Lesson from a woodpecker.

Picnic visitor (8.1.14, Anchorage, Ak)
Picnic visitor (8.1.14, Anchorage, Ak)

This morning it is very cold and the trees are covered with hoarfrost. This is in contrast with the above picture, taken in August. However, the woodpecker came for a visit on this winter morning as well.

As he pecked with his full being, taking in the suet that was in the hole of the log, I “became” him, and I could feel that this was a total act of assimilation– which he, in fact, needed to sustain life in the intense cold.

What I take from this is an intention to fully assimilate the food that is important for the well being of my soul. I will contemplate this today, and will intend to notice what my soul food is. When I notice it, I will eat it fully.

1.6.15

So how did I do with this? I returned to this intention a few times when it popped into my mind. However, I have learned from past experience that I must schedule in specific times to put my full attention on my intention in order to make real progress. Instead of finding another attribute of the inner Self for today, I will stick with this one. Because I imbibed the attribute of full assimilation so fully yesterday, I have not lost the palpable experience of assimilation.

I know from past experience that being aware of my breath moving through my body and being is foundational to my awareness. So, at specific times during the day, I will return to the awareness of my breath and meditate, open-eyed, on my breath for one minute. I will go back to my “6 point day”– sunrise, solar noon, sunset, and three other times when I am beginning a new activity.

To do this is to make an investment in fully assimilating my true soul food, which is awareness of awareness, the Witness state– the state of the inner Self.

Leave a Reply