Sabath for Air

Geese meeting in the February sky.

Today is Sunday, which I celebrate as my Sabbath, meaning that I keep it simple, slow-paced, and peaceful. I take time out from busy-ness so I can practice deepening my inner life.

One way to balance with the universe is to give attention to the sacred elements- air, earth, fire, and water.

Today I plan to explore air, the element of wind, breath, inspiration, and spirit. Air is the great road in the sky- home of birds, and angels, and the life-energy we breathe.

Sabbath Plan:
1. All Day Meditation:
I begin my celebration of the Sabbath right away when I awaken-- I pause before jumping out of bed to remember God, and acknowledge that I have God within. I hold that remembering through the day, lightly, like a dove resting on my shoulder. I remember to smile and allow love to shine.

2. Altar: 

Today I add feathers and incense to my altar, for the air. 

I collect feathers on my walks, always picking up any feather in my path. Mostly I seem to find the feathers of crows and jays- crows are the symbol of transformation, fearlessness, and wisdom, and jays symbolize clarity, curiosity, and determination.

3. Practice Yoga Breathing: 

Breath is a connection between my body, my mind, and the universe. It also connects me to the past and the future: I breathe the same air that my ancestors breathed, and Jesus, and Buddha. 

My state of mind is linked to the quality of my prana or ki, the life-energy that breath provides. Yoga breathing- called pranayama- is the formal practice of controlling the breath, to nurture health and mental clarity. 

Sit up straight, to help the flow of prana. Breathe in deeply, filling the bottom of your lungs first, then the middle, and the top. Pause, then exhale fully, and repeat. Count ten breaths without thoughts interrupting. 

Find out more about pranayama here.

4. Inspiration Visualization: 

Every breath is a chance to receive inspiration, but where do ideas and images come from? What breathes into me when I am inspired? 

My thoughts shift and change like the clouds in the sky. To create the optimal conditions for inspiration I need to still them. When I pay attention to my breathing, stay present-centered, open to the IDEA of inspiration, and manage to have harmony of ki, then I connect with the ki of the universe, and ideas flow in. 

Settle someplace where you can see the sky. Practice pranayama for a few minutes, then close your eyes and picture yourself someplace high (I see myself on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean, on a sunny day). 

Feel the wind and the freedom. Feel yourself floating with the clouds. What message does the wind have for you? Breathe in the wind-message, deeply, and float with it for a while. Breathe out a reply. Come back to earth.