down the rabbit hole...

 Not all those who wander are lost.

J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring

           

We should not  be surprised when Divine Spirit alters our immaculately prepared human agenda.  We have already felt the winds shift and the ground slant, but heedlessly we shuffle our feet in one direction and then the next, grasping for a deeper understanding of all that is.

For five days now, I have been thrashing in bed.  The diagnosis of a sinus infection is better than pneumonia, but either way, it has robbed me of my holidays.   I cannot eat as everything tastes decidedly disgusting. I cannot sleep as this racking cough rattles me to my core.  The fever spikes igniting colorful flames raging in my head leaving me disheveled and sweaty in my bed.  Then my skin turns to ice as my weary bones vibrate to the cadence of a violent rap.

Day blends into night and night into day.  I wait for the darkness to fade and cling to each  present moment.  I confuse my schedule for my meds and stumble from bath to bed.  I am in such a weakened state, my feet slip and I feel myself sliding down the rabbit hole.

I become a traveler to random times and places.   I gently slide into a variety of existences as though I have been present for years.  I understand the diversity between these cultures, and most importantly experience the deep kindness in the hearts of all people.  In and out I go as easily as changing channels on the television.   Although I experience both male and female genders and different ages, it is the heart of me remaining the same. 

When I grow stronger, I will joyfully write more of these experiences.  I realize  all of this has happened for great reason.  I have discovered  how to link my perceptions, insights, experiences and wisdom, closing the gaps in my faith, and completing what I have longed to understand.  I may have lost half of the holidays, but I have gained validation of eternity.

Crisp Clarity

In order to be full

you have to empty yourself

completely of yourself.

Eknath Easwaran

Thoughts for the Day

This morning I eagerly took my coffee onto the back patio to sit in my white wicker rocker and to enjoy the beauty of the morn.  The sun was out and the singing of the birds floated on the currents of the spring breeze. 

I, of course, was not alone.  I was accompanied by the inspirational writings of Mark Nepo, Alan Cohen, and a large collection of poems.  I feel open to breathe in the beauty of the morning and willing to experience new thought.  I was prepared.

Eknath Easwaran in the Thought for the Day, speaks of how we must empty our inner self in order to have room for fullness.  For me, this is not new news.  I find my self doing an internal 'spring cleaning' pretty much every day.  I endeavor to discard all that no longer supports me and everything that is nothing more than emotional baggage.  And yet, as I read these words this morning, I can only sigh in acknowledgement of having too much still attached within me.

I stretch my awareness in hopes of recognizing the criticisms and negative attitudes lurking in my mind.  I long for crisp clarity which will allow me to hear the slightest spiritual motion bringing me into the true sense of the presence of now. 

I realize spiritual moments are fleeting and it is impossible to live endlessly in bliss while navigating through this physical experience we call life.  It is unrealistic to expect to be in splendor all day long, so I seek it of the morning.  I wait for it in the early hours as my day begins.  If by chance I can glimpse a magical moment with insight or wisdom, I can face my day with calm and kindness.

And what if I cannot capture this experience during my morning coffee?  Well, of course the perfect answer might be to remain present in my white wicker rocker well into a meditation with lunch!  Maybe only rain will drive me back in without the support I need.  When asked what I have done today, "Spring cleaning," always seems to keep further questions at bay. 

Hidden Gifts

Everything has beauty,

but not everyone sees it.

Confucius

Sometimes when we are just staring off into nothing, we will notice an object taking form in our line of vision.  Perhaps it had been hidden by its very nature or just not seen, but once our interest is peaked the unexpected discovery becomes a gift.

We prejudge by appearances or what we may hear prior to an introduction, so we may miss the hidden gift entirely; but if we open our selves to each experience we very well may discover the hidden value.  

A diamond in the rough or a pearl in an oyster are examples of what I am saying or how about "Don't judge a book by its cover!"  Every single human being is born with unique gifts and talents ... some are obvious, while others not.  Every one we come in contact with has a message for us if we but take the time to experience an exchange.

When a friend transitions from this life into another, loved ones gather and listen to old tales.  We often times hear friends exclaim, "I knew him all of his life, but I never knew that about him!"  There is so much we leave undiscovered when life takes us too quickly through the passages of time. 


Begin to notice everything around you, looking for the hidden gifts.  There may be a bird in the tree, a heart shaped rock by the path or a depth of wisdom in the elderly neighbor.  When we allow our selves to step out of routine, the extraordinary appears.  Life is an adventure and adventure unfolds mystery and mystery unravels the hidden.  Where is your sense of adventure, hmmm?

Going Within ...

It takes a sensitive ear

to tune in to the

silence of the heart,

but it is there in each one of us.

The Daily Om

Nurturing Body, Mind, & Spirit

There was an earlier time when I believed enlightenment could only be experienced in a mountain monastery or in the presence of a spiritual guru. After years of seeking, I slowly discovered enlightenment residing inside of myself.  

Resources are wonderful ... books, lectures, trainings, mystical experiences ... but you can save a lot of money and time if you simply go within as you already have everything you need.  You just need to quiet your mind and listen.

Simply light a candle sitting comfortably in a chair.  Let your mind be distracted by observing the dance of the flame.  Breathe deeply and slowly while your heart opens spreading love throughout your body.  Feel the calm melting away thoughts and fears.  It is within this created space where silence resides.   Your body relaxes into this solitude and you can hear your heart speak ... maybe without words, or with color and images, senses or feelings, or a strong impression.

It is best to have no expectations and to keep an open mind.  Results may not be noticed for several hours.  If you fall asleep during the process, your heart still speaks as your spirit listens.

Try to maintain an awareness afterwards in order to recognize the synchronicity this experience provides