  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Sophy  
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Just being awake, alert, attentive is no easy matter. I think it is the greatest spiritual challenge that we face. ~ Diana Eck
Hi, I'm Sophy ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. This week we'll talk about the spirituality mindfulness and paying attention.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book "Finding Your Religion," compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Paying Attention
"Attention is also known as mindfulness, awareness, concentration, recollection. It is a primary practice, and not just alphabetically. We must stay alert or we risk missing critical elements of the spiritual life — moments of grace, opportunities for gratitude, evidence of our connections to others, signs of the presence of Spirit. The good news is that attention can be practiced anywhere, anytime, in the daily rounds of our lives. Begin by doing one thing at a time. Keep your mind focused on whatever you happen to be doing at the moment. It is through the mundane and the familiar that we discover a world of ceaseless wonders. Train yourself to notice details."
This quote comes from the Spirituality and Practice website (http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/) -- which is a spin-off from the book:
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Amazon's Price: $ 21.99
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In this wonderful book an "Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy" is shared -- from Attention to Zeal -- that the authors consider the hallmarks of a healthy spiritual life. In coming issues of the Spiritual Newsletter that I edit, I will be occasionally sharing some of the practices from the "Alphabet" and how they might relate to our writing as well as our spirituality.
A is for Attention -- the first letter and spiritual practice in the alphabet, and a great place to start. I don't know about you, but I tend to struggle with living in the moment, in the now. Instead I worry about things from the past and what may be coming in the future, and spend little time focusing my attention on the present moment. But when I work on being mindful, on paying attention in the moment, my spiritual life is richer for focusing on the now rather than the past or future. Which in return opens up a whole new world right in front of my eyes, nourishing my creative juices in ways I could not imagine.
There are many writing exercises or prompts that use the practice of mindfulness and paying attention, which enhance both our spiritual health and our writing muse. Once at a poetry workshop I was invited to clear my mind and pay attention to my surroundings as I took a walk, in particular focusing on one aspect of something I noticed while walking. So as I cleared my head and strode down a dirt path, I noticed the clear imprint of my sandal in the soft dirt behind me as I moved forward. And as I paid attention to that one thing during my walk, I wrote this poem:
"The Edge of the Road"
I prefer to walk
along the edge
of the unpaved road
leaving the clear imprint
of my Tevas
in the soft dirt
showing where I’ve been.
My poem is similar (though not as good, lol) to a poem by William Carlos Williams, many of whose poems were written about "now" moments:
This Is Just to Say
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
Speaking of the poet and doctor William Carlos Williams, it is said that he used to carry a notebook around with him every day in which he listed "Things I noticed today that I've missed until today." Perhaps you could try this practice for a week -- so that every morning you remind yourself that during the day you are going to notice something new or see a familiar sight in a new way. Then write about it -- a story or poem or a journal entry. See how it impacts your spiritual journey as well as your writing, which are so intimately connected.
Another exercise invites you to write a description of something or someone in the room with you as a journal entry: the objects on your desk, an unopened piece of mail, a sleeping dog at your feet, an overflowing trashcan, an open window. The key is not to focus on how well your write -- rather on as how well you observe and record vivid details about the one specific object. That journal entry can then be a key to your soul in that moment, and/or a jumping off point for a piece of creative writing.
If you come up with a piece of writing related to the spiritual practice of "Attention," please let me know so I can share it in the next newsletter I edit in May. In the meantime, PAY ATTENTION, live in the moment, and write on!  |
Below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members about mindfulness and paying attention. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
| |  | A Moment In Life (E)
I love mindfulness. It can turn even the mundane into something beautiful. ~ ruwth
#1524279 by ruwth  |
| | | Engaging Life (13+)
A flower is not simply a flower...but also the conditions that make it possible to be one
#1136198 by Janelle  |
A couple from "The Writer's Cramp - Poetry Week" about paying attention to something:
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And finally, several of the poems in this journal focus on an object, or describe something in the moment ...
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Now for a few comments about my last newsletter about forgiveness:
From From Light 
Forgiveness is Divine. But, do you feel that religion is a must to climb that mountain to God? Many New Age thinkers don't think so. My flash story, A Man and a Guru, is about a man's search for answers. It does speak of God, but of religion.
No I don't think religion is a must to climb the mountain to God, not at all. I believe we are innately spiritual and follow our path with or without religion -- sometimes we do better without it, frankly, lol. Thanks for sharing your item.
     
From Katya the Poet 
Thanks for this amazing story of forgiveness, and for planting compassion deep in my heart.
You are most welcome!
From justme
Just thought I would share this as forgivness begins with understanding we can not judge.I have to say I never knew there was so much to writing a poem. I always thought they just came to you and that was that. I lived by Robert Frosts' house on lake Mich so it brought back memories of my childhood. I sent something I wrote one morning..I have revised it some but this was the first thing that came to mind and that was that...smile
Thanks for sharing your poem, and yes, forgiveness does begin with our not being judgmental of others. Or even of ourselves sometimes.
From Quick-Quill 
I had fought this the lesson of forgiveness, which leads to bitterness, for years until I learned the power in giving the hurt to God. Right away I was hit with a slight by the same person. Again I was on my knees crying my hurt to God knowing that just a hour or so later I would be sitting across the table from her. What peace I felt. When I slid across the bench at the restaurant and looked at the person who had been causing my pain, there was no hurt, no animosity, only love. We are good friends now and I understand her better. From that early beginning over 30 years have passed, and many more hurtful things have come my way. I know the minute I place all those hurts and slights in God's hands, I can forgive and feel love. Yes, I am pricked with, "There she is, look what she did to you and what she said." I can fight back with, "But I forgave her and God will take care if it." That is Power and once it is experieced, you never want to go back to living without it.
Thank you so much for sharing this personal experience with us. Very powerful, and so true.
From Steve adding writing to ntbk.
Oh my, you are right in my ball park. I am going to go through this with a fine tooth comb. I am including a memorial that I wrote for a fellow WDC writer who lost her life in January to Leukemia.
This is a slow process for me. I've reviewed most but have to stop and pick up again tomorrow. You have touched a nerve that is helping me heal more for you see I still have un-forgiveness and I know it is hampering my healing and well being.
Pray I will be able to release this soon.
You have impacted a life
Within me there is much strife.
These picks on the subject of forgiveness
Provide food for thought, in fact they give impetus.
I've read them all
The introduction, the middle, they all stand tall.
Full of insight, ideals, and character
That if we read with the heart cannot help but change us from within to without.
The link I leave is 1 of 3 dealing with the loss of JudyB a writer here in the WDC who passed away on 1/31 after a battle with Leukemia.
She too had an impact in this place and in the world in which she lived.
Thank you.
copenator out!
Copenator out!
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#1652478 by Not Available. |
Thanks for sharing about this difficult subject, and I do hope things get easier in the forgiveness arena.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated!
Until next time! Sophy |
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Spiritual: April 07, 2010 Issue [#3656]
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