inspiration, instinctive meditation, journaling, Memories, spirituality, writing

Conversations with My Self

Image is a color digital collage I created of a mine tunnel with broken tracks, and a large blue eye looking into it. The eye appears to be reflecting the other end of the tunnel.

Sometimes my meditations take the form of an inner conversation, I suppose you could call it. It’s all in words. Some days it stays internal, and some days it flows onto page or screen.

This morning I was thinking back to a chat I’d had with a friend recently, where I was questioning my Why of existence– from the perspective of what is my overarching purpose. What arose is that my primary purpose is to witness the small moments.

I thought how remembering these small moments transmits them back to the universe– whether you view it as pranashakti, God, some ethereal council of beings, or something else entirely. Or nothing. It could be “live stream” (I just mistyped this as “love stream” a few times, and that’s not inaccurate!) or when hopefully long from now I leave this body and report back. Despite the horrors that we are bombarded with daily (and some experience), there is this:

“Look how wondrous this existence has been!”

Texture of bark on my favourite trees. I spent awhile this morning visiting each of them.

The day I noticed each tree has its own song when the wind caresses it.

The dance of shadows, and how sometimes I can see the faeries hiding there.

When I see a plant waving, and there’s no wind my skin can feel.

The lap of The Wise Old Tree in Minneapolis fit me perfectly, and I received from her exactly what I needed every time.

Sunlight shining through flower petals and butterfly wings.

Buzzing of bird wings when they fly closely.

How once a hummingbird hovered so closely to me I could feel the breath of its wings. And how delightful it is to hear their little beep beeps and watch them ride invisible rollercoasters when they are showing off to each other.

Bees with their pollen pants. One day I noticed a bee with **purple**polling plants, which expanded my knowledge of what colour pollen is.

One day I followed a bee on its journey until it went where a mere human couldn’t follow.

The smell of breakfast as I pass homes on Sunday morning walks.

Backyard conversations floating on the air.

Laughing with friends from the depths of our souls.

When breath sounds like the ocean, and the ocean, breath.

Seeing people’s inner child come out when they get an ice cream cone.

Looks shared between people tells one a lot about how they are relating to each other in that moment, or maybe always.

Witnessing fear course through a small child when a loud noise startled them. Not knowing what they might have experienced, assuring them they were safe in this moment. And thinking how many children do not have this assurance or safety.

How soft the sweater is of a neighbour I’ve only waved to when we finally took a moment to share each other’s names.

Appreciating the delicious feeling of my bed every night, and the gratitude I have for this experience, and a place to stay inside every day. Being cozy in bed when it’s raining.

Warmth of a lemon in my hand that someone picked from their tree and gave to me while I was out walking, and the fresh lemon scent that filled my apartment when I got home.

Times my words and presence have lifted someone up, and the times when I have not been my best. When I remember these less than stellar times, I whisper “I’m sorry” to these people, and let it go.

The joy I have of being able to sing around the house without being asked to stop, and the joy of a friend or family member joining in.

I used to hear people singing or whistling in public, and I don’t hear that much any more.

The peace of quiet when I wake up in the middle of the night, and there’s no traffic.

The bliss of sitting in my car for a moment when I come home, even though I live alone.

The beautiful community I have with my current neighbours. We take care of each other without getting into each other’s business, and I cherish it.

So much more. Every day there’s one small thing I can tuck away in the scrapbook of my heart and pull out at any time.

No big achievements by societal standards. Simply witnessing and Being in this world.

What have you witnessed today?

inspiration, instinctive meditation, instinctive meditation, journaling, writing

Bodha Sambhava

Image shows the ocean at sunset. A tidepool is surrounded by rocks and reflects the sky.

I’m in deep reflection with gratitude, love, and awe, at the departure from Earth of my beloved teacher, Lorin Roche, PhD, co-founder of The Radiance Sutras School of Meditation. Beyond words, really for all that he, his partner in life and teaching Camille Maurine, all my teachers, mentors, the behind the scenes magic makers, and the global community of friends I’ve been gifted.

I like using his book The Radiance Sutras as an oracle, and here’s what I opened to this evening.

Sutra 104
Holiness permeates everywhere.
Senses cannot grasp it.
Images cannot represent it.

It is totally free—
Free to appear as form,
Free to be beyond form.

Heart and body an mind in unison,
Attend to the unimaginable.
In the intercourse of unknowable and known,
An awakening will be born in you
As you join with that reality
which you already are.
***************************
From the illumination essay that accompanies the sutra: “bodha sambhava: to come into intimacy with pure consciousness.”

I can only imagine that Lorin is dancing a beautiful dance of intimacy with the unknowable.

Much love to Camille, all my teachers, the behind the scene magic makers, and the community I’ve come to love so deeply

Creativity, inspiration, meditation, music, Personal growth

Make the Leap

Not my usual pretty picture to go with my words, but it’s so beautiful to me.

An affirmation that it’s worth putting one’s Self out there.
I create music as part of what I do… both electronic and acoustic. During Fleet Maul’s free online summit “Best Year of Your Life”, people kept mentioning this app called Insight Timer. I’m not much an app user, but I thought I’d check it out. In case like me, you don’t know what it is, it’s the worlds largest free meditation app, with over 18,000,000 users, and over 10,000 people providing content.

And hey! They have music. And I thought… what’s the worse that could happen… people won’t listen to it, or what I submit won’t get approved (it’s curated.)

The first time, about a month ago, I got an email that I had one of my pieces chosen as a staff pick. I was blown away, thought it was a fluke, and enjoyed it for what it was.

This morning I woke up to an email that another piece had been chosen to be featured.

Mind. Blown. I really needed that boost today.
I hope this encourages at least one of you to put yourself out there.. you never know what can happen!

Here’s the link to the featured song: https://insighttimer.com/craftngt…/guided-meditations/five
And here’s the link to my profile there: http://insig.ht/craftngthespirit

So much gratitude!



Creativity, focus, inspiration, mindfulness, Personal growth, spirituality

Sources of Inspiration

“Bond” Alex Grey, 2004

Alex Grey shared this image and quote from his book “The Mission of Art” on his Instagram feed this morning. This book, and quote in particular, have played a huge role in my vision for Crafting the Spirit.

“I”m going to go out on a limb and say that there is a lot of good for anybody in making almost any kind of art. Just as each of us benefits from physical exercise and meditation, even though we may not become professional athletes or enlightened yogis, making art is intensely cathartic and healing, and should be enjoyed by everyone, even those who don’t think they will become the next T.S. Eliot, or Picasso. The at of drawing, or painting, writing poetry, dancing, or making music brings us into personal contact with the creative spirit, and that has inestimable value for enjoyment and self-discovery. The health of the soul depends on whether we can express our creative energy freely of reel we must keep it hidden and suppressed.”

Adventure, Creativity, goal setting, mindfulness, Personal Development, Personal growth

Adventure…..Someday

“You never know what you will discover, once you decide to do something, rather than dream about it.”

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think of adventure? Months of planning? Death defying feats? Taking a sabbatical from life? Do you then sigh and then tuck it way on a bucket list somewhere? Yeah. Me too.


And then there’s the someday list, usually beginning with “I’ve always wanted to “ or “someday I will”. On my list, these are smaller, more obtainable. And still, they get set aside.



But.

What if…..



You shift your perspective a little?



I remember doing some home improvement projects before selling a house years ago, and they were much more enjoyable, and not nearly as troublesome as my procrastination let me to believe.



The other day, I decided to go somewhere I hadn’t yet.. on my someday list, and chose to take a back roads way. On twisty mountain roads. Past random bee yards. “Eggs for Sale” signs. Where cars coming the other way slowed down to see who I was because they didn’t recognize my car. 

I took a hike on one of the mountains, and turned back when it started feeling too “snakey”. There was no phone reception, and I didn’t have a walking/whacking stick. As it turned out I was right about the snakes, according to a local.


All within 15 miles of home, and one of the largest cities in the nation! I came home feeling I’d had a mini-adventure, and also had done something on my someday list.



A few years back, I felt lonely on a holiday, and went on a hike in a park near me. I wondered how I’d managed to live here over ten years and not done the hike? It changed my life, and now I go out searching for parks near me to go hiking on a regular basis.

What is on your someday list? What are you willing to do on that list this week? Today? Even the smallest of adventures can be life-changing. You never know what you will discover once you decide to do something, rather than dream about it. Now get out there and make it happen. Let me know how it went!