Haiku Ellipses...Invitation...Response...

CYCLE seed, stem, leaf, and fruit letting go of fruit and leaves the cycle of life we all start as a seed, growing our stems and leaves over time, producing fruit, then reversing part of the process, letting go, offering the fruit of our labor to others after which we can let the leaves of our activity fall away, feeling sap return to our roots and ideally having a period of rest in the soil of the earth...so is the cycle of our lives. where are you in the cycle of life...how does it feel to be there...to what degree can you accept, embrace, and perhaps even enjoy this part of the cycle? if not, what can you do to enhance, cultivate, and enrich your experience of this part of the cycle...choose some small concrete behavior that you can perform in 5-10 minutes to honor your place in the cycle of life today.

STAR FEET 16 hands are joined around the semi-circle their feet from a star 16 feet joined together in a circle create a central 8-pointed star...when we open ourselves to joining others, we may unknowingly create something beautiful, like the 8-pointed star formed by the joining of 16 feet.  Who are 8 people that make up your inner circle, your tribe, your close kin?  What role do these 8 people serve in helping support and guide you in following your personal star, and in following your collective star?  Consider one concrete behavior that you can engage in today that takes 5 minutess or less to: inch closer to your star, and move closer to the star formed by the connection to your inner circle.   

GULLS ORBITING 3 seagulls flying 1 set high and 1 set low orbiting the orbs one set of 3 seagulls are flying high...another set of 3 seagulls are flying low...both are orbiting the orbs...one can look at life from the ground (low) or from the sky (high)....within the high or low set, each gull has a unique perspective of the orbs, the challenges, obstacles, and energies of life. let us look upon the energy balls life sends us from the low ground AND from the high sky perspectives, finding the best path for the next leg of our journey.  

SQUIGGLES squiggles & wiggles from the center they move out searching for contact some feelings seem to start from a specific place in the body (e.g., feet, hands, gut, gonads, heart, chest, head, and/or brain and squiggle-wiggle their way out into visible and auditory forms (e.g., gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice...)...going deeper, perhaps the squiggles-wiggles emerge from the cellular level, perhaps from our dna, or...wherever the magical entry point, squiggles-wiggles make their way into behavior that others perceive, and that impacts them in some way...for better or worse...building up or tearing down... is it possible to grab hold of a squiggle-wiggle in mid-stream and direct its movement for a positive end? perhaps...AND perhaps it is best to simply allow and observe, without judgment as best we can, the course of their movement, letting them run their course, exhaust themselves, or change as we observe or... the practice here is to observe the squiggles-wiggles i...

ORBITS orbits of color shooting out from the center in search of their home fact: we came from somewhere--verified empirically by the fact that we are alive and "here" fact: we are going somewhere--empirically verified by the passage of our lives from day to day, sunrise to sunset, and after our death, empirically verified by the thousands of accounts of near-death experiences, reincarnation accounts, and scientifically validated mediumship communication with those that have died.  practice: meditate on where you believe you came from, what the purpose of your earthly journey is, and where you believe you will go/be when you die? these are important questions that shape the course of our lives...take time to seriously reflect, contemplate, meditate, and respond to them again and again over the life span, as the responses may change over time.

YEARS marking the years past contemplating the years now wondering how far looking back, looking here and now, looking forward...the sweep of a lifetime...so many memories...all the present moment senses, intuitions, and experiences...and the hopeful plans for the future...we live with both hope and uncertainty, not knowing the hour or manner of our death at the end of our lifetime. it behooves us all to examine our lives...to give an account of where we've been, what we've accomplished, especially how much we have loved, to savor the present moment blessings of the day with whomever we are with, and to make hopeful plans for the future to provide for us and our loved ones needs...the sweep of a lifetime. create your own timeline, using whatever symbols seem appropriate, and meditate on where you've been, where you are, and where you would like to travel...give thanks for the human embodiment, make any course corrections where needed to align with your deepest values, and e...

MIND MAPPING start at the center 1 word per squiggly line mind mapping the brain Tony Buzan popularized the term "mind mapping" in the 1970's as a visual tool that uses images and branch like associations to mirror the way the brain works...some of the principles of mind mapping are: start with a central idea in the center of a page, branch out from the center by adding squiggly lines with one word per line preferably in color and with an image. as a practice, sit in meditation and ask yourself, "how is it with you right now?"--mentally place each "thing" in response to this question outside of yourself and keep asking the question until you feel "done"...pick one item to work with, represent it visually as one word on the center of a blank page...branch out from the center with related ideas, each represented by a squiggly line, one word per line, use colors and symbols whenever possible...when the map feels complete, meditate on it with sof...

ROUND & ROUND head at the center circles itself round and round still seeking the end at the center, our head, our intellect, provides meaning, purpose, destination, a path to follow...and then life proceeds to take us in circles, learning lessons with each loop around the center of ourselves...there is no apparent end to this seeking and learning, the process of searching and learning is the meaning and purpose consider your life span from childhood to whatever your current age is...what lessons have you learned thus far, and how can you communicate these lessons to best serve others in your circle of relationships? Each colored circle within the larger circles of the image represents another lesson learned...see if you can create at least 10 meaningful/significant lessons, and make an attempt to communicate at least one lesson with someone using whatever communication channel seems most appropriate.  

FLOATING TRIANGLES floating triangles surrounded by colored dots revealing the face dots create lines that make up triangles, that make up the star in the center of which is a face...our face, their face, nature's face, G's face...all are there hiding at center...distracted by the colorful dots and triangles of life, sometimes it's hard to catch a glimpse of the face at the center, to be aware of the awareness that makes it possible to see the face, to contemplate the face of all faces. how many triangles are in your life... people, issues, challenges, problems, things you need to do, beliefs, habits, titles, roles, beauties, things...STOP the outward gaze and look inward to see your own face in meditation...contemplate the face...see others in your face, nature in your face, the universe in your face, G in your face...

4 SENTINALS the 4 sentinals standing guard around the fire of light, life, and love the 4 directions each have their own sentinal that guards the inner fire...the north sentinal protects the fire from the winds and snow that could snuff out the fire and still let in some air that the fire requires to continue to flame...the southern sentinal allows warmth from the south and protects from fierce heat that might overtake the fire...the east sentinal protects from too many new things, like 100's of seeds wanting to take root, letting in only those that the fire can support with light, life, and love...and the west sentinal protects from the darkness of death, and allowing some needed pruning of plants that grow in the fire's light...for light, life, and love to flourish, they need protection and support. how are you protecting your well-being, guarding your time to nourish your mind, body, and spirit...and how well are you protecting your loved ones so that they may flourish, and ...