November: Beauty – Wisdom – Alchemy

BEAUTY

WISDOM

Whew! November has been a tough month. Half of us in the country riding an emotional roller coaster–from high hopes to deep troughs of anger, fear, frustration, grief, worry and numbness, with brief moments of hope, and even resistance. For me its binge watching Netflix and emotional eating, in between holding space for others to express their angst. And yet, the sweetest thing this month has been time spent in community, in small groups, sharing wisdom from others wiser and more poetic.

 

Here are some wisdom offerings:

Unless you
visit the dark places, you’ll never
feel the sea pull you in and under,
swallowing words before they form.
Until you visit places within you
cloistered and constant, you will travel
in a tourist daze, wrought with too much
of what endures, depletes.
If you never turn from light, close
your eyes, feel the life inside, you’ll leave
the church, the beach, your self,
knowing nothing more.
Unless you are silent, you will not
know your urgent heart, how it beats
between the thin skin of yes and no.
—  Drew Myron

Colorado Poet Laureate – Andrea Gibson
It’s everyone’s calling to find Beauty where we are told it can’t be found, and to make it where it isn’t yet.

If we consciously fuel our joy, if we put our attention on the world’s Beauty, we will have far more strength and stamina to show up to the world’s pain.

Leonard Cohen – Anthem
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in

ALCHEMY
And if you’re still reading… here’s a list of questions that may be helpful to reflect on, perhaps on the meditation cushion, or better yet, with close friends willing to share deeply and authentically.

What is mine to do in these chaotic times?
What do I specifically have to offer–ie: what is my talent or gift?
How do I want to show up?
And for extra credit… Who am I, really?  (Thank you Rev. Susan Shannon)

In addition, here are some practices I’m embracing more fully in these wildly uncertain times:
-Self-care is important to maintain grounding, strength, and stamina for whatever unknown is going to unfold.
-Spend quality time with family and close friends.
-Love up your fur-babies.
-Put on your favorite music and dance, or sing along.
-Spend time in and appreciate nature.
-Practice gratitude. Scientific studies show that even more than offering thanks, receiving gratitude and witnessing acts of kindness and gratitude being given:

• Changes brain chemistry/neuroplasticity
  • Anxiety and fear circuits are less active
  • Positive and motivational circuits are more active
• Synchronizes heart-brain rhythms
• Increases empathy
• Decreases auto-immune and anti-inflammatory responses
  Source: The Science of Gratitude the HubermanLab.com podcast 2021
  

So, however you choose to be present for this day, honoring Thanksgiving or National Day of Mourning, may you share it in deep gratitude with loving company.

Thanks to everyone who signed up to receive my blog. Feel free to pass it along. If you, or anyone you know are in need of a spiritual guide or companion to walk with during these tumultuous times, I have space for a few more clients, and/or a small group. Please reach out.

Stay informed, keep the faith, and be ready to pivot…
Peace, love and blessings,

Rev. Lisa
Spiritual Companion/Guide
Contemplative Photographer
Interfaith Chaplain/Eco-Minister
Free Photos at Pexels
Spirit-Infused Healing Photography Books at Blurb
Photography is my love language. Teaching people to see Beauty-as-Medicine is my ministry. – Rev. Lisa