A new way in. It has been a slow start to a new calendar year. The weather in southern New England has fooled us a bit into complacency. We have had days that reached up to the 60’s F. This is not really typical here. It has been somewhat easy to forget that the woodstove needs loading non-stop mostly. Today it is 14 degrees F. We have had a bit of an ice storm, so walking outdoors is pretty treacherous. One wrong move and you’re down for the count or even worse. So, it’s try to be careful out there right now.
Inside things involve reading, tidying, writing, study, reflecting, conversation, small creative projects. Not all at once of course. Most days begin with reading in the dark - a chapter a day with War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. This always leads to more questions and the need to look some things up. It is a task to try to just read and leave it at that. The connections and history need sorting out in my mind or else I’ll be thinking about it all day long. Four of us in my family are reading this book right now in this same fashion. The book with its accompanying journal sit on the edge of my table with a pen at the ready. Will the Russian names become any easier this time around reading it. I practice saying the names out loud.
I have been a bit slower on the sorting of some things at this beginning time of year. I think about it and then usually file it away for another day. This is not my usual way. I am allowing the slower movements in without so much judgement toward myself. I mean really - who other than me is watching? A drawer a day with papers might be the best solution. When I approach paper like this - I tend to do more than the drawer a day and whip thought it faster than anticipated. All the thinking about it is really just a waste of energy. I will do it when I do it. Just start is always the way. It will always lead to forward momentum.
Tarot browsing. I have been browsing through decks in a slow moving way. This feels right as well. I do not have any particular agenda with my tarot practice right now. I am allowing a slow build of what wants to be seen. I am quietly listening in and noticing signs and symbols that offer up a picture of what is needed right now. It’s part of Sacred Arts work and however it looks at any moment - is what is needed. No need to make it more complicated. A practice is a practice - just that. I am practicing not experting my tarot practice. Are you landing anywhere in particular with your tarot practice/play/work? Please share in the comments if you feel so inclined.
Day dreaming is happening a lot in the in-between moments. I think we do not give enough credence to the art of dreaming while awake. It does not need to arrive at a particular destination. It is not a waste of time. Your effort toward quiet relating to your internal self is a worthwhile effort. Try this in a way that is comfortable for you. Perhaps set a timer of an hour and just let your mind wander to places that quietly arrive. Sudden realizations will often show up for you. The hard questions will often have a breath of imagination cast upon them if you take this quiet reflective time. Without time - life will just continue to flash by unnoticed. An artful practice of wide awake dreaming might be just the ticket for your travel plans right now. It’s affordable - doable - exciting - allowed - timely - and available to all people. Climb aboard the Day Dream Train! You never know what you might discover.
Finally - carry a journal around with you. A noticing book. It can be fancy or not. Just make sure you take it with you. Begin to write your ideas, thoughts, reflections, quotes, conversations, heart felt renderings - all down in our little journal. If you do this - soon enough you will begin to have a physical book of the things that are important to you in your life as you travel though it in the days. Don’t be too precious about this. Just write something down. I was listening to a woman speak the other day about how important this was after having suddenly lost her husband when he died unexpectedly. She also mentioned taking lots of photographs and videos. When a loved one dies - you might be glad that you had all these reminders. A book of your musings is also a wonderful gift to leave behind as a legacy gift. We put this off and put this off. Just begin. It matters not where you are in life. Just start with a simple practice of noticing and writing.
It seems the theme of this post is really about noticing. So much is going on around us all of the time. Our life is flashing symbology at us all of the time. The clouds show us a template of images that inspire and spark ideas. Our musings and dreaming’s reveal inner revelatory reflections that our hearts are trying to speak to us. If we can take the moment to write down our inner maps of longings and wonderings - a true picture will reveal itself to us. It reveals a spirit side of us that we are often not conscious of. The imaginal realm is speaking to us all of the moments. The meaning of our lives can be found when we take the slow moments to listen.
I hope the week is finding you mostly well and comforted. I know many of the people’s of the world are not in that state. We can always take a moment to include the people in a life story that does not allow for peaceful times - dreaming them safety and love. I offer up a tending, listening heart to reflect on where those hearts are suffering.
May all good things find you….
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