The art of communication is an ever evolving paradigm. As our culture shifts, so do our collective styles of communication. Letters become phone calls, which become emails, which become short exchanges of text messages. A word once thought to be derogatory gets “taken back” by a group as empowering. Many folks have learned the sterile—and sometimes passive aggressive—style of “corporate speak,” only to now eschew it for a more honest and personal approach in the workplace. The polite, western exchange of “How are you?” “I’m good!” is now a series of memes about the public facade of happiness. Memes themselves have changed how we relate and communicate ideas!
To be a good communicator, one must have a certain agility in order to navigate the diversity and evolution of contexts, relationships, and environments in which we communicate. This already sounds “heady,” but we are in the airy season of Gemini when the themes of communication and union or dissonance become a collective focus. It becomes important to name things and to explore narratives. When this energy is out of balance, we can experience a lot of empty promises, performative action, and contradictory stories.
In this continuously shifting paradigm, it’s nearly impossible to always get it “right.” It can be exhausting to keep up with terms and styles, and folks tend to be dismissive of what they don’t understand. No one wants to feel dumb and, collectively, we’ve got some deeply rooted fear of punishment for ever being wrong. But when it comes to healthy communication, to hearing others and being heard ourselves, a little humility is necessary.
—Full Moon in Sagittarius—
Thankfully tonight’s Full Moon in Sagittarius will provide some loving energy to foster communication and deepen our relationships, if you haven’t already been feeling it. A full moon in Sagittarius seeks the truth, it’s philosophical and open to new ideas. We may find ourselves feeling more open than we have of late. Full moons are the halfway point of the lunation, a time to acknowledge how far we’ve come on our goals and celebrate our wins. We’re invited to gather together, to harvest what has come to fruition. While our gardens might not be yielding much fruit as of yet, our communities are ripe for engagement. Many of us are craving nourishing interaction and a Sagittarian spirit of adventure might motivate you to step into spaces you previously watched from afar. With a harmonious trine to Mars in Leo, you could have the courage to be a little more emotionally available to others, to lead with your heart.
Venus in Cancer makes a trine with dreamy Neptune in Pisces heightening our intuition and fostering a sense of intimacy in our relationships. Romantic energy is high and we’re more drawn to beauty. This can create a level of ease in our interactions, a mutual desire for connection. Mind that you don’t get carried away by fantasy or let Venus opposite Pluto create the tension for jealousy. Mercury conjunct Uranus in Taurus offers quick and independent thinking with regards to our resources, and the ability to think quickly on our feet in a given situation.
*I am not a doctor nor registered dietician. Please consult your PCP to make sure that any changes are correct for you and your body.
—Comms in Practice—
Practicing healthy communication not only improves our personal relationships, but it can shift entire cultures and shape major events. Leading by example isn’t always enough, sometimes it takes direct and concerted effort and education to foster healthy communication. Too often we take emotionally motivated action before inquiring into and understanding our needs, nevermind communicating those needs to others. Especially in the summertime, when there’s an urgency to “enjoy it while it lasts!”, we tend to become ungrounded from the present moment. And while this speaks loudly to our over-stimulating culture and over-sympathized nervous systems, it also makes it that much more important to practice healthy communication in order to reestablish harmony in our daily exchanges.
Tips for practicing healthy communication:
Clarify your needs and understand your motivations. This means that healthy communication starts with healthy communication with ourselves. Are you aware of the emotions, needs, and energy you are bringing into an interaction? The frustration with your boss is not a reason to blow up at the grocery cashier. The customer service rep usually has a set protocol to follow when resolving issues, try not to shoot the messenger.
Limit distractions. And, oh how we love them! It may feel uncomfortable to not have a phone screen between yourself and another person, but by embracing your vulnerability in the moment, you not only strengthen this skill but it allows space for the vulnerability of the other person as well.
Repeat what you hear for clarification. When we feel heard, we are more likely to listen. So often the root of a conflict is a misunderstanding. By offering, “I heard you say ____(repeat back the words the other person used)___, did I get that right?” It gives the other person a chance to clarify, and it creates a pause in the conversation for emotional processing.
Something I learned from my 7th grade health teacher was that if you need to have a difficult (or perceived to be difficult) conversation with someone, find a quiet, safe, and familiar place and have the conversation over food. Chewing reduces the sympathetic nervous system response, disarming us and making us more receptive. And psychologically, our open mouths expose our insides. We are inviting the other person into a communion with our softer, inner selves.
In an effort to expand my own communication capabilities, this summer I am committing to learning some foundational American Sign Language. Languages fascinate me in general, but it blows my mind that ASL is not taught alongside our English classes in elementary school. There are many resources for learning including college and community center classes, meet-ups and online programs. I'm currently on a kick with Bill Vicar's free Youtube series, until I improve my confidence to attend a chat night, which I learned are hosted at some local coffee shops!
Office Hours are back for June, so if you are curious about working with Honored Body or have questions about Human Design, this is your opportunity to get those burning questions answered!
As always First name / my dear friend, I hope that this resonated with you and I am so excited to share more about what's to come.
I'm happy to answer any questions via email or DM (@honoredbody). If you want to share the Moonsletter with others, feel free to pass it along! And if you're reading this and you haven't signed up, join here!
With honor and gratitude for you,
alexandra@honoredbody.com
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** Interested in CranioSacral Therapy, but not local to PDX? Feel free to reach out with any questions you have. I love to talk about the experience and benefits, and I'm happy to help you find a provider where you live!
