This Full Moon is planted firmly in the watery womb space of Pisces, in a Nakshatra called “Uttara Bhadrapada,” which means (among many things) “higher blessings.”
This is one half of a pair of Nakshatras — Purva and Uttara Bhadrapada. Both represent a deep desire to reach the final destination of one’s spiritual quest… Purva through fire, and Uttara, through water. Whereas fire leads to the ashes of complete destruction, water has a softer way of moving through the world, carving the land over time — no rush, no dawdling. Just flow. This is the way of Uttara Bhadrapada — and this is the mood we might expect from this full moon. Notice which suggestion here resonates for you👇🏻 ▶️ If you’re tuned into your intuition and/or have a mastery of your mind, you’re able to mute anxious thoughts. Using simple affirmations or sounds, you anchor your attention and plant positive seeds in your mind, rather than letting thoughts run amok. If this is you, meditation, journaling, channeling ancestors through writing, oracle cards, and other intuitive activities might feel reeallllly good this night. Not much effort is needed to make a magical offering to this Moon — listen to your heart, and don’t question what it whispers to you. Trust. ▶️ If, however, you’ve fallen out practice with your spiritual path and the rituals that ground you recently, I believe this Moon has built-in support to get back on track. Uttara Bhadrapada has the natural support of some of the great gurus of the zodiac — Jupiter (lord of Pisces) for higher wisdom, and Saturn (lord of the Nakshatra) for hard work, diligence, and the release of resistance toward what you know you need for your own well-being. Consider doing a cleansing ritual with water to re-tune into that deep, womb wisdom — as simple as a sacred bubble bath, calm music, and intention setting. ▶️ No matter what, I recommend getting outside to see the actual Moon in the sky, too. Simply witnessing her light is medicine in and of itself. Happy Purnima (Full Moon) 🤗 *Note: My teachings are rooted in Vedic/Yogic Astrology and the actual location of the Moon in the sky.
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Other than the Sun and Moon, all the planetary bodies retrograde. Some a few times a year, others less. And if you’ve been following me, you‘ve learned that “retrograde” is an illusion from our vantage point on earth. The entire premise is that the planets appear to be moving backward in the sky — but in truth, it’s just a cosmic illusion. Just as in life, so many of our perceived “problems” are a result our fixed expectations of something— until we look at things differently. Suddenly, the situation morphs before our eyes, and problem solved.
I’ll add that planets don’t “make us do things,” here on earth - despite our culture’s willingness to sensationalize astrology. Planetary bodies in Vedic Astrology (just like characters in any tradition) represent archetypal wisdom that help us understand aspects of ourselves. All this being said, Jupiter is our giant gaseous friend in the sky and he lumbers through one sign every year. Within that sign, he also retrogrades once a year. This year, he’s retrograde in Aries… and he turns direct just in time for champagne toasts and New Year’s resolutions. It can be helpful to consider retrograde periods as an opportunity to re-trace your steps, or think outside whatever box you normally find yourself in. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, creativity, fertility (of all kinds, not just children), and beliefs. And unlike some of the other planets who have reputations for “putting us through the wringer,” Jupiter is known as the great guru and the great benefic of the Zodiac. He generally gives gifts and boons wherever he goes. An example: Fertility. If you’ve been experiencing infertility of some kind — whether children, a writer’s block of sorts, or even too much fertile soil at your disposal — Jupiter retrograde can be a good time to look at your situation with a fresh set of eyes. You may see things or learn something in a different way. Thus, you may be motivated to (in true Aries fashion) take bold action to achieve results. Another example: Faith. Our faith can be tested in so many ways. And with Jupiter’s retrograde, we can explore our faith in new ways… read a book from an inspiring new author. Attend worship at a new place. Read a new chapter in your spiritual text that gives a fresh perspective. Follow a new teacher on social media. Try a new style of yoga. Add a new ritual to your morning routine. You get the idea. Jupiter retrograde isn’t necessarily “losing faith” and “following false gods.” Rather, he can expand our existing faith in all directions. As we say, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” Through the end of the year, pay close attention to who you’re called to learn from. It might surprise you — and if the timing is right, it could be just what you need in your life. One final thought for this time is simply gaining a fresh perspective. Jupiter is the great guru of the zodiac, and we are his students. What have you personally been learning since Jupiter entered Aries at the end of April 2023? This is usually indicated where Jupiter sits in your birth chart, what Aries represents for you + which parts of your life are influenced by Sagittarius and Pisces. (All things best unlocked with an astrologer like me during a birth chart analysis! 😉) Based on that, this is your chance to retrace your steps. Perhaps what you’ve read about, you’ll get to experience IRL. Or something that didn’t quick “click” before is now in full color. Jupiter represents our capacity to learn and teach — no doubt this retrograde period will be a chance for us to expand what we think is possible for our faith, fertility and our outlook on life. Yes, it’s here — whether you knew it or not! Mercury appears to be traveling backward in the sky. And this month’s Mercury Rx cycle happens in Leo and has a lot to teach us.
If you know a bit about Jyotish, skip to the end for my take on what we can learn from this cycle. Otherwise, buckle up if you’d like to learn a few things… Firstly, I’ll just add that every one of us has a different relationship with Leo, depending on what our Ascendant (or Rising Sign) is according to Vedic Astrology. This is different than our western astrology “sun sign” that we find in the newspaper, based on solely our date of birth. For some of us, Leo points to our career, or our relationships… for others, it might point to what we inherited coming into this lifetime, or our sense of self. That is the detailed analysis you can get from a more thorough birth chart reading. On a general level, we can all understand two things…
When we put these two together, we can see the thematic medicine in this cycle — which is happening until September 15th. Three-ish times a year, Mercury appears to be moving in reverse. From our vantage point on earth, this is actually an illusion. Mercury doesn’t go backward. No planets do. Essentially, he’s moving along the inner circle of a track around the Sun, whereas Earth is running on an outer circle. We’re getting “passed” by Mercury because he’s moving fast on his smaller track. Throughout human history, cultures have viewed planets as archetypes that help contextualize life on Earth — like symbols in nature or pop culture. Little Red Riding Hood is an archetype. Madonna is an archetype. The seasons are archetypes. Mercury is an archetype for intellect and discernment. In Vedic Astrology (or Jyotish - the astrology that was nurtured in India) we associate Mercury with communication, speaking, and the intellectual side of our mind. “Thinking on it,” “Thinking out loud” and “Speaking your mind” are all Mercury-related concepts. During his retrograde, we can use Mercury’s illusion of backward motion as a mirror for what’s happening inside ourselves. Perhaps we’ve been hitting roadblocks, skipping details, or struggling to communicate. These times remind us to simply pause, call ourselves out, and get to work. For me, unexpected setbacks or roadblocks are like course corrections from the universe. Like: Here, little human. This is the path forward that you couldn’t see before. No need to be frustrated. Take my hand and I’ll show you… So we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and take a step or two in the new direction. Whether Mercury “causes” setbacks or not remains to be seen — and will likely never be known. This I know for sure: The more time we spend looking backward at “what could have been,” or saying to ourselves, “if only,” the more time we spend NOT moving forward on this new magical path we’ve been offered. Secondly, let’s examine Leo. As a sign, Leo is represented by the Lion — the king of the jungle. On one side, a king can rule benevolently. Soaking up the spotlight, and using the power of that light for the good of all concerned. On the flipside, the blind king is an archetype we see in the Bhagavad Gita — he represents unconscious living. Staying unaware of life and the lessons it offers, even though they’re right in front of us. So. For simplicity’s sake, here’s what I’m feeling for this cycle in my own life. Maybe it resonates with you, too? MERCURY’S MESSAGE IN LEO We all have power. Personal power, professional power. Power we worked for, and power we’ve been given. We have platforms. We have leadership roles. We are teachers of one thing or another. I find myself asking: Why am I choosing to act the way I do? Are the underlying motivations for booking this, or selecting that rooted in divine purpose? Or egoic tendencies? Am I leading as a benevolent king — allowing nature to sing its song through me, being my brightest self, and seeing abundance around every corner? Or am I the blind king? Sinking into scarcity and old patterns that no longer serve my highest purpose? Showing up as a version of myself that I’ve curated to please others? If I have trouble discerning between the two, I stop trying to “think it through.” Best to stop thinking all together, during Mercury Rx! I simply return to my practices for listening in, and tuning in. I journal. I sit still and meditate. I pull cards. I write and watercolor. During these moments — and only then — do the answers bubble up from within. This idea of “how am I shining” will be on my mind for the next few weeks. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Would love to hear from you! In light, Mollie 
It feels like just yesterday I was on the banks of the Ganga.
After a month of intensive training in India, I was days away from returning home in late December 2018. The experience had, quite simply, changed my life. I made a promise to myself that I’d keep up my 30-minute morning mediation practice. Easier said than done… By 2020, my 30-minute routine was becoming difficult to keep up with. The gold stars I got everyday from the Insight Timer didn’t delight me as they once did. I felt guilty, like I’d let myself down. Why did a practice that once felt so full of life, now feel so stale? This was right around the time I started studying the ancient science of light, Jyotish / Vedic Astrology. I discovered quickly that as an Aries Ascendent, it’s in my nature to crave newness, adventure, action. New beginnings aren’t a struggle — I thrive on newness. This is particularly laughable when you consider how many times I moved yoga studios around the Flathead Valley. I opened Yoga Hive Montana in 7 different spaces over six years! It all made more sense. I made more sense. I dropped the guilt and started bringing newness and spontaneity into my everyday practice. Some days I’ll pull a card or three and journal. Watercolor painting has been a fun twist I’ve added this summer — as has writing more often. Meditating outside has also been powerful — sometimes with my eyes open, and sometimes closed. Even more recently, after I sink into my mantra, I’ve been intentionally meeting my loved ones in visions. I journey back to my childhood home to visit with the version of my dad that I’ve lost to his ongoing battle with Alzheimer’s. Or just recently I journeyed to the 90s version of my grandmother’s home. I walked around, remembering everything I could, even tiny details like the feeling of the buttons on the television. I’m simply allowing newness to flow inside the stability of my everyday practice — to honor my promise to myself I made in my yoga training all those years ago. This has made all the difference. 
I was sitting on my meditation cushion, atop the coziest faux-fur rug, in the glow of candlelight surrounded by four adventurous women in our yoga hive.
We'd just set our intentions for the return of the light. We'd also decided what to let go of and put pen to paper. After tying those neatly folded squares of paper to the Yule Log, I placed it into the wood stove and we let go to the tune of Grandmother’s Song. In closing, we each tied a red thread around our wrists to remember our intentions. And since the Solstice, that red thread has quietly remained on my wrist, steadfast and sturdy. Like the thread, I, too, have been quiet and working behind the scenes putting final touches on projects that have been years in the making — all with the aim of stepping from a decade-long phase of creation into a new chapter of sustainability and space. On December 31, Sean and I spent our first night in a house that we built with our own hands — a house that we now call our own, after years of being on the move. Finally. We’ve landed. On January 1, my final yoga studio in the lower 48 — Yoga Hive Wisconsin — officially changed hands to a new, bright-eyed and extremely capable studio owner. I couldn’t be more thrilled for Melissa and the team in Waupaca. On January 4, Sean and I kicked off our 13th season of Riding On Insulin action sports camps for kids, teens and adults living with type 1 diabetes. We spent a long weekend surrounded by some of our closest friends in the community skiing and riding in Whitefish, Montana and reflecting on an exciting new phase for the nonprofit. On January 11, I taught my first in-person aerial yoga teacher training in three years — and it felt so good to be upside down and flipped inside out in the fabric. (Note to self: I might need a way to rig some aerial in the yoga hive here in the Arctic!) On January 18, I launched my monthly membership program, SHEvolve, that offers monthly yoga philosophy, kriya yoga, and community with intention for women — it’s been marinating in my heart for YEARS, and with two months under our belts and rolling enrollment available to new members, I can officially say: I’m so glad I said YES to birthing this offering. On January 25, I ushered 8 incredible women + 1 energized apprentice into the first-of-its-kind online yoga teacher training that’s a hybrid of live Zoom weekends and pre-recorded self-study. I’m so honored to work with these women and I cannot wait to continue offering yoga teacher trainings in this accessible way. On February 13, I officially moved my on-demand, self-paced 30-hour Himalayan Kriya Yoga and 30-hour Cosmic Kriya teacher trainings onto the Momence Platform — the home for all my content and courses from here forward. On February 19, Sean and I welcomed our first retreat group of 2023 to Arctic Hive — 9 women, most from the east coast, led by an energetic yoga facilitator and retreat company owner. (Thank you Mandy/Mako Retreats for the lovely photo at the start of this email!) It felt so right for Sean and I, sinking into our familiar rhythm as we offer groups have a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Alaskan Arctic. And on February 24, I kicked off the first SHEWild yoga teacher training of 2023 with one of two bookend Zoom weekends — in preparation for our week-long in-person immersion in early April at Arctic Hive. And… one more thing on the horizon: My MOM is coming to visit me in Alaska next month! (This one deserves a few extra exclamation points!!!) Life is FULL. Life feels EXPANSIVE. And although I regularly drop into bed at night and fall asleep before my head hits the pillow… I can feel a change within. Day by day, I’m actively shifting to a mindset of sustainability and spaciousness. I’m sustaining what I’ve created so that it lasts. And it feels so. good. Hope this email finds you well — and fulfilling your own intentions that you set on the Winter Solstice! In light, Mollie PS - If you want more earth-based traditions in your life, you might enjoy SHEvolve. Enrollment is always open, and each month we explore an aspect of yoga, combined with a wisdom talk, 30-min practice, and earth-based practices for the month. When you sign up, you get immediate access to all past months' content! At the start of 2021, I got an email that changed my life. In-between weekends of our Yoga Hive live-on-Zoom 200-hour yoga teacher training, a trainee sent me this email: Hi, I just have a few questions… Need the pronunciation of Sanskrit for downward facing dog. Can we discuss the patriarchal ideas that are infused into the culture and women’s roles in yoga? Also (and I’m on Day 1 of my moon cycle), I’m wondering if there are any specific poses to help with cramping. -K. I remember smiling. I love questions. They’re the bedrock of the yogic tradition. Whatever the students ask helps co-create the flavor of each training. As far as I’m concerned, if an inquiry arises, it’s something we all need to know — and I fully include myself in that. I learn so much facilitating yoga teacher trainings. Per usual, I got to work. Recording the pronunciation of adho mukha svanasana (down dog) — no problem. Regarding cramping, I had a few of my own experiences to share, plus I gathered feedback from other yogis I knew. But the patriarchy? And historical roles of women? That was a new one. As I started to flip through the 2020 version of the training manual I’d written, and the textbooks I’d assigned, I started to connect the dots on the relevance of her question... Nearly all our textbooks were written by men. What’s more: Nowhere in the 180+ page manual I’d written and revised for half a decade was menstruation mentioned once… nor were modifications for cramping or any other common byproducts of being on a cycle, through menopause, hormones, or ways to accommodating women’s’ unique bodily features (like breasts and larger hips) in a pose. Regarding historical context, I taught how vinyasa was originally created as a fusion of yoga and gymnastics for teenage boys. I covered the yogic goddesses as feminine archetypes. I mentioned the impact a woman named Indra Devi had on spreading yoga throughout the USA in the 1970s and beyond. But a specific account of women’s history in yoga or the influence of patriarchal systems was nowhere to be found… in the manual, or in my head. The feminine perspective wasn’t there, because I hadn’t been taught it. And I hadn’t known to search for it. I honestly didn’t know the answer. I addressed the topic briefly with the group, explaining what I did know: Women were restricted from accessing aspects of the yogic teachings throughout time, just as women were shunned throughout many periods in history — and still today. The juicy conversation that ensued lit a fire in me that’s been burning ever since — it has informed every book I’ve added to my personal library, the overhaul I’ve made to our beloved YTT manual, and it served as the catalyst for my decision to work nearly entirely with groups of women in future teacher trainings and many of our Arctic Hive retreats. The intersection of yoga + the history of the sacred feminine has been a constant theme since that moment because it’s exactly the direction my own practice needed to go. Through countless courses, trainings, books, immersions, classes — you name it, I’ve been on a mission to discover more about both my familial lineage as well as my soul’s lineage through yoga, how faith and spirituality intersect that, and most importantly: What all of that means through the lens as a woman. And with the exception a few close family members and girlfriends with whom I can openly share and who’ve been cheering me on, the journey has been me, my journal + pen, surrounded by a council of powerful women through their written word. Yep... just me and my books! But I’m feeling a shift again after all this time. I’m determined to make 2023 a year filled with support that goes beyond my bookshelf. Perhaps you, too, are looking for a community where you’re free to share what you’re discovering on your spiritual path? A place where saying the phrase “this might sound weird but…” is never necessary? A container of women that strives to include wisdom from MORE traditions, rather than to say “our way or the highway”? I’m honored to launch a cyclical online community for women that weaves wisdom so we can learn, practice, and evolve together. Most importantly, a structured opportunity to practice Kriya yoga on a mat, Kriya yoga during daily life, and Kriya in the loving presence of Mother Nature. Meet SHEvolve: A community of women to spark spiritual exploration, integrate through soulful sadhana, and deepen our connection to the magic of Mother Nature all around us. SHEvolve offers the space to grow on your unique spiritual journey with encouragement and education along the way. Each month, we’ll explore how to bee present with one aspect of yogic philosophy/teachings, through the lens of sacred feminine — in loving contrast to the masculine culture we live in. You'll learn during a wisdom talk, you'll experience through a kriya yoga practice, and you'll apply wisdom through a prithvi (earth)-based practice that you can take into nature wherever you are. Just as the bumblebee visits a hive to store nourishment and cultivate a family, SHEvolve sisters support one another as we hear wisdom, cultivate a daily soulful sadhana, and connect to our magic within. I’ve put all the details below if you feel the resonance with this — and I'm so excited to announce our theme during our first 9 months: We'll dive into the 9 planets of Vedic Astrology! BUT, before you scroll, I’m excited to tell you about a FREE offering with me on Zoom this Thursday, December 15 at 5pm AK time: 
SHEVOLVE // ORIGIN December 15th, 2022 A FREE women's circle + satsang + yoga practice to explore women's history in yoga LIVE on Zoom with Mollie Busby (+ recordings will be available to all) 4pm AK / 6pm MST / 7pm CST / 8pm EST Join me for this FREE offering that offers a sneak peek into SHEvolve — no strings attached. During our 90-minute Zoom call (or recording if you can’t make it live!), you'll get a first-hand test drive of what you can expect in the SHEvolve community.
You’ll learn:
You’ll receive:
Cost:
You in? I would love to be in circle with you — whether you're able to be there live, or join via recording. In light, Mollie 
It was 2020, and I was standing at the bottom of a steep hill in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness next to a massive stack of plywood. Those sheets would become Arctic Hive’s first three guest cabins… but first? They needed to travel a quarter mile, uphill. On my back. There are some things I consider, and think to myself: Yep, not doing that. A few examples:
But for some reason, I looked at that stack of plywood which needed to be hand-hauled UPHILL to the build site and thought, Well. This should be interesting. I got to work. At first, I worked on perfecting my technique so that each trip uphill would be as efficient as possible. It was helpful to see the big stack every time because knowing how much was left meant that my body knew what to expect. As the stack dwindled, I could feel my energy draining faster and faster. In an instant, I realized I needed to muster the same strength I’d been cultivating on my mat during all those hours of Kriya yoga and meditation. It literally blew my mind: Carrying plywood IS Kriya. This entire journey building Arctic Hive could be mundane task after mundane task… or, it could be one loonnnggg Kriya — which means evolutionary action. If I can do Kriya on my yoga mat, surely I can embody the same strength and stamina with these final sheets of plywood. (Below: me, carrying interior plywood later on that winter… we don’t have any photos from the original epic plywood haul!  And that’s what I did — and have been doing every day since. I’ve Kriya-ed my way through building four cabins, two domes, garden beds, a dog yard AND our new house that’s nearly complete! In that moment years ago, I realized I could practice yoga anywhere. Anytime. And that was not only “good enough,” it was more than enough. I felt deep in my bones that its the way nature intended it. (Below: Me, in the rain circa 2020, putting up cedar shakes)  With awareness, breath control, reflection and proper technique, yoga and meditation were literally EVERYWHERE. And where there was yoga, there was my spiritual connection. Yoga means “union,” and as such, the practice pulled together my material world with my spiritual world in a seamless harmony I’ve been so grateful for. No more guilt.
Whether I’m meditating on a cushion or breathing as I install a roof on our new home, my life has become the practice. And yet (can you believe there’s still more to the story?), there was one final piece missing from the puzzle that was a complete blind spot. I didn’t even see it coming until it arrived in my email inbox. That story comes tomorrow — and it’s the final chapter of this mini-series with a SUPER exciting announcement for how I want to invite you to kick off 2023. See you then, Mollie I remember the first yoga class I taught after returning from India. I was nervous — not because I wasn’t prepared to teach. On the contrary… I was more trained than ever. I was about to teach a class in a way that I knew none of my students had ever experienced before — and I had no clue how they’d react. For years, I’d been showing up as a studio owner to teach a consistent, powerful sequence of physical poses. I taught what many — in the west — consider “yoga”. But after my life-changing journey to the source of yoga in the foothills of the Himalayas, I couldn’t go back to the way I’d done it before. My new style had my same personality, but with new breathwork practices, ancient mantras, and repetitive techniques designed to re-write deep-seated subconscious programming. These practices (which we call Kriyas) had given me a direct connection to my inner wisdom and paved the way for massive healing and transformation I so deeply needed. I knew in my heart that my next step was to share. But how? I’d spent years fitting into the box of “yoga” that others expected of me. But in that split second, sitting in front of a room full of students, I recognized that familiar feeling of being different. My childhood insecurities reared up… I almost didn’t teach the class. But something inside me insisted: It’s time. So for the umpteenth time in my life, I stepped into a space of embracing that which makes me different. I taught my first public Kriya yoga class… and no surprise here: I haven’t looked back.  From yoga teacher trainings to online courses to 60-minute studio classes, yoga retreats and yoga festivals, I’m honored to have taught thousands of receptive yogis what I brought back from across the globe.  Each student has their own intimate experience with Kriya — a Sanskrit word that means simply “evolutionary action”. I sequence the Kriya techniques with dancing, whole-body shaking, and familiar yoga poses and sequences we all know and love. This is all wrapped up into what we call a yoga journey. The experience isn’t just a bodily workout… it’s a work in — allowing us to access parts of ourselves we didn’t know we had using mantra, intensive breathing, mindful repetitive motions and more. I’ve had students tell me that years of struggling to reconcile aspects of themselves came together in just one particularly powerful Kriya yoga journey.
Although the yoga I teach is undeniably different, I’ve let go of any resistance to walking this path because… well, I love it. My life has become this practice, and this practice has become my life — and I’m proud to say so. What started as a way to learn my body became a mindful meditation to meet my spirit. I finally learned what it meant to have a spiritual practice. It felt stable and supported. But… there was a catch. Once I stepped off my mat or cushion, my life “outside of yoga” building cabins, living in the wilderness, and tending a growing sled dog team felt somehow detached from that blissful yogic path. I knew something still hadn’t clicked but I couldn’t put my finger on it… until the plywood came into the picture. I’ll tell you part 3 of this story tomorrow! Until then, Mollie I’ve always done things differently — it’s baked into the fiber of my being. Over time, I’ve found delight in being able to surprise friends and family with my next move. I didn’t spend my teenage summers boating and sunbathing on the chain of lakes in my hometown, despite protests from my tight-knit group of girlfriends. You could find me leading wilderness expeditions, not showering for days, and cooking over campfires amongst mosquitoes and black bears. (Below: Me, circa 2006 leading a group hiking for 17 days on Isle Royale)  In college, when many of my friends were studying abroad, I was bound and determined for my sorority to win a competition called Humorology. Myself and a group of 30 others spent the better part of four years creating annual 20-minute musicals with original scripts, song lyrics to popular tunes, and choreography. Six teams would compete each year for the glory of 1st place… all along the way, raising money for local charities. I’ve starred in leading roles like Princess Peach, the Queen of England, and Miss Piggy.   In 2010, I told my family I was leaving my dream job as a style editor of a magazine and moving to Utah, chasing after a California guy I’d met just six months earlier. (Below: Me, emcee-ing a fashion show in Madison, Wis. in my favorite pair of 3-inch heels)  In the years that followed, I married that guy, started a nonprofit, learned to backcountry ski (which had a steep learning curve from my hometown “hills” of Wisconsin!), explored mountains on five continents, and opened four yoga studios. (Below: Sean and I on our first ski/snowboard expedition to arctic Norway in 2013)  When originally announced to my friends and family that Sean and I were going to live off the grid, I had a lot of explaining to do… namely, what precisely that meant, and how we were going to build a livable home (a yurt, and later a small cabin) with exactly zero building experience.  Years later when I decided to move to Alaska, you’d think I’d announced I was moving to the moon! Would I ever come back to visit? Was it safe? Was I sure?
Yes yes yes, I assured them. By the time everyone got used to Alaska (alongside the fact we were amassing more dogs than was socially “acceptable” anywhere but here!), I announced that Sean and I would be building a wilderness retreat destination and our home above the arctic circle, 270 miles from civilization, in a village of 12 people. The crowd went silent. My best curveball to date! And look at me now :-) My life has been filled with surprises, and I’ve been so fortunate to have the support network that I do. And while my off-the-beaten-path adventures have been posted on social media, televised to global audiences, and cataloged through my writing, blogs and newsletters, my spiritual journey over the past 7 years has been more behind the scenes — and surprisingly, I consider it one of the most rewarding adventures of my life. It was a peculiar thing, starting down a spiritual path that was undeniably different from anyone else in my life. Normally, I’d embrace this and proclaim it loud and proud. But for whatever reason, I kept my initial progress quiet. If we’re being honest, it was one of the first times I was terrified to do things differently. I’ll tell you why tomorrow. Till then, Mollie Months ago, I saw a post on Instagram that changed the course of my life. A yoga studio owner had written a down-to-earth, honest post about how she was looking for a new owner for her business. She eloquently phrased that her life was moving in a new direction and she felt the studio needed a new mother for a new era. I couldn’t believe how fearlessly she put her dreams out into the universe. Her words churned something inside me. Immediately, I fired off a DM, wishing her well and thanking her for her courage. But looking back, I doubt she had any idea the depth of inspiration she gave me. In that moment, I realized I, too, had to go public with what was in my heart. Reading her post is what prompted me to send an email to you on the Fall Equinox, announcing I was officially seeking a new owner for Yoga Hive Wisconsin.  Back in 2021, when I sold Yoga Hive Montana, I found an incredible new owner behind the scenes. Shelle and I — pictured above on the right — strategized with the YH team in Alaska a month before we told the world she would be taking the reins. This time around, it was a big deal for me to cast my net in a public way, while still continuing to operate YH Wisconsin, business as usual. Over and over in my life, I'm reminded: Courage is contagious. When we take leaps to follow our heart… our action activates others to do the same. One woman’s action serves as another woman’s permission slip. What’s more: When we establish a strong intellectual foundation and learn to follow our intuition, we become powerful beyond measure. When we step into our fullest expression, and our fullest power, we speak to the Universe with clarity. And the Universe must respond. I believe this is a law of nature. What happened next proves just how contagious courage can be! Mere hours after I sent that email, I got a text message from a woman I know. She said: OK well, this feels a little crazy… I've been asking the universe for a sign to show me the next step on my path. BAM- I get your email. This is my sign! The Universe always responds. Not always within hours (ha!) but it does respond. As long as we’re receptive to whatever’s in store for us, we’ll surely hear the call. Flash forward to the present moment… I’m honored to introduce you to Melissa Hoeft: Yoga Hive Wisconsin’s new owner, effective January 1, 2023! Not only did I have the opportunity to work with Melissa at Arctic Hive this year during SHEWild (photos below!), but what’s even more serendipitous? Melissa’s mom, Roxi, has been a regular teacher at the Wisconsin studio since we opened in 2020.   After a month of working out the details, Melissa and I have another 45 days ahead to prepare a seamless transition. I could not imagine someone better suited to continue weaving the fabric of Yoga Hive for our Wisconsin yogis.
When we witness magic, serendipity and miracles in the lives of others, we remember that they’re possible in our own lives, too. So if you’ve been holding back on taking a leap in your own life, perhaps this email is your sign? Go for it, my friend. |
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
October 2023
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