Just in the last few days I've noticed the tiniest little buds popping out on plants; just beginning to grow. As I walk out to feed our chickens I pass by the two small peach trees that I've nursed through the last few winters and see pink blossoms forming on the branches. The grass is so green, and the air smells a bit sweeter lately. And the birds! Oh my, how raucously they sing, as though they are shouting "It's Spring!" We are reminded that, even after the bleakest winter, the great cycle of life begins anew.
There's something special about it. We can sense it before we are even conscious of it. Spring. To me, just hearing or saying the word "spring" gives me numerous positive feelings. I feel Hope, I feel Freshness, Rebirth happening all around me and I feel Renewal. Sweeping with a straw broom is the pagan custom of spring cleaning. Throwing open all the doors and windows and sweeping with the conscious intention of throwing out the old stale air and ridding ourselves of the accumulated dust. Shaking out rugs, washing curtains and cleaning surfaces, placing outside the rocking chair and stools that we kept safe from the harsh season of winter to use as we begin to weed and furrow our gardens -both figuratively and literally- we begin anew. Looking forward to the rebirth of the earth and our spring spirit. It's as if we are taking the accumulation of the winter's darkness and the heaviness of its negative energies and exchanging them for the positive new beginnings that we deserve. Putting all those thoughts and memories that no longer serve us, no longer contribute to our happiness, and throwing them on a compost heap. Saying to ourself "this used fodder is welcome to compost and fertilize my new beginnings". By throwing out the old we make room for the new. When we rid ourselves of the negatives energies of the past we can step lightly into the warmth of spring opening ourselves to the gifts that we are meant to have. Welcoming all of the positive open and loving energies that will fill us with a sense of renewal and hope of all the good things coming our way. Each step is a new beginning. Each moment is a new beginning. Each morning and each breath is a new beginning. Pause and breathe deeply. Drop the stagnant energies that no longer bring you joy, open your mind and heart, and breathe in the spaciousness of possibility, rebirth and renewal. I watch the beauty of nature. It is telling me that even the trees get more beautiful as they age. One hundred year old trees still recycle themselves and come out with new flowers. Recycle yourself. Know that nature gives you the clues to living. ~Tao Porchon-Lynch *Joanie Lane is a Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master/Teacher, Spiritual & Life Coach, and Healing Movement Qigong Leader. She lives in Kelseyville, Ca. at her meditation center "A Positive Light". For more information on her training and her classes visit her website at apositivelight.com or her blog site at Joanielane.com
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When I lie down with the intention to look at the sky I do not have expectations. As I lie on my back and gaze I simply wait to see what appears. Perhaps a cloud or clouds are moving slowly in the sky, their shapes changing as they are molded by the hands of the wind. Or maybe a bird dips and twirls, dancing in the breeze; or a group of swallows or ducks or geese fly overhead encouraging one another with vocal support. And I observe. I do not become entangled with them, though I may wonder briefly where they might be heading. I simply see and observe and feel a sense of gratitude for the beauty they add to my world. Whether it is gazing at the daytime sky or the dark skies at night with its celestial surprises, I observe.
The point is, when I gaze at the sky there is no expectation other than perhaps the wonder of what I may see besides the space of the sky. It is the same in my Mindfulness Meditation practice. I begin sitting with an open mind. Not knowing what thoughts may or may not come. I suppose on some level I know that I may have thoughts but I do not concern myself with whether I will have any or not. I simply sit and become mindful of my body and how it feels. I run my awareness over and through my body to check in and see if I am holding tension anywhere, then I breathe and stay with my breath noticing how my chest rises and falls, how the air feels in my throat and chest etc. When I have no expectations and simply stay with the awareness of my body a wonderful thing begins to happen. I begin to relax, and feel more content in just sitting, relaxing and breathing. Even when a thought does arise I don't become entangled in it, I notice it yes, but then I come back to my breath and the thought becomes my thinking of my breath. After more than 25 years of practice I sometimes feel that I have this down. Then life happens and I have a difficult time letting go of thoughts. Even after all these years I too can spin out in a thread of thought. However my practice has given me so many gifts over the years as I take it with me throughout my days. And when I have a day that feels especially challenging my practice leads me through awareness to a place of acceptance, gratitude and peace. Because of my practice I more easily jump to compassion rather than conclusions or assumptions. Because of my practice I am more patient and accepting of challenging situations that occur. I tend to be more compassionate toward others for their foibles and more compassionate toward myself for my mistakes. I appreciate the little things and rather than reacting to something or someone I am able to take time to think and gently respond. I am not perfect by any measure but being a kind human being is so very enjoyable. I do know that this is a bi-product of my meditation practice. If you would like to learn more about meditation please join us at A Positive Light meditation center where I hold teachings on meditations every Monday at 7pm for an hour. There is no fee though donations are greatly appreciated. All are welcome. 6470 Kelsey Creek Dr. Kelseyville, CA. 95451 707-279-6031 *Joanie Lane is a Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master/Teacher, Spiritual & Life Coach, and Healing Movement Qigong Leader. She lives in Kelseyville, Ca. at her meditation center "A Positive Light". For more information on her training and her classes visit her website at apositivelight.com **These are original writings by Joanie. Any quotes by others that have been included have been identified. "The real question is not whether life exists after death.
The real question is whether you are alive before death." -Osho Aging. We're all gonna do it. If not, well,... then we're dead. I find, at times when I look in the mirror, that I am surprised. I mean I know who I am but I carry a much younger version of my face in my head. Then I see myself and in a flash, boom! Reality smacks me in the face. Literally! I'll be sixty this year. (Thankfully my birthday isn't until November so I can put it off!) And at 60 (..almost...) I find I am a little more aware of my body aging. Not just when I look in the mirror, but also when I run, work in the yard,.....even just walking at times. I don't seem to have the endurance I once did, the coordination I once did, hold muscle mass as well, I run out of breath when chasing after my grandchildren (yes, I have grandchildren!), and it seems I can't jump down off things without something 'boinging' out of whack! All I can do when I experience one of these occurrences is say, "What Happened?" I calm myself down by reminding myself that I got this. After all, I am a meditation teacher and have received massive amounts of training in Buddhist philosophy and as a Buddhist practitioner I apply the teachings of aging gracefully by accepting that everything is impermanent. Then I hear a voice screaming in my head "But That's For OTHER PEOPLE!". "I'm not done being young yet!" In truth when I look back on my younger years I remember thinking, "Wow! I've got to do more sit ups! My stomach is a bit wiggly." Or, "Oh, I have a bump of skin on the waisted band of my pants. I better watch what I eat!" And then proceed to starve myself for this tiny ounce of healthy meat I have on my bones. Sheesh! What was I thinking when I looked in the mirror and thought, "Uh-oh, I have bags under my eyes. I better put some makeup over that"? Seriously?! Keep in mind all these thoughts were at the ripe old age of 22 or something. I remember also at around 40 thinking what a dope I was for worrying about that stuff back then. I mean now at 40 I have real worries! If ONLY I had those beautiful eyes and great body. Why did I even bother with make up? I had perfect peaches and cream skin compared to this 40 something! But - when I read that worry can cause us to age faster - I knew it was all over. Now at 60 (almost) I am having some of the same thoughts. Although now, I am not so concerned. Because I know at 80 I'll be saying to my 60 year old what my 40 year old said to my 20 something. And if you think women are the only ones having these all engrossing conversations inside our heads I've got news for you. Men do it too! And just as much. For as much pressure as society puts on women to look good, men feel just as much pressure in their ability to accomplish those "manly" things like fixing the car, the plumbing, building a deck.... and when they begin to struggle with it they are not always so gracious as women. After all, physical accomplishment has been hammered into their heads as their main purpose in life ever since they got their first lawn mowing job. When our bodies begin to poop out on us we tend to go into a panic. "Oh No! Not me! I'm not ready yet!" - But don't worry! - (remember that statement above about worry?) I really have learned over the years of my life experiences and through my training that it truly is what's on the inside that counts. And so with that, we are brought to looking within. And I suggest starting NOW! We've no time to lose! Stop torturing yourself with these ridiculous worries about the vessels we move through this life in. After all, our bodies are pretty amazing. Women actually give birth! And we somehow survive it! I know this may sound like a "duh, no kidding" statement, but if you think that, then you've never done it. I can't believe I lived through my two births! Look, there is always someone out there with a physical disability that far outweighs yours, so while you're thanking your lucky stars for the health you've still got in that old body, get movin'! Time's a wasting!! I don't care if you are 10 years old or 100, now is the time to begin. Each day is a gift. Open up that gift and live it! Don't wait until all the stars are aligned, the children are through with college, the house is paid off, or when your ship comes in. Because it has already come in and is waiting for you to climb aboard and get sailing! Figure out what you have been putting off until "some day" and begin! Now! Today! Because we ain't gettin' any younger! "Every day we are engaged in a miracle we don't even recognize." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh *Joanie Lane is a Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master/Teacher, Spiritual & Life Coach, and Healing Movement Qigong Leader. She lives in Kelseyville, Ca. at her meditation center "A Positive Light". For more information visit her website at apositivelight.com **These are original writings by Joanie. Any quotes by others that have been included have been identified. If you are feeling like there are situations or people in your life that no longer make you smile or bring that special zing to your life, then they are too small for you. If the things that are too small for you are your family, your job or something else that you chose to have in your life, then the question is; what have you done to make it so small?
There are times when we feel stale, like our life is lack-luster. We want more excitement, more joy more special times to experience. Often we get so used to the people we live with and work with that we begin to see more faults than good. Our job becomes less challenging and more monotonous. Our relationships become repetitive and negative. We can easily, and without meaning to, cause ourselves to dislike something or someone simply by focusing on the negatives. Keeping an ever growing list of the things we don't like and adding to it constantly convincing ourselves that we are unhappy. Since this can happen, the opposite can also happen. We can focus on the positives and replace the negatives with positives. There is almost always positives that we overlook because we are stuck looking for more negatives to add to our list, shrinking our happiness into something so small we can't find the positives anymore. So, start a new list! A list of positives. Look as hard for those as you did with the negatives. If we remember how it "used to be" then we can begin to see things in a more positive light. We can choose to see the good and let go of or accept the less good. There are some things we can change; we can ask our boss to change things up at work maybe by doing something different or adding more challenge. But we don't necessarily have to actually leave our job, though sometimes that may be the answer. We can bring an issue that is bothering us up to our spouse or partner so they are aware of it and can work on it with us, keeping an open dialog. Or talk about a much needed vacation or fun date. Like you "used to do". Life can seem boring, jobs can get monotonous, relationships can get mundane, but instead of leaving the problem or replacing it, we can take what we have and choose to make the positive changes. We can focus on the positives instead of the negatives making that laundry list of the things we like or love. Most often the problem is us. And where ever we go, we always go with ourselves. If we don't change our outlook toward these issues in life they tend to repeat themselves in the new job or new relationship. When we read that "we are responsible for our own happiness" this doesn't necessarily mean making drastic changes to our lives. More often than not it is about our awareness of the blessings in our life and making those bigger. Big enough to build a happy life on. We better accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between ~ Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen *Joanie Lane is a Meditation Teacher, Reiki Master/Teacher, Spiritual & Life Coach, and Healing Movement Qigong Leader. She lives in Kelseyville, Ca. at her meditation center "A Positive Light". For more information visit her website at apositivelight.com **These are original writings by Joanie. Any quotes by others that have been included have been identified. |