grounding

A Reminder of the Gift of Pausing Often

A Reminder of the Gift of Pausing Often

One of my heart centered intentions for this year is to pause and meditate ten minutes in my writing cottage before I open my computer for the day.

In the past, I’d meditate right after my yoga practice, then eat breakfast, and get ready for the day. Oftentimes that left me losing the feeling of what I’d gained during my practice and I’d rush right into my work. 

While recently listening to a podcast with Kaya Singer, who interviews wise and wilder women, it was Shamanic Medicine Healer, Susan Jenkins who offered this ritual as one that she does. I loved how it sounded and a resonating, warm feeling washed through me.

I started this ritual last week. So far, I really love it. Though I’ll admit there are some days, like today, with exciting projects on my plate, that I had lots of anxious butterflies flying around in my stomach. I didn’t know if I could sit for ten minutes.  So I chose a word as my mantra. 

I chose center and in my minds eye I slowly wrote out each letter, over and over, until the butterflies disappeared. I think this is the thing with meditation – it’s not going to be perfect – but one that if you can find a way to sit through those times you are anxious, you will be greatly rewarded.

And I was reminded just a few days ago of another way in which to pause when I was deep in my work on the computer, and felt something tugging at me to stop and look.

As I stopped, looked over to my right to my oversized wicker chair, that I saw Gidget looking at me in such a sweet way, which I captured in the photo above. Another way in which I honored the gift of the pause and just sat in silence and stillness with her for a few moments.

Thank you for sharing and subscribing to my blog updates.

Honoring the Domestic Goddess Within

IMG_1292

Fall brings out the domestic Goddess in me.

And so does a new vacuum.

Seriously, I love to vacuum.

Friday I bought a middle-of-the-line Hoover. My other vacuum (not a Hoover) was fed up with the dog hair and rigorous workouts that I tend to put my vacuums through.

So off to the vacuum heaven my tired, old one went.

And in its place a shiny new red one with exciting new accessories to explore. Yesterday was the day to take it for a test drive and I don’t think my house and car knew what hit them. It was as if I was in a vacuum cleaning trance!

I don’t think there is an inch of my house that wasn’t touched and now I have this driving itch to take it for a whirl through my writing cottage.

But Kylie scattered to her kennel as she does when the “naughty” vacuum comes out. And Gidget, well, she goes from room to room. Wherever IT is, she is not.

The whirring sound echoed throughout our house and outside for a good part of the morning. And I noticed after vacuuming the screen door, my last place of attack for the day, that Gidget was in her bed only inches away.

She didn’t take off this time as she usually does with a “don’t come near me” look at the vacuum. Perhaps this vacuum and her will be friends…. or she was lulled to sleep from all that humming…or perhaps she was exhausted from trying to keep up with my vacuuming frenzy.

At any rate, I don’t know what exactly it is about Fall, but I love honoring the domestic Goddess in me.

Snuggling in close to my own surroundings, being with John and the dogs, making delicious dinners, fires in the woodstove, and tackling home projects… it is all very grounding.

A great sense of accomplishment and pride in home- maybe that’s what it is.

Home has always been so important to me. It’s where I feel most centered and where I welcome the domestic Goddess when she wishes to come out and play.

Each Goddess within us, so necessary to explore and honor when she presents herself.

And I do think that Vacuum Goddess is calling out again, so I best sign off and take her for a whirl through the walls of my writing cottage.

Thank you for subscribing to my journal posts.