Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine was a third-century Roman Christian who died on February 14. The poet Geoffrey Chaucer and his circle probably invented many of the romantic legends about Saint Valentine, in the fourteenth century. 

Valentine made by a student of mine.

After that, it became a custom for a man to write a romantic poem to send to his beloved on St. Valentine's Day. Very fancy paper cards, with lace and ribbons, became popular in the 1840's, and that custom expanded into sending cards to Mom and Dad, and friends of all kinds.

Agenda today:
1. Mindful of love

2. Mindfulness practices
3. Make Valentines

1. Mindful of love:

“If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be much better to turn your attention to the fact that there’s an arrow in your heart...” ~Pema Chödrön 

Pema is speaking of mindfulness: When I keep my awareness in the moment- here and now - when I am present centered and mindful rather than in my head (comparing, judging, planning, hoping) time slows down. I am grounded. Living becomes more interesting. I feel my feet as they touch the floor. I notice the sounds, the details, and the nuances. I notice this moment as unique- not part of a pattern, and I feel the inherent joy of being alive. 

When I am mindful, it is easier to take a breath, relax, smile, and act in kindness rather than react in anger.

When I am mindful, each moment of my life becomes a step on my spiritual path, and every part of my daily routine is fuel for spiritual growth. When things happen to me, I know myself as the one having the experience, separate from the experience. I have the time and ability to ask myself, “What is my Truth? What is my wisest response?” 

The secret to living in mindfulness is remembering that I hover always on the edge of brilliance. That awareness leads to living each moment with urgency and excitement, which leads in turn to greater clarity, openness, and joy. Being and Love are my primary experiences.

2. Mindfulness practices:

I will do this Mindfulness Practice every morning for one week--  

• Stand, mindful of the earth supporting me, the air surrounding me, and the breath flowing in and out.  
• Touch my heart and bring attention also to Love flowing in and out.  
• Focus my mental attention and awareness on this moment.  
• Pray- “Be here now”. 

Also, I plan to wear prayer beads this week and use them to bring myself back to center

3. Make Valentines:

I like to make fancy valentines (instructions here), but his year I made three other kinds of valentines:

I made an appliqué valentine to hang on our wall (as yet, unfinished, but shown above).

I made valentine cookies with my older grandson (who can't be tempted with crafts but always likes making cookies!)

And I made a collage valentine heart with my youngest grandson to give to Mommy and Daddy.

Supplies: Red poster board hearts (pre-cut), tacky glue and a glue brush, paper heart doilies, small scissors, bits of paper, heart gems, pompoms, heart stickers, silk flowers

1. We used a glue brush to put glue on a poster board heart, and stuck on a paper doily.

2. We glued on whatever else struck the fancy of my 2-year old grandson - he's all about the pompoms!.