Neurodivergent women carry a rich, deep personal experiential history plus fine sensitivity to their surrounding energetic environment.
They are conditioned to keep moving forward onto the next new thing, shiny object.
This undermines our ability to illuminate murky in between spots with intentional presence.
I teach and practice scheduled slowing down to upskill in exploring very finite sections of unknown.
So that when you find yourself in an unplanned dark place, you have access to the tools to call in light and love and learning.
So you can persist, on purpose, on your own terms, and proceding from more love and intention, less fear and avoidance.
This week’s new moon brings the Hindu Indian festival of Diwali.
The iconic image I have received of Diwali is of glowing circles/lines of light and exquisite colourful mandalas.
The popular public practice of it, in my limited experience, as organised by exPat Indians, has involved far less quiet lamp lighting and much more noisy dance party.
Bollywood classic hit “Om Shanti Om” lit up the dancefloor at a recent event while I was sitting quietly at a table making my own diya lamp with coloured paint and glitter.
There’s room for both.
Further information and Resources:
Read on – practical everyday embodiment encouragement inspired by the etymology of “Diwali”. (translated into plain English by ChatGPT from an original poem written by me)
Embodied Earth Calendar: (free PDF download) moon phases, solar seasons and global cultural events, including Diwali.
LOVE MOVES US – Experiential learning through slowing down, journaling, listening and guided intuitive dance.
Diwali, derived from the Sanskrit “dīpāvali,” meaning “row or series of lights,” offers a beautiful metaphor for life. Think of it like this: each of us is a light in a long line, contributing to a collective glow. Just as Diwali illuminates the darkest night of the year, so too do our small, everyday actions illuminate the path forward, one step, one thought, one breath at a time.
One Light at a Time: Navigating the Path to Enlightenment
Life often feels overwhelming, especially when darkness—be it uncertainty, doubt, or stress—begins to encroach. But like the first lamp lit on Diwali night, our smallest efforts can pierce through that darkness. It doesn’t take a grand gesture to make a difference; all it takes is the courage to shine in the way only you can. Whether that’s through a kind word, a curious question, or a creative pursuit, each light matters. Each action adds to the line of lights that guides not only us but also those around us.
Encouragement for the Curious Mind
Curiosity is your first lamp—your guide to understanding and expanding your world. Ask one open-ended question a day. Whether you’re pondering a new subject, exploring a hobby, or learning about a different culture, let that question illuminate a path to new insights. If we look at life as a series of discoveries, then each inquiry is like lighting another lamp in that long line, helping us to see the road ahead more clearly.
Try This: Write down one question every day that you genuinely want to know the answer to. It could be about the universe, a person, or even yourself. Then, spend a few minutes exploring it. The process of seeking answers will light up new corners of your mind.
Encouragement for the Community Heart
Our connections to others are like rows of lights stretching across the night. Relationships—whether familial, friendships, or community ties—brighten our lives when we reach out to one another. Sometimes, the light may feel distant or dim, but the simple act of connecting with someone can spark a glow that bridges the gaps between us.
Try This: Make a habit of reaching out to someone in your circle every day, even if it’s just to say, “I’m thinking of you.” This small act of care not only brightens their day but adds to your own line of lights. Community is built one light, one gesture at a time.
Encouragement for the Creative Body
Creativity is the flame that dances, flickers, and swirls—just like the lamps on Diwali night. When you engage in creative activities, you’re not only expressing yourself but also generating light that ripples outward. Whether it’s through painting, cooking, gardening, or simply doodling in a notebook, creativity energizes the spirit.
Try This: Dedicate 10 minutes daily to a creative practice. Don’t worry about the outcome; just let yourself play. It’s not about making something perfect, but about keeping your light burning brightly. Your creative spark adds its own glow to the collective line of lights.
A Daily Practice Invitation: Lighting Your Path
Each day, choose one light to focus on—a curious thought, a kind connection, or a creative act. Consider it your own small ritual of illumination, marking each day as a step in your personal journey. By doing this consistently, you lay down your own line of lights, one by one, transforming even the darkest days into pathways of possibility.
Practice: At the end of each day, jot down one small “light” that you kindled. It could be a moment of learning, a connection made, or a creative expression. These little reflections will remind you of the light you bring to the world, helping you to see your own progress.
Gentle Encouragement for Sensitive Souls
For those who feel deeply, the brightness of life can sometimes be too much. It’s okay to retreat to the comfort of the soft darkness when you need to rest. In the quiet, a new glow can emerge—a light that is uniquely yours. Remember, your light doesn’t have to be the brightest; it just has to be true to you. When you are ready, you can step back into the line of lights, bringing your gentle glow to the world.
Diwali teaches us that even the smallest light can push back the darkness. So keep lighting your path, one lamp at a time. You are one in a line of lights, part of a series that stretches back through time and reaches forward into the future.
Your light matters.
Chat GPT request: Transform the poem below into a relatable everyday embodiment encouragement blog. Use my friendly tone of voice. Open with a simple analogy between Diwali etymology and life. Include one suggestion for curious mind, one for community heart and one for creative body. Outline one daily practice invitation. Close with encouragement for sensitive readers.
Wikipedia Etymology : Diwali (English: /dɪˈwɑːliː/)[9]—also known as Dewali, Divali,[4][41] or Deepavali (IAST: dīpāvalī)—comes from the Sanskrit dīpāvali meaning ‘row or series of lights’.[23][42] The term is derived from the Sanskrit words dīpa, ‘lamp, light, lantern, candle, that which glows, shines, illuminates or knowledge’[43] and āvali, ‘a row, range, continuous line, series’.
One light in a line. A line of lights
The path of enlightenment
One light at a time
One life at a time
One idea at a time
One step at a time
And then there is a rising tide
A glow from around
Mirroring the glow from within
Smiling eyes, open hearts
Yes, it is possible. There is hope
One light in a line. A line of lights
Diwali. Darkest night of the year
The night of lights
Darkest because it is dark and getting darker
As the sun retreats, when the moon is gone
The stars come out. One at a time
Flickering. Glittering. Spreading
Over the sky. Reflected on the earth
Yes, we see you. We are here.
Made of stardust. Stars in our bones
In our breath and our blood
One light in a line. A line of lights
Almost ancient as the stars,
The line of life stretches backward
One life at a time
One light at a time
Shards of the light of beginning
Then the darkness of parts
As the stars began to glow
And grow and flow from one into another
Stardust is the elemental form of existence
Planets, oceans, algae, a sea of life
One light in a line. A line of lights
Depth and breadth.
And at the crux is you.
Here, now, figuring it out.
One breath, one idea at a time.
There’s a spark of genius whenever minds meet
A spark of love when hearts meet
A trail of stars as you move through the world
Every connection a shower of fireworks
Neural paths too. Electricity zapping
Energy flowing through the biology of brain
One light in a line. A line of lights
Tingle tangle mingle mangle
Non linear lines swirling in a nebula
Nexus. Which light next
Node to node, spark to spark
Your frequency unique signature
Elemental blend of elements
A spectrum over time
An arc a swirl a scribble across space
A deeply etched groove
The tracks you follow the most
One light in a line. A line of lights
And if light is knowledge
It’s all here for you
Sometimes there is so much light
We turn away, seeking the ease of darkness
The light behind
The shadow ahead
And every step we lay a line of lights
To mark the trail of our crossing
To another light
Out reach in the distance
One light in a line. A line of lights
Why do we leave the brightness
My eyes hurt. My head aches.
I long for the ease of the soft darkness
Resting there a while.
Light dimmed – under a bushel
Leave me alone you light bearers.
I seek not your light but mine.
It is only from the soft darkness that a new glow emerges
The light of ages. The light of stages
I am one in a line of lights.
Resources to explore further:
Embodied Earth Calendar: (free download) moon phases, solar seasons and global cultural events, including Diwali.
LOVE MOVES US – Experiential learning through slowing down, journaling, listening and guided intuitive dance.
