Retreating into Summer | The Scenic Route
If you are in the midst of a heat wave are we are here, perhaps you have the chance to swim in a lake or be cosy in an air conditioned space with your favourite bevy and a fine book you've been hankering to read, or maybe it's your time to hang out in a park with friends. Regardless, I hope your holiday weekend reflects peace and the opportunity to break free from busyness and spend time with your sweet self. There is no one like you.
If you are looking for an inspiring summer read that is also motivating you might enjoy Gabrielle Bernstein's book The Universe Has Your Back.
She writes from a world that knew anxiety and depression and used it as a wake up messenger to live more fully and present. She talks a lot about being clear with the lens we choose to see through. We either learn through the lens of fear or the lens of love. Fear becomes a perpetual cycle that keeps us trapped in a very low negative energy. When we chose to learn from love, we learn to trust and we are able to connect to a much bigger picture than our ego mind.
This morning in meditation I asked the Universe to show me clarity and the message I needed to hear. Yesterday I had an undercurrent of agitation that led to anxiety through the night. Anxiety hasn't shown up for a long time but I've spent years pursuing to understand it. I have no real reason for anxiety, in fact I've never in this life been happier. Perhaps the pull of the full moon played on my hormones, perhaps I'm doing too much, perhaps worrying for someone or something. In no time all the little things trigger a cacophony of fear. I aimed to stay in observation mode and listen without judgement and not feed the fears and escalate panic. I remind myself of Thich Nhat Hanh's mindful approach to addressing fear or adversities, he would say to what arises "hello old friend." It always adds a lightness to the un-ease for me.
After meditation I went for a drive. Driving often helps me clear my head. I decided to listen to a book and chose The Universe Has Your Back. Within the first chapter I realized the chosen book was actually the current answer to my question for clarity. Don't you love when that happens? She addressed how our projections affect our perceptions and how projecting love over fear is an obvious choice yet not an instinct. Learning through the lens of fear is a trigger of the ego and we live in a world that breeds it so well. Learning through the lens of love teaches us how to embrace our suffering and is also expansive in freedom and joy.
In her book Gabrielle works with mindfulness, Course in Miracles, kundalini, meditation and other modalities to live and trust through the lens of love. You will be familiar with a lot of the material she covers but her presence is so clear it has the ability to trigger some gem within that has been calling out to be birthed.
Meditative | Experiential | Retreats, Ireland 2019.
May 12th - 18th and September 1st - 7th.
For those that are with me this August we are weeks away and I am joyful.
Although August is sold out, there is space in both Spring and Fall of next year.
Come.. Retreat with me.
email me for details: gisele@tbds.org
with love, a lotus and a smile,
Gisele
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