Octo

October takes its name from the Latin octo, meaning “eight,” as it was the eighth month in the old Roman calendar before January and February were added. Though its name reflects the past, its symbolism speaks to transition—Following the Autumn Equinox, October is when the environmental cues of fall take stage, from the noticeable shifts in light and temperature, to the turning of leaves, even our language shifts regarding romantic pursuits from “Summer flings” to “cuffing season”. In the northern hemisphere, the long, hot days of summer are firmly behind us, and the crisp air signals harvest, preparation, and a gradual turn inward.

Historically, many cultures marked October as a time of both gathering and reckoning—harvest festivals, ancestor veneration, and preparations for the winter. Symbolically, October embodies a paradox: outward abundance paired with inward withdrawal. Its energy teaches us to balance action with reflection, expression with integration.

The Front Functional Line

Integration Through Action

The Front Functional Line (FFL) is a myofascial pathway that spans diagonally across the body, linking one shoulder to the opposite hip through the abdominal muscles, adductors, and pectorals. Unlike the deep stabilizing lines, the FFL thrives in motion—it is the line of reaching across, of throwing, of swinging, of dynamic power expressed in cross-body movements.

Functionally, the FFL integrates upper and lower halves of the body in tasks requiring coordination and force. It connects contralateral patterns, balancing the strength of one side with the reach of the other. Symbolically, this makes it a line of integration—joining intention with action, and aligning internal resolve with outward expression.

When the FFL is balanced, movement is fluid and unified. When it is compromised, actions can feel disjointed, impulsive, or lacking follow-through. The FFL reminds us that true strength lies not in isolated exertion, but in coordinated, purposeful effort.

FFL Awareness Practice:

Step 1: ALL MONTH —When you reach for your seatbelt, say “FFL” or “Front Functional Line” in your head.

Step 2: Notice the “path” being stretched from the front of the reaching shoulder, diagonally down to the inner thigh of the opposite leg. —That is one half of the “X” that makes your FFL.

Step 3: Extrapolate —think of one other situation in which you use that path (i.e. - a bicycle crunch)

Alignment

As the year bends toward its inward half, October cues us to gather and align what has been scattered. The season prompts a shift from the expansive expression of summer into a quieter, more intentional coherence—where actions, values, and responsibilities begin to stand in their proper order.

The Front Functional Line exemplifies this principle. Stretching across the chest and shoulders into the pelvis, it links the movements of reaching outward with the stabilizing strength of our center. Alignment here is not rigidity, but the harmony of multiple parts working as one. When aligned, the body can extend powerfully without strain, connect without collapse, and act without contradiction.

So too in life, alignment means bringing outer expression into accord with inner truth. It is the practice of standing tall in what is authentic—organizing our choices, relationships, and commitments around a stable axis rather than scattering energy in conflicting directions.

This October, let the word “alignment” be your compass/ mantra. Notice where your words, actions, and deeper intentions already flow together, and where they diverge. Choose one place where misalignment has caused strain and gently realign—not by force, but by returning to center.