Spiritual Simplicity and Order

Spiritual simplicity and order is my practice of the week, and it's all about attention to Truth, Love and Creation. When I make time for these in my life, other things fall away. 

Spiritual order then refers to this state of balanced alignment of my internal and external lives with a divine purpose, creating harmony and peace rather than chaos or excess. 

Agenda:

1. Awareness

2. Divestment

3. Enjoyment

First Quarter Moon of August

Tonight is 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-August quarter moon's energy to help me to discern my Truth and then act on it; this requires some discipline.

Discernment is a deep process: It can feel like intuition, or a gut feeling. You might experience it as butterflies, or tingling on the back of the neck, or as a flash that takes the breath away. Some call it a guiding voice, or leading of the spirit. Sometimes it is quiet and subtle, and sometimes loud and clear - a flash of insight, or creative impulse, or sudden clarity, or a leading or itch to act on something you never thought of before.

And when your Inner Guide speaks to you with a message that seems foreign to how you normally think (maybe a rush of new hopefulness, or an urging to action), then it's hard to not credit it to a something outside yourself. 

Who's to say?

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Creativity Takes Courage"

2. Journal queries
3. Make a full effort plan

4. Evaluate my creativity habits:

5. Do the smallest thing

Obsession Reboot

My big passion project (to write a book about Nature-Culture) has been ticking along in a chaotic and underground manner. Now that I'm done with clerking and my big event, and our home project is well under way, I want to get back into the turmoil of obsession!  

Agenda Today:

1. 

Read 

"Brainstorm"

2.

 Five days of passion

3. Outdoor preschool brainstorm

Ghanesh Chaturthi

Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is one of the most beloved of all the Hindu gods. He is the god of wisdom, beginnings, and success. His birthday festival, or chaturthi, begins on the fourth day of this waxing moon and lasts for 10 days.

Hindus believe in one God who has many symbolic forms. Ganesha is worshipped as the Lord of Beginnings and the Lord of Obstacles, both of a material and spiritual order. He can remove obstacles, or he can place obstacles in the path of those who need to be slowed.

I plan to use Ganesha as a focus for my meditation for the next 10 days, give attention to my obstacles, and find a way forward through them.

Agenda:

1. Journal about my obstacles

2. Read "Step into Nature"

3. Proaction and reciprocity

4. Make a Success Altar
5. Ceremony for beginning and success

Happiness and Flow

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and prepare for Grandson fun.

Agenda:
1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. My exercise plan

3. Studio project

4. Plan for Nature-Culture flow

Earth Path

Woodland Skipper sunning on my sage.

Starhawk in her book “The Earth Path”, says: "...we must learn to be present in and interact with the natural world that surrounds us, in the city as well as the country or wilderness. Instead of closing our eyes to meditate, we need to open our eyes and observe. Unless our spiritual practice is grounded in a real connection to the natural world, we run the risk of simply manipulating our own internal imagery and missing the real communication taking place all around us."

Like Starhawk, I advocate for including nature in your spiritual practices: If you meditate, or have a daily prayer practice, do it outdoors, with eyes open. If you are a church goer, find one that will let you worship outside at least once a month, or simply schedule one day a month to take yourself outside to worship on your own. Invite nature into your spiritual life in any way you can. 

I’m suggesting that we worship WITH nature: Open a door to deep awareness. Awareness of nature leads to wonder, the recovery of that childhood ability to be struck with awe at the simple and profound experience of being in relationship with nature. When we are aware, every visit from a butterfly becomes a joyful moment to pause and greet a special guest; walking under a giant Douglas Fir tree is a stop at a sacred place; the miracle of the sunrise and sunset connects us to the turning of the planet.

The wonder-kinship-bond is a culmination of the shift from being a human, living beside nature, to being joined in sister and brotherhood with all of life.

Agenda:

1. Spiritual growth goals

2. Renewal plans

3. Eco-spiritual practices

Creativity Reboot

It's time for a creativity reboot - I'm nearing a transition into a calmer time of year, with no clerking and a milder childcare schedule, and I will have more time and energy to create stuff.

My ideal is an artistic practice for the end of summer that will give me a daily fun creative outlet that regularly fills my "creativity well". I want and need to do something meaningful each day, to move closer to my purpose; working on my priorities fills me and frees me.

Agenda:

1. Read "Creativity Takes Courage"

2. Evaluate my creative habits

3. Starting

4. Do the smallest thing

New Hungry Ghost Moon

The Chinese call the seventh new moon the Hungry Ghost Moon, or Ghost Gate, because today the Hungry Ghosts are let out of hell to roam the earth, looking for entertainment and seeking out their enemies. This whole month is called Ghost Month, and special ceremonies take place today, and on the full moon, and again on the last day of the month.

The Hungry Ghosts are depicted with huge, round bellies, large mouths, and very thin necks. They have two manifestations: They appear as the spirits of unhappy, homeless souls, and we also have our inner hungry ghosts. This month I acknowledge my unhealthy cravings and insatiable greeds, that are always hungry and never satisfied, and that haunt me - though I'm so used to feeding them, I don't really notice them anymore.

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, set intentions, and initiate something new.

Agenda for Today:
1. Read "Brainstorm"

2. Journal queries

3. Choose a month theme

4. Set intentions

5. Ghost Gate ceremony

6. Retreat Day plans

Hormê

As a stoic, I practice Hormê or impulse to ethical action; the application of ethics for daily living of a virtuous life, and living in harmony with the community of all mankind - and all living beings that share the planet with me - benevolently wishing all of life to flourish and achieve happiness, but releasing the outcome to the Universal spirit.

Releasing the outcome is essential: If I take on the guilt and sadness of the world I will not be able to function.

Agenda:

1. Read "Step into Nature"

2. Proaction

3. Reciprocity plans

Body Awareness

This week I've been trying to get serious about exercise, with not much success. My right arm is sore with tendonitis, and pain makes exercise hard to contemplate.

I'm going to need to build this habit systematically and slowly, so as not to injure myself badly. This week I'll begin with body awareness.

 

Agenda: 

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

2. My exercise plan

3. Creative Nature-Culture awareness

Self Care Reset

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and prepare for Grandson fun.

Agenda:
1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. Chair yoga challenge

3. Studio project

Creativity Practice

I need an artistic practice for the end of summer that will give me a creative outlet without too much pressure. I'm full up with projects, service, and caregiving; I need something that regularly fills my "creativity well", without much time or energy.

A day is an abundant portion of time; I can accomplish great things in a day or I can waste the day, whichever I please. And moments in a day are meant to be wasted - if I want to read a book, I should read! If I want to play a game, I should play!

But by the end of each day I want to feel like I did the work of an artist, teacher, activist, and loving human. I want and need to do something meaningful each day, to move closer to my purpose, because if I fall in to a pattern of wasted days, weeks, months, then I will feel unhappy; working on my priorities fills me and frees me.

Agenda:

1. Read "Creativity Takes Courage"

2. Evaluate my creative habits

3. Starting

4. Do the smallest thing

Third Quarter moon of August

Today is the third Quarter moon. This waning moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care. This isn’t a moment for starting new projects but for finishing up old ones, making peace with the past, and preparing for a fresh start at the next new moon. 

Agenda Today:

1. Love meditation

2. Read 

"Brainstorm"

3. 

Review my passion plan

4. Ritual for Release and Realignment

5. Meditation and Evaluation Journal

6. Monthly journal brainstorm

Our Studio

The space we call The Studio used to be a garage. We turned it in to a space for teaching art classes, and it functioned that way for many years. Now it's having a second metamorphosis - I'm not teaching anymore, and we need:

• more effective (longer term) storage
• clearer floor space for kid play
• fewer art tools and supplies
• less counter space (which just gets filled with clutter)
• less clutter!

Agenda:

1. The vision

2. The work

3. Love Meditation

Practice Organization

Highly-organized people, like myself, have the mental strength to create solid, motivating core beliefs, which lead to disciplined habits that are based on who we truly are. We keep our priorities front and center and get things done!

When I am disorganized, like I am this week after a trip to the coast followed by illness, I feel vague, distracted, and worried.

Like all habits, organization requires effort and attention, and needs to be built slowly. It’s the little things I do on a daily basis that have an impact on the quality of my life. When I get my system down, and my habits are on track, things go smoothly and I’m more effective at each task because it gets my full focus. Also, I’m more likely to be responsible and keep my commitments, which leads to trusting relationships. I feel good about what I’m doing, and I’m able to focus on what’s in front of me, confident that everything else is in its place.

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and prepare for Grandson fun and for a return to order.

Agenda:
1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. Love meditation

3. Organization goals

Sabbath for Discipline

Today is my sabbath when I step out of the fray, and regroup. We are at the beginning of the end of summer, and I want to take time to prepare myself - 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.

And since I'm recovering from norovirus, I'm going to need two naps!

Agenda:

1. Stoic musings

2. Renewal plans

3. Purpose review

Full Red Moon and Raksha Bandhan

Tonight is the full Moon, called akupiu, the end of summer moon, by the Kalapuya of our area, and the Red moon by others, because it often appears reddish as it rises through the sultry haze of late summer - and in our valley, a sultry haze is the norm! One lovely (possibly Native American) explanation for the redness is that the moon is blushing after being kissed by the sun.

We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon.

In India, this is also the Festival of Raksha Bandhan, which means “knot of protection.” Traditionally, girls tie a braided thread called a rakhi around the wrist of each brother-- a symbol of a sister's love and prayers for her brother's health and happiness, and to remind him of his life-long vow to protect his sister. Now it is also common for girls to trade rakhis with sisters, and with friends.

Agenda for today:
1. Take a vision walk
2. Celebrate integrity

3. Make rakhis
4. Send love and prayers
5. Make Kayla Halwa (Banana fudge)

At the Ocean

It's true that nature can heal us. Walking on the beach is my medicine, which gives me the strength for reciprocity.

Agenda: 

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

2. Ponder about my breathing

3. Beach-combing

4. Visualization

Take a Pilgrimage

Today we are going to the ocean! It's been over a year since I've seen the ocean, and I need to take a pilgrimage to this holy place.

A pilgrim is a traveler, going to a place that is of special significance to a particular belief system. My belief is in the sacredness of all Nature, and I take rare pilgrimages to the oceans, the woods, and other holy places.

A pilgrimage is a journey of transformation; it's not something you do every weekend to "get away" - I don't believe it's good for Nature for everyone to recreate in it too often; the weekend camping trip is often just another way we belittle and damage Nature. No matter how careful you are to pack out what you pack in, you are still driving a vehicle on a road, tromping on fragile earth, and distressing the wildlife.

We take a great deal of comfort from being in nature, but what do we give in return? My Nature-Culture belief system causes me to shy away from USING Nature for personal transformation unless it's a transformation that favors Nature. My focus is on being mindful of Nature and listening for how I can better heal her, and our relationship. It's more like couples therapy, with the Earth as your better half.

So, when going to nature, I take it seriously. I plan to be reverent and pay attention- "listen" to nature with all my senses and seek to understand my next steps to help.

Agenda:

1. Read "Step Into Nature"

2. Review my pilgrimage plan

3. Documentation

Early August Garden

Summer is a season with three distinct phases in my valley, and August is clearly Mid-summer. It's often very hot and very dry, but the days are noticeably shorter. It's time to think about the winter garden.

Agenda:

1. August harvest

2. Preserving garlic

3. Onion Chutney

4. August garden tasks

5. Prepare for the winter garden

6. August planting

7. Prune my raspberries

First Quarter Moon of Early August

Last night was 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 quarter moon's energy to help me to discern my Truth and then act on it; this requires some discipline.

The ancient Stoic philosophers used discipline as a tool in their journey towards a life lived well. Epictetus listed three disciplines: Amor Fati, or the loving acceptance of one’s fate, which was for living in harmony with the nature of the universe as a whole; Hormê, or the impulse to ethical action, for living in harmony with humans; and Sunkatathesis, which is mindfulness, for living in harmony with our own essential nature, with reason and truthfulness in both thoughts and speech.

I long for better discipline - to give me stability and structure, and help me to be responsible; to allow me to keep promises to myself and to others, and maintain the integrity and self-control that I want; to empower me to grow and reach my dreams. But I also hope that this growth in discipline might lead to a transcendent state where I no longer rely on discipline because I love and understand myself enough to follow the right path naturally!

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Creativity Takes Courage"

2. Journal queries
3. Make a full effort plan

4. Evaluate my creativity habits:

5. Do the smallest thing

Lughnasa

Lughnasa (loo-na-sa) is a Celtic festival celebrated in early August, usually August 1st. It's called a cross-quarter day because it falls approximately midway between summer solstice and autumn equinox, marking the end of summer in the Celtic tradition, and the beginning of the harvesting season.

The name Lughnasa comes from Lugh, the Celtic God of harvests, crafts, and the lightening flash, and nasad, which was an assembly or gathering. The Lughnasad was a gathering to honor and appease Lugh, so he would hopefully not throw a summer storm temper-tantrum, and ruin the harvest.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal Queries
2. Make gingerbread

3. Arts and Crafts

4. Take a pause to enjoy the season

6. Nasad (gathering)