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The harsh voice of judgment drops to a whisper and I remember again that life isn’t a relay race; that we will all cross the finish line; that waking up to life is what we were born for….
As many times as I forget, I catch myself charging forward without even knowing where I am going. That many times I can make the choice to stop, to breathe, and be, and walk slowly into the mystery.
Danna Faulds “Walk Slowly”
As we move from the coziness of winter routines to the expansive energies of spring, we might cultivate a fresh practice of incorporating mindful moments into our daily lives. We might start with a simple practice of taking time to pause, notice, and settle into awareness of the moment, just as it is, now. Using breath, body and senses as our garden gates, we pause to be present, to be still, to soften, notice and make space for life.
One simple practice of pausing is to connect with the breath and allow that to be the threshold to mindful awareness of the moment. Allow yourself to pause and draw your attention to the sound of the breath or the feel of the breath in the body. Perhaps bring the hands to the belly, and just breathe, gently. Notice the inhale….Notice the exhale… eyes closed or in a soft gaze, invite your awareness to settle into just this moment, for a few breaths ……. the inhale….the exhale…and when you feel complete, close your practice by bringing a soft smile to the lips, the corners of the eyes and to the heart center.
You can also use body awareness as the anchor for a mindful moment. Slow your movement and bring your awareness fully to the physical body for a moment. Maybe stop right where you are, and direct your awareness to the soles of the feet on the floor, or the ground, whether you are standing or sitting. After a breath or two, draw the awareness up the legs and feel the torso, breathing, nurturing the vital organs.
Again, after a few breaths, draw your attention to the shoulders and head. Feel your head balanced over your shoulders, relaxing the shoulders, relaxing the muscles in the face….After a few breaths, feel the whole body now in a state of softened awareness…just for this moment. Breathe, relax, watch, feel, and allow.
A third practice uses the sense of hearing. Just take a moment now to pause your activity, and notice what you hear….open your awareness of hearing…. What sounds can you pick up in the near distance? No need to label or analyze in this pause, just allow the ears to receive the sounds….Breathe, and listen….And now, expand your awareness to the far distance….now what do you hear?
See if you can listen with full awareness, and without judgement…just breathe, and notice. And gradually, and gently, draw the awareness in to the sound of the breath in the body…..listen for the inhale….listen for the exhale….Simple breath awareness. When you’re ready, step back into your day, noticing how your energy, and attention, might have tuned in a little clearer.
Monday Mindfulness Practice resumes online on Monday, March 25 as we welcome Spring. Here’s all the information. Please come join us as we practice together Monday evenings throughout the spring season!
Enjoy your explorations!
Namaste, 🙏 Deb
Connect with me at liveyourpractice@gmail.com
Deb Cook’s Deep Peace Practice 