Shifts in thought

Harsh mistress.

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I’m thinking of everyone in the world today. Keeping us in my prayers, as we dig out from impressive snowstorms, witness emotional, life-changing global events … and simply move on through our days. Mother Nature may seem like a harsh mistress at times. Or perhaps a wake-up call.

What can I say that isn’t already said so eloquently by Sting? How fragile we are…


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Uber-Fun.

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There’s a lot of hoopla surrounding the zodiac and horoscopes lately, but it doesn’t change the experience I get from reading Free Will Astrology. Or the inspiration. It’s my little dose of pronoia (the antidote for paranoia), every time I read from Rob Brezsny‘s newsletter or weekly horoscope reading.

This week, Rob tells Sagittarians (among other things), “In the Beauty and Truth Lab parlance, ‘Uber-Fun’ (always capitalized) refers to righteous delight that inspires you to shed limiting beliefs, thereby making you trickier, smarter, kinder, and wilder. Go out and have some Uber-Fun.” It’s his “sacred advertisement” for us archers.

I have to say, Rob only has to tell me this once. And it has nothing to do with what the stars say.

My dad got me interested in the zodiac when I was a little girl. And I’ve been reading my horoscope ever since. I wonder sometimes what he’d think of Free Will Astrology. I know what I think: it’s my constant source of joy and delight. Not to mention Uber-Fun.

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Instead of burying the lead.

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When following your dreams, try and stay out of your own way.

So instead of following them … Lead with them.

This requires skill, determination and vision, then scratch the first two and focus on your vision.

And release your attachment to the outcome.

It’s amazing how easy it is to stay out of your own way, then.

 

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What if?

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In our culture, it seems like we’re always looking for “the answer” to life’s big questions.

Who am I? What is my earthly purpose? How can I make ends meet? What makes me happy? …

How stressful is that?

“Live the questions and life will move you into the answers.”

–Deepak Chopra

Sage advice. Even though I don’t know where it can lead, I’m starting to live my questions instead of searching for answers. Like this one: What if?

New Year’s affirmation.

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Welcome, New Year. I’m expressing my resolution as an affirmation:

Make room for the New. New Mind, New Health, New Balance.

This way, I can celebrate my renewal each day by affirming it … instead of referring to it as a number on my To Do List. As something I can get to later.

It is true; I am always refreshed by the start of each year – right now, a new decade, too – I like to mark it on the first day, then ease into my resolution routine thoughtfully, making sure it’s right for me. I tell myself this. Like starting a diet on New Year’s Day, only to re-start it on the next Monday, after cheating with a holiday desert. I was a perfectionist then.

No more. I’m not perfect. What a release.

This is day four.

Make room for the New. New Mind, New Health, New Balance.

Photo Credit: Flickr, Z_dead

 

Sparkle.

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The holiday season is full of light. Eye candy. Brilliant.

Signaling a time of reflection. Seeing things as they are. Or differently, perhaps.

Gazing into the crystal ball, as a year comes to an end – the end of a decade, this year.

A ritual for the thoughtful, ranking right up there with family gatherings, caroling, cookie baking and auld lang syne.

What next? What do you see?

Look, or you could miss the promise of something new. Bling.

Find your sparkle.

Photo Credit: Flickr, stefanweihs


 

Creative glee.

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“Snowflakes, of course, are the ultimate exercise in sheer creative glee…

The crystal from the water exposed to the picture of cherry blossom.

…looking at God’s creation, it is pretty clear that the creator itself didn’t know when to stop. There is not one pink flower, or even fifty pink flowers, but hundreds…no two alike. This creator looks suspiciously like someone who just might send us support for our creative ventures.”

-Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way

The Seattle, WA area experienced an early first snowfall yesterday. After some folks were forced to spend the entire night on I-5 in their car or walking across the West Seattle bridge to get home (for some, about 10 miles) or sliding into parked cars or finally arriving home at 3 AM (like my husband did) – all, because no city officials were prepared for a storm forecast well in advance … today, the sun is shining.

The copyright of the water image is owned by Office Masaru Emoto, LLC.

Fear is the mind-killer.

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Prayer for today:

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing…

Only I will remain.

-Litany against Fear, Frank Herbert‘s DUNE

Pay attention.

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The Wave, Paul Gauguin

 

My art teacher at university urged his students, “draw what you see, not what you know.” It is the one concept that encompasses the entire class, always the central theme of all his classes.

Draw what you see, not what you know.

You know sand covers the beach, even under the surf – the ocean floor – yet you see water wash over sand at the beach – the deepening color, the disappearing.

“I shut my eyes in order to see,” says painter Paul Gauguin.

Draw the beach by seeing its nature.

A walk in the clouds.

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Walking is my preferred exercise. There’s nothing like opening my front door to a bright clear day, stepping out to feel the sunshine and traveling around the neighborhood on foot. I enjoy these kinds of walks just about every day — uh, no. Wait.

I forget where I am. I live in the Northwest now. Sunny days don’t always apply.

For months, I struggle with the dark break of day. The sun don’t shine, I don’t walk. It’s a little embarrassing, really. Like I can’t handle change. Won’t adapt, get my groove back. I stress over these kinds of excuses just about every day …

Until I make one small shift in thought. One click-through to a new visual. It all comes together then, opens my front door.

Now, I take

a walk in the clouds.

Photo: Cloudy day in the Northwest, by Marty Muniz