Choosing Change

I write this blog in the realm of increasing confusion, and desperation that I see in our present world, especially these past two weeks receiving reports - constant and consistent - of the confusion and long wait times in our Canadian Airports. I sense the desperation to travel at all costs, with no forsight for what it will now involve. Yesterday, when the news reported that a young mother with an infant and two small children was advised to sleep on the floor of the Toronto airport - no blanket or covering - by "the authority of the airline", I stopped in my tracks and said "We are lost."

And I believe we are. There are no signs that anything will settle soon. New forms of CoVid seem to be reported every week. And now a fourth dose of the shot will soon be advised. 

How can we live steady and settled lives in the midst of the madness all around us? This feels to me the most significant question of our time, since settling doesn't seem to be a real possibility any time soon. And each of us - in our own circumstances - needs to face the question and decide, for all our circumstances are different...except the need to settle and stop, both in our hearts and in our minds. Decide what? How it is we will choose to do so, even in small breaks in the day...deep breathing...five minute meditations...going out into nature's quiet presence for five minutes...there are many.

I offer you this poem of mine, which has been used a few days ago in many Solstice celebrations. In this time of darkness on so many levels - fear, war, rejection of others, fear of others - take a few minutes to allow this poem to sink into your own heart and soul:

                                                      The Loveliness of Light

When the sun herself turns -

when she offers more Light to the world

in her soft, gentle way -we are relieved, though

not always aware of it -

a collective breath, a sigh

of relief opens our world again,

and we - bathed in darkness -

turn with the sun

into the loveliness of Light.

The darkness of this year -

these two years - has been

a darkness of more than Light.

It has been the black sky

of fear, of division, breaking

the closest of ties.

Fear - that most ancient

of demons, that blinder

of even the deepest love,

triumphs over and over

in our world, destroying even

the strongest links of Love.

Still, the sun opens to Light,

offers Light to all, not

distinguishing, not judging -

the Sun is not Fear's slave

and never will be.

May the Light of Solstice

blind us with Love.

May the Light of Solstice

so widen our hearts, that

Fear loses its grip and ground.

May the Light of Solstice

wrap us in its heartening embrace,

warming our cold and frightened hearts.

May Solstice gather all our hearts

into its embrace of Light,

its music of Love.

I apologize to all who keeo visiting this site that I have not added to for a few months. I announce now that I'm back, and will add something every couple of weeks at least. There is much inspiration to be found during these dire times, and I have been collecting some for my own thinking and being. That is what I will share here in the blog.

Thanks to those who keep visiting here. Each Friday I receive the number of those who have visited since the Friday before, and I am always amazed.

If there is one thing I would say to those who do visit and read, it would be to encourage you to keep a journal during these strange times.  It is becoming evident that - whether or not restrictions are lifted - we cannot go back to living as we were before the pandemic. Too much has happened to change the way we see the world, and that change will deepen and continue in the years to come.  Keeping a journal will also help you to get to know yourself better, as you record your responses - positive and negative, and there must be both - to whatever you are experiencing. It is just as important to name the difficulties as the the joys...and to remember, please remember, that we are all - ALL- in a time of grief for what was and will never be again. I will write more about this in next week's blog. 

Layers of life are peeling away...

So many thoughts and words pour into our spaces every day during this continuing pandemic time that it is sometimes necessary to find ways to step away from the constant rhetoric of panic, whether it's repetitive news, frightened family members or friends, even the hyped tone of voice with which newscasters and media reporters repeat and repeat frightening statistics and situations and dire predictions of what is yet to come - this is the state of our world today. 

That said, it is up to each one of us to find a way to step out of the panic for at least a part of the day, or longer. Some of the ways people have told me, and which I do myself are:

-going for a walk outside alone and noticing each thing you see 

-staying in the present moment by cooking, reading, and noticing when your mind takes over and everything else becomes automatic...pay attention in the moment.

-finding an activity that requires your attention, not something you do automatically...learn to knit or paint or color...many adult coloring books available now.

-trying not to engage people who need to talk about this over and over and over.

-Finding whatever suits you best to stay in the moment: read, sing, pray, walk and notice everything you see as you go.  

-TRYING NOT to either watch the news constantly OR talk constantly to people about the topic.

These activities, deliberately chosen, will rest your mind and body more than you know, especially if you choose to engage 2-3 of them a day.

REST OFTEN, like MaCushla the Cat in the photo!