For those of you who are widowed, I think you might be able to relate to the day I had today.
Monday is Valentine’s Day and as I’ve been making Valentines for others, I had a “sad is me” moment when I realized that once again, there would be no Valentine’s card from my beloved Dutch husband.
Hans was a wonderful artist and he made such wonderful cards for me. But those days are no more. So I decided to make myself a card with some tangling around a photo of him.
Here’s the photo of the Valentine I made for myself. It sits atop the fireplace Hans made and will still be there on Monday – Valentine’s Day.
His happy face puts a smile on my face each time I pass by. The “sad is me” moment passed quickly as I focused on making the card.
It never ceases to amaze me how ‘creating something’ sets the mind free from “sad is me” moments, helps refocus the body from a desire to nap, and nurtures the Spirit.
When you get one of those “sad is me” moments, consider what you can do to evoke the magic of creation. Could it be … a handmade card? … a special meal that takes time and effort to prepare … explore a new craft … plant a seed/plant/tree … carve a figure … paint a picture … photograph something/someone … write a poem/blog … let origami folding take you to another plane … start making a handmade book … knit, crochet, quilt, sew something … try neurographica art, zentangling, mixed media, embossing, handmade card making … the list is endless!
When darkness seems pervasive … darkness of the future, the pandemic, the protests, the potential looming war in Europe, the climate change, the medical diagnosis, the bills that cannot be paid …
When darkness comes and fear of the unknown reigns When pain persists and fear of the unknown rules When sleepless nights are commonplace and fear of the unknown dominates
May friends and strangers pray and help us rise from the darkness for one more moment one more hour one more day.
When darkness comes When pain persists When sleepless nights are commonplace may we concentrate on the love that surrounds may we concentrate on the hope that sustains may we concentrate on the healing that is coming as friends, family, doctors, nurses do what they can with their loving thoughts, prayers, professional care, kind actions to help us rise from the darkness for one more moment one more hour one more day.
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An aside: This prayer can be used by individuals by substituting “we and us” for “I and me.”
A gentle leader and humble man, Thich Nhat Hanh, died this day, January 21, 2022.
Born in 1926, he became a Buddhist monk when he was only sixteen. Working tirelessly for reconciliation between North and South Vietnam, his lifelong efforts to generate peace moved Martin Luther King Jr. to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Living in exile in France where he founded a retreat centre, Hahn became a prolific writer, renowned scholar, world leader and spiritual guide, championing a movement that weaves traditional meditative practices with nonviolent civil disobedience. His teachings revolved around … respect for life … generosity … loving communication … and cultivation of a healthy lifestyle; his Mindfulness meditation technique helped people in their desire for wholeness and inner calm for generations.
Often quoted, one of Hanh’s phrases particularly spoke to me as I was writing the ‘Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul: Creative Ways to Nurture Your Spirituality’ book. That phrase become one of the quotations in the book – a book which puts forth “Soul Questions” for readers to reflect upon and consider their purpose in life and reason for living. To learn more about the ‘Soulistry’ book and read some reviews, you are welcome to click: www.soulistry.com/books
In thanksgiving for the life of Thich Nhat Hanh and in thankfulness for his permission to use his quote in the ‘Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul’ book, I share Hanh’s words and the Soul-Questions based on his quote for your personal reflection … in your thoughts; in your journal; in discussion with a friend, spiritual guide, soul friend, religious leader,
THE WELL WITHIN Thich Nhat Hanh (“Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul”, page 11)
““The well is within us. If we dig deeply in the present moment, the water will spring forth.”
Soulistry Soul-Questions:
* What do you think the author means by “the well is within”?
* How have you dug “deeply in the present moment” in your life?
* What growth/learning/self-discoveries resulted from such reflection?
* How might you begin to “dig deeply in the present moment”?
* Are there things in your past or evident in this present time that are preventing you from looking at “the well within” you? If so, name/journal/talking them over with a counselor, spiritual director, soul friend, religious leader so that these things no longer have power over you, restricting your ongoing tapping of the well-within.
* What “water” do you hope “will spring forth” from such self-examination?
Thank you, Thich Nhat Hanh for your gentle leadership, for you faithfulness to the call you heard, and for your wisdom. May you rest in peace now for all eternity.
This morning was an “M” morning … a Magical … Mystical … Mysterious … Marvellous … Memory-Making … Morning!
As I entered the roundabout, the sight before me was so lovely that I drove all the way around the roundabout, parked in the school’s parking lot across the street, and snapped this photo to remember what had captured my attention.
And then, within minutes, the fog had lifted and the beauty of the moment was gone.
But not forever, thanks to my little camera and the availability of the school parking lot.
And thanks to the gift of memory, the photo will continue to remind me for years to come of an MMMMM.
In the midst of a pandemic, where mask-wearing, social-distancing, curtailed family and friend visits/activities are commonplace, it’s not always easy to recognize the MMMMM … magical, mystical, mysterious, marvellous, memory-making moments before and around us.
But they’re there in the fog in the twinkling and smiling eyes of another in the “may you stay safe” in the beauty of the world in the giggle of a child in the wag of a tail and the cuddle of a feline in the daffodil trying to surface in the breath of fresh air in the first step of the morning in the comfort of a steaming cup of tea in the warmth of bed in the …
Hope your morning, afternoon, evening, day for whatever reason, is (was) lovely … MMMMM Magical … Mystical … Mysterious … Marvellous … Memory-Making!
The month of January is two weeks old today. The new year has begun and the door is open to the future.
What does the future hold for us … as individuals? family members? community members? society in general? religious organization? country? world?
Perhaps this Alphabet of Life can give guidance if each letter of the alphabet is a gentle reminder of how we can be good-to-ourselves … aka “love ourself” and in doing so, contribute in positive ways to wellness in our families, communities, society in general, religious organization, country, world?
A Accepting of self B Be-ing, not do-ing C Creating something each day D Drawing on our inner resources E Elevating our thoughts to new heights F Feeding our soul G Graciously accepting compliments H Hitting goals I Initiating contact with a friend J Joyfully receiving the gift of life K Keeping our head while the world seems out-of-whack L Loving our neighbour as ourself M Mirroring the goodness we admire in others N Nourishing our spirit O Opening our heart to receiving love in new ways P Paddling through each day in spite of the blocks Q Questioning the imponderables R Realizing our potential S Smiling when we meet a stranger T Treasuring the precious moments of each day U Understanding that we don’t have all the answers to life V Valuing our education and those who have been/ are our mentors W Weaving experiences of life through a loom of learning X Xtracting information from the Universe so we grow in wisdom Y Yielding to the holy, however we understand that term Z Zeroing in on the truly important things of life
I had fun creating this little alphabet sampler in the photograph as it gave me an opportunity to play with some new art tools and techniques and consider phrases to go with the letters of the alphabet (okay, “x” was a stretch <g>).
Here we are – in the middle of the Season of Advent. Advent greetings to all, whether you follow the Season or not … welcome ritual … find Light in creativity, family, friendship, respect, integrity.
As I worked on making this Advent card, I prayed that peace, hope, joy and love would permeate infill, inspire and encourage our hurting world and its inhabitants. And, I prayed for all those who follow and support the ‘Soulistry’ ministry, including this blog and the various Facebook groups under the ‘Soulistry’ umbrella – with deep gratitude.
May this Season of Advent bring an unexpected blessing to all. May we have healthy eyes to see the blessing, healthy ears to hear the blessing, healthy hands to touch the blessing, healthy legs to walk towards the blessing, and a healthy heart to recognize and receive the blessing.
If the fwiw department, here are some of those Facebook ‘Soulistry’-related groups noted above. If you’re curious, you are welcome to join any of them after answering all of the security questions. Btw, even if I know you – we are friends, neighbours, family – the security questions help confirm that FB accounts have not been compromised. Thanks for helping to keep these groups safe.
