Tag Archives: #Presence

Simple Pleasures

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“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”
~Dalai Lama~

Great beauty can be found in the simple, ordinary things of life. Even the most mundane of tasks take on a sacred quality when approached with awareness, intention and gratitude. It’s important to remember that you dictate how your life unfolds by the energy that you bring to the situations you encounter. When we act out of love, without expectation or attachment, wholly involved in the Now, we become one with life.

Be patient with yourself. Sometimes all that is required is a peaceful alertness as we learn to exist aligned and in tune with the energy of the planet. This is a time full of mystery… like the dawning of a new day, there is a quiet anticipation as the awakening happens all around us. In the silence, limitless possibilities await.

Be aware of your relationship to the world around you. Our interconnectedness is becoming more apparent with each passing moment. As spiritual seekers, we are consciously engaging the truth of Oneness through interactions, gratitude, reflection and exploration.

Embrace the Experience

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“I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.”
~Joseph Campbell~

In spite of the many lifetimes we engage with one another on this planet, the experience of being human is but a tiny aspect of our spiritual journey back into Oneness. Earth provides the illusion of separation. We create intense karma and challenges, joyful connections and love in order to fully experience all aspects of the human adventure.

Think of all the things you love: the sunsets, springtime, music, your favorite foods, how the light filters through the leaves of a forest on a summers day, the feel of snow crunching under your boots, the contrast of a good movie that makes you laugh and cry, and so much more! When you begin to think of all that brings joy into your experience, you’ll discover that the list is endless… and yet we’ve just begun.
Rather than seeking for meaning in your life situations, bring meaning to them. Your brilliant, beautiful mind can be used to perceive the grace and wonder of being alive. Touch one another in love. Be kind to yourself. It will be gone all too soon and then we’ll be off on a new type of collective experience. It’s hard to mentally grasp the infinite; therefore, enjoy the Now and watch how it continues to evolve.

Be Filled With Wonder

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“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”
~Emerson~

One of the things I love best about writing these daily meditations is the need to consistently take new pictures. In the midst of my gratitude walk I enjoy looking for something beautiful to share with you. This desire causes me to immerse myself in the world around me,  see through the eyes of a child and pause to fully experience whatever has captured my attention.

The wildflowers pictured above are incredibly tiny and grow in a small clump in the mulch next to the path upon which I walk. Their simple beauty and transient nature encourages me to enjoy the present moment. Walking the same path each day for years has taught me the importance of appreciation as I watch consciousness express itself in various forms.

The sky is a living, moving canvas of inspiration. The chatter and interactions of the birds never fails to bring a smile to my face. The flowers sustain the pollinators and share their beauty with the world. And most importantly, I am grateful for you, gentle reader. Thank you for your participation in the awakening of my spirit. Because of you, I have learned the power of Presence.

A New Dawn

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“It’s as though, knowing that everything is possible, suddenly nothing is necessary.”
~Diana Gabaldon~
There are moments when life goes quiet. In the gap between what is and what could be lies a world of infinite possibility. There is nothing quite so beautiful as immersing oneself within the embrace of stillness.
We humans can cause ourselves so much pain. Excessive thought fills these spaces of pure potential with clutter that is then carried into day to day life. Everything becomes too much and the overload causes reactivity, which leads to additional conflict and drama.
Each journey is unique; therefore, there isn’t one “right time” to enter stillness. Those seeking to expand their consciousness must experiment with different ways of engaging the mystery. One thing to remember: it exists for everyone. We can access stillness in the midst of chaos and be at peace, even within the cacophony of experience.
When you discover your own way of going deeper into the present moment, make it a priority in your life. Find ways to work it into your daily routine until it becomes your natural way of being the world. There will come a time when this magnificence, this expanded vision is simply who you are.

Enchantment

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“The garden reconciles human art and wild nature, hard work and deep pleasure, spiritual practice and the material world. It is a magical place because it is not divided.”
~Thomas Moore~

Life is filled with enchantment and mystery. Often, what is presented on the physical plane is actually the opposite of what is occurring on the spiritual plane. Speeding from one place to the next teaches the beauty of patience, lack creates a recognition of abundance, health challenges can lead to healthy lifestyle changes, and the list continues into infinity… We learn from contrast. Being fully present and open to life allows direct access to our inner wisdom. Choose to view your journey as an adventure and utilize your challenges as opportunities to shine.

You are a child of the Universe and therefore intimately connected to everything around you. Seek to fill your experience with smile-inducing little joys. Moments of laughter and insight that shift your perception have an immediate impact upon your energy, beliefs and interpretation of your life experience. You’ll begin seeing things differently immediately and once you open the doors of perception, anything can happen.

Presence

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“See if you can give more attention to an action, rather than the result that you want to achieve through it. Give your fullest attention to whatever the moment presents. This implies that you also completely accept what is, because you cannot give your full attention to something and at the same time resist it.”
~Eckhart Tolle~

There is nothing more important than your state of consciousness in this moment.

When we attach our happiness to a specific end result, we give away our power. The ego loves to delay joy by planting the idea that “when so-and-so is mine, I’ll stop feeling so alone” or “when I have this job or this much saved in the bank, I’ll finally be able to feel safe.” All of these ideas treat the present moment merely as something to get through in order to experience some better moment in the future.

You are responsible for your own joy. Feel it Now. No matter what you desire to accomplish, joy in this moment is the key to manifesting the life of your dreams. Plans fall apart from time to time, people may do the opposite of what you wish they would do, you may miss the mark… the only thing over which you have any control is how you choose to respond.

Treat this moment as sacred. Whatever you choose to do, do it with complete mindfulness and bring a sense of playfulness into your experience. Your willingness to take conscious action is far more powerful than allowing your actions to be led by anger or fear.

Living in Totality

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“When you give your complete attention – I mean everything in you – there is no observer at all. There is only the state of attention which is total energy, and that total energy is the highest form of intelligence.”
~Jiddu Krishnamurti~
Practice being present. Without the need to name or identify, simply observe the world without filters. Bring stillness into the Now and appreciate whatever appears. This wholeness, this awareness has a higher quality. Imagine walking through life without opinions, descriptors or categorizing. The art of being present is based in stillness.
Life is artistry in motion. Many forget to enjoy the beauty of being outside at twilight, watching the light change the colors of the sky, or to receive the gift of a sunrise as the birds awaken. This is the time to reignite the flames of experience, open the heart and remove preconceptions that distract us from appreciating the beauty of Now.
We are not separate from life; rather, it is an outward reflection of our inner state of consciousness. Taste the fullness of this moment. Immerse yourself within it. Let all of your senses come alive. Your awareness is transformative.