If you’re in a period of change in your life, where there aren’t a lot of easy answers, here’s a practice that I recommend.

I use this practice to give myself permission to Not Know the answers, and to give myself some breathing space.

I also do it to practice being receptive to my inner wisdom. In our culture, sadly, that needs practicing. We are taught to “take the bull by the horns” and “make it happen” or “figure it out,” rather than to be receptive, fertile space for the answers to come when they are ready to come, intuitively and from deep within.

Holding the Empty Bowl

Here’s how it works:

• Find a basket or bowl that you love.
• Set aside 10 minutes for this practice.
• Place the empty container in your lap.
• Breathe deeply for a few breaths, and say a simple prayer to the deepest part of yourself. Choose your own words, but the spirit of it is this: I empty myself. My heart is open and my mind is clear. I am ready to receive my deepest knowing.
• Sit with an open, receptive heart, breathing deeply, for the remainder of time. Just like in meditation, let your thoughts just float through and out of your mind, gently and without judgement.

Something deeply resonant may come into your awareness, and it may not. It also may come later, or not. I don’t use this practice to get specific answers to my dilemmas directly.

You’ll find, after you establish your Bowl Practice for a while, that when the wisdom comes, it arises from within, when it is needed. It emerges from your pure intention of listening. From being expectant, but not attached, to getting anything.

Then, you are truly partnering with emergence, and with your inner wisdom. I hope that you enjoy this practice and that it nourishes you to your very core.

 

 

When you are going through big changes in your life, what are the practices that sustain you?

Here are some practices for life transition that will help nourish you and help you to maintain momentum.

• Regain a feeling of control: acknowledge that it’s a journey and that you are a hero.
• Manage the stress of your life transition, in your favorite ways that work for you.
• Let go of the non-essentials of your life, inner and outer. Clearing out what is no longer needed makes room for the new to come in.
• Navigate the unknown territory of your transition using your inner compass.
• Embody and sustain the authentic power and energy of your True Self.
• Claim the authority of your own voice and truth.
• Make your unique contribution to your world, giving you a sense of meaning and purpose.

 

There is something magical about sunrise, due East, on Summer Solstice morning: wide light, long days, filled with a palpable hope and potential.

This photo was taken just about a month ago, on Summer Solstice morning.

The days are noticably shorter now, and the quality of light has shifted. Still beautiful, but a bit different.

It’s a call to pay attention to each day, and to the beauty in each day.

Carpe diem!

 

When we are experiencing change in our lives, there is a lot of new and unknown territory, and so much of our experience is out of our control. It can feel chaotic and overwhelming.

There are a lot of moving pieces in our outer world when we are in transition.

So what can help us?

• We can ground ourselves in a deep awareness of our own resourcefulness.
• We can breathe and remember that we have the answers we need within ourselves.
• We can make space and listen to our deep inner wellspring of wisdom.
• We can give ourselves permission to Not Know.
• We can treat ourselves well, with love and compassion.

I’m not saying that any of these is always easy to do. In my experience, they take practice. It seems like they aren’t habitual for most of us. But deep down, I know these things can help me when I remember them.

I’m hoping they will help you too.

Doing a grounding practice is one of the very best ways I know to relieve stress and to come back into the presence of the wisdom of your inner guidance.

I use this simple practice several times a day when things are really hectic.

Sit in a chair that supports you well, and where it is easy for you to sit with your back straight and your feet on the floor.

Sit up straight with your chest open, and begin taking long leisurely breaths in and out. Just allow yourself to relax into the breath of life. Let the chair hold you.

Release any tension that you notice.

Imagine that you are an ancient, solid, sturdy tree, and that your roots go deep down into the earth.

Take a moment to feel your roots extending deeply into the warm, secure earth.

Continue to breathe, very deep, long breaths, and, as you do, let go anything that is ready to be released (you don’t need to know what it is).

Feel the release in your body, and let it flow down into the earth through your roots.

Notice the sensation of being held securely by the earth. Notice how your feet feel as they are rooted in the earth.

Take a few more deep breaths, and soak in the grounding energy of the earth, as it flows up through your feet and your spine.

When you are ready, wiggle your toes and legs and shoulders. Once again, become aware of the room you are in. Carry this grounding energy as you go about your day.

This practice only takes a couple of minutes, but I find that it refreshes my energy, brings me back into my center, and gives me access to the deeper wisdom of my inner guidance. That’s a pretty good payoff for the investment of only two or three minutes!

Like any practice, it gets easier with practice. You may find after you’ve practiced it a while that you prefer to do it standing. For extra credit, practice it the next time you are in an interminable line in the Department of Motor Vehicles! 🙂

Today’s Soul Q: If your life were a prayer, what is that prayer?

Here are the guidelines, in case you missed the first Soul Questions post.

We are celebrating mid-year with a week of Soul-full Questions.

Your soul knows the answers to these questions. You don’t have to think about the questions; just breathe and let the answer arise from within.

I am posting one question a day to this blog, for 7 days, for blog subscribers (beginning July 8, 2014).

I invite you to take just 5 minutes with the question, right when the email lands in your in-box. Take a few deep breaths and make some space in your awareness for your answer to arise from within. Then, read the question and sit with the space.

Be prepared to be surprised, and welcome any answer.

Today’s Soul Q: What are you celebrating about yourself?

Here are the guidelines, in case you missed the first Soul Questions post.

We are celebrating mid-year with a week of Soul-full Questions.

Your soul knows the answers to these questions. You don’t have to think about the questions; just breathe and let the answer arise from within.

I am posting one question a day to this blog, for 7 days, for blog subscribers (beginning July 8, 2014).

I invite you to take just 5 minutes with the question, right when the email lands in your in-box. Take a few deep breaths and make some space in your awareness for your answer to arise from within. Then, read the question and sit with the space.

Be prepared to be surprised, and welcome any answer.

Today’s Soul Q: What does your heart want?

Here are the guidelines, in case you missed the first Soul Questions post.

We are celebrating mid-year with a week of Soul-full Questions.

Your soul knows the answers to these questions. You don’t have to think about the questions; just breathe and let the answer arise from within.

I am posting one question a day to this blog, for 7 days, for blog subscribers (beginning July 8, 2014).

I invite you to take just 5 minutes with the question, right when the email lands in your in-box. Take a few deep breaths and make some space in your awareness for your answer to arise from within. Then, read the question and sit with the space.

Be prepared to be surprised, and welcome any answer.

Today’s Soul Q: What is full of beauty in your life?

Here are the guidelines, in case you missed the first Soul Questions post.

We are celebrating mid-year with a week of Soul-full Questions.

Your soul knows the answers to these questions. You don’t have to think about the questions; just breathe and let the answer arise from within.

I am posting one question a day to this blog, for 7 days, for blog subscribers (beginning July 8, 2014).

I invite you to take just 5 minutes with the question, right when the email lands in your in-box. Take a few deep breaths and make some space in your awareness for your answer to arise from within. Then, read the question and sit with the space.

Be prepared to be surprised, and welcome any answer.