Halloween Chuckles Disappear - #238

 

Since we're close to Halloween, I thought a post comparing the characteristics of the traditional Halloween holiday with the characteristics of the political spectacle we are suffering through would be enlightening.

Earlier this week I created, in my mind, a great exploring the mystery post.  I compiled a long list of similarities and differences - remember - this was all in my mind.  I was much too busy to sit down and commit words to blogspot. The longer the list became, the more I chuckled to myself; the items on my list were clever and many seemed hilarious. 

Briefly, I fantasized how great it would feel if the post went viral. It happens for other bloggers I reasoned.

Then it occurred to me that my great text would be further enhanced by the ghostly skeleton picture captured in the window one evening. This would add an element of mystery and tie in with exploring the mystery title.

How many times have you said to yourself, "I should take a minute and write this down or I might not remember later?"

The intent circled through my mind several times. Stop and write!

Later, when all my ideas did disappear, it reminded me how quickly my night dreams vanish in the morning minute my slippers ease into the carpet. Soon it became clear remembering in time to meet my deadline today wasn't going to happen. It was spooky; the post had entirely vanished.  

All I can remember at this point is that that politics and halloween are scary but you knew that. 

I spent most of the afternoon trying to remember and then when I couldn't remember, began looking for a great quote so the post wouldn't be a total loss.  Now there are open books scattered everywhere but no quote met my needs.

Let me know if you have any ideas. I've spent way too much time on this today!

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall

Awed To Be Alive - #237

Following this introductory paragraph will be a quote from Kathleen Dowling Singh that was featured today in Companioning the Dying's weekly sharing.*

The picture of guardian you've seen before, sometimes covered with snow or frosted with flowers. Now decorated with autumn leaves, it seemed the perfect image to illustrate this quote. This author is a reflective writer; autumn is a reflective time for many of us. Reading Singh almost always initiates a journey into self.  

When I couldn't manage to position the photo right side up, I thought, Ah Ha! my technical inadequacy adds another layer of meaning.

Here's my thought: When we open up to what is, as Kathleen suggests, we may feel jolted out of our usual way of seeing ourselves and the world.

Here's her quote:    


"As we deepen our understanding of the entire human journey, from conception through death, we deepen our capacity to live more fully and freely, awed by the fact that we are alive. We become different beings through the transformative power of our insight into the dying process. We become larger, more integrated, and somehow more real with this expansion of our horizons and remapping of our boundaries. We enter levels that allow our now deeper being to open to what is -- giving and taking, in living and in dying, with fewer gimmicks and simpler truth, with less frivolity and more joy, with less suffering and more gratitude."

Let me know when you feel jolted out of your usual way of being in the world and how you stay with it - because that's what the experts say we need to do - stay with the feeling.

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall

*Companioning the Dying: Opening Fully to Living info@companioningthedying.org

Preparation for Surgery - #236

#1. In your library are there books you haven't read completely?" 

#2. "If there are, do you struggle whether to finish them or to let them go?" 

Meeting the Great Bliss Queen, a book in my home library, garners a yes to both questions. Published in 1995, it sported a subtitle that excited me at the time: Buddhists, Feminists, and the Art of the Self.  The Queen wanted me to pick her out when I was searching for a blog topic this afternoon.

There are my characteristic underlinings, bracketing of lines, and many single or double exclamation marks in the first 151 pages. After that, no sign of me. I obviously didn't finish it. I wonder what stopped me?

Here is a bracketed section I discovered on page 65: 

"In ancient India, surgeons had to pass a simple test of manual dexterity. Presented with a leaf floating on water and a sharp cutting instrument, they were to sever the leaf without sinking it."

The author, Anne Carolyn Klein, offers the suggestion that the surgeon models the balance required in mindfulness. 

"You have to moderate the tightness and looseness of your mind in order to meditate."

How is your meditation practice? If you don't meditate regularly, how is your mind behaving in your daily life? Is it anxious or bored? A calm mind will bring you many hours of happiness.

Let me know how you are managing the weather change.

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall

Benefits of Stomach Flu & of Other Maladies - #235

How beautiful it is To do Nothing And then To rest Afterwards. ~ Spanish proverb

One benefit of spending time with the stomach flu, (or whatever physical malady has assaulted you) is the luxury of resting once the bombardment has ceased.   I've heard from friends that a component of the current malady about town is a week or two of exhaustion. That's certainly been true for me. This brand of exhaustion doesn't give one much choice - you need to be horizontal as often as possible. Bed at 7:30 PM. Naps after breakfast. We've been talking about vertical energy as a component of good alignment. Horizontal energy is what the Spanish proverb above is recommending.  If you have difficulty, as I do at times of not finishing my to-do list before taking a break, enforced rest may be the solution. You don't have to have a malady in order to rest. If you have exerted yourself too much for what ever reason, don't be hesitant to declare your need for rest. On that note, I'm going to take my own advice now. Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall  Photo of Pelican accustomed to being fed by tourists in a small town on the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea. Spanish proverb from First Sip, September 16, 2016.