The Maui Bamboo Forest

"You have to go through the darkness 

before you get to the light."

Haruki Murakami 

As I approached the Maui Bamboo Forest, I was struck by its gentle pull. My love for bamboo drew me into this pristine space, like visiting an intimate friend. There were no distractions, like birds or flowers, as I advanced into the darkening forest. I became comforted by wisps of air, gently stroking my face. 

Deeper into the bamboo, I seemed to be leaving my body behind, and I was guided by an unseen presence. My heart began to open to an energy that was nurturing and strengthening this spirit of mine. There were no words to be heard, but tender impressions heightened my understanding as though I were in a magical dream. 

Frequencies amplified, creating exuberant and inexhaustible light sensations. I understood with great clarity that I was to depart from the bamboo, prepared to spontaneously shine into the hearts of others. As I left the forest behind, I joyously embraced life with a dedicated mission to bring light to those yearning to see.

 

Individual Inconvenience

"Not just beautiful, though ...

the stars are like the trees in the forest,

alive and breathing.  And they're 

watching me."

Haruki Murakami

Our choice of words temper our mindset and the more aware of this, we will endeavor to speak more kindly to our lovely selves and others. If we choose harsh definitions, we too will feel heavy and confined.  Selecting positive descriptions will create a greater sense of buoyancy.

Forced isolation, for example is quite contrary to working from home.  Captive at home by children can become a new opportunity to engage the kids in useful learning experiences like cooking or laundry or redesigning his or her bedroom.

We can turn inconvenience into peace and calm, if we are willing to stay in a positive frame of mind.  As individuals, we have not been singled out.  We are all experiencing a shift that is out of our control.  A daily dose of hope can be found by looking up to the stars.  They remind us that we are not alone and that there is more to the story than our individual inconvenience.  

A Blessing

"Silence, I discover, is something you can actually hear."

Haruki Murakami

Busy lives offer very little time for quietude.  Time alone requires a person to deliberately carve out space to just be.  It takes effort to experience solitude and it often times falls to the bottom of our list.

There are those who are on a constant run who are emotionally afraid to stop.  Fear of repressed emotions becoming unleashed can be paralyzing.  If time for solitude is allowed,  issues might arise when resolutions are no where on the horizon. Lacking acceptance or forgiveness we distract ourselves, avoid situations, and deny reality.  All of this requires energy better used to embrace what bothers us.

We can help ourselves gently release what we are hiding by simple writing.  Carry a small notebook and jot down phrases when the body tenses, headaches appear, or the temptation of any addiction presents itself.  Jotting down segments of information will eventually form a pattern.  They may begin to reflect a certain place, time or person triggering our anxiety.  If we can determine the source, we can put in place safety measures.  We can see the person less, change social patterns, or adjust our attitude with affirmations prior to facing the culprit.  

This is a simple beginning to build confidence.  Soon full pages will be filled with entire scenarios of how our body responds to people, places, and things.  We will have a treasure trove to use in creating a new pattern or routine.  Silence is a blessing, not something to avoid.