Sabbath for Recovery

It's been a wild few days! We have a tiny new grandson! 

And we've spent the last three days and nights with our first born grandson, who is not quite three yet. We've had some tears and tantrums - the pains of being away from Mommy for the first time - but also some really sweet cuddles.

Today we hope the family will be re-united, and we will get to recover a little bit.

Agenda:

1. Recovery plans

2. Prepare for Imbalc

3. Practice a Reverent Way of Being

4. Write about my seeds of inspiration

5. House clearing

1. Recovery plans:

I've been dreaming about this for three days: Quiet time in the garden moving some leaves, followed by a hot bath and washing my hair, and then a long nap ALONE.

2. Prepare for Imbalc:

Imbalc is coming in a couple days and I have a few practical and contemplative preparations to make: I've already sent invitations, but I need to confirm them, gather some wood for a fire, make a creativity altar, collect garden seeds, and write about my "seeds of inspiration."

3. Practice a Reverent Way of Being:

I've decided to adopt a Reverent Way of Being for the days before each turning point of the year, which is to say I will be respectful and humble, and use a discipline of speech and thought that I find difficult to maintain for long periods of time.

Specifically, I will be impeccably honest, and tell no little fibs. Also, I will not gossip or say (or even think) anything negative about anyone. These are my worst habits, and it will be useful to practice being virtuous for a couple days at regular intervals throughout the year!

4. Write about my seeds of inspiration:

At Imbalc, I write about my seeds of inspiration - those thoughts, dreams and ideas that are inside me waiting to grow into wise actions, sweet words, or beautiful things made by my hands.

What is waiting to bloom in me this year? 

I write each germ of inspiration on a tiny slip of paper, and roll it into a seed, then put these into a bowl on my altar.

5. House clearing:

February is upon us soon, and this is the month when I begin to clear away the excess to make room for growth. Clutter might give me the illusion that I have important things to do, but it adds one more layer of chaos and confusion to my life.

Now that I've gotten the mold in my house under control I can concentrate on clearing surfaces, sorting the stuff on my shelves, and donating things I no longer need. 

I made a list of the biggest sorting projects I need to do, including the studio art supply shelves, kitchen food cupboards, and old notebooks and papers, and this week I'll get started in the kitchen.