Autumn is here in its full splendor. My maple stands in rusty brilliance; light seeming to come from within each leaf. Subtle shades of peach and rose mark the spiria and smoke bushes. Last night the first frost, though I still sat out with my morning coffee, wrapped and bundled with hat and gloves. I love the crispness and smell of decay. I watched the antics of five grouse in the crabapple tree. At least twice a day, two or more will be there, eating and jumping about. The yellow leaves fall rapidly now from the walnut tree, not waiting for the wind. I feel the natural world slowing down, the earth breathing more deeply now. Its time for long walks and ponderings.
Yet today I am at odds with it all, as I nervously watch the thermometer and check the weather forecast. I am in the midst of a project which requires far higher temperatures. I am attempting to glue a new bottom lining into my pond, while my fish live in a large container in the solarium. I am two thirds finished, with a setback yesterday. Laugh as you picture me down in my rubber hole with a heater oscilating as I spread glue and pray that when I come back after the required waiting time the two pieces will stick together. I do various yard tasks while I wait. I have only the middle of the day to work and today it may rain, which is definitely contraindicated. I alternate between discouragement and confidence, but my spirit wears thin. I cannot remember giving up on anything I have set my heart to do. I still hope that this won't be such a case.
It hasn't reached one degree celsius out there, yet it is almost 10:30 am and I believe time to place the heater in the pond cavity to start warming things up. Hopefully I won't be looking for a new winter home for my fishes this afternoon. May the fish spirits and that of perseverence be with me.
Radha
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
comments on breathing practice
Let me breathe in earth that I may
walk with the strength of true belonging here
Let me breathe in water that I may
flow with the circumstances offered to me
Let me breathe in fire that I may
know my passion and breathe light into the world
Let me breathe in air that I may
rise above the mundane and soar to new horizons
Radha
walk with the strength of true belonging here
Let me breathe in water that I may
flow with the circumstances offered to me
Let me breathe in fire that I may
know my passion and breathe light into the world
Let me breathe in air that I may
rise above the mundane and soar to new horizons
Radha
Friday, June 10, 2011
Journal entry after Khilvat
It is a glorious day with sunshine and birdsong as I sit by my pond and let my thoughts wander with my morning coffee. I think the fish are spawning / courting since they are chasing each other and rubbing their sides together. The pond looks good and is running well. Much has bloomed in my one week absence, especially the azaleas, sending their aroma over the airwaves.
Yesterday as I started my focus in the yard it seemed that everything presented a life lesson to me. The pond was clearer, the cleaner having done its work. I could see all 5 fish, and what satisfied joy I held as I watched them eat the food I provided - the joy of giving nurturance. I finally noticed there was one plant that had fallen in and needed rescueing, and I had lots of slime I could pull out of the water. I felt sure there was a message here about how you can't just put something out there and presume it will all be OK. You need to do your work too. The word diligence came up for me, and really struck home when I saw the snowball tree beside the pond. All may look well on the surface and not be well at all. This tree is so full of aphids that the leaves are curled under and the few flower clusters stunted. It was likely sick before I left but went unnoticed. Yes, diligence is required when being a steward or caregiver for life forms. I know I slipped up on this with my kids, probably alot. I admire moms who are all over their kids about stuff. My kids lives were more closed to me than in many cases, I think, and I allowed it to be that way. They liked that I didn't interfere alot, but I am sure there were also negative consequences.
As I sprayed safers soap on the tree's leaves, careful not to get this in the pond, I found quite a few garden snails. I usually don't mind them since they are everywhere around and generally don't seem to feed on leaves I want to eat, or cause serious harm to my vegy plants. But this time upon seeing them congregated on this poor struggling tree, I considered them opportunists. I had the distinct feeling that they were there because the tree was sick. I relocated them as I went along and wondered about people who could fall into this category. You know, the ones who take advantage of another person's situation.
Weeding ofcourse gave me more thoughts of how this action could be an analogy for life - how we have to weed out unhealthy patterns, relationships, habits and characteristics. As I carefully tried to save the tiny lettuces from amongst the weeds, I thought how the opposite was true also. We need to guard and protect the good and important things in life from their very beginnings and nurture them along.
Perhaps a gift of Khilvat was being more conscious of and able to interpret the lessons that nature and gardening offer.
Radha
Yesterday as I started my focus in the yard it seemed that everything presented a life lesson to me. The pond was clearer, the cleaner having done its work. I could see all 5 fish, and what satisfied joy I held as I watched them eat the food I provided - the joy of giving nurturance. I finally noticed there was one plant that had fallen in and needed rescueing, and I had lots of slime I could pull out of the water. I felt sure there was a message here about how you can't just put something out there and presume it will all be OK. You need to do your work too. The word diligence came up for me, and really struck home when I saw the snowball tree beside the pond. All may look well on the surface and not be well at all. This tree is so full of aphids that the leaves are curled under and the few flower clusters stunted. It was likely sick before I left but went unnoticed. Yes, diligence is required when being a steward or caregiver for life forms. I know I slipped up on this with my kids, probably alot. I admire moms who are all over their kids about stuff. My kids lives were more closed to me than in many cases, I think, and I allowed it to be that way. They liked that I didn't interfere alot, but I am sure there were also negative consequences.
As I sprayed safers soap on the tree's leaves, careful not to get this in the pond, I found quite a few garden snails. I usually don't mind them since they are everywhere around and generally don't seem to feed on leaves I want to eat, or cause serious harm to my vegy plants. But this time upon seeing them congregated on this poor struggling tree, I considered them opportunists. I had the distinct feeling that they were there because the tree was sick. I relocated them as I went along and wondered about people who could fall into this category. You know, the ones who take advantage of another person's situation.
Weeding ofcourse gave me more thoughts of how this action could be an analogy for life - how we have to weed out unhealthy patterns, relationships, habits and characteristics. As I carefully tried to save the tiny lettuces from amongst the weeds, I thought how the opposite was true also. We need to guard and protect the good and important things in life from their very beginnings and nurture them along.
Perhaps a gift of Khilvat was being more conscious of and able to interpret the lessons that nature and gardening offer.
Radha
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Earth Walk the Beauty Way
And so we enter this familiar path
Organically, as sisters, we walk this earth
Following the drum, rattles in hand
Singing to her our song
Planting the same row
Water and stone and fire and air
Goddess is alive in us
She moves in our hips and shines in our eyes
Pouring her water blessings over us
Sacred names, sacred memories
She folds us in her love
Circling elemental altars, embodying her beauty and strength
We ask the hard questions
How do we walk ? How do we relate to this earth?
How do we orient our thoughts, words, and actions ?
Beauty is Harmony
Let us walk in THIS way
Radha
Organically, as sisters, we walk this earth
Following the drum, rattles in hand
Singing to her our song
Planting the same row
Water and stone and fire and air
Goddess is alive in us
She moves in our hips and shines in our eyes
Pouring her water blessings over us
Sacred names, sacred memories
She folds us in her love
Circling elemental altars, embodying her beauty and strength
We ask the hard questions
How do we walk ? How do we relate to this earth?
How do we orient our thoughts, words, and actions ?
Beauty is Harmony
Let us walk in THIS way
Radha
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Breathing Healing
In the morning it is my practice, whatever the weather, to do the Sufi healing breaths outside among the cedars. I stand facing the direction which for me corresponds to each element. These directions vary with different earth based traditions. I draw my directions from a personal history of Wicca, but breathe them in the traditional Sufi order. Thus two paths combine and intertwine. I start facing north and the magic begins.
When I breathe in the earth, I feel what is solid within. Sometimes I am a skeleton, standing rooted in the earth. I take in the tall trees and the mountains and feel their strength moving down through me. In my mind's eye, I journey to another place where I am also at home. Here fields stretch out from wooden fences and quietness reigns. I return at peace with the land.
Facing west I honor water; breathing in the moisture of all that is green. On the outbreath my back and shoulder muscles relax. They melt into the flow of the river and I become that river. My body welcomes rain falling. The cells absorb it. Washing me clean, it continues downward to nurture the soil.
In the south I seek fire. Breathing in fire and allowing it to transform to light, can be a challenge on a cloudy mid winter day. But once I feel my heart beat pulsing through my body, I am warmed with passion. This energy rises upwards and light radiates out.
Completing the circle with the east and air I discover lightness. It enters my body through all the skin pores and it fills my lungs. Sometimes the lightness draws me up and above the landscape, always east toward the river, which runs below the mountain. Flying back over houses, farms and woods, I stand in my trees again, feeling light and ready for the day.
These breaths are my sustenance, preparing me in part for whatever shall come; enabling me to stand my ground connected to the natural world and to who I am.
Radha
When I breathe in the earth, I feel what is solid within. Sometimes I am a skeleton, standing rooted in the earth. I take in the tall trees and the mountains and feel their strength moving down through me. In my mind's eye, I journey to another place where I am also at home. Here fields stretch out from wooden fences and quietness reigns. I return at peace with the land.
Facing west I honor water; breathing in the moisture of all that is green. On the outbreath my back and shoulder muscles relax. They melt into the flow of the river and I become that river. My body welcomes rain falling. The cells absorb it. Washing me clean, it continues downward to nurture the soil.
In the south I seek fire. Breathing in fire and allowing it to transform to light, can be a challenge on a cloudy mid winter day. But once I feel my heart beat pulsing through my body, I am warmed with passion. This energy rises upwards and light radiates out.
Completing the circle with the east and air I discover lightness. It enters my body through all the skin pores and it fills my lungs. Sometimes the lightness draws me up and above the landscape, always east toward the river, which runs below the mountain. Flying back over houses, farms and woods, I stand in my trees again, feeling light and ready for the day.
These breaths are my sustenance, preparing me in part for whatever shall come; enabling me to stand my ground connected to the natural world and to who I am.
Radha
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Feline Attention or My cat & I
My sweet girl cat and I are especially fond of one another
When she jumps onto my knee it is time for spirit to shine
This is a giving and receiving of affection
She licks my fingers and wrist and purrs
I stroke her soft fur and my heart opens
Love flows between us
Tis a peaceful interchange-no words just total acceptance
I enclose her dark tail in my hand and stroke it to its end
She butts my hand with her cool wet nose so I will rub her ears
Looking up, her blue eyes connect with my green
Then closing hers, she sinks into purring contentment
I smile and sigh, echoeing her sentiments
Radha
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Breathing Healing
In the morning it is my practice, whatever the weather, to do the Sufi healing breaths outside among the cedars. I stand facing the direction which for me corresponds to each element. I start facing north and the magic begins.
When I breathe in the earth, I feel what is solid within. Sometimes I am a skeleton, standing rooted in the earth. I take in the tall trees and the mountains and feel their strength moving down through me. In my mind's eye, I journey to another place where I am also at home. Here feilds stretch out from wooden fences and quietness reigns. I return at peace with the land.
Facing west I honor water; breathing in the moisture of all that is green. On the outbreath my back and shoulder muscles relax. They melt into the flow of the river and I become that river. My body welcomes rain falling. The cells absorb it. Washing me clean, it continues downward to nurture the soil.
Breathing fire and allowing it to transform to light, is for me the most difficult. It is hard to find warmth on a cloudy mid winter day. But I feel my heart beat pulsing through my body. Then energy quickens with passion. It rises upwards and light radiates out.
With air I discover lightness. It enters my body through all the skin pores and it fills my lungs. Sometimes the lightness draws me up and above the landscape, always east toward the river, which runs below the mountain. Flying back over houses, farms and woods, I stand in my trees again, feeling lightened and ready for the day.
These breaths are my sustenance, preparing me in part for whatever shall come; enabling me to stand my ground connected to the natural world and to who I am.
Radha
When I breathe in the earth, I feel what is solid within. Sometimes I am a skeleton, standing rooted in the earth. I take in the tall trees and the mountains and feel their strength moving down through me. In my mind's eye, I journey to another place where I am also at home. Here feilds stretch out from wooden fences and quietness reigns. I return at peace with the land.
Facing west I honor water; breathing in the moisture of all that is green. On the outbreath my back and shoulder muscles relax. They melt into the flow of the river and I become that river. My body welcomes rain falling. The cells absorb it. Washing me clean, it continues downward to nurture the soil.
Breathing fire and allowing it to transform to light, is for me the most difficult. It is hard to find warmth on a cloudy mid winter day. But I feel my heart beat pulsing through my body. Then energy quickens with passion. It rises upwards and light radiates out.
With air I discover lightness. It enters my body through all the skin pores and it fills my lungs. Sometimes the lightness draws me up and above the landscape, always east toward the river, which runs below the mountain. Flying back over houses, farms and woods, I stand in my trees again, feeling lightened and ready for the day.
These breaths are my sustenance, preparing me in part for whatever shall come; enabling me to stand my ground connected to the natural world and to who I am.
Radha
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
