A “mantra” has emerged from the depths: “Follow the Heart” – the Heart of Hearts that is. It is the sense of paying attention to the deepest Heart that *knows* the Way – the Inner Compass - the silent space of Stillness, our Essential Nature. It’s about experiencing what *enlivens* the Deep Heart, what feeds and nourishes this Heart…I want to feel Alive while I am alive. I want to be acutely *aware* of this Aliveness, this Heart that I am – listening deeply to Its hum – like the purr of a contented cat… But I’ve been feeling a little funky lately in our brown, dry winter – depressed, unsettled, feeling a lot of “heartburn” – but no purring… After a 3-week funk I was inspired by Genju’s blog (108zenbooks) when she started posting her “contemplative photography” on Monday of this week. The Deep Heart awakened from beneath the thick layers of molasses, and said: Let’s go on a photo excursion! And this Being suddenly came alive, wanting to play, to be in nature, to explore, to see Life with new eyes. So Monday I went on a Heart Excursion – to follow the Heart in order to feed it…
Now I am not a “photographer," and only have a little Kodak Easy Share digital camera, but it was the excursion that counted – nourishing the Heart. There is something in the act of taking pictures that makes me actually *see* my surroundings. I enter into curious interaction with Life. Seeing Life focused through the lens of a camera stills my mind and thrills this Heart; allows my whole being to settle into inner Stillness, to be at complete rest within my Self. Even with others walking past me on the path that day, I was in deep Silence. I was kissed by Silent Joy and the Heart purred - reminding me that this is why I/we are here – to *live* in full awareness of the Deep Heart; to be aware of and commune with the Deep Heart – to be *Alive* to Life - to *be* the Aliveness that Life is – and to walk in the Alive Stillness of the Heart…
Here are some photo highlights.
There are many blog sites out in the blogosphere that display inspiring photography that enlivens this Heart. One that I just found is Beyond the Fields We Know – beautiful winter photos and writings. Be sure to visit, and scroll down.
This is absolutely beautiful, and thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Julia Cameron calls those excursions "artist dates".
ReplyDeleteYou know something good is happening when your heart warms up while looking at snowy winter scenes! Thank you, Christine. :)
Cate ~ Welcome and thank you for visiting! I adore your blog. It always touches this Deep Heart... Christine
ReplyDeleteHey Maria! :) OOooo Yes - "artist dates" - like that... And actually my Heart would purr a little more if we actually got more snow! LOL - C
ReplyDeleteAhhhhmen! (and a little woman*)
ReplyDeleteI am finding mantras everywhere today! Love yours of
"– to *live* in full awareness of the Deep Heart; to be aware of and commune with the Deep Heart – to be *Alive* to Life - to *be* the Aliveness that Life is – and to walk in the Alive Stillness of the Heart…"
* added as per the remarkable Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes who wrote the incredible "Women Who Run With The Wolves"
Ahhhh...'Excursion'. The word alone gives this heart more space. For an extrovert with an active mind being cooped up in isolation has, perhaps, added a decade to any (felt) darkness. Being outside and listening to the sounds is (quite) enough to ground one in stillness.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this sweet post Christine and for the wonderful photographs.
XOXO
-L.
Darla ~ I *loved* Women Who Run With The Wolves! Particularly the chapter called: Nosing Out the Facts: The Retrieval of Intuition as Initiation - the story of Vasalisa was instrumental in recovering my sanity back in 2003 :) Thanks, C
ReplyDeleteLeslie ~ How true what you say: "Being outside and listening to the sounds is (quite) enough to ground one in stillness" - a sweet remembering of who "I" is - the welcome Spaciousness... More Excursions are "planned" :) Love, C
ReplyDelete