“There is a light in you which cannot die; whose presence is so holy that the world is sanctified because of you. All things that live bring gifts to you, and offer them in gratitude and gladness at your feet. The scent of flowers is their gift to you. The waves bow down before you, and the trees extend their arms to shield you from the heat, and lay their leaves before you on the ground that you may walk in softness, while the wind sinks to a whisper round your holy head.” ~ ACIM

A light so precious… yet obscure from our awareness by years of binding words in layer upon layer. Words that echo in judgement and criticize with an underlying message of “ you are not worthy.” How hard we work to prove otherwise, but to whom? One day we realize that no matter what we do or how much we try to accomplish it will never be enough. For at our core we know that it is not about the doing but rather our being.

A presence so Holy… what is it that we truly long for when we are hurting, lonely or afraid? The greatest gift another person can offer is their full presence. This past week a theme surfaced on the Journal; mainly that relationships are first cultivated with oneself.

If at times you find yourself overwhelmed by difficult feelings there are four simple steps in mindfulness practice that Michele Mc Donald coined as RAIN and which, Tara Brach has expanded on to include intentional kindness and compassion.  

Recognize what is going on; name it. What is happening in me right now?  Acknowledge how your thoughts, feelings or behaviors are affecting you. 

Allow the experience just as it is, notice instead of resisting or trying to escape from any unpleasant feeling. What is the felt sense? Pause in this safe and sacred space. Can I be with this? What does this part of me need?

Investigate with gentleness; be curious with an intimate intention of loving kindness. What am I believing about myself? Avoid judgment or trying to fix. Stay with the sensations in your body. You may wish to place your hand on your heart to soften with compassion and offer a kind word.

Natural awareness; do nothing. You are no longer stuck in the narrow ego identification of self.  Receive the gift that a gentle rain from heaven is providing to you. Simply rest, in a quality of presence that is open and caring, awake and tender. Rest in the blessing Light of your being. Breathe in Love and exhale fear or whatever may be keeping you from living your most beautiful life.

A softness so gentle… As with Erie Chapman's instructive wisdom offered this week, Tara Brach affirms, “In order to flower, self-compassion depends on honest, direct contact with our own vulnerability. Compassion fully blossoms when we actively offer care to ourselves.” Brach views this mindfulness practice as a helpful way to cultivate a more loving relationship with oneself and ultimately the people in our lives.

God whispers…Cultivating a relationship with oneself is not an event but a way of living and a lifelong practice. As we accept the gift of Light within us, we can in turn, offer it to others.

 “All things that live bring gifts to you, and offer them in gratitude and gladness.” ~ACIM

Contributed by Liz Sorensen Wessel

Photo by Robin: Kalibos cabbage grown in the garden of my friend Robin Ragle-Davis
Photo by ~liz of my loving grandson, Cyrus Wessel 
RAIN: If you would like to learn more go to tarabrach.com