"Nature's creations have a wonderful habit of becoming more colourful and amazing as each day passes. remember we are all one of nature's special creations." SH
I've been drawn to wheel like spoke patterns whilst spending time in nature recently. Then earlier this week, sitting in meditation in my usual spot, my attention was drawn to our wheel barrow that's been sat there, redundant, for weeks! I've sat here most mornings and over the last few weeks never once has my attention been drawn to the wheel barrow, it's funny to observe where the mind is drawn, and then to be curious as to why we notice what we notice, and intuitively find some direction or meaning.
Leaving the wheel barrow here motionless for so long means the wheel has become flatter where it's resting on same 2 spokes, grass growing up all around it. It's a very useful vehicle/tool but without effort and movement it doesn't serve its purpose/dharma.
It feels to me like good intentions are the handles and spokes, but without effort and momentum it's useless. The barrow fills with anything that falls into it and becomes stagnant, heavy to lift or move. Like our practice, we can have good intentions and thoughts but unless we 'do' the work, and keep practicing, we don't serve our purpose or dharma. Our heads, hearts and bodies fill up with the deluge of information/content thrown at us, we absorb things we wouldn't necessarily choose to, and it becomes harder to take action.
First we need to clear the debris from the barrow that makes it too heavy to lift, then we need to start lifting and moving. Without the wheel barrow serving its purpose the garden becomes becomes neglected, and perhaps cluttered. We start to notice what areas need clearing, choosing one area to start with, then methodically moving onto the next.
Can we apply this thinking to our lives, our work, our practice?
It was a personal reminder for me to notice where I feel stuck, what isn't moving, what areas of my life/practice have become stagnant, what am I absorbing that I wouldn't have chosen to and what can I do to start clearing and keep things rolling.
The spokes of the wheel and patterns in nature have reminded me of Patanjali's 8 limbs of yoga.
Yamas
Niyamas
Asana
Pranayama
Pratyahara
Dharana
Dhyana
Samadhi
To fulfil our dharma we must continually observe all limbs. If we only practice asanas and pranayama we will lose momentum and become stuck, missing out on what the full wheel of our practice and our life has to offer.
So as I celebrate another trip around the sun, I'm taking some time out to see what clearing is required and what work needs to be done! The first to go is social media as I take a digital detox for August.
I'll be back in September!
Om shanti
Sophia