In Search of Quiet In a World Filled With Noise

As we move back into the winter months I look forward to guiding forest bathing walks through the woods. Winter allows a quiet that no other time of the year equals. The snow covered land and trees absorb any noise and if you can get out into the woods far enough, human noise will disappear. That is when you realize how noisy our world has become.

When guiding walks in the woods we saunter, this is not a hike. We enjoy an individual experience in a group setting. Everyone is invited to enjoy the quiet. Generally everyone slows down and enjoys the peaceful moments, taking in the sounds of nature – birds singing, snow softly falling from the boughs of the trees, a light pitter patter of snow flakes falling on their hats, winds circling in many directions, cracking ice when near bodies of water. That is the only noise we will hear for a little while – no chatter. Many participants are surprised to discover the wind isn’t coming from one direction as they notice it is circling above in many directions around the tops of trees at the same time.

Being in the woods is such a reprieve from the constant barrage of noise everywhere else we travel. You can’t get away from it. When shopping there is always music or announcements. While pumping gas advertisements blare out of the pump. Why?? This I would like to know. Who every thought it was a great idea to add advertisements to the pump. How crazy is that? In the mall, constant sounds. In Barnes and Noble – a book store filled with music, not always soothing music either. Cars pass by with their music blaring, or worse, idle next to you forcing you to listen to the constant booming of the bass. For someone with tinnitus it is absolute insanity. Your head is never quiet and you can’t seem to escape, so at home and in the woods – quiet. The sound in my head becomes bearable as a tool to meditate.

In the woods, when far from traffic, there is an occasional airplane or helicopter overhead but those sounds are fleeting. The sounds of nature are peaceful, enjoyable, natural. This is what makes the difference.

Yes, I know being out in the woods or in the country the non-human natural world can be noisy – birds chirping, wind whipping the trees, coyotes howling, owls hooting, rabbits and/or red fox screaming in the night. All tolerable compared to the constant barrage of noisy chatter in the human world. Sitting in a natural setting away from everything is soothing to the body, mind, and soul. It gives us time to rest, relax, and heal. Try this sometime especially as the winter settles in and the snow arrives. Don’t hibernate inside in front of the television, get outside and sit in a chair, on a stump, or blanket. Just sit for a while and take in the natural world around you. Pay attention to how your body reacts to this gift. Breath in deeply, try to stay out for ten minutes or maybe even sit for twenty minutes. Allow yourself to build up to a longer sit.

On the walks I carry small folding pads to share with participants. They are invited to sit or stand near a tree, sometimes they enjoy lying in the snow. If it’s too cold then ten minutes is enough for our sit spot unless they are dressed appropriately and willing to enjoy the time. After our sit spot, they are invited to enjoy a hot cup of tea and, sometimes, a homemade treat. Last week it was gluten free oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies with Blackberry Sage tea. They get to experience the quiet, nature, and then something to warm them.

The noise starts after the sit spot. To prepare them to engage in the human world once again, we end the walk with the tea and some light conversation – sharing what they experienced while sauntering and sitting in the quiet. Many are quite surprised how much they have enjoyed this experience, and how calm and peaceful they feel.

As we leave the woods a quiet chatter starts and by the time we reach the entrance they are engaged and ready to drive away – back to the noise of the radio, news, honking horns . . . Back to the constant barrage of noise.

For me, I relocated to the country so I sit in the quiet waiting for the evening. Then I sit outside and listen to the symphony of coyotes howling in the night. If lucky, the occasional owl will say hello.

Wishing you peace and quiet outside in the non-human natural world.

Forest Bathing in Winter

Connecting with nature in the winter is refreshing and invigorating. It’s good for the physical body, mental health, and your spirit. The participants start off with stress of travel, some a little concerned about the roads, what happened prior to the event, what is going to happen after the event. We start off with introductions, stretching, setting an intention, and giving gratitude for the forest as we enter. Most love the idea of having an individual experience in a group setting. We start off sauntering and opening our senses to the scents, sights, sounds, tastes we encounter along our journey.

Each participant is given a magnifying glass to check out the mushrooms, tree bark, snow flakes, and more up close and personal. About half way through we stop for a sit spot, participants can connect with a tree or grab a mat to sit on. Sometimes they may prefer to sit on a large stone or fallen tree. In winter we don’t sit as long as we would in warmer weather. After the sit spot, I invite them to join me for a tea ceremony. Generally we enjoy Blackberry Sage which smells amazing.

Adults and children have enjoyed the experience. By the time we are done they are hugging trees, down on the ground looking in the holes in trees and in the ground, checking out mushrooms, ferns and moss with their magnifying glasses, and finding a connections with nature. Adults have as much fun making snow angels as the children. We all have a little childlike spirit within and the walks encourage exploring that side of us.

We check in after the event to see if they realized their intentions. There is a general consensus that a sense of peace and calm has been reached. Sometimes participants stay for quite a while after the walk and share what they discovered in the woods and about themselves. As a guide, being in nature, sharing the experience with others is always uplifting. When everyone leaves I love to return to the woods and give gratitude for the experience.

If you are interested in joining one of my walks or would like to schedule one at a location you are familiar with please email me at spiritofdragonflies@gmail.com.

Love and Light

Vision Boards and Reaching Goals

May you find joy in 2023 – with all of the ebbs and flows we will face in the new year remember to find your still point and find your joy.

Do you prepare a Vision Board as you slide into a new year?

Or, do you prepare a Vision Board at different times of the year for different areas of you life?

Do you set goals for yourself?

Have you experienced synchronicity?

At the beginning of 2022 I hadn’t heard the term End of Life Doula or Death Doula but while at Kripalu Center assisting with a Level I Mindfulness Outdoor training, two of the other assistants and I were conversing about things we would like to accomplish. I shared about my experience at the local hospital providing Therapeutic Touch (TT) sessions to patients and some were ‘actively’ dying. Sometimes when arriving a nurse may ask if I would mind going to a certain room where a patient was ‘actively dying’ and would benefit from a TT session. It was such a pleasure to be there and hold space, provide a TT session, and just sit with those at the hospital who were either suffering from an illness or actively dying. Speaking of this feels a little morbid but someone needs to be there for support and guidance. I shared that I wanted to find a way to continue doing this with those dying, with terminal illness, and for their loved ones. Knowing this would have been helpful to me and how I felt Hospice was supportive but not really present during my mother’s last days I wanted to learn a way to be that support.

In my younger days when working as a Housekeeping staff I was so frightened to walk into a room and see someone in the process of dying that I quit. When my own father was dying in the VA Hospital I panicked on his last day. After saying good bye I didn’t return to the hospital until right after his last breath. When my mother died 26 years later, we sat by her side in a bedroom in her own home. We held her hand, played her favorite music, sang and read to her, and held space for her. The difference in experiences between my father and mother’s death was like night and day. Of course he was only 61 at the time and I was 26, which made this more challenging. But, truthfully when is watching a loved one die ever easy. There is always loss and grief.

What I wanted to learn is how to hold space, the signs the body is approaching death, how to be there for the family, for the person who is terminally ill facing their own death, to be present for the grieving. After sharing this, the two assistants sharing a dorm said why don’t you become a Death Doula.

A WHAT?? This was actually a thing?

Yes, a Death Doula or more appropriately an End-of-Life Doula. Not focusing on the ending but on the life in between. Those precious moments when the sunshines and the room fills with rainbows from the sun catcher in the window or the shadows display in beautiful shapes along the wall, the sound of birds singing, the warmth of the sun on the skin, the cool breeze, the green grass or white snow, the sound of children laughing, a hug from a loved one . . . It is in those special moments that we actually live.

After the Mindfulness Outdoor training was over and I returned home, I started looking up how to become an End of Life Doula. Added this to my vision board and pursued finding a way to learn more. It took a little time and research, there are no actual rules or regulations on practicing as a EOL Doula but there are some trainings available. I reached out to the University of Vermont in the fall but the training was full. I registered for the Spring training but asked if there was a cancellation to please add me to the fall session.

Synchronicity – meeting the right people at the right time to guide you, registering for a training and discovering someone backed out so there is an opening for you to attend in the fall. Then sadly, two weeks before my training started, as I am reading the required and suggested books, find out that my sister-in-law was given 4 weeks of life. I reached out and asked if she would like me to visit and share TT sessions. She was a Reiki Master so was thrilled that I was going to come. I met with her seven times over the four weeks. Reading my books and taking the first classes was helpful for this situation. It allowed me to know what to expect, to hold space, to see the stages her body was going through as the last day became closer, to sit with her children/grandchildren, to listen to her goals (even as death approaches you will have goals/dreams), to provide TT sessions, massage her hands and feet, add essential oils to her diffuser, and anything else she needed. After the TT session she would be relaxed and fall into a deep sleep. She died at home surrounded by her family. I was still in the middle of my training and had wished to have known more but felt that she received what was needed at the time. Her family members were there and all provided her with the support needed in her final days. She was at peace and not afraid at the time of her death.

This is what I hope to share with others in the future. I reached my goal in 2022, without knowing at the beginning of the year this was even a real practice to share with others. I now hold an End-of-Life Doula certificate from The University of Vermont. Although there are no rules or regulations at this time, we know what is expected of us and are ready to hold space and provide comfort for the dying and their families who face loss and grief.

For 2023, one goal is to become certified as a Therapeutic Touch practitioner. Although practicing since 2014 under the guidance of my mentor, Sue Conlin, I still need to complete the application to be certified – for the second time. All of the hours plus have been completed, the research completed, the trainings completed, and yet I haven’t sent in the request for certification. Hoping Sue and the other practitioners will hold me accountable this year. I also plan to find a way to incorporate the End-of-Life Doula practice with Mindfulness Outdoor Experience and TT. This is a work in progress and one I look forward to sharing in the near future.

Feeling grateful for the synchronicity that led me to the path of this certificate – to Donna, Stephanie, the woman who backed out of the training, and The University of Vermont educators. Always holding a place for Norma in my heart – grateful to her for allowing me to practice being an End-of- Life Doula and being there to support her in her last days. May she rest in peace.

Forest Bathing – Mindfulness Outdoor Experience

For the past two and a half years, even during Covid shutdown, guiding people in the forest has been a very rewarding experience.

We have meet up in several locations over the years with very different experiences based on the weather. These locations have included: Rensselaer Plateau Alliance forests, Dyken Pond Educational Center, Mount Greylock State Preserve, Pine Hollow Arboretum, and Grafton Lake State Park.

I personally love being outside in all weather but Fall and Winter are my favorites as I enjoy breathing in the clean crisp air. Participants who come out in the rain and snow always surprise me and make me feel grateful for the opportunity to share the experience with them.

Forest Bathing in Autumn

The participants are encouraged to have an individual experience within the group setting. This allows time for each to explore on their own in silence. Yet to maintain a feeling of being safe while in the woods. There are times when walking in the woods alone may frighten some people and keep them from enjoying the many benefits. Walking in a group allows them to experience time in nature without being overcome by their fear and anxiety. With everything happening in the world lately, taking the two or more hours outside exploring allows them to unplug, relax, take a breath, and enjoy the moment.

A quiet walk in the woods

The slow pace of the walk allows time to stop and take a closer look at all the ‘beings’ residing in the woods. To find patterns, textures, designs. To listen to the sounds of the singing birds, owls, gurgling of water, wind rustling the leaves. To enjoy the sunshine, colorful shades of greens, blues, browns, reds, oranges and array of other colors within this special world.

Forest Bathing allows one to forget about time, issues, and when out long enough to slow down the constant chatter of the mind. Being out in nature – whether the forest, desert, or near the ocean, stream – allows the body and mind to slow down, lowers blood pressure, decreases the stress hormones, and opens one to more creative thoughts. Possibly they will make new discoveries or remember of times when life was simpler.

The participants discover mushrooms of varying sizes, colors and textures as well as moss and lichen.

Autumn Walk – Mushrooms are everywhere

Winter Walk – still mushrooms are found

When guiding a group, in my backpack I like to carry small mats for everyone to have for their sit spots, magnifying glasses which allow them to get a better look, a first aide kit, my own water, bear spray, bear horn, cell to keep track of time so others don’t have to, and a thermos of hot tea with small cups. The goal is to have participants focus on the moment without any thought of what they might need, or worry about what they may have forgotten. The necessities are my concern and they can stay in the moment. It is highly encouraged to leave the cell phone off or on airplane mode. This way, the hectic world is left behind.

Guiding the group

After a while, when the perfect place presents itself for a sit spot, I stop and hand out the little folding mats. Everyone is invited to find a place that feels comfortable to sit or stand for around 20 minutes. In the bitter cold this time is shortened to 10 minutes or until someone shares they are too cold. Once in their position, we sit quietly in open eyed meditation. Once we are quiet birds, chipmunks, squirrels or other critters will visit. Once in a while we may see a deer or other animal. If we are lucky an owl might begin to hoot.

Can you find the participant at their sit spot? In this case their lying spot.

Another participant at their sit spot and the other near the log lying on the ground

At Pine Hollow Arboretum we actually had china tea cups to share with participants for the tea ceremony. No matter the weather, a tea ceremony is always welcomed but especially in the winter.

China cups for a Tea Ceremony in the snow

Once the sit spot and tea ceremony are complete, we get together for a Counsel Session. Participants are invited to share anything they noticed, felt, heard . . . It always surprises me to hear what they have to share about the experience. One thing that they generally have in common is a new sense of peace and connection to nature.

The more you can get out in nature, the more you will remember that you too are nature. We are all connected. Nature is healing, nature raises our vibration, enhances our senses, brings a sense of peace and simplicity.

If you are interested in joining me on a Forest Bathing / Mindfulness Outdoor Experience please let me know and I will share upcoming events.

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Mindfulness Outdoor Experience – Connecting with Mother Nature

Children Enjoying Nature

Two of my younger grandchildren enjoyed getting down on the ground with their new magnifying glasses and Mimi (me) enjoyed spending time with them exploring nature this summer. They discovered the shapes of the leaves, tiny insects unseen until viewed through the glass, the texture of mushrooms and bark on the trees, and the layers of earth.

After visiting with the littles I decided it would be fun to share the magnifying glasses with participants for the Mindfulness Outdoor Experience. We discovered that adults love them as much as the littles do so they have become a part of the experience. If you get the chance grab a magnifying glass and go out into nature to see what you can discover.

Some of the participants shared that they remember doing this as a child and wondered how they had forgotten how interesting and relaxing it was to get up close and personal to Mother Earth. Others lost themselves in the experience – forgetting time. It was just as fun for me as a guide witnessing their reactions and watching them explore.

When we move through life too quickly we miss a connection that is healing to the body, mind and soul. Those who walk or run for exercise looking down at their cell phone or checking their watch to see how far they went, to keep track of the time, to chat or text with someone never allow their body and mind to relax. They miss an opportunity to destress, to relax and enjoy the moment. Sometimes I see people running through the path and wonder if they ever really ‘see’ what is around them. Do they enjoy the sights, sounds, smells. Do they notice the textures, the small insects enjoying the flowers, the little newts wandering along the path. For to allow yourself to slow down you gain so much joy and appreciation of life. This feeling can be retained when you learn how to find this still point during chaotic life events. This is a gift that nature has taught me – finding my still point when life seems chaotic.

While slowing down in nature you begin to notice the colors, shapes, sizes, patterns, textures, scents, and hidden gems hiding in, on, and under leaves, flowers, bark. You realize there is life within the forest and begin to want to respect and protect Mother Nature and all who share this home with us – those without a voice who give us life.

As you begin to slow down you lose track of time, demands, worries and your body begins to relax. You begin to lose yourself in the moment as your body flows from space to space. After you remember what joy you found in nature as a child, or understand what you missed by not being in nature as a child.

Seeing With New Eyes

By getting up close and personal with nature you exercise your eyes, your muscles, your lungs as you breath in the fresh air. You begin to understand your reciprocal connection to Nature. Everything is connected. The tiniest of insects is living because there are flowers, leaves, trees. The mushrooms and fungi bring new life and restore the soil. As you breath out carbon dioxide the trees breath it in and as they breath out oxygen you breath it in. What a beautiful life giving connection we have. Almost like a dance of life.

After sauntering and exploring, it is time for our sit spot. Everyone finds a tree, rock or place they feel comfortable. We are very still and quiet with eyes open as we take in our surroundings. Our senses have begun to open and we hear new sounds – see movement near and far – begin to smell earth, leaves, flowers, trees – feel the textures of the dirt, leaves, bark nearby. Our bodies are very relaxed at this point in the journey and we settle in as we lean on a tree, sit on a rock or sit on the warm earth. This is when most of the participants enjoy a personal experience while in the midst of a group setting.

After our sit spot we gather for counsel and participants are invited to share our experience – anything they noticed while sauntering in the woods, while looking through the magnifying glass, or while sitting quietly. Sometimes the sharing are very insightful.

Sometimes as you sit quietly you may have a little visitor as I did while sitting quietly next to a pond. Not just one but several dragonflies over the 20 minutes or so that I sat quiet and still. Some would brush along my hair while in flight. Others sat on my hand, my arm and both legs – not at the same time but over and over again. It was a magical time for me, the lover of dragonflies.

Dragonfly Visiting Me At The Pond

One of my most exciting times of the month is guiding the Mindfulness Outdoor Experiences. Discussing forest bathing, mindfulness, grounding, centering, meditation, sauntering and sit spots is so enjoyable. Hearing from participants about the knowledge of trees, insects, moss, lichen, land formations, Druidism, Buddhism, soil, and more always adds to the experience. No one is an expert at everything but we are all experts in something. This is why I love the diversity of the groups and when they are willing to share. We always have a poem or quote to share that seems to be perfect for that days experience. It always seems magical and this is the way I want to live my life.

I will share that last year while out sauntering on my own I had a couple of very interesting interactions with animals. One time with a deer and another with an owl – both lasting quite some time.

This little deer was enjoying the apple tree as I was walking out of the tree line. There she was just enjoying her meal on a nice sunny afternoon. At one point I thought she was choking and wondered how I would give her the heimlich maneuver. Thankfully I realized she was just trying to chew the apple. So I stood silently in awe watching her. She looked over at me and started walking toward me. We just stood there looking into one another’s eyes and she came a little closer. I on one side of the trail and she on the other. We had a special moment and then I heard someone. I looked up the hill and noticed a couple standing watching the deer and I – they were recording our special moment. I said good bye and left her to enjoy her fruit fest.

On another adventure I met up with an owl, or rather the owl met up with me. I was going into a wooded area where there were picnic tables to enjoy my lunch. As I sat at the table I heard a something crashing through the trees. To my surprise an owl landed on the branch almost above my head. I said hello and asked if there was a message – it was my very first encounter with an owl. As I ate my lunch we chatted. Every time I went to stand up the owl would hoot. When I sat down he/she would owl chat. We conversed with neither knowing what the other was saying. When my lunch was done I told the owl that I had to put my lunch bag away but I would return if he/she wanted to wait.

When I returned to the area, there was the owl sitting up in the tree. I sat back down for a bit and again, every time I stood the owl would hoot. After about ten more minutes I said I was taking a walk before dark and invited the owl to come along. He/she hooted when I stood and then followed me along the path to the clearing. Once at the clearing I shared that I would return after the walk and stay to visit if he/she was still there. We both went our ways.

After about two hours I returned to the same path in the woods. I heard the same noise as early through the trees and could not believe the owl returned to greet me. When I was standing still the owl would converse and as I moved would hoot at me. Walking along the path the owl swooshed back and forth across the path from tree to tree above me. At one point flew so close I thought he/she would land on my head. We returned to the picnic table and I sat down as the owl sat on the branch nearby. We continued our conversation until the darkness began to set in. I said, “When you are ready I will leave but it will have to be soon.” Eventually the owl turned, looked back at me, said something in owl language, hooted, stepped back and forth on the branch and then feathers up and off he/she went. It was such an amazing experience and one I shall cherish for life.

Conversing With An Owl

Have you had any interesting experiences in nature with animals or other wildlife? If so, what type of experience have you had? Have you ever had any connections with a tree, rock, animal, insect?

Love to hear from you.

Love and Light!

What Will You Focus on Today?

Will you start today with a new mindset and change your life? Yesterday is gone, you can’t change what you said, did, thought . . . Don’t waste the day in yesterday, move forward from this day. Some actions you can take:

• Write in your gratitude journal everything you are grateful for in this moment. Some things to be grateful for:
  • Family – love, connections, compassion
  • A good friend – or many
  • A job that provides necessities and security
  • A warm bed – pillows, warm blanket
  • Sitting in the Sunshine – feeling the warmth dancing along your face
  • Walking in the Rain, listening to the rain drops dapping on the roof
  • Healthy food choices – vegetables and fruits – enjoying the colors, textures, patterns, taste, feel
  • Water – potable drinking water, streams, swamps, rivers, lakes, oceans
  • A roof over your head – a place to cool or warm your body
  • Breathe – pay attention to the slow in and out breath
  • Nature – the gifts of food, all the variety of trees and the gifts they provide, vegetation, dirt, rocks, color, scents, textures, various size of each gift of nature
  • The way shadows and light play on the floor and walls around you
  • Children sharing flowers
  • Dew decorating leaves and flowers
  • Those creative moments when you bring items to life in a new way
  • The delightful sounds of birds singing, tinkle of wind chimes, rustling of leaves
  • And so much more

Here are a few things that bring me joy throughout the day, week, month, year.

Nature is ever changing just as our lives and what a beautiful way to embrace life by just enjoying the simple pleasures. Over the past year I have been incorporating nature into crafts whether using a sticks and seashells along with beads to create wind chimes, taking nature photos, using found sea glass and small stones to create jewelry, essential oils to create emotion roller balls, it has brought me closer to where I want to be in life. Living in a state of simple pleasure, being grateful for all experiences – those we label as good or bad, happy or sad . . . Each brings with it a learning lesson.

During times when we find ourselves out of vibration with where we were intending to be are the best times to focus on gratitude. Gratitude for the life lesson which confirms we are not moving in the direction of choice. Life happens – illnesses arise in ourselves or others, death occurs, jobs and relationships may end – however it is during those times that we can be thankful for the experiences, for the pleasure of knowing those who are no longer with us and the lessons learned from having them in our lives. Once we overcome the low vibration we can set out vision on the higher vibration by giving gratitude for simple pleasures and remain focused on those. Before you know it, new adventures present themselves, new people come into our lives, new life events to be grateful for and we are back on the path leading to where we rather be. Remember, not everyday may be filled with high vibration – someone may cut you off, you may spill coffee on your work clothing, you may be exhausted from a night of crying baby – however, it is your reaction to those events that will influence your day and what you remember of the day. Where you place your focus will determine the overall outcome so why not focus on all the blessings of the day and let the other flow off you like eggs on a Teflon pan.

So the question is, what will you focus on today? If you would like to share please leave a comment or complete the contact form below.

Love and Light!

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Variations on a Theme – WPC

This week, use your camera to discover the endless variety that one thing can contain. It can be a single photo featuring some visual play on repetition and variation — ducks in a pond, each swimming in a slightly different angle, or a wall of stained glass in a church, each panel echoing the other. You could also opt for a series of shots showing the same place, person, or object in slightly different light (literally or figuratively, as the case may be). If you’re not sure how to approach this topic, just let your daily life guide you: every day, you probably repeat several actions, movements, and rituals without even noticing. Choose one and show how even within this repetition, there’s a wide diversity of experience.

“I want to live and feel all the shades, tones, and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life. And I am horribly limited.” ~ Sylvia Plath ~

I love visiting the same areas at different times of the day and year. It is a gift of nature that those living with the changing seasons experience. The sky is ever-changing shades, tones and variations which bringing a new perspective to those paying attention. We witness the vibrant greens of summer become blanketed in orange/red/green/brown leaves of fall as the grass becomes brownish orange. Then as winter sets in if we are lucky we witness a blanket of white covering the trees and ground which then becomes spotted with brown and then green once again. It is amazing to witness. The sky also dazzles the senses as it varies in color throughout the day and year. Vibrant blue, grey, pinks, oranges, varying shades of red become blackened as the night sky brings sleep and rest. We leave knowing that tomorrow we will experience everything anew.

Peaceful in winter

Saratoga National Historical Park is one of those locations which fill my heart with many emotions. It is a place which I return for peace, comfort and rest. This is a location shared over the years with family times – first as a child with my own parents and then with my children, nieces, nephew and friends. It is this location where I prepared myself for BASIC, where my children and I hiked, learned to cross-country ski, and a refuge when I passed through challenging times in my life. It is a place as Sylvia Plath shared where I “live and feel all the shades, tones, and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life.” Wherever I have traveled, this location remained in my heart and upon returning to ‘home’ it is where I visit to renew myself.

Do you have a location that means ‘home’ to you outside of the place where you grew up? A place that lives within you even if you can’t return.

While away from my home and children during BASIC training with the Army National Guard I first experienced the ability to meditate – more of a visualization. When sitting in the hot Missouri sun between class or exercises I would close my eyes and return home to the hiking paths with my children and nieces/nephews. We would be exploring and laughing. The younger female soldiers would ask where I had gone because they noticed I wasn’t responding to them. I shared that I went home in my mind. These young women noticed that I remained calm and peaceful after my little visualizations and wanted me to teach them. Some were able to learn and carry this with them to their next station or when they returned home to class. Eventually I could visualize and ‘visit’ with my eyes open. The only way they knew was if I didn’t respond when they spoke to me. This became very helpful when we were we living on four hours of sleep.

For anyone who lives with tinnitus, learning these methods may bring peace to your life. It may not stop the noise in your head but it will definitely help you learn to live with this constant noise. This I know first hand, as meditation and visualization have helped me live a productive life in spite of the constant bells ringing in my head.

Have you ever experienced visualization to bring peace into your life? Or, have you been in a stressful situation where meditation brought a sense of peace and calm to help you through?

If you are interested in learning more about visualization, meditation or living mindfully please complete the form below or email me at spiritofdraginflies@gmail.com. Let’s discuss next steps to help you bring some peace, tranquility, calm and mindfulness into your daily life.

Love and Light!

If you would like to view additional posts for this week’s challenge or would like to submit your own, please click on the link below:

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/variations-on-a-theme/

 

WPC – Well-Rounded – Living Mindfully

This week, share your take on “rounded.” it’s a broad theme, so I look forward to your personal interpretations, whether you choose to focus on a curving street, limbs caught mid-way through a dance, a bowl of fruit (think of all the round shapes!), or any other object, landscape, or texture that fits within your definition of the theme. As always, less-literal takes are equally welcome.

“When you live on a round planet, there is no choosing sides.” ~ Wayne Dyer ~

Today I challenge you to slow down and notice the shapes, smells, size, taste, color, and texture of everything you come into contact with. If you have children, help them slow down long enough to ‘see’ the world. The energy in your home, car, or wherever you are will change to a more relaxed and enjoyable environment. If each one of us learned to slow down and enjoy living in the moment – while taking small steps to reach our goals – others in our lives would also be able to feel the shift and bring that energy into their own interactions.

Whether in the field picking blueberries or enjoying a latte, round shapes can be found everywhere if you stop to enjoy. Love being able to slow down and ‘see’ the world through the camera lens and through the eyes of my small grandchildren.

 

The Round House Bakery in Cambridge, NY has delicious food and wonderful treats along with a perfect latte. If you are ever in the area I would recommend stopping by whether on your own to read a book or with family or friends, it will be worth the visit. On one visit I enjoyed capturing photos of the reflection of the house across the street captured in the glass of the frame on the wall. On another visit, it was watching the small children deciding on a treat and tasting the Maple water they were sharing with guests.

My glass of water is sitting on the round table. There was a slight taste of maple but mostly refreshing water and the owner shared some information on how this water was collected. Slowing down allows you to connect with others and learn from them as well. While visiting the Round House take a walk down the block to view the interesting architecture of the historic buildings and the little shops that share this block. Walk around the village and notice the wonderful historic homes as well.

On another adventure, I captured two photos of round treasures in nature. In the garden or hidden in the woods, Pumpkin Hollow Retreat Center is the perfect place to slow down to enjoy peaceful moments. If you visit the Retreat Center a walk in the woods to the Labyrinth is a must. Such a peaceful location to get in touch with nature, spirit and your inner self. A very healing experience.

For today, take some time to live in the moment. Here are some ideas to try:

• When preparing meals and eating notice shapes, colors, textures, taste and smell of your food. If you have children, share this with them and ask what they see, hear, smell, taste, feel . . . as you share a meal.
• When outside look at the ground and notice the shapes and colors (if you live in an area with changing leaves it is a perfect time). Pick up a rock and look at it closely. What do you see?
• Walk barefoot in your home.  Notice the sensations on your feet as they touch carpets, hardwood floors, socks and/or shoes.
• Rub your fingers along your clothing. Pay attention when zipping or buttoning clothing. Notice how the zipper works, how the button slides through the hole depending on the usage of the item you are wearing. If you have children, slow down while helping them dress and have them share what their clothing feels like. Maybe they enjoy a certain fabric and you were both unaware before asking them.
• Pick up a leaf and examine the lines. Do the veins of the leaf resemble the veins in your hands?
• Turn off all sounds in your home and sit in the stillness. Is your home still noisy from the outside environment? Do you notice the sounds of the purring refrigerator or the humming of the furnace/air conditioning?
• When walking, pay attention to the way the weight of your body shifts from one side to the other with every step. How do your arms move – with the rhythm of your legs or do they remain still? If still, move them as you walk. If moving, see if you can hold them still while walking.
• Breath in and feel the temperature of the air as it flow into your nostrils and/or mouth. Breath out and do the same. Is it the same air? Whose air are you breathing in?
• While traveling in your car instead of focusing on the traffic, notice the different colors, shapes and sizes of the vehicles traveling along with you. Look out at the sky – are their clouds, sunshine, rain . . . Notice the sounds inside the car. Turn off the radio and listen to the sound of the car engine, tires hitting the road, noise from other cars.
• Visit your home as if you were a guest. What smells do you notice? What you would say about the person living in this home? Look at all the belongings and where they are placed. Does anything pop out that you hadn’t noticed in a while. Visit each room as a guest. Would you want a guest seeing your bedroom? What does this room say about your beliefs, mood, life, energy? It should be a reflection of you – the inner you – the person you want to share with the world.
• Add to the adventure above by having another family member visit your home as a guest with you and ‘see’ your home through their eyes. Home is your sanctuary – a place to go to reenergize. Shouldn’t everyone in the home be able to feel uplifted in their shared space.

Do you have other ideas on living mindfully to add to this list? If so, please share.

Enjoy your day – live mindfully – share your adventure with others. Learn to become well-rounded and connected in your own environment.

Love and Light!

If you would like to view other photos or submit your own for this week’s challenge, click on the link below:

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/rounded/

Satisfaction – A Day in Nature!

This week, share a photo of something that brings you satisfaction. It can be monumental, minor, or something in between.

“The dragonfly spiritually embodies the stripping away of negativity that holds us back, helping us to achieve our dreams and goals. Dragonflies are the keepers of dreams, the energy within that sees all of our true potential and ability. Dragonflies inspire spirituality and creativity, they help us on the path of discovery and enlightenment. They reminder us that anything is possible.” ~ Beauty and the Green ~

I had the pleasure of watching butterflies, dragonflies and bees enjoying a nice sunny day in the Saratoga National Historical Park. The butterflies teased with this fluttering wings coming and going too quickly to capture with my camera yet this little lady stopped to pose for my camera. Possibly she received as much satisfaction as me.

Please take your time to feel the satisfaction I felt while enjoying a long walk through the park. This is one of the places near my childhood home that still touches my heart and reminds me of wonderful times spent with family. A place to slow down, enjoy nature and all her many blessings.

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A sweet little deer was walking out of the woods as I stepped on a twig and we were both startled. A quick peek and gone not to be seen again on this walk.

“To be able to look back upon on one’s life in satisfaction, is to live twice.” ~ Khalil Gibran ~

Do you have a place that you visit that brings you satisfaction? A place that reminds you to slow down and notice your surroundings?

Hope you enjoyed my stroll through the Park. If you are ever in the area stop in and take a walk on the trails or the road. If you don’t feel like a walk take a leisurely drive and stop to see the sights along the way. You can read more about Saratoga National Historical Park here: https://www.nps.gov/sara/index.htm

If you would like to view other photos for this week’s challenge or would like to submit your own, click on the link below:

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/satisfaction/

Love and Light!

If you would like to learn how to slow down and live mindfully, please leave a message below or email me at spiritofdragonflies@gmail.com

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Life Through the Eyes of a Child

What are you teaching your children about life and our connection to nature? Better yet, what are your children teaching you?

We can bring our children to the mall, fill their bedrooms and our houses with items we don’t need, spend our days in amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, or sit in front of the television or computer disconnected from life-giving nature. Or, we can teach our children early that we are alive due to our connection with something larger than ourselves – nature, our place in the Universe, something higher than ourselves.

Imagine what our worldview would be if we taught our children that they are connected to everyone on this planet and we are all sharing the same air, water, soil, energy . . .  YES, we are all sharing this for the time we are blessed with life.

Feeling very grateful that my children, grandchildren, family and friends share in a love of nature and the reality that without clean air to breath, clean water to drink, healthy soil to grow food we would not survive. What can you do to help yourself and the next generation? Listen to the little ones. They are teaching us about life, being mindful, and finding beauty in our world.

Tell me about nature

My little grandsons, Tanner and Colt, love nature – running around barefooted, hugging and talking to trees, the sky, clouds, birds, rolling around in grass, dirt, sunsets, and walking in the woods. Last year, when visiting my daughter and her family in San Diego, Tanner said, “Look at the beautiful sunset.” His Mom and Dad hadn’t noticed that every night at dinner there was a beautiful sunset view from their dining table. Out of the mouth of babes . . . While I was visiting, Tanner and I would go outside to enjoy the sunset until the thin orange/red line disappeared into the dark of night. We took walks in the neighborhood and spoke to the homeless lady sitting in the shade of a tree, to the workmen repairing the road, to the clerk serving us our ice cream. We also stopped to watch the birds in flight, the squirrels playing under the trees, the cat crossing the road. Everything is interesting when we slow down to see through the eyes of the child.

Baby connecting with tree spirit

The boys follow in the path of my granddaughter, born 18 years prior to Tanner. They are their Mimi’s special nature babies. Taylor, at 21, is very connected with nature and exploring her world. Luckily she still finds everything to be interesting and spends her free time in nature – exploring New Mexico for now.

When we teach our children about nature they grow up to be adults who understand their connection with the precious Earth we live in communion with. It’s up to us as the adults to bring them to places where they can touch the earth, and maybe hug some trees, so they can find balance when facing challenges during their teen years. Prepare them to enjoy the inspiration of singing birds on a day when they might be facing loss; to connect with trees and the peaceful energy of a forest to guide them through sadness/ loneliness, so they can ground themselves and find inner peace. These are the treasures we can provide to our children rather than malls, amusement parks, computers, television shows, and other ways to mask reality. With the use of illegal drugs on the rise wouldn’t it be better to teach our children how to handle stress, sadness, loneliness and loss by connecting to nature during their early years rather than having them struggle through their inner turmoil without knowing. If you are one who is controlled by drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other vices, wouldn’t it be more productive to allow the small children to teach you how to reconnect, center, and ground yourself? By paying attention to the cues from the child you learn to remain open to the gifts of nature. You will also learn to reconnect with the joys of life that you may have forgotten along your path.

When Tanner was one, he was looking up at the white clouds and pale blue sky. I pointed upward and said “clouds” then “sky.”  It didn’t take long before he was pointing up and saying “sky.” At first I thought he was just repeating words. Later he pointed up and said, “sky” on his own and continued from that day forward. What was interesting is that he didn’t say “clouds” unless there were actually clouds in the sky. He would sit and look up at the sky as if in meditation. Maybe he was. I was reminded of that day this weekend when 18 month Colt and I were outside, he pointed upward and said, “Sky.” First they learn the words, then the meanings, then the connections – most importantly – they see the beauty.

I’m amazed that both boys have a love for trees – a love that started very early on as you can see in the photos above. One of Colt’s first words was “tree.” At first he whispered “treeeee.” When outside he will toddle from one tree to another and hug them or touch them and look up at the canopy. He and I have been enjoying the Magnolia tree in his backyard for quite some time as you will see in one of the photos below.

Goofy around in the snow

We are looking for the bird in the tree

Enjoying nature on a cold day

Picking blueberries

Learning to connect with trees

Fun in the sand

Sun worshiping

Grandson investigating the leaves

Whether summer, fall, winter or spring you will find us outside enjoying nature. Yes, we still visit the mall on occasion, a zoo, sit in front of the computer or television, and partake in other indoor activities however our great love is being outside and sharing in the natural beauty of our world.

If we could all pay a little more attention to life and realize how much we depend on nature for our survival we would be able to balance our ‘needs’ with our ‘wants’ in a more beneficial way. As a result we will leave this world a better place for future generations. Let’s do our part to balance our lives – see as if viewing the world through the eyes of a child and witness the beauty in your daily life.

Love and Light!