Use the Heartwood Path’s Three Graces: Spirit, Nature, And Sex.
Use Your Three Immortal Guides To Make You More Susceptible To Positive Influences and Beneficial Changes
This powerful combination will take you to that special liminal “place” where feeling and imagination are, at once, ordinary and extraordinary. The Heartwood Path’s Three Graces (Theos/Spirit, Ecos/Nature and Eros/Sex) will transport you on a rite of passage that will make you more susceptible to positive influences and beneficial changes.
The “tickets” for this journey to the liminal world that is not quite earthly and not quite heavenly are sensation, passion, and imagination. The use of these “tickets” in loving ways leads to an erotic morality that affects deeply all that is—from the heart within to the wood without. Lovingly using sensation, passion, and imagination encourages a slower pace—the use of time that allows for the development of wisdom. Use a slower pace to be wise and the rat race to be otherwise. A slower pace is helpful because it gives you time to listen.
Science amasses knowledge faster than society collects wisdom.
The trouble with this inequity arises when science, using its rapid acquisition of knowledge, runs amok faster than society can find the wisdom to control it. So give the development of wisdom some time. Since knowledge speaks and wisdom listens, take time to hear the messages of the wise and thereby prevent yourself from speaking your knowledge while revealing your lack of wisdom. Speak, not only with your words (talk is cheap, until lawyers get involved); speak also with your actions.
As we all know, if you do speak, do not use double negatives. They are a complete no-no. And never, never, never repeat yourself.
Of the three tickets to the liminal world, now is the best time to discuss sensation.
One of the best ways to develop your ability to sense the real world is to bring mindfulness into your daily activities.
The following activity, inspired by a book written by Jan Chozen Bays, MD, (2011) will help you sing with the Three Graces of Spirit, Nature, and Sex.
To Live Life More Fully…
HumaNatureConnect Activity
If this is not a day when you prefer to spend time in nature without an agenda, do the following activity:
Singing With The Three Graces: Spirit, Nature, And Sex
For this activity, begin living life more fully. This activity will help you become joyfully mindful. Ask the questions that follow to your chosen natural object but do not expect it or you to be able to answer the questions immediately. Just ask for permission to ponder these questions on site in nature; immerse yourself in the qualities of the natural being and its natural surroundings; use one or more of your natural senses; think of your chosen being as an emissary carrying the wisdom of nature to you after granting you its consent to have this connection experience by remaining attractive; resonate with the underlying tone or rhythm you feel in your heart as you sit, stand, or lie next to your chosen natural being; allow the questions to be processed (answered) in the natural realm of your unconscious mind overnight; after a night’s sleep, return to this activity and write out your answers. Doing so allows the intelligence of nature to silently or perhaps in your dreams work its magic on you so that you can then write out answers that are not overly mental, piously heady, or tainted by fluctuating social pressures or willy-nilly moods. Take your time and, in your journal, write out your answers to each of the following questions (or as many as you like).
Do I ever use my non-dominant hand as a way to sharpen my beginner’s mind?
Wherever I go, whenever possible, do I leave no trace or improve the natural condition of the place?
Do I work to rid my speech of filler words such as “um” and “like” as a way to practice ridding myself of entrenched unconscious behaviors?
Do I look at my hands daily as if they were a stranger’s and marvel at how well they work together without getting in each others’ way?
Do I just eat when I eat as a way to practice enjoying each moment of life?
Do I create wealth in my heart by complimenting someone every day?
Do I adjust my posture to alter my moods?
Do I fight unhappiness by being grateful for something each day?
Do I stop and just listen, listen to the sounds in the silence, as a way to quiet my mind?
Do I stop and take three cleansing breaths before I answer the phone as a way to refresh myself?
Do I regularly lovingly touch inanimate objects as a way to remind myself that I too am a fellow being of the earth?
Do I fight annoyance when waiting by practicing mindfulness, prayer, or meditation?
Do I replace the time I spend listening to the media with time spent in silence, contemplating beauty, or sharing in loving friendship?
Do I add love to the universe by looking at people, things, and pets with loving eyes?
Do I practice generosity by giving anonymously?
Do I ask the inner voice to be silent for at least three breaths as a prescription for health and happiness?
Do I appreciate each mind space by carefully closing doors before entering new space?
Do I remind myself that I am not alone by noticing trees?
Do I regularly relax my hands as a way to relax by whole mind and body?
Do I overcome greed, avarice, and ignorance by, whenever it is safe to do so, saying “yes?”
Do I break out of my self-absorbed mind by looking for the color blue in nature but not in the sky?
Do I work on my mental stability and emotional stability by placing my awareness on the bottoms of my feet?
Do I help my mind become spacious by attending to the space around objects rather than just the objects themselves?
Do I participate in the party in my mouth by putting down my utensils after each bite?
Do I increase my happiness by not clinging to desires?
Do I motivate myself to change and give myself the gift of empathy by noticing suffering in all its forms?
Do I do a silly walk when I need to lighten up?
Do I cultivate a light, flexible mind by opening my awareness to water, in bowls, in glasses, in lakes, in the ocean, and flowing in streams?
Do I expand my perspective by looking up?
Do I challenge my definition of my “self” by not defending or defining my personal territory or public labels attached to myself, such as Liberal (which, as we all know, you can tell by when one’s heart starts bleeding), Midwesterner, Man, Independent?
Do I take the time to smell the smells around me?
Do I make each moment with someone vivid by reminding myself that this could be the last time I see this person?
Do I challenge what it means to be “too cold” or “too hot?”
Do I practice loving kindness as an antidote to aversion?
Do I pay attention to the movement of air as a way to expand my awareness?
Do I listen like a sponge without judging as a way to foster acceptance?
Do I appreciate life, my own and the one life of every being?
Do I ever pretend that I have one week to live and make a list of what I would do during that week?
Do I focus on breathing, listening, and feeling as a way to deal with impatience?
Do I stick to thoughts of the present, knowing that anxiety is usually about the past or the future?
Do I feel off center?
Do I focus my attention on my core?
Do I ever regularly direct loving kindness to myself?
Do I remember to smile often?
Nocturnal Pilgrimage
For tomorrow’s Dream Tending, continue to practice perceiving the dream with subtle perception, using both your core vision and your peripheral vision to see both the unique details and the totality of the setting.
Also, begin looking at your dreams as mirrors reflecting yourself. As this reflection begins to include more and more of the setting around you, you can be assured that your More-Than-Individual-Self is developing.
Several natural beings are well-suited for encouraging self-reflection due to their symbolic meanings, behaviors, and attributes.
Here are some natural beings that can inspire introspection and personal growth:
Owls symbolize the ability to see what is hidden and gain deeper insights. Reflecting on an owl’s wisdom encourages you to look inward, trust your intuition, and seek understanding beyond surface appearances.
The life cycle of a butterfly, from caterpillar to chrysalis to adult, symbolizes profound transformation. This process encourages reflection on personal growth, change, and the potential for renewal in your own life.
Trees, with their deep roots and expansive branches, remind you to ground yourself while also striving for growth. Reflecting on a tree’s life can help you contemplate your own roots, stability, and personal development.
Rivers symbolize the continuous flow of life and the importance of adaptability. Reflecting on a river’s journey can inspire you to think about your own path, the changes you’ve navigated, and the direction you’re heading.
Wolves are known for their strong social bonds and keen instincts. Reflecting on a wolf’s behavior can prompt you to consider your relationships, sense of community, and trust in your instincts.
Turtles symbolize patience and enduring effort. Reflecting on a turtle’s steady pace encourages you to consider the importance of patience, persistence, and taking life one step at a time.
Eagles, with their ability to soar high and see vast distances, inspire you to take a broader view of your life. Reflecting on an eagle’s perspective can help you gain clarity and focus on your long-term goals.
Snakes regularly shed their skin, symbolizing renewal and the release of old habits. Reflecting on a snake’s transformation can inspire you to let go of what no longer serves you and embrace personal growth.
Lotus flowers rise from muddy waters to bloom beautifully, symbolizing purity and spiritual awakening. Reflecting on a lotus’s journey encourages you to think about your own path to enlightenment and inner peace.
Deer embody gentleness and a keen awareness of their surroundings. Reflecting on a deer’s nature can help you cultivate sensitivity, grace, and mindfulness in your own life.
These natural beings offer rich symbolism and lessons that can enhance your self-reflection. By contemplating their attributes and behaviors, you can gain deeper insights into your own life, personal growth, and the paths you choose to follow.
Nature’s wisdom, embodied in these beings, provides a mirror for introspection and a guide for personal development.
Don Pierce, Santa Barbara, California.