I Lowered My Mask to Smell the Lilacs
After first looking
In all directions to see
No one was in sight.

After first looking
In all directions to see
No one was in sight.

I am looking forward to going out to the garden to forage for things to bring to work with my lunch. I know there will be at least four or five tomatoes, and I am expecting a small cucumber. The greens and fresh herbs are a given. Having exquisite fresh food and making sure I take at least 15 minutes to savor it always makes a hectic day a much better one.
Don’t have time to garden? Try joining a CSA.
Of my friends on facebook, several reveled in staying inside because of the rain yesterday. Others complained about being unable to do things that would have been better on a dry day. Reporters and anchor persons seemed to think it newsworthy whether the rain will impact football or baseball games. How about telling us whether the rain we are getting is optimal for the native flora and fauna and how it is impacting the farmers? We seem as a society to have forgotten the relationship of the weather to food.
Yesterday I asked about setting an intention to be blissful in every thing we do for a day. Having the intention is a good start (I might not even have thought of such an intention without my yoga practice). What I really want is to be able to manifest that intention. For me, I know that it is important for me to live more consciously and with more subtle discrimination (viveka) if I am to come close to living such intention.
A rare few live in bliss without effort. For the rest of us, that is why we have the practices. So we can practice moving into and resting in bliss.
Sometimes we call out the names; sometimes they call out to us. I’ve been too tired and stressed to yearn for more adventures in the near term, but this week, I have found myself wanting to be in India, to be surrounded by the colors and the sights and the outrageous display of creative imagery.
The photo is of a roadside temple, with Siva in the aspect of Dakshinamurti–guru of all knowledges (jnana). I have been told that is good to chant to Dakshinamurti when one is looking for support and guidance in teaching.
In my work as a civil servant, I spend much time informally teaching colleagues and the regulated community the details of the complex area that is my specialty. I set my intention to be able not only to be clear, but to convey a bigger purpose even in that which does not readily come to mind as being something of spirit.