Persephone's Journey Is So Much Better Than Insta Fitspo

The Autumnal Equinox is magical.

I'll fight anyone who doesn't agree.

The trees that glow with their colour change.
The crispness in the air.
The beautiful skies that, even when overcast gray, are soft.

On a more mundane level, we pull out our fall clothing; sleeves, sweaters, pants, ankle boots.  I am thrilled to wear my Docs, again.
The shops all bring out their Hallowe'en decorations, and some of us use the availability to add to our home decor.

I have always loved this time of year.
For me, there's a calm that comes with the change in season. The animals prepare themselves for the coming winter, and things just feel quieter.

Every year brings its experiences and lessons, and I always find reconnection with myself in the fall. I become more introspective, and I definitely keep more to myself.

This year, fall feels different.

I'm different.

2019 has been a year of growth for me. Of healing. Of discovery.

How cliché, huh?

I genuinely believe that the last couple of months have been preparing me for something.
Whether this is real or imagined, is yet to be seen; what I can say, is that I feel as though I am sitting on a ball of untapped purpose, and I'm going to figure out how to direct that energy, soon.

I have, without question, felt a stronger pull to my spiritual path. I feel a need to connect to my craft daily, and so there are always candles lit and tarot cards on hand at home.
I am continually adding to my altar, and I'm growing more interested in exploring all sorts of witchcraft. I'm reading Anton LaVey's Satanic Bible right now. I am falling in love with Santa Muerte. There is an amazing image of Baphomet hanging in our bedroom.

This is something I am tremendously thankful for, because it has indirectly forced me to have more kindness for myself. In pursuing my craft, I am pushed towards recognizing my own power - and it feels wonderful.
The empowerment I feel makes me more confident, and that is a whole world that I never want to leave.
This shift in focus also allows me to channel a healthy amount of energy towards my fitness goals.

Healthy.

That means that I stick to my workout schedule as life permits within the boundaries I set for myself. I don't skip workouts for "no reason", but if I do miss a workout? Nobody dies, I don't reverse the progress I've made up to now, and I pick up where I left off the next day.
I do my best to stick to my macros. I am set to 1700-1900 calories/day (depending on training or not), at least 143g protein, and that's all I pay attention to. I stopped counting carbs and fats to make the caloric deficit process less of a mind fuck.
As long as I am in a caloric deficit, and I maintain my protein, I am in a state of fat loss.
And what if I blow my calories out of the water one day? Or come in low on my protein?
Nobody dies, I don't reverse the progress I've made up to now, and I pick up where I left off the next day.

See a trend?

Because, as long as I get back on the wagon the next day, it's not a fail. As long as I'm maintaining the good habits, I won't fail.
That's how it works.

In the same way that I am still a witch if I don't engage in some form of practice every single day, I am still working towards my fitness goals, even if I'm not 100% on plan, every single day.

Sometimes, I can meld my passions together:

- A really concentrated yoga practice*
- Casting an intention to stick to my fitness habits or complete a challenge or meet a goal**
- Banishing cookies from my house (only a little bit kidding)***

*I'll talk about how magical yoga can be in another post
**I'll talk about intentions and easy magic in another post
***I'll talk about manifestation and will power in another post

And so, at this point on the wheel of the year, as Persephone makes her descent into the underworld, and the Mother Goddess begins her transition to her Crone form, I hope you are also experiencing a time of transition that you can learn from.

Remember that there is a lesson in everything.

Thank you for reading my ramblings. I really appreciate it!

Until next time,
Sarah