Thank you for this. My anxiety is beyond my ability to cope during these times. This tree meditation is helpful. I need more info on how to be grounded and bring myself into balance because when I become enveloped high level of stress, I forget how to care for myself. This meditation made me stop and remember that I need to be proactive about self-care. I am finding it more and more difficult to maintain feeling grounded. Journaling and free-flowing creative expression with art materials, especially watercolors, help me feel more grounded and in balance. Movement and dance too. When weather permits I like to go outside and connect with the natural world: listening and observing birds, wildlife, plants, trees, and barefoot connection with the Earth. But it is still too cold to do that daily. What I also do to feel grounded is sing, chant, meditate, pray in tongues, and notice my breath. I've discovered the Green Tara Buddhist mantra of protection and have been saying it over and over. I do need to do more ideas, and prompts like your email today, to help me come back to my center. And ways of knowing that I am connected to others who share my values and concerns. Thank you, Mary, for reminding me to take a moment. I need more moments to help counter the evil, hatred, lies, and destruction that seem to be taking over the world, taking over my life. My heart breaks every day these days...
As I read your response, Carol, I see a sensitive soul who has very full tool box of rituals and practices that can bring you back into the present moment and back into your body. I invite you to stay with those practices that bring you the most joy, knowing you have enough wisdom in you. You are enough.
Consider that as an artist, you were made for a time like this; we have the power to heal the collective. An encourage word from Toni Morrison:
"There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge—even wisdom. Like art.
—Toni Morrison, “No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear,” The Nation, 23 Mar. 2015
I LOVE this tree meditation/poem. Beautiful and calming. It rings true to me. Thank you. And your Recreating the Headlines workshop was a great reset for me. Even if I am powerless in some ways, I can channel my emotions and use the energy that comes from that to build community and take action. Such a blessing.
Ahhhh..... beautiful! Thank you!
Thank you Linda!
Thank you for this. My anxiety is beyond my ability to cope during these times. This tree meditation is helpful. I need more info on how to be grounded and bring myself into balance because when I become enveloped high level of stress, I forget how to care for myself. This meditation made me stop and remember that I need to be proactive about self-care. I am finding it more and more difficult to maintain feeling grounded. Journaling and free-flowing creative expression with art materials, especially watercolors, help me feel more grounded and in balance. Movement and dance too. When weather permits I like to go outside and connect with the natural world: listening and observing birds, wildlife, plants, trees, and barefoot connection with the Earth. But it is still too cold to do that daily. What I also do to feel grounded is sing, chant, meditate, pray in tongues, and notice my breath. I've discovered the Green Tara Buddhist mantra of protection and have been saying it over and over. I do need to do more ideas, and prompts like your email today, to help me come back to my center. And ways of knowing that I am connected to others who share my values and concerns. Thank you, Mary, for reminding me to take a moment. I need more moments to help counter the evil, hatred, lies, and destruction that seem to be taking over the world, taking over my life. My heart breaks every day these days...
As I read your response, Carol, I see a sensitive soul who has very full tool box of rituals and practices that can bring you back into the present moment and back into your body. I invite you to stay with those practices that bring you the most joy, knowing you have enough wisdom in you. You are enough.
Consider that as an artist, you were made for a time like this; we have the power to heal the collective. An encourage word from Toni Morrison:
"There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge—even wisdom. Like art.
—Toni Morrison, “No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear,” The Nation, 23 Mar. 2015
With many hugs,
Mary
I LOVE this tree meditation/poem. Beautiful and calming. It rings true to me. Thank you. And your Recreating the Headlines workshop was a great reset for me. Even if I am powerless in some ways, I can channel my emotions and use the energy that comes from that to build community and take action. Such a blessing.
You are a blessing, Beth!
I'm so glad, Beth! Getting in action, whatever that looks like, moment by moment, is the antidote to despair. I appreciate you!
👋