September: Moving, Back-to-School, and Global Heartbreak
Porter Square Books. Photo by Quinn Corte, 2021.
This is an excerpt from our September 2021 email care package, a delightfully free monthly email written by Quinn Corte. Click here to subscribe, or click here to contribute.
Listen to the audio version of the care package below:
Hi! How is everyone holding up?
I’m in Boston right now, and don't need a calendar to tell me it's September 1st. Piles of discarded junk line the curbs, moving vans are stalled on Storrow Drive, and a deluge of college students appeared out of thin air. The pivot from summer to back-to-school is so sudden and intense in this city.
What does this time of year bring up for you?
Here are some emotional trends I'm hearing about:
Intensity and uncertainty during personal transitions
Frustration around false starts
Sadness for the summer that slipped away
Heartbreak for the state of the world
This care package features ways to care for yourself and others in September—whether you’re in the middle of a move, sending kids back to school, or aren't sure what to do about your heavy heart.
I hope it helps a little.
Photo by Quinn Corte, 2021.
Moving Self-Care
My video and meditation about honoring endings (created during my move last year)
Video classes about caring for your mind, body, and home through Feng Shui or decluttering, with Jennifer Sullivan (or hire her to help you!)
A tranquil packing playlist
A peppy packing playlist
A "love letters to creatives" 5-podcast series for painting and unpacking
Salem's iconic Haus Witch store offers Dream Haus spell kits, Co-Habitate spell kits, and Open Window spell kits (or check out Founder Erica Feldmann's witchy house book!)
My packing Q-tip: stick a piece of blue painter's tape on cabinets or drawers after they're empty, so you don't have to check each one ten million times.
Photo by Quinn Corte, 2021.
Back-to-School Self-Care
My 5-minute guided meditation to help you start your day right
My 90-minute on-demand workshop for getting your needs met during any season of life
This podcast episode with Glennon Doyle about remembering your soul in the midst of parenting chaos
A few of my favorite parenting gems from Joanna Goddard:
Making home a haven for your kids
4 games to play while you’re lying down
No surprise that I love this sweet bedtime trick
Childhood is short: aim for yes
More fun parenting tips
School supplies!
Children's books that celebrate diverse stories
I own these in every color
Sustainable, sparkly, fantastical play-dough
A Cambridge shop that sells awesome second-hand art and craft supplies
Witchy "school supplies" for grown-ups
My back-to-school Q-tip: Leave a lunchbox love note for your kiddo with a drawing, a silly poem, or an inspiring message. I had a tough time with transitions growing up, and my mom did this for me at the beginning of the school year. It helped me feel grounded and braver.
Heavy Heart Self-Care
My new blog post and audio practice for navigating global heartbreak and self-care (when to lean in, when to let up, and how to turn it into focused action)
At Together Rising, 100% of your donation goes to boots-on-the-ground rescue efforts in Afghanistan, Haiti, and Louisiana
How to help Afghan refugees
A playlist for leaning into sadness
A playlist to cheer you up
3 ways to regulate your frazzled system:
Self-Massage for Deep Care video with Tara Jones
My Grounding and Surrender audio meditation
Releasing Worry Through Yoga video with Gail Picillo
5 ways to transform worry blog post (audio version available)
Trade midnight doom-scrolling for the sweetest fairytale bedtime book for grown-ups
My heavy heart Q-tip: practice embodying the above illustration by Amber Rae when challenging feelings come up. It works.
Graphic by Quinn Corte, 2021. From the Meeting Your Needs workshop.
Meeting Your Needs
Thanks to everyone who joined our workshop on August 15th!
It's not too late to participate. Meeting Your Needs: A Guided Inquiry Around Fulfillment is now available as an on-demand 90-minute video retreat. Enjoy it anytime!
I guide you through an exercise to uncover all your needs—from survival needs to soulful desires—and share strategies for feeling fulfilled during any season of life.
After purchasing, you'll receive:
1. The video recording of our live community gathering. This version offers beautiful shares and the energy of others doing the practice with you.
2. A more private experience. This version is just me and you, without the energy of others.
3. The workshop slides. A PDF copy of the workshop's beautiful journal prompts and visuals (like the one above!) to refer back to.
Check it out!