Life By Seasons

I came for the sunset today, but it is humid and cloudy. The tiniest bit of color peaks through near the horizon, but mostly it is grey. The frogs and cicadas rule the night, their chorus the proudest things as water patrol approaches and then quickly passes. One heron stays as another flies south, then southeast. Night seems to begin early today.

Some sunsets are just subtle like this. They don't announce themselves with grandiose displays and they usher in the next chapter or phase without a word - a transient moment passed without us even knowing. I hope to close and rein in my chapters more clearly, to notice every little detail and soak in all its beauty before the moment escapes me. But perhaps I have something to learn from this sunset's quietude.

Without so much to look at, a human naturally calls on their other known senses. The chorus of cicadas and frogs. The air gently moving and thick, just now beginning its cooling. Closer to me, the waves now lap and swirl, gifting the shore with moisture and pieces of foam. I want to notice other happenings like these: not just the spectacular array of the sunset itself but also the pieces of existence that accompany its moment of transition.

So as I quietly and solemnly sit in this Night That Is Still Day, what accompaniment do I notice? Undying love and support from the friends and loved ones who are here. Complex emotions that they both share with me and are learning to navigate on their own. New beginnings for and with the people who will step into the holes I am leaving here to fill. Just like the waves against the shore or the rocks and sands in the riverbed, our lives and all the lives around us continue to shift, to swirl, to reform, and change into patterns they were always meant to find their way into, if only for this fleeting moment.

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Be subtle sometimes. Feel the change, even if you can't see it, and meet it with grace and respect. The moment might be gone before you know it.

~K

"What does it take for you to feel safe?"

This is a question I've been asking myself a lot recently. With so many changes arriving in my life, I find myself taking inventory of my nervous system much more frequently. Change is hard. Even when it's positive and intentional it can still leave us stressed, worried, or hoping that the changes we're making are healthy, worthwhile, or meaningful to the story of our lives.

Because of recent health issues I've experienced and because of a lifetime of learning how to live peacefully while navigating anxiety, I have begun to ask myself (my body, really) what it means for me to feel safe. Not just BE safe -because there are few times in this season of life when I am out of safety- but to FEEL safe. Sometimes an anxious bodymind can't recognize safety even when it's entirely immersed in it, and so we turn to retraining and regulation instead.

"I am safe." A deep breath and a look around reset me to the present moment. But what does it mean? I am held in this moment. I have nowhere to go and no one else but myself to cater to. I can take my time, and the Earth will keep turning. There's no need to rush.

So what do I need to FEEL safe? A quiet place to rest. A moment by the water to gather my thoughts and to listen to nature. A sunrise or sunset to share presence with, to remind myself that life is beautiful and so am I. A Loved One, Companion, or Friend who listens to my words and reminds me through their own existence that it's okay to be emotional and slow - that these are very human ways to be.

Moments where we can be heard, truly and deeply heard. Moments that are not stolen away by Urgency or The Next Thing but that are simply witnessed and cherished for the blessing they are.
Time to feel the temperature of the air on my skin. Space to discover who I am this year and to share that in my own special way. All of these things make me feel safe, and all of these things deserve their own place.

There is Room for all the things that make you most comfortable with existing as this current version of you. Maybe you are part of what makes another person or creature feel most safe. Feel free to explore that too. The main thing is that you grow to be comfortable living and breathing inside your own skin - that you know what it takes for you to feel safe, and that you love yourself deeply enough to gift yourself the experience of feeling safety over and over again with patience, tenderness, and grace.

~K

Only 3 appointment times open between now and Monday July 27th!

James has filled his schedule for the next two weeks, and his next opening is in the first full week of August. When you see him next, he'll be a married man!

Kristen has three spaces left between now and July 27th: 1.30pm and 5.30pm this Friday, July 17th, and one 6pm on Tuesday, July 21st.

Time is of the essence! After we come back from our wedding, we have just three weeks before our move to Oregon. So if you've been wanting to see either James or Kristen for a session, now is your chance!

✨ 7 WEEKS LEFT ✨

Our official move date is August 14th and massages are discounted for a moving sale! We are very excited to take our practice to the west coast and equally sad to be leaving the quad cities area. This community has been very special to us and we want to say thank you as much as we can so come see us for your last few sessions with us!

✨ Massage Therapy
✨ Reflexology
✨ Myofascial Release
✨ Reiki
✨ Cranial Sacral
✨ Life Coaching
✨ Journal Circles
✨ Guided Meditations
✨ Tarot Circles

Unexpected openings for reflexology! Monday June 22nd has 9:30am and 11:30am spots available!

Reflexology: a complementary therapy that involves applying targeted pressure to specific points on the feet or hands with a technique that promotes blood flow circulation, relaxation, and nervous system regulation.

If you’ve never had it before, read our reviews to get a first hand (or foot) account of our clients experiences. Visit lifebyseasons.noterro.com to book your session today or message us directly.

And just like that, our schedule continues to fill! 10 weeks left to see us for sessions in the Midwest, but the next two weeks have already been booked solid. Our next available sessions are Tuesday, June 23rd.

If you want to see us before we move, now's your time to get on our books! We'd love to share some time with you 🌱

Visit Lifebyseasons.noterro.com for our service descriptions and online scheduling.

Can you believe it?! Only 10 weeks left until Life By Seasons moves! Come book your last few sessions with us before we go.

"To be seen, truly seen for who and how you are, is to be loved."

The tarot and journaling circles Kristen has been running this year aim to give exactly this type of space to be seen, to be heard, to be known, and to be loved in community. We have met many beautiful and thoughtful souls through these gathering circles, and we are so grateful for the connections they've brought and continue to bring.

Join us in July for an opportunity to see yourself as you are, in a community who celebrates and encourages you to be exactly you.

Upcoming Journal and Tarot Circle Dates
Donation-Based at Sanctuary Studios in Moline, IL

🌱 Thursday July 9th, 5.30 - 7.30pm
Tarot for the Seasons: The Fruits of Our Labor

🌱 Sunday July 12th 6.45 - 8.45pm
Reflective Journaling Circle: New Moon in Cancer

🌱 Thursday July 16th 5.30 - 7.30pm
Tarot for the Seasons: Fine-tuning of the Heart and Home During Cancer Season

🌱 Thursday July 30th 5.30 - 7.30pm
Reflective Journaling Circle: Full Moon in Aquarius

📸 Jillian Woodford