There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
"I feel this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong."
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend
Or wise man can decide
What's right for you--just listen to
The voice that speaks inside.”
~Shel Silverstein
With school finished and summer in swing, I am finding a restful balance between pool time with my kiddos, play time in my studio, catching up with friends, mindless stints watching the second season of Orange is the New Black and a bit of creative envisioning for my next steps. It feels so refreshing and a bit disorienting to have so much "free" time! For the last two years my life involved a careful and somewhat neurotic orchestration of details to ensure that both school assignments and everyday life responsibilities were fulfilled. Now I am relishing in the S P A C E that has been created in both my psyche and schedule.
I am poignantly aware of how good it feels to have this kind of expanse in my days and that my natural tendency is to take on "more" often because I see that I can. Additionally, as I look back over the course of my life, it's clear that I am drawn toward intense long term projects that will catalyze growth or learning. I love deep immersion experiences that lead to powerful transformations. I've just completed another one and for now I am satisfied with simple and straightforward. I am intentionally leaving some space in each day to do nothing. And it's hard. Just sit or lie down. No walking, no yoga, no deep breathing, no doodling, no eating or chewing gum. At least 5 minutes committed to nothing. I am learning the beauty of leaving a little empty room inside of my crowded mind and life because it feels good. Emptiness has a presence that calls to me right now. I am reminded of a suggestion offered in Sufi healing. When someone is sick the first place that healing is directed is toward the gut. It is believed that the stomach is where most illness begins and it can be treated by caring for our digestion through the quantity and quality of food that we consume. The Sufi healing way is to fill 1/3 of the stomach with food, 1/3 with water and to leave 1/3 empty. The deeper wisdom of healing lies in leaving some empty space in order to allow ourselves to experience a tinge of hunger or thirst as a way of remembering our greater need for true fulfillment from the Divine. There is a similar theme in Zen with the practice of oryoki, the ceremonial meal taken during long meditation intensives. Oryoki means "that which contains just enough" and is symbolized by the Buddha bowl that a monk receives at ordination. I have been fortunate enough to experience oryoki first hand when I lived at the San Francisco Zen Center. I recall being moved by the process of lining up the bowls, chanting, eating, cleaning and wrapping the bowls. Everyone begins and ends the ritual at the same time and the everyday act of eating becomes a sacred event that teaches about this idea of enough. "The aim is not to drink until you are so full that you never have to drink again; the aim is to cultivate the perfect thirst, so that you never stop drinking" says the Sufi proverb. Begin to consider for yourself: What is enough?
I am also aware of the fact that something(s) comes from nothing. There is so much that is inspiring me to action and I am waking up each morning with new ideas that propel me onward to fashioning my future. One of my latest creative explorations was inspired by the way I am always writing notes or reminders to myself. Pick up contact lenses, return library books, order the birthday cake, meet Nancy at 4. . . . I would be lost without those little navigational scraps of paper. But recently playing around in my studio, I found myself making different reminders to myself. These were simple reminders of what's really important or something my little (s)elf needed to hear from my bigger (S)elf. Thus began a series of index card sized impressions that serve as soulful expressions to offer a wider perspective. I place them in the car or on the counter next to my on-going to-do lists as a way of remembering my deeper wisdom and purpose.
It's your turn to give it a try. You do not need fancy art supplies or a lot of time to do this. You could just hand write a simple message to yourself that speaks from your heart in the moment. I'll share with you my process. My daughter even joined me in the note making fun today!
Gather a few supplies: Index cards or watercolor paper cut into squares, watercolor paint (I use kids Crayola), crayons or markers, stamps, scraps of paper, glue, decorative tape. Anything you have on hand is fine. (Note: if you use watercolor paint, you will need watercolor paper).
Paint a simple background with a couple of colors and let it dry:
Begin to add any stickers, tape or stamps to decorate:
Here is my finished product from today:
Here is my daughter's note:
This simple practice reminds me of what I value--time to reflect, explore and to leave plenty of space to appreciate just where I am. It offers a complimentary perspective to the busy-ness of everyday demands and connects me to my soul longings. This feels like the perfect summer activity. It provides the opportunity to savor the moments of this season with its longer, slower paced days and some much needed time off. I hope that you make some space in your own life to remember what you value, create something small from it, and then leave some space to lie down and do nothing! Happy Summer! xo
