Day 246/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
In springtime in the garden we gardeners put everything in order for the coming planting to get the best start to a plentiful spring and summer harvest.
Getting the planting beds ready, mulching the no-dig gardens (all mine are no-dig gardens), liberally composting the fruiting trees and setting the seeds in trays on my deck so that I can keep an eye on them in their early growth stages.
Time is spent dead-heading any left over blooms from the late autumn to encourage plentiful blooms to invite the bees into the garden for spring.
Fruit fly traps are placed strategically around the garden.
Watering systems are checked, the worm farm is cleaned out and ready for a busy spring, compost tea-making kits are checked and supplies ordered.
In my garden this all takes very little time. A couple of hours here and there and it's done. I like my garden wild and free, not too much structure and certainly no manicuring of garden edges or lawns.
In many ways it's a similar way to how I start my day. I also like to think I am wild and free!
A few minutes each morning to check in, listen to the birdsong, guess the time, watch the sunrise, feed my kitty, and sit up in bed with a hot cup of water or tea to contemplate the day.
Sarah suggests bookending your day with 15 minutes of meditation or quiet time, listening to chants, journalling, reading inspirational poetry to settle your mind. Practices such as these give you a reflective time that quietens the soul.
If you really want some practical advice, I would go one step further.
For me it's about observing the day and my plans, visualising them going smoothly and in a timely manner. Planning, if you will, a day that is ordered and organised with all tasks completed with ease. There's a science to support this exercise that I won't go into right now, but expecting it to become the common worldview in my lifetime. Another time for that story...
Similarly at the end of each day I sit comfortably in my bed and meditate briefly on the day. I've said it before, I'm a reluctant meditator, so it's about 15 minutes unless there's something pressing needing attention. At this time I celebrate a day spent well, check in with my home and occupants and know that all is well with the world, then sleep soundly until the birdsong awakens me the next new day.
When you're able to bring order to your day, in spite of how busy you are, you'll open your imagination to inspiration. Inspiration is that etheric messenger that gives you the right details at the right time, to save time spent worrying and searching.
Inspirations will being you the answers to questions before they've been asked, the connection before you've made the phone call, the help before you've sent out your SOS.
Give yourself the gift of 15 minutes morning and evening.
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.