Assignment d'jour:

Set an alarm on your watch, computer, smart phone, whatever to alert you every hour, ½ hr, 15-20 mins, whatever. Then, when it sings, take a brief moment to stop what you're doing, take a full breath, close your eyes and let it out - pause to feel the open space within.

Reconnecting with your quiet self on regular intervals should have a profound affect on how you feel and function throughout your days.

Eh? What's that? Speak up!

In the land of mind-readers … Oh, but wait, I live here.

As long as I can remember, I've heard people say things like, “Couldn't you tell?”, “How could you not know?”, “I would have said something, but I thought it was obvious”, et. al. It may have been a girl I really liked who also liked me, but I had no idea. Perhaps I was supposed to not say something, according to someone else's reasoning, and I missed the memo. Did that wink mean “You know what I mean” or “You know, of course, that's not really what I mean”?

It's so clear to us how we think and feel, and we may try to show it with a look or a touch or a gesture. The problem is, the other generally doesn't pick up on it or doesn't know quite how to interpret it. We may think of ourselves as very open people with all of our cards out on the table for everyone to see. But this isn't the case unless you vocalize.

Actions, of course, speak their own language, and I would encourage you to use that, as well. But, to most, I suggest that you use your words a little more freely when there's something that you truly want another to know.

Question(s) d'jour:

I understand that we all feel a calling to know our deepest nature. It's just that it's not the right time to get too heavily into all that, right now.

When will it be? What are you waiting for?

Assignment d'jour:

Take a bag or three into your local patch of nature
and fill it/them with trash.
If possible, take some friends and their bags, too.

Perpetual Balancing Act

“Teacher, you are contradicting yourself.”

“No. Instructions have to vary as students needs change. Imagine that you're walking down the road in the dark and can't see where you're going. And that I, wearing night vision goggles am directing you. If I see you drifting off toward the ditch on your right, I'll tell you to go left. If you're too far to the left ...”

I speak repeatedly of awakening to one's quiet presence. This isn't to imply that the conceptual/emotional mind is to be abandoned or disenfranchised. It's an important and integral part of who we are. It's just that most are stuck in that ditch, so I repeatedly coach to the other side. The goal being to walk the middle way, to find and sustain balance, to stand with one foot in each world.

Question(s) d'jour:

What did you lose when you “grew up”?
Where did it go?
Is there any of it you wish you still had?
Can you reclaim it?

Assignment d'jour:

Stand in front of a mirror. Don't look at your skin, hair, attire or features. Gaze as if you're meeting a stranger that you want to know, and peer behind those eyes and into the soul. Give it a little time, then reflect on what you witnessed.