Cloud Atlas Mixed media original on paper 9×12 ins ©LE Art & Design
“Flow with whatever is happening and let your mind be free. Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.” ~ Chuang Tzu
Wonderful warm April greetings to you! The big theme right now in my life, what is inspiring me, and where I am being drawn into is all about what is known as “the flow“. The flow of life, the flow of love, the flow of the dynamic present moment… It’s easy for us to think of the “now” as a static moment, however, as a wise friend recently reminded me, the present moment is one of our paradoxes! The “now” is an ever-changing, fluid, dynamic awareness… in other words, the flow. Feeling into the flow, the present moment and dropping down into that golden, quiet, still place within where eventually time, space and form dissolve is where the nectar resides. This very personal practice has enveloped my daily life and for this I am grateful, truly humbled… It’s a deep sea dive into the lushness of Self.
And, so my days now look a little bit like this: The day opens with the first moments of awakened consciousness, taking in some deep breaths, I relish and nourish in this still, silent, fertile place within…tapping in, diving deep into my inner world whilst still lying in bed. As the flow moves me, I move my body slowly from the bed into the various morning rituals in a pace that feels good…. Each activity throughout my day seems to lead to the next with a new sense of grace, joy, ease and gentleness that I am finding to be most comfy and ssllloooowww. It’s wonderful!
I am really loving my pace of slow in the flow and if you have noticed, there is a “slow movement” in effect from slow food, to slow money, to slow sex, it seems “slow” is what’s trending now in American culture! Hopefully, it’s not just a passing fad or a fleeting counterpoint to our “fast food nation” so to speak, that has been the norm of US culture and exports for decades now. My hope is that slow merges and slows down everything and everyone on a grand scale, breath by breath, thought by thought, action by action, person by person, day by day… One of my teachers told me all that I must do is breathe, simply be breathed, that’s it. All of the rest will take care of itself. And, then another one of my teachers echoed the same, live each moment breath by breath. Hmmmm I think that I am finally getting the message! So simple, yet our ego mind loves to complicate things! ha ha ha 🙂
My inspiration to slow down into the flow has been an inside job, I assure you and has organically be born out of my own inner response to the self-imposed career and lifestyle change that began June 2012. Now, that I am coming up soon on the year cycle, I have noticed that I am slowing down even more, stepping off of the merry-go-round, and loving the languid life that I am leading… The beauty of all of this is that I feel as “productive” as ever and yet more satisfied, fulfilled from within through a practice of listening in and respecting my own flow and tuning in as best I can to the larger life flow that we are all moving within. Remaining true to Self and this pace whilst keeping my word to worldly time and space based commitments can be a challenge when everyone around is zipping around so quickly! I have even started driving the speed limit (which is considered slow it seems) and get all sorts of looks and honks… it’s okay by me.
So to close, I invite you to experiment with your own version of slowing down and going with your flow, inwards and outwards, the flow that feels true and yummy to you!
I look forward to your comments and questions … would love to hear from you via this blog, FB, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.
In love, gratitude, and beauty,
Recommended Resources
I love this singer/songwriter/entertainer/mystic!
Steve is living the dream! Living his “gift” and sharing it with our world! So inspiring! I had the chance to see him live in April and was moved beyond….
I stumbled upon this blog and love it! Leo Baubuta is awesome! Check this out-all of his work is uncopyrighted and he writes on many of my fave topics!
(this is where these great quotes came from too!)
“Smile, breathe and go slowly.”~Thich Nhat Hanh
An Invitation to Inspiration 