It’s that time of year again, the landscape is slowly turning, colours are changing and there is a chill in the air most mornings that sometimes lasts all day. The last cling of Summer is slowly giving way to a season of quiet rest. And it is in this transitional time of Autumn where we can really notice the impermanence of any given stage of life and the turning of the Earth’s ever-changing cycles.
Thich Nhat Hanh believes that ” You carry Mother Earth within you. She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment”. In this way, at this time, we can look to Mother Earth and the falling of the leaves, nature’s preparation for a deep rest, and reflect on how this ever-changing cycle relates to our own lives. Can we learn from the wisdom of the trees and release that which does not serve us anymore; can we shed our leaves and make the necessary adjustments towards a time of introspection where we recognize what it is that we need to put into place in order to be ready for the long Winter months. Are we able to move with the seasons and this transitory life?
This week’s challenge is called Falling Leaves. If the weather is fine, you might like to do this outdoors. Grabbing a blanket and something to sit on, you are invited to find a tree that calls out to you. Perhaps it is a tree in your garden that you enjoy, or a tree in a park that you visit regularly, or maybe even you can make a day of it and pack a lunch and go on a search for a tree in a local wood.
Sitting by this tree, you can practice mindful breathing or maybe even engage in the full practice of Settling, Grounding and Resting, coming to stillness. Then simply dropping in the question:
Can I simply BE like the tree and, without resistance, let go of that which does not serve me? Can I release my leaves to the earth? Making room for a rest in order for new growth to develop.
It may help to have a paper and pen alongside you in order to take note of that which surfaces in response to the question.
Let us know how you get on!
Not familiar with the practice of Settling, Grounding, Resting?
You are invited to join our membership and come along to The Live Weekly Sit or The Live Monthly Teachings where we practice various mindfulness meditations each week.
For more information: http://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/Membership.aspx