Cara Lumen | Sing a Deeper Song

Sing a Deeper Song

Unfolding

Tune Into the Calendar of Nature

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Tune Into the Calendar of Nature
An Inner-World Exploration

What if we had no clocks?  What if we had no calendars? What would our lives feel like? Look like?

There would be a flow. A gradual easing into and easing out of our days, our months, our years. 

Can you imagine being awakened by the first light of a rising sun with no time structure to your day?  How patient it is.  You gradually ease out of sleep and become aware of where you are and what you might choose as the light unfolds. 

And evenings. The darkness would dictate what you could or could not do.  That could be alleviated by a campfire or a full moon, but the darkness of nature would signal the end of your day. 

I wonder if we can recapture that feeling of flow.

Nature simply unfolds

A bud breaks into a flower when it’s ready.  There’s no due date.  An apple ripens on the tree but not all the apples are doing the same thing at the same time.  It’s an individual coming to maturity.  

A gradual growing into maturity, do you allow yourself that?  Are you patient with your own growth?  Are you patient with the unfolding of a pattern, a project, an insight?

Think what happens to your life if you no longer feel the need to control anything! There are no deadlines, just a sense of right timing.  A step planned for a certain day, may be changed because of the weather – too nice to stay indoors, or too wet to go out.  We adjust to the weather, but less so than if we actually lived in nature. 

Farmers plant when the moon suggests by her waxing and waning.  Crops are ready to harvest whenever they are ready to harvest and that depends on what nature has provided. 

There’s no timetable in nature, there’s only unfolding 

When I allow my life to unfold, there’s no deadline.  There’s only steady movement that varies as the natural cycle unfolds.  

No deadlines.  No have-to’s. Only moments of tuning in to feel what needs to be done next, and then choosing to do them, or not.  Listening to your inner voice for guidance.  Observing the signs and signals of nature.  Let the cycles of nature guide your progress.

All change simply unfolds

Your hair grows longer a very slight bit at a time.  One day it’s fine and the next day it falls into your eyes.  An overnight change that has been gradual in the making.  

Take a daily walk and gradually you can walk farther and faster.  

Embrace a change that gradually unfolds.  

You can’t push and shove change into happening

You can only invite change.  You can only observe ongoing change and adjust your movements to its gradual unfolding.  

We change. Others change. Our world changes.  Sometimes the changes are subtle.  Sometimes they are blatant and sudden. But change is an ongoing given.

There are unfolding signs of change in nature.  Small subtle signs.  A little more color in an opening bud.  A new tassel on a corn stalk, a hatchling bird in the nest, a newborn calf.  There’s no timetable for those births, those emergents.  There’s only unfolding, in a natural cycle in a natural timetable.  

What if you let it all go and listened?

Each day I begin with a spiritual practice that can vary.  Each day I sit at my desk and check in to see what nature would ask of me today.  An idea comes up.  I see if it feels aligned.  I do it or I don’t. I allow my inner voice, my inner wisdom to guide me.

Each day I choose one housekeeping task.  But I never decide when to do it.  If I seem to be putting it off, I begin to focus on how good I will feel when the task is complete.  That usually gets me moving.  But I choose one task and the timing is allowed to unfold. 

When an idea pops in, I usually stop what I’m doing and capture the idea.  I may flesh it out by writing the first draft of an article.  I may make a broad outline.  I may simply put the idea in a few sentences to be developed when it’s time.  

When is it time?

It’s time when it’s time.  Just as you go to sleep when your body is ready for sleep and feed it when it is hungry.  We must allow our lives, our projects, our tasks, our decisions to unfold according to nature.  To the aligned timing.  To the moment of choice.  

It opens up our days, this not choosing.  Allowing life to unfold opens up our days….

To Sing a Deeper Song Consider: 

The Power of Being Different 

Live in the Center of Your Being

Discover Your Spiritual Heart

Make Work Your Offering

Are You Sacred Space? 

Do You See and Hear in a Sacred Manner?

The Power of Non-doing

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The Power of Non-doing
An Inner-world Exploration

Practice non-doing,
And everything will fall into place
– Lao Tzu

When we listen, the answer appears. When we wait, the next step unfolds. There’s tremendous power in non-doing, in simply listening and looking and feeling until the message unfolds. 

Non-doing allows for unfolding

When something is in the process of unfolding, all you can do is wait.  You cannot push, archive or cajole, you simply have to give it time to become clearer.

I feel a change coming.  That’s all I’ve got – a feeling.  I get vague images of the direction I may be going but nothing concrete, nothing to even explore.  

I have to wait, do nothing, except be aware of an unfolding process.  And be patient. It will unfold in its own time.

Non-doing allows for contemplation

I can’t even give any thought to possible choices because the choice is not clear yet.  It’s unfolding.  I have nothing concrete to contemplate.  I can only stay in a state of sensitive awareness of the subtle nudges that show up.  I can observe.  And I can contemplate what I observe.  But until there’s a clear message, I do nothing. 

Non-doing gives you time to evolve

It’ll be obvious when whatever is unfolding is not ready to reveal itself yet.  It’s like a wisp of a cloud that has not yet taken shape or is changing shape.  I don’t think this is something totally brand new coming in.  My feeling is that it is an evolution, a next step.  I’ve opened myself up to new possibilities, but I’m too new at those ideas to even understand where they’re taking me, let along where I might end up. 

Non-doing allows everything to fall into place

I may have to learn more.  I may have to experience more.  Perhaps it’s simply not time, I cannot make a choice based upon who I am at this point in my life because I need to change. It’s like a fruit ripening, it simply is not yet time.  The time is not “ripe.”

Although I’m in non-doing mode about this circumstance that’s unfolding, I’m continuing to move forward.  And it’s from these small steps that clarity will eventually appear. 

Be willing to change

My intuition says I’ll have to give up something I’m doing or focusing on now simply because of time. As this new door opens, new insights will appear and I will change.  It’s upon that change that I will build.  It’s not yet time. The change has not happened, it’s in progress. 

Perfect non-doing

There’s nothing I can do.  There’s nothing to do. That’s the point – do nothing.  Be observant.  Be reflective.  Be aware.  Move within, where there are serenity and support from your voice within.  

What’s unfolding for you?  Are you practicing non-doing?

To Sing a Deeper Song Consider:

Are You Sacred Space

Do You See and Hear in a Sacred Manner?

How to Weave the Sacred into the Ordinary

The Power of Being Different

I Row My Boat Alone

Live in Your Center

Use the New Moon As a Clean Slate

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new moon

There’s nothing better than a clean slate.  Perhaps clean sheets.  A clean plate.  A clean kitchen.  Clean clothes. A shower after physical exercise.  The New Moon signals a new beginning, a turning point, both the end and the beginning of a cycle.  You can use it as a catalyst for a fresh start.

The New Moon is a perfect time to begin anew

Since we are made up of over 50 percent water, it makes sense that the moon affects us just as it does the tides.  The first step to using the power of the new moon is to notice how the moon affects you.  You may not have the same response I did.  Notice when you are at your peak and when you are in rest mode.  Plan your life accordingly.

Once I realized that I come to a slow crawl as the moon wanes and that I whip into a full gallop when the moon increases, I began to use that organic timing to support my choices and my actions.

Perhaps you journal your wins during the month along with a date.  Note the difficult places along with the date. Look for a pattern and notice the stages of the moon.  Look for the pattern and use that insight to guide your choices.

Check in with yourself 

On the day of the New Moon, do the introspective work that’ll identify your starting place.

How do I feel right now? Check all levels – mental, physical and emotional.  Be honest with yourself.  This is your barometer, your starting place.

What happened in the last month?  What new insights did you uncover? What friendships did you deepen?  What did you accomplish that felt especially good? These are the gifts you were given over the past month. Offer gratitude for the gifts. These were the lessons you were given.  Give gratitude for the lessons.

What worked and what didn’t work?

The more you can distance yourself and see the patterns you’re drawn to, the more adaptable you become and the more powerful the changes you can make.

As I continue to study shamanism, I find that some types of journeys are more powerful for me than others.  Some of the ways to offer the work are more appealing than others. I get to notice that and pay attention to the work that calls to me on all levels – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

What new idea called to me? How does that align with my overarching place of service?

In shamanism, there’s an inner work transfiguration process of learning to simply radiate light from within and see and feel it moving throughout our world.  It’s very powerful and I’ve added it to my daily spiritual practice.  As I work with it, I begin to get ideas of how I can share it with others.

It may be all inner work, it may be physical-plane work with a small internet group.  It may be one-on-one work. This transfiguration work may be focused on cities and countries or a species or element.  I get to choose.  And I need to keep choosing until I find what fits me – my needs, my time, my gifts.

It’s unfolding. I watch.  I explore. I choose. And I repeat.

Release, Replace, Renew, Acquire

At the time of the New Moon, ask yourself what you need to change.

Release.  You obviously will want to release what’s not working. It could be an action or an attitude.  It could be a demanding friend or a limiting belief or a habit you want to change.  What do you need to release that’s no longer supportive of you or the direction you’re going in?  Take active steps to do this so you have room for what will replace it.

Replace. In my case, I need to replace “little movement” with “more movement.” What will that look like?  When will I do that?
Renew What have I let slide this month?  How do I put them back in?  Or do I want to?  Even though I’d like to do more vLogs, studying shamanism seems to be my priority at the moment, so it’s not yet time to renew those.

Acquire:  The more I learn, the more there is to do. So I have to choose. What’s important to me?  Where do I want to put it in my life?  What does that replace? I’ve immersed myself in the study of shamanism for nine months now.  There’s another nine-month course I can take.  Something is going to be replaced as I learn new things.

The time of the New Moon is a good time to be reflective.  What is new? What do you want to release, replace, renew and acquire?  Make a short list and let things unfold.

Tune in to what shows up in the coming month

We don’t know exactly what’ll show up in the coming month. I’m still at the “trying it on for feel” stage.  I have to leave room to explore the new opportunities that present themselves.

Figure out a gentle measuring stick for what shows up.  How does this feel?  Do I have the time?  Do I have the skills?  Will this be a more impactful way to do my work than what I’m currently doing?

Don’t be in your head too much. Allow your inner voice to guide you in exploring the new opportunities and choices that show up.

Set an overarching goal for the coming month

Perhaps you mind-map an overarching flow for the coming month. Perhaps you brainstorm ideas on your computer.  Check in with your feelings, notice the place you’re in now, and choose three steps that have a beginning, a middle and an end, steps that you’ll recognize as being completed.  Beside the steps, note how you would feel about completing these steps.

Mine, for instance, might be:

1. Continue to let the practice of shamanism unfold and be open to the doors it opens.

2. Consciously add more physical movement and more time in nature to each and every day.  Congratulate myself when I do.

3. Be open to making another one-on-one connection with a fellow light worker online.

4. Make room/time to explore whatever shows up and calls to me.

Make the objective broad rather than specific.  Then let it unfold…

Build a ceremony around your choices and set new intentions around the New Moon

This introspective work is a major part of your preparation for the New Moon.  You can ritualize it and seal your commitment if you create a Ceremony of Intention.  As it’s dark at the New Moon, you can’t go outside and make a promise to a big moon but you can light a candle or sing a song or drum or rattle or dance.  Or simply sit quietly in focused meditation. Do whatever calls to you that helps you set an intention for the month to come.

Prepare the space:

  • Give gratitude for the gifts you’ve been given
  • Set your intention for the coming months
  • Ask for insights and guidance.  Then stay silent and listen. These nudges and ah-ha’s can show up at any time.
  • Seal your intention with a promise to nurture your intention for the next 30 days.

You could do intentional ceremonies at the Full Moon too.

Add a Moon Progress Process to Your life. 

I have included a Deeper Song Process for Moon Evaluation and Intention-Setting. As I happen to love to journal, I put it at the beginning of each month so I can track, evaluate and shift.

If this seems like too much, simply circle the good days on your calendar and at the end of a moon cycle see where the high points were clustered.  Then use that knowledge to become more productive.

The New Moon gives you a fresh start, a clean slate.  What will you write on this coming month?

Deeper Song Process

Moon Evaluation and Intention Setting

What worked this month? Add dates and its place in the cycle of the moon

What didn’t work this month? Add dates and its place in the cycle of the moon

What new idea called to me? Add dates and its place in the cycle of the moon

Notice and record the pattern.  When is your most productive period? Work that knowledge into your schedule. 

What do I need to:

  • Release
  • Replace
  • Renew
  • Acquire (Learn)
  • What belief or expectation that I hold now do I want to change?

My overarching focus for this next moon cycle is:

Another quick way is to simply circle the good days on your calendar and then look back over the pattern.  

To Sing a Deeper Song Consider:

No Timetable, No Destination

Our Work in the World

How to Hold the Space for the New Vision to Emerge

The Unfolding Vision Board

Magic is Simply  a Change in Consciousness

No Timetable, No Destination 

By

boat sail 2

“If you don’t have a timetable, you can’t be late.
If you don’t have a destination, you can’t be lost.”

-Conrad Stafford Johan, nature photographer, PBS Nature Channel

No Timetable

Think about that. No timetable.  Just the organic flow of your day.  Stop to look out the window at the clouds when you feel like it. Go for a walk and keep going until you are content.  Only do work you love.  How glorious to be able to simply tune into whatever you feel like doing and do that.

No Destination

Life is simply going to unfold, whether you plan on that or not. So you don’t really know where you’re going to end up because you haven’t made the choices along the way to get you there.  What if an unexpected detour takes you somewhere spectacular your never expected?  Be open to exploring detours.

Without a destination, you can simply immerse yourself in and enjoy the now, this moment, this second.

When was the last time you simply floated through a day?

Floated.  No plans.  Nap when you want to. Eat when you’re hungry.  Be alone or not.  Choices.  Choices that are aligned with what you truly want.  Do you have that kind of freedom in your life? Do you remember the last time you did?

Find your own rhythm

I’m lucky. I’m retired and can pretty much do what I want when I want.  My opportunity then becomes how to get the most out of each moment.  Not with a strain or effort, but with consciousness, an awareness of what my body wants, what my mind wants, what my soul wants.  You have to listen within to get those messages.

Stop and breathe

Stop what you’re doing right now and take a deep breath.  Let it move through your whole body, relaxing and releasing as it goes.  Notice how that feels.  Take another breath and let go of even more.  Again, go within and listen to what calls to you, what you want.

You can do this anytime, anywhere and it’ll help you be more aware in the moment about what’s happening, and what you need.  Pretty simple, right?

Listen

I get great advice from my inner voice.  Sometimes it shouts at me; sometimes it whispers.  But it always gives me great advice.

Listen beyond the words of those people with whom you speak.  What are they not saying?  What does their body language tell you?

Listen to the rhythm of nature, the unfolding cycles, the constant give and take of support.  Copy that.  Learn to ebb and flow, give and take, to simply let your life unfold.

No destination, no timetable. Just the magical flow of life!!!!!

To Sing a Deeper Song Consider:

Your Breath is a Doorway to Higher Consciousness

Heal Your Past, Present, and Future

Embrace The Power of Your Inner Life

The Language of the Stubble Realms

How to Effortlessly Radiate Light

The Power of Persistence 

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peristance

Persistence is an awesome quality. Putting one foot in front of the other eventually gets you there. Taking yet another tutorial in order to understand a new process takes persistence. Where are you persistent in your life and where does it lead you?

Persistence begins with purpose

I wanted to put one of my books up on iBooks. It involved several steps and a couple of new software programs. I was familiar with e-publishing concepts because I had put books on Amazon, but the steps for iBooks were slightly different. But I really, really, wanted to get the book up.

When you’re clear about what you want to accomplish and the value it’ll have in your work and in the world, you’ll be propelled forward by the simple power of your purpose.

Perseverance asks for tenacity

I worked at this publishing process over the course of several days. I had to redo a few lengthy steps because I’d chosen the wrong template. I had to repeat steps because I’d forgotten how to use the software. But as the goal, the end result, was foremost in my mind, I kept learning and studying and making steady progress.

I realized that I often put off some things because I have a fear that I will have to push my way though something technical. It often turns out to be a valid expectation, but the more I explore, the more I learn, the more I master, the easier it all becomes. Tenacity eventually creates ease of doing.

Persistence asks for patience

Things went really well in iTunes Producer because the directions are very clear but I got in trouble at what I thought was the “submit your manuscript” screen. If there was a “submit” button, I couldn’t see it. I thought it may have been because there was a row of icons at the bottom of my screen that were probably hiding the “submit”  button or the “next” button. I knew there was a way to hide the icons in Settings but I couldn’t find it. All I really wanted to do was complete what I was doing and submit my book. The reason I couldn’t find the solution was because I didn’t remember that the row of icons was called a “dock”.  The entire iPublisher program froze up and I had to force quit. So close and yet so far. I was very frustrated.

My next step was to look at a tutorial on hiding the dock, which would have fixed the problem. But I waited until the next day to publish. I hid the dock, recovered the work I had done the day before and sure enough, the “submit” button was in clear view. I did it!

On my first try, I did not get the job done. I did not complete what I set out to do and that was discouraging. But I observed my dogged persistence and was impressed by my perseverance, my willingness to figure out the next step, and the number of tutorials I read to figure out this process. I admired my own steady persistence.

Persistence requires you to be patient – with yourself and with the process.

Persistence requires determination

What do you really want?  What are you willing to work for?  When will you set aside time to make it happen?

My big takeaway from this several-day-long immersion in the publishing process was that I can do it. I can figure it out. I can make it happen. In fact, with determination I can make a great many important things happen.

Take small steps and celebrate!

Moving though a process is like walking on a trail. There are plateaus and there are hills. There may even be a few detours.

You pause to catch your breath where you need to and then you move on. Perhaps you encourage yourself by looking back to see how far you have come. Then turn forward and put one foot in front of the other until you reach your chosen destination.

You can do it!

The power of ownership!

There was a huge sense of ownership when I put the second book up on iBooks. It was easy, the steps were clear and I knew what I was doing. I felt a bit proud of my persistence and very proud of my accomplishment.

My big takeaway was that, given time, I can figure it out and make stuff happen. I learned that my knowledge builds with each experience, so the steps become easier. But most of all, I just watched as I cleared out a chunk of time to immerse myself in the process and stay with it until it happened.

Now that was rewarding.

Where have you shown persistence?  What did you keep working on until you figured it out?  Acknowledge that in yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back and know that with patience and perseverance you can accomplish anything you set out to do.

To Sing a Deeper Song Consider

The Resilient Entrepreneur

The Three-Year Promise

Abracadabra! I Will Create As I Speak

Why We Are Afraid of Change

How to Pull Forth Your Strength From Within

05-Do You Have the Courage to Stand Alone