Last weekend I started to feel like I was fighting a cold again. My throat hurt, which is usually my first sign. I’ve been down with a bug each of the last three months, which is unusual and more than mildly frustrating.

After shaking my fist at the gods, I decided it would be more helpful to get curious about why I might be feeling run down again (aside from the obvious science of certain germs in my system).

I sat down, tuned in and asked my body what was going on. Three messages came through loud and clear:

1. More planned down time (especially after doing really big energy work)
2. See the magician (the doctor who helped me turn my health around 4 years ago)
3. No sugar (after 2+ years of being super strict, I’ve let myself have some and my body is not happy about it)

My frustration turned into a plan of action.

Still, I need to remain curious around all of it. How do I plan for down time when I’m not sure in advance what my clients will be bringing me? What kind of down time feels the most nurturing? Can I still eat my homemade granola, sweetened with a little honey?

Staying curious has helped me in other areas this week:

A woman posted a “pet peeve” in an online group that seemed like a direct judgment of my work (though I’m quite sure she wasn’t addressing it to me). My first thought was defensive but I was quickly able to shift to wondering what made her so sensitive to this topic? That curiosity diffused my need to defend my position and allowed room for our different points of view.

Someone on Facebook posted a “let’s not judge each other” rant in a very judgmental and shaming way. After hiding him from my feed and sitting with my emotions around it, I got curious. What was it about this person’s experience that made him act this way?

Then there’s the Twitter firestorm around the new @POTUS account. (Don’t hate the haters Alana. Stay curious.)

And the invitation to a meeting I don’t want to take (Why is the urge to say No so strong?)

And the feeling of sadness around a fading friendship that has haunted me for years (Why am I still hanging on?)

Staying curious helps me navigate my life, step outside of judgment and be open to surprises. It lets me drop unhelpful stories, release attachments to specific outcomes and timelines, worry less and hand it over more. It helps me to remember that I don’t have all the answers, and that’s exactly how it’s meant to be.

Will you stay curious with me this week?

I’d love to hear how it goes.

This was my very first card deck and holds a special place in my heart. There is power in animal medicine, whether you find it in a card deck or in the natural world.

When the dolphins appear in front of me on the beach, I know it’s a message to breathe, go within and find joy. A heron on my walk reminds me of stillness and focus. A squirrel staring me down has me wondering what I need to gather, or whether I’m hoarding something that I need to let go.

Today Lynx has appeared (not an animal most of us see often in our daily lives). Lynx is the knower of secrets and its message is two-fold.

Lynx asks you to listen to the wisdom under the words, to what you know to be true.

Are you keeping secrets from yourself? Have you forgotten who you really are under the weight of the world’s expectations? It’s time to tune in and listen with your heart.

Listen to others this way too. Are their words telling you one thing but their actions another? Do you have a nagging feeling that someone isn’t being completely honest with you? Perhaps your heart is telling you that you really can trust, even though your mind is wary and comes up with reasons to be afraid.

Lynx also wants you to pay attention to the secrets you keep – or don’t.

Are you holding your cards too close to your chest or are you sharing everything that crosses your mind? This card is a reminder that you don’t want to talk too much, especially if someone else has given you a secret to keep. Be worthy of another’s trust.

There is often a fine line to walk between sharing more than feels comfortable and being so secretive it builds a wall that makes connection harder. Lynx is here to remind you to walk it, with as much cat-like grace as you can muster.

If you’d like to work with Lynx medicine this week here are some suggestions:

~ Practice listening more than you speak when in conversation. When you are listening, let your mind be quiet and breathe into your heart. Stop preparing what you’re going to say next. Let there be silence if necessary while you think. And if you end up saying next to nothing, notice how it makes you feel. Let it be information about what matters to you in your relationships.

~ Find a quiet time and place to meditate. Take some deep breaths and call on the energy of Lynx. Ask it if there’s anything Lynx needs to say to you and listen as you breathe. You might see an image, hear words in your mind, have a memory float to the surface or nothing might happen at all. Just notice, without judgment. Be aware of any messages that come after your meditation too. Lynx may speak to you through the lyrics of a song, the pages of a book or the person you talk to in line at the grocery store.

~ Grab your journal or some paper and take a few moments to center yourself. Write down a question that was prompted by the Lynx messages above and then let yourself write the answer, allowing your hand to move across the page without pausing until the message feels done. You can continue to ask and answer questions or stop there.

Whatever you do, use your discernment and stay open to your own wisdom guiding you in the perfect direction for you.

Card copyrights belong to their respective authors, artists, and publishers, and are used for example purposes. I encourage you to purchase the deck(s) that speak to you and get to know them on your own.

*****

P.S. If you’d like a personal reading for this week, this moon cycle or to gain clarity on a question that’s been rattling around in your brain, you can book that right here.

P.P.S. Mantra Monday has moved to Wednesday, even though it doesn’t have the same snazzy ring to it. See you then!