All Comments By Susan Starkey

Thank you for this simple (but far from easy) practice! It fits very well with my daily practice, learned and adapted from Joanna Macy's Spiral of the Work That Reconnects. It's a 4 part practice, starting with Gratitude (for something, anything, that I am aware of in the present moment), then I open my heart to Honor My Pain For the World (trusting that it's my Love that needs to stretch open to be with all I love, even though it means encountering pain, I also trust I'm not alone in this, and that as I breathe into it, it breathes through me and dissipates eventually). Next, I open to See With New and Ancient Eyes- whether tapping into a longer time horizon, seeing the situation from the point of view of others (as you suggested), listening to future generations speak to me (or listening to my ancestors and what guidance they'd give), etc. Once I've gained some new perspective, I Go Forth, knowing that right now, there is Only One Thing Necessary. I don't need to have a grand plan, but just put one foot down on the Pathless Path, and take the next small step forward into my day. This practice keeps me sane and joyful!

So true! My brother-in-law and I were just talking minutes ago ( a nice synchronicity ) about the joy of connecting with a stranger on the dance floor and having the flow of it all lift everyone’s spirits. I need this message today as I realize I’m in a place of mourning- for the future of Earth and all her inhabitants, and I realize I want to learn to live in acceptance of this reality. So- I’ve Gotta go- gotta Dance now!