conscious living

Sweet Flower Teaching Moment

Posted by Barbara Techel

The rain came down in waves of sheets yesterday. This morning the ground is well saturated and more rain will be on its way.

While sitting at my vanity this morning I glanced out the window to see this sweet, delicate flower gently dancing in the breeze. I could only see it from the back and was anxious to get dressed and get outside to see it from the front.

As I was enjoying this lovely and welcome moment of beauty a chipmunk type critter ran up to the plant, stood on its hind legs, and reached up with its tiny paws…to yes, try and eat the flower!

Tap, tap, tap, my fingers went on the window pane. Okay, it was more like bang, bang, bang (!) because I really wanted to get his/her attention to not eat that sweet flower before I got to take in its full beauty. I did have a moment of guilt for doing that. But I told myself once I saw the flower and could take a picture, I’d allow nature to take its course.

After I took the photo and looked it at on my phone I realized that along with the blessing of the flower that came from all the rain, there are also many weeds that made themselves known. I’d have to address pulling them over the weekend.

Just then I heard, “But where will you choose to focus?” The delicate and lovely flower was sharing a teaching with me. Right. I chose to stay in the beauty of that flower for just a bit longer.

I then thought more about that critter who was anxious to partake in enjoying that flower. Will I focus on the sadness of the flower that will eventually be eaten by that critter, or will I be happy that he/she will get to experience the flower in its own special way, too?

Where will I choose to focus? I decided I shall be happy for that critter when he/she will no doubt return and take great delight in enjoying that sweet flower as a delicious snack. And this, this is learning to live in harmony with nature. A little for you and a little for me…and all of us then shall be as happy as can be.

P.S. If anyone knows what type of perennial this is, will you let me know? I bought it last year and didn’t save the tag, so I’m curious what it is. Thanks!

XO

Barb

                  

A New Morning Ritual.

Posted by Barbara Techel


Whether we consciously realize it or not, we all have some sort of ritual in the mornings. But perhaps some don’t think of them in this way as we can tend to be on automatic pilot.

For me, I try to move through my morning in a more conscious way now. Though yes, I still have my days where I’m more on automatic pilot. I don’t often have Good Morning America on anymore, which used to be an everyday thing for me. Now I prefer the peace and quiet – or soft music playing.

I find that the quiet or soft music, plus the rituals I have in place, which can vary each day, set a foundation for my day.  My newest ritual, thanks to this lovely gift  from my mom, is a crystal singing bowl.

It’s on a table in my Zen writing cottage and while I just got it, I can already see this will be something I’ll want to do each day. On mornings I do Yoga I will light my candle and then play the singing bowl before going to my mat. Just thinking about this makes me feel grounded and calm. It is, in itself a meditation.

And to me that is what ritual is all about – it’s being in more conscious awareness of how we start and then move through our days – and for me, ritual helps set this in place and also serves as a reminder when my days are hectic or might be stressful.

Hope you enjoy this short video of the sound of my singing bowl — of course it sounds even better in person, and the full view out my writing cottage only adds to the good vibes!

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