february intentions 2021
February 5, 2021.
Intention: I will bravely release my energy into the world.
There is a Brené Brown quote that I have been stuck on recently where she discusses unused creative energy- how it is literally not good for us to keep pressed down and stored within our bodies. I first learned about this in a podcast episode of Black Girl in Om (episode linked below) when Chetna Mehta, a mystic mixed-media artist, unpacked Brené Brown's statement on creativity, "Unused creativity is not benign, it gets metastasized as rage and sorrow and judgment and shame and it can be destructive because creativity is such powerful energy." Chetna goes on to explain, "Creativity is powerful enough to heal us, to transform culture, to change the world. When we are repressing it by not speaking or moving our bodies or expressing, we are harming ourselves to some degree. We need the release, we cannot only intake and absorb and contain."
The pressure to stay small sometimes comes from within our own self (that inner voice that whispers shame or self-consciousness or fear sometimes relentlessly) and/or from external powers/voices (oppressive social 'norms', societal standards & expectations that keep you on a narrow path, & systems that were built upon capitalism, racism, and sexism that work hard to keep a lot of people small). Ultimately, while some of these powers at be are hard to push against- it serves no one (not ourselves & not others & not our relationships) for us to play small or force parts of ourselves and our energy to stay contained.
So, in the aspects of our lives where we can push back and allow this brave release of our energy, where can we practice it and how might we apply it????
Throughout the month of February, we will lean on yoga to practice this on our mat space by letting ourselves move playfully & in new, creative ways without judgement or shame. To let ourselves intentionally take up space and allow for that release of energy into the world-- expressively, boldly, and freely-- in our physical movements so that we can then carry it with us when we step off our mats & into the rest of our lives.
This practice of bravely releasing our energy & beauty into the world (in the form of your talents, creativity, love, voice, knowledge, etc) is truly a radical act of love for your own self and for the people around you (not to be dramatic!!! I genuinely, wholeheartedly believe this.)
It is good for your soul and your body to release this energy rather than fight it or be forced to contain it- where it later would explode sideways in a potentially harmful way (circling back to that Brené Brown quote at the top).
In my own journey through this all, I try to notice where else I practice these intentions in my life.
So here's a small small small example for you:
I'll start by saying, hair is literally just hair and I while don't want to put too much power into our physical traits- I do think this tracks as a tangible example re: this intention.
As a baby, I had curly curly hair and ringlets in about every picture. And then when I hit school-age (and baby hair started to age/evolve) I had not a single clue of how to take care of curly hair (especially considering that every other person in my family, my friends, etc had entirely different hair textures- mostly straight or soft waves). And while I didn't realized it at the time (and it definitely was partially creative expression in a different way) I couldn't be caught at that time without a bandana on my head (and for many many years- it was specifically sponge bob themed aka the different creative expression...lolol).
However, in retrospect, this eventually evolved into dependency on a hair straightener when bandanas were no longer allowed in middle-school (which feels like a whole other soapbox to get on and unpack). Since then, I straightened my hair daily through all my teen years, college years, and into my young adulthood.
And then two years ago, at almost 25 years old, I finally tossed the straightener and took the time to learn how to take care of my curly hair (an enormous shout out to the many Black Womxn and Womxn of Color who led the way & created curly hair products & tutorials & are the resources of a lot of the curl care education/information out there that the 'curly community' leans on). Because of them, I finally learned to understand (mostly) and take care of this curly & big & wild piece of me that I literally spent so many years fighting against and trying to contain. And again, while hair is just hair-my point in sharing this story is to say that directing this type of TLC & intentional release of judgement/containment, and finally directing loving & accepting & permission granting energy towards ANY part of ourselves can be transformative and eventually seep into the rest of our existence if we let it (and that's the yoga y'all- the uniting moments of our life).
So, what will this look like for you????? Maybe this month you'll make more art, write/tell your stories, sing more songs, openly love on more people, offer your advice or expertise from your seat at the table (or from across the hall if there isn't a seat made for you yet)...
Whatever it might be that you finally release into the world after the big fight or forceful pressure to contain it.....just know we are ready for ya.
As always, take what serves you from this brain dump and leave what doesn't. Reach out with any thoughts/comments/questions/etc and check out the calendar to join us on the mat this month! <3
xx kelly
PS check out this month’s Spotify Playlist & the referenced Black Girl In Om Podcast episode below:
