meditation

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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Morning Wisdom from Rabbit

Posted by Barbara Techel

morning wisdom from rabbit

There was just a sliver of a moon in the sky as I shuffled across the deck in my slippers into my writing cottage this morning. You know that type of moon — the kind you want to jump upon, hang your legs over the edge, swing them back and forth, and wish you could live in the magic of the moon forever.

Lighting two candles, then getting comfortable in my over-sized wicker chair with floral cushions, Gidget nestled beside me, I started to settle in for my morning meditation.

But something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. It was a rabbit, standing on her hind legs, a trail of her tracks in the snow behind her. The sky was still sleeping, but soon enough dawn would break.

I was going to grab my camera to get a picture, but decided not to, instead opting to just sit and be with rabbit.

In my mind, I said, “Good morning little friend.”

I wondered what her message might be for me.

I sensed she was there to say, “Hey look, it’s a beautiful new day. A new year. A new start.  Can you see it?”

I looked a bit past her, past the birch trees she was standing beside, the winter gardens covered in snow, then toward the sky with it’s different hues of pinks and peaches.

I could more than see it as I sat with rabbit, I could feel it. I sensed this was her message to me, reminding me to start this new year in the gift of awareness. And to pause often and take in nature’s simple, but profound gifts.

My whole body melted into a sweet spot of warmth and comfort as rabbit hopped off, and I then sat in meditation for the next 15-minutes.

What a gift rabbit was for me this morning. I hope by sharing this with you today, she is a gift to you, too.

—

The Animal Wisdom Tarot card deck says this as message from rabbit:

Be open to mystical marvels, but keep an eye on your path.

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photo credit:  hoppelz.com

Go Within and Let Go

Posted by Barbara Techel

gidget and animal reading

For the last two weeks I’ve been practicing my meditation routine again. I had gotten out of the habit for a time being.

Miss Gidget seems to be enjoying it too. The minute I open the door to my writing cottage, she scurries in and heads for my large, peach wicker chair. I pick her up, tuck her in her blanket and this is where we sit Zen for 15-minutes.

Okay, I admit, we don’t always succeed for a full 15-minutes as one of us gets wiggly. But we are doing pretty good. It is why it is called a practice.

After meditation, I’ve been immersing myself in a new daily ritual of working with animal cards — a way of learning more about other animals and understanding their wisdom.

I shuffle the Animal Wisdom Tarot card deck I have with a question in mind. Either something I’m having a challenge with or just asking what it is I need to know for the day.

After a few shuffles, I choose a card at random. I then sit with the card for a few moments listening for a message of its meaning for me.

I journal what thoughts come. This day, having chosen Bat I wrote about how I am learning to be more comfortable in the shadows of unknowns, trying my best to release worry, and accept things as they are.

After I journal for a few moments I turn to the booklet included with the cards. It is always a wonderful confirmation reading Bat’s message according to the booklet which is surrender, release, sacrifice, renew and the overall message of “go within, and let go.”

It’s exactly where I’ve been in my inner world with some things I’ve been working through.

The universe really does support us if we let it.

And I love how often Gidget looks on as the wise self that she is — all these things of which she already knows — as she sits and waits in total patience for me to understand.

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