I honor God by honoring my body
Witnessing the transformation of embodiment 💗
In this newsletter: notes on embodiment and a wonderful Q&A with Emily Cassel! Read on!
Hi beautiful friends,
Happy Tuesday! I hope this finds you feeling so safe in your body. Speaking of bodies, as many of you may know, I have been on quite the journey with my own body. I truly thought my body hated me most of my life and, having lived with major debilitating pain for well over 20 years, it makes sense why I believed that story.
I began believing a different story about my body thanks to plant medicine and the beautiful teachers I’ve had in my life. To be really honest though, it wasn't until the past few years that I actually started feeling in my body the truths they had shared with me: my body is a person who loves me so deeply; she is constantly sending me messages about what she needs and wants; and my job is to listen to her, to honor her.
A few days ago I was taking an online embodiment class, and I heard myself start to say, “I honor God by honoring myself, I love God by loving myself.” This feels like the truest thing I know. I believe we are all extensions of God, and in this round of earth school, I am playing the role of Ruthie in this body. As Ruthie, I have many lessons my soul wants to learn (and unlearn). I believe a huge part of my soul's journey has been becoming truly endeared to myself, my journey, and my body so that I can then mirror that love for others. Then they can become endeared to themselves, their journeys, and their beautiful bodies. WHAT AN HONOR!
If we were all made in the image of God, then it makes sense to me that the most loving thing I can do is fall in love with myself and my life. What is so beautiful is that the more I love myself, the more I am able to love others from an honest place of overflow. I am not serving from an empty well. I am not serving from a place of needing to be needed, as I have so often done in my life.
I have been slowly seeing (and I mean SLOWLY) how these embodiment practices that I am using to be in my body and really honor her are starting to change me. I am feeling more love and compassion for myself. I am honoring my need for movement, rest, play, making sounds, working, and walking in the woods. I am allowing myself to receive so much love, and my body is LOVING IT!
I am thanking my body constantly for all the ways she loves me, serves me, and takes care of me. She is constantly working to keep me alive, but for most of my life, all I could see were the physical things I hated. I would stand in front of the mirror for hours on end disgusted by what I saw. I would pick myself apart. I would starve myself or binge. I would talk shit about my body to anyone who would listen, and I would override her desires, her needs, her longings, and her pleasure.
I have so much compassion for that version of me. Those were behaviors I was conditioned to do throughout life. We are constantly getting messages about what is wrong with us and what needs to change. It’s a mind fuck, and such a disservice to our beautiful minds and bodies! To begin unlearning those stories takes practice. It takes becoming aware and conscious of the stories we are absorbing and calling bullshit. It takes learning how to attune to our senses again.
I am on a lifelong journey with this, but it is a worthwhile one. It feels like the best way I can honor my life is by honoring my body. I want to be present in my life. I want to love my life. I want to LIVE my life. I no longer want to numb my way through this existence. I no longer want to miss life because I am in my head freaking out about the future or shaming something about my past or mistakes. Do I still do these things? Absolutely! By practicing embodiment though, I am quick to recognize when I am doing it now, and I am better able to come back into my body and the present moment.
There are so many ways I practice doing this but one is becoming conscious of the words I speak. I don't want to talk shit about my body anymore, ever. When I hear myself say “my pain”, I correct myself and say, “the pain that is visiting my body…” I don't want to identify with the pain. It is not mine. I don't believe it will be here forever, so I like to say it's visiting to give me messages, and I can listen to her. It's a subtle shift but has been so important for my healing journey.
Recently I went to a new body worker for the first time in Nashville. She was amazing and so attuned to my body and her subtleties. At the end of the session, she told me that she got teary several times while working on me because she could feel the somatic work I had been doing, and she could feel the love my body and I had for each other. I started crying at those words. It felt like an affirmation that the embodiment work I have been doing is working. It is grounding me, and it is bringing me back home to myself, to a place of radical love and acceptance. I felt so profoundly grateful.
I tell you this for one big reason: if you feel hatred for yourself and your body, if you struggle with addiction, eating disorders, chronic pain, self-loathing, or anything of the like, this is not the end of your story, you beautiful human. Not even close! This is your invitation!
I have hated myself and my body on a level I can’t even describe to you. I used to pray for death day in and day out to take me out of my misery, and yet, here I am today with tears streaming down my face overwhelmed with awe for this life I get to lead.
Does that mean I don't struggle? Do I still feel sorry for myself at times? Do I forget how loved I am and feel alone? Yes, we all get to be so human here. But, I also feel more in love with myself today than I ever have in this body. I truly love my life, and I know that this is our birthright, precious soul. You were created to heal and to feel it ALL. I truly believe that the only way we can actually do that is to be in our bodies.
Our bodies are our gateways to healing. It is one of our gateways to communing with the Divine. It is our gateway to being present in our own lives.
You are so deserving of this, sweet friend. This is yours!
I am so deeply grateful for you. Sending you all of my love,
Ruthie
If this resonated with you, then you might enjoy these…
The Wisdom of Your Body, a book by Dr. Hillary McBride. This book is so profound, and Hillary is one of my favorite embodiment teachers.
Return To Rhythm by Elena Dominguez. I have been taking Elena’s online embodiment class that is so affordable and you have the videos to keep: Rhythm Class
I’ve been listening to this song on repeat in the morning while doing my morning embodiment practices. It’s so so beautiful.
Keep reading for
Upcoming workshops & offerings with me
Q&A with Emily Cassel, Business Strategist + Leadership Coach for women entrepreneurs, and the Founder & CEO of WMNûp
Join Hillary & me for our beloved workshop, The Invitation Of Pain
Once a year I have the honor of teaching a workshop with the woman who has taught me more about embodiment than any other person on this planet, Dr. Hillary McBride. We are going to be offering our Invitation Of Pain workshop this year on March 20 from 4-6 PM PT.
If you resonated with this newsletter, or if you have struggled with chronic pain and feel the hopelessness that it brings then this workshop is going to be so incredibly helpful. When we experience pain, we are instructed to medicalize our pain to make it go away. We learn to see our bodies as the enemy and forget who we are outside of the pain, but we can learn to experience and understand pain differently. We can even come to see pain as the route back to who we really are. In this way, the pain becomes the invitation back to our bodily selves–reminding us how to love ourselves more fully, teaching us that we can heal, that we were created for it. We would be so thrilled to share this evening with you!
Learn more and register to join here! →
Then starting in April, we’ll host our small group series! This intimate space is where we get to dive deep into this work among a small group of people. We host this for 4 weeks and explore ways to relate to our bodies, our emotions, our identity, and our relationships with others using writing, meditations, and evidence-based practices.
Spaces within this group are limited to ensure the depth and intimacy of the experience. They’ll be open to attendees of the big workshop on March 20 first. Stay tuned for more info!
Be seen and held in a 1-on-1 coaching container with me!
If you are interested in doing one-on-one work with me I have a few spots open for my Love Reflections coaching container. This is an opportunity to go deep into your own journey of self-love, healing, and discovery. I would love to dig in with you, you can learn more here and apply for a free discovery call →
Join me for a tea ceremony
If you are in the Nashville area and would like to do a Tea Ceremony/Oracle Reading with me, I would be honored to welcome you into my sweet home and share this beautiful, potent time with you. I also offer tea ceremonies for groups of up to 5 people. Every ceremony is a space where you are able to connect with your higher self, your body, and the Divine.
Truth With Ruth: Emily Cassel, Business Strategist + Leadership Coach for women entrepreneurs, and the Founder & CEO of WMNûp
I am so excited to share my new friend Emily with you. We met in January on a retreat where I got to speak, and I instantly felt a connection with her. A few weeks ago we had a meeting together where she was able to look at my work and how I want to grow. She offered me such profound wisdom and insights that were incredibly helpful and intuitive. I am excited to share this week's Truth With Ruth questions with her. I just love her heart and the beautiful work she is doing on the planet!
Meet Emily!
Emily Cassel is the Founder of WMNûp: a vibrant ecosystem of mission-driven change-makers, trail-blazers, multidimensional risk-takers and business-starters seeking intimacy and intentional support to cultivate long term, compounding success.
As a business strategist and leadership consultant, Emily’s work draws from her background in Positive Psychology, Sustainability, Women’s Leadership, Business + Entrepreneurship, and her uniquely impactful experience attending an all-women’s college.
Emily is the host of the podcast Like Nobody’s Business, author of two journals: the 52-week Motivational Journal and the 90-Day Goals Journal with Rockridge Press, and has been featured on Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe, With Whit with Whitney Port, and The Priestess Podcast with Julie Parker. Her work has also been featured in The Huffington Post, The Atlantic, and Skirt Charleston.
She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her fiance (Jeff), Mini Australian Shepherd (Kai), + goofy Golden Doodle (Wilson). You can find her stress-baking delicious DF + GF treats, performing a full Broadway revue in her convertible with the top down, or swimming in the ocean after soaking up sun on the beach.
Website: WMNûp
IG: @wmnup // @emilycasselofficial
Emily offers the Community Membership, a vibrant community of change-makers, trail-blazers, and visionaries, gathering in community with the mission of lifting and leveling WMNûp in business, life, and leadership. Use the code LOVE to save 15% off your annual membership! →
The Q&A
What does healing mean to you?
Coming into alignment with who we're here to become in the world, and who we've always been at the soft core of our innate self.
What is your biggest fear?
Feeling trapped or stuck in a situation where my needs are perpetually unmet. Being unfulfilled. Not milking this life for all that it's meant to be for me.
What brings you joy?
Sunshine, always! Amazing food, made with love + intention. Seeing my clients win in big and small ways. A great fiction book with a storyline that sucks you in and you can't put down. Quality time that leads to giggles and deep conversations with my soul-level sister friends. Traveling to a new place and exploring without a plan. Novelty, spontaneity, and unexpected magic.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Making the living room my stage, and performing elaborate shows, vocal performances, and plays for my grandparents (a truly captive audience! Haha!). One time it was a full Britney Spears album that I interpretive danced to the entire way through. I can't imagine what they must have been thinking at the time HAHA!
In what areas of your life could you give yourself more grace?
How much time good things take to create and build. When my mind can see the vision, it looks and seems easy and I want to take a direct path. Then I get frustrated about why it's not done yesterday. I have to check myself on this often, and practice patience, but it's always a challenge and I could definitely lend myself more grace in these moments.
What is your favorite quality in a person? What is your least favorite quality?
My favorite quality in a person is full-on aliveness -- that sparkle in the eye, joie de vivre, pure authenticity. My least favorite quality is flakiness or a lack of integrity -- which I guess is sort of the same thing :)
What is your current state of mind?
Visionary innovation. I've been building my brand + community around WMNup, and I'm really immersed in creating something unlike anything else I've ever seen, closing gaps that exist for women entrepreneurs + leaders in the world, developing a visually distinct brand and brand experience, and collaborating often.
When and where are you most peaceful?
By myself, on a beach listening to waves crash, drinking something fresh + delicious, with either a journal and pen in hand or a great book I can put down... with no one interrupting me. HA!
Which talent would you most like to have?
Recently, I wish I could build things. Like renovate my own house, build my own tea hut or fire pit area in my backyard. I was never interested in this earlier in my life, but now I'm like WOW -- what a valuable thing to be able to understand and envision and DO for yourself and those you live with!
What is something you are proud of in yourself?
Starting my business + trusting in myself at 22. I wrote a blog post about it and considered it an official "retirement" from any semblance of a normal job. 9 years later, and I'm still going strong. I'm so proud of that. So many people have so many reasons to give up on their vision, to quit just before they experience a breakthrough, and to think entrepreneurship is just too much for them. It's definitely NOT easy or convenient -- but it is fulfilling, and that's more worth it to me than anything else.
A song you will never get sick of
Somewhere Over The Rainbow. I listened to it non-stop (and watched the Wizard of Oz, and dressed up like Dorothy, non-stop) until I was in maybe first grade. It was, and still is, a part of my identity.
What do you think is (or is one of) your greatest accomplishment(s)?
I like to think my greatest accomplishment is yet to be :) I feel like I'm just getting started in so many ways!
Favorite quote or poem?
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” - Maya Angelou
Do you have a morning routine? If so, tell us about it!
Most days, I try to wake up without an alarm if possible, then make breakfast, take my supplements, pour my coffee, and try to get out of the house ASAP to walk my dog and get some fresh air and sunshine. As someone who works from home, I try my best to give myself some movement, wisdom, and connection with nature every morning -- but I like to switch up walking locations and add in novelty from time to time. Sometimes I'll do a tea ceremony for myself, but I like to take my time and be spacious with it -- and that's not always feasible in my mornings without sacrificing sleep. And my first priority is feeling well-rested :)
What does your perfect day look like?
My perfect day would include all of my favorite closest humans, no real plan other than to connect and play together, somewhere beachy & beautiful, and knowing that we will eat AMAZING food at certain points of the day, and the freedom to do whatever the hell we feel like :) Probably a beach walk, ocean swim, and bonfire would be included. (Did I just plan my birthday party? LOL)
What is the compliment you get the most? What do you wish you were complimented on?
The compliment I get the most is usually about my clothes or accessories, which I'm proud of and flattered by! I spend a lot of time and intention curating my personal style to feel like an outer expression of my inner reality, and try to shop in alignment with my values, supporting local and women-owned businesses and brands. I wish I was complimented more on how safe and amazing I make other people feel in my presence. I don't NOT get complimented about that now, but I'd love to hear it more :)
If you could give one piece of advice about life, healing, self-love, living your truth, or the like, what would it be?
You are worth the investment. Get into a supportive community of women moving in a similar direction. Never stop learning, growing, or questioning. Be insatiably curious.