A Basket of Dreams

The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little. (Thomas Merton)

What a peaceful morning mediation! I can not say that it fell into the effortless category but it did have an element of ease. The gentle guidance of letting go when I become frustrated, of being non-judgementive when my mind wanders has made the meditative journey go more smoothly.

Today I began by sitting in easy pose on the floor. I prayed and closed my eyes to follow the breath in and out. Many times I became aware that my mind had wandered to the incessant chattering of my Monkey Mind - ah, yes, I did try to become the monkey. From the Monkey's perspective I was still and at peace, so I became still and at peace.

When I met Lagan on the path today he gave me permission to open another basket! OOOHHH, I love suprises. The basket was orange, the color of the spleen chakra which functions in creativity! Yea, I like this one! Inside the basket were my dreams. I often don't know the difference between ambition, desire and asking for things that only others can have! In the dream basket I saw little clips of all my past dreams...(you'd think I could've meditated all day looking in there!), and I released them one by one to make way for new ambition. The kind of dreams that are centered in wholeness of body, mind and spirit.

Peace and blessings!

Meditating Under A Tree

The title of today's blog is not very catchy because nothing spectacular jumped out at me (haha) as I tried to recall the events of this mornings meditation. What did strike me as interesting though, as noted by the two pictures above, is that I did not know what a bodhi tree actually was nor did I know what it looked like. This morning as I went inward on my meditative journey I wanted to run down the path, not in search of the baskets with virtues or lessons, but rather to exhaust my physical self in hopes of being able to still my mind for a longer period of time. I called for Lagan - he's so wise, he said I had to sit under the tree and meditate. Arrrghhh...okay!!!!

I'm discovering what a visual creature I am. The tree had long spindly like arms, it's canopy gentle but strong spread out like a loving umbrella. The image that came into my mind was a Weeping Willow. A tree that at first appears dainty perhaps feminine. It is tall with graceful branches that seem to reach out gently and cradle the air around it. After investigation one finds that the Weeping Willow has strong deep roots that run down into the rich soil beneath and across the earth attaching themselves on even the strongest other foundations.

Today, I am beginning to reconsider yesterdays post about being tangled in roots. I wonder if the implication isn't that I am tangled in my own roots. When this thought first occurred to me my only reference was "family" roots but as I began to ponder a meditative journey utilizing Kundalini Yoga I surmissed that perhaps the roots are the root chakra. So, an inbalance of this chakra leads to insecurity very similar to an inbalance in family of origin. Sometimes it difficult for me to make the leap from educated intellectual to spiritual discipline. I've had enough pain in my life caused by my own short comings and meditation has been scientifically proven to enhance ones life so for today I'm going to purpose that my root chakra was out of line yesterday and leave it at that.

As for today, I felt accomplished when I was done meditating. As I write this blog many hours later I am still left with a feeling of peace and serenity.

Peace and blessings!

The Path I'm on is Character Development

Character Development
"the inherent complex of attributes that determine a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions; "education has for its object the formation of character"- Herbert Spencer

As I meditated this morning, an image rose into my conscious awareness. I was walking on a path and there were pots of gold along my way. My first inclination was to take off running towards the rainbow that so beautifully splayed itself across the distant horizon. I was reminded by my much wiser higher self that I had earlier called upon for guidance, that the path was the journey. The journey today is about Character development. Of course, this information caused me great excitement because lately all I've longed to do is write and create a piece of literature worthy of publishing. But the character development wasn't intended for the development of a novel. Instead, it was intended for my own personal development. Too often in my life I put the cart before the horse. I don't know if you've ever done that but what happens is I loose control and go tumbling down a rocky embankment of my life and hit a bottom. With torn clothing and ripped skin I claw my way back onto my path and look down with bewilderment at the broken wagon and lame horse.

Today, and just for today, I choose to ride in the wagon. Perhaps, even drive down this path of character development. But I will spend more time walking the path and investigating these shining pots of gold intended to enlighten my own character. I will ask questions, listen and learn about my own moral stengths and weaknesses. I will work to keep my focus directly in front of myself, being ever so mindful that my head and feet are in the same place.