Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Standing On Holy Ground

Earlier this month, I returned from a retreat in Sedona, Az. One afternoon three of us hiked these beautiful red rocks to reach the top of this mountain. We were anxious to experience the energy at the site of the Boynton Vortex.


Apparently the energy at the site strengthens the yin/yang or masculine/feminine balance. There were many pyramids of rocks piled at the point of greatest energy. Although I felt a great sense of energy from being there, I also know that I have an energy that is readily available to me in those moments when I recognize I am always standing on holy ground.

I've been pondering the question "who would I be if I actually felt the sense of freedom that would come if I could more often remember I am always standing on holy ground"?

I know this experience is available and it takes a fierce kind of attention to recognize the fullness of these moments. I have them.....and oh.....how I wish they were more than just moments.

I "wake up" when I climb to a beautiful vortex site or when my 5 year old granddaughter says, when I've just told her she can spend the night, "Oh Grammy, I could just cry tears of joy".

And.....I "wake up" when I've just read one of Mary Oliver's lovely poems.

As you read the following verse from one of my favorites, think about how much fierce attention you'd have to have in order to notice this:

"This afternoon a gull sailing over

our house was casually scratching

its stomach of white feathers with one

pink foot as it flew.

Oh Lord, how shining and festive is your gift to us,

if we only look and see."

Will you ponder with me the question "Who would I be if I actually felt the sense of freedom that would come if I remember I am always standing on holy ground?"

I'd love to have you share with me your ponderings.

Posted by Julane at 1:00 AM
Labels: , ,

2 comments:

  1. I was sitting on my deck this morning, wrapped in my fuzzy robe, enjoying the soft moist breeze on my face, sipping coffe from my "Let Go and Let God be God" mug, when I noticed a huge (wing-span the size of my hand) Monarch butterfly floating on the breeze then settling on the Butterfly bush in my yard. What a sacred time for me!! The beauty of the bush covered with grape-cluster flowers and the migrating butterfly - the rust, black and white fluttering on the swaying purple. Standing on Holy Ground.
    Thankful for you, Glenda
    ReplyDelete
  2. Julane,
    First of all, I love your site. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
    I've been focusing on spiritual work the last two years, after struggling with working at home and trying to "find my way" with the adjustment from social to solitude and from corporate meetings to caring for my toddler and other 2 kiddos. I was so tired of feeling anxious, overwhelmed and stressed out.

    As usual, I found my a-ha moments through reading. First, thanks to A NEW EARTH by Eckhardt Tolle I learned to live in the present moment and practice acceptance (very much helps when cleaning toilets!) and even how to deal with tantrums (calm down and bring him closer instead of sending him away or blowing up myself) and more recently reading LISTENING BELOW THE NOISE about the practice of stillness - silence is a part of it, but even more so about being present and joyful in the moment and to stop "talking" and "judging" in my head when I'm not talking.

    Interestingly enough, my little stressor, whom I call TinyHulk, has become my greatest spiritual partner. He is so amazed by the littlest things in the world and helps me to notice them. We both love nature, and I'm no longer even afraid of bugs. I didn't scream once when a bunch of daddy long legs scurried past me last week at a state park.

    And reading sites like yours are wonderful reminders that we are always standing on holy ground. The world is my church and I feel more connected than ever.

    So glad to have reconnected. Keep up the great work. - Malena
    ReplyDelete

I welcome your comments. You may leave a comment in one of three ways.

1) If you have a Google Account or Open ID, you may leave a comment that links to your blog, Web site or profile.

2) By clicking “name/URL” you can leave a comment with just your name or with your name and the address to your Web site if you have one.

3) Finally, you can leave a comment by clicking “anonymous.” You can leave an anonymous comment or you can sign your name in the comment body.

Thank you for visiting Sacred Journeying!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)