In celebration of the beautiful summer that we have been having here in New England, it has been a rare treat for me to have three weeks where my calendar has been virtually empty and I have kept it that way. A true summertime of waking up each day and listening for the rhythm and activities that call to me – particularly after the first day or so of feeling slightly awkward with the openness.
It seems there is a muscle of being present with a totally blank calendar that takes cultivation too. The muscle of realizing that I still get out of bed and engage with the world even if I have no ‘to do list’ going. What a welcome relief to know that I will stir, wake-up and be drawn into the rhythms of the larger Whole each day just like the rest of creation seems to do so effortlessly.
And as is usually the case, in the moment when I began to ponder what the meditation for this month’s day of silence might be – like the miracle that is life, my dear friend Jody sent me this poem.
In the spirit and wonder of our collective wisdom, may your times of silence be truly magical.
Warmest,
Peri, Barbara and Jody
Today I’m flying low and I’m
not saying a word
I’m letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep.
The world goes on as it must,
the bees in the garden rumbling a little,
the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.
And so forth.
But I’m taking the day off.
Quiet as a feather.
I hardly move though really I’m traveling
a terrific distance.
Stillness. One of the doors
into the temple.
~ Mary Oliver ~