Thursday, September 25, 2008

aUtuMn inTentIoNs

these are my autumn intentions:
*live in aligned partnership with autumn and her energies. allow for her winds, her crisp*ness (invigorating and sparkly), her releasing (of leaves), her transformation, her harvest, her astonishing beauty...
*be at home & create home (in my mind, heart, body, nest and work)
*be & create cozy
*be gentle & gentler still with me
*make art
*bake
*light candles
*build my spiritual direction/spiritual guidance practice
*build creative community
*drink cups of tea
*eat slices of pumpkin pie
*practice yoga
*pray
*worship
*nourish my body (monthly massage appointments), mind (delicious & inspiring reading; art viewing; dvd watching...) and spirit (listening for god's whispers and for the feel of her hand in my hand or on my back, gently guiding)
*take walks
*rest, ground, heal
*bake
*VOTE!
*celebrate the extraordinary ordinary: the simplicity of a falling leaf; the unexpectedly good happening; the washing of dishes
*make & have dates with friends: tea dates; lunch dates; dinner dates; creative dates; phone dates
*travel to the lake and to portland, maine

what are your autumn intentions?

today's grat*nour: a poem, discovered here.

Instructions

Give up the world; give up self; finally, give up God.
Find god in rhododendrons and rocks,
passers-by, your cat.
Pare your beliefs, your absolutes.
Make it simple; make it clean.
No carry-on luggage allowed.
Examine all you have
with a loving and critical eye, then
throw away some more.
Repeat. Repeat.
Keep this and only this:
what your heart beats loudly for
what feels heavy and full in your gut.
There will only be one or two
things you will keep,
and they will fit lightly
in your pocket.

-Sheri Hostetler, A Cappella: Mennonite Voices in Poetry

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