June 21 Summer Solstice Sweet Devotion

Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Hiya, Loves, today is the longest day of the year, the time in which light inhabits the land the longest....and the day the light was shown on the fact that a Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community (LTMC) blog article hasn't been written since April! Where does the precious time go? Into the light, of course, oh right.

Today's LTMC morning was once again off the charts as we celebrated the union of two sweetheart sangha* members who just this week got happily hitched! They first met at LTMC where cupid's arrows were a flyin'. Although we're pretty sure they would have meet either way, as destiny would have it, LTMC is happy to take the credit! So, today we celebrated our two beloveds and then moved to discussing the native ceremony of Sundance, happening this time of year all across the country. The drum was played as we added a song to our repertoire--Temple Heart, sung originally at the newlyweds wedding day. Conversation then moved to a beautiful Eastern ceremony called Touching the Earth and a story of the Buddha, who was presented with those who doubted his ability to attain enlightenment.  He was asked to produce a witness who could vouch for his ability to be so mindful. Buddha touched the earth as his witness, which of course responded immediately, and in doing so, all doubt vanished. In its place, the morning star appeared, shining brightly in a clear night sky. When we perform the ceremony of Touching the Earth, we consent to our own ability to transform our suffering and practice living in a state of clarity. Summer Solstice and the ceremony of Touching the Earth seem to go hand in hand (pun intended), encouraging every person's ability to tend and grow the light within. Well, as you can see--it was a full morning, good thing we have all this daylight today!

LTMC wishes everyone a beautiful and light filled Summer Solstice with the morning star shining ever bright upon your practice.


*Sanskrit word meaning, "community"

Shining Light on Devotion

Sunday, June 4, 2017
The month of June is dedicated to the theme of "devotion," and like every perfect theme, opportunities presented to practice with this North Star quality this weekend. The following is a poem of thanks to all my beloveds who took the time and heart to come to a day that will be forever remembered as one of the most treasured yet in my sweet, sweet life. Your gift of devotion has strengthened our community, thank you:


Afterglow
©June 4, 2017 Karla Johnston InnerConstellation.com

June 3, 2017 Lake Tahoe, CA,
although, it could be anywhere…

The gift:
“Has the entire community assembled?”
“Yes, the entire community has assembled?”

“Is there harmony in the community?”
“Yes, there is harmony.”

Noble community, please listen:
Transmission of the Jewels,
the Five MindfulnessTrainings
serenely, reverently.

A gentle feast follows: cherries, strawberries, mixed fruits,
chickpea, quinoa and pinenut salads, almond cookies,
homemade jam, almond cheese and unleavened bread.

The seal:
Shining Light…
Vowing that every word spoken will be from a place of love,
knowing that shining light on one star,
shines light on our entire constellation.
Round and round and round:
I am remembering who I am,
we are remembering who we are:
open, authentic, curious, imaginative,
searching for wisdom, lifting up,
pure-hearted (please pass the tissues!)
enthusiastic, sensitive, courageous, gentle,
eternal, fearless, leading with the heart,
magical, clear-seeing,
feeling deeply, effortlessly, ease-fully,
honoring where we’ve come from.

Dear Thay, spiritual and blood ancestors, beloveds,
What have we transformed?
Suffering
How?
Dwelling happily in this present moment
in full awareness.

I love you,
I love you.

We are pinpoint luminaries,
interwoven among equally bright nations:
none more advantaged,
all sparks Eternal.

We are remembering
who we are.