As we gear up for our One Degree, by Dapper retreat next month, I’ve been pondering the question: What does it mean to live in rhythm? To guide your actions to the natural undulations of life?
As humanity, we are vaguely aware of the circadian rhythms, the effect of the moon on the menstrual cycle, of the passing of seasons. However, we don’t always pay attention to how these and other natural cycles affect us, nor do we abide by the wisdom of these cycles as they apply to our daily lives.
We have lost our ability to feel the subtle sway of nature.
In doing so, we have bought into the human perspective that we know best and can act as we want to achieve our goals. When we look around, this has led to a world constantly pushing and striving for the next best thing. We ignore whether it is day or night, able to keep the lights on constantly. We act without reference to the context within which we exist.
We forget or are ignorant of the effect morning light has on our bodies, the natural tendency to slow down and look inwards during sunset that leads to a good night’s sleep. We have forgotten how to rest, popping pills to alter our sleep. We have reduced holidays and times off; failed to plan time for big thinking, and stopped listening to the wisdom of the world in order to meet the demands of an invisible pressure – the siren call of ambition and continued success.
The world as we know it has become a stable 22 degrees with any fluctuation causing disruption and discomfort causing our reactionary response. We need our climate stability with constant A/C or heating, or a fan so we can keep emailing, investing, growing. The benefits of change – of circular cycles with a natural rise and a natural fall – evade us and we don’t even realise when we are fighting against our own nature.
The truth is we are nature, and perhaps the greatest thing we can do in life to improve our outcomes is to live in greater harmony with the natural cycles. If we fought less against these natural cycles, what would our energy feel like? Our motivation? Our creativity and ingenuity in the face of challenges?
When we think about living in rhythm, I encourage people to start noticing the natural world and the world around them. What aspect of nature is calling to you? Are you paying attention? When we give our awareness to nature for even a second, we recognisze that nature always builds holistically. This requires a natural slowdown or hibernation, followed by an emergence, a burst of life that leads to growth and expansion. The vitality of summer and full expression of life turns back inward, slowing down and gathering. A reaping that guides us into stillness and reflection. This is most easily seen in the flow of the seasons but can be seen at all scales of circular cycles from a single breath, to the pulse of a day, to the longer cycle of a human life.
If we were to live according to a circular cycle, life begins to flow into a steady rhythm. A quietening and pause follows the buzzing energy of expansion and growth. The pause gives space for knowledge to turn into wisdom, to guide our movements into intentional decisions. We reduce missteps and bad habits as the natural cycle allows us to reflect and identify where we are going. To heighten our awareness. The concept of burnout disappears because the natural cycle allows for downtime to rejuvenate and recover. It is in the reemergence that the benefits of circular cycles show up.
It is in the contemplation that knowledge and experience refines into wisdom. Perhaps our lives are slower, but stronger, perhaps quieter but sustained, possibly less exuberant, but more centered. Natural cycles don’t diminish the push and pull of life. There are night owls and morning larks. And each human has their own pace. But when we begin to listen, the world shows up differently in our lives.
Join us on our next micro-retreat, 20 February 2025, to learn to accept the natural shifts of the cycle so we can speed up and slow down, pause and reflect in time for the emergence of the sun.
