If I have one more day...

Simply feeling grateful for this chance to be alive and partake in the human experience today. Its not always pretty- today wasn't pretty for me…. but it was real. I cried. I struggled. I took breaks from things when I needed them. I went to yoga, and took care of myself. I was supported.

The human experience isn't about perfection. It isn't about ease. Its about the love you feel for the Mystery when you get to see the beauty of the sunrise, the support you feel from friends in a time of need, the communities that are all around us and that we can form, the family into which we were born and the ones we choose, the healing that takes place in our lives and in this world, the pain we feel when someone we care so much about passes from this world, the way it feels to just be still and breathe, or hear our heart beat, the children that are the future of this world…and the child within each of us. 

If it were all easy, what of it would be worth it? If there was no pain when loved ones passed, how could we so tangibly feel what they meant to us, and know all that they taught us? We don't have to look far to see beauty in our world, or for that matter, to create it. 

All I can ask of Spirit is this- if I am blessed with one more day tomorrow, help me to do something beautiful with it, for the highest good of all that is. 

Much love sweet brothers and sisters. Thanks for being in this human experience with me <3

In Gratitude

In honor of a beautiful teacher, Angeles Arrien, and the immense beauty in my life, this month I will be reflecting on gratitude every day. From May 9 until June 9, I will be writing at least a little something about gratitude every day.

Today I am thankful for this beautiful Mandala and what it represents. It was made at Bastyr, and as soon as it was completed, it was washed away.

Tibetan Mandalas are created as a tool to aid in the path to enlightenment and closeness to the deities. Mandalas have much to teach us about wisdom and compassion. They can also teach us about impermanence and detachment to outcome. The monks who make them meditate and chant to the divine energies so that those who look upon the Mandala may receive healing blessings. 

Impermanence is a tricky business for us sometimes. We can often find that we become attached to material things or people in our lives, and when they return to source we can experience disspointment, grief and even dispair. Grieving is a normal part of life and death, and should be fully experienced as we move through it. It can be a wonderful reminder of how blessed we were to have that person physically with us in this human experience.

Much more frequently, I find myself struggling at times to be unattached to the outcome of situations. I want things to turn out a certain way, and when they don’t I can fall into a trap of desperation. What a beautiful reminder this Mandala is- life is impermanent, but we are taken care of by Spirit. We get what we need, we learn beautiful and at times difficult lessons. We have a opportunity to affect others in a beautiful and powerful way in our short time in this place. Are we making the most of that opportunity?

*Thank you to the Monks who made this Mandala. And thank you for agreeing to let me take pictures and post to my blog*