HOUSE PLAY
a study in the mundane / by paige harte-rivera VOL. 8 | WATER 2022
INTENTION
When I was young, I thought I’d be married by the time I was 25, having kids by 26 or 27 - three or four of them. I went to a Christian school, and most of my classmates envisioned the exact same life. Needless to say, that’s not how things turned out for me. Instead, when I was 25, I moved to New York. And, when I did happen to meet my husband two weeks later, we wouldn’t get married for another 6 years. Kids are still TBD.
My life has turned out much differently than I imagined. Those ideas of what I thought I wanted weren’t really my own. I still have a hard time breaking away from societal pressures, even though I live a pretty unconventional life. It can be challenging to question why things are the way they are & choose a different route. And, so often we judge ourselves when we aren’t where we thought we’d be.
But, this is where I am. I have come to see that I exist in a life that I consciously create. I am learning to see my path as my own. It’s a little wonky and it is very wandering. But, it’s the one I chose; one I choose every day. It’s authentic to me, as long as I remain authentic to it. And, I am learning to love it so far beyond what I ever thought was possible. It is my life path.
Water has a memory and carries within it our thoughts and prayers. As you yourself are water, no matter where you are, your prayers will be carried to the rest of the world.
Masaru Emoto
PATH / WATER
Withdrawal. Yin. Formless. Deep. Winter.
Ancestry. Authenticity.
Your individual journey. Your life path.
There is a stillness that comes in the winter. When water as we once knew it turns to snow.
We retreat inside to get warm.
We turn inward for deep listening.
Water takes on many shapes and yet it is formless. It seeps into the ground. It evaporates into the air.
How many different places has your life gone? How many masks have you put on to try and fit a mold?
We can be who we want to be or who others think we should be.
If you are in the fortunate position to make your own decisions, what will you do with your life?
PLS TRY @ HOME
AUTHENTICITY : what makes you feel most like yourself? what lights you up, grounds you & connects you? i think that creativity is one of the best ways to integrate your authentic self. dabble in different arts to find what suits you : go to a museum, listen to music, dance, draw, paint, write, cook, walk outside & find inspiration in nature, make something with your hands. integrate creative projects at least once a week to see what they spark inside of you.
PATTERN SORTING : if your life path isn’t looking how you want it to, grab a pen & paper. investigate. i’ve said it before & i’ll say it again ~ free write every day. for 15-30 minutes. unlock your patterning, then take action to disrupt it. take your intentions through the 5 Phases of House Play.
HYDRATION IS KEY : refresh the water in any vases, take a bath, hydrate yourself. take some time alone. reflect on your intentions that you set for 2022 & see if you’re on the path to uphold those. the lunar new year is on tuesday, february 1st & we have a new moon today, january 31st ~ a great time to re-establish your intentions.
WATER ELEMENT
Shades of blue. Black. Wavy, meandering shapes. Actual water.
Water supports your life path. It brings clarity, deep listening & focus.
