h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*the sand is in disarray from the move*

*gets rake and starts creating patterns around the rocks*

*enjoys the relaxation of the garden and the sound of wind through the trees*

Welcome back to all.

Courtesy

*ox enters the garden and finds fresh tracks in the sand*


*relaxes*

*meditating up fresh tracks ...... like coi ripples in a river*

courtesy

*slowly gets up, grabs the rake, and starts to make new patterns in the sand*

*starts wistling a meandering tune*

courtesy

*with eyes closed, ox finds she can follow the sounds of the rake and the whistling and visualize the patterns in the sand*

*walks slowly into the garden, takes a deep breath, looks around with a gleam in the eye, brandishes a bamboo rake, slowly starts raking at the beginning*

Courtesy

*all is bliss...all is bliss*

*starts throwing some rocks into the sand and raking around them*

*bliss is all*

courtesy

*with eyes closed and rake held loosely in my hand, I walk the sand and rake when it seems proper*

I hope that you are having a good time, it's amazing how peaceful talking about peaceful things can make you.

Courtesy

Yes! Like the peace daily yoga brings to my 'life'; often when we cannot change what is happening in our lives or our surroundings we can only change ourselves.

...so how is your journey?

Mine has led me back around to studying Qabalah again...shaking loose the stuck bits of clay from shattering my old personality has taken some time, at least for me

*gazes at fish scale clouds*

*closes eyes*

...maybe that's the gist of this recent incarnation

My journey is tending towards the circular right now. I am looking into Daoist philosphy again and developing a great desire to pick up The Book of Five Rings again.

I have achieved a level where I can perceive most things and not have them affect me. Still working though

Courtesy

*starts raking circles in the sand around all the rocks*

Sun Tzu's The Art of War is a classic for me...

I'm still affected by things at first confrontation and work them out later that evening in meditation/realization. Daily study. I realize I'm putting forth a certain level of negativity and confusion to be getting a return of the same, and that I'm very aware of only seeing the tip of the iceburg with the basic 3rd dimension senses. Still confused a bit in daily life, the I Ching sets me straight for a quick fix at lunch, if a jolt is needed and a higher view! Enjoying again old favorites like Sepher Yetzirah, The Kybalion and Dion Fortune's The Mystical Qabalah. Care with diet and Pranayama.


*cloud watching*

I find that whenever I tend towards the negative I can attribute it to attachment. The Tibetan Book of the Dead has a section on attachment which helps me in times like that. To paraphrase .... Don't hold onto something, open your hand and let it go. Instead of opening your hand palm down, open it palm up. Thus you loose the attachment yet keep the thing.

I keep trying to meditate every night, but sleepy zazen is not good. Must work at setting more time aside for the mental and spiritual aspects of life.

Courtesy

*goes to the middle of the sand and starts a new pattern*

*with a major change in my Personal Life, I feel the need for a different pattern to meditate on*

Courtesy

*quietly watches Courtesy*

The only thing that gets me through rough spots is serious study and meditation. Daily.

I drifted away from daily study in my 40's. I'll not do that again

Yes, amazing how easy it is to drift away from what you know is good to do *picks up rake and mindfully starts pattern*

*nods to Aukana, and watches the pattern emerge*

*awakens from a rather long contemplation*

*moves the rocks and rakes the sand clean*

*drops the rocks back into the garden*

*starts raking with a blank mind*

*watches a dragonfly's flight*

*closes eyes*