HOUSE PLAY
a study in the mundane / by paige harte-rivera VOL. 5 | LOVE 2021
INTENTION
A day in our world is a complicated one. It feels like it’s getting harder to understand how to go about processing all that is going on, let alone help in a meaningful way. This life is filled with chaos, heartache, confusion and frustration.
We are back in México. In the foothills of Oaxaca de Juárez, where life seems unsettlingly quiet, if you aren’t ready for it. In a village where shepherds tend their flocks, women and children wash their clothing in streams, and butterflies of all different colors dance above the earth. A place so still that if you aren’t ready for it, your thoughts take hold and so easily pull you out of this space and into fear, doubt and worry.
And so, in order to exist here and understand how this land and these people so kindly open their hearts to foreigners, you must understand love. A love so pure that you can watch the wind carry the tall grasses; that you can somehow co-exist with more wildlife in your home than you would like. For the love of Self, for the subtleties of life, the love for one another, is something so deep, always available, and yet wildly misunderstood and underutilized.
We are learning how to process uncomfortable moments with more grace. Learning a love for this dangerous, scary, heartbreakingly beautiful life. And, in learning this love, we understand further how to move in this world.
To be sensual, I think, is to respect and rejoice in the force of life, of life itself, and to be present in all that one does, from the effort of loving to the breaking of bread.
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
LOVE / EARTH
Maternal. Sacrificial. Devotional. Grounding. Partnership.
Late Summer. Early Fall.
Love comes in many forms.
Let’s look at love through the element that supports it, which is Earth.
Mother Earth. The foundation of life itself. What nurtures all things. She creates life and absorbs death.
In nature, there is a constant rotation of service to one another. Relationships, of all kinds, require hard work, listening. Nourishment from all sides.
How are we loving the earth? Are we hearing her cries? There is so much work to be done, here.
I do believe that if we work on ourselves, we contribute to the whole. How do you take care of yourself?
Through this work, we build our foundations within. Then, we extend out.
As James Baldwin so beautifully writes, to be sensual is to respect life itself and to be present in everything we do.
Let’s understand more of what we are doing.
PLS TRY @ HOME
BALANCE : the bedroom represents love. partnership deserves equality & balance. love is ruled by the number two. 2 bedside tables. equal space on both sides of the bed. look out for pairs around the home and ask yourself if they communicate love. does your home convey warmth and openness, or is it saying something else? investigate.
RESTORATION : is your bedroom a calming space? does it promote passion and rejuvenation? bring in earthy tones, dim lighting, soft plants.
EARTH ELEMENT
Trust. Receptive. Foundational. Of Service.
In the home, Earth is represented by things made of Earth, like pottery, stone, marble. Square shapes and horizontal lines. Earthy tones in pinks, browns, terra cotta, yellows and beige. The Earth element supports love of the Self & others, partnership and health.
WHOLENESS
You have everything you need within yourself. Sometimes, we only need to remember that. And in remembering, we are shown which tools need to be sharpened.
How can we love more deeply? What does this work look like to you? What can you give yourself today, in order to bring balance into your world and strengthen your foundation?
INNER-WORK-OUT
I often say that House Play is self-care. It’s such a massive component to my Process. In taking care of ourselves, we have a greater capacity to take care of others.
Can you fill your day with multiple forms of self-care? These practices can look different for everyone.
Make a list of 10 things that you love doing. That light you up more than anything. How can you incorporate 5 of those things into your week? Maybe more. Can you do at least one of those items every day? It can be dancing in front of the mirror, exercising, eating nourishing foods, drawing, reading, spending time outside - anything that heals and supports you.
let’s work together
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