Root to Bloom

*Reflection written by Alyssa Dorchak*

As we’re entering and settling into the spring season, we’re finally starting to see buds form on trees, warmer temperatures are becoming more consistent, and all of nature’s colors coming back to life. Similar to nature, we might be finding ourselves witnessing or experiencing, for ourselves, a time of renewal, revival and awakening within us. We can see it, we can feel it — it’s the anticipation of blooming. It’s the process of growing. What is quite literally in the process of blooming are my cut flowers! This spring I decided to try something new, and grow three different kinds of cut flowers, all of which have their own unique growth process. While I’ll spare you the nitty gritty details here of what has gone into it, what I won’t gatekeep is what I’m learning from it all and the gentle reminders I’ve received on what it means to grow.

These are my “Four Lessons in Blooming”:

1. Building the Foundation, A Rich Soil -

In order for a plant to grow, it needs the right soil. Maybe it’s mixed in with some compost, a fertilizer, or something else. It’s a foundation that is rich, and nutrient-dense so that it’s root system can establish. The same applies to us. Our foundation (our soil), maybe you it see as your physical body, your beliefs, or your faith. Maybe it’s a combination of all of that and more. No matter what, our foundation is what’s at our core from which we extend and live our life from. So check in. Revisit the soil; come back to your core and your essence. Do you need to turn over the soil to simply be reminded of who it is your are? Do you need to add or remove something so that you can lean into who you truly are?

2. Water -

We know that plants need water to stay hydrated. We pour water into the base of the plant so it reaches the roots. By bringing water to the root system, helps bring nutrients from the soil to the plant, helping it grow and thrive. In the same way that you would water a plant, do you do that for yourself? Are you fully pouring into you? Do you give yourself the care and love that you need day to day so that you can also thrive?

3. Sunlight -

Stay with me here on this one! Depending on the plant/flower, each will need to be exposed to a different amount of sunlight. Being exposed to the sun’s rays, and for a certain amount of time can effect the plant in different ways. It can be beneficial by being just the right amount of light and warmth (giving enough energy so the plant to grow) or it can dehydrate it, causing blooms, leaves, etc. to die off. Its energy reserves are depleted. Think about you as the plant/flower, and the sun’s rays are the people you surround yourself with. Who do you expose yourself to? Are they adding to your life (positivity, good energy, support, vulnerability) or are they depleting you? Choose wisely as you navigate your own growth.

4. Wander to Find Wonder -

By definition wonder is a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration caused by something beautiful, new or unexpected. In the process of growing these flowers, while I’ve done some research, I’ve mainly been wandering and just trying to figure it out as I go. I’ve stumbled along the way by not having the “proper “tools and materials when I needed them (thank you Amazon Prime), I’ve had doubt creep in saying “I’m doing it all wrong, the soils too damp, too dry, the seeds won’t take.” And even through all of that, my corms and seeds have miraculously started to sprout. Plans have their place, so does stumbling, making mistakes, and trying again. It’s all a part of the process. Growth isn’t linear. It’s ebbs and flow. All parts having their purpose. Through it all we are given the gift of blooms and wonder. Only if we decide to take steps forward towards becoming AND we open our eyes to what’s in front of us.

with love, Alyssa Dorchak

PUT IT INTO MOTION

Guided by Julie Begoske, this is a gentle practice to use when you need a little extra grounding.

LISTEN TO AN EXERPT HERE

Beginning in a fetal pose on your left side, allow your eyes to fall closed and notice as the

breath rises and falls in the body.

Feel the natural coolness that the ground tends to have.

Let this coolness represent the falling away of the wintering we all experienced this past season.

As we think of the temperature finally really warming up we too will rise a little.

Exhale, place your left palm on the ground in front of you.

Inhale, as you press the ground away and rise to tabletop.

Exhale, child’s pose, let your hips settle back toward your heels, your forehead to the earth.

Let this child’s pose represent a seed and as you breathe visualize that in this seed is the life

you really want to live and the way you really want to move through this world.

Notice if any naysayers in your mind show up and kindly commit to focusing again on your

vision.

Take a full round of breath.

Contemplate how a seed needs to open from the inside out (show some vulnerability) to grow.

We’ve gotta let the light in to bloom.

Inhale, press up to tabletop, taking four rounds of cat and cow letting your breath be the guide.

Exhale, to down dog, curling the toes under, pressing the hips up and back toward where the

wall and ceiling meet.

Notice now that you are no longer in that tight seed of child’s pose and open up the possibility of

expressing a little bit of the way you really wish to move through this world.

Take a full round of breath.

Inhale to the tip toes.

Exhale, step forward and lower your hips to malasana, a deep low squat with your chest up and

open hands on heart.

Noticing again this posture feeling like a seed, full of potential but a little more open.

Inhale, press the feet firmly into the ground like a root system, slowly rising up to standing with

your arms reaching high over head, lifting up to the tip toes if you’d like.

Exhale, slowly return back to malasana with your hands in prayer.

Cycle through this malasana to standing tall four times.

On the last time through take a power pose, spreading your feet farther than hips distance apart

and the arms wide and high extending through the fingers and expressing from the heart say,

“I’m doing it, I’m blooming.”

“Healing the Mother Wound/ Womb Healing is a process of individuation, understanding our unique blueprints. This is an opportunity to step into our sovereign and empowered adult self by integrating all the beautiful parts of ourselves. This focused healing is about learning to tap into the internal messages that we carry about ourselves. We will touch on being gentle and patient with what is coming up so that we can replace our temptation to externally blame with a new level of radical acceptance. The womb is where women create life. As we begin to pour our love and energy into this place with curiosity we have more ability to tap into our feelings, and our ability to create the life we desire.
Ultimately, this one day workshop will take us on a journey of awareness, grieving, healing and creating.
I am beyond excited to share this day with you all and the other amazing and gifted practitioners walking alongside me.”

— Kelli McMullen