Gentle Courage

Resting into Strength Before the Next Ascent

Author

Blair McLendon
July 31, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Peace and Abundance, Ankhora family!

Welcome to Ankhora's biweekly nurturing of the sacred trinity - mind, body, and soul. In each newsletter we intend to bring you a dose of inspiration, wisdom, and practices to enhance your well-being within those three major layers of life.

These last three weeks have carried a quiet paradox—full days, moving pieces, time with loved ones, and an unmistakable whisper to slow down. If you’ve felt both held and stretched, you’re right on time. The season is inviting gentle courage: the bravery to let your body set the pace, to honor the soft “not now,” and to trust that rest is not retreat—it’s alignment.

Courage isn’t always a trumpet blast; often it’s the steady hand that places a boundary, the early bedtime when the world keeps scrolling, the deep breath taken before the next commitment. Integration is sacred work. When you pause long enough to absorb what life has already given you—insight, connection, lessons—your next steps become cleaner, kinder, and far more effective.

Energetically, the road ahead looks bright and swift. That’s why your nervous system’s steadiness matters now. Keep your rituals simple and consistent: water that actually quenches, a few minutes of sunlight on your face, feet to the ground, one page of honest journaling, three slow breaths with a hand over your heart. These aren’t small things; they are anchors that let you meet acceleration without losing your center.

Let this week be an inventory of truth: What stays? What waits? What leaves? Choose one action that genuinely moves your mission forward and one act of care that genuinely replenishes you. Lean into the people who love you—travel and togetherness remind us we belong to a larger weaving. Let their presence mirror your progress and soften any urge to prove.

May you carry a soft body and a strong spine, a quiet schedule and a clear yes. Rest as readiness. When the next wave rises—and it will—you’ll stand rooted, responsive, and radiant, moving not from pressure, but from peace. That is gentle courage in motion.

Over these past weeks, many sensitives have noticed fluctuations in the Schumann Resonance alongside bursts of solar flares. When Earth’s electromagnetic environment shifts, our own nervous systems can register the change: head pressure, ear ringing, vivid dreams, temperature swings, mood waves, or sudden fatigue/insomnia. Consider these ascension symptoms as signals—not alarms—inviting you to slow the pace, simplify inputs, and let your body integrate more light with less strain.

Support yourself with a gentle, practical protocol: hydrate + remineralize (water with a pinch of sea salt or electrolytes and/or coconut water, watermelon, etc.), ground for 10–20 minutes barefoot on earth, practice lengthened exhale breathing (in 4, out 6–8), fewer screens at night, lighter meals, mint or lemon-balm teas, magnesium in the evening (as appropriate), an Epsom-salt bath, and unhurried movement. This is courageous rest in action, letting the body lead so the spirit can land.

Mindful Alignment:

  • Mental Gem: Gratitude is the alchemy that turns everyday moments into gold.

  • Mindful Moment: Aroma Anchor - Keep a small vial of essential oil (lavender, rosemary, or citrus). In stressful moments, inhale gently and label three notes you detect, grounding in scent.

Physical Alignment:

  • Herbal Spotlight: Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora) is a fragrant, citrusy herb cherished for its calming and digestive-soothing effects. Sipped as a light, uplifting tea or taken as a tincture, it helps ease bloating, gas, and cramping while relaxing the nervous system to support a clearer mind and more restful sleep. Rich in polyphenols like verbascoside, lemon verbena offers gentle antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support—making it a nice ally for post-exercise recovery and everyday stress. Its bright aroma alone can lift mood and melt tension, inviting both body and spirit into a state of easy balance. (Note: the essential oil can be strong—dilute well for topical use and avoid during pregnancy unless guided by a professional.)

  • Top Tier Nourishment: 

  • Tuning into the Body: It has been incredibly hot outside in most places, so I trust that you are staying adequately hydrated. I have been consuming a ton of coconut water and eating water-heavy veggies and salads for my hydration. In addition, I have been getting my sweats in the sun each new day when I can and then taking a cool shower afterwards, which is so refreshing. As always, movement and flexibility has been key in making sure my body is loose and pain-free.

Soulful Alignment:

  • Soulful Insights: Give yourself a daily ‘tech curfew’; allow the final hour before sleep to belong solely to reflection and rest.

  • Affirming the Best: I honor my body’s rhythms and nourish it with loving care.

Music is Life - 3 in Rotation Right Now:  

  • TheARTI$T - Gravity

  • Brent Faiyaz - Peter Pan

  • Destin Conrad - So Nice

Community Spotlight:

If you have a business in mind that you would like to see highlighted, please email me at [email protected] and include ‘Community Corner’ in the subject line along with details and contact information about the business in the body of the email.

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Also, remember to check out my books if you haven’t done so already!

Grab your copies today, only at universoulpub.com OR 3layersofwellness.com 

Thank you for being part of the Ankhora | 3 Layers of Wellness community. We look forward to accompanying you on this transformative path to holistic wellness.

Gratitude,

Blair McLendon - Founder, Ankhora | 3 Layers of Wellness

Disclaimer:
The information provided by Ankhora | 3 Layers of Wellness is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. The content shared is based on holistic wellness practices and personal experience, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.