A Focus Point for A Meditation

This meditation focus comes from the book that I wrote, “Earth Wisdom Meditations: Contemplations For People Who Love The Earth”.  

I was sitting on the bench by the Bow River looking into the water.  A tree beside the river dropped a leaf into the water to my left.  I watched it float down past me.  I was just watching this leaf, and thinking, and I heard the words.  I wrote them down, and, eventually, they became a meditation for me that I use when I get stuck in my daily life.  Saying the words slowly and quietly, over and over, help me focus.

If you try this meditation, please let me know if it works for you.

Blessings,

Judy

You can see more about this book here.

Earth Wisdom Meditations: 111 Contemplations For People Who Love The Earth [Paperback]

Judith Hirst (Author)

Using Right Speech With Yourself

The Buddha saw that we are always engaged in relationships, starting with that most significant relationship: the one with ourselves. On the cushion we notice how we speak to ourselves—sometimes with compassion, sometimes with judgement or impatience. Our words are a powerful medium with which we can bring happiness or cause suffering.   - Allan Lokos, "Skillful Speech"

I was sitting at my laptop this morning, trying to send out emails to friends and family.  My email was acting strange, and stopping, not refreshing, or simply not sending out my outbound mail.  I started to get frustrated.  I started to watch myself talk to myself.  I saw that I was not upset with the email or with the computer.  I was upset with myself for not being able to FIX IT.  I realized that the words I was saying were unkind and not helpful.  I realized how unrealistic my actions were.  

Where did this come from?  Where did it send me?  I think that the words came from the shadow side of me that remembers the unkind things that people have said in the past – things about how I was unworthy, or stupid, or…..   Well, you get the picture.  I think that most of the time that words like that can send us down a dark current that moves us away from the light.  

I am now back on track.  This is a good day for you to get on track as well. 

Blessings, 

Judy

Renewal and Crocus

 

On Monday morning, I walked with my dog Merlin and my friend Judy in Fish Creek Provincial Park..  It was early.  And the slope was dotted with purple and yellow.  The crocuses were out!  It was the perfect time for them to grace the hill top.  The colours of the crocus, and the surrounding landscape are a vivid reminder of the colours of the chakras.  As the crocus plant gathers strength to shoot out of the Earth, so does our kundalini rise up in us.  

Check out the Osho site for a great kundalini meditation—— https://www.osho.com/meditation/osho-active-meditations/osho-kundalini-meditation 

See more on nature through pictures  at this blog  “This is A Nature Blog” at https://woodendreams.tumblr.com/.

Blessings,

Judy

Buddha Talks About "Wild Thoughts

 

Buddha Speaks - Wild Thoughts

"

Your thoughts run around like a wild horse and your feelings jump about like a monkey in the forest. When the monkey and horse step back and reflect upon themselves, freedom from all discrimination is realized naturally. "--Dogen, "Instructions for the Tenzo"

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Have you ever had an encounter with someone, and then walked away and had all these wild thoughts running through your head?  Thoughts like:-“I would like that person to have a taste of what they dish out”; or “I would like to banish them to the Arctic!”; or, “I wish all their friends, if he has any, would turn away from him!”

These are thoughts that are wild and free and may be drawing from your past life memories.  They may even be associated with a past life with this person.  The thoughts do not make you a bad person.  They are human.  When thoughts like these come your way, bless them and thank them for the creative vision of what could happen, and then allow them to leave. 

What makes our character is the way that we handle our thoughts, emotions, and impulses.  When we can let them go, then we are moving on the path of blissfulness.

Blessings,

Judy

Kola Bears

       

Snuggling!  One of the greatest joys in life for all beings!  These two Kola Bears, spirit animals, tell us that touch is a much needed in the world.  Hugging, snuggling, keeping one safe, are all parts of this.  Kola also tells us that a big part of touching is trust.  Keeping one’s eyes closed while another watches over you is the greatest form of trust.

We humans, in the decades beyond 2010, have lost much trust in our selves, in our community, and certainly in our leaders.  We are in a place where we need to find a safe place to learn to trust.  Kola shows us that being at the top of a tree, with no place else to go, gives you a space to learn to trust.

Perhaps we need to climb a mountain, or trek a long way from our safe environment to meet ourselves and others that we can trust.

Blessings,

Judy

Two Kinds of Rocks

This picture along the Kootenay River reminds me of the stories about rocks.  There are two kinds of rocks that grow in the Earth.  One rock represents goodness, kindness, steadfastness, and strength.  These rock are guardians or sentinels.  A good example is the ring of rocks at Stonehenge.  Another example are the mountains of the Rocky Mountains.

 

Then there are the rocks that are grown from anger.  These rocks are pushed up through the Earth because people have expressed a heart felt wish of extreme anger.  The rocks lose their ability to hold strength and push up as broken and feel “off”.  These rocks can mark a place of Sorrows.

This day, be mindful of what your heart holds and what you create in the world.

Blessings,

Judy

Beauty of The Earth

Along highway 93, one can pull off the road, and spend some time beside a stream or river, or small lake, and contemplate the peace.

With the peace, the beauty of the Earth shines out like a gift on one’s birthday.  Sunlight, warmth, and many elementals work with you to bring down the state of tension in your body.

Use this picture as a focal point for your meditation and see where it takes you.   Send me comments to tell me about your journey.

Blessings,

Judy