Writing, Walking, Silence, Listen, Awaken
I am re-reading the Natalie Goldberg book called, The True Secret Of Writing: Connecting Life With Language. She holds silent meditation retreats where the participants meditate, do walking meditation and writing practice. The only time they speak is when they read what they’ve written to each other, at which time the act of listening is fostered with great awareness.
Natalie Goldberg suggests that we practice in this way during the course of a given day. Meditate, walk, write. Awaken. Anchor awareness with each simple conscious breath.
Practice silence. In reality, no one will notice because we live in a chatty culture. We can practice listening, breathing, smiling instead of talking. We can put pen to paper and write about our reflections as they weave in and out of the focused intention to live as if everything matters, even in the greater scheme of things.
Living life with a three-pronged practice, meditation/prayer, walking, and writing and also practicing the beauty that we are enough in the here and now, helps to reign in the fear of death. The impermanence of life is always with us. Even this breath will end as a new one begins.
And when the breathing ceases to be, we drop the body.
For now, I have gratitude for this act of breathing, the words as they form upon the page, the sounds of a laboring patient in the next room.
It’s been 24 hours since the 26th anniversary of my mothers death. It rose up and it fell away.
I am writing, again, throughout the day. This is the energy I needed to integrate my spiritual practice.
Life plays tricks on us. My lifeline is back.
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Kate’s Prayer Prescription Series, her PRAYER Podcast and radio show has as its mission and foundation, the intent to relieve suffering through the spiritual practice and the remedies brought about through the healing power of Prayer, Love and Compassion.
Give Money Away
The Secret Dollar Man joined Joan Adams and I way back 6 years ago. on Moon, Moo and You: The Collective Wisdom.
The Secret Dollar Man is Todd Silva, although I am not sure if he is still doing this wonderful act of generosity every day. I really enjoyed this show. Todd Silva is a gentle and kind man.
I hope you enjoy listening!!
Capturing The Essence
Last night, I took Pearlie for a walk at dusk. We saw a doe with her fawn. A beautiful shooting star highlighted this simple natural experience.
Tonight, the night sky will offer new and miraculous shows for our physical and spiritual joys.
Walking out under the night sky with or without our dog expands vision and memory of all the times we felt small compared to the awesome externality of the galaxy.
Who are we and who made all of this?
Will we become a star when we pass from this life to the next?
Is there a different explanation we haven’t thought of?
I remember when I was a child looking at the stars with my father, an astronomy enthusiast. He taught me the name of all the constellations in the Pennsylvania sky. Each season revealed and still reveals a new set of seasonal stars.
My mother, meanwhile, studied astrology while we identified the signs across the ecliptic, where the astrological constellations reside.
Children are aware of this awesome expanse reflected in the sky and in the soul.
As we age, we may become less sensitized to all that is possible. Our enthusiasm for such things is replaced by the truth: we are facing our mortality, with or without a life threatening diagnosis.
In the words of Dylan Thomas:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
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So I think that death somehow boils down to Love. I am not sure how, but all the great sages tell us so. As long as we align our gaze to the vertical line we all have to our Divine Creator, the Stars give way to a light unequaled in this or any other life time.
Kate’s Prayer Prescription Series, her podcast, and her mission has, at its foundation, the intent to relieve suffering through the spiritual practice and the remedies brought about through the healing power of Prayer, Love and Compassion.
Please consider coming and actually come to our Meditation Workshop!
Inspired Living-Podcast 230
Today, we reflect upon our lives. Reflecting like this helps us to begin anew with a happiness that can never be gotten by rushing, speeding or mindlessly talking. It also fosters an inspired view of life. It creates an open channel to our Divine Creative Intelligence.
So slow down today and take a few naps with your snoring dog and purring cat.
Then make sure you walk your dog after the nap times.
What you discover is between you and your beloved companion animal. It is a secret you keep together as bonding grows strong between both of you.
Have you ever experienced star gazing with your dog and cat? Do that, too.
Life is too precious not to.
Dog is God spelled backwards. That is not a coincidence.
Your Spiritual Path–Podcast 227
What is your spiritual path? We have one whether we are focused on it or not. Spirituality is our heritage and links us to immortality.
I am doing ACIM, (A Course In Miracles) I figure for the 10th or 11th time, but this time seems to be much different than all the others. First of all, it’s been years since I’ve done it. Secondly, I am taking it much more seriously than ever before.
I started a meditation practice, and I am meditating three times a day. I realize I was suffering from acute anxiety.
The question is, how could I not? We are poised on the brink of human extinction brought about by loveless perception, greed and corruption.
How could I not? How could you not?
That’s what today’s podcast is all about.
Tao Meditation- Podcast 226
Tao Meditation- Podcast 226
I just did an hour long meditation on The Tao. Wayne Dyer has an iPhone app where he goes through all 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching with a chant after each verse. This particular meditation sends me into a deep subconscious state where I receive the teachings on an almost subatomic particle reality.
Little Gidding
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started,
And know the place for the first time.
T. S. Eliot
My prayer prescription today?
Get this app!!
Soar With Spirit-Podcast 225
I just heard an awesome spiritual insight: ground yourself in the spiritual and soar in the physical world.
I have heard all of my life that I must ground myself in the physical when I had become too spacey.
Now I see it differently.
That’s with the short podcast today is all about.
Life Is Love- Podcast 224
Your dreams can only be expressed through creative communication. Seen in this way, cheerfulness, grace and joy, are the best ways for you to impart your genius upon the world.
One of the ways to pinpoint where your mind and heart resides is to recognize the symptoms of resisting Life.
My guiding star, and you all probably have another one, is the presence of impatience, resulting in judgment, lack of compassion and mindless hurry.
We have 100% control and responsibility over where we choose to focus our mind. Is it going to be Love or Fear, today?
Resisting “what is” is wrought with knee jerk reactions and loveless perception, and therefore never brings me or anyone else happiness.
Letting Go/Letting God synchronizes with healing breath and breathing, with radiant peaceful love. As we consciously choose this reality, and make this way of thinking a habit, the more we see that our entire essence is nothing more or less than Love.
That’s why I now meditate at least three times a day. Stress is released, I am relaxed, and I am in a transcendent state of Loving grace.
That’s what today’s podcast is about.
Mind Control-Podcast 222
Prayer practice and every other other spiritual practice, propels you into a higher vibrational field. Consequently, you become less in a state of denial about where you need to be in this world today. You are better able to own up to what it is you are here to do in this world.
Denial no longer is an option.
If you’re being bullied or abused, you can see it immediately for what it is. If there are alcoholics in your life, codependency is no longer an option.
I have been a nurse for 30 years. The problem with the nursing profession is what I call unconscious, unquestioned codependency.
Because I intend to continue practicing nursing, I will call it whenever I see it.
What are the unquestioned conditions that surround you today?
The deeper you get into a prayer practice, it’ll be easier to just walk away.
Oneness Through Love- Podcast 219
My husband Tom and I are teaching a meditation workshop August 22 and 23 called Opening To Oneness Through Love.
Where: Unitarian Church of Lancaster 538 West Chestnut Street Lancaster, PA
When: Saturday, August 22, from 8:30 to 4:30
Sunday, August 23, from 1:00 to 5:30
Cost: A donation will be collected at the conclusion of the workshop
This workshop is based on the Who Am I Process, a technique based upon the teachings of the Indian Sage, Ramana Maharshi, and further developed by Leonard Laskow, MD. The mission is to experience the Unmanifest Realm, or the Loving Field, by taming the intellectual Process.
Admission is by reservation only, space is limited. Contact Kate Loving Shenk 717-299-9887, by August 19.
Please specify your preference of a chair or meditation cushion. Chairs will be provided, bring your own cushion, if you have one. Jen Carter will have cushions there for sale.
A brown bag lunch is suggested for Saturday. This will allow us to go deeper into the exercise, without regrounding from a time out for lunch.
This workshop is being taught by Tom Harner, and Kate Loving Shenk RN BSN, both members of the congregation. You do not have to be a member to take the workshop. No previous experience, is necessary, but we ask you to come with an open mind.
Tom is a Certified Holoenergetics Practitioner. In addition to his studies with Leonard Laskow, he has studied Meditation with Tulku Thondop Rinpoche, and Sufi Gazing with Will Johnson.
Kate Loving Shenk RN BSN is a full time nurse for over three decades as well as a podcaster, blogger, radio show host and published author.
Prayer Prescriptions For Nurse Healers
(The Prayer Prescription Series)
365 Prayer Prescriptions For Dog And Cat Lovers
(The Prayer Prescription Series)
