How often do you truly listen? I mean really listen, as in shutting your mind and not just your mouth and opening your whole being to take in the world around you? I know I don't as often as I should and it is something that I'm working on now.
For me meditation usually has a goal in mind, not necessarily a guided goal but I generally am trying to achieve something, a connection, a message, something. Listening for me is something different. I have no agenda, I am not trying to 'hear' anything, rather I am trying to 'listen', that is I'm trying to shut my mind off and become completely aware of the world around me, of the way it sounds. Its a pretty amazing experience.
When we open up ourselves to really listen to the world we perceive our place within it in a different light. I've come to realize more deeply how connected everything is. I have also come to see the depth and the darkness and the light and the energy and the potential for awe and terror. And as you develop further and open more you begin to 'hear' things, things that may not make sense but fill you with a feeling of something beyond words.
I try to make time to listen most nights before bed, when the world is somewhat quieter and I can let my mind relax because I know I will be sleeping after. It takes some practice, but it is well worth the effort.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
L is for Lughnasadh
Since I'm so far behind that my L catch up coincides with Lughnasadh that is today's topic.
Lughnasadh (or Lammas) is the first of the three harvest festivals. It marks the mid point of summer and celebrates the first harvest and the hope for continued fertility throughout the harvest season. Where I am (California) it is a little difficult to get into the celebration of the mid point of summer. When it seems that temperatures are only just starting to get ridiculously hot it is difficult to picture an end to the summer months. But the nights are cool and the crops appear to be in abundance while my plants bring forth new growth once more and it all makes me smile to see the wheel turning.
Some background: The festival is named after the Celtic god Lugh and the games that took place were dedicated to his foster mother Talitiu - who is said to be a linked to the idea of an earth mother goddess. This is the time that signals the beginning of the shift to those shorter days (I see this each morning as I now begin to arise before the sun at my regular time) the sun is still strong but we can really begin to notice the length of days becoming shorter. The general focus of activities at this time of year are on fertility in the coming harvests to ensure a plentiful season and the honoring of the god Lugh. Corn is one of the main crops for this time of year and as such corn dollies can play a role in your celebrations.
As we move into this 'harvest' season we move towards an time of the year for inward reflection. It is the perfect time to consider looking back on what we can 'harvest' from the lessons we've learned this year. It is also a time to reflect on our place in this modern world and the connection that we share with it. It is so easy in these modern times to loose track of the cycles of the season, and especially the idea of the harvest. Unless one is fortunate enough to have their own gardens to tend (which sadly I do not) the importance of working with the land, of the teamwork that comes between us and nature to reap the fruits of the earth, is lost to a modern world of grocery stores. Lughnasadh is a perfect opportunity to take time out and honor the work that goes into producing your food and to try and tune in to the season at hand.
That being said, what are my plans for this Lughnasadh...well my house is currently home to three adult house guests so I've lost all my ritual spaces and I'm also playing hostess, so I think my celebration will be put off until the weekend when I can finally claim my home back and get it feeling like my sacred space again.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Meditative Monday
Yes, I know - a very long hiatus...life was kicking my butt. But I'm trying to get back on track now.
Once again - words of wisdom from www.marcandangel.com
Leave enough time for fun. – Sometimes you need to take a few steps back to see things clearly. Never let your life become so filled with work, your mind become so crammed with worry, or your heart become so jammed with old hurts or anger, that there’s no room left in them for fun, for awe, or for joy.
I've been feeling this one a lot lately - how little time I really leave myself for fun, hell for anything other than work and school. I'm not living life right now and it frustrates and saddens me, but its also a really hard trap to work yourself out of. SO that is my goal for the next two weeks. I have a break from classes for two weeks so my goal is to try and establish some form of routine that incorporates things for me that will also allow study time. We'll see how it goes.
Once again - words of wisdom from www.marcandangel.com
Leave enough time for fun. – Sometimes you need to take a few steps back to see things clearly. Never let your life become so filled with work, your mind become so crammed with worry, or your heart become so jammed with old hurts or anger, that there’s no room left in them for fun, for awe, or for joy.
I've been feeling this one a lot lately - how little time I really leave myself for fun, hell for anything other than work and school. I'm not living life right now and it frustrates and saddens me, but its also a really hard trap to work yourself out of. SO that is my goal for the next two weeks. I have a break from classes for two weeks so my goal is to try and establish some form of routine that incorporates things for me that will also allow study time. We'll see how it goes.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Daily Draw
"You are changing and showing more of your true self. These changes will be empowering, often they will at first make us fragile and vulnerable. Those who are no longer meant to be in your life will quietly, and some loudly, depart. Do not worry, just keep on becoming. And be for now in the best company of all, your own."
Monday, June 25, 2012
Daily Draw
"...take back your own gifts and incorporate them into your life, yourself, every day, every breath. You will be healed when you finally embrace all that you are. For then, beauiful one, you will be in your true form, and have many abilities. You will be whole."
Meditative Monday
I'm putting a link here today, I feel that all 12 points are important and should definitely be contemplated. I do so love these guys work.
12 Habits Standing Between You and What You Want
I am guilty of all of these - sometimes more than one and once. Perhaps one of my worst acts is (7) Dwelling on things you've lost - or the past in general. It is hard not to. I've had to make up a little mantra that I say over and over until my thoughts stop dwelling. (10) Is another big one, I am so overly critical of myself. I hold myself up to impossible standards sometimes and I am never satisfied with the outcome that I get, I always feel that I can do better, if only I'd tried more.
12 Habits Standing Between You and What You Want
I am guilty of all of these - sometimes more than one and once. Perhaps one of my worst acts is (7) Dwelling on things you've lost - or the past in general. It is hard not to. I've had to make up a little mantra that I say over and over until my thoughts stop dwelling. (10) Is another big one, I am so overly critical of myself. I hold myself up to impossible standards sometimes and I am never satisfied with the outcome that I get, I always feel that I can do better, if only I'd tried more.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Meditative Monday
"Harsh words can hurt a person more than physical pain. – Taste your own words before you spit them out. Words hurt and scar more than you think, so THINK before you speak. And remember, what you say about others also says a whole lot about YOU."
(Source: http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/06/13/15-relationship-truths-for-tough-times/ )
True words that come at a time when both sides of the message are needed.
We try to brush off the words that others throw at us, to say "oh well", but it is easier said than done. Words have a way of creeping in under your defenses and eating away at your idea of yourself. Enough words, and you begin to ponder if the issue isn't the person saying them but yourself. It is oh so easy to lash back, to get angry and point fingers, to lay blame at the feet of all and none at ones own. What we hurl at others or what we say of others behind their backs is a reflection of our own issues, and that goes for the way we respond too. One should not allow someone to walk all over them, but sometimes it is best to simply state your peace and walk away from it all. There is no point in engaging in verbal warfare. Take claim of the things you may have said or done to cause pain to others, see that they too have their own to claim and leave it at that.
Someone's opinion of you should not matter. It does, I know. We are raised to believe that what others see in us is the standard by which we should judge ourselves. But I think we have to work on making our own opinion of ourselves the more important one. Not in an arrogant way, but in a way where we can be comfortable knowing that some people will not like us. That our priorities are important to us and shouldn't be pushed to the side in favor of another's. That we are important and worthy of our own time.
(Source: http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/06/13/15-relationship-truths-for-tough-times/ )
True words that come at a time when both sides of the message are needed.
We try to brush off the words that others throw at us, to say "oh well", but it is easier said than done. Words have a way of creeping in under your defenses and eating away at your idea of yourself. Enough words, and you begin to ponder if the issue isn't the person saying them but yourself. It is oh so easy to lash back, to get angry and point fingers, to lay blame at the feet of all and none at ones own. What we hurl at others or what we say of others behind their backs is a reflection of our own issues, and that goes for the way we respond too. One should not allow someone to walk all over them, but sometimes it is best to simply state your peace and walk away from it all. There is no point in engaging in verbal warfare. Take claim of the things you may have said or done to cause pain to others, see that they too have their own to claim and leave it at that.
Someone's opinion of you should not matter. It does, I know. We are raised to believe that what others see in us is the standard by which we should judge ourselves. But I think we have to work on making our own opinion of ourselves the more important one. Not in an arrogant way, but in a way where we can be comfortable knowing that some people will not like us. That our priorities are important to us and shouldn't be pushed to the side in favor of another's. That we are important and worthy of our own time.
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