Sister Falling Leaves

I write this first day of Fall while watching storm clouds build over Mount Tallac and roll this way. Wind has picked up as leaves and pine needles drop to the ground. A sweet mantra has formed out of my day's blessing send,* a three word reminder to carry me through the rest of today: sister-falling-leaves. This mantra is inspired by a recent retreat to Deer Park, a Mindfulness Community of practitioners. My biggest take-away was the role of community and the tools of mindfulness to keep me going in the direction I wish to go (ie Charting the Course). Community and practice are my foundation and both water (so tenderly) my seeds of determination to live a happy life.
 

9/22 InnerConstellation.com Blessing*: Magic of Fall

Cottonwood roots bump up through hard ground,
to catch sister-falling-leaves, gladly,
knowing these heart-shaped bodies
nurture and become her own.
 

 ©2016 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Experiencing the stability, peace and collective energy of community, I'm supported and therefore can be stability and peace for others. The roots of practice: meditation, the teachings, sutras, bell, teachers and ancestors hold us, they are solid and share our determination. Strong roots produce beautiful leaves, and as they go through their full glory, transformation and release, the roots catch their sister-falling-leaves, knowing they are not separate but dependent on one another for a good life. 

I also have much gratitude for Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community, my home group, who share in the desire to practice compassion and understanding in ourselves, toward our loved ones and our local community. On this first day of Fall, the storm approaches, the leaves and pine needles drop, but sister-falling-leaves knows the comfort of being held and supported through whatever the season offers. 

*Mon-Fri InnerConstellation.com blessing sends are my gift to you. Please contact me if you would like to receive and benefit from short and sweet inspirations.  

LTMC Fall Mindfulness Retreat 2016

Get ready for a spectacular day under the ancient cottonwood beauties along the shores of Lake Tahoe! Our Zen tradition speaks of conditions for happiness that nourish and grow seeds of mindfulness within us. This home and property has a multitude of such aspects, coaxing and pampering our community into the Fall season. It has sustained through six generations and is a museum of Tahoe local and Native history. We'll be carpooling from The Studio promptly at 9:00a, to arrive in Glenbrook to greet the morning with sitting and walking meditation. Native American visiting drum will be coming as well to join in our theme of "Vibration." Soup, bread and salad will be provided. Please bring something to share, potluck style, with our community aspiration of maintaining vegetarian/vegan options. Come practice peace, understanding and beauty for yourself, your loved ones and your community. More information on our LTMC Facebook page and Fall Retreat Events page. This is an RSVP event. Please contact me if you plan on attending. LTMC looks forward to greeting Fall with you!

Magic

Here in the Sierras leaves are turning brilliant colors and the air has turned crisp with shadows creeping long in the softening light of fall. It's one of my favorite times of year and I find myself captivated by the seasonal process of degeneration in preparation for rest. Magic as a theme seems natural and was precipitated by an early morning run along the river by my home the first day of September. Temperatures were invigorating as I rounded a bend to nearly bump into a white crane. He stood perfectly still about 20 feet from me in the golden grass and didn't move, so I didn't either, and we just regarded one another for a few brief seconds before he took flight. My active mind began thinking of reasons why he hadn't been scared off--perhaps he was deaf, or blind, or both, or....perhaps I had run into a magical moment.

A few days later I read an article on an amazing millionaire who, along with his wife and teenage daughter, rescues refugees out of the sea. In August 2014 at the age of 33, Christopher Catrambone dedicated half his savings to establishing Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS). Red Cross recently partnered with him because he has one of the lowest casualty rates. A reporter had recently accompanied MOAS on a rescue of Tunisian refugees and witnessed the following:

"Back on the Phoenix, one girl, her trousers covered in vomit, collapsed as soon as she got on board. Mostly there was quiet relief as energy snacks, water bottles, blue towels, woollen socks and thin white, wind-blocking protective overalls were handed out. After a few minutes of stunned silence the small children, miraculously, began playing." 

After such a harrowing ordeal, the children began playing. Magic--our internal innate ability to turn toward life and survive and thrive. We have this same desire for others. I reflected this morning on the power of two North Stars--loving-kindness and compassion. Often when I introduce these to folks they'll ask, what's the difference? To me, loving-kindness is doing good for others simply to do good, uninitiated and perhaps this can be associated with friendliness or wishing well and doing our part to be kind to living beings in all circumstances. Compassion on the same hand :) is the capacity to recognize suffering and do what we can to alleviate that suffering, Mr. Christopher Catrambone and his family are prime examples of compassion in action. The incentive of loving-kindness and compassion seem to be the vision of a common good. When we practice loving-kindness and compassion we become forces that lift hearts and minds (ours included) to new heights. As enchanting September days set stage for glorious Fall, I look forward to magical moments with you. Send me your insights, I would love to hear them.

It Keeps Going...and Going...and Going!

I arrived home this afternoon to my beloved who asked sweetly, "Can we do a movie night?" It's been months since we crashed, cuddled up and watched a good movie. I was all in! But...then, a personal to-do list was introduced before we settled down, in addition to tennis rackets needing strung during the movie. Wait, what? Life is so full these days, it's hard to find a moment, or a cuddle, or a...breath? 

Is it just me? Anyone else feel like an alien from another planet, looking around at the energizer bunnies pounding their drums as they just keep going and going and going? I mean, c'mon, the bunny is pink, wears sunglasses and flip flops--that's a maddening juxtaposition!

While my energizer bunny runs around before the movie, I'm out in the garden, having kicked off my flip flops (ha!), and I'm writing it out. Here's a heart-felt weekend offering for space to materialize between the drum beats or hey...all else fails, let's pull the batteries ;)

Vaiynafesh
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

A word of Hebrew origin meaning “refreshed,” literally – “exhaled”

In the beginning: darkness, expansion, heaven meets earth.
“And on the 7^th day, God rested and was ‘refreshed’”—
Creator exhaled….

A 21^st Century creator takes in and breathes the days:
emails, texts, drama,
traffic, errands, news,
to do’s, cooking, chores.

Draw in and in and in, fill to overflowing.
Try this: hold the in-breath, do NOT breathe out,
Impossible!
Wise body knows the pause of natural rhythm.

“Vaiynafesh”—
Refresh.
Roll, Ancient Syllables, from a tired and grateful tongue…
Darkness, expansion, heaven meets earth.

As tonight is breathed into existence,
this 21^st Century creator
practices
exhaling. 

Blue Pill, Red Pill?

I recently finished the novel, "Night," by Elie Wiesel. Anyone who has read this slim holocaust memoir knows it was not easy. The reading was precipitated by a personal commemoration of the author, for Elie recently died at the ripe age of 87 years. Also, my momma, who knows my heart well, gave me the book. It had sat on my book shelf for years until I was most recently ready to read it.

Now, before you go thinking this is a kill-joy blog article, no-sir-eeeee. Remember IC Truth #3: everything no matter how challenging has the ability to be transformed. Elie Wiesel is a shining North Star example of this certainty. The day I finished the book, I dedicated my morning to sitting with what I had learned. I did this in my garden of course, and as I sat by my pond, in addition to holding Elie Wiesel's story close, I noticed the hummingbirds came around, as did the nuthatches, chickadees and all other kinds of joyful critters. I smiled, and pondered these competing realities--the destruction of a race of people juxtaposed with all the beauty of this natural world. Both exist--one heart-breaking, the other heart-sustaining--such interplay is constantly present. How to reconcile these realities?

I recalled this month's Inner Constellation theme--Co-creation--and grabbed my notebook as a poem took root...

Ground to Soften
©August 4, 2016 Karla Johnston InnerConstellation.com

The novel, “Night,” by Elie Weisel—
I’m reminded my every thought of impatience, anger, intolerance,
waters the larger seed of cruelty growing in the world today.
Annihilation of Jews (and anyone not conforming to radical Islam) is happening this moment.
Tears escape the corner of my eyes, seeking ground to soften.

The other side of human possibility: tenderness, joy, understanding
water seeds of freedom,
which, in the choice to cultivate, loosen cruelty’s strangle hold.
Do I wish to be grounded in the killing field
or tend the garden of humanity with compassion and mercy?

Germination starts within,
it grows within. 


How do I reconcile competing realities? My answer--germination starts within, it grows within. More questions follow--Am I more able to Co-create and practice goodness and generosity because I live healthy, happy, strong and free? Do I have a responsibility to do so, due to my good measure? 

As this month of August stretches toward the end, I continue to answer my heart questions. Relying on Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community and my support network of family and friends, I know answers will come and Co-creation will be the result: germination starts within, it grows within. 

Bless you, wise Elie Wiesel, for your continuation of insight, compassion and hope. 

Co-Create...Say WHHHat?

Thanks to dear Mike Pape, LTMC member and sweet presence, for suggesting August's Inner Constellation theme of co-create. As I sat to write the practice blessings* to send for the week, you know how it goes...the muse slipped in. I heard a single word...animator...and the creative juices began a'flowin' until !bam!--co-creating in practice!

Animator
©2016 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

It was instructed and breathed, “Receive the Holy Spirit…”

Sacred life, nonstop
pours through these bodies
requiring nothing except to be alive.

Yesterday, I saw a baby take her first breath,
and today discussed with colleagues how to assist those taking their last.

Deep Mystery
propels body, speech, mind,
actions and consciousness….

Breathing in, I’m aware of sacred life;
Breathing out, I vow compassion, peace and understanding.


May this offering continue to water the seeds of goodness within. I look most forward to exploring co-creation this month of August and practicing the North Stars of compassion, peace and understanding along the way. 


*Monday-Friday 2-4 line email send. Short, sweet, promoting the practice of engaged compassion throughout your day. Please contact me if you'd like this gift from me to you. 

The Moon's Question to Hafiz

The Moon's Question to Hafiz
©2016 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

"Is it true that our destiny

Is to turn into Light

Itself?" *

Moon, Faithful Lover,

You continuously scour, then fill

With pure effulgence 

This awe-struck heart to the brim.

Your love-making is simple: 

Sit close,

Be still,

For any surface, once saturated with Light

Cannot help but overflow

with brilliance. 

*lines from Hafiz’s poem, “Faithful Lover”