I'm feeling a little soul weary this morning, how about you? The din of the world is wearing me down. I'm heading for my sacred space, my park with the beautiful eucalyptus trees and the river running through it. Nature has this way of coaxing me to be mindful of the moment, the beauty of life, and what is real.
Do you have a designated place where you can go to claim a quiet interlude, far away from the fray and anger of the world? Our modern world is always a noisy place, but the volume got turned up full blast in 2020. The emotional processing and mental discouragement of negativity perpetuated by the media are too much to bear some days.
People often equate the word sacred with church, but have you considered that the term should encompass protecting your own internal landscape? If you do not honor and protect your own peace of mind, if you do not recognize that it comes first and foremost, sooner or later the current craziness of life will take its toll.
If you have not already done so, I urge you to establish a sacred place where you can find some quiet and cultivate peace within yourself, where you can hear your own voice. Nature is that place for me, but yours may be different.
I have noticed that men (at least the ones I have known) are particularly good at this. They call it "going to my cave". When the big problems feel overwhelming, going to a quiet place and working in solitude on a smaller solvable project allows them a) time to process their thoughts, and b) restores their sense of mastery over their environment. They emerge feeling more in balance.
On a humorous note, a close friend's husband emerged from his cave on one of my visits, sporting a T-shirt that read, "What happens in the shop stays in the shop".
Hmm... It did make me wonder what exorcisms those walls have seen. ;)
Okay, I must sign off for now. I’m grabbing some coffee, then I’m putting on my runners, and heading for my beautiful park, my cave… I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
John Muir (1838-1914), the well-known Scottish-American naturalist, author, philosopher, and environmental preservationist of the U.S. wilderness would recommend that you make the outdoors your sanctuary, at least some of the time. Here are just a few of his quotes:
“Yet how hard most people work for mere dust and ashes and care, taking no thought of growing in knowledge and grace, never having time to get in sight of their own ignorance.”
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity”
“Everybody needs beauty... places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.”
“There is a love of wild nature in everybody, an ancient mother-love showing itself whether recognized or no, and however covered by cares and duties”
“The mountains are calling and I must go.”
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”
“The power of imagination makes us infinite.”
© SL Hart 2023
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