The weight of arrogance is such
that no bird can fly
carrying it.
And the man who feels superior
to others, that man
cannot dance,
the real dance when the soul takes God
into its arms and you both fall
onto your knees in
gratitude,
a blessed gratitude
for life.
St. John of the Cross
Bits of shredded paper had flown into the bush. That is what I thought as I looked far ahead along the pathway up a local hill. Before my mind could begin generating a reason for that apparent trash’s whereabouts, I quickened my pace as a way to shift the focus to my footsteps. My mind began to rebel at being booted off centerstage, yet quickly eased into the rhythmic pattern of each sole of my shoe quietly caressing the earth – one after the other. The aliveness of the earth gently embraced me in return.
As my mind gave way to the walking, it sensed the pain within the illusion of separateness, where it alone is filled with knowing. Albeit within only a glimpse, my mind recognized the invisible pain that it could have inflicted upon itself, and likely others, had it stayed on centerstage pursuing the temptation to embellish what my eyes had registered from the dabs of white in the bush ahead. The glimpse had allowed my mind to see itself not as a separate entity, but rather as an integral part of an eternal, sacred dance of life, where no living being has dominion.
The pace of my steps began to slow. With my mind quieted, there was no longer a need to see what was ahead. A more timeless part of me seemed to smile and offer a pervading sense of peaceful luminosity. The peace or glow was not mine: it was like that of the radiance of a full moon that eminates from the light of the sun. Not surprisingly, I later discovered that it was the day of a particularly lustrous and significant full moon: a supermoon, which appears larger than a typical full moon because it is closer to Earth; a harvest moon, a full moon closest to the Equinox which marks both the pause between seasons, and the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern; and, a lunar eclipse moon, which potently reminds us of the cloaking of our resplendent self by the activity of the mind.
Drawn into the quietude, I stopped and closed my eyes. When I opened them, they registered an orb of paper-like petals embracing a brilliant yellow core with playful, golden rays and tiny yellow star. I felt my mind laugh at its folly in wanting to orchestrate tales about trash. Instead, it bathed in the presence of a flower-being, imbued with its own transcendent and wordless wisdom. I felt that this poppy flower was a gentle blessing, offering a joyful reminder of the sacred essence within all life. Her presence inspired my mind to enjoy freedom from its tendencies toward expectations and assumptions, and instead flourish in its tendencies toward caring and compassion. Overall, she inspires me to more lovingly embrace the deeper messages in life. I hope you will join me.
Practice
This practice supports awareness of seeing from the inside out.
Prepare—
- Remove all your electronic devices except the one you are using for this practice.
- Take a few moments to freely move around, inviting your body to fluidly and organically stretch and move. Feel free to sigh or make sounds as you move in new patterns.
Practice—
- Find a comfortable seated position. Hold one hand in front of your face and with your eyes, quietly observe your palm and fingers. Then, shift your gaze to the space between your fingers, inviting a softer way of looking – almost as though looking from your heart center.
- Place that hand over your heart center and gently rest your other hand on top.
- Bow your head slightly and gently close your eyes. Or, if you prefer, softly gaze toward your heart center.
- Pause here, and breathe. Invite softness into your scalp, forehead, jaw, tongue, neck, shoulders and hands.
- Quietly say to yourself one time, “I am open to seeing from the depths of my heart.” Pause for a few moments. Then, quietly say one time, “That seeing invites the feeling of being seen in return. Seeing is limitless reciprocity. All is held within the gaze of the Infinite.” Again, pause and soak in this feeling for as long as is comfortable.
- When you are ready, gently open your eyes if you had them closed. With a renewed sense of seeing, very slowly look around where you are. Please note: There is no right or wrong here. This is your own practice.
- After a few moments, allow your gaze to find somewhere to linger, e.g., if outside, it might be on the sky or a plant or blade of grass. Pause there and invite a sense of aliveness wherever your gaze is lingering, and that you are being seen in return. Invite a sense of relaxation from any effort – there is only seeing.
- After a few moments, return to sitting with your hands over your heart and your eyes gently resting. If comfortable, invite a few easeful breaths.
- If you wish, then rest your head in your hands in any position that is comfortable. Invite a sense of freedom from the outer stimulation that comes in through your senses. Offer your eyes, ears, mouth, hands and mind a mini-vacation from taking in, digesting, and responding.
Transition Back into Your Day—
- Sit quietly for a few moments, allowing your hands and eyes to rest comfortably.
- Before transitioning back into your day, invite some gentle movements and/or stretches into your body in any way that your body feels it needs.
- When you are ready, transition back into your day.
This poem appears in Mala of the Heart: 108 Sacred Poems, page 11, edited by Ravi Nathwani and Kate Vogt and published by New World Library. H E A R T H is posted each new and full moon. KateVogt©2024.
