Completions and Giveaways
Completions and Giveaways
October 4, 2011
I am ever on the watch for cycles. Whenever I bring my attention to cycles, no matter what kind, I also track myself. Now that I am a senior woman, I am no longer tuned into the cycles that marked my life when I was younger. Now I visit with the moon each night before bed and in doing so I not only connect to the waxing and waning cycles of Mother Moon, I also connect to my own inner and outer rhythms and forms.
Last week I was acutely aware of celebrating the completion of an intense two-year cycle. My two book launchings of Awaken Your All –Knowing Heart served as the catalyst. I staged my two Book Giveaways at Scarborough Library in Scarborough, Maine and Sadhana Meditation center in South Portland, Maine to thank the librarians and the staff at Sadhana for the loving kindness they extended to me as I labored and gave birth to Awaken. The librarians asked about my progress, ordered books they thought might assist me and referred to me as “the resident writer.” The staff at Sadhana offered me hugs, tea, silence, and a clear space to meditate. Before I shipped my manuscript to the publishers, I carried the manuscript back to both places and thanked people for their support and inspiration.
Celebrations are an important part of any cycle. Community support is an important public ritual for me. I was excited as I greeted people at the door. My energy expanded as I read stories from my book and people laughed and cried in all the right places.
Love led and I followed and invited everyone to join in experiencing the presence of love. I invited everyone to commit to love as a way of expanding consciousness as well as the path to creativity, intuition, spirituality, and healing. I also tithed money to demonstrate my appreciation and belief in abundance and donated a soul reading.
A completion demands reflection. I pause and write about what I have learned.
I leaned how much I enjoy playing with words—massaging them, stringing them together, and inventing new ones.
I learned how hard I push myself when I have made a commitment to create something new.
I learned how I use discipline and lose out on inspiration sometimes and I plan to be more aware of inspiration and trust. I know lots about self-discipline.
I learned how writing permeates every aspect of my life when I am in the midst of a creative project. Words and ideas invade my dreams, my conversations, my swimming, my reading and even my harvesting my garden. I am not safe from being struck by writing—in the shower, on a walk, star gazing, or meditating.
I learned how delighted I am when I celebrate with people.
Next, I invite a name to commemorate this cycle. The word “Immersion” instantly fills my consciousness. I add a date to this cycle and declare it complete.
As an unexpected bonus I discovered I had completed another cycle when I returned to my familiar swimming pool in South Portland, Maine this weekend. About the time I began to work on Awaken, I committed to swim three or four days a week. The Olympic pool is divided in half between lap swimmers and leisurely swimmers. On Friday, I took a risk and dove into the lap swimmers section, trusting that I had built up my stamina and speed in the year I had continued to swim at a local pool near Hermon, Maine. I reveled in my ability to swim the laps effortlessly. When I emerged the lifeguard gave me a high five and I danced a wet jig.
Another completion and another celebration. I wonder what new beginnings await my awareness!