March 30, 2023

2023 Lent Calendar, Week 6

I missed last week's calendar because of a stomach bug - It's nice to be well, and practicing Lent again!

March 26, Fifth Sunday of Lent-
1. Nature Mentor: 
One of my intentions for Lent this year has been to dive into various web sites that offer information about nature, starting with Nature Mentor. The writer, Brian Mertins, offers a practical approach to awakening naturalist instincts by building skills with plants and birds.


First he talks about his names for the different sounds: 

"I’ve given each of these calls a name simply because naming things tends to help it stick better in the memory. Some of them are onomatopoeic in a way that makes sense to my ear. But your ears might be different, so feel free to give them names that make sense for you! ... It really doesn’t matter what you end up calling them because the whole point is just to help you remember more easily."

The first call he names is the Tut Call:

"Tutting calls are a bit quieter than some of the other sounds made by robins, but once you hear it, this one is unmistakable. To me it literally sounds like the robin is saying “Tut”. ... In most cases tut calls are just brief moments of activity. You might hear a short burst of 2-3 calls and then not much else. I notice this sound is often a precursor to some sort of action like movement or more intense alarming.

Robins will often make this sound when they get pushed up off a feeding site by human beings or dogs, or possibly to get a better look at something off in the distance. ... Pay close attention to the rhythm of this call and the length of time that it goes on for. If you notice robin tuts happening over and over for long periods of time, this very frequently is a house-cat."


2. Resilience practice: I'm reading section three, on Optimism. Practice #53 is Imagine Your joyful Future Self. It's possible to feel more optimistic just by visualizing a better future.
  1. First, think about a time when you felt joyful in the past, and connect with that joy by remembering how you looked, and how it felt in your body. Try to duplicate that feeling.
  2. Maintain the feeling of joy you've raised, and imagine what your joyful future-self might look and feel like in one year. Think about how joy might lead you to a dream for the future (but don't get attached to a specific future outcome).
  3. After a few minutes, write down the story of how joy moved you forward, and the particular strengths of yours that helped get you there.
3. Plastic fast: Easter is around the corner, and like all holidays in the US, it generates a lot of plastic trash. Tips: Use a wooden, wire, or rattan basket. Avoid the shredded plastic bedding known as Easter grass. (If you already have it, be sure to package it up and reuse it year after year rather than tossing it.) Get the same effect with colorful paper using your paper shredder.

Rather than buying plastic eggs to fill, consider buying papier-mache eggs. If plastic eggs are already in your home, use them for years to come and donate them when you no longer need them. Remember to flex your conscientious-purchasing muscles while figuring out what to put into the eggs, too. Coins, paper-wrapped candies or goldfish crackers, wooden toys, or clues to larger prizes all fit the bill. Look for bulk sources for chocolate eggs and jelly-beans to reduce plastic packaging.

Or use hard-boiled eggs! And if you make your own egg dyes, you will cut out all the packaging involved with store-bought dye kits, including individually wrapped dye tablets and plastic cups and dippers. Here’s an egg dye recipe using food colors that works great; and here's one with vegetable egg dyes, including onion skins, turmeric, and cabbage, which eliminates the plastic food color bottles!

March 27-
1. Nature Mentor: 
I'm reading Brian Mertins' post
 7 Robin Calls Everyone Should Know For Bird Language.


#2 The “Peak” Call is another common robin sound, and varies tremendously in its application. It's sometimes made as an alarm, but definitely not always. The most important thing to help you sort the true meaning of a call is looking at the rhythm and context.

"This call often occurs as a series of brief, but intense bursts. This is typically a male-male aggression call. If you hear it happening repeatedly and rhythmically for a long period of time, you should definitely investigate the possibility of a perched owl, or possibly a hawk. This call also frequently happens in conjunction with tut calls".

2. Resilience practice: Practice #54 is to Receive with Humility, as in humbly asking for help. Knowing how to ask for assistance when you need it is a strength. 
  1. Reflect on the fact that we can't do life alone: We need each other to maintain our basic needs - food, shelter, clothing.
  2. Identify what you need help with, and locate those with expertise in that area; write a list of up to 3 persons you trust who can help, or who can give good advice, and also any other services or resources.
  3. Contact all your resources. Be direct with asking for help, and express your sincere gratitude for help you receive.
3. Plastic fast: Parties - Use REAL silverware and plates, and glassware that’s versatile and strong, like mason jars, to avoid using single-use plastic cups. Or if you’re having larger gatherings or have children attending, find compostable paper or bamboo options for cutlery, plates, and hot and cold cups.

You should check to make sure that you can really compost your compostables, and whether this means tossing them into a home compost bin or taking them to a special composting facility: Sustainable materials like bamboo and paper will easily decompose in the compost, but the bigger problem is the PLA (polylactic acid) that’s often paired with them; PLA is a polymer made from renewable resources, used as a reinforcer. If PLA is used more as a liner, then it can typically be composted at home. Cups made primarily of PLA will have to be taken to a composting facility.

March 28, Navratri and First Quarter moon--
1. Nature Mentor: 
I'm reading Brian Mertins' post
 7 Robin Calls Everyone Should Know For Bird Language.


#3 The Robin “Whinny” Call is commonly called the whinny amongst birders because it sounds a bit like a horse.
"Notice this call sounds completely different from the other sounds made by robins. But don’t let this vocal diversity fool your ear… it’s definitely a Robin! I once observed this call being made in alarm response to a coyote moving along a game trail. ... There are other times when it seems to be used for territorial purposes, or even calling out to distant companions.

2. Plastic fast: Zero waste eating out: Pack a zero-waste bag to take when eating out, with a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, and bamboo cutlery. Plastic disposable cutlery and straws are among the worst plastic pollution culprits. Also, put together a bag of reusable containers for leftovers and keep it in the car, to box your food at the end of a meal. If you end up with leftovers, ask what carryout containers the restaurant uses. If possible, it’s always better to use you own reusable containers.

March 29-
1. Nature Mentor: 
I'm reading Brian Mertins' post
 7 Robin Calls Everyone Should Know For Bird Language.

#4 is the Robin Song, a very common sound made by robins that everyone should know. In many places this is one of the first sounds you’ll hear if you get outside before first light to catch the dawn chorus. It's a sound that takes me back to springs of my childhood.

"If you listen very carefully, it’s possible to hear that each robin actually sings their cycles of melodious phrasing a little bit differently from other robins. With practice, it is possible to identify individual robins by their song.

The song tends to be used most often during the nesting season, and correlates to some extent with the nesting stage, which says a lot about their behavior."

2. Plastic fast: Ordering carryout can be a problem. Some restaurants are now using fully biodegradable and compostable clamshells or other carryout containers made of molded fiber from plants such as corn, sugarcane, and bamboo. But many of these products are too expensive for restaurants with a high volume of take-out orders. Ask what type of containers the restaurant uses before placing a take-out order. If you don’t like the response, consider a different restaurant or ask if they will use containers you provide. If you go ahead and place an order that entails Styrofoam clamshells, register your concerns about plastic when you pick it up and encourage them to switch to eco-friendly containers. Politely decline any plastic utensils, seasonings packaged in plastic, and flimsy tote bags.

March 30-
1. Nature Mentor: 
I'm reading Brian Mertins' post
 7 Robin Calls Everyone Should Know For Bird Language.

#5 The Dog-Whistle Call/Alarm is a thin, high pitched call that typically indicates the presence of aerial predators.

"For some people this call can be a bit tough to hear. It does take a bit of practice to get your ears tuned in. I’ve observed this call being used most frequently in the presence of crows, ravens, & bird eating hawks/falcons. It’s surprisingly common once you get the hang of it, and might make you wonder about how many aerial predators you’re probably missing out there.

Listen to this with the sound down because of its piercing, high frequency.

2. Plastic fast: School lunch: According to National Geographic, "The average 8- to 12-year-old throws away about 67 pounds of lunch trash every year." It's gotten so bad that the EPA has a "Pack A Waste-Free Lunch" program, with activity sheets. Tips: Avoid snack-sized cups of anything! Instead, pack foods in reusable containers or reusable snack bags. Use a thermos, pack bamboo utensils, and a cloth napkin.

March 31-
1. Nature Mentor: 
I'm reading Brian Mertins' post
 7 Robin Calls Everyone Should Know For Bird Language.

#6 The Flight Call – “Tsip” -  is one of the easiest robin calls to miss because it’s so quiet.

"If you ever get a chance to sit and watch flocks of robins feeding in a large grassy space, you will definitely hear this call. Watch for groups of 10-20 or more robins sharing a communal feeding spot. You’ll probably notice most of them are on the grass doing the usual robin hunting pattern. Then occasionally a passing dog or possibly nearby hawks will cause some of the flock to fly up into the trees. Listen carefully when they fly back down to the ground and you’ll hear the tsip call announcing the movement. As far as I can tell, this call gets used whenever a robin flies from one spot to another, typically in a relaxed way, like when going down to feed on the ground."

2. Plastic fast: When traveling, bring your own. Bring your own toiletries and avoid using the free hotel offerings. Skip buying single-use travel sizes; instead buy small re-fillable containers. Put together a travel kit – utensils, cloth napkins, plates, bowls, mugs or stainless-steel travel cups, salt & pepper, etc. Use them at hotels that offer breakfast served on single-use plastic (with plastic utensils). Always carry a reusable water bottle or container for coffee or tea. If you can’t fill a water bottle before boarding a plane, ask for water on the plane and hand your bottle to the service attendant with the top off.

April 1-
1. Nature Mentor: 
I'm reading Brian Mertins' post
 7 Robin Calls Everyone Should Know For Bird Language.

#7 The “Squee” Call is similar to the tsip in that it’s a flight call, or sometimes made pre-flight. It often has a higher degree of intensity and can indicate situations of alarm or territoriality.

"When you hear this call, watch carefully for what the robin does next…

    • Does it fly to another perch?
    • Does it go chase another robin?
    • Does it post up in the tree tops in sentinel position?

Each of these behaviors communicates a different meaning from the same call. This is why context is so important."

2. Plastic fast: Remember Discernment. When we regularly practice listening for guidance, we become more sensitive to Divine nudges in our personal choices.

QueriesAre we careful to meet problems in a spirit of love and humility, with minds open for creative solutions? Are we aware that we speak through our inaction as well as our actions?

March 28, 2023

Navratri, Part 3, and First Quarter Moon

Navratri continues for three more nights, with the arrival of Saraswati. 

The word navratri means nine nights; on each set of three nights we meditate on a different aspect of Shakti, the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace. For these final three nights we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Saraswati, who is "the essence of self".
 
Photo by Alan Gillespie
Tonight is also the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - growing in light and energy, creating a time for decisive action. I use this end-of-March quarter moon's energy to be really present in my body, and do the work - less dreaming and more creating, digging, cleaning, writing, biking, and playing!

Agenda Today:
1. Journal queries
2. Make a Full Effort Plan
3. Write a mission haiku
4. Practice visualization
5. Morning meditation and mantra
6. Add to my altar

March 25, 2023

Sabbath for Transition

Today is my sabbath - for a couple of days at the end of my week I step out of the fray, and regroup. Spring has sprung, and my focus is shifting. Today I'll take some time to ponder transitions of body, mind, and spirit.

My perfect sabbath is a celebration, a holiday. I keep it holy with my attitude: I don't rush, complain, or worry. Everything I do has a flavor of peace. I schedule some work, but it's work I find fulfilling, or uplifting. Simple is a great word to describe my ideal activities for the sabbath: Simple tasks, simple foods, and an undemanding schedule.

1. Word #6 - Authority
2. Shift my balance
3. Set intentions

Navratri Continues

Navratri continues tonight with the visit of Lakshmi. The word navratri means nine nights; on each set of three nights we meditate on a different aspect of Shakti, the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us - the Goddesses Durga, then Lakshmi, and then Saraswati.

Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace. Tonight we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Lakshmi, the Goddess of success.

2021 rangoli
Laksmi is a beautiful golden woman with four arms, sitting on a fully bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud. Cascades of gold coins flow from her hands, and she wears gold embroidered red clothes, indicating her offering of prosperity. The word Lakshmi comes from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning aim or goal. Lakshmi heals and nourishes my spirit and brings me steadiness of mind. She bestows spiritual and material wealth, good food, health, and happiness. Lakshmi brings the growth and unfolding of whatever is life-enhancing. 

Agenda Today:
1. Morning meditation and mantra
2. Resilience practice
2. Make a new rangoli design
3. Add to my altar

March 23, 2023

Ramadan

Sunset photo by Brayden
Tonight is the start of Ramadan, an Islamic holy day that marks the discovery of the Qur’an by the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic calendar is totally lunar, so Ramadan begins a few weeks earlier each year, at the sighting of the thin crescent moon, hopefully at sundown tonight.

Ramadan is a month of blessing. By night, Muslims read the Qur'an, and celebrate the compassion of God with special prayers. 

By day, they give to charities, and observe the discipline of fasting: They eat an early morning meal before the sun rises, then eat and drink nothing until after sundown. The Ramadan fast includes abstinence from falsehood and anger, in words and in deeds.

Even though I don't partake in a fast, I observe Ramadan in this same spirit, renewing my relationship with God, and exercising self-discipline and generosity. I hope to build my empathy for Muslims as they observe their month-long fast. Also, coming as it does this year, at the tail end of Lent, I'm re-focussing my efforts for being rooted in nature.

Agenda:
1. Celestial awareness
2.
 Practice a daily prayer for children
3. Resilience practice
4. Enjoy Iftar

March 22, 2023

Chaitra Navratri

Today is the start of Navratri, a Hindu holiday during which we honor and thank Shakti, the Divine Mother, in all her forms. Shakti is the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us.

The word nava means nine and ratri means nights; the festival lasts for nine nights and ten days. Navratri is celebrated twice each year, in the spring and fall, because these are times when nature and people undergo great changes. Spring (Chaitra) Navratri begins the day after the new moon in late March or early April, and is celebrated as a request to Shakti for a good growing season.

Agenda:
2021 Rangoli
1- Make a rangoli design
2- Plant grain seeds
3- Set up an altar for Mother Nature

4- Morning meditation on strength
5- Make channa sundal (spicy chickpeas)
6- Evening visualization and prayer
7- Durga mantra

March 21, 2023

Nowruz and New Budding moon (leap moon)

Nowruz is the Persian New Year, which begins each year at the time of the spring equinox in Iran, and is celebrated for two weeks. The word Nowruz means New Day in Persian. It’s an ancient Persian belief that creation of the world took place on the first day of spring.

And tonight is the new moon. (Correction: This is the second Budding Moon - a leap moon in China) The Chinese call the third new moon the Sleepy Moon, because the drowsiness of spring is in the air.

On the first three days of this moon, the Chinese in Beijing celebrate the birthday of Hsi Wang Mu with a temple festival. Hsi Wang Mu is the Grandmother Goddess of the Western Heaven, also called the Great Yin. She controls the cosmic forces of time and space, determines life and death, and controls disease and healing. She watches over the tree of the peaches of immortality.

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat and set intentions for the next phase of my year.

Agenda:
1. Retreat Day
2. Choose a month theme
3. New moon altar and meditation
4. Dye a few eggs
5. Prepare the sabzeh
6. Make Koloocheh Cookies
7. Set up a haft sin
8. Nowruz Ceremony

March 20, 2023

Spring Equinox

Spring equinox 
occurred this afternoon at 2:24 p.m. PDT. The word equinox comes from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night). This is a moment of balance - the sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west, and we experience twelve hours each of light and dark. From this moment on, we gain more light each day, until the summer solstice.
 

Agenda Today:
1. Journal queries
2. Spring cleaning plan
3. Decorate for spring
4. Plant my straw doll

March 17, 2023

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is an Irish holiday that falls on March 17 each year. In Ireland its celebrated with parades, community feasts, singing, dancing, and church services, all in honor of St. Patrick, an English man who lived in about 400 A.D.St. 

Pat’s whole name was Magnus Sucatus Patricus. When he was 16, Irish raiders carried him off from England to Ireland to work as a slave. He escaped six years later, traveled and studied for many years, and became a Christian missionary. He returned to Ireland, and grew famous for all the miracles he performed and for converting many Irish people to Christianity.

The Celts brought a new perspective to Christianity, quite different than the Romans; the four major themes of Celtic spirituality are:

  • Pilgrimage as a means of discovering your own path to God 
  • Monasticism and life in community
  • Art and symbolism
  • The idea that God is present everywhere
Agenda Today:
1. Prayer of St. Patrick
2. Wear the green
3. Plant peas and onions
4. Enjoy hot Irish coffee

March 15, 2023

2023 Lent Calendar, Week 4

March 12, Farvardegan-
1. 
Nature Mentor: 
Continuing with Brian Mertin's fantastic post: How Does Animal Communication Work? Last week I was reading about 
his formula for animal communication, sensory awareness + intuition, with some common sense thrown in.

First, stop thinking like a human, and use common sense to deduct: Animals are almost 100% focused on survival, so that's what they are probably communicating about, and that includes food, enemies, mating, and sanctuary.

Second, work on systematically developing your sensory awareness to become better at accessing your innate skills.

Third, you should also keep an intuition journal, to record whenever you get a gut feeling, or a flash of an image in your mind. Keep 80-90% of your focus external, and 10-20% internal, to catch any subconscious information.

And finally, practice being non-threatening. "Cultivate a quiet, peaceful and open attitude towards all of nature, and they will see that you are becoming more like them."

2. Resilience practice: I'm reading section two, on Clarity. Practice #32 is to Be the Pebble. When you have too many thoughts swirling in your head try this simple practice for stilling your mind.
  1. Find a quiet spot where you can take a short break.
  2. Pick a neutral word, phrase, or image that won't stimulate more thinking (a word like calm, or an image like a pebble).
  3. Give gentle attention to your pebble-word for just a couple of minutes. If your thoughts wander just bring them back to the pebble.
3. Give thanks: During the 10 days of Farvardegan, Zoroastrians show love and gratitude to the Fravashis, or Guardian Angels, for all the help they give during the year. They give thanks to two types of Fravashis - those helping Nature and those helping people. Every creation has a Fravashi: They help waters to flow, plants to grow, clouds to go where needed, and the sun, moon and planets to go around in their orbits. They uphold the sky and earth.

Today as I work quietly in my garden, I thank the earth for caring for me, and the angels for caring for the earth.

4. Plastic fast: 

Stop buying those large plastic jugs of laundry detergent. The laundry detergent aisle at your grocery store is Plastic Central; those bulky and colorful high density polyethylene plastic jugs are incredibly harmful for the environment and contribute to a large portion of our household plastic pollution. In North America alone, more than30-billion loads of laundry are run every year, which adds up to about 900-million laundry jugs, and only about 30 percent of these are recycled, despite co-mingle recycling. That means 630-million plastic jugs are finding their way into North American landfills on a yearly basis.


Buy laundry detergent in cardboard boxes, which are much easier to recycle. Or try laundry soap sheets - they work great! These pre-measured, dissolvable sheets carry all the laundry cleaning power of liquid detergent without the plastic containers.
 
March 13-
1. Nature Mentor: Following a link from Brian Mertin's post on animal communication I found these 8 Amazing Sensory Awareness Exercises. He says that typical modern humans use barely 1% of their true sensory capabilities, and all it takes is daily practice to develop this skill.

#1 The Sense Meditation

​Find a place to sit outside and focus all your attention on being present for at least 5 minutes. Best results come from doing it for 20 minutes or longer, and as a daily routine.

Start by closing your eyes and taking a few moments to relax. Feel the different parts of your body relaxing. Feel the weight of your body against the ground. Feel your breath floating in and out.

Listen deeply to all the sounds happening around you. How many different sounds can you hear? What’s the farthest sound you can hear? What’s the quietest sound you can hear?

Use your nose to smell the environment around you. Feel the sunshine and wind on your face. Really tune in and pay attention.

​Finally open your eyes and gaze softly at the world. Allow your visual field to open up in every direction. Keep your head still but notice the movement of birds, wind, and squirrels in the corner of your eye. Just sit in total openness with all your senses engaged for as long as you want. 

2. Resilience practice: I'm reading section two, on Clarity. Practice #33 is S.T.O.P. for Clarity of Purpose. It's another acronym! This one helps you to Slow down, Tune in, Observe, and Prepare for your purpose. Use it when things are moving too fast, and you feel overwhelmed.
  1. Slow down and take 3 calming breaths.
  2. Tune in to your body, starting at your feet and moving up to your head, noticing and releasing any tensions.
  3. Observe your surroundings using all your senses, and identify at least one thing that is pleasant or soothing in your environment.
  4. Prepare for your purpose. Ask yourself what purposeful action you can take that allows you to respond thoughtfully and not reactively.
3. Plastic fast: Fabric softener is another plastic to avoid. Obviously, jugs of fabric softener are as bad as detergent jugs, but did you know that dryer sheets are typically made from nonwoven polyester (also known as a plastic)? Each sheet can only be used once, and they can’t be recycled, so they end up in landfills for years to come.

Try wool dryer balls instead. They are an eco-friendly, sustainable alternative to single-use dryer sheets and fabric softener. They work by bouncing off clothes to soften them, and they also help clothes stay separated in the dryer so air can flow more freely, reducing drying time by 25 percent per load. Best, they last up to an impressive 1,000 loads.

March 14, Third Quarter Moon-
1. Nature Mentor: Continuing with Brian Mertin's post on 8 Amazing Sensory Awareness Exercises:

#2 Advanced Peripheral Vision

When I first started developing my sensory awareness I noticed it was very difficult to stay in peripheral vision for long periods of time. ... If I blinked or moved my eyes to look at something, suddenly my awareness would snap back to the centre. I also found that if I moved my head, again I would lose awareness of my peripheral field. 
 

It’s possible to train yourself out of these habits so that eventually you can move through all aspects of life with a keen awareness of your peripheral vision. Here are some simple ways to exercise the skill:

    • Practice staying in peripheral vision while blinking
    • Practice staying in peripheral vision while moving your head from side to side or in circles
    • Practice staying in peripheral vision while moving your eyes from side to side or in circles
    • Practice staying in peripheral vision while walking, reading, watching TV, any other activity that restricts your attention.
2. Resilience practice: I'm reading section two, on Clarity. Practice #34 is to Elevate Your View. When you get stuck in a mental or emotional rut, try this way of elevating your perspective to create space for restoring your resilience.
  1. Picture yourself high on a hilltop, looking down on the situation or rut in which you find yourself.  From this viewpoint, ask yourself, "What new perspective does this view offer me?" Maybe you can see that you are not alone, or that there is an easy way out.
  2. From the hill top, take a deep breath, and take time to relax and feel free of the rut. Remember and recognize that this situation is temporary. Soon you will move into a new chapter. 
  3. Finally, as you watch the scene from above, reflect on a new attitude you could take at this moment. How will the next chapter begin?
3. Plastic fast: Wash synthetic fabrics on delicate setting with cold water. All clothing sheds microfibers when you wash it, but the washing of synthetic textiles (fleece, acrylics, polyesters, and blends) is the main source of microplastic pollution in the ocean, because their microfibers contain plastic that is released into rivers and oceans. Fleece and other synthetic fabrics break down less with cold water and a gentle cycle. Also, consider just washing your clothes less often.

March 15-
1. Nature Mentor: Continuing with Brian Mertin's post on 8 Amazing Sensory Awareness Exercises:

#3 Advanced Listening Skills

Start by picking a sound that repeats over and over again. It could be a birdsong, or an occasionally breeze that makes the tree leaves rustle every minute or so. ​I call these repetitive sounds, “natural rhythms” because if you listen carefully they have a rhythm and a tempo that changes in very subtle ways over time.

The trick to hearing these subtle changes is counting. Try counting each and every instance of that bird song. If your mind drifts and you miss one… go back and start again. I bet you can’t count ten in a row without a lot of practice.

Eventually you’ll notice that the time between songs does indeed have subtle variations. Sometimes a bird will sing 5 in a row and then pause for a few minutes before starting again in a new location. These shifts in bird activity will really stand out to you once you start paying careful attention, and there’s really no limit to how far you can develop this skill.

​I’ve gotten to the point where I can have a conversation with somebody, while simultaneously tracking the calls and sounds of multiple songbirds across a wide landscape. It comes in handy when the sound pattern shifts from songs & feeding activity to alarm calls of cats or owls in the woods nearby.

2. Resilience practice: I'm reading section two, on Clarity. Practice #35 is to Be the Gate of the Mind. Whenever you become "lost in thought" (perhaps self-critical or judgmental thoughts) so that your thoughts become more real than reality, you can pull yourself back to the present moment.
  1. First, when you notice your mind wandering, simply label it as "thinking," without any judgement. If you are also experiencing an emotion, you can also name that, so that you become clearly aware of it.
  2. As the kindly gate-keeper, gently refocus your attention back on the present moment and whatever you are actually doing. Patiently repeat this as often as you need to.
3. Plastic fast: Use a microfiber filter. The jury is still out on the efficiency of filters, but a few products claim to keep microplastics out of wastewater when you wash your clothes. The Cora Ball is a pinecone-esque laundry ball that catches microfibers in the wash; the LINT Luv-R is a filter that attaches to the washing machine outflow; and a Guppyfriend bag is a self-cleaning fabric bag made of a specially designed micro-filter material that you wash your clothes in.

March 16
1. Nature Mentor: Continuing with Brian Mertin's fantastic post: How Does Animal Communication Work?:

#4 Blindfolding

Blindfolding is one of the best ways to improve your awareness of hearing, feeling & smelling. Just put on a blindfold and go exploring in the woods. Bonus points if you’re able to walk quietly while blindfolded.

Remember to stop frequently and listen. It’s not about covering distance or getting to any specific destination. It’s about paying attention. You’ll be more successful by moving slowly and taking time to really feel and explore your landscape. Try to mentally map your movements and then test your accuracy afterwards.

It’s also a good idea to have someone with you making sure you don’t hurt yourself (or walk off a cliff). Though I do sometimes practice alone in my backyard where I know the terrain and always have a pretty good idea of where I am.

2. Resilience practice: I'm reading section two, on Clarity. Practice #36 is Mental Flossing. This practice helps to clear away the accumulation of foggy thinking and exhaustion that builds up in the mind throughout the day.
  1. Morning: Stretch your body and savor the fresh morning air. Think of your day's purpose and how you might manifest it.
  2. Daytime: Make meaningful contact with other beings, with smiles, hugs, and other forms of communication. Listen to music. Eat a nourishing back.
  3. Evening: Express your love to loved ones. Spend time in your garden, or with a hobby. Exercise for a few minutes.
  4. Bedtime: Say a prayer, or express gratitude.
3. Plastic fast: Purchase sustainable fabrics. We would like to think that natural fabrics are better for the environment, but nothing is that simple. When you shop for clothes, look for sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, linen, vegetable-tanned leather, and an amazing array of new environmentally friendly fabrics. Also, buying used clothing is a super-sustainability practice!

March 17, St. Patrick's Day
1. Nature Mentor: Continuing with Brian Mertin's fantastic post: How Does Animal Communication Work?

#5 Going Barefoot

Going barefoot opens up a world of sensory stimulation. It also comes with some really major awareness challenges. Just take your shoes off and you will immediately feel a need to slow down and be more attentive to where you’re stepping, especially if you combine going barefoot with being blindfolded.

When walking barefoot there will be a tendency to look down towards your feet however, when possible you should resist the urge to look down. Instead, practice using your peripheral vision to look out in front of you and use your feet like a second pair of eyes to feel the ground you walk on.

You’ll want to move much more slowly at first and you may even find your balance shaky. Don’t commit your weight until you’re certain you won’t be stepping on a sharp stick or rock. I started by practicing on grass and gradually moved into more challenging and hazardous terrain.

2. Resilience practice: I'm reading section two, on Clarity. Practice #37 is an Instant Focus Booster. When coffee isn't the answer, this practice can help to wake up your brain cells and improve your concentration.
  1. Clasp your fingers and place your hands under your chin, elbows down.
  2. Count to 4 as you slowly breathe in and raise your elbows like butterfly wings. Let your chin and head tilt backwards and upwards. (Don't take so deep a breath that you feel light-headed.)
  3. Hold your breath for a count of 4.
  4. Exhale slowly for a count of 6, pushing out all your breath, and lower your "wings."
  5. Repeat 2 or 3 more times to build up your focusing energy.
3. Action: 
In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is the traditional day to plant peas and potatoes (or so some people say). I'm not planting potatoes this year, but today I'll plant my onions, and a second planting of peas.

4. Plastic fast: Practice "Slow Fashion". Clothing costs are at an all-time low because of an industry business model called Fast Fashion: Production of cheap, low-quality clothes that need to be replaced more often (not quite single-use, but almost!) This has serious consequences on our health, our planet, and on garment workers’ lives.

Slow fashion, in contrast, advocates for buying better-quality garments that will last longer, and values fair treatment of people, animals, and the use of the planets resources. When you shop for clothing look for durability and quality. Shop in smaller, local stores rather than chain stores. Buy styles that are timeless rather than trendy. Learn how to make simple repairs - replace buttons, mend seams, darn socks, sew on patches -  or hire a seamstress to fix or alter clothing, to stretch its life.

March 18, Sabbath for the Cusp of Spring-
1. Nature Mentor: Continuing with Brian Mertin's fantastic post: How Does Animal Communication Work:

#6 Mental Snapshots

It’s not enough to just be aware of sensory things happening around you. You also need to store that awareness in your brain. Think of the last time you went outside. You were probably aware of certain things happening around you, but how many of those things do you remember now?

This is another important piece of the puzzle. It’s called “sensory memory”. With a bit of practice it’s possible to develop your sensory memory far beyond what you’ve had up until now.

​Here’s how: Go outside and look around you. Now close your eyes and try to visualize what you saw in your mind. How many details can you remember? Try to see them clearly in your mind.

Next, open your eyes and look around again at the same environment. You’ll find yourself noticing much more detail this time.

Now close your eyes again and notice how much more detailed your mental image is. Repeat the first steps and each time you’ll notice a greater depth of clarity & awareness

2. Resilience practice: I'm reading section two, on Clarity. Practice #38

3. Action: My heritage is Anglo-Saxon, and my ancestors grew oats and rye, and wheat for bread. (The bread grains of the masses were oats and rye; wheat was harder to grow, and therefore only available to the rich). 

For my ancestors, bread was a symbol of wealth, hunger, war and peace. ("If they don’t have bread, let them eat cake..."). Even though bread is still a staple food, it is so easy to buy a loaf (in a plastic bag) that its value is taken for granted.

Today I'm going to re-start my old habit of baking loaves of multi-grain bread at least once a month on the sabbath. I use my kitchen aid mixer to save my shoulders, and a 7-grain cereal.

I think I'm also going to plant some oats or maybe rye this summer, and harvest a little bit of the grain, and use some home-grown straw to make my harvest doll. The ceremony of growing, harvesting, and eating the grain will help me reconnect to my roots, and to the land.

4. Plastic fast: Remember stewardship: We strive for balance, to use what we have wisely and with due care for other creatures, and to live as lightly on the earth as we can. We are answerable to the rest of creation and ultimately to God for how we understand and take our place in the community of life. 

Queries: Do we take time to inform ourselves of the impacts of our lifestyle on the world as a whole? Are we willing to make lifestyle changes? Whatever form our responses take, are we led by an awareness of the sacred duty placed on every one of us to care for the Earth and all living things?