Heartwork newsletter – 15-01-2023
Or do you feel empty and depressed by grey days and long nights?
After the hustle and bustle of the end-of-year holiday season, you might feel the space of the new year open up.
How do you feel about this space?
Is it something to be filled with intentions; such as losing weight, moving your body more or finally spending time on that creative project you’ve been postponing for a while, like writing a book or making music?
Or is it something to simply be experienced? Allowing the conscious and subconscious to rest, in order to pick up productivity when the spring sun returns.
Either way, the invitation to us all is to become aware of the rhythms of the seasons and our connection with nature. Does it feel harmonious and balanced — or tense and out of sync? Balance with nature encompasses balance within ourselves.
We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the mind and its incessant stream of thoughts. But what about living? What about being present in the moment and just experiencing life as it presents itself, without judgement? Including the constantly arising thoughts 😉
When we can simply observe our thoughts — as they appear like clouds on the horizon, and drift on by in the sky — without latching on to them; even more space opens up. Even more freedom, since we are no longer enslaved to the continuous coming and going of thoughts that prompt us into word and action.
As Albert Einstein said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
What can you do today; to live more from intuition, rather than from the ever-questioning mind?
Two things:
- Meditate. If you are already an expert, just go ahead and do it. If you are a beginner, please feel free to try out our favourite meditation practice from Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, that goes as follows:
Sit still and allow your mind to quiet down. Then, focus on 10 in-and-out breaths. During those 10 in-and-out breaths: leave thoughts for what they are. If a thought arises, just label it as a thought, and let it pass.
When you are doing this practice for the first time, you will be surprised by how quickly thoughts come, and how many there are! Thoughts might include “When will I be done with these 10 breaths” or “What a silly thing to do, just sit here and breathe”. And that’s okay. Over time they become fewer.
The next level in this practice is to take 10 in-and-out breaths without a thought arising, because when it does, you start the count anew. Approach this observation exercise with open curiosity. Stick with it and let us know how it goes. Would love to hear from you – drop us a note via email or message us on Instagram. - Do one mundane task mindfully. Such as washing the dishes, doing the laundry or taking the dog for a walk.
Whilst washing the dishes, treat them with utmost care — as if you were gently washing a baby. Pay attention to your senses, as you accept the gift of each present moment. Allow your awareness to bask in the here and now. When you catch your attention drift off, gently bring it back. Immerse yourself fully in the task-at-hand and let thoughts simply come and go. Including thoughts like “I want to be done with this quickly” or “I have so many other things to do”. To connect with the here-and-now is to connect with oneness and self.
Are you curious to learn how you can deepen the practice of living from the gift of intuition, rather than being enslaved by the mind? Sign up for our Inner Knowing Journey in which we support you in tapping into your inner knowing, and realizing that nothing is outside of you, but that all the answers are already present within you.
This blog is based on the Heartwork newsletter, 15th of Januari 2023. Would you like to read more inspiring content? Subscribe to our newsletter!