OF SQUIRRELS AND SEEDLINGS

On a recent sunny spring afternoon I went for a walk with a friend. The deep blue of the mountain sky was highlighting the fresh green of the new leaves. A warm day full of life, and fat squirrels. One of these in particular we encountered carrying a huge piece of bread almost as large as he was. Part of a hoagie roll perhaps? My first thought was, look at the abundance of that squirrel. The squirrel was alternately stopping to eat, and carrying his bread across the grass looking for a tree. But though the bread was light and not heavy to carry, it seemed to be too bulky to climb into the safety of one of the trees. Climbing with his prize was apparently too much of a good thing.

The next act involved a large crow sidling over towards the squirrel, attracted by the bread. The squirrel retreated around the base of a tree, not wanting to share, even though he has more than he really knows what to do with. All the while continuing to feed. I have to wonder how much of this he can eat anyway? After a bit of a dance the crow seems to loose interest and moves on.

Perhaps you have recently planted your garden? How many seeds did you use? Did you plant just a few and spread them out, or scatter the whole pack knowing that you'll have to thin them later? If they are to become large and healthy plants they will need space to grow into, or be overwhelmed as they all start to grow at once.
How often to we start six projects and get lost in them as they grow, crowding each other out in the gardens of our lives.

How much or how many really serves us? When is it better take a piece and leave the rest; to have faith that the few seeds will grow into healthy plants; or to prune and thin and give some things away? We can follow the instincts of the squirrel and the programming of society, or we can feel into ourselves and find a different level of purpose that goes deeper than survival, that allows us to ask, what really serves? when is it enough? which plants do I keep in the garden and which do I move or give away?

In this modern world we are taught to always be busy, always productive. The mind becomes restless with open space or empty time. But it is only with these that the creations that serve us, or express our being, can grow and flourish, can be properly appreciated and enjoyed. Abundance that is so large we can't carry it defeats the purpose. Abundance that is so many that none have space to flourish also defeats the purpose. Diving deep allow your heart to say enough, or to choose the few that can joyfully thrive and support you. Give your self time and space to focus, trust, and enjoy.

(© 5/11)

GROUNDING YOUR BLISS

Sitting in a sacred space in the earth, I am reminded in my minds eye of a picture of my soul floating in its own space individuated from the world that I live in, letting go of the chaos of the world and diving within to find the connection to spirit and source that has been arising more and more this year.

The offering this afternoon is another step. The energies of the earth show how they can help me to ground my individuated spiritual essence into the greater web of spirit in the world. It is a way to walk in the world without getting tangled in the dramas, to have my space both as spirit and as a human being. They are showing me that we need to ground the bliss of spiritual connection into the manifest world. I know it will be shown to me if I am open to listening.

A day later I realize that there is an opportunity unfolding for me to take up a long standing invitation and drive out to visit a friend in Moab. Two days later I drive west. A friend of a friend guides me to a place that I can be alone in the nearby canyons and on day three I set off with a rough map scribbled on a scrap of paper.

Parking among the mountain bikers at a major trailhead, but walking off in a different direction, I take a short trail along a wash up between high cliffs of red stone. Drawn off the main path I explore a circular space, with cliffs towering above, climbing back and up until I am under the overhangs as far as I can go. Sitting there to do a small ceremony to open to the energies all around me, I realize that although I am above ground, I am surrounded by the red rock. I can feel the vibration of this rock, of the earth, and know that this is at least part of what the earth beings had wanted me to do. So I sit, grounding, releasing, opening to being in this place.

I spend hours in these rock formations, climbing higher on the original path, until I am sitting on top of a huge earth sculpture of rounded stone. No people, just the earth, wearing, cleaving, falling and crumbling down the years. Slowly I know that the matrices of the rock around me are aligning me, clearing me, helping me to embody what I had seen. As the fear comes up the wind blows it away.

Now I'm back in Boulder, bringing something with me. You will probably have a different way to do this, but the earth will help you to find out how to ground your spiritual bliss into the body so you can walk it in the world, in your day to day life. All you have to do is ask, open, quiet the mind, and listen with your being. Between the call and the response you will find the way, allowing it to unfold as you go.

You connect to spirit and find your space and your bliss, not to escape this world, but to have a place to stand so you can bring that essence and bliss back into the world, finding balance and joy in the web of life. We do this for ourselves, but also for the planet and for our community.

With blessings and gratitude.

(© 5/11)[read the full article @ http://www.wholebeingexplorations.com/archives/groundbliss/ ]