A Poetry favourite

Mary Oliver is a beloved poet of mine. I discovered her writing while on a personal retreat, and it was a drink of water to my spirits. Delicious. I so enjoy the way she crafts words with a surprise twist here & there, and how her images enliven the senses...

Philips' Birthday

I gave,
to a friend that I care for deeply,
something that I loved.
It was only a small

extremely shapely bone
that came from the ear
of a whale.
It hurt a little

to give it away.
The next morning
I went out, as usual,
at sunrise,

and there, in the harbour,
was a swan.
I don't know what he or she was doing there,

but the beauty of it
was gift.
Do you see what I mean?
You give, and you are given. 

-Mary Oliver, Evidence

Sparks of Life

What might breathe more life into you? I received a  facial massage recently, which included some Reflexology points. I was delighted by the softening I felt in my face, and it was a good reminder of how great it feels to receive nurture. I am mindful of the dynanmics of receiving, and have been noticing little moments when it somehow feels more difficult to simply rest into the moment and be nourished. To be still and receive something valuable.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Ahh, even writing these words helps my neck relax a little!

I find that scheduling in time for Acupuncture, massage & other healing treatments allows me to create healthy rhythms in my life.                             To honour my need for therapeutic touch and energy work that releases tension and re-balances my psyche. I also slot in time for quiet space by myself, allowing the sounds of the world to take a background seat as I revel in the peacefulness of my  home.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Here I can walk barefoot with the  hard wood floor beneath me, which is very grounding. And here I notice what kind of pace I am needing that day, whether it be slow or a bit quicker.

I'd like to share a photo I took on a slow-paced walk in my neighbourhood. I am enchanted by peonies in a huge way this year, and am often gasping at a new colour I just noticed:)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  For me this image conveys a sense of being embraced in loving thoughts.

Embrace

Haiku

In response to REVIVE, my  expressive arts event this weekend, here is a Haiku I wrote: Welcoming fresh wind,

light bursting through on all sides

a new spark for life

Thank you to the group participants for exploring the theme of What is growing and shifting in you?   Guided by the symbol of a growing see we used various art mediums to make new discoveries about self and life.

I was delighted by how the afternoon unfolded, and was so inspired that I'm now creating a series for this fall. I will post more details in the next while.  I would be glad to welcome you for some creative explorations in the fall!

Gentle persistence

Yin yoga has become a form of movement I really appreciate. It guides me in connecting with my body's need for stillness, and warms me up slowly, coaxing my body to expand in the places that hold tension. While attending a new yoga class recently, I was touched by the teacher's encouragement to engage in the postures with gentle persistence.  She spoke calmly  about staying present as the body relaxed, inviting us to open and release through a series of movements. I found it a deliciously intense experience, settling into with an ahhh feeling, after allowing the initial discomforts to lead me into another experience, a more restful stance. I kept breathing while noticing the tightness and slight aches, staying in the posture long enough to discover circulation changes- my body felt these mini transformations as areas of blocked energy were set free. I re-connected with myself, discovering a rejuvenated curiosity about how I experience areas of my body- in- motion.

In what other areas of life can we move with gentle persistence? In  close relationships where we learn to negotiate and understand the other more fully...  In seeking a dream that we're making little steps towards....  In letting go of disappointment, embracing tiny moments of awareness...

You are welcome to share comments on how you've explored persistence in your life. I would love to hear about it:)

Inner sunshine

Inner sunshine-

This is how I often think about positioning my frame of mind on those days when life feels a little crunchy. When tasks aren't going too smoothly, the skies are gloomy, and it's not the best day to wear those favourite sandals, or to even walk amongst crowds of people- I see it as a choice  to reach within and connect with the shades of sunlight that exist there. It may be feelings of joy for the children in my life, gratitude for close friendships, or simple pleasures such as sitting in my favourite chair with a book.  Giving my attention to the sunshine for me means allowing a good portion of my energy to move towards the gifts that the day is bringing. It also reminds me that as a being, I am marvelous- there are many different aspects to who I am, and each day some of those layers are shared in the world,  revived in my own awareness, called out & challenged, celebrated.

Happy journeys in discovering your shades of light....