Following Breadcrumbs

a path of trust and wonder

Hello friends,

I’ve been following life’s breadcrumbs.

I’ve come to see that not all breadcrumbs followed lead you into the ‘next’ (as in future). Some breadcrumbs lead you back into the past through a memory.

As I sipped tea one morning I noticed my thoughts, and they took me into memories of past things in my life. I followed these breadcrumbs of memory one by one, curious.

At first I was slightly annoyed, feeling like maybe I was dwelling too much in the past until I once again realized that everything happens in the present. Past memories are happening in the present or in the presence of remembering.

Thoughts of past and future are like phantoms, and not solid realities that we physically step into.

A shift occurs when we understand that there is only ever the present of what’s happening in this moment.

There is no past or future, only what’s happening presently, which includes thoughts we have of a past or a future.

What doesn’t wander and is always here and present? Your living physical body. It’s always in present time. Feet on the ground, breath moving in and out.

In my yoga classes I would remind people that the body is always in the present and it’s the mind, or thoughts, that wander into the past and future, not the body.

What a gift to have a physical body.

When we consciously breathe with awareness of our physical body we come back into present moment reality.

You don’t need to be in a class, or sitting in lotus pose meditating. One conscious breath can bring awareness back into the body and you’re here now.

FOLLOWING BREADCRUMBS

It’s not a problem during meditation when the mind wanders into past or future thoughts. And it’s ok to follow them, like a path of breadcrumbs, with curiosity to see where they lead you.

There’s no need to get lost in thoughts, however, when there is an understanding that both the past or future isn’t a solid thing. You are simply allowing thoughts a place of coming and going, like a cloud passing through.

You can develop your capacity to simultaneously notice what memory or imagining thought comes through while staying present with the flow of breath and body awareness.

Awareness of this physical body helps us access a complete system of inner guidance that is self reliant. You don’t need to go outside yourself. Everything you need is within.

Your intuition, that beacon of guidance through feeling, gut instinct, knowing without knowing how you know, requires being attuned to the body so you can listen and hear what’s there.

MEDITATION

I think perhaps many people expect the mind to be totally silent when meditating. Or that that is the aim of meditation. I thought this way for a long time too. But I realized through practice that this idea that the mind should be quiet only adds to the belief that one is not meditating unless the mind is silent.

And when that doesn’t happen? Then what?

Meditation is being able to stay present to whatever arises.

Not to silence anything or react to thoughts, but simply witness what comes and eventually goes. This doesn’t require pushing thoughts away or trying to silence anything.

It’s not about transcending the physical body either, but rather to descend more into our physicality and anchor into the body so we can attune to guidance and trust in what’s right for you and not rely on what others tell you. Sometimes it can feel like a long road back to yourself, but it’s the road to freedom.

I recently followed some memories, a path of breadcrumbs that presented itself when I was sitting quietly. The memories were both enjoyable ones and some not so savoury, but in the end I felt this widening capacity to integrate past and future with the present and embrace it all as part of living a human life. I felt an immense gratitude and love arise.

STAY

It’s not easy at times to become quiet and simply witness what passes through without reacting, especially when the mind’s incessant ranting tries to provoke reactions or is so loud and noisy we can’t stay with it and we might rather go and distract ourselves or find another way to shut the mind dialogue down.

However, when you can STAY with what is rumbling through and let the shift from all that chatter and the unconscious identification with thoughts as ‘this is me’, a shift happens. You become a witness rather than a participant to any and all thoughts without the need to do ANYTHING about them. When this happens you tap into something bigger than any ideas you have about yourself.

There is an opportunity then to question ideas and beliefs. The ones that have been planted in you from parents, teachers, societies.

Because beyond that noise, however loud, is an essence of you that you don’t want to miss out on knowing while you’re alive in this body.

Place your focus being in that place that exists in you beyond the loud chattery surface of your inner dialogues.

Meditation is really not about being completely silent in your head (although it can happen), nor is it about leaving or transcending your physical body.

Your body is the vehicle in this life for transformation.

It’s a miracle.

Whatever is there when you sit quietly with yourself, whether it’s joy, pain, sorrow, grief, ecstacy…. All of it comes and goes. Some of it is hard to be with. Still… you gently and firmly stay with what is arising and occurring knowing it all changes or dissolves, and transforms.

Beyond the comings and goings of impermanent things like feelings, thoughts, sensations, there is something that never changes and is always here.

I’ll meet you in that place.

Namaste

I am you, You are me, We are one