LEARNING HOW TO "HARVEST"

This was originally published in Substack. Check out my other articles in Living A Legacy.

Last week I facilitated a women’s circle. I suddenly got an impulse to gather amazing women and talk about “harvesting” given that the full moon was a Hunter’s Moon. I am still learning to have a relationship with celestial bodies especially with the moon and last week I was drawn to make space for it.

What is your relationship with “harvesting”?

As I read about Hunter’s moon I am in awe as to how marking events and transitions were so much part of our ancestors’ practices.

This noticing and giving space to the shifting of the seasons to take stock and prepare for the coming days are not as common in our modern-day lives. Growing up in the city, I am not used to harvesting. I knew it theoretically but didn’t have it deep in my bones as a practice. This is why I had to intentionally carve out time for harvesting to reflect on what I am reaping in different moments and transitions of my personal and professional life. 

Below are the prompts I used in the women’s circle. I am sharing it here in the hopes that you too can bring this practice of “harvesting” into your daily lives. 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES (roots)

• What are the values, beliefs, and convictions that served as an anchor/compass for the past few weeks, months, and/or years? 
• Who or what has grounded you?

RESOURCES (trunk)

• Who are the people that have contributed to what you are reaping?
• What places/spaces or practices have you benefitted from?
• How did you use your HEARTS (health, energy, attention, resources, time, and space)? 

OPPORTUNITIES (branches)

• What change in understanding or awareness did you experience?
• What knowledge or mindsets shifted?
• How did you upgrade your skills
• What has broadened or deepened your connections?
• What new projects, activities, or collaborations are you part of?

WITHERED or WEATHERED (fallen leaves)

• What or who did you let go? 
• What did you stop doing? 
• What was something or someone with a strong hold on you that became weaker?
• What has been chipped away? What has been altered?

Dear reader,

If you are going to use these prompts and are willing to share how it went, please feel free to connect and message me :)

I am curious about how this work lands for people. I know it was impactful for those who joined the women’s circle!

Thanks to Rosie Compton for her addition of “weathered” as another language to use aside from withered. 

And lastly, if you are interested in joining the women’s circle that I plan to host more regularly after the mastectomy, then reach out so I can invite you to the next one!

Hiraya manawari,

Lana