July Sabbath for Passion

The month of July is a golden time of passion and activity. Nature celebrates the peak of its power, the sun reaches her highest point, and I do the same; every day I get to share my light with the world. I put my best and brightest energy into my projects, my garden, and my art. I seek out chances to be courageous, and extend myself beyond what’s comfortable.

The question for July is How do I shine through the clouds?

“Hold the sadness and pain of samsara in your heart and at the same time the power and vision of the Great Eastern Sun. Then the warrior can make a proper cup of tea.”

~ Chogyam Trungpa

Agenda:

1. Read "Your Heart Was Made for This"

2. Expressing Needs in the World

3. Renewal Brainstorm

1. Read "Your Heart Was Made for This":

I just began this book by Oren Jay Sofer (2023), with the subtitle, "Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love". It has 26 short chapters on innate qualities we each have, that we can cultivate and develop as inner and external expression, meant to be read and practiced in order, one each 1-2 weeks.

Part One explores six core qualities, starting with Attention. The first bit about attention explains why the powers that be throw so much money at grabbing hold of our attention: If you control attention, you can influence action. He compares it to seeds - we want to weed out the harmful qualities that sprout, and cultivate the healthy ones, by giving them attention. So, for example, giving attention to the sweet air and sunshine might lead to feeling uplifted, grateful, and energized, but when greedy or angry thoughts capture my attention I will brood on those.

"Wise attention gives us the capacity to to choose where we focus. ... Where we put our attention waters seeds in the heart-mind and shapes our ongoing reality."

Reflect: How can I bring better attention to the present? Less phone games and less tv, obviously. Less busy-ness. Less dwelling on thoughts of the past and situations I messed up. More awareness of my environment, and better listening to the people around me. Choose to sew, read a book, water the garden, go for a short walk - all of these nurture attention in a healthy way.

2. Expressing Needs in the World:

On Sundays I often go through this Ongo practice to define the Needs I want to express: 

1. Sit for a couple minutes and then invite in three questions, and write the answers in my journal:

• "If I knew this was the last week of my life, what is one Need or quality of life I'd like to be or express more fully?" 
• "What's one quality of life I'd like to contribute more to one of my relationships?"
• "Whats one quality of life I'd like to contribute more to my community?" 

2. Consider each of these Needs, one at a time, and feel the surge of this energy in my body. 

3. Invite myself to take one action each day this week to express the energy of one of these Needs, or bring it alive in my relationships. Be sure it's done in the spirit of invitation, not demand, and that it is specific and doable.

4. After doing the action, be sure to take a minute to visualize the happiness or fulfillment I experience, and extend it out to all beings.

The Needs that come to me today are Presence, Calm, and Power. After sitting with the energy of these, I've listed some ideas for action:

• Inspiration: Write and post inspiring articles; explore watercolors in a contemplative way.  
• Calm: Anger reading and plans.
• Appreciation: Offer gratitude to Earth Care group.

3. Renewal brainstorm:

Every month before the Third Quarter Moon, I take some time to think about self-care, renewal, and "sharpening the saw"; that is, I look at my whole Being, and how I can live with more balance and resilience.

I try to renew all four dimensions of my life (body, mind, heart, and spirit), as Stephen Covey taught: I spend about an hour each day on a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration activities, plus work to improve my social skills and relationships. Today I will review how I'm doing, and make note of new ideas for the month ahead.

My ideas:

Body & Discipline: 

• Stand Strong work out every morning; 
• Plan and prepare healthy lunches, snacks, dinners;
• Drink more water - aim for 3 glasses daily.
• Daily hygiene, including moisturizing
• Dentist appointment

Mind & Vision: 

• Research and write about Nature-Culture;
• Study foundational qualities (attention, aspiration, energy, mindfulness)
• Habit-building (for awareness, courage, health habits, equanimity skills; beingness; finish things, and preparedness);
• Practice watercolor skills;

Spirit & Ethics: 

• Enjoy nature daily with photos and grubbing; 
• Keep a "new narrative" journal, as a tool for creative shifts in awareness;
• Nurture Attention: Awareness of my environment, better listening to the people around me. Choose to sew, read a book, water the garden, go for a short walk - all of these nurture attention in a healthy way.
• Beingness routine: Morning and afternoon - Slow down, go with the flow of the day, at peace – just BE, in this moment- aware and awake, listening to my intuition.

Heart and passion: 

• (Ongo) Expressing Needs in the World (weekly);
• Be in the moment with my grandsons;
• Anger management practices.