Clear the Clutter

Clutter has a way of accumulating-in our homes, in our email inboxes and in our minds.  I was reminded of this fact of life when we experienced a flood in our basement last week and were forced to throw out vast amounts of useless stuff that we'd been holding onto for years.  It made me wonder why I hadn't dealt with the clutter until I was forced to by an act of nature.  I realized that I have a tendency to hold onto things that I no longer need because I have difficulty letting go.... hence the boxes of dolls, toys, paperback books and children's school papers that served no purpose for many years until they were finally destroyed in the flood.  Was this divine intervention?  Was there a spiritual message in this?

I have a visual image of the underground spring at our family cabin south of Buffalo: how my father would carefully dig out all the debris and leaves from the spring as it flowed through our property, creating a beautiful clear pool that we would use to wash and keep beverages cold.  I loved to watch that spring flowing up from the ground, clean and clear and so refreshingly cold that it had a magical quality on a hot summer day.

I see the spiritual analogy to this picture-that we need to do some work, shoveling our debris and clearing our clutter to reach a still, clear space at our center from which Spirit can bubble and flow freely.  

 I ask myself:  “What is my debris?  What is keeping me in a parched place right now, preventing the full flow of the life-giving water of the Spirit?  Is it anger, resentment, unforgiveness or a judgmental attitude?  Maybe it’s more self-directed-guilt, remorse, self-pity or self-loathing.”

More importantly, how do I shovel it out of my spiritual “house”, so I can create inner space?  The emotions associated with all of the above can be painful to look at, and difficult to expose to the light. But  growth in life depends on this process or I will succumb to mind numbing activities or addictions in order to mask the discomfort of holding onto too much. 

So how do I do this important work?

The answer comes:  prayer and surrender; this is not my work to do; I only need to be willing to let go and ask for the burden to be lifted.  The strength and peace that follows is a gift for today.  Tomorrow’s burdens will present themselves when the time is right for healing.  Sometimes, as with my basement flood, we need a little Divine Intervention.

Clear debris, surrender, create a calm inner space...experience the peace of letting go

Essential oils for today: Sacred Mountain, Release, Peppermint

The Gift of Renewal

Cleansing, renewal, hope...these words float into my awareness as I listen to the sound of still more rain.  The rain has been relentless for weeks now it seems, as the sky turns varying shades of gray, with peeks of sun here and there.  People are severely impacted by rising waters and flooding in some areas.

Yet when I look outside, I see an explosion of color in the landscape.  The deep lush green of grass, the reds and yellows of tulips, deep pinks of flowering trees and lilacs just beginning to open, all seem renewed and refreshed by the rain.

As I mediate on this for a moment, I think of tears...whether tears of joy, sadness or anger, their release can be soothing and nourishing for the soul. As the clouds hold moisture to the saturation point and then must pour out cleansing rain, so we pour out our emotions in the form of tears.  We may at the same time spontaneously utter a prayer; for comfort, strength and healing, as well as deep gratitude for all that is beautiful and praiseworthy.

This is a continual cycle: we are empowered to go out into a world that is beset with problems, in which evil sometimes seems to be prevailing.  In the process of releasing our burdens, we are given the gifts of renewal and hope, so that we may use our unique gifts to spread peace throughout our small radius of influence. 
When we become discouraged and overwhelmed once more, we return to our Source and are renewed. 

Like the earth’s water cycle, we are, individually and collectively, an integral part of the interconnected web of life….in this is our hope, that goodness will overflow and spill out in tears of joy.

 Breathe deeply, releasing all, cry tears of pain, sadness and joy, accept the gift of renewal...

Essential oils for today:  Release, Sacred Frankincense, Believe

Be Here Now

This morning, I step outside, feel the rush of cool air and the rain on my face; I breathe deeply, releasing all cares.  I imagine a current of light that grounds me to the earth as I experience the fullness of this moment: birdsong, raindrops, deep greening grass, tulips now opening....

 This is mindfulness: simply being, fully aware and attentive as I move through this day, each moment flowing into the next.  It is active meditation, practicing this art of simply being, with no attachment to outcome, no worry for the future, no regrets from the past.

I admit, this is a struggle for me , as I suspect it is for most people.  There is simply so much mental chatter that occupies us most of the time in our daily routines that it can be very challenging to just "be", without our mind's constant running commentary.

Mindfulness is something of a buzz word these days, making its way into the news, and schools as well as businesses are incorporating mindfulness training into their programs.  Clearly, there is great need for this in our increasingly technology driven and frenetic world.

People crave simplicity, even as their lives become more and more complex.  Active meditation brings us back to our childhoods and a more authentic expression of our selves. If you've ever walked outside with a young child, you know that stopping along the way to examine a bug, smell a flower or pick up an acorn, can turn a short stroll into an afternoon of adventure!

 

  Let small children be our teachers in this, the art of simply being.  

 Breathe, look around, notice the small things, smell the earth, listen to the sounds of the morning, allow all busy thought to drift away like the clouds in the sky...be empowered for this day.