Dear One,
I’m delighted to be hearing of so much resonance with Descent Into Truth: A 42-Day Journey of Transformation Guided By Venus. I’m also hearing some of you are inspired to join, yet intimidated by committing to 42 days- especially during the busy holidays. If the thought of committing to a 42-day practice seems daunting to you, know that it can be approached in an easy way that takes no extra time out of your days. It can be as simple as turning the shower knob from hot to cold. :) A simple act like this for 42 days in a row can greatly shift your life in unexpected ways.
In Descent Into Truth, we work with Venus’ transformational retrograde by committing to a simple chosen daily practice for 42 days. 40+ days is the length of time required to implement change on a cellular level, and it’s no coincidence this is the length of time of Venus’ Retrograde! This is all part of a divine design to activate change for our greater good through devoted acts of self-love.
There are many ways of navigating a transformative yet simple daily practice: Meditation, cleansing/plant-based eating, yoga, cold showers/baths, early morning rising, and even drinking a daily cup of cacao are several approaches to work with for a committed daily practice that serves to awaken strengthen, clarity, and empowerment within you. (See the full details for how this journey works here.)
We are in a time of rich terrain that supports our healing journeys like never before. We are being asked to look at our reality and discern what is no longer serving, and where we can care for ourselves more. The daily practice of self-care is non-negotiable in these changing times. We are being asked to strengthen our immunity, our spiritual connection, and love for ourselves.
MY SECRET MORNING RITUAL
My daily practices are multifaceted, and my most simple yet transformative daily practice is something most people don’t know about me. My secret sacred practice is a daily cold bath- a potent ritual I love so much and yet also fear just before it’s time to make the plunge.
Cold water exposure had been a lifelong fear. For most of my life, I’d heard of the benefits of ending a hot shower with cold water. Yet, I was always fearful of the utter discomfort cold water would pour over me, no matter the benefits of it, and shuddered at the thought of doing such a thing to myself.
A couple of sweltering desert summers ago, I started dreaming of cold plunges. My energy was heat fatigued, and I was also calling in radical life change. I looked to my morning practice to see where change could take place to reflect the internal changes I was feeling. An under-utilized outdoor bathtub gave me the inspiration for beginning this new morning practice.
Upon the first pre-sunrise cold plunge, I felt the radical, exhilarating power of it. Fully immersing for less than a minute just after waking over the course of a few weeks activated my energy for the rest of the day. I quickly became a devotee of the cold plunge ritual, and began lengthening my time of immersion. Over time, I graduated from immersing from 3 minutes, to 5 minutes, and up to more than 15 minutes as it stands now.
I affectionally call my outdoor cold water bath my “Tub of Transformation.”
It’s a practice I’ve maintained every morning outdoors regardless of season and weather since I first began three years ago. During past winters, sometimes I need to break through a top layer of ice to get into the water. Right now, the desert nights are steadily in the low 30s, and it excites me knowing how powerful my morning plunge will be! In the most seemingly unbearable of circumstances, I have learned to generate my internal heat, and to come into a state of calm and peace awakened fully to the present moment.
Every morning, there is a twinge of dread as I approach the cold bath. I willingly embrace fear and immerse myself in the shock of discomfort, and without fail I always come into a state of peace and calm within moments as I relax into the medicine of cold water supported by my breath. I emerge from the icy water renewed, cellularly awakened, ready for anything and everything.
This practice has laid the foundation for next-level shadow work for me, the shock of freezing water kicking up to the surface so much from within. I consciously engage in shadow work with every mini-Underworld journey awaiting in the cold bath. It is a continuous death/rebirth cycle that I invite in daily. Cold baths have been formative for integrating my shadow and rising up into my power.
Cold water immersion offers a wealth of health benefits -including strengthened immunity- and more notable than anything else, through consistent practice I have experienced a surge in my inner strength, trust, and courage. I have witnessed significant change in my mental patterns and my ability to embrace fear. A powerful clearing of my energy occurs with every cold plunge.
After simply sitting peacefully totally immersed in freezing water with warmth in my core for over 15 minutes, I emerge feeling invincible.
This practice alone has prepared me for navigating the discomfort and challenges of this time of global change, a solid knowing anchored within me that no matter how intense or shocking external circumstances may be, I will always know how to find my peace and strength within.
Perhaps cold water immersion might set the stage for your own transformation. Or, perhaps there’s another path that best serves your expansion.
42 days of cold showers/baths is just one of several simple practices I suggest for inviting change in your life. Join me in my upcoming group journey Descent Into Truth starting December 19th to dive into the depths of your shadows through committed daily practice in a supported ceremonial container, and re-emerge with newfound strength, clarity, and power. We meet for 7 Sundays 11am-1:00pm Pacific on Zoom (or you can watch later).
A sacred opportunity to descend into your highest experience of LOVE.
I invite you to harness this Venus Retrograde energy by diving with me into the Great Below. This is a unique and powerful way to ritually work with this important transit, and to embrace the gifts and beauty that the Underworld brings.
Please reply back with your questions, and please share this invitation with anyone you feel might resonate with this rich inner journey.
I am so grateful for the honor it is to share this offering, and for those of you who have already joined. The sacred circle of Initiates is growing! I hope you will join me in this transformative, sacred descent if the journey to the Underworld is calling to your heart. May it serve to awaken the power of Love within you during the darkest days of the year.
With Love,
Angela