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Renee CK

writer, editor, tweetable http://twitter.com/chicskirt

I'm a fun girl who's on a quest to figure it all out. I'm cynical but living the dream- I'm not sure how that happened exactly. Follow along in my blog for fun, mayhem, and merriment. There's never a dull day! (Or, go download my book!)...

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Fall Meditations

be still

I have always been a spiritual person.  I know from whence I came.  How, exactly, I got here, what will happen when I go, the “right” way to God, I don’t pretend to know enough about God to be able to answer.  I was raised “Catholic light”, a.k.a United Methodist.  The church’s open doctrines made it possible for me to learn about God while questioning everything else.  One of my Bible study teachers, we call him Rabbi Rufus, summed it up best- love God and do what you please.  (Because if you love God, you’ll do that which pleases him.) 

I have had a close connection with the earth since my high school days.  I was recycling before it was cool, did my part to reduce the thinning of the ozone, and even studied envivornmental science for a semester in college.  The earth is God’s creation and should be respected.  Somewhere in college I remember seeing a flier for the Pagan group on campus. I had been taught that Pagans equal witches and wizardry, evil and human sacrifices.  At the time I stayed far away.  When I moved to Atlanta, I had a close friend who was Pagan and explained to me that it is not darkness and blood lust, but an earth based practice.  That was great and I was accepting of it, but it was not for me.  Through the years we’ve come to meet more earth loving friends who’ve shown us how reverence for the earth through Pagan and other practices are their chosen way of honoring God and the Goddess Earth. 

Through the year, I’ve let go of that which I know because it’s been taught to me, sung by me, and ritualized into my life. At the same time I’ve started learning about practices of other religions and learning more about those which ring true in my spirit.  My friend describes it best as Cafeteria Spiritual- you take a little of this and a slice of that to make your meal.

In a quest for knowledge, I have invited those on “other” paths, friends who are not so tied to their religion that they’d be uncomfortable talking about different ways of worship over on several occassions. Last month the gathering was dubbed Metaphysical Spa Night and deemed a monthly occurrence.  It works out because the Pagan wheel of the year has 8 “turnings” so we are able to talk about each season as it comes to us.  Today is Mabon, the autumn equinox.  The harvest is in and we go about the job of finishing all that is to be done for the time when the fields are bare and the days are short.  It is a time of ending and reflection. As such, we talked about meditation at Metaphysical Spa Night Saturday.

I’ll admit that part of the reason I was so anxious to talk about meditation is because I need to make time for it.  Someone said the nice thing about meditation is that there is no wrong way for it to be done. I quickly corrected them by pointing out that the reason I don’t do it more often is because if I sit and am quiet for more than 10 seconds, my kids think it’s because no one is talking to me so they will plop in my lap and fight over who is going to tell me their story. (This contest is usually won by the person who can speak the loudest.)  Again, I’m no expert, but I’m certain that’s the wrong way to clear your mind. 

My friend Nathan told us that one of his favorite meditations is Be still and know that I am God.  You begin by focusing on that phrase.  Then you move to Be still and know that I am.  Then you mediatate on Be still and know.  Once you have pondered that, you go to Be still. And finally you meditate on Be.  How wonderful and powerful is that?  I did it this morning at sunrise (easy to do when your children get on the bus at the crack of dawn) and had some great thoughts.

In this time of clearing, what is there to be done in your life?  Are you holding on to anything that is long since withered?  Is there something you need to pluck before it begins to rot?  Mabon is the end of the Pagan year.  Over the past year, what have you seen come to fruition?  What seeds have you planted that you would like to see bear fruit in the new year?  A light shines brightest in the darkness.  As darkness begins to overtake the light, is your light as bright as it could be?  Be still and know.

Enjoy!
Renee