As I explore this notion in my life I am reminded that the shadow parts of self are alive and well in all of us. A shadow simply needs more light shone upon it. Yesterday, nature helped me to see how easily I can stumble down this rabbit hole. I would't think to judge nature as harshly as I judge self, so it became a beautiful meditative walk as I observed the ever changing landscape around me. Each stage of the process brimming with beauty. An element of holding on as well as letting go. I hope you find this musing speaking to some part of your life. Ever changing...ever evolving.
May it be of benefit!
May You Sweetly Seek:), Sarah
"As you gaze upon your life, may you inquire with kindness and compassion of the true journey...the journey inward. Inward to the divine spark of your being. To the grace of the energy that is you. As you travel to the interior regions of your heart entertain the visitors that you find there...love, joy, fear, anger, judgement, curiosity, luminosity, kindness. Admire the life you are living and then look to your neighbor's life with the same admiration.
In the messy beautiful landscape of now, life is happening. Perhaps you notice your likes and dislikes...your aspirations and desires...your yes's and your no's. Each thought serves to bring you into expansion or contraction. As the thinking mind shifts into identification it too easily invites the shadow aspects of the inner judge. Judging for how things should be, rather than discerning the now. Judging the texture of life, the abrupt changes not planned for, the coarse emotions of fear, anger, sadness, and discontent. Perhaps you begin to notice the dissonant ways in which you live. As you shift into the role of judge you announce your lack of safety and discontent for the unfolding process. You abandon ship and leave the vessel of your soul unattended. In this unattended state, judgements swirl just as easily as the wind.
The process of witnessing your life is as simple and complex as that of observing nature. As you survey each leaf, can you take in the beauty of the various stages of life? A life so vibrant in color, a life worn from living well. Each leaf somehow weathering the elements of nature, each life somehow weathering the elements of living. Gently holding on....gently letting go. How are you holding on, how are you letting go? How are these judgements really judgements about yourself? How can travel inward with more compassion and discernment?
Can you appreciate the beauty of your life just as you would appreciate the beauty of each leaf? Release the story...surrender to the process...observe with kind eyes. You are the leaf and the leaf is you.:)