Holding both — the gentle and the heavy
With the recent Libra full moon, I found myself reflecting on balance — within myself, and in my relationships with others.
A full moon can often illuminate what has been quietly building beneath the surface. It can bring awareness to what we are holding, what feels out of balance, and what may be ready to soften or be released.
Over the past week, I have been moving through the Easter holiday period.
There has been a slower rhythm to my mornings, more spontaneous time with my family, and moments of connection — both here and with my family in Japan.
I also returned to receiving acupuncture and sound therapy, which gently inspired me to reconnect with my own sound practice.
At the same time, I received news that a friend had suffered a stroke while travelling, and is now living with partial paralysis. I was also reminded that some people around me are quietly experiencing anxiety and depression.
It felt like holding two very different experiences at once — softness and heaviness, connection and difficulty.
🌱 Connection and what it brings
Life is not just one thing.
As human beings, we are deeply connected — physically, emotionally, mentally, and energetically.
And once we connect — with someone, something, or even with ourselves — something begins to move within us.
Sometimes it is warmth, ease, or comfort.
And sometimes it is discomfort, conflict, sadness, or emotion.
The closer we are, the more we may feel both.
Connection can bring love and support, but it can also stir emotions we may not fully understand.
💚 Allowing and softening
In Japanese, the feeling of “allowing” and “forgiving” can be very close.
Both come from a place of softening — not holding on so tightly, not needing to fix everything immediately.
Sometimes, allowing is already a form of forgiving.
Sometimes, simply giving space to what we feel is enough.
🌿 Emotions come in layers
Sometimes our emotions can feel like a solid onion.
We may feel like the same themes are coming up again and again.
But perhaps it is not exactly the same.
Each time, we may be meeting another layer — one that is ready to be seen, felt, and gently softened.
What feels repetitive may simply be a deeper layer asking for our attention.
🌼 A gentle reflection
If you notice that you are holding a lot right now — emotionally, mentally, or physically — you might begin by simply allowing it to be there.
You might ask yourself:
What am I holding right now?
Can I give this a little more space?
You do not need to resolve everything at once.
Sometimes, allowing is enough.
🤍 Support and receiving
This week, although I was moving through very different experiences, my daily practice with Reiki and EFT helped me stay connected to myself.
It supported me in returning to a more compassionate space — where I could gently hold my own feelings, while also reaching out to others with care.
It reminded me that healing is not always something we do alone.
Sometimes, it is something we receive.
If you feel you have been holding a lot, or need a space to soften and reset, you are very welcome to receive support.
Sometimes, having a space to be held can make all the difference.