Reconnecting

For a couple of months now, I have been in an intake mode in my life. I have listened to two or three hours of inspirational material each day, including the Avalokiteśvara chant from Plum Village and lectures by Jean Houston, Marianne Williamson, Caroline Myss, Thich Nhat Hanh, Sandra Ingerman and Lee Holden.

Jean, Marianne and Caroline have emerged in my life since January. They share a spirituality and perspective of us all being “One living breathing spiritual, biological and environmental organism.” Their lectures give me new words and images to use as the current shift in human consciousness makes some of my old ones wobble.

Qi Gong has taken on new depth for both Bill and I. Its meditative nature is emerging as I find the movements expressing the patterns of nature and the energy which unites all living beings. Images of the life energy and the love of the universe flowing into Mother Earth and from Mother Earth outward to nurture the web of life, are now part of my movement practice.

I have been doing daily drumming and journey practice. (I always hate to say that I do something daily, because once I release this to the world, there is usually a counter pull and I stop doing that particular thing for a while. You probably know that experience.) Sometimes it focuses on “Welcome and Tender Release,” which I wrote about in April. Other times, I add my drumming and singing to the vibration of all who are doing ceremonies for healing and renewal. I have begun doing a brief shamanic journey each morning before getting out of bed, to seek guidance for the day. This morning the message was, “Look with a long view.” And “It is time to go back to writing.”

From the outside, these weeks of “stay at home” look much the same as our life before. We had been hiking with a group once a week, taking occasional excursions to Medford or Klamath Falls, and making more frequent trips to “pick up a few things” at the store. I remember in January not being sure how I would keep a commitment to use the car only 5 days a week to ease our carbon footprint. Now, I go out to the grocery store once every 10 days, and make one other trip out each week to walk/hike and do errands.

On the inside, this time hit me at a soul level. In the early days of the crisis, I was nearly exuberant with the possibilities offered by the whole world being forced to pause and breathe.  Bill decided to create a “retreat in place” until the end of the year to aid him in turning his focus from the outside world to his inward journey. Our practices are different, but we have the same goal: to allow the spiritual nature of life to sink from head and heart, into bones and blood. My life has been leading to this moment, but not in terms of some special outward gift I could offer to others. Instead, my life-long spiritual journey has led to a new call to trust the mysterious and unexplainable connections of Web of Life and Web of Light.

I can not define that for you because I am only starting to discover it myself. I sense that it reveals itself to everyone in terms and images with meaning for each one, so there is no need for me to even try to describe the indescribable. For me it is  “Earth-centered living,” rather than ego-centered living. It calls me to remember my place within the flow of the love of the universe, and rejoicing in being a single cell in this amazing organism which breathes together throughout time and space.

I cannot promise to write often. I cannot promise that I won’t post something every day. I just do not know. That may be part of the shift. I feel less in charge of planning the course ahead and more at ease allowing this whole glorious being of Earth to heal me of my separateness and teach me the ways of love.

I would love to hear how your journey has been unfolding in these unusual times. Please use the contact link for your comments and sharing.