Monday Fire

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. Devotions

2. Beingness 

3. Earth Action

4. Ongo journal

5. Make choice cards

6. Spring cleaning and Home projects

7. Starting a fire

1. Devotions: 

I'm reading from two lovely books: Living Earth Devotional, by Clea Dana (2013), and Earth Medicine, by Jamie Sams (1994).

Earth Medicine: "The harmony we seek with the world must begin inside. We can make relatives of the warring factions or parts of ourselves that impede our harmony by learning which parts of our human nature oppose one another. ... Can the insecure part make a Sister of the confident part?"

2. Beingness:

For Lent I am finding creative ways to make space for Being in Nature. Today: Take a slow tour of the back garden, name the plants (and clean up the plastic bins and other debris).

3. Earth Action:

Each day I am taking an action for the Earth - Today I'm writing up our Earthcare minutes and a report.

4. Ongo journal:

I'm going back through this book by Catherine Madden and Jesse Weiss Chu (2022), focussing on the solo practices. I'm on week 8, and Day 1 is Mindfulness of Shenpa, which is that sticky feeling of anxiety or tension, withdrawal, or reactivity.

"If we recognize the early signs of reactivity within us, as it arises, we can breathe, self-empathize, and choose how we want to respond, all while staying in the interaction." 

They describe it as climbing onto a raft as we are all in the river, so we can help others save themselves.

Practice: Whenever I feel a sense of imminent reactivity: 

1. Breathe in and out.
2. Notice my first response and write it down.
3. Pinpoint the exact moment of actions or words that triggered me and write that down.
4. Notice where in my body I feel my reactivity - write about the sensations.
5. Write down whatever Needs are present.
6. Take a moment to breathe and exhale the tension, and another moment to smile and embrace with compassion my Needs.

5. Make choice cards:

I'm making with a set of picture cards that I can use to give my Grandsons choices for activities. They are both fighting for autonomy right now, and this seems like a fun way to give it to them, while's having some control over what's on offer each day.

6. Spring cleaning and Home projects:

In March I take the first steps of spring cleaning and maintenance, those big jobs that get put off through the winter months. This week my focus is in the kitchen - cleaning outside, under, and behind the refrigerator and the oven, and clearing out the food cupboards.

I'm also doing the work to finish our home projects, because creating our home sanctuary is a priority, and finishing projects (one by one) satisfies my need for completion, integrity, and order. 

My goals this week:

1. Finish a door rainbow!
2. Paint more posts
3. Order a sink and tiles for the backsplash
4. Put up new shingles over old door
5. Move dirt

7. Starting a fire:

On Monday I also take time to use beginner's mind to create a perspective shift for healthy habits and renewal, and write a script for change. 

Beginner's mind is dropping expectations and preconceived ideas, seeing things with an open mind, fresh eyes, curiosity and wonder.

Today I'm making a script for fire starting - for inner synergy - when your body, mind, spirit, and heart are all cooperating to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. I love the image of "an explosion of inner synergy," and I've experienced that passion spontaneously, and I know it's possible to harness that energy when you want it and need it.

Step one is to choose any project or task that is a priority, that connects to your values and principles, something you want to do soon; something a little challenging but within your abilities, such as painting a rainbow. Today I will made this plan: 

1. Engage my mind: Create a clear vision of the finished rainbow - how I want it to look, and make note of the first step, and start time.
2. Engage my heart: Identify the love component - visualize everyone who will see this rainbow and get a smile, and send us the "pink light of love".
3. Engage my spirit: Choose a mantra that will remind me of the deepest reasons for the project: Rainbow of Promise.
4. Engage my body: Get prepared - gather all the supplies. At 10 am - stop everything a go to work.
5. Start a fire: Mentally review my intention; touch my heart and feel the smiles; reciting the mantra; dive into painting.