Being outdoors is ENLIVENING! This is how I feel after my playdate with Sandy today, a day that began with watching her crack a square top into a round coconut with a cleaver. We drank the nectar of gods out of the shell, just the way Nature seems to have intended it. This was followed by a breakfast of sweet organic pineapple, and I made a juice from organic carrots, apples, pineapple, and a squeeze of lemon. Yum!
Sharon and Sandy
Thus thoroughly and beautifully nourished, Sandy and I took off for one of Sandy’s favorite hikes up a nearby fire road trail. Very soon after starting out, we entered a beautiful oak grove where old growth oaks twisted and turned above our heads and showered us in dappled light. “My favorite oak lives here,” Sandy told me. “I haven’t seen it in two years.” When we came upon the majestic tree she stopped, and I could hear something like cooing coming from her throat.
“I think that’s poison oak,” I warned as she began to make her way closer to her branched friend.
“Oh, I don’t mind it,” she said, and blithely walked through the “leaves of three,” which somehow didn’t touch her, who they knew bore them no ill thought. In fact, she was on her way to give the tree a tender, giant hug.
Young milk thistle emerging from the ground
Walking with Sandy is such a treat as she is an herbalist and humbly and naturally shares her knowledge along the way. I met the Japanese catnip herb growing under the oaks, and Sandy told me how wonderful Japanese catnip is when it is juiced as a bedtime drink, its properties can bring relaxation and the calming of the nervous system. We later discovered some milk thistle, and Sandy explained that the first two leaves of the milk thistle are called its “embryonic leaves” and can be eaten, as well as the seeds that come later in the year, to help cleanse the liver.
The hike to the top of the winding road was mostly uphill, with some welcome flat stretches in between. My legs felt happy to be out exerting themselves, and it all felt pretty delicious. While we walked, a certain fragrance filled the air, disappeared, then came again. It kept coming and going, and whenever I inhaled it, the feeling I got was “Wow, this is all I need.” Sandy told me later that the fragrant plant was sagebrush, explaining: “its property is to drop everything you don’t need, and stick to the essence of things,” which coincided exactly with the feeling that arose in me when I experienced its scent!
At the top of the trail we saw a large boulder called “Victory Rock,” so named, I’m supposing, for the feat of those who make it that far in the intense summer heat. Our conditions today were very mild with a sweet, cool wind blowing to keep us happy and refreshed.
Victory Rock holds a secret, sacred formation on its hidden side: the birthing canal. This is an opening in the boulder that Sandy uses when she is experiencing transformation in her life. Sandy’s beloved son, Lorin, is soon to be married, and as she descended the steep side of Victory Rock and looked back up at me just before making her entrance into the birthing hole, she told me that this time through would signify her life transition from mother to wise elder woman. I crouched and watched in silent support as my friend went through the hole and out the other side.
Sandy at the “birthing canal”
Now, it was my turn. I shared that, for me, going through the birthing canal symbolized my transition into living in a body that is energized by plenty of Divine Life Force through the changes I’m making in my habits of conscious nutrition and exercise. Meeting at the other side of the birthing canal, we gave each other a high five.
Sandy and I walked down the trail in silence. We drove back to where we’d met early in the morning—at Sunburst Sanctuary. We had both worked up an appetite, and proceeded to satisfy it by sharing an organic salad. It was made of lettuce grown on Nojoqui Farm, organic avocado, lentils I’d sprouted, all bathed in a dressing of olive oil, Braggs, and fresh squeezed lemon.
I feel wonderful and strengthened physically, mentally, and spiritually. No wonder that conscious nourishment, recreation, and association are three rungs on the Path to Self-Realization.* The day is soon coming when more people will recognize the deeper benefits of these activities and doctors will begin to advise, “Take a two-mile hike, and call me in the morning after you’ve had your fresh coconut juice.”
Oh God, blessed is the Path that leads to You!
*The Sunburst Path recognizes the importance of consciously and virtuously including eight activities in our lives: meditation, study, conduct, speech, work, association, nourishment and recreation.
On my friend Valerie’s birthday, we honored her at breakfast. Val said that one of her goals this year is to have “FUN!” and she inspired us all to “enlighten up!” lol!
When I hear the word “fun,” I think “recreation” which is a rung on the ladder of Sunburst’s Eightfold Path. [Walking the Eightfold Path means to consciously and virtuously practice eight activities: meditation, conduct, study, speech, association, nourishment, work, and recreation.] It is easy for people to scold themselves if they feel they are not working hard enough, but how many of us consider FUN to be a requirement on the Path?
It is! Recreation frees our spirits and gives us joy, rendering us more receptive and closer to Spirit. So, in the interest of having my required weekly dose of recreation—which needs no sugar to get down—I went with my friend, Sandy Anderson, to the Elwood Butterfly Reserve.
Sandy and I walked along a trail so shaded by eucalyptus trees that, even in extreme drought, there was actually green stuff growing on the ground: nasturtium, sour grass with yellow flowers, and good old lush green grass almost a foot high. This spring greenness was so refreshing to see, my eyes just drank in the color as butterflies sailed by, some at eye level. We saw many flying high up near the tops of the eucalyptus trees.
Wandering deeper along the narrow trail, we suddenly noticed a beautiful, large Monarch flailing about in the grass. We thought how curious this was and drew nearer to get a better look. This lovely creature was in distress because a dry leaf, perhaps with some sap on it, had gotten quite stuck onto one of her legs. She was desperately trying to free herself of it, to no avail.I carefully reached out my hands and plucked the leaf from her leg, then raised her up out of the grasses. She was now free, and sailed away. I swear I could hear the echo of her calling back “Thank you!” as she registered her new lease on life.
I’ve been thinking about it…what would have been the fate of this magnificent creature if Sandy and I hadn’t passed by at the exact moment of her need? Or what if we had walked by, but not to have comprehended, saying, “Hey, look, there’s a butterfly down in the grass. That’s weird. By the way, did you see the Olympic ice skating finals last week?” Or “Oh, there’s a butterfly in distress in the grass. Too bad. Man, I’m hungry. Where do you want to eat?” But Sandy and I responded with open hearts, and that is precisely why we were appointed to be there at that exact moment.
Sandy and Sharon having fun!
This is the month of the year, in which Sunburst focuses on the virtue of faith. I think to myself, “If the Divine arranges a rescue for a butterfly, how likely is it that a rescue will take place for humans in their time of distress!” My experience with the beautiful butterfly really strengthened my faith. The Mother of all mothers, Mother Divine is always here, ready to help us, support us, counsel us, and send us the help we need. If I am ever a candidate for a 911 rescue, I’ll expect something like a giant Monarch to come and carry me safely home! Thank you God, for being our Best Friend!
“You, O Lord, are served when chaos blends into a great ocean and becomes food for the life that swims there…” These are the words from the Daily Prayer of the Bodhisattva that keep coming to mind as love blooms in this drought. I have noticed that where there is no need, there is no room for a miracle; and where there is need for a miracle, there is also the opportunity to love.
The birds in my backyard must think it quite the miracle that this little woman, having seen their drought-driven hunger, comes out of her cottage every morning and gives them beaucoup seeds to eat. Not only this, but she gives them fresh water to drink and for those who are of a more yogic nature, they can bathe in the chill birdbath. Feeding the wee ones is such a delight, and I feel like Snow White when they don’t fly away at my approach and I can sing to them and encourage them to eat before the red-winged black birds arrive.
Even the red-winged ones are growing through this drought experience. I only had to police them for two mornings as a result of their bad manners. They were kicking out all the sparrows and taking over the banquet table for themselves. After two days of not allowing them to land, they have transformed. Now they come and say things like, “Excuse me,” and “I’m sorry – am I in your way?” They wear napkins and ask, “Could you please pass the salt?” So, everyone is eating in harmony, sharing. After all, it is the month of charity! (Sunburst’s teachings incorporate practicing twelve virtues, and the astrological month of Aquarius focuses on the virtue of charity. Learn more here.)
After many prayers for rain, I have taken instead to thanking God for the rains that I deeply trust He is going to send, saturating the earth with the wetness that saves life and renews it. This attitude of gratitude makes me hopeful and happy. It’s my new droughtitude.
Today our first rain shower has come. What a grace upon the land. I offered to walk my friend Patty to her car under the protection of my umbrella, but she wanted the rain to fall upon her. Yes, we are all rejoicing along with the deer, the cows, the crickets and the frogs who are singing with us:
On the 21st of December we celebrated the winter solstice; the day of least sunlight had arrived. From that point forward day length has been increasing by about one minute each day, and will continue to increase until the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Winter solstice is a joy because light is on the increase!
We had a bonfire before dawn, by the labyrinth—the NEW labyrinth. As the sun rose over the eastern hills, Craig and John Henry set a marker where the tall, winter solstice stone was to stand. Later a huge stone pillar replaced the marker, completing the new labyrinth. Every winter solstice the sun will rise exactly over that tall stone—we have marked the spot!
When I saw the smooth-looking, crushed granite pathways of the new labyrinth, I wanted to take off my boots and socks, despite the bitter cold temperature. Barefoot, I stood at the entrance and made my way in.
Immediately, I felt my feet freeze and the cold rising up painfully through my ankles and calves. I felt the tiny pieces of granite pierce the tender bottoms of my feet. I wanted to turn around and walk (preferably run) out of the labyrinth and put my socks and boots back on.
Straightaway my mind flashed back to a lesson I had previously learned regarding a doable, if hardly bearable, challenge. The lesson was: “You have started this thing; now you finish!” I perceived this predicament as a test of my will and desire for mastery over myself; “How strong is that desire?”
I walked on. Every once in awhile I’d brush off the tiny stones sticking to my feet, like pins in a pincushion. “A measure of mercy should not be considered cheating!” I told my doubtful mind. My agonizing was made bearable by my memory of Paramahansa Yogananda’s poem, “The Boatman” in which he vows:
I will come again and again!
Crossing a million crags of suffering,
With bleeding feet, I will come—
If need be, a trillion times—
As long as I know
One stray brother is left behind.
Finally reaching the center of the labyrinth I renewed my dedication to live for God alone. Miracle of miracles—on my long return walk back to the entrance, I felt no more pain!
What a powerful morning it was, preparing for the new year in a good way: a labyrinth adventure.
In Sunburst’s teachings, each month one of 12 virtues is a focus of study. It’s not that the other 11 fall away from our consciousness, they are sort of in the chorus while one steps forward to sing a solo. This month the vibration that the planet is riding through is that of Humility. I’ve thought about this virtue: What is it? How and when is it expressed?
Sometimes people TRY to be humble, saying, for example, that a great thing they did really was nothing, when they know they’ve actually done something extraordinary. “Well, I only ran 26 marathons in 26 days…anybody could do it.” That’s called “false humility.” False humility is often used in order to avoid what is (rightfully) seen as a much more perilous vice: pride.
So, how do we handle that Big Fat Ego when we actually do something great? The prideful ego says, “Oh man, I’m doing so good! I’m the best thing since the word “Namaste.” Clearly, I’m more spiritual than everyone around me. I’m probably a reincarnation of St. Bernadette, or St. Francis, or Gandhi. Am I young enough to be a reincarnation of Gandhi?” From such a high mountain, the poor ego can take a great tumble down, and may even break a leg or two, because, as we know, “Pride goes before a fall.”
What is needed for true humility is TRUE VISION: God is the Creator of all, and so, He is the originator and giver of all talents, gifts, and the ability to excel. “Did I create my ability to do well? Well, I worked really hard,” the ego defends itself. But who gives us the inspiration to want to work hard, and the will to do it? Who gave us a brain intelligent enough? God alone gets the credit for everything, as St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you had not?”
Once this truth is seen and embraced, the ego takes a huge sigh of relief. It is such a burden to carry around credit for what one is—like a backpack full of bricks. “Ahhh, this really has nothing to do with me, so I don’t have to maintain it or be afraid of losing it. Thank God!”
As with all the virtues, humility is born of Love. Love is its mother, and it cannot exist without her. Pride separates, saying, “I am better than…I am higher than….” But love ever and ever unites hearts together. It does not even consider one’s place relative to another. Love has no interest in comparing. Its natural response is to rejoice at another’s good fortune and accomplishments. Its interest is in the good of the one in front of it, saying, “I care about you. How can I help you out?”
Humility has an underlying sense that in Reality we are all one, “Ahh,” it says, “No wonder I love people so much. No wonder I want to help them. They are all part of my very own self!”
So, Humility doesn’t play a competitive game in the world. Rather, it is cooperative and universal, wanting to know, “What can I do to help uplift all people? What can I do to help heal the planet?”
Helping, healing, easing pain, understanding and compassionate, Humility is always a friend. You can find its warm and golden rays shining on and through you. I often feel such a sense of thankfulness that God is such a loving Being. It perhaps could have been a different story, but it’s not. God is love and is every virtue born of love. How lucky are we!
Oh, thank You God, for being so wonderful. This is the true Namaste.
