Creating your protocol
Let’s talk about creating a protocol for our next season?
Poet Mary Oliver had hers, each morning taking long walks in nature with her notebook in hand. No phone. Just her dog, notebook and her senses. All working in beautiful tandem to allow her to create what we love, the world of Mary Oliver. And she did indeed catalyse an entire world through her interviews, volumes of poetry, helpful manuals on the craft of writing and published essays on living.
Her ritual was the morning walk. I believe that rituals come after habits, we create a good habit and elevate it by infusing it with intentionality and beauty. When we give it meaning, we infuse it with a quality that makes it irresistible. I defy you not to sit and write, when the candle is lit and the coffee is hot.
Hilma af Klint, one of my favourite artists, in her late thirties decided to carry a paper and pencil with her at all times (often containing secret codes, how I love that!) At one point in her career, she voluntarily underwent a period of purification. ‘For approximately 10 months, af Klint prepared herself for what she saw as her calling - she adopted a vegetarian diet and honed her focus and self-discipline….By the spring of 1908 she had completed the first 111 works’. Page 21, Hilma af Klint, Paintings for the Future.
Af Klint had put in place a set of protocols, to get herself in the space to listen to and create alongside her spiritual guides. There’s so much more to discuss here, but that’s for another day. I do encourage you to see her works, they are otherworldly.
My Nutritionist and Naturopath Sheena O’Beirne has protocols for her clients, one of which is me. She gifted me a whole new education on what to eat and enjoy in this season of my life, mid to late 50’s. I LOVE to think of these as protocols, it gifts me a structure and sense of organisation to look at it this way. And yes life is to be enjoyed of course, but her protocols for living are my personal testament to her work alive in the world. I have never in my life felt better than I do right at this point.
Many ladies create personal protocols for living, an established set of rules, or steps. As you are here, you are most likely interested in intentional living, or creating meaning and purpose in your life and protocols can be a wonderful foundation to create that.
What are the protocols you need to bloom in this next season of your life? Your One Precious Life*
How can you make them feel like a recipe for living?
Evening walks; a real feel good activity.
Sipping water; true body and mind hydration.
Reading more; medicine for your eyes and heart.
Buying vintage; giving your style a little wink of extra sparkle.
Our next season is here, how will you fashion yourself a fresh protocol for living a life that feels uplifted and elevated?
*A Summer Day by Mary Oliver
