Kacey Musgraves is one of my favorite artists. Her songs easily lift my spirits and calm my thoughts with their playful lyrics and prime-time vibes. The commercial that ran to promote her new album at the 2024 Grammy Awards screamed everything we love about Kacey, but all grown up: flowing embroidery dress, a horse lying in the grass, a horse riding through a stream in the rain. It encapsulates being grounded in the best possible way.
Musgraves’ new album deeper wellis called a “wellness lifestyle album.” This is because it’s about her own definition of wellness: connecting with nature, discovering yourself, and spending time with people. Her songs may contain wellness references that some critics call “woo-woo”, such as jade bracelets, energy, astrology, and moonlight bathing, but this album truly is the healthiest. and is about the pursuit of wellness to become your most healed and authentic self.Here are the lessons I learned about health deeper well I applied it to my own healing journey and self-care routine.
1. Sometimes growing up means letting go of people and habits that no longer serve you.
Self-care isn’t a new idea for Musgraves.since her song follow the arrow Since its release in 2013, she’s been singing about enjoying life, setting boundaries, and above all, taking care of yourself.But what’s different? deeper well Compared to previous albums, Musgraves has become more understanding and responsive to his own needs.title track deeper well She explores several different ways in which she recognized her own needs and found a deeper sense of well-being in life. It’s about distancing herself from toxic people (“So I’m saying goodbye to people who I think are good at wasting my time”) and quitting habits that no longer serve her. In her interview, the cutshe shares that people and habits often get in the way of growth, saying, “Acting from your higher self means having the courage to remove resistance to growth, whether it’s people, habits, or whatever.” That’s it.”
2. Life can be made more romantic through gratitude.
According to her interview, the cutMusgraves wrote the song dinner with friends About making space for the things that make her happy. Her gratitude-based song (a scientifically-backed happiness-boosting activity) reminds us of the power of romanticizing our lives and finding the sparkle in every day. As I watch Golden Hour slowly consume my apartment, I am reminded of its unique hue. I tasted my first sweet sip of strawberry matcha while looking into the green eyes of my boyfriend. When I remember these things, I can’t help but feel grateful for my life.
3. Part of Health is Not Knowing All the Answers
deeper well It also brings a new openness to Musgraves’ questions about life. for example, architect The lyrics include over 20 questions (“This life we make/Is it random or destiny?”). cardinal It’s almost a repetition of the same two questions (“Cardinal / Are you bringing me a message from the other side? / Cardinal / Are you saying I’m thinking of someone?”). Her decision to stay with the question rather than arriving at a final answer better represents what it means to seek health: it is a process.
Musgraves knows that true health means not knowing all the answers, and I know that firsthand. As I have done so much self-reflection to find the answer to “why”, I have found that finding the answer becomes less and less important. For me, exploring which perspectives work for me and lead to a more fulfilling life is a constant process of trial and error. Instead of wondering if everything happens for a reason, I’m now thinking, “What if I believed that everything happened for a reason?” One question turns into another, and somehow that process allows us to see the world with a wider, clearer lens, and find deeper wells from which to draw.
4. Nature is healing
Like Musgraves’ ad during the Grammy Awards, this album is rooted in nature. Musgraves described the album’s vibe as a “soft nature cabin witch” (which, coincidentally, defines my vision board). Nature is the main character throughout the album. Throughout the album, she frequently references birds, tsunamis, flowers, weather, seasons, and trees. for example, heart of the woodShe mentions the mycorrhizal networks, or hyphae, that allow trees and other plants to communicate with each other (“Underground there is an invisible neighborhood / Communicating through the roots of trees”).
What I learned from the theme of nature throughout the album is that nature teeth health. Without connection to the earth and the natural world around us, we cannot be fully healthy.The lyrics of jade green “I want to bask in the moonlight / Until I am fully charged / Take back my strength / And heal the broken parts.” My interpretation? Nature is healing, and by connecting with nature, our bodies and minds are at their best. As quoted by NPR, Musgraves said: Nature is God to me. ”
The mention of mycorrhizal networks got me thinking about more than just nature. The idea of “communication through invisible neighborhoods and tree roots” also made me think about human relationships and connections. We all have a responsibility to value our relationships and care for each other. I often spend time outside under the trees, imagining the network beneath my feet, the many invisible threads that connect me to my family and my dog, and how tied our well-being is to those threads. I’ll spend it. Just being aware of this connection can change how you show up in the world, allowing you to see yourself and others with a little more openness and compassion. heart of the forest It reminds me of the need to take care of myself, others, and my community, and I can’t think of a better expression of what good health means.
