Last evening I shared the most wonderful, relaxing time with a dear friend and I wanted to share it with each of you who follow my blog ramblings........have you ever ushered in each season as they arrive from God? Autumn (Fall) Equinox, Winter Solstice, Vernal (Spring) Equinox, Summer Solstice?
It was an amazing evening and felt like what an Native American Indian ceremony would have been like to experience. I believe we can learn something from their rituals in honoring the seasons and honoring God for what he has given us.
We shared simple ritual of soothing music of the cedar flute, simple dancing while holding hands in a circle with lovely women, chanting, singing, poetry, readings, drumming, listening, sharing with a talking stick, and enjoyed the beauty that Mother Earth and God give to us!!! It really was quite a beautiful experience.
This lovely evening invited me to look up the definition of the Fall Equinox and here it is:
Autumn Equinox: The equinox of September 22-23 marking the start of autumn.
Autumn: The season of the year between summer and winter....a time or period of maturity.....a time verging on decline.....a time of harvest and gathering........a time of letting go.
Equinox: Either of the two times of the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when the length of the day and night are approximately equal. Wow! I had never looked up this definition before and it fits perfectly to what I feel at this time of the year and at the beginning of each season.
Most people love the fall Autumn season. They love the changing of the weather, the exquisite colors of the trees, the cooler temperatures, football season for some, and gathering all the vegetables from the garden to prepare for winter.
Ponder these thoughts and ideas: What are you harvesting this season? What abundance can you gather? What does your heart see and feel? What do you need to let go of? What can you allow to drop like a leap in your life?
One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible is perfect for the Autumn Equinox:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8:
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
A time to embrace and a time to refrain,
A time to search and a time to give up,
A time to keep and a time to mend,
A time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace."
Imagine in the world where we live in now of hustle and bustle, where we have technology out our ears and no time to relax, restore or renew ourselves that we take time to honor the seasons and usher them into our lives, our hearts and our souls. Slow down........imagine doing less........listen to your heart........listen to your soul.......and rest a while. Enjoy this gorgeous season!!!
Tips on how to DeStress and enjoy life more!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Become willing...
Have you ever heard of the concept of becoming willing? Well, it is quite a concept to grasp and to actually undertake on a daily basis. I learned of it when I first went through my divorce in 2000 at a support group and have been studying it ever since! It is a wonderful and very "free-ing" concept once you get your head around it!!!
It is also Step 8 of the 12 Step program for Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon (Spouse Support Group of AA), Over Eaters Anonymous, and any other 12 Step program out there.
Here is Step 8:
"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."
Can you imagine what our world would look like if each of us became willing to make amends when we hurt or injured another person in thought, word or deed? Wow! I like to think that our world would change dramatically if each person would truly be held accountable for their own actions every day. It would be an amazing concept to teach others and to learn ourselves. I wish the 12 Steps would be taught in every home, every school and every church around the globe because I believe this one step is so powerful!!! Can you imagine if everyone who makes a mistake or even a minor bloop in something they have said or done and considered saying: "I am sorry, I made a mistake. Please forgive me."
This even means to say that to yourself, too......yep! That's right! YOU deserve some grace as well as whoever you might have harmed or hurt their feelings in the past.
Think about it........become willing........to make amends....to see things from a different perspective.......from a different point of view........to ponder another path......to go where your mind and heart may have never been before.....incredible concept, isn't it???
And, if you want to take it one step farther, read Melody Beattie's The Language of Letting Go devotion for August 24th..........it is truly amazing to "set yourself free" from guilt, anxiety, struggle, and discord because you became willing to make amends for the tiniest thing.......to anyone........for anything.
Become willing.........would you consider trying it for a day, a week, a month? I am!!!
Go ahead....set yourself free!!!
It is also Step 8 of the 12 Step program for Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon (Spouse Support Group of AA), Over Eaters Anonymous, and any other 12 Step program out there.
Here is Step 8:
"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."
Can you imagine what our world would look like if each of us became willing to make amends when we hurt or injured another person in thought, word or deed? Wow! I like to think that our world would change dramatically if each person would truly be held accountable for their own actions every day. It would be an amazing concept to teach others and to learn ourselves. I wish the 12 Steps would be taught in every home, every school and every church around the globe because I believe this one step is so powerful!!! Can you imagine if everyone who makes a mistake or even a minor bloop in something they have said or done and considered saying: "I am sorry, I made a mistake. Please forgive me."
This even means to say that to yourself, too......yep! That's right! YOU deserve some grace as well as whoever you might have harmed or hurt their feelings in the past.
Think about it........become willing........to make amends....to see things from a different perspective.......from a different point of view........to ponder another path......to go where your mind and heart may have never been before.....incredible concept, isn't it???
And, if you want to take it one step farther, read Melody Beattie's The Language of Letting Go devotion for August 24th..........it is truly amazing to "set yourself free" from guilt, anxiety, struggle, and discord because you became willing to make amends for the tiniest thing.......to anyone........for anything.
Become willing.........would you consider trying it for a day, a week, a month? I am!!!
Go ahead....set yourself free!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)