.....change isn't hard

Yogis,
I was out for a walk with Phoebe the other morning, a little after 6am. A cold crisp morning where yesterday’s melt was once again a nearly invisible sheen of ice, blanketing the street and driveways. Carefully planting my feet with each step. Gaze set to the ground. Heel toe, heel toe.

The human world still snuggled in bed with the slowly brightening sky lighting my path. Such a gift after months of dark morning walks. A sure sign of springs approach. Looking up I could see that yesterday’s clouds were thinning, edged in coral, with little peaks of baby blue exposed as they floated overhead.

I hear the first robin’s chirp break the morning silence. A cardinal quickly follows. Another whistles in response. And another…..until the air that surrounds me is filled with their chatter. I can feel their excitement that yet another new day has arrived and it makes them all want to sing! They in turn awaken in me the same sentiment. I lift my gaze and chin skyward, spread my chest and emanate out my greeting of Happy New Day! To the birds. To the Universe. To all humans whose eyes have net yet opened to witness this newness.

I stood still as an image flooded in of everyone experiencing this exact same thing with me. All of us. Everywhere. As each person arose and placed their feet on the earth they heard the birds and joined into the song.

That we had all awoken on this particular day, a day which otherwise may have gone unnoticed,  and collectively decided that we were ready for monumental change. That this magnificent morning was the one we were choosing. Eager to let go of everything that has happened and move forward with a new way of being. Together.

As we encountered others on the street we would rush in to hug and share this new joy. Those that have been our friends, those that hadn’t and even those we don’t know. Stripping off our coats that labeled us Republican or Democrat, Catholic or Muslim. Letting the wind blow off the brainwashing that has convinced us who is right and who is wrong. Seeing everyone as what they are…..another human who yearns to be loved, accepted and filled with joy. Can you see it?

I know, I know. This is only a dream, right? Too simplistic. The vision is created and held for only a split second before the mind begins to list all of the buts and cants. The world doesn’t work like that. Change is hard and can’t happen overnight. Baby steps we are told.

But why, I ask. Why?

We always hear that change is hard. It’s hard to switch to a healthy diet. It’s hard to maintain an exercise program. It’s hard to meditate and quiet the mind. Yet when you think about it, change cannot be ‘hard’.

Every single thing in life is changing with every breath you take. Nothing stays the same. Even the body you woke up in will not be the one that lies down tonight. Change is quite easy, and we live it every single moment. Resisting change? Now that is a challenge.

Let’s rewrite the story! Change is not hard. We can at any moment choose to flow into the sea of possibilities with ease.  

I am going to hold on to my vision and maybe you will join me. And like the robins and cardinals, another of you will respond back. And another and another until our collective joy fills the morning air.

Good morning birds,
SARAH

.....I have something to say

Yogis,
We have several major energy centers in our bodies and one of them is at the base of the throat. Our communication center. It is here that we find our voice.

The funny thing is we have multiple voices. Listen to yourself over these next few days and see if you can hear each one. Maybe you have your parent voice. You know, the one that drives kids crazy and causes eyeballs to roll. Or then there is the work voice. Suddenly knowledgeable and exuding confidence, even though you have absolutely no idea how to handle the issue at hand.  

The friend voice, the neighbor voice or the one that as you are speaking even you are wondering who this person is. These are all masks we select based on what we believe is expected of us at the time, how we can best fit it, or what will make others think better of us. These voices are composed and spoken from our thinking mind.

Then we have another voice. This one is pure, expressing itself using words that arise from much deeper. Your authentic voice. The voice of the true you who lies below the mind and does not bend to whims of the outer world.  It takes  the light of your inner world and shares it with others, never causing harm.

When we meet someone and have our standard chit chat, we form an instant impression of who this person is by the voice they use.  Friendly. Demeaning. Strong willed. Quiet.  Yet these are not them. Over time spending more time together we begin to sense the one behind the mask. Suddenly finding ourselves explaining to others that he ‘isn’t like that’ and knowing they don’t believe us.

The voice is one aspect of our throat. This is also our radio tower where our vibration radiates out. The unique note that you are. When close to another we can feel it and at times the vibration seems out of tune with the voice we hear. It feels there is something they need to say, but for some reason they can’t.

There are many reasons this happens and when it does, we feel trapped. Not able to allow the pure me on the inside to be seen and heard on the outside. The throat door has been locked. The energy when our throat center is clear and open is freedom, and this is anything but free. Swallowing our words.

When we keep busy and live in our thoughts there is no issue. The noise keeps us from even hearing our inner voice which won’t try to yell over thoughts. Often this may be why we dread times of quiet and stillness. When we sit in silence we can’t help but hear our voice. And if it differs from the mind’s voice, do we have the courage to unlock the door…..

That is what meditation is to me. Taking a set amount of time every day to listen. To hear myself and what I want from this precious life I have been gifted. The meditation practice then helps me to feel safe enough to let others hear.

My throat energy has always been my ‘work in progress.’ I realized this week that in a way this blog has been a vehicle for letting the inner me speak. Letting you hear my heart. Letting me out.

Thank you for hearing me,
SARAH

.....wintery mix

Yogis,
This week a small gift of appreciation arrived at my door from a company with whom we do business. Enclosed was a card which read ‘Looking ahead to better times and better weather!’ I totally understood the intent. Having now come out the other end of 2020 I often hear talk of better times coming. Add in wintery mix as our predominant weather forecast lately, and I hear the implied wish for the return of sunny skies.

For some reason though, as I read it something about it did not sit right.

We seem to be in the wintery mix weather pattern. One moment hearing the patter of rain on the roof, and the next the click click click of ice hitting the windows. Looking over my shoulder I glimpse a quick burst of snow. Once I think it has all stopped, I look closer only to see light freezing rain. Winter’s complete bundle.

I started to notice that each time I mentioned it to anyone, I was adding the prefix ‘dreaded’ to its name, making my feelings clear. In discussions I badmouthed it, couldn’t imagine why we would want it and clearly wasn’t looking very hard for a good side.

Yesterday morning I headed out on my run with hopes of beating the incoming weather back to the house. Pausing on my tree seat, my head back and eyes closed, I felt the first drop of rain. Another. And another. An ice pellet hits my nose. The sky is nondescript. My hands are cold. Even the birds get quiet.

“Is it only a good day when the sun is shining?” the universe asks. “Are you only happy when skies are clear? Will the bitter cold temperatures turn this day into a bad day? If I create warmth for you every day will your life be fuller? Will your worries melt away?”

I stayed to listen.

“Are they not all gifts?” the universe continued. “Without the life-giving rain you would go thirsty. Wouldn’t something be missing without ice for your drink on those hot summer days? What would it be like to never glide on frozen ponds or see the intricacies hidden in an icicle?  Or is it that they are only gifts when they arrive on your terms?”

“Have you forgotten that you always have the power to create your own sunshine?”

Sigh. Of course, once again you are right. We want to be very wary when we find ourselves waiting for better days and better weather. We could be waiting a lifetime. This day, this life and all of its messiness is a gift, and our happiness is not determined by how it arrives. That light can only be created on the inside whether it be a perfect spring day or a gray February morning blanketed by wintery mix.

I headed home and changed into my favorite oversized wool sweater. I set up a cozy sitting space in which to paint, read and drink my hot tea. Able to look out the window and watch as the world was transformed into a winter wonderland. It was a joy filled day.

Nope, I am not waiting for better times or better weather.

Grateful for wintery mix……
SARAH

.....shining my light

Yogis,
When you finally get quiet and check in on what’s happening on the inside you typically bump into the mind first. Like a loud friend, thoughts, one after another streaming through. They list out everything that has to get done, replay what happened yesterday and share their favorite theme of what is wrong with both you and the world. Blah, blah, blah.

If you are willing to sit a bit longer, become silent and go deeper, beneath the thinking mind, you will encounter another you. The you that watches the thoughts. The you that isn’t making comments or judging everything as right or wrong but is simply observing. Can you find it? I will call this your awareness. And wherever you point your awareness, expansion and light will follow.

This story began with two pale yellow birdhouses that have hung beneath Danny’s garage eaves next door for as long as I can remember. A reliable home for the sparrows. When Danny died last summer, I realized that the birds he had befriended and tended would need a new home, so I transferred the houses to my front porch roof, facing their original home. Hopeful that they, like me, would be willing to make a move next door.

Each morning I watched for activity. Looking for any new pieces of straw at the openings. I bought bird seed and filled a jar to keep on the porch. With a whistle I tossed seed each afternoon into the fallen leaves which line the front. Whenever I came or went I listened for their rustling in the boxwoods….a perfect hiding place…..and sent a hearty hello  their way. Soon messy puffs of material are hanging from their new digs.

We then discovered a discarded feeder next door which was promptly hung in the center of our front yard. Before long the titmouse, cardinal and chickadees were excitedly flying back and forth from the cover of our large holly trees. When teaching, as I ask everyone to notice what they are hearing in their homes, I am now flooded by bird songs in mine.

Suddenly birds cross my path from every direction. Everyone keeps mentioning birds to me. A hawk flies over my shoulder. A friend recommends a podcast named ‘I worship every bird that I see’. I listen as I sit painting a cardinal.

A post crosses my path for a site where you click on the bird in a tree to hear its call. It reminds me how for years I would ask what sound a particular bird makes, only to find that they, like us, have many voices! To know them we must be willing listeners. I of course click on the cardinal first and at that same moment, a cardinal out the window begins to sing the same songs. I feel closer.

Everywhere I go I hear them. Their calls hold my awareness down below the din of humans. I stop to look them in the eye and watch as their throat forms their words. Thanking them for their patience as I learn.

I have tuned my awareness to the path of birds and a world opened up. Awareness is like a high-powered flashlight. Choose any path you want to follow and shine away! It will guide and surprise you in ways your thinking mind couldn’t imagine.

This morning on my run I was about to turn left when a symphony in a small patch of woods stopped me in my tracks. I entered and stood dead center, closed my eyes and was surrounded and serenaded by a flock of robins. I shined my awareness back to them all.

Where are you shining your light?

I can’t wait to see what is up around the next bend,
SARAH