My totem animal is a fawn. I remember being a little disappointed when I first ‘received’ the fawn in ceremony, thinking perhaps I wanted the eagle, or the bear, or wolf, or something, well, big and powerful, but . . . through sacred journeying with my fawn, I realized its tremendous gift and disappointment was replaced with awe — the gift of new eyes, wide-eyed wonder and even innocence, and fresh, untainted looking and being in the world. This awareness, this way of looking out at the world is key to a vital, juicy, awakened life, one that is in tune with your own unique truth.
With the extraordinary moments come the ordinary ones. One must include the other. And so in your sacred journey of growth, take time today and each day to notice the ordinary things you do and see and hear and think. This noticing takes a different form than the usual habits of mind or action we have. Bring a different spirit, different intent, mindful awareness to your ordinary moments — mindful awareness of the very detail of the scene or activity itself. Even the most gorgeous views out a picture window can become overlooked, taken for granted. The tasks of housekeeping or upkeep can seem tedious, our mind a thousand miles away while doing them, while at the same time feeling impatient or irritable until it is over. A morning orange or banana can seem boring. Instead, adopt fresh new ideas and attentive awareness to these things.
So take the time to notice the richness of life with the eyes of a fawn: Appreciate the richness of every moment. In our mind and heart, this is also about not judging, not valuing one thing over another, but impartiality. So something seemingly boring or disgusting, and something beautiful, are both held with the same value. Let go of the habits of your mind because they lock you into not really being present, and thus alive, to each moment of life. Do not let your mind go in three different directions while washing the dishes or cleaning up, for instance. Just simply ‘be’ with the activity. Or, if taking a walk along the same road countless times, simply just be with your walking and what your eyes alight on, and let thoughts diminish from your mind – just walk and see. Or — well, I will let you find your creative expression of the ordinary. And I would love to hear what you do.
Love and light, Barbara
