Awakening to Small Things
Often we're seeking huge answers or meaning. Start with a flower instead.
Hello Friends,
If you are celebrating a holiday today, I hope that it’s full of laughter and beauty. If you are cooking or hosting a meal, there may be moments of frayed nerves and exhaustion, too. I’ve had all of the above this past week, the bittersweetness of holiday time.
I just wrote an essay about how my experience of Passover has shifted since I tap deeper into the wisdom and connection of my ancestors—in it I share some of the amazing surprises that are happening since I’ve started this practice:
‘We are here, I want to thank them, because of you. I hope they would kvell over how three and four generations later, we continue to gather each spring for the seder. We come together for old jokes and new laughter, for the taste of springtime here like freshly roasted asparagus, for a little too much sweet wine and most importantly, to imagine ourselves as being freed from what enslaves us.’
You can read on to my full essay here, if you like.
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My Dad lives four hours away from me; earlier in the week I drove out to pick him up so we could share the holiday together. My Mom died two and half years ago and last fall, we memorialized her with a bench in the park where she loved to sit, right across from my parents’ home.
Sometimes, since my Mom died, I’ve had the chance to meet her again in my dreams. I share a clothing size with her and wear a lot of her blouses and her jewelry, too, which makes me feel close to her. Sometimes I just get a feeling of her, of her nearness to me.
I went out to sit on her bench for a bit before my Dad and I got in the car, headed for the turnpike. I spent some time enjoying this beautiful flowering tree across from the bench. A bee caught my eye.
Sitting there, hanging out with the bee doing its thing, gathering nectar and pollen, didn’t give me some big idea about life and death, about the meaning of our existence. It brought me calm and peace, though. It brought me into a state of connection. That was my awakening for the morning—and it was enough.
It reminded me that awakenings are sometimes big—but more often small. This week’s writing and deepening practice celebrate the opportunity of humble moments.
I’m inspired by this poem, written in response to last week’s prompt by Meg Monios. Meg shared this photo with me—I always appreciate receiving your photos and reflections! Send them my way.
‘Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Season’ document where you can return each Sunday.
Think about a moment that you’ve had this week when you were able to slow down and notice something alive and awakening. Think of the small things around you—a bee, a flower, a song that you love, a momentary joy. It may be something in the landscape around you, something from a holiday experience or a sense of something shifting inside of you.
Describe this small thing in detail—its color, size, feeling. Try these prompts to get started:
A feeling this week that surprised me was…
A beautiful thing that I noticed around was…
A small moment that brought me joy was…
Deepening Practice:
Find a photo or take a photo inspired by this week’s writing practice. Put the photo in a visible place this—it could be your phone or device wallpaper or print it out old school and stick it on your mirror or fridge. Use the image to remind you that our awakenings can be made of small moments, small insights, small shifts that are around us, everywhere.
If you want to integrate your words/images like I did with Meg’s above, try Canva. I’m no designer but it’s easy enough for me to use! I have fun with it.
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If you’re interested in joining my next online expressive writings series, Soulful Spring starting 4/16, registration is now open. It’s powerful to experience our community! No writing experience needed~these workshops focus on spiritual curiosity & intuition.
For folks in the Greater Philly area...
Come play in person at The Joy of Creativity Retreat on April 23rd! All of the details and registration is here!
Thank you for being here and for your support.