 For years, I’d tell Sean I was considering enrolling in another yoga training and he’d ask, “Is this the last one?” “YES! This is it!” I’d promise. But over time, he stopped asking, because we’ve both accepted that my yoga training never truly ends :-) The full scope of yoga goes far beyond a physical practice, and has influenced all aspects of my life. Yoga shapes my mornings, how I approach challenges, how I care for myself (and my dogs!), and how I connect with the world. Yoga isn’t just something I “do” — it’s how I live.  Yoga flows through even the smallest parts of my day… I begin my day by boiling water for coffee and while I wait, I scrape my tongue — an Ayurvedic practice I picked up during my third yoga teacher training. When my coffee is brewed, I add some canned coconut milk — a habit I adopted years ago during a tapas practice. As a part of a training, I gave up dairy for a week to prove (to myself) I could live without half and half in my coffee. Turns out I could, and still do! Tapas, which means “intensity” or “discipline,” stokes our fire of change through life’s challenges, big and small. With coffee in hand, I scroll through emails and social media — a habit I’ve reframed thanks to wisdom from my yoga teacher in India. “We use social media to make ourselves more available,” he told me years ago. Instead of mindless doom scrolling, I view my presence on social as making myself available to those who want to learn from or connect with me + keeping up with friends, family and students.  I bring a yogic mindset to my writing, too. No monotony or strict content calendar — I am an Aries ascendent in Vedic Astrology, and I thrive on newness! I follow my intuition when choosing topics, like I did with this newsletter. When I pause and listen, ideas tend to surface. Morning also includes listening to my body. Sometimes, I’ll do quad strengthening or scrape my knee (physical therapy — a form of yoga! — I learned for healing my knee pain), nourish myself with a simple breakfast, and gear up for my “asana” practice: Dog-sledding! Mushing dogs requires preparation, from choosing the right team dynamics to layering up for comfort on the runners. The ride itself is my flow state — balance, core strength, and full focus. By the time we’re back and the dogs are unhooked, I’m brimming with gratitude — and so are they.  Afternoons are for creative projects and off-grid chores, evenings for nourishing dinners (intuition-led, just like my writing), and winding down. I might write, inspired by something from the sled, or pull an oracle card to reflect on the day.
Meditation comes last. While I used to feel pressure to meditate in the morning, yoga taught me to release resistance and find what works. Practicing at night feels more natural. My meditation practice (which I teach in my YTT's) has absolutely changed my life. Thousands of hours of training trickle into every aspect of who I am. I’m “practicing yoga” 24/7 — without ever rolling out my mat. And that fact has made all the difference in my life. If you haven’t yet taken a 200-hour YTT, I’m looking for just a few more Beta Testers for my self-paced, 100% online teacher training. If you have time to test and complete my 200-hour training on an accelerated timeline by February 15th, you’ll receive a special discounted rate. All the training details can be found here, or you can reply to this email and I can send you the deets. Sending you all lots of love, Mollie
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 My mind loves black and white. When I used to color as a child (which was OFTEN), I was ever-aware of the lines and how I needed to stay inside them... because that’s what looked best. Prettiest. Cleanest. Over time, despite a deep love of the outdoors and getting dirty, the need to be clean was ever-present. My yogic philosophy and practices have helped me curb my inner urge for “one” or “the other” ... and assure myself again and again that I can be both.  I am this: An outdoorswoman living off-grid in the arctic. In the photo above, I’m content to sit on a boulder (many days from my last shower, mind you!) at the edge of Wiseman Creek. This was during a hike with guests at our Arctic Hive Harvest of the Heart Fall Equinox hiking + yoga retreat a few weeks ago. And I am that: A modern business-woman connected to the world. I’m interested in supporting my family, doing good, and reaching more people with our message of community, sustainability and peace (especially through yoga!). In the photo below, I’m showered, clean and “put together,” sipping a ginger ale at a marketing conference in Anchorage last week.  I’ve been remembering lately that I exist perpetually between (and beyond!) this and that.
I turned 38 on September 9th, and instead of spending my time doing what I thought most important (posting a prophetic IG post about my “word of the year,” ha!)... I got slammed with a mystery illness followed by a straggling pneumonia that I’m still healing from today. Turning 38 proved anything but “in the lines” and I’m sitting with that — alongside all the other chaos happening in the world. The word that arose on September 9th is still ringing true today… so I’m going to stick with it for my 39th lap around the sun: Simplify. We can only understand things in life if we understand them simply... whether it’s our food, our life experiences, or our dreams for the future. And when things get complicated, it’s the simple things that bring us back to earth, and remind us what’s important. I’ve got so much I want to share and do and accomplish this year. AND, I’m slowing myself down so I can keep it simple, and focus on what truly matters. Life can be simple AND full at the same time. In light, Mollie If you were around the Yoga Hive community in Montana or Alaska back in the early days, you might remember a workshop I used to host called “Be You”. The entire premise of the 4-hour experience was around cultivating self-reflection tools through the yogic lineage, with the support of Danielle Laporte’s book, The Desire Map. Danielle pioneered “goal setting” from a heart-centered approach. Instead of focusing on THINGS to add to our New Year’s resolution list, she helped us see how we can focus on how we want to FEEL on a daily basis, forming a guiding light for all we do in life. I absolutely love this work, and I’m so so honored to be a part of the launch team for the RELAUNCH of her Heart Centered Planner in 2025. This planner was a huge piece of my life and growth many years ago. Danielle took a break offering these each year, but when I got the email 2025 was a GO for the relaunch, I knew I wanted to be a part of the team. You’ll hear more from me about this planner, but if you want to check it out — and decide you’re IN: Use my code MOLLIELOVE10 for 10% off your planner! Click here to shop now! *I’m personally opting into the Daily Planner (versus the weekly). Here’s a preview of the daily pages. My goal is for this to be journal-meets-heart-centered work. I love how she also notes the Moon phases each month :-)   The meaning behind July 5th’s New Moon is so poetic. Intellectual intensity followed by pattern recognition, and the remembrance that we’re not alone in our struggles. So buckle up and let’s dive in.. 
A mini lesson on Nakshatras
In Jyotish, we understand that the Moon (which is always moving in orbit from our vantage point on Earth) moves through 27 different spaces, which are set within the 12 Zodiac signs. These 27 spaces are called the Nakshatras, and they’re potent divisions of the Zodiac that tap a deeper level than signs can access alone. Nakshatras are unique to the astrology system of India, and they’re a way to explain how one person’s experience in Gemini can look vastly different than someone else’s. Same sign, different Nakshatra. If you were to look up at the sky on July 5th (rather than looking at the fixed calendar, which is why Western Astrology sees this New Moon in Cancer), you’d see that the New Moon is actually transiting within the sign of Gemini. Side note: This is the difference between Western Astrology and Jyotish / Vedic Astrology. Two totally different systems — one is not better or worse, right or wrong. They’re just different perspectives of how we interact with the world. Within Gemini, the Moon moves through Ardra Nakshatra first, and at the exact moment of the dark moon, she’s passing through Punarvasu, the Nakshatra that follows Ardra. The transits of the Moon mean something different for every person depending on the nuances of their birth chart — but on a collective level (and the reason I’m writing this lesson), we can collectively experience her transits together through our moods and emotions because in this way, we are all connected! The waxing and waning of the Moon is a symbol for how our mind behaves in the same way. So let’s break down Ardra first. Ardra means green, or moist like a teardrop. And I love this analogy — when the tears come, vision is blurry and we can’t see clearly... but then after the tears fall and we express the energy within, all of a sudden the storm passes and the path is clear again. Ardra is ruled by the archetype of Rudra — who is the god of storms. Remember: All gods and goddesses in our tradition represent aspects WITHIN us. In yoga philosophy, we divide “infinity” into parts so we can better understand it. To say this is “worshiping false gods” is a misunderstanding (and a rabbit hole for another time). Back to Ardra... at this stage in the Zodiac, the Moon (our mind) can experience dissatisfaction with the current situation, and goes searching for answers. Ardra has an intensity to it that’s not necessarily physical, but mental in nature. So on the day of the Full Moon (July 5th), we might feel the distinct need to seek answers to something that’s bugging us. We might even feel obsessed in finding answers — despite feeling utterly confused about where to go next. The magic of Ardra comes when we look WITHIN for the answers. This doesn’t mean a complete rejection of the outer world — we’ve got to be human, after all! Rather, turning inward for direction could be as simple as taking a few deep breaths, calming your nervous system (which can go haywire at this stage in the Zodiac) and allowing the gut instinct to be heard. Then comes Punarvasu... At the time of the Moon’s complete shadow — which is a powerful time to plant seeds, or intentions for her next 30-day cycle — she moves through Punarvasu Nakshatra, which means “becoming bright again,” like re-igniting a flame. You can see how the search for answers in Ardra finds a target here in Punarvasu! Here’s the thing: There’s no final destination of complete understanding the meaning of life. If we could understand infinity right now, at all times, there’d be no “drama” involved in living life! As souls, we come here to learn, to seek, to find answers within (and without). We find our own meaning, and we continually find it over and over and over again — the spaces between our discoveries represent the seeking. In Punarvasu, the presiding archetype is Aditi. Her name literally means “undivided” because she is the mother of creation. The Rg Veda (the oldest spiritual text on earth) says “Aditi comes from Daksha, but Daksha comes from Aditi” — which is a way of approaching the chicken and the egg... the masculine and the feminine. They represent a never-ending cycle of patterns that fold into themselves, over and over and over. And remember where we left Ardra? We turned our gaze inward. We choose to access that feeling of unity and understanding from within... because we are whole, just as we are. Punarvasu represents the tug we feel to work cooperatively — within ourselves, and with the world around us. However “lonely” we feel at times, we discover over and over again that when we share our experience, we can find support to come together for a shared purpose. Our personal patterns and struggles become more manageable when we lean on resources outside of ourselves for support. Aditi is our own motherly nudge: We don’t have to struggle alone. Community — and shared experience — is everything! Sending you lots of love... Mollie Sometimes I wish I had a more “magical” answer when asked how I found kriya… one that involved an inner knowing from childhood, or a long lineage of kriya gurus in my family, or I saw my destiny in a dream. But kriya — like all the best the things in my life — found me. I was sitting at one of my yoga studios and a friend (also a studio owner) had shared with me she was going to India for advanced yoga training. I can’t quite remember if she invited me, or I invited myself... but I surprised myself by admitting: I wanted to go. Surprisingly, despite being a studio owner, teacher, and devout practitioner of (what I thought was) yoga, India hadn’t been on my radar. She’d found a school she liked near Rishikesh (the north of India), and had already paid her deposit. I glazed over the website and I remember thinking it was great because they’d be teaching mantra. I’d never had any formal training in that. I saw the word “kriya” but I had no reference point for what it meant. I moved on. I had a chat with Sean about the trip. He agreed it seemed like a positive next step for me — and I enrolled. That was that! No mind-blowing realization, astral contact with a guru, or prophetic dreams. And nothing earth-shattering leading up to the trip, or during the epic travel day(s) that took me over 48 hours to get to the school that November. In short: I had no idea what was in store for me! I settled into my room, unpacked my things for the month I’d be staying, and I remember walking down to the little cafe where other students were starting to gather during our first afternoon. I turned to a man who looked friendly enough, introduced myself (his name was Thomas) and upon hearing his unfamiliar accent, I asked him, “Where are you from?” He responded with a grin, “Planet Earth!” What in the world was I getting myself into? It didn’t take long for me to find out. The opening ceremony felt meaningful, getting to know my teachers, fellow trainees, and learning the Tara mantra as we took flowers (our intentions) down to the river and placed them in the current to watch them drift away. The next morning, I sat on my mat awaiting the start of our morning “yoga journey” — the 2-hour class we’d be taking daily, post-meditation. I can definitively say: That was the moment before my entire life changed. It was the last “before kriya” moment in my life. After that, there was only “after kriya.” By the time we drifted to breakfast in a sublime state of awareness, I wasn’t sure what had changed within me in those two hours — but I knew I’d never be the same. I’ve since studied with my teacher, Anand, two additional times in India, and various other corses and trainings online and abroad during his travels. What I love most about learning the Sattva Yoga approach was that we don’t just teach kriya-upon-kriya… we use poses, flow, music, philosophy, dancing, breathwork, shaking, meditation — you name it! Whatever feels relevant on any given day. However, even after making a sincere commitment to the path of kriya yoga, my practice started to feel rigid after a few years. I craved feminine perspective, which led me down many other roads since then. I’ve soaked up the wisdom of Jyotish, Bhagavad Gita, the Dasha Maha Vidyas, Pancha Maha Bhutas, Ayurveda and more — from women around the world. My spiritual path of Kriya Yoga hasn’t changed since that first class in India -- but my approach has evolved entirely… as it should. Today, “how I teach” is unlike anyone else in the world — because that’s the entire point of the path. We are all individuals on a journey through life, and as yoga teachers, the more we understand ourselves, the more our teaching evolves in a unique direction, too. Although a pilgrimage back to the Himalayas isn’t in the cards anytime soon, I do find myself living in what’s known as the “Himalayas of the Arctic” here in the Brooks Range. And I thank goddess every day that I have this opportunity to teach in this lineage from this absolutely incredible place.  If you’re already RYT 200 (from any school) and you want to learn how to teach kriya, and find out more about the lineage and tradition of Kriya Yoga, I’d love to have you in the Himalayan Kriya Training this August 1-4. I’ve been offering this continuing education course for six years now, and students enroll for many different reasons… if you’re feeling curious, more details are below, or you can click here. Any questions? You can always reply to this email, too.
Wherever you are, I hope you’re gearing up for an amazing weekend — if you’re in the USA, have a happy 4th of July! In light, Mollie PS - If you’ve been considering coming to Arctic Hive to take yoga teacher training, I’d love for you to read a student’s perspective on her entire experience! CLICK HERE to read Molly O’Brien’s article on the Matador Network! I had an errand that took me to Anchorage for a few days, and I decided to head to Alpine Fit — a woman-owned, Alaska-founded apparel company. As I walked in, a friendly woman approached me and introduced herself. Jamie proceeded to answer my zillion questions, grab my sizes, deliver them to my dressing room, and help me figure out the best fits for my body. After I’d settled on some bushwhack leggings and a tank top, I approached a display with trepidation. I stared longingly at the 5-panel hats. For as long as I can remember, I’ve thought of my head as TOO BIG, literally. I shared this with Jamie, explaining how challenging it is to find hats that fit properly, including the extremely trendy 5-panel hats that every company sells. She asked, “Do you mind if I measure your head? Just to see?” I obliged. She measured. And promptly told me that my head was “pretty average sized”. MY HEAD IS AVERAGE! This completely blew my own perception out of the water. I grabbed the 5-panel hat, fitted it on my head, and turned to Jamie, my expression saying, I probably look ridiculous, right? I was shocked to see her expression didn’t validate my own. “I’m not sure what you see, but I think it looks great.” My habit here would be to smile graciously — while simultaneously writing off the opinion of someone I’ve just met. But something about this conversation felt different. I heard the echo of Sean, saying the same thing to me over the years —that I don’t look as ridiculous as I feel in a 5-panel hat. In disbelief, I looked back in the mirror. I silently tried to loosen my grip on my long-standing view of my head... Was it possible that I don’t look silly? Was it possible that my head is actually just a normal-sized head? “I really want to be a 5-panel hat person,” I admitted out loud. Jamie smiled and shared that she’d felt the same way when she started wearing the style. “I think if you want to wear 5-panel hats, you just have to start,” she said. Mic drop. She was right. And I bought the hat. [Photo proof below: Hiking in a case of LaCroix to our home yesterday!] 
Every time I look at myself in the mirror with this hat on, I’m reframing my perception... one glance at a time.
Imposter syndrome is real, isn’t it? I think we all have a deeper version of my “5-panel hat” story where our own long-standing perception gets in the way of trying new things, and becoming who we want to be — and more importantly, who we’re meant to be. I can honestly say that I’d never be able to have this internal dialogue without the tools I’ve learned through years and years of studying and applying yoga philosophy. It’s so much more than making shapes and getting flexible... yoga is an entire framework for understanding myself, loving myself just as a I am, and fully standing in my power in every moment. The Online Yoga Training I developed over the last decade starts up again this week. It’s a 6-month program that’s part live on Zoom and part pre-recorded. It features the same material as SHEWild here in the arctic, minus the in-person immersion for those who can’t (or don’t want to) get away to the arctic for a week. Here’s my promise: Any training with me will have nothing to do with becoming just another fitness instructor. My courses have everything to do with discovering deeper layers of yourself, learning to love who you are, and giving yourself permission to become a brighter version of yourself — average-sized head and all :-) If you’ve ever considered taking a yoga teacher training, and promptly given yourself 27 excuses why “you’re not cut out for it,” allow me to reaffirm this the way Jamie reaffirmed it for me. If you feel that whisper from deep within, that’s all the message you need — you can totally do this. We start Thursday June 6th, and all Zoom sessions are recorded if you have to miss a few — all the details can be found here. Payment plans are available. And, if you’d rather take this same training that has a component at Arctic Hive, here are the details for SHEWild 2025. Wherever you are, I hope you’re having an amazing weekend! In light, Mollie I had an errand that took me to Anchorage for a few days, and I decided to head to Alpine Fit — a woman-owned, Alaska-founded apparel company. As I walked in, a friendly woman approached me and introduced herself. Jamie proceeded to answer my zillion questions, grab my sizes, deliver them to my dressing room, and help me figure out the best fits for my body. After I’d settled on some bushwhack leggings and a tank top, I approached a display with trepidation. I stared longingly at the 5-panel hats. For as long as I can remember, I’ve thought of my head as TOO BIG, literally. I shared this with Jamie, explaining how challenging it is to find hats that fit properly, including the extremely trendy 5-panel hats that every company sells. She asked, “Do you mind if I measure your head? Just to see?” I obliged. She measured. And promptly told me that my head was “pretty average sized”. MY HEAD IS AVERAGE! This completely blew my own perception out of the water. I grabbed the 5-panel hat, fitted it on my head, and turned to Jamie, my expression saying, I probably look ridiculous, right? I was shocked to see her expression didn’t validate my own. “I’m not sure what you see, but I think it looks great.” My habit here would be to smile graciously — while simultaneously writing off the opinion of someone I’ve just met. But something about this conversation felt different. I heard the echo of Sean, saying the same thing to me over the years —that I don’t look as ridiculous as I feel in a 5-panel hat. In disbelief, I looked back in the mirror. I silently tried to loosen my grip on my long-standing view of my head... Was it possible that I don’t look silly? Was it possible that my head is actually just a normal-sized head? “I really want to be a 5-panel hat person,” I admitted out loud. Jamie smiled and shared that she’d felt the same way when she started wearing the style. “I think if you want to wear 5-panel hats, you just have to start,” she said. Mic drop. She was right. And I bought the hat. [Photo proof below: Hiking in a case of LaCroix to our home yesterday!]  Every time I look at myself in the mirror with this hat on, I’m reframing my perception... one glance at a time.
Imposter syndrome is real, isn’t it? I think we all have a deeper version of my “5-panel hat” story where our own long-standing perception gets in the way of trying new things, and becoming who we want to be — and more importantly, who we’re meant to be. I can honestly say that I’d never be able to have this internal dialogue without the tools I’ve learned through years and years of studying and applying yoga philosophy. It’s so much more than making shapes and getting flexible... yoga is an entire framework for understanding myself, loving myself just as a I am, and fully standing in my power in every moment. The Online Yoga Training I developed over the last decade starts up again this week. It’s a 6-month program that’s part live on Zoom and part pre-recorded. It features the same material as SHEWild here in the arctic, minus the in-person immersion for those who can’t (or don’t want to) get away to the arctic for a week. Here’s my promise: Any training with me will have nothing to do with becoming just another fitness instructor. My courses have everything to do with discovering deeper layers of yourself, learning to love who you are, and giving yourself permission to become a brighter version of yourself — average-sized head and all :-) If you’ve ever considered taking a yoga teacher training, and promptly given yourself 27 excuses why “you’re not cut out for it,” allow me to reaffirm this the way Jamie reaffirmed it for me. If you feel that whisper from deep within, that’s all the message you need — you can totally do this. We start Thursday June 6th, and all Zoom sessions are recorded if you have to miss a few — all the details can be found here. Payment plans are available. And, if you’d rather take this same training that has a component at Arctic Hive, here are the details for SHEWild 2025. Wherever you are, I hope you’re having an amazing weekend! In light, Mollie Click here to read part 1 Sure, the counselor in the tie-dye T-shirt had a name. But anyone who’s ever attended Girl Scout Camp knows counselors aren’t called by their “real” names. Everyone has nicknames, or “camp names” until the last day of the session when “real” names are revealed. Her camp name was Eek. And during my final summer as an eligible camper — in between weeks spent working in the kitchen, the trading post, and cleaning toilets — I got the news I’d been waiting nearly a decade to hear: Eek would finally be my trip leader. It. Was. Happening... for the better part of three weeks, we’d be backpacking through Isle Royale. Flash forward: The trip exceeded all expectations. Earning my suspenders may have been an accomplishment... but Isle Royale felt like a rite of passage. I learned so much about leadership, outdoor stewardship, and what Eek calls “Trail Magic.”  One of her genius plans, inspired by a ranger program our first night on the island, was orchestrating a celebration for July 25th, aka: Christmoose in July. She and our co-counselor, “Karpy”, sat us down after our nightly debrief and said: “Alright — now that we’re on the island we need to embrace the culture here. The culture of the Moose. The ChristMOOSE. Tonight everyone is going to pick a ‘Secret Moose’ and over the next few days you are going to make a gift, from your heart and from nature to share on ChristMOOSE morning.” We were STOKED. And we stayed that way for the next eight days as we anticipated this upcoming holiday. We wished fellow hikers on the trail a “Happy Christmoose” at every opportunity. We worked hard on our gifts. And then our longest hike on the trail was Christmoose Eve, so by the time we arrived to the campsite, it was getting dark... but we still made time to scout the perfect Christmoose tree in our campsite. We had decorating to do… To the delight of our neighbors in camp, we sang Christmoose carols — changing the words to “moose” at every opportunity. Then on Christmoose Morning, the universe conspired to give us one of the greatest gifts; Eek woke us early to see a moose, chomping away at vegetation in the lake — a safe distance from our campsite. By the time we turned to our Christmoose tree, we realized we’d been on the “nice list” because Santa Moose had come bearing gifts, nestled under our tree! Our neighbors had come through overnight with king-size Snickers bars and a $10 bill to buy sodas at the Ranger’s Station when we looped back.  We were riding high on holiday cheer... but as the days passed, and the end of our trip drew near, our mood and motivation started to wane. Emotions start to bubble to the surface.
And then it started raining. (And if you read my Arctic Hive newsletter this past week, you now know my strained relationship with rain goes wayyyy back!) Just when we all thought our allotment of “Trail Magic” had run out, I experienced one of the most serendipitous moments in my life. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow — I saved the best part of the story for last! Hugs, Mollie It was the summer after first grade. I stepped off the bus and turned to look at my best friend, Lisa. Her eyes, like mine, had finally dried from crying. That morning, our parents had dropped us off at the bus for Girl Scout Camp, where we’d be spending four nights together, away from our families, many hours from home. I grabbed Lisa’s hand as we nervously followed the crowd of girls toward the Menominee River. We could see that the bank sloped upward from the shoreline, where rows of benches waited for us on a little hillside. All around us, camp counselors stood, singing songs, smiling, and laughing with one another. Maybe this place wouldn’t be so bad after all. Just then, someone caught my eye. One counselor in particular wore cutoff denim shorts and a tie-dye T-shirt, strumming a guitar — she seemed to be the one leading everyone in song, singing confidently. I watched her and in that moment, everything faded into the background. I knew without knowing anything: I wanted her to be my leader. In a flash, Lisa and I were swept off into a rush of meeting our counselors, finding our cabin, saying hello to our cabin-mates and learning how life would be at Girl Scout Camp. Our days were filled with swimming at the waterfront, crafts (like my very own tie-dye T-shirt!), and meals in the grand dining hall, which always ended in songs — the words to which we learned quickly. By the end of our four days, we were crying again… because we didn’t want to leave! Every summer Lisa and I returned to Chalk Hills for longer spans of time. We experienced our first cookout, our first dip in Lake Superior, first time peeing in the woods, and our first time strapping on a backpack and hiking all of our belongings to a new campsite night after night. *Photos for these stories will be a bit blurry — they’re old! Bear with me!
 One year, we did a 3-day backpacking trip... then 5 days through Picture Rocks National Lakeshore. Then 7 days in the Porcupine Mountains where a bear stormed into our campsite and ate most of our food — another story, for another time... Finally, we did 12 days hiking the Superior Hiking Trail — a milestone trip where young women earn a pair a red suspenders upon their return. During one of our first years, we witnessed a group receive their suspenders, and I remember thinking: I want to earn my own. Sure enough, Lisa and I were crying yet again (in joy!) the night received our suspenders during a ceremony in font of the entire camp.   When the camp director mentioned to our table at breakfast the next morning that they could really use extra help at camp with cleaning and other tasks, I jumped at the chance to return.
Get paid to work at my favorite place in the world? Sign. Me. Up. I’ll do anything. That summer was one for the books... six weeks of camp! It was the summer I got my suspenders, got my first real job, learned how to (actually) sweep a floor, clean a toilet AND a shower, do dishes in a commercial kitchen, prep food for the masses. The chores weren’t glorious, but I did them — happily. Because I was free. I never felt completely myself at school, growing up — I was (like so many young women) extremely self-conscious of my appearance, my grades, and my actions. I edited myself into a version I thought was likable. At camp? There was no editing. I had complete autonomy to be whoever I felt like. I could be exactly like that camp counselor I saw on the first day of camp — smiling and strumming with her tie-dye T-shirt. By this time, I’d spent eight summers waiting for her to be my trip leader, and the stars hadn’t aligned. After earning my suspenders, I resigned that it wouldn’t happen... until camp launched a new backpacking trip: 18 days backpacking Isle Royale, a National Park in the middle of Lake Superior. Of course I was IN — that meant I still had one more chance the following summer... I’ll tell you what happened tomorrow! In light, Mollie When I was back in Wisconsin for the month of October recovering from surgery, I was in my grandmother’s kitchen, chatting with her and my mom. Out of nowhere, I had a vision of a piece of jewelry that had belonged to my paternal grandmother, who had died many years ago. I could remember Grandma Em wearing a gold Egyptian pendant, and I knew instantly I needed to find it. I stopped mid-sentence and turned to Mom and asked her if she knew where it was. “Yes — I have it at home.” I boldly asked her, “Could I have it?” She blinked, surprised. “Yes.” Well, that was easy! The next day, mom found the pendant and I put it on a simple gold chain to wear close to my heart. I can’t tell you why spirit moved me to do this — but I knew it was important. And I am reminded of my connection to my grandmother, Emilene Shambeau (“Em” for short) often, as I wear this necklace nearly every day... even in the arctic! The thing is: Everything is only as sacred as you make it. And for me, pendants and trinkets that link me to my ancestors are powerful reminders of lineage that I keep close to me on a daily basis.  Below: Grandma Em (on the right) wearing her Egyptian pendant and my best friend Lisa’s grandma (“Gogo”).  Other trinkets that mean so much to me:
Sure, all these are just THINGS. But to me, they’re also tools that keep me present with the vibrations I’m trying to create in my life. And all this hits close to home for this weekend's Full Moon in Leo. If you actually looked up in the sky, you’d see her sitting in Magha Nakshatra in the sign of Leo. “Pitris” is the diety associated with Magha — which represents the fore-fathers of humanity in my yogic lineage. One of my teachers, Komilla Sutton, says, “[Magha] always has a power greater than itself to guide it at difficult times of life when the going gets tough. It needs to ask for inner advice, for only then will the Pitris oblige.” This is precisely why I adorn myself with reminders of where I come from. When I feel lost, confused or at a cross roads, I always find solace when I turn inward, and ask for a sign. ASKING is like setting an intention. To me, the answer isn’t some ghost from the past dropping in and showing me the way... it comes through me, tapping into my inner-knowing... and waiting to hear the whisper of my heart. And all those trinkets and tokens I hold close can be both immaterial and sacred in this process. They are reminders that take me IN. When I can quiet the external noise, my next step always comes clear — and I know you, too, have the same ability! Happy Full Moon, everyone. Sending love, Mollie |
MollieOriginally hailing from Wisconsin, Mollie is a cheesehead transplant to Northwest Montana, with degrees in Retail and Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Today, she lives off the grid, half the year in a Tiny House & half the year in a yurt — both of which she and her husband, Sean, built by hand. Nonprofit Executive Director by day, Mollie also owns and teaches at Yoga Hive — a chain of community yoga studios in the valley. Archives
November 2024
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