The Rising Sun Within

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”

~ Albert Camus

There is a rising sun in my heart today, a glowing ball of light that’s shining rays over inner landscapes that have been cold and dark for a while. The sun feels warm, soft and golden.

I feel this gentle wisdom rising and I hear something saying that we all have seasons of the soul – winters, dry seasons, periods of sadness or moments when we feel stuck in a rut. Each serves its purpose, has its place and time, its lessons. Each highlights the emotions and shadows we need to work through. But when the dark season lingers for too long and we can’t see a way out…then remember the sun within – the warm empowering inner glow – and let it rise and bring the return of joy.

If not joy then at least a bit of light, a bit of warmth or a touch of comfort.

Let your inner sun soothe you, illuminate and guide you on your way to a positive space of possibilities.

I’m reminded once more that Nature mirrors what’s within us. Today, through the sunrise she is teaching me that I have an eternal luminous sphere of joy resting somewhere inside of me and that when darkness lingers, I need only be still and summons that inner sun to rise.

So, I close my eyes and let it rise and rise and rise inside me, yellow rays spreading to all the gloomy corners where self-doubt and fear have been lurking. I see these places brighten. I feel the heaviness in my chest lighten. Things look a different in this light, less ominous, more hopeful.

Do you know the magic of a sleeping land and sky that awakens slowly to the kiss of the sun? Close your eyes and let your inner sun rise.

sunrise at the forest

How To Touch The Moon

Have you ever touched the silver moon on a clear and starry evening?

This is what you do…

When the sun has sunken behind the hills and the sky has turned to night, then gather a small bowl of clean water in your hands and wrap your fingers around it, nice and tight. Go out into the garden under the dreamy indigo sky and feel the soft grass under your feet as the bats and night birds fly.

Breathe deeply.

Listen intently to the wild stories that the garden shadows whisper.

Look up to where mother moon is resting amongst the dancing stars and sit down beneath her. Collect her reflection on the water in your bowl and then sink your fingers into it, touching her circle of glowing light. Feel her wetness, so soft, cool and fluid. Feel the light of her soothing silver magic cleansing your hands as you touch her in the water. Cup your hands to gather her moon-drops in your palms and then wash them over your face. Let her healing flow over you and through you as you exhale, release and let her clear away everything that you are ready to let go of.

You are moon-touched, dear sister, because this is how you touch the moon.

touch the moon

New Worlds and Seed Pod Dreams

What if seeds were dreams? What if they were little gifts born from the hearts of seed pods, like ideas patiently moulded into masterful creations?  

I’ve long know the value of seeds, but I hadn’t given much thought to the pods carrying them until recently. When I gathered a collection of seed pods for my autumnal sacred space, I attuned to their deeply grounding energy in search of wild words to guide me through this season. I was pleasantly surprised by the wealth of wisdom impressed in their tiny brown bodies.

seed pods 1

Story makers, writers, artists and seed pods are very much alike, because all are creators. Seed pods begin empty. They begin open and receptive to an idea and they allow that idea to settle within them, slowly taking form. The pod understands that for a seed to be birthed, it needs a vacant incubator. So, the pod becomes a space of stillness where the creative energy of its heart-inspired idea or dream is transformed into a miraculous creation – a seed.

IMG_20160320_143342

The innate wisdom in seed pods knows not to rush the process because patience and stillness are integral to forming new worlds. What seed pods do so effortlessly doesn’t come as naturally for some of us. We don’t always know when to do or work, when to rest or when to allow things the space to unfold at their own pace. The masculine values ingrained in our society encourages us to constantly drive ourselves to breaking point. It’s taken me a long time to find the right kind of balance in my own creative process. When I’m not writing, I still have moments where I feel so unproductive and push myself to work harder or faster. But the reality is that sometimes what my words need in order to take form and come to life is for me to be a silent incubator of wild stories and to allow my ideas the stillness or space required for their evolution. Life Coach/Author, Martha Beck, pinpointed this concept quite aptly when she wrote:

 “During the times we think we’re being “unproductive”, the seeds of new worlds are germinating within us, and they need peace to grow.”

These insights really struck a chord with me. So, I’m letting them sink in. It’s good to have such grounding touchstones anchored somewhere in my consciousness because they become wise guidance for me to draw on when I lose my way.

Sometimes empty seed pod seem so bereft when their seeds have long deserted them to pursue a journey of their own. They reminded me that whether seed pod or person, it isn’t always easy to release dreams that you’ve carried deep inside of you, stories crafted from your own blood and tears. It takes courage to open up and launch these seeds that are so much a part of you into a wild and unknown world. We feel vulnerable. Yet, at the end of the day, our gifts, inner treasures and creations are meant to be shared. Like the seed pods, we have to trust and flow with the process. Each seed has a path and will of its own and when its time has come, the pod has to open up and let go. We have to make peace with our vulnerability and summons our inner strength to launch our creations into the world, and when we do, we are not left feeling bereft because the gift that we share are not lost, but offered. They offerings from a sacred place, from the profound creative force of our souls. So offering something so precious to the world leaves us feeling proud, fulfilled and free.

The seven wild words that I received when I meditated with the seed pods were:

 Release, Trust, Stillness, Incubate, Gifts, Open Up, Share

Following my seasonal practice, I’ve strung them together to create a new mantra to meditate on during this period:

“I allow myself the stillness that I need to incubate wild gifts in my heart. I trust enough to open up and release my gifts into the world because they are meant to be shared.”

Nature never ceases to amaze me. Her wisdom is boundless, her lessons never ending and I’ve discovered so much in a handful of seed pods. This autumn, as I work with my wild word mantra, I am open to the new worlds that the Earth’s vibration may light within me.

Equinox blessings to you. May the shifting seasons light new worlds inside of you too. 

seed pods 2