This week I entered my 37th week of pregnancy. 

As my belly grows, so does my desire to be at home and with nature. Some of my favorite moments are when I'm alone, lying in my hammock and focusing on welcoming the new and letting go of the old. 

These moments in solitude are so important, especially in the third trimester. I remember, towards the end of Jasper’s pregnancy, I spent hours in the bathtub listening to Tibetan bowls and embracing the changes happening within me. I used to fill my bathtub with warm water, epsom salt, and lavender oil. It was all so relaxing.

Here in Brazil, I don't have a bathtub, so my hammock became a refuge. Just like last time, I am present and connected to the changes that are happening to me; It's not just my body that mutates with each pregnancy, I'm also undergoing a mental, emotional and spiritual transformation. Knowing this, I don't want to be distracted, on the contrary, I want to be as present as possible.

Deep inside I just know if I don't surrender to this transformation, I may eventually have challenges during labor or postpartum. Knowing what I know motivates me to live this process consciously. I wake up every day, have breakfast with Jasper, and get into my morning routine.

Before my third trimester, Yoga, breathwork, swimming, or long walks were always part of my morning routine. Now, as my body is naturally slowing down, I lie in my hammock drinking tea.

I said goodbye to my old active mornings and embraced a morning routine that is anything but physical. It doesn't mean I'm not investing my time in the things that complete me. I still do, but now I do it in the comfort of my hammock.

My mornings usually start with something I've been doing for years, Morning Pages. It is a technique created by the teacher, author, and poet Julia Cameron. For me, Morning Pages are a way to energetically clean up my mind in order to embrace flow and creativity.

Here is Julia Cameron's explanation of her famous technique:

“Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages – they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind, and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not overthink Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow.”

Sometimes I wake up with a head full of thoughts. By the time I finish writing my pages, my mind has cleared. It doesn't matter if the thoughts I had are “good” or “bad.” Regardless, they aren’t helpful. It all takes up space in my mind. Once I clear that clutter, it's easier to find stillness and connect with what matters. I call Morning Pages a ‘written meditation.’

As soon as I’m done with my Morning Pages, I move on to A Course In Miracles (ACIM). I decided to start this course as soon as the year began, thanks to Marianne Williamson, a bestselling writer, political activist, and spiritual leader. I had already heard many great things about this book, as it changed the lives of millions of people, including the author I just mentioned.

Williamson is so grateful for these teachings that she wrote a book about it, A Return To Love, and created an offer on her website called 365 Days of A Course In Miracles. In short, she shot 365 videos, all under 10 minutes long. Each video offers a daily lesson from ACIM workbook volume II. She starts her videos by reading a lesson then makes a comment about it.

I love waking up to Marianne Williamson's daily email. Thus far, I have learned a lot since the lessons are small, simple, and easy to apply to my day-to-day life. ACIM came at a perfect time! As I make the transition from being pregnant to becoming a mother of two, it helps me let go of a world of duality and fear, and opens my mind and heart to new possibilities.

You may or may not have heard about ACIM. It’s a psychological mind training in the relinquishment of a thought system based on fear and an acceptance instead of a thought system based on love. It teaches that you are not a body ('physical self'), nor a personality ('psychological self'). Furthermore, ACIM teaches that you have never separated from God/Universe, and this world is an illusion.

In addition to this course, I spend about thirty minutes or so on reading. Lately, I have been reading Spiritual Pregnancy. It has given me great insights about the journey I am already on. Finally, I also write. I am super happy to have the time to work daily on my blog. I love to share a little about my life and everything related to wellness.

And this is what my morning routine consists of lately; it takes two to three hours in total (since I pause often to give Jasper a lot of affection, snuggle and kisses), but the benefits I receive from investing time in myself lasts a whole day. No matter how my day started or how my night went - between peeing all night or/and experiencing leg cramps - by the time I am done with my morning routine, I am renewed. 

If you are reading this and thinking that a morning routine can be something that benefits your life, I just want to invite you to be mindful, as what works for me will not necessarily work for you. For some people, painting, reading, meditation, or listening to music may work best. It is important to choose what makes sense for you and your life.

There are so many ways to accomplish this simple task of loving yourself and making your life meaningful. The main idea is to put the excuses aside and take time for yourself, even if it's just for a few minutes. Years ago, my morning routine was just thirty minutes a day, and as time went on, I wanted to increase it and gradually made that change.

Of course, morning routines are for everyone. However, if you're pregnant, taking the time to connect and be present with the changes can make the difference between having a smooth pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period. It's not just the physical self that has to be healthy on this journey, the emotional, psychological and spiritual are just as important.

Sometimes I wake up in a bad mood, and what helps me are these different morning practices as they connect me with the darkest parts of myself. I reflect on what is happening, and instead of holding on to my thoughts, I free myself from them by writing, breathing, or by simply holding the intention of leaving behind what no longer serves me. The bad mood goes away and a new space opens up for well-being to enter.

Other times, when I wake up super inspired, I write about my inspirations, bringing me joy, understanding and even more inspiration.

Life is full of ups and downs, and if we are able to let go of judgments and appreciate what makes us whole, there will always be light. It is up to us to choose how to use this light once we are in contact with it.

If you happen to be pregnant, this light is even easier to access. That's why I think it's so important to focus and make sense of everything that's happening around you.

If you're considering starting a morning routine, I recommend pausing and reflecting on what works for you. Here are some questions that can guide you through this process:

1. With all these changes going on, what is really important to me?
2. How can I simplify my life to focus on what really matters?
3. Who am I becoming?
4. How can I become more connected to myself during this transition?
5. How do I visualize my pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period to go about? What can I do today to achieve my goals?

These questions will open you up to understanding more about the transformations that are happening within and all around you. Good luck. ❤️

With love,

Ariel