About Breath

Mindfulness of breathing is a practice of learning to harmonize your attention with what is, in this moment. Short, long, deep, shallow are all fine breaths. Trust your body; it knows what is needed.   - Christina Feldman, "Meditation Q&A"

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I read this quote and was reminded of a time where I forgot to breathe. 

 I was working on a large project in Las Vegas as both a coder and consultant.  Because of electricity glitches at the time and because of a network with old security constructs stuck in places that stopped the program in testing, I was getting a little bit concerned about meeting the time deadline for the project.  I was sitting in the IT control center, working, when one of the young men got up and came over to my chair and slapped me on the back. I turned to him, shocked.  

“Breathe.” He said.  “You stopped breathing! You get so focused that you forget to breathe.”

I drew in a deep breath and realized he was correct.  My lungs were empty and my body was starting to shake.  I thanked him for noticing.  I sat quietly for a few minutes and closed my eyes and just counted one breath after another until I reached sixty.  My shoulders relaxed.  My body relaxed.  My mind became clearer.  I had the answer to fix my testing system.

Sometimes, to keep going, one just needs to breathe. 

Blessings, 

Judy

Dove - Spirit Animal

 

                                            

Picture of “Mama Dove” in our back yard – picture by Judy Hirst 

 Wikipedia says this about doves:  “Doves….. build relatively flimsy nests from sticks and other debris, which may be placed in trees, on ledges, or on the ground, depending on species. They lay one or two eggs, and both parents care for the young, which leave the nest after 7 to 28 days. Doves feed on seeds, fruit and plants. Unlike most other birds (but see flamingo), the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.”

This passage from Wikipedia basically sums up that Dove is about home, security, and the maternal instinct.  Dove appears to us when we need to be reminded about the importance of home and security.  She may appear if we are having issues with childhood issues that we cannot resolve.  And, since the dove is a ground feeder and eats mostly seeds, nuts, and grain, she tells you to eat more healthily, as any mother will.  Dove is often associated with Buddha and indeed, has a “Buddha nature”.  It is no surprise then, that her diet is similar.

Many of the legends and myths tell the stories of Dove being associated with the Goddesses of old.  Even the Bible tells of the importance of Dove and how she is associated with Christ and often is a symbol of Christ – standing for peace.  
Dove may be telling you:

• Find peace in your life, or move away from that which is not peace
• Look to find something creative in your life that brings you peace
• The cooing sound Dove makes is a communication to your cellular memory – what it is it that you once were?  She helps you find that peaceful, spiritual person deep inside you.

Blessings,

Judy