Worm Day

Yesterday my worms arrived, and I finished my worm bin and put them in it. Today I get to share this new study and practice with my grandsons!

1. Ongo journal

2. Love cycle

1. Ongo journal

I'm going back through this book by Catherine Madden and Jesse Weiss Chu (2022), focussing on the solo practices. The solo practices are meant to be done 5 days a week - 3 practices alternating with 2 "Rememberings", to allow you to go deep.

Day 3 this week is Self-Empathy Journal. "The self-empathy journal ... is both a tool for self-reflection and a practice of connecting to life."

The practice is to choose a situation and write abut it in an observational, non-evaluative way. Then divide the page into 3 columns: Thoughts, Feelings, and Needs, and begin to list out all of these I can think of. The last step is to sit with the needs and choose the one or two that spoke to me most strongly, and take time to feel them and reflect on them. Then write down any insights, and an action request for clear and specific small steps to take in the situation. 

Journal: Today the need that pulled most strongly at me is "Mutual Growth'. I think that means I need to start listening and communicating better! What I am saying is getting lost in the transaction.

3. Love cycle:

Years ago I wrote this month-long meditation on love, with a daily reading and work. Day 3 is Be Open-Hearted.

The Buddhist term bodhicitta means ‘completely open heart and mind’. Developing bodhicitta is a journey to enlightenment: I move toward a flexible way of thinking and feeling, not based on certainty or security, but on connecting with the living energetic quality of everything. Bodhicitta is the process of tapping into this awakened energy. When I recognize and value moments of gratitude, patience, or love in any form, then my capacity to love will expand. But bodhicitta is also available in other emotions—even the hardest of feelings like rage and resentment-- when I acknowledge them with an open mind and heart and realize that we are all in the same boat. 

As I face daily encounters with unpredictability, notice my feelings of fear, irritation, defensiveness, disappointment or worry, and rather than holding back, perk up and lean in. Embrace the uncertainty of the moment, accept my emotions, and accept the people involved.

"When you open … to the continually changing, impermanent, dynamic nature of your own being and of reality, you increase your capacity to love and care about other people and your capacity to not be afraid. You're able to keep your eyes open, your heart open, and your mind open. And you notice when you get caught up in prejudice, bias, and aggression. You develop an enthusiasm for no longer watering those negative seeds, from now until the day you die. And, you begin to think of your life as offering endless opportunities to start to do things differently.” ~ Pema Chödrön

 

Inner Work: Meditate each day for the next week to learn greater vulnerability. When a thought rises, breathe it gently away, but let the emotion remain and experience it fully; be present and tender. 

Love in Action: This week, make OPEN my mantra. Notice the times when I am feeling closed or defensive, and make an effort to open to love; take the opportunity to be flexible, and do things differently.