calm and preparedness. We can always do something to mitigate the effects of a storm if we have enough warning.
So second, let’s look at the qualities of the calm before a storm.
The calm before the storm is full of majesty, heavy with stillness, and thick with anticipation. We often miss all of this, because we are Very Busy People, but if we take a moment to listen to the natural world, we’ll see how to handle a coming storm.
Like the birds, we pad our nests with extra cushioning, and we tuck our little ones in snugger.
Like the cats, we find a dark spot deep under the bed where we feel safe. Or, if we’re more adventurous, we find a sunny spot to soak in the last rays of sun before the skies turn gray and we scoot under the covers.
Like the flowers, we shake our petals a little, to let anything loose fall off, and then close up tight against the cool.
Like the trees, we deepen our roots and drop our leaves.
Like the lake, or the ocean, we find as much rest as possible, so we’re ready for the extra muscle power required to deal with winds, and rains, and waves.
Like the night, we stay still, and quiet, and we listen for the faraway peal of thunder.
The calm before the storm is meant for us to take full advantage of the current moment, to rest in peace so we are fortified when the weather arrives.
We know you are wondering, what, exactly, is the nature of the storm that’s coming?
First, it’s not coming THIS weekend. It’s coming sometime within the next four to six weeks. And the “storm that comes” will vary for each reader of this letter.
Some of us are simply entering a very busy time, and we need to take advantage of this holiday weekend to have a little rest, a little relaxation, a little spa time, and a little enjoyment because it will be some time before we will have another opportunity to rest.
Some of us are facing an actual real-world storm, spring weather events that we might not be prepared for. I see a freakish wintery-type storm that results in snowfall for some, and flooding for others.
Some of us are facing a storm in our professional lives, a sudden squall that comes out over the horizon and hits us and our businesses, causing chaos or at least disruption.
Some of us are looking at a personal upheaval, a time when we lose someone very dear to us, through infidelity, divorce, or death.
And some of us are involved in or entwined with political events that will upset our society in deep ways.
Some of us will be in two storms at once. (Oh, you are the strong ones, aren’t you!)
Whatever your personal storm will be, it looks like the weather will last a matter of days, not weeks. The aftermath and how long THAT lasts will depend very much upon whether you have prepared.
So there is no mistake, I’m not forecasting doom and total destruction. I’m just seeing a period of instability for the next six weeks that will cause storm-like effects in all of our lives. Which part? It will vary with the person.
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I do think that we will be surprised by the storm. Almost like it comes in an area we don’t expect. I also see that we won’t necessarily regret the storm happening, in the long run.
Storms aren’t always bad, especially storms we are braced for.
Sometimes storms clear out the detritus of our lives. Sometimes storms make our priorities super-clear. Sometimes storms help us to find a better path forward, by destroying the rutted road we were using when the weather was fair.
So take this weekend and deepen your experience of rest and readiness. Take that salt bath. Take a long walk in the sun. Get some much-needed sleep. Eat well, see your loved ones, and communicate your feelings.
Keep deep breathing, enjoy your holiday THOROUGHLY, and if you don’t have a holiday this weekend, make one up for yourself. Take the time to make a little party, even if it’s just with your immediate family. Even if it’s just with yourself. It’s time to feel good, and relax because when we are relaxed, we can receive support and insight that isn’t available when we are Very Busy.
*Repeating That: When we relax, we receive more support AND more insight!*
So Take Your Time and Relax this weekend.
Then take some time this week and next to clean out your gutters. Balance your books. Deepen your roots, calm your waves, pad your nest, and take out the trash. You might also book a proactive appointment with an adviser or therapist or your doctor, so that when the storm hits you will have support if you need it.
Keep breathing deeply while you look at your life and see where you might be less-than ready. Do what you can to shore up, but don’t panic. Panic is never a good way to deal with a storm. 🙂
If you get an idea to fix something, stop something, start something, or secure something, make sure it’s in alignment with the idea of Storm Preparation. This is not necessarily the time to start a brand new project, but it is a great time to make sure that all current projects are up to date, and contingencies are at the ready should something go awry.
The calm will be here for at least a week or two, for most of us, and longer for others. So take advantage, be diligent, and like the animals, alert to changes. Every once in a while, take a deep sniff and see if you can smell the rain, or the electric tinge of lightning.
And remember, there is nothing more lively than a storm. It may feel wild and dangerous while it’s happening, but if you keep breathing deeply you may also feel moments of genuine exhilaration. When your storm comes, remind yourself that you prepared for it. Strap yourself in and let yourself feel the motion of life.
That attitude will ultimately serve you deeply, both for this storm and all the storms to come.
Have a beautiful, restful, relaxing weekend.
I am always here to serve in any way I can.
Much Love to You,
Molly
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