"You won't understand anything about the imagination until you realise that it's not about making things up, it's about perception."
Sebastian Makepeace ~ Philip Pullman, The Book of Dust Vol II Practice reveals to us that perception is malleable and that we inevitably participate in making our world through the ways we sense and see (Catherine McGee). This precious insight alongside awareness brings choice, all kinds of choices that can help us look after ourselves and live fully. With time and practice we can decide which ways of perceiving we want to follow based on what feels helpful in that moment. We can choose to see the stories we create for ourselves - the ones we might otherwise take as personal truths - as simply stories that we can set aside if they are unhelpful. And also we can choose to let our mind's most beautiful storytelling and creativity take flight, and to rejoice in the many ways of seeing...
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"the inbetween time... the crack between the worlds... a time to listen deeply... where dreaming can unfold..."
I find this time, after Christmas and before the new year's activity ramps back up again, both lovely and also a bit disorientating. And that's ok. I do appreciate the encouragement to stay with stillness. It also makes me think about how to take this slightly strange sense of time unfolding with me into the new year, even when we all get busy with doing again...? www.facebook.com/Oriah.Mountain.Dreamer/posts/10157159620639117 Wishing you a peaceful, restful Christmas, and sharing some quotes from the very great Ram Dass who died yesterday.
“The thinking mind is what is busy. You have to stay in your heart. You have to be in your heart. The rest is up here in your head where you are doing, doing, doing.” “Learn to watch your drama unfold while at the same time knowing you are more than your drama.” “Let’s trade in all our judging for appreciating. Let’s lay down our righteousness and just be together.” “As we grow in our consciousness, there will be more compassion and more love, and then the barriers between people, between religions, between nations will begin to fall. Yes, we have to beat down the separateness.” 💙 “We’re fascinated by the words, but where we meet is in the silence behind them.” "I don't know anything you don't know. I just say it well." “If you think you’re enlightened go spend a week with your family.” Whatever is here for you today, whatever comes and goes, hold yourself and others gently with a lot of kindness 💚 as best you can.
I'll be using 'NACC': Notice, name whatever is here - emotions, messages from the body Allow - let it be here because it's already here, breathe with it Compassion - hold whatever is here with great gentleness and compassion. Fear and love are in all of us. Choice - when we've taken time to honour and hold what's here, we are better able to choose what to do next. We can find our own courage and wisdom to act 💪 Image: Nothing beats kindness, it sits quietly beyond all things. ~The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse Charlie Mackesy How is your day? I've felt pulled around by a lot of strong thoughts and emotions.
Here’s a story that comes to mind every so often, about what it's like to live with uncertainty and being open to what we don't know... “We’ll see” ~a Taoist story An old farmer had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbours came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "We'll see," the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbours exclaimed. "We'll see," replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbours again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "We'll see," answered the farmer. The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbours congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "We'll see" said the farmer. To help step out of automatic pilot, driven doing, reactivity... try pausing and asking "what does this moment need?"
Maybe a pause, a breathing space? Movement, a stretch? Something to eat or drink? A rest? A reminder to allow, to breathe with whatever is here? A step back, a wider perspective? A change of the lens you are viewing a situation through, reframing? Action or actively choosing not to take action? A reminder of some favourite words of wisdom? Kindness, self compassion, a moment of appreciation? What does this moment need? |
AuthorI'm Claire - and I (re)learn something every day from practising and teaching mindfulness... Archives
March 2022
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