​Time moves quickly. Life is short. When all is said and done and we look back upon our lives, what we'll remember most are the people with whom we spent our days and nights. We will recall the warm words and hugs of friends, children, and grandchildren; hearty conversation at the dinner table; the late nights we spent comforting one another through the ups and downs of life.
 
Today, consider what of yourself do you bring into relationship? How are you be-ing with others? The gift of your presence is the greatest present you can ever give to anyone.
​

©2020, Janice L. Lundy
​This Sacred Moment

It's that time of year in the "Great North Country," long warm days and luscious nights. Energy-infusing sunrises and soul-soothing sunsets. It's my season to play, savor and be fully present to All-That-Is. So in terms of blogging, I'm saying goodbye for now and "See You In September", Friends. 

Lovely friends, with so much turmoil engulfing our planet, our hearts can feel equally troubled and agitated. We long for answers, for relief, for an end to the suffering of so many, including ourselves. These are difficult times, no doubt. 

We are encouraged to not remain silent to injustice and to lift our voices; to act on our convictions. There is another inner voice which also claims to be heard now too. It is the voice of silence and discernment; a call to inner quietude to rebalance ourselves. This is vitally important so that we can think clearly and act with wisdom. 
It is impossible to think and act wisely if we cannot access any degree of calm within us. Calm = Clear = Wise. 

A few years ago, I wrote this article for Spiritual Director's International: "Finding Inner Refuge in Trouble Times." Clearly, what I wrote about is still applicable and especially so today. 

I hope you will find it helpful and take a few extra moments to work with the practice. May relief and refuge be yours.

Read it here: www.sdiworld.org/blog/finding-inner-refuge-troubled-times

May Love hold us. 

Friends, I am excited to share a video interview I recorded just yesterday with my friend, Lisa Erickson. Lisa is the author of the ground-breaking new book, Chakra Empowerment for Women: Self-Guided Techniques for Healing Trauma, Owning Your Power & Finding Overall Wellness (Llewellyn, 2019). In this intimate conversation, we talk about the ways we can care for our energy body (which is intricately interwoven with our whole health—body, mind and spirit). I love the 3 practices she shared with us that are so vital for staying grounded, open, loving and healthy in these times. Enjoy!

In today's blog I share some thoughts about we can ensure our hearts do not become armored in stressful times. If you're feeling impatient and irritated, or frustrated, it may be a sign that your heart is closing off due to low level trauma. (Many of us these days are experiencing low level trauma due to the pandemic.) This is the perfect time and opportunity to hold presence for yourself! The video includes one of my favorites practices for this. 

A few thoughts on the relationship between healthy self-love and presence, and our ability to hold and offer presence to others. 

This week I received this affirmation card from Unity. I'm on their mailing list and they send me lovely inspirational prayers, poems and booklets upon request. This card came unexpectedly. I didn't request it, but I sure did need it! 

When I read the words of the affirmation I thought to myself, "Well, I'm not feeling this right now, that's for sure," which in itself is a cautionary tale. "So, where are you?" my wiser self asks.

Honestly? In the middle of pandemic like everyone else. A little bit lost in boredom and feelings of isolation. A note of worry or fear creeps in now and then. But mostly I feel agitated, ill-at-ease within myself. Not sleeping well, distracted, disoriented. 

The questions beg to be asked: So what can you do in this moment to hold yourself kindly, with loving presence? What might you need to move away from so you can move toward the freedom that is expressed in the affirmation card—to feel unworried and free from tension? 

For me, I need to experience less noise and more quiet. Have fewer items on my To-Do list and more rest. Less focusing on day-to-day drama and more attention paid to breath and being at ease in the moment. 

One of the best ways for me to cultivate presence for myself in this time of pandemic and begin to "move easily in the flow of life" is to engage in Listening Meditation. 

Years ago, I made this short video offering instruction for Listening Meditation. I hope you find it helpful. I still find it remarkable how letting go of doing anything in particular other than listening can return us to ease—even in difficult times.

Today, in the early hours of the morning, I sit listening to a cacophony of  birds doing their daily rounds: calling to one another, rustling in the underbrush locating twigs to build nests, and singing gentle songs of new life to come. In just a few minutes, I feel myself back in the flow of life ... May it be so for you with the help of Listening Meditation.

Today, I have a gift for you, a short, guided practice (MP3) that I call "Be Here Now Practice." It's perfect for coming back to the present moment when you find yourself distracted or ill-at-ease. 

To receive this practice, SUBSCRIBE to this blog. The link to download will be sent to you in the subscription confirmation email. SUBSCRIBE by entering your info in the green box on the right side of this page. That's it! Thank you for joining me in the practice of Presence. 

If you are viewing this post on your phone, scroll down until you locate the green subscription box.

Now that the coldest weather has lifted, I am determined to take a mindful walk each day. Though I admit, sometimes my walks are not mindful; mindless is more like it. My mind wanders. I plan. I drift off and get stuck in old conversations or thoughts about the future. Presence to self eludes me.

And then I remember. It is time to be here now.  To be fully present to myself and this precious moment. My phone is off. I vow to do nothing but walk, just walk. 

One step, then another. One breath, then another. Easing into the rhythm of walking and breathing. Feeling my foot meet the pavement. Noting bird song in the distance. Beauty to my left and to my right. Be here now. 

And just when my mind begins to meander once more, there it is, looming up in front of me. A sweet smiley face someone has taken the time to draw on the walkway. "Hello, I see you," it says. "Do you see me?" And I do. I am grateful for this humorous reminder to come back once again, to surrender to walking. 

"Just walking" is one of the best ways I know to offer presence to myself, especially on a Corvid-19 day when so many thoughts and emotions can press in.

The same can be true for you, for any of us. May our walking bring us back home to ourselves. 

Today, I have a gift for you, a short, guided practice (MP3). I call it "Inner Smile Practice." It's perfect for walking, or when you're at the grocery store, or whenever you feel the need to be more present to yourself and others.

To receive this practice, SUBSCRIBE to this blog. The link to download will be sent to you in the subscription confirmation email. SUBSCRIBE by entering your info in the green box on the right side of this page. That's it! Thank you for joining me in the practice of Presence. 

If you are viewing this post on your phone, scroll down until you locate the green subscription box.

How to cultivate presence for yourself at this time? Lots of options here, friends. Here's one of them: a little secret about the breath.

Today, I have a gift for you, a short, guided practice (MP3). It's a gentle "dive" beneath the storm of thoughts to a place of peace beneath the sea.  

To receive this "90 Second Blessing for Calm," SUBSCRIBE to this blog. The link to download will be sent to you in the subscription confirmation email. SUBSCRIBE by entering your info in the green box on the right side of this page. That's it! Thank you for joining me in the practice of Presence. 

If you are viewing this post on your phone, scroll down until you locate the green subscription box.