Category: Mindfulness

In Our Own Being – We Are Enough

What are we here for?? 

Ram Dass says “Our whole spiritual transformation brings us to where we realize that in our own being we are enough”.

“I am enough, there is enough, you are enough” – a mantra spoken by a friend of mine on a daily basis has shifted her life and her perception of “enough”.  Perhaps when we fully embody this fullness within ourselves,  everything else shifts a tiny fraction allowing us to see and feel life in an entirely different framework – exploding our narrow perceptions and beliefs, and expanding our ability to give to others and ourselves from a place of creative awareness, open heart, and deeply aligned self acceptance.

From this place of enough comes the act of generosity.  This act comes not from a place of “have to” , “duty”, or “obligation”,  but a place of wholeness within – a place of fullness where generosity comes naturally as an outward expression of who we all are.

As each of us move through the holiday season, perhaps feeling obligation to give – remember to check in within yourself to feel what is natural and what way of giving enhances the breath and aliveness of another – and in turn to yourself and the planet upon which we live.

Breathing and living from this place gives us opportunity to live fully knowing and experiencing that there is enough.  This can come in the form of simple eye contact, a hug, or as in the video below an awareness that we all share the same humanity.

There was an opportunity the other day in the medical clinic I work at to fully embrace a patient as I called him back to the exam room.  This older man was outwardly a little rough in appearance and smelled strongly of the tobacco that he used regularly.  As he came towards me and moved into an embrace that he  initiated, I fully gave myself to the experience allowing myself to accept and let go of the slight reluctance I had to get “that close”.  As we pulled back from each other I  found myself smiling broadly at him.  The eyes of this Native American man held the love that he wanted to give…and that which he yearned to receive.

This simple act of generosity in connecting with another in whatever form that you feel naturally arising within you is the real gift that we can give each other.  We may not ever know exactly the impact that it has had….but we do know how we feel when in the act – ENOUGH!

You ain’t livin til you givin!

“He who allows his day to pass by without practicing generosity and enjoying life’s pleasures is like a blacksmith’s bellows. He breathes, but does not live.” ~ Proverbs

 

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:  www.WildlyFreeWoman.com

RECENT POST : Women’s Bodies, Women’s Flourishing

Words From The Sea – Breathe With The Oceans

The ocean a wise and ageless teacher of breath
reminding you to free your breath to flow as
easily and naturally as the waves
washing onto shore,
washing back to sea.

Easy, liquid wave of breath-
soothing, sensual rhythm
of your own inner being. – Lea Houston

Growing up in San Diego only 5 blocks or so from the beach and ocean has deeply imprinted the feel, sight, smell and tastes of this world inside of me.  It is a place that I am always drawn to, and if truth be told I really need to know that I am close enough to be able to drive to the coast in one day or less.

There are many on this planet that have never been to the ocean, or are even a days drive away,  but all of us share the powerful impact that the oceans have on our very existence – our beginnings in fact – the tides, the weather, food source, diversity of life forms, and a necessary element for the health and balance of our planet and our ecosystems.  All of this and a beauty, power and majesty that cannot be equaled!

About 15 years ago or more now I traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii.  It had always been my dream to swim with the dolphins.  I brought this intention with me to a rebirthing retreat that I was attending on the Hilo side of Hawaii.  On the first morning of the retreat the facilitator and I woke up very early and were drawn to go to the beach to swim before the beginning of the day.  Driving to a nearby beach, where we were told by the locals that the dolphins came to play, we carefully negotiated our way down the cliff side as first light broke across the water.

The waves were daunting and quite a barrier to get past, but our intentions were strong to be in the sea to start our day.  Once past the breakers,  I stopped to tread water closing my eyes and asking for the dolphins to come to us.  My intention was so strong that I could feel the interconnection.

Within 5 minutes, way far in the distance it seemed, I saw movement.  My eyes were riveted on this movement attempting to discern exactly what was moving towards us…until I realized that it was them – an entire pod of dolphins in fact – and they were moving towards us very quickly leaping up in the air as if to greet us and welcome us back into the fold. 

At this point there were tears streaming down my face as they came to us and made us one of their pod.  As we played together on their terms I wished that I could make the sound that they did in response to their seemingly absolute delight at being in our presence.  They touched us with their love, their sense of play, and their wisdom – and confirmed my belief that all forms of life are intimately interconnected.

As my companion made her way to shore telling me that it was time to go back, there was a deep reluctance to part from these creatures of the sea.  As if they knew that it was time the pod distanced themselves a little from me as if to make it easier for me to leave.  As I emerged from the sea the feeling of having been “made love to” permeated every fiber of my being.

Climbing the cliffside I found that my friend had gone to the car already – but I had one more thing to do before leaving.  Standing on the cliff ledge I closed my eyes, held my hands at my heart, and thanked these magnificent beings for coming to be with me.  As I opened my eyes the entire pod was in a “V” formation in the ocean before me as if to say goodbye and thank me for engaging with them!

Needless to say this remains a peak experience of my life.  Some years later I had another completely different experience with dolphins in the wild on the other side of the Big Island, and that too remains as a deeply felt opening within me.

Telling this story reminds me of the magic and mystery of the sea and all the creatures that are within.  Many moments of my life have been spent beside the ocean running, sitting by a bonfire, writing poetry, walking, body surfing, boggy boarding, or simply just being and breathing to take in the elements and the life that lives there.

We all know that our oceans are in trouble, as many ecosystems on our planet right now.  Our deep interconnection with the oceans demand that we pay attention to bringing them back into balance – and stop the practices that upset the natural diversity and wholeness.  This is a breathing space that we cannot do without!!

Dear friends of mine – Lea Houston and David Bayles – have recently created a site called Words From The Sea.  Their story is below and I invite you to watch the video and see how a conscious business is unfolded.  David, as a professional photographer, has taken the gifts from the sea foam and created a beautiful art form that reminds us of the the magic, diversity, and abundance that are the oceans.   In addition, a percentage of any profits made from these ready to hang art pieces is given to organizations that are working on behalf of education, preservation,  and restoration of these life giving waters.

I invite you to see what Lea and David have created here….and to remember that our oceans and the ecosystems that thrive from and with them are a breathing space for us as humans – one that we cannot do without!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Words-From-The-Sea/130955040285076?v=wall

www.WordsFromTheSea.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:

www.WildlyFreeWoman.com

Breathing Peace

The Symptoms of Inner Peace

*A tendency to think and act deliberately, rather than from fears based on past experiences.
*An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
*A loss of interest in judging others.
*A loss of interest in judging self.
*A loss of interest in conflict.
*A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
*A loss of ability to worry.
*Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
*Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
*Frequent attacks of smiling through the heart.
*Increasing susceptibility to kindness offered, and the uncontrollable urge to reciprocate.
*An increasing tendency to allow things to unfold, rather than resisting and manipulating.
Thank you to the author: Saskia Davis at www.symptomsofinnerpeace.net

Also Thank you to: www.onesanctuary.com for inspiration and finding this quote in the first place!

As we come into the holidays we may contemplate how to enjoy them fully without stress or undue expectations placed on ourselves and others.  It is well known that bringing peace to our planet is one of the most important elements in the realignment with vital health and well being that is being called for now in our times.  Yet, it is not political peace that I am speaking of here, for that is an outcome of another kind of peace.  It is the peace within us that when actualized, or at least practiced to the best of our abilities, contributes to the overall peace among nations, countries, communities and individuals.  It is this self-Peace, if you will, that everything else unfolds from.  Breathing peace may include some of the “symptoms” above…and will most definitely release one from the need to make the holidays, or our lives in general, “perfect”, and instead create unforgettable moments that will nurture, inspire,  and sustain collaborative relationships and evolutionary creativity. 

Breathing peace may include creating a “sanctuary” for ones self in the midst of many tasks and seemingly endless obligations.  This sanctuary can be in nature, on the back of a bicycle, feet enclosed in a good pair of walking shoes, a quiet space dedicated to contemplation/reflection within ones own home, in a bathtub filled with aromatic steam arising from a body covered with warm and comforting water, a bowl of homemade soup, a cup of hot chocolate, spiced apple cider or tea, a bookstore or library with comfy chairs to read from, a midnight walk in a star studded sky, a full inhale connected to a full and released exhale for several minutes, or any number of “sanctuaries” that bring peace and balance to the moment.

Here is an additional reference from Gay and Katie Hendricks who created a short online course on the PeaceBreath. Based on 1,000’s of years of instruction on the importance of the simple breath, their intention is to offer this reminder as a tool for conscious change and interconnection on the planet -starting from inside of you.  From the Aramaic translation of Jesus of Nazareth from the Beatitudes these words beckon us to remember: “Blessed are those who find peace through simple breathing, for they shall discover heaven within.”

http://www.consciousone.com/breathing_peace/

The course itself:
http://www.consciousone.com/breathing_peace/course/intro.html

What creates a  sanctuary of peace for you?  Please share it with us!

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:  www.WildlyFreeWoman.com

The Deepened Breath of Gratitude and Kindness

In celebration of World Kindness Day I dedicate this post to the breathing space of gratitude which is intimately linked with acts of kindness.  It is the experience of most that when one is in a place of gratitude that everything “lightens up”.  This relaxed and grateful place of “wealth” stimulates our breath to deepen and our natural innate expressions, love, and creativity to come out and play.  It is here within this breathing space of gratitude that we remember why we are here.  It is here in this breathing space that we are innately inclined to practice acts of kindness.

My day yesterday reflected this in every moment from first awakening to my last eyes wide open moment.  The aromatic scent of cardamon and cinnamon awakened my taste buds in the cup of green tea chai that I was sipping while writing within the light of a candle lit to celebrate the unfolding of the days possibilities.

Aligning a place within us in gratitude before we start each day, and at night before we go to bed,  naturally evolves into acts of kindness whether you are doing them, receiving them, or giving them to yourself.  It was my intention to come from this place in every moment of my day no matter what was happening.

Everywhere I went I remembered to smile and make eye contact being grateful for the connections that were essential to the tasks before me.  Entire conversations lasting only moments had significance because we touched each other in a personal way.  Everything felt easeful, even when waiting in traffic or in line.

When I found a long line at the post office I was grateful that I had a way to send the payments, personal correspondence,  and donations that I held in my hand.  Out of this place I relaxed… and out of this place the man in front of me had me go ahead of him because he stated “I am going to take a long time”.  This man had lost teeth, was a little unkept, and could possibly have been homeless, but he practiced an act of kindness.  I made certain to give a light touch on his shoulder when I left and thanked him again for his kindness.

Walking out of the athletic club that I belong to after a satisfying weight training session (acts of kindness to oneself!), I gasped in appreciation as I saw the sky filled with feather like clouds.  The man who was limping out with me heard my gasp, looked up and said “it is like God’s paintbrush!”.  We both smiled and felt blessed to be able to witness the beauty…and to share it with each other.

Even looking at the money that had been deposited in my bank account that day I realized that there was more than enough to share in acts of kindness to Women for Women International (sponsor a woman for $27/month!), Nature Conservancy and to become part of the solution of tolerance in our world at Southern Poverty Law Center.  The feeling of wealth that I had within me must have radiated out because it was at the post office where I was mailing these donations that I was ushered to “please go ahead”.

It is moments like these that add depth and fulfillment to our lives and remind us that everyone is “doing the best they can with what they have”.  These acts of kindness come when we open our hearts, come out of hiding, and look into the eyes of God standing right in front of us.  They are spontaneous most often, although sometimes planned,  and leave us breathing more deeply and embracing life.

As Maya Angelou said so eloquently:  “People will forget what you said.  People will forget what you did.  People will never forget how you made them feel.”

I am in appreciation to Sherryl Frauenglass of A Woman’s True Voice (FB) and Robin Rice of Awesome Women Hub for the video below by Humanity Healing Network.

Random Acts of Kindness with music by Enya

 

Other Blogs by Gaye Abbott:  www.WildlyFreeWoman.com

Struggle No More

For many, many years now Thich Nhat Hanh as been a guide for me…suggesting a path back to the deepest parts of myself that know no struggle, and are free to co-create a life of joy and alignment with thriving.  I am still practicing this gentle form of mindful awareness.  This week I bring to you a beautiful song by Phap Niem and Gary Remal on Thich Nhat Hanh’s – The End of Suffering.

Bring yourself into a quiet and comfortable space as you listen to the song and observe the stream before you…. a breathing space that brought these words to the surface for me:

 

 

Observe the water flowing around the barriers that may attempt to obstruct its path…freedom of movement, of life, of breath…suffering no more…letting go of all but the moment of the next inhale…the next exhale…be present to the opening of breath and creative force that brings life to everything around you and within you….breathe love…breathe compassion…breathe joy…breathe release from any struggle that comes into your mind…let go…

 

 

Next post look for a breathing meditation and movements, also by Thich Nhat Hanh.  His compassionate and loving Presence has moved millions.  He is You….

 

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:  www.WidlyFreeWoman.com