Moongazy

Life has been busy since my last post.  I had a wonderful retreat up a mountain in Switzerland.  We lived in a tent, no ground sheet and no hot water for a week!  I didn’t expect it to be more than a restful holiday, but I learnt a great deal more about meditation techniques and other exercises which I hope will help me in the future. 

Since returning, I have tried to get up earlier and meditate to a cd from the week.  I needed more discipline in my life and hopefully the new regime will last.  It started as 6 am, but that was very hard!  Now it is nearer 7am and I am not asleep by 3 in the afternoon any more.  Experience has taught me the hard way that pushing myself too hard only results in my body reacting by catching flu or some other breakdown, so I am kind to myself these days.  I also felt much better after a week of vegetarian food so I am making more of an effort in that area of my life as well.

There are always good intentions after a course or a retreat.  They last a while and most times we slip back into old ways.  I think that we always move forward with the things that we learn, and, even if we slide back, hopefully it is never all the way and some things stay with us, to be built on in the future.  I shall let you know how long this particular regime lasts!

Foelf.
From within, I couldn’t decide what to do.
Unable to see, I heard my name being called.
Then I walked outside.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth
across the doorsill where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.

For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself.
From within, I couldn’t decide what to do.
Unable to see, I heard my name being called.
Then I walked outside.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.

— Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi -
Sufi poet and mystic