Certain times in my life I'm graced by magic. I go out into nature or for a wonder walk in the city and get slammed by the beauty of life. That's what this blog is about, staying awake and open to beauty, and therefore experiencing something wonderful. Cocooned for most of the Winter, the most astounding thing to me lately has been my warm blankets.
On Valentine's Day, I was sitting on a bench in the arboretum of Golden Gate Park with my man. We were talking about things that were causing us stress: money, work, sex. After 23 years together, we were feeling humbled by our everyday struggles. Trying to hold space for all that amidst the enormity of our great good fortune.
He sighted it then, a keen-snouted, bushy-tailed red fox, coming out into the open and disappearing into the underbrush. We were maybe 30 feet away, but this gorgeous creature was meant for us.
That red fox was like an arrow. Its keen snout and ears pointing the way with a lush full tail streaming straight out behind it. With luxurious thick-looking fur and clear markings, he or she looked well-fed on quail, squirrels, gophers, and other fellow park residents.
Elation might be the right word, this lightness in my heart and the happy-making repetition of our sighting. Later I found that the red fox brings the Medicine of kundalini energy, sexuality and life-force; shapeshifting; and knowing when to hide and when to come out into the open.
Dear Red Fox, Thank you for bringing hope and the power of shapeshifting. As Winter melts away into Spring, we're all counting on your Medicine to renew and revive for another round on the big wheel of life.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
24-3-7
Winter is the season of mending and tending. Relationships need care all year round, but the dark season somehow illuminates where we need to clearly say NO or YES to people and situations that are not right for us.
One of my teachers Angeles Arrien has a 24-3-7 rule. When a problem arises, it's your responsibility to address it within 24 hours. If you can't do that, do it within 3 days. And if you can't do that, do it within 7 days. A week is enough time to be unresolved with yourself and with another.
24-3-7 holds space and time for a truly creative response to the problem. For visually dominant people - those who sense the world most strongly through sight and images - it takes a long time to even realize that something off-kilter happened. Then it takes more time to know their feelings about it and to get clear on a creative response. 7 days gives even slow processors a limit to being swamped by a problem.
If you are somatic or kinesthetic, you are at an advantage in knowing sooner that something needs to be addressed. The wise body does not lie, gives clues to what is amiss with common symptoms like insomnia, upset stomach, or headache.
This happened to me recently with a client. It took telling the story many times to colleagues before I heard what I was saying. I did not feel good about working with this person, and my body symptoms were saying NO. My process unfolded slowly over the week, and by the time I was clear, I had to wait a few more days to be able to reach this person. I said what I needed to say to this person, and it was done within 7 days.
Even if you are a slow processor, fearful of speaking up and rocking the boat, do it. Take that 7 days if you need to, but listen to your wise body and practice saying NO to people, places, things that are not right for you. It opens the door to be able to say YES to what is nourishing for your journey.
One of my teachers Angeles Arrien has a 24-3-7 rule. When a problem arises, it's your responsibility to address it within 24 hours. If you can't do that, do it within 3 days. And if you can't do that, do it within 7 days. A week is enough time to be unresolved with yourself and with another.
24-3-7 holds space and time for a truly creative response to the problem. For visually dominant people - those who sense the world most strongly through sight and images - it takes a long time to even realize that something off-kilter happened. Then it takes more time to know their feelings about it and to get clear on a creative response. 7 days gives even slow processors a limit to being swamped by a problem.
If you are somatic or kinesthetic, you are at an advantage in knowing sooner that something needs to be addressed. The wise body does not lie, gives clues to what is amiss with common symptoms like insomnia, upset stomach, or headache.
This happened to me recently with a client. It took telling the story many times to colleagues before I heard what I was saying. I did not feel good about working with this person, and my body symptoms were saying NO. My process unfolded slowly over the week, and by the time I was clear, I had to wait a few more days to be able to reach this person. I said what I needed to say to this person, and it was done within 7 days.
Even if you are a slow processor, fearful of speaking up and rocking the boat, do it. Take that 7 days if you need to, but listen to your wise body and practice saying NO to people, places, things that are not right for you. It opens the door to be able to say YES to what is nourishing for your journey.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Choosing the Story
Something hard happened to me recently. When I asked what I was to learn, my inner knowing answered: What do you want this to be about?
You mean, I get to choose? I get to write the story?
I decided I wanted it to be an end to choosing fear over love. And so I am in this practice of trusting in the good, trusting that the Universe is a loving place, trusting that my inner process is taking me where I need to be. This, as opposed to trying to control things out of fear.
This sounds so simple, yet it is a profound shift. How do I contribute to my own well-being, rather than suffering?
Would love to hear how you choose your story.
You mean, I get to choose? I get to write the story?
I decided I wanted it to be an end to choosing fear over love. And so I am in this practice of trusting in the good, trusting that the Universe is a loving place, trusting that my inner process is taking me where I need to be. This, as opposed to trying to control things out of fear.
This sounds so simple, yet it is a profound shift. How do I contribute to my own well-being, rather than suffering?
Would love to hear how you choose your story.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Creative Fulfillment and Loneliness
A friend is making a book, fulfilling a dream in words and images. It seems like the perfect winter project. Yet she is in heaven and hell. She could choose heaven and immerse herself in the joys of the creative work before her, doing what she loves, and bringing her vision into vibrant, living form. Or she could choose hell and bemoan the isolation, her recent heartache, and be looking elsewhere for salvation. I hope she can find more space for all of those feelings.
I realize this has been a common theme around me. Another friend is devoting a lot of time and energy to her creative life and trying new things to grow and heal. Yet in this self-care mode, she's coming up against a core loneliness.
When in a creative groove, do we always meet our loneliness? Does fear of loneliness keep us from going deeply with our creative work? I wonder about my novel/s, languishing for my lack of disciplined, consistent attention. Perhaps that's just a judgment. I do suspect my characters just go on living and changing and have infinite patience with me to catch up.
There's that old belief that writers live a lonely life. But tonight is a time for company, to be with my characters and to write in the company of others. In the rainstorms of winter, a safe haven.
Thank goodness for the writing workshop. That is one way I balance creative time and mutual support. How do you?
(Collage: Friend And Flow Detail 1, by Carol Harada 2010)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
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