Monthly Roots: May Edition

---

Hey Reader,

It is officially May. I'm trying so hard not to sing it but...

With May comes Beltane, the peak of spring, and a time to celebrate new life, rich potential, and overall vitality. It's also a time to cast protection, clarify intentions, and lean into possibilities.

In my Phoenix Cycle of Transformation, this time of year coincides with New Growth - a time of beginning new habits and practices, a focus on discovery and experimentation, and inviting in support as you tend to the Self that is emerging in this season.

This time invites the questions of:

• Who am I today? Who am I becoming?
• What lights me up, energizes me, interests me?
• Where in my life, my community, my work, my relationships would benefit most from my attention and energy?
• What am I stepping into and trying out as I deepen into my vision and desires for my life and the world?

I was reminded today of one of my all-time favorite books, The Art of Possibility, and the key tenet of their philosophy, which is: "It's all invented."

It's a reminder that, no matter what is going on, you are always seeing it through your own perception or frame, and that there are other frames (like glasses) available to try on and contemplate.

It isn't meant in a bypassing way - it's more an exercise that invites you to unearth your unconscious assumptions, to see where you get stuck in either/or thinking, and to invite in new ways of experiencing something. This can lead to creative breakthroughs, more space for acceptance and presence, and more.

It's a great philosophy to adopt when you're in a new growth phase.

If you're anything like me, I love being good at things right away and have done a lot of work to be okay with actually being a beginner and being bad at or unable to do some things the first (or 50th) go around.

When I get frustrated because things don't go my way, or I stumble over something I feel like I should have figured out by now, or get overwhelmed by just how much I want to do or what I want to be different in the world - after acknowledging where I am, one of the best ways to come back to myself is to deliberately reach for a different perspective.

That simple reminder - it's all invented - and that there are multiple ways to view any moment, can create enough spaciousness to loosen the grip of whatever story I'm telling myself. When I can intentionally try on a different lens - even a silly or wildly optimistic one - something shifts. I get curious again instead of contracted. And curiosity is the absolute heart of new growth.

That's the invitation of this season: not getting it right, but being willing to look at it differently. To experiment, refine, try again, and to let the frame be as flexible as you are.

New growth doesn't require having it figured out. Rather, it asks you to stay in motion, stay curious, and be willing to let your perspective evolve as you do. Trying on new perspectives isn't a weakness - it helps shape worlds. Like I tell my barre students when the workout gets hard, they need a break, or need to change form - that's not a bug, it's a feature.

As you enter into the second half of spring, what frame are you viewing your life, your desires, your relationship, the world from? Is it working for you? What assumptions are you making, and what else is possible?

I'll be exploring this more in upcoming emails this month - until then, cheers to a season of new growth, stumbling around, and finding your way through 🥂

Love,
Kate

What new growth looks like for me right now:

🌱 Considering a part-time contract position with a healthcare company whose mission aligns with my professional vision - very different, and very exciting!
📩 Getting involved with voter registration and hyperlocal community governance - committed to being an active participant and citizen of this country (even when it feels hard or hopeless)
🎙️ Finally sharing my podcast with the world!!! It's happening in June. I'm screaming ~ crying ~ throwing up and also super chill about it 😆
🧘🏻‍♀️ I'm running another yoga and art retreat in September, and
🔥 I've been practicing doing less planning and more being present to what's needed in the moment. (It's so annoying to my parts that want organization and control, and so rewarding when I feel less bracing and anxiety)

An invitation:

In September, I'm hosting an in-person autumn equinox retreat and would love to have you there!

We'll gather in the heart of Minnesota next to a beautiful lake and spend our days immersed in nature, practicing yoga, making art, and traversing the portal of the equinox together - integrating what has been and making space for the season ahead. There are 6 spots left - is one of them yours?

Reading, Watching, Listening:

📚Books:

Total Count: 11 (woah same as last month!)

Definitely had better luck with books I actually remember and enjoy this month.

Top Pick:

The Ending Writes Itself Evelyn Clarke - This collab is awesome. I'm not normally a thriller reader, but when one of my fav authors (VE Schwab) collaborates on a book, I'm gonna read it. I got to see the two authors on their book tour and it is so so fun to hear writers talk about their process.

Honorable Mentions:

Arcana Academy Elise Kova - love a world with an interesting magic system - this one is based on the tarot so immediately loved it.

A Forbidden Alchemy Stacey McEwan - also interesting magic system - curious where this series is going, enjoyed the varying twists and romance elements​
​

📺 Shows + Movies:

🔪 Only Murders in the Building season 5 - finally catching up! I love it but it's *so* cringe sometimes I have to take it in small doses
💰 Secret Millionaire season 2 - The thing about me is I love a good deception reality tv show where people have to do wild stuff and lie to each other to win money. Not sure what that says about me 😆
🔥🗿🌊 Survivor Season 50 is still going strong - no spoilers, but this season has been a rollercoaster and not often in a fun way.
🪐 Maul: Shadow Lord - Star Wars animated series about one of my favorite villains? Say less 🤓

☀️🚀 Project Hail Mary - Wasn't originally going to see it, but all the Ryan Gosling memes got me 🤣. I was impressed by how they turned an absolute catastrophe into a heartwarming tale about friendship and finding your courage. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would!

🎶🎧 Listening:

Lady Gaga - Made a full on Gaga playlist for my barre classes, and have been thoroughly enjoying her whole catalog.
​The Black Witch Chronicles - continuing my listen / re-read of this series
​Crossroads of Twilight - Book 10 of Wheel of Time - my spouse and I have been listening our way through this series for years. I've read the whole thing but it's so detailed I barely remember anything.

How about you? What are you consuming? What recommendations would you send my way?

---