If there was ever a time to gather in community, that time is now.

Throughout the globe, our pre-Gregorian calendar ancestors used the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, to mark the timing of their harvest cycles and to gather in ceremony and celebration.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting a wise and radiant elder who told me that, in her youth in northern India, they would have gatherings with a great number of brass Himalayan signing bowls and that these sound meditations would last for hours. This was a beautiful reminder that sound medicine is nothing new, although it’s now gaining a broader audience in western wellness practices.

Over the month of March, I trained the entire staff of an NYC public elementary school on mindfulness—it’s benefits, impact on the brain and body, and ways to incorporate simple—yet massively impactful—practices into your day. My intention was to sow and nurture the seeds of mindfulness throughout the school community.

I’ve always been fascinated by symbols, patterns, and interpretation. I remember as a kid buying a book about how to read Egyptian hieroglyphics. It was too complicated for me, but I did eventually learn how to read, write, and speak Mandarin Chinese, which contains a deep and delightful wealth of beauty and wisdom in its linguistic patterning and symbology.

Would it be heretical to say that my autoimmune diagnosis was one of my greatest teachers?

The people closest to me know that I’m a voracious learner—constantly reading, listening, observing, and studying—both formally and informally. Inspired by my rich cultural heritage, for the last 25 years or so I’ve been drawn to learning about diverse spiritual traditions of Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

This time of year feels so ripe for leaning in to ancestral sagacity. Even if you’ve never met a single one of your ancestors, their wisdom is available to you for guidance.

Autumn is a prime time to allow the things that you’ve outgrown to gently fall away.

Take up space. Recharge. Keep going.

For the past few weeks, we’ve been slowly shedding many belongings in preparation for a Sagittarian nomadic summer before resettling in NYC this fall.

For the past several months I’ve had the privilege to go deep into the study of sound therapy and bodywork.

We are navigating intense times.

How do you connect with your authentic self?

Are you making time for rest?

Happy Winter Solstice! The longest evening of the year is a wonderful time to reflect on all the growth you’ve undergone throughout this circle around the sun.