Friday, February 17, 2012

holding the space





A lot of hurrying up to slow down happening over here. The feeling is one of a thick layer of ice, but underneath the current is flowing. Things are shifting, ideas and insights settling into place.








I'm not really in a place to articulate what is still moving through the mist. I am doing my best to simply hold space open for whatever is waiting to emerge.










My meditation teacher once told me there would be a time in my life when my practice would consist of touching the cushion; that life will get busy and time to sit will not be possible but that the act of remembrance will be enough. My life feels that way right now. I scurry through the house on my way somewhere and I pass by my yoga room and see my cushion in front of my altar waiting for me. In my mind, I lightly touch the indigo fabric as if to say "I will be back."








And so my days go - trips to the doctor's office with my mother, work, grocery shopping, martial arts classes, after school pick up, the thrice circuit around the neighborhood with Moose, trash day, teaching day, a rare outing with friends, and oh-yes to the library before the books are overdue.

My life is my practice and my practice is my life. It matters little if I get to my cushion today or next week ... I know I will return. There is no timetable, no set agenda, no syllabus to be following. There is only being present for what is before me and keeping my heart open to receive what is being offered.

Words I carry in my medicine pouch these days:


Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.

Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.

May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

- John O'Donohue










Back out I go ... but I am leaving you a trail of stones - these words - to help you follow me should you want to wander a bit in the wild. Holding the space for all kinds of magic to happen.

10 comments:

  1. Lis, I am weeping whilst reading your words. Are we living parallel lives? I feel so in so many ways. And I stop by your place and feel like you can sum up my own feelings, fears, worries, in such sage, evanescent words. I love all of your self portraits and particularly love the necklace you wear. But John O'Donohue's words, my goodness, especially, "take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention" as in the surplus of mundane and routine I have had a serious shake up in the last 24 hours and so these lines tell me to look, see and just be. Oh, but I am so very, very grateful our paths have crossed. Heart hugs from me to you.

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  2. Can I scream at Blogger now for these impossible word verifications? I swear it takes being part Martian to actually see what is warp-edly written.

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  3. ~"that life will get busy and time to sit will not be possible but that the act of remembrance will be enough."

    i don't think i could have read more powerful words than these this day...thank you for sharing this with us...truly a dose of medicinal words to ease my mind...you my dear are a touchstone...i am wandering your trail of stones...gathering wisdom and insight...much love light and blessings~

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  4. Oh I knew that there would be something to soothe me here today and I was right. Thank you lovely Lis for taking the time to attend to the practice of your life as you do and to share the calm that you create for yourself. Relief and hope is what I take away from visits here.

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  5. Lis - your words have touched me deeply today - as I try to pay attention and meditate as I wash dishes, walk Mozi, clean the house - I try to sit in meditation - but my time is not my own...not yet...someday it will be again and I know that when I'm sitting ready to meditate I'll remember this busy time and I'll long for it....just as I longed for the time with my babe in arms just the other day after seeing new moms out with their new 3 month old babies in a restaurant. What a wonderful post of gentleness. Thank you. xoxo

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  6. "life will get busy and time to sit will not be possible but that the act of remembrance will be enough"

    love this
    what a freedom those words can give during the busier seasons of life
    the truth remains
    the yoga room waits
    Spirit never fades

    Beautiful post Lis
    a deep sacred truth in your words
    thank you for sharing

    Love and Light
    (coming over from SouLodge, thank you for visiting my space)

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  7. i feel crazy-busy myself and i wonder if this is life or if i am missing life because of all this activity. who know. but things come up and we float along, rapids and calm waters combined.

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  8. oh my dear.

    yes, yes and YES!

    i, too, get bogged down and a bit frantic with the busy and mundane -- thinking i'm missing out/wasting precious time...

    but yes, The Man has it -- doesn't he always?

    love you...and this...and all the wild and beautiful possibilities...

    *deep sigh*

    xoxox

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  9. Beautiful post! I love the self portraits - gorgeous!!

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  10. So very poignant- making the moment the practice whatever that may be. Fully present at dr. appointments or in the car. . .
    Love Mr. O'Donohue's phrase about experiencing "each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder." That is what I feel most compelled to cultivate lately.
    Happy New Moon!!
    love-
    angela

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