The Sunshine Observer: SO… V8

Yesterday I woke up feeling horrible because the only movement I’d done the day before was walking to the mailbox. This brings us to, vacuuming, a worthy exercise when done with rigo. Whilst in the act, I remembered a dinnertime grace from childhood; we were practicing Presbyterians.

Back of the loaf the snowy flour,
And back of the flour the mill,
And back of the mill is the sun and the shower,
And the Father’s will.

A lovely homage to the biblical supply chain.

Speaking of supply chains, vacuuming is an opportunity to employ both our back and consciousness. Imagine all the people and tasks it took before your floor was, your floor. Every hand it passed through and what their lives might be like. Starting with the person who had the idea, to the UPS delivery person or installers. Each person along the way deserves a nod of acknowledgment and thanks. Whether it’s a lovely hand tied rug by Afghan refugees or a factory worker pumping out a manufactured floor. Everything has a story before arriving at your door. Reminding us to do thoughtful purchasing.

BodyMindSpirit

Our daily 5-minute meditation for Crescent Moon.

Meditation prep

As the moon continues to wax, it illuminates more of what is, including those clinging thoughts of dis-ease and old stories. Stuck like burs. Imagine something stickier rolling through and taking them away… or use a flamethrower, rake, hammer… Perhaps ask why we hang on to them?
If surrendering or a truce feels better do that. Sometimes just acknowledgment, releases us from its grip.

Meditation…

Our shadow is part of us. It will take all our attention given the chance.
Bring on more light.
The brighter our light, the less shadow there is.

Poem

beauty in stillness

dark and light

The Sunshine Observer: SO… V7

The eagle continues to pull grasses from the wetland to feather its nest. Enough about Sunshine Lane… But before we move on to something more meaningful, let me wet your whistle with tomorrow’s topic: Vacuuming and the Supply Chain…

BodyMindSpirit

“If you want to know your past, look at your present. If you want to know your future, look at your present” -Buddha

A year ago, we were in Lisbon for 2 months visiting Alice and family. Before we went, I created a plan to keep myself grounded. Long trips in the past had left me with angst. I do best when I have purpose and meaning in my life. Being with family does bring both of those things, but I also need something that is personally centering.

Making sausage… I decided to spend an hour or so each day creating a daily mediation that follows the cycle of the Moon. My intention was to have something I could share with others after our trip. Each day I’d wake up make some tea, meditate, do research, and scribble. The meditations and poems I’ve shared the last few days are a result. The process however, has taken a lot longer than I had initially intended. During our trip I felt fantastic about the progress I was making. It was very grounding to have something to do every morning that centered me. During my research I’d review the wisdom of others for inspiration and guidance. I have many favorites,  including: The Alchemy Mystery School (Seattle), Angeles Arrien and the Four Fold Way, Tarot (too many to reference), Eckhart Tolle, Pamela Eakins, the list goes on…

When I got back to Whidbey (Sunshine Lane) I lost momentum. Spring had happened and the property took over my focus. I did pop back into the project now and again, but often asking myself, is the project still what I had originally intended, will I ever share it? I recommitted, writing a meditation and sometimes poem for each day starting with the new moon August 30, 2019. These were mostly 2 pages of scribbled notes (see sausage above). As I went through the month, I continued to ask myself about sharing this with others. I couldn’t see how/when I’d share it, so it became a personal project. I was ok with that.

Coming to the present, as we are isolating, it seemed like the time is now to share something. So, I’ve been translating my scribbles into the daily meditations. It’s not the format I had originally planned and currently lacks the back story; I hope someday to get to that. In the meantime, while we may not be able to immediately change our physical circumstances, we can change our perspective and perception. I hope this brings you some solace and joy.

Our daily 5-minute meditation. The waxing moon increases the reflection of light, almost Crescent.

Meditation

Show up to Love and fear, be open, present, show up to what is. The truth need not be cruel.
When we meet ourselves at our center, our now, for this moment we are free. Breath.
Leaving our shadow in peace, walk forward in grace, free from the bondage our past and future.  

Poem

The moon- expanding, hopes, wishes, adjusting, aligning

The Sunshine Observer: SO… V6

Big news here on the Lane. I went to the post office and store today; it’s been a week. Pressing the lemon to find something relevant to say about it: The World is still out there.

BodyMindSpirit

The picture today is of my current favorite breakfast. It’s super simple to make. A sunny side up egg, S&P and crispy parmesan cheese cooked in the same pan as the egg, then placed over a bed of mixed greens with a drizzle of both balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze. Deliciosa.

Our daily 5-minute meditation. The moon is waxing, almost Crescent.

Meditation…

We bring patience as the new is being revealed. Expanding with the light. Our dark corners, our shadow wants Love too.

Poem

Slick

Falling into the dark

Leaving dreams to come true

The Sunshine Observer: SO… V5

OK people, things are usually quite lovely here on Sunshine Lane, but I woke up today feeling all your angst and pressure. I’d like you to stop now. I’m remembering the scene from Moonstruck where Cher slaps Nicolas cage and says “SNAP out of it” after he professes his Love for her. In this case I see your Love as misplaced angst, a result of placing your attention in the wrong places. To overcome you, I took a shower today (for the first time in 4 days) with the intention of washing you all out of my hair. It worked wonders. I recommend it. Recipe below.

Body: Get in the shower. As the beautiful hot water rains down, scrub the top of your head with the intention of releasing all the heavy psychic energy that’s been dragging us down these days. Imagine it washing over and through you. Then end the shower with cold water, try to stay under it for 90 seconds. I had to turn the water off and on 3 times, because I almost passed out. But in the end, I felt fantastic.

Mind: Pay attention to where you are placing your focus. There are lots of good things that need attention. “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” – Simone Weil

Spirit: Our daily 5-minute meditation. The moon is waxing, increasing in light moving toward crescent.

Meditation…

What will we take on our journey? What will we leave behind and release?

We bring our fire, passion, power & wisdom.

We bring all that comes from Love.

Gently thank all we are leaving behind, remembering where we came from, with gratitude.

Poem

The moon whispers

Kisses the treetops

As we say good night to the day

The Sunshine Observer: SO… V:4

Feeling muddled. Not like a delicious frosty Mojito, more like a mud pie on spin cycle. So… Here’s a new format for SO, not that there was any format before, but let’s pretend there was so we can feel like some fresh air is being breathed into our stale isolation.

Welcome to new segments on BodyMindSpirit (difficult to separate).

Body: On day 3 of a Mexican casserole here on Sunshine Lane. It’s an easy way to keep our physical distancing.

Mind: Do not underestimate the power of gratitude and humor. They infuse us with optimism. We need optimism.

Spirit: My intention is to share daily, a 5 minute meditation. It will follow the cycle of the Moon. Today is the Aries new Moon, the Sun and Moon are in alignment, a perfect time to start. Perhaps set intentions for the month before you begin.

Meditation…

We’re on a Hero’s journey, starting something new. Let’s sit in recognition that we are not simple, and that we benefit when we start from Love. With the dark we feel and hear deeply. Listen.

The Sunshine Observer: V3

But first, a Public Service Announcement: In case you didn’t get the memo, Pepperidge Farm chocolate fudge cake sucks, unless you like souffléd packing peanuts, the cellulose kind. There was very little difference between the cake and frosting, other than the frosting was a bit more of a puree than soufflé. The only thing that resembled a chocolate flavor was the sprinkles, tolerable if you like wax. I still however stand by the coconut cake, perhaps for nostalgic reasons.

And now for something completely different.
I wrote this Thursday, ‎April ‎4, ‎2019 after a meditation and it seems right to share it now.

The Self

All the power that ever was or will be is here now. -Paul Foster Case

There are 2 choices at the root of every thought or action- Love or Fear.
Love expands. Fear contracts.

Our psyche thrives on a high vibration existing from Love. From Love we experience and share- Joy, Compassion, Gratitude and Beauty. This is our platform from which all things are possible, our Heart Center.

Our Higher Self speaks the language of Love.  Existing for the best and highest good. When we’re in alignment, our vibration is High.

Our personal Agency is where we think, receive, and engage with the world. Our Moral Home. From here we ask, does what I’m paying attention to come from a place of Love?

Our relationship with the 3D world is formed through experience and culture. The world exists in extremes, polarities and varying levels of vibration. There is beauty and destruction. Culture introduces us to belief systems.

Our strong desire to belong has us attach to stories and vibrations that may not be our own. They may exist for us at some level, however, how we engage and what we believe will determine their impact on us.

Our Agency and Higher Self partner together for our protection, filtering based on our intentions. This requires a consciousness of continual attention and care to our personal Truth. Again we ask, is our engagement coming from and are we receiving from Love.

Through placing Love and the center of our existence, we have 360 degrees and every dimension from which to engage meaningfully. How the world responds is not our responsibility, as all we can control is ourselves.

Once centered in Love, we may ask, how best to help raise all vibrations around us?

No problem is solved by the consciousness that created it.
– Einstein.

OXO

Addendum 3/23/20: The world as we’ve known it has changed. We need to protect ourselves, both physically and psychically. As we see the news of what’s happening around us, try to do so as an observer, keeping our emotions out of it. I don’t say this to be cruel and not care for others who are suffering, but as a temporary bifurcation for our preservation. Worry is very bad for us, the world. We may feel powerless, however we are being Powerful by staying home. This is the best way we can support the world right now and those on the front lines. Please share as much love and humor as possible and stay the fuck home.

Sunshine Observer: V2

Last Sunday, the 13^th, was Tom’s birthday and since this “we” wasn’t feeling well, and since this “we” is also the only we going to the store these days, we me, did her best and bought a frozen *Pepperidge farm chocolate cake. Every good baker knows that defrosting is a very crucial step in not baking. True most adults now run away from this form of entertainment, but not we me (yet). Alright, dropping “me we” it’s exhausting, everyone cheers.

Digression, as a child, I loved Pepperidge Farm frozen coconut cake, albeit once it became not frozen. The coconut infused devastatingly creamy action-packed sugary goodness, slathered between white cake buns is delectable. I remember watching the box sit on the counter, as it prepared itself for consumption. Yes, this took hours, and soo worth it. The one time it came out of the box to defrost; did not go well.

Why you ask, if one coveteth it so, did one not buy the coconut cake for Toms birthday? The simple answer is we had already consumed an entire coconut cake only 5 days earlier for my birthday. No diabetics yet.

Back to the present. The story gets better, for me/he anyway, because tonight we’re eating cake! For some strange reason, likely pre diabetic symptoms, only one piece of the chocolate cake was dispensed last Sunday, and the rest of the cake has been lying in freezer wait for an entire week. Since we have again circled back, we’re done.

*Addendum: The chocolate cake ended up being truly horrible. Do Not Buy. Coconut only from now on.

Welcome to volume 1* of the Sunshine Observer (So).

Why the name you ask? We live on Sunshine Lane of course, and my Dad had a small-town newspaper when I was a tot called the “Northport Observer”. Well, it was first called the “Northport Obserber” because the sign painter didn’t know how to spell. I’m not sure how long the sign was employed, likely longer than the painter. And long enough for my Dad to feel the appropriate amount of humiliation being an new literary agency in the town. So, in honor of my father and these trying times, I thought it might be nice to try some brief distraction on you. Please do point out typos and grammatical errors. It will surely give you a place to vent your- better education than mine, meanwhile not hurting my feelings because I won’t give I hoot. Happy to be of service.

Anywho, welcome to So… volume 1*

It’s been 2 years since Tom and I moved to the country and we are still “learning”.

News flash- Weeds grow in dirt!

Growing up on Long Island I had heard of such things but had no idea of the abundant severity until moving here. Our landscaper did warn us not to go too big with the garden beds unless we immediately fill them, as nature drops from above. And it did. So, my So advice is, be prepared with whatever you plan to plant right next you as you expose the dirt, and toss it right in. Otherwise the weeds will come like an unapologetic rash. Kidding, they will still come. The good news is they offer your much needed time for “inner work” such as rehashing those 6th grade discussions of who was cuter, Donny Osmond or Keith Partridge.
Today I weeded for 3 1/2 hours and spent 30 seconds planting gourd seeds from last years crop. I did discuss one other topic with myself (not sharing).

Note- Do Not Plant Clover unless you want a clover field, and California poppies spread like weeds, which they are, but they’re pretty, but still a bad idea. Don’t plant them unless you like to weed, which brings us full circle. I think we’re done for today.

Nature wins.

* Disclaimer: there may only be 1 volume of So…, or some irregular number or pattern.

Tomorrow is my birthday and for my gift I want the very best for you.
But first, I want a moment of your attention.

Ready?

Stop. Get out of your head.

Take a deep breath, bring your focus inward, say hello to yourself. Feel your aliveness. Imagine sending Love to every cell and creating a chain reaction spreading Joy. Now, find your heart center, your moral core and invite Love in.

All of us with tough armor/egos are probably rolling our eyes now. But wait. What if we knew we could be loved, no matter what? How would we react? Are we tough enough to accept and give Love?

Yes, we are.

Let’s be bad ass Love yielding tough guys. Love warriors, sending Love bombs, slinging flaming Love arrows, and burning down the shit that does not matter. And for crying out loud, listen to each other. Others with varying points of view are not the enemy.

The thing is, we’re all connected, we are one. If there is no you, there is no me. So my wanting the very best for you is self-serving. The only way I know how to give and get the very best is through Love.

Be tough enough to Love indiscriminately. Start by giving a dam and Loving yourself.

I look forward to receiving your gifts.

I spend between January first and the Lunar New Year dreaming about my intentions for the coming year. Along with that, I rethink my “principals of life”. The principals usually explore the spiritual theme – when we Love ourselves first, we encounter the world from Love.

Current manifesto…

We are each an individual expression of the furnace of creation. Each with a different consciousness of our existence. We decide our story. How we think and feel about everything we encounter. We are only bound by our imagination.

Our attention is the thread of our power. When we start from Love unbound by culture and what others think our story is beautiful, with no shadow, no opposition.

In our desire to belong, belong to those who bring us Joy and when we sing together from Love our power will be amplified.

2020 Intentions

Be an ambassador of Good Will.

Be Present …….. Show up to Now

Pay attention to thoughts and actions……… Think well of others

Start from Love ……… Speak, Think, Act, from LOVE

Release from Love ………. Always

(These are closely related to the 4 fold way: Show Up – Pay Attention – Speak Your Truth – Release Attachment to Outcome)

Happy Lunar New year! Year of the Metal Rat.