The night recedes...

The morning starts with a darker sky and the evening comes early.  We head towards the winter solstice.

It feels like time to move inwards, to find time for a stillness; wait, wait, and wait some more for the deep seated subtle impressions (samskaras) to surface.  We write them down, we see how these subtle impressions also referred to as karmic impressions guide us through our thoughts, actions, beliefs and perspective of life and others.  

The days of the winter are a metaphor, maybe a reminder to move inwards.  

This introspection is in a way essential to live with life and not make life a constant inner struggle.  

Then there is hope, how do I find this hope.  I let the cold winter air touch my face, I stand and shiver in the cold and then return inside, to the warmth of the heated home, food, and water.  Here, this is the feeling of gratitude stemming from the assurance of the basics.

The mind now plays the track of gratitude:

health

family

friends

technology

money in my pocket and food in my belly

Somewhere between introspection and hope is found meaning.

Question to self, what can I do today to lighten the load of another?  If this question is getting me to move with peace and grace, then let it be the meaning and purpose of my life.   

I don't know about tomorrow.  I am only given today, in all its moments.

As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being. The acceptance of oneself is the essence of the whole moral problem and the epitome of a whole outlook on life. ~ Carl Jung ~

 

Navigating a day

We go about the day moving our limbs and the torso in unison, in a rhythm. 

• I pause, to notice all inner workings that makes and supports this movement.  This pause and this noticing seems to ride on bringing attention to my breath, the inhales and the exhales. 
• In the pause sometimes senses are evoked.  
• The thoughts, what am I thinking? 
  
  
  
• How and where is my feeling, and what emotions are riding in this physical body?

The pause, with all these subtle questions, grounds me and provides an attentive rhythm to the flow of the day. 

Its a lot to 'unpack', and who has the 'time' to go deep into each of the above self inquiry, and then one can also ask "why"? 

Maybe its enough to bring attention to any one aspect, like a thought, a feeling or a sensation, and take few deep breaths.  

And then notice the effects.

These are basics, to snack on, to slowly build the mind muscle of awareness.  

Just as we build other muscles through physical  exercise; we continue to build the mind muscle through being mindful and aware.  

The question "why", then finds the answer in how we navigate through daily life and living.  

"Fear knocked at the door, Faith answered and nobody was there.” - Unknown

Courage to face the fears, not to own them, to see how they guide my thoughts and actions.  

The faith in my strength.  No matter how broken I feel, I can build myself again.  

The energy that builds is by looking at my life in perspective.  Appreciating all there is, and turning the appreciation to gratitude.  

This is life.  Happiness is fleeting, and it returns.  Gratitude is expressed through the inner joy.

The fear returns, again.  

The courage allows me to dig a little deeper, find another root.  As I pull that root my world shakes, I lose my sense of self and identity.  My faith, appreciation and gratitude stabilize me.  Gives me the strength to live.  Joyful light shines again.  

Life I live you, with Faith and Trust in myself.

Living the life story.

I awoke thinking of this physical body in space.

I also felt gratitude for housing this body in the physical space where I eat, sleep, nurture and do many other activities.

Both my physical body and the living space are "constructed".  Both need to be maintained and sustained, healed and repaired.

My thoughts create the emotions, the people who visit this living space create relationships.

I can live with the feelings of fear or love.   Similarly I can relate with fear and love with those whom I share the living space.

What am I constructing?  I ask!  Words and their associated emotions generate the feelings.

What thoughts and emotions are associated with words like "sadness, fear, anger, envy, jealousy, greed, low self confidence, confusion etc."

What thoughts come up when words such as "happy, gratitude, joy, confidence, clarity, beauty, compassion and kindness," are brought into attention; what kind of energy flows within the physical body?

I take a few breaths, conscious of the inhales and exhales.  The  new energy flows with those breaths.

I ask?  How do I begin to write my life story, how do I live this story.

Hope, a candle.  May it burn bright in all our hearts, housed in all the bodies.

Thanks is "forgiving" and only for giving.

Giving thanks - and "autumn leaves drift by my window"

I am thinking gratitude is a state of being, and giving thanks as an act.  We keep practicing, and we become the action.

Then there is the day celebrated as "thanksgiving"; in Canada its celebrated on the second Monday in October, associated with the harvest time,  and in the U.S its the fourth Thursday of November.

Great family holiday, one of the few where gifts, and shopping and traffic ordeals are not needed.  Well maybe the traffic one is a stretch.  As people do like to travel to be with their families and loved ones on this holiday.

Its always been a favorite holiday, with family and friends a reunion time.   In our family we gather on the Sunday, the day before the holiday.  It was logistics, kids returning to college on the Monday, and then also for selfish reasons of having a lazy morning after, before heading out to work.

So Lasagna with garlic bread, caesar salad and apple crumble, a long standing menu and everyones favorite.  Always request to make extra Lasagna as "it tastes better the next day"....

So today the meat sauce (has to be meat, for those of us who are vegetarians, a separate casserole is made), is ready.  Fresh meat, cooked for at least three hours, as the tastes all assimilate with the slow and extended cooking time.  With preparations done, Sunday morning will be assembling and cooking, conversations wrapped with love and laughter.

Fall weather has been beautiful, the colors vibrant, the sunshine clear and the air crisp.  Last night even the half moon seemed closer.

I give thanks, love abounds...

Rumi's words come as the autumn leaves fall: "inside of us, there's a continual autumn.  Our leaves fall and are blown out over the water".

Life is and I am: Fall Equinox

Life is and I am: Fall Equinox

New beginning

The sunlight filters through the blinds.
Through the slits of my eyes I see a promising day.

Life's promise, ah so sweet as it delivers me another day.  

A day or a moment, an opportunity to live mindfully.
Each a new beginning. 

August Full Moon - another blue moon

A full moon is referred to as a "blue moon", when one of the two happens:

1. two full moons in a given calendar month
2. third out of the four full moons occurring between two solstice

The full moon tonight or early hours GMT, falls in the second category.

The August full moon is also the time to "preserve what you have".

The full moon completes the cycle representing change, or tying up of loose ends.  It symbolizes the end chapter, shedding light on the things that we no longer need to hold on, discharging of physical and emotional pain.

It can be taken as a time for purging rituals, as the light of the moon illuminates those things that are interfering with our spiritual growth and advancement.  Doing healing rituals, finishing projects, coming into acceptance.

As we let go, we have space for creating.  Setting intentions, writing down goals, feeling a sense of fullness and abundance.  Knowing within that as moon starts to wane our obstructions will also clear.

A time for reflection, contemplation, and gratitude for what is in our lives, how we have lived our life.

"The gratitude is not a river moving from somewhere to somewhere, but is the ocean moving within itself.  As the full moon rises and sets, tears of gratitude arise and repose into the vastness of the self"
~Sri Sri Ravi Shankar~

A dream of some ago...

http://youtu.be/OJdRw6VCWyA

No flowers in my hair, a dream of so long ago seems to be happening.  

In a few hours...I will be humming the song in my head.  I am sure I will meet many gentle people there.  

9000 ft & Where flowers grow in the wild...

Nor seeking approval, neither a disapproval hinders their growth and beauty.  

Silence of the mountains with soft pauses of the grass hoppers, hummingbirds and nature.  

Crunching gravel under each footstep.  

The echoing of the train horn, distant, urgent and surrounded by the strength of the mountain. 

A morning meditation, the eyes opening to the sparkling sun, rising from behind the mountain. 

The cool crisp air and the warmth of a yoga practice with a wonderful teacher, Margaret.  She creates space and shares her practice as she encourages each one to find the strength and their stillness.  Seek her at Mountain Moon Yoga in Winter Park, Colorado.  Her slogan is "Find your breath at 9000 feet".

And here in Fraser, Colorado are my hosts.  Gratitude to Jo Ann and Bob, as always they welcome me in their home.  

The afternoon spent with their neighbor, Diana who took us on a drive to the Arapahoe basin in the Rocky Mountains. Her red jeep and her driving. Both a reflection of her free spirit.  Diana and Jack are old timers here.  Skiers and bikers  and hikers.  Jack said he would teach me skiing should i return in the winter.

What a delightful afternoon!

i accept myself, and I accept you, with gratitude

Gratitude…many definitions only one feeling.

How is gratitude invoked, there are many triggers that invoke this feeling, we all find reasons to appreciate or not. Expression of gratitude can be as simple as saying "thank you", to building a Taj Mahal, and all those in between ways. Sometimes acknowledging the presence of another with a look, speaks volumes…

In the North East, where I have spent most of my living years, October comes and I feel, smell and sense the changing of seasons. I like the fall season, the nip in the air is refreshing, the sunlight is still warm, the changing colors light up the world and nature paints the most beautiful hues of earth tones. I connect with the trees, they are ready to release their leaves, knowing that when spring comes, there will be new buds. The cycle of life continues.

October also brings the long weekend in Canada, a holiday where we celebrate with family and friends, as many get together for the Thanksgiving holiday. Today I find my thoughts, returning to a home where many parts of my heart reside. As I type, I am sitting in the middle of the rainforest in Costa Rica. The trees surround me, the rain falls, the birds sing their symphony…

In my heart, I give a silent "thanks", sending energy to all those hearts that have touched me...I touch you today, with an "energy hug"… of gratitude.

Gratitude list

I am grateful for an amazing yoga session

I am grateful to see the beautiful moon tonight

I am grateful to the sun for shining today

I am grateful to Centenario, the horse who carried me up and down the mountains of the rainforest

I am grateful to friends, who shared their time with me today

I am grateful for the amazing lunch today, and the food i got to eat

I am grateful to the bout of laughter, I shared with friends

I am grateful to the wonderful human beings, especially my children

I am grateful for every opportunity I have to interact with others

I am grateful for an inner sense, that guides me and shows me the true nature of people

I am grateful for waking up this morning with a smile on my face

I am grateful to all those wonderful people I have met as I journey through life

I am grateful to the food I eat, the nutrients I absorb

I am grateful to all those people, just their thought brings a smile to my heart
I am grateful to this life which allows me to connect with people
I am grateful to all those people who open their hearts
I am grateful to the  love and friends I have found
I am grateful that when I look at a person I can see beyond the form
I am grateful to enjoy the form and colors of nature
I am grateful to stand in the middle of the square in Brugge, with 2 beautiful friends, laughing, eating and sharing delicious chocolate