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

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness":
I've been reading this book by Shannon Duncan (2001) that takes awareness one step at a time: First, body and senses; then beliefs and limitations; then emotions; and finally, reactivity. It seems like a straightforward plan!

Chapter 1 is The Power of This Moment, and the third section is Breathing. She talks about just being aware of my breathing as a way to understand my emotional state. If I can remember to give attention to my breathing I will be more aware of how and why I react to situations. This is not about controlling my breath or using my breath to calm myself down, but just being aware of breath as an indicator of my emotions.

This makes sense to me. If I am aware of my breath, and it begins to speed up and get shallow, I have an anchor in the moment. 

The practice is of course to give attention to my breath- not to control it, but just observe my normal breathing - and then begin to broaden my awareness to other sensations - sounds, sights, smells, and feelings - all while staying aware of my breathing. Then give attention also to what I'm thinking, and to my emotions, but just observe these thoughts and feelings and let them float by, while staying connected to the sensation of my breath.  

Today I will give this a try in the car as we head north again towards home.

2. Ponder about my breathing:

The second tip is to take time to ponder each part of the book -ask how it applies to me, and how I feel about it. 

I've done breathing meditations before, but this practice is subtly different - I'm not drawing attention back to my breath as a focus, but rather checking in with my breath as a barometer. I like that!

3. Beach-combing:

4. Visualization:

Every month, at the waxing gibbous moon (my last push for action), I call on the practice of visualization to help me to see the next steps towards bringing my goals to fruition.

Today I shine a light on the big picture of my life - how do all the threads I'm holding weave together?

Creative visualization is a technique that uses my imagination to create change. (Because of my visual and auditory sensitivity, this is the best process for knowing what I'm feeling.) It has these steps: 

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• First, set an intention: Say, "Today I call on the Spirit of Love to bring me clarity and open my eyes to the big picture of my life right now and how the threads I'm holding weave into a beautiful tapestry." 
• Center and relax each part of my body: With each breath, allow my awareness to deepen and become softer. No stress. No rush. I walk or float in an imaginary void. Open a connection to Spirit. Feel a soft warmth begin to grow and spread through me, until I am radiating quiet energy.
• Create a clear, detailed picture in my mind, as though the objective has been reached. Paint a vivid mental image of my life right now, seeing each part as a it fits with the whole, and what the net rows of my life will reveal, and put as much positive energy into the image as possible. 
• Lastly, affirm that this is what I want with a short positive phrase in the present tense: "Today I will take the next steps towards manifesting the tapestry of my life."
• Give thanks and return: Saying thanks out loud is how I acknowledge the reality of the gift of my vision.

The thought-image is like a signal-flare that guides the physical thing or deed to manifest in my life (and it's a good way to keep my intentions in my mind). I will carry the vision of the completed goal with me, and focus on it often during the day, in a gentle manner.