.finding softness.

I was driving through the vast wheat fields yesterday and the expansiveness felt like a prayer

That some how the limitlessness of  h e r e  was a prayer that all beings may be free

I don’t know how to describe what I feel when I’m in vast spaces. It’s a practice for me to witness the radical openness of nature, to see my own reflection or maybe the stark contrast of my limitedness I burden myself with 

I arrived at deep lake to kayak and there was a softness, a gift of new eyes from the wheat field prayers - 

the glimmering light

the applause of dancing leaves

the chorus of birdsong

the reflection of above on the life below the water 

Asking:

How can I hold more softness?
How can I listen deeper?
How can I afford more grace to myself and world?
How can I say thank you more?
How can I hold my joy + grief with tenderness?
How can I be more free?

.a quiet fall day.

On Friday, I stumbled upon a fabric blog, Spirit Cloth. I'm not sure how it took this long to discovered it before. In instantly fell in love. It's written by Jude Hill a fiber artist, a storyteller, and fantastic teacher. I started her Spirit Cloth 101 course, which introduces a nine patch sampler. She only hand stitches, making it a very mindful practice. It's the perfect rhythm for settling into fall.

Later in the day, when it wasn't as chilly, I went for a walk by the river and listened to Rodrigo Amarante's new album. I found so much magical milkweed. There was a gentle breeze and the milkweed pods were blooming. I recorded a video of the seeds dancing with the breeze. 

The vibrant yellows illuminated the day as a the overcast afternoon started to creep in.  I came home and added some yellow to the stitched piece. 

The return of fall is such a time of softening. After the energy of summer to settle in and ground ourselves. The slow stitching seems to be like a wonderful way to honor the new season.

.to do list.

I had such a reminder this week to

s l o w down

take d e e p e r breaths

p r a c t i c e gratitude

l i s t e n more  and  t a l k less

do l e s s with m o r e intention

b e mindful

.presence.

New England is such a bold teacher. Just one week ago it was 74 degrees and I was riding my bike in a tank top and short shorts. Today it was a high of 43 degrees and I rode my bike with two jackets on and my fleece neck warmer. The temperature drop seems so rapid - so drastic like we skipped over fall in a few days but that is just New England. The weather forecast says that it will be 70 again in a few days. A lesson reminding me to be present. To be fully in the moment. To soak up the sun and warmth when it's 70 degrees and savor the cold  40 degree weather that encourages me to root down into my work and make delicious nourishing food. Be mindful and find gratitude for what I have in the moment. 

I saw this today, the Universe is always teaching me if I are open to see/hear it.

To be mindful is to be fully present with whatever we are doing. If you are drinking tea, just drink your tea. Do not drink your worries, your projects, your regrets. When you hold your cup, you may like to breathe in, to bring your mind back to your body, stop your thinking, and become fully present. In that moment, you become real and the cup of tea becomes real. In this state of true presence and freedom you enjoy simply drinking your tea. 

- Thich Nhat Hanh