Connect the Dots with Aria

How Remembering Our Roots Beflowers our Authenticity

This week’s post is sit-down with Reema Rachel, Wellness Tech Visionary and Founder of the HIRA Collective. I love how Reema shares her story: from FaceTime-ing her grand-uncle and chatting with her grandmother about health and Yoga, through the moments of experiencing non-integrous “spiritual” practices, and eventually building the tech behind HIRA (which means diamond in Hindi). Within our roots - be it family, past, experiences, ancestry, or culture - diamonds live. We talked about some difficult stuff: cultural appropriation, feeling safe to be seen in community spaces, showing up as we think we “should” (and moving through it), authenticity and accountability within and with others. Our conversation felt aligned with the current astrological themes. Today, the Full Moon illuminates Aquarius (innovation, community, technology), and Sun rests in Leo (self, authenticity, radiance from within). What does that mean in English? To me, it opens up some space between a deep desire for community and connection, alongside a desire to rely on a strong and robust sense of Self. In my life, this space has had a history of paradox where I choose one, or the other, not both. Happily, that’s been changing!This, and more is up for evaluation and reconstruction for us all, and it is something Reema gives voice, leadership and experience to. I truly hope you enjoy this episode! HIRA a tech platform which offers a range of rigorously vetted therapists and healers, who have done the work of tending to roots and ancestries of the human collective. I’m glad it exists! Note: This is not an advert for HIRA. I have not been compensated in any way. The views expressed her are personal. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit connecthedots.substack.com [https://connecthedots.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Disposable Cups & the Descent into Underworld

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Do you find yourself in the same patterns again and again, despite your good intentions and rational thinking? I have. One of mine started with a frustrated grip of a disposable coffee cup, when I had 8 reusable cups sitting comfortably in my kitchen cabinet at home. This Leo season, we are exploring different ways to reclaim lost parts of ourselves. In this video, I share about reclaiming what we bury in our inner or underworld. Warning: This is a strange one, so stay with me here. It’s starts of with eco-guilt (repeatedly forgetting my reusable coffee cup) and the story of the Akkadian/ Sumerian Goddess Inanna’s descent into the underworld. I learned that despite my best and purest intentions, the realities that I bury within me pour out in “small” and mundane ways, everyday. I got to see inner pollution, outside of me; and eventually, the clean-up as well. Even today, I love the morning coffee-walk to my local cafe. It is a small thing, but because it once hid big inner truths underneath, I appreciate my daily reminder: “For what is inside of you is what is outside, and the one who fashions you on the outside is the one who shaped the inside of you" — The Thunder: Perfect Mind If you are this is Meggan Watterson’s (feminine theologist and author) one-minute take on Inanna and her descent through the gates of judgement. [https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19TgYy8aYd/] Looking to Dive Deeper? A 4-week program is for women who... … know that there is more to them than the roles they play in life, … sense the incredible power and wisdom in their bodies, that they were never taught to listen to, … are reclaiming peace, health, pleasure and joy in their relationships—with self, others and their world, … are committed to basking in inner brilliance—loving life through loving themselves This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit connecthedots.substack.com [https://connecthedots.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Loving the Unloved Parts

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. Today’s video kicks off the Sun-kissed Leo season. I’ve been sitting with the feeling of authenticity, rather than what I think and how present. It reminded me of a practice that an energy healer prescribed to me many years ago—the practice of reintegrating previously discarded parts of the Self. I’ve shared it towards the end of the video. The first time I did this practice, I was continually guided by the healer to “feel” it. “I AM feeling!!!!” I replied firmly! She had to guide me down from my observer mind into my body. Turns out, she was right. In my hesitation and desire to avoid facing myself, I thought about the feelings and experienced avoidance, which I was feeling. It’s a subtle shift in the body. When you actually permit yourself to feel what you’ve been avoiding. The healer knew it. I knew it too. The practice is really simple; I think that’s what makes it profound. Accepting abandoned parts of ourselves is rough, and yet, this particular Leo season seems to offer support to those of us who desire experiencing our lives more authentically, more fully and more lovingly. If you did the practice and want to share how you felt… Looking to Dive Deeper? A 4-week program is for women who... … know that there is more to them than the roles they play in life, … sense the incredible power and wisdom in their bodies, that they were never taught to listen to, … are reclaiming peace, health, pleasure and joy in their relationships—with self, others and their world, … are committed to basking in inner brilliance—loving life through loving themselves This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit connecthedots.substack.com [https://connecthedots.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Celebration before Change - Elements of Ceremony

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! _________________________________________________________________________ We are always changing — whether we want to or not. There are ways to meet changes with sweetness, gentleness and presence. In this final Cancer Season video, I explore the felt difference between routine and Ceremony, and the three main elements that make the latter a place where we can meet ourselves as we are. This week, we had the outer planet Uranus newly entering the air sign of Gemini, as well as the Full Moon in Capricorn. If Ceremony feels like medicine for you, then this is a gorgeous week to support and steady yourself, so that when the unexpected comes knocking, you have inner grace and capacity to meet it. Thanks for reading Connect the Dots! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit connecthedots.substack.com [https://connecthedots.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Intelligence of Ceremony

Thank you to everyone who tuned into this week’s live video! _________________________________________________________________________ When I first sat in Ceremony, I loved the part where the Elements and Directions were called in. Back then, in my newness, I felt like this act was profound but only related to it superficially; now there is a touch more depth and (hopefully) maturity. This week’s video explores the Intelligence of Ceremony through relationship with the elements. This intelligence is relational. It occurs from experiencing our interactions with the 4 elements, individually and as part of a living cycle of progression. The seasons and Western astrology follow the same elemental progression: Fire > Earth > Air > Water. The zodiac archetype of Cancer season is the the first (and cardinal) Water sign in the wheel. In terms of human consciousness, it initiates us into the raw experience of feeling what is present. In this video, I explore the medicine of relating to the water element during peak Summer; how it brings clarity, ease, and richness in our physical bodies of course, and also in our emotional, psychological and spiritual bodies; and how to hold ceremony to honour the Waters within and around us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit connecthedots.substack.com [https://connecthedots.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]