Fallow Times

Who’s ready for another round of Nonir rambles about spiritual stuff? I hope it’s you, because that’s what today’s post is. Whomp whomp.

Those you (all two of you) who have been following me over various platforms for a while probably have heard me whine about fallow times and struggling to connect.

Well, now that I’m finally getting my head back on straight, let’s talk about the importance of rest in a spiritual practice.

First of all, not being able to connect with your deities/spirits/higher self/whatever can be a pain. I’m not going to sugar coat it. It sucks, especially if that relationship has been helping with your mental health in any way.

But having downtime is so important to growth--spiritual or otherwise.

Just like our bodies need rest between growth spurts when we’re kids, our souls need rest between growing and expansion periods, too. Sometimes it’ll take a few days, sometimes a couple months, up to years. Unfortunately, there’s no real way to tell, and it’s easy to get impatient and frustrated when you’re stuck in it.

The best thing you can do when you find yourself out of touch or struggling spiritually is to relax.

Don’t force things. Don’t take on a gazillion courses or try to shove your way into the astral if you’re used to traveling. Try not to get upset or frustrated with yourself. Try not to get resentful or angry with the spirits or gods you work with for not being there. (Odds are they are there, just in the background, waiting for you to finish resting and healing.)

Letting yourself relax and accept the fallow times can help:

• Decrease their duration
• Increase your appreciation when you’re “on” again 
• Encourage introspection and internal growth 
• Encourage self-compassion and patience 
• Strengthen bonds between you and your non-corporeal entities 
• And more

So the next time you find yourself in a time that feels kind of spiritually empty, just take a few deep breaths, remind yourself that it will pass, and relax.

- Nonir