Most recently, being in a space where I feel I'm truly tuned into myself comes from a meditation/visualization of connecting my body to the earth, and pulling Mother Earth's energy up my legs and with each in-breath into each chakra. On the out-breath I release any dense energy from each center. This is a mental exercise (especially in Maine where the winters are l-o=n-g) but it's also a very physical and spiritual practice. Once I go up all 7 chakras, I then welcome in Spirit from above and go all the way back down. This practice enables me to stay, at least for a while, in my own self, able to speak my truth, and at times able to express my creativity through song (especially on the occasions of friends' birthdays when I write lyrics to well-known tunes depicting aspects of the person's life/being and how we feel about them) or sewing or painting (watercolors)- the latter not often.
Creativity for me is a process that connects us to each other. Creating from the true self means presenting a picture of truth that some/many can feel resonates with their own truth. This connects us all.
Moral obligation? Do we have a moral obligation to be true to ourselves? To reflect the Divine within us?
And following the theme of Spirit in ordinary things, I will share what I wrote about it in an email yesterday, February 19, 2022.
I have such trouble getting a winter hat to fit. I think of myself as somewhat of a conehead because hats are usually not long enough from crown to ear to cover my ears. I’ve had several knitter friends try in the past but it wasn’t until ten years ago that my friend Martha knit one that not only fit, but was warm and beautiful . I’ve cherished it every since. Especially after it disappeared in late November.
This morning, at the indoor farmer’s market, my favorite egg-man was engaged in a conversation with a woman about my age. I glanced over at her and noticed she was wearing a beautiful hat; then I realized it was my beloved hat on her head. The yarn is so variegated, and the design so unique, that when she started to leave, I stopped her and asked where she got her hat. She told me she found it in Baxter Woods (where I walk every day) I told her it was mine and that I was about to write to my friend that made it to see if she could make me another. She apologized for picking it up, but I assured her that I very much appreciated her rescuing it and taking good care of it all these weeks. She and I had a lovely conversation, and after we both finished shopping, she gave it back to me. (She didn’t want to take it off earlier because “my hair is a messâ€)
What’s in a hat??? It’s just a hat for heaven’s sake. But I felt quite emotional. We’ve lost so much in the last two years (as well as gain much,) and maybe this just represented something I was “re-gaining.†It gave me such a lift to have this little piece “of me†returned.
So many thanks to Martha and the market lady for my hat!!!
Reflecting on it, it feels like an example of another person's generous spirit, and of me "reclaiming" something I had cherished, a gift from a dear friend.
On Feb 20, 2022 Jennifer wrote :