The Buddha should be raised, and the little vase of gerbera daisies keeps tipping over, and really the whole thing should be on a table — but at last, my altar feels complete.
For about two weeks through last Friday, I was operating in what I call survival mode, my being focused on little more than Critter care, the most basic self care, and getting the work done. Then, on Friday afternoon, I finished the manuscript, delivered it, and headed off to sesshin. On my way to sesshin, I noted how I felt after all the work of the previous two weeks: left with a wasteland of a soul. There’s not a little drama and self pity to that phrase. But there’s some truth to it, too.
How does one restore oneself after days — or weeks — of disconnection? Apparently it can be just this simple: light the candle, burn some incense, make the bed, raise the shades — to the sunshine, to the rain — and get back to work.
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I feel your pain. Working on the last very intensive phase of the PhD, with barely any sleep for months, left me wasted, empty, disconnected too. But somehow, I still feel I haven’t recovered, and crave intensisely some time to recover, dreaming of spas and days when I can just doing what I want, cleaning and de-cluttering, but of course, it hasn’t happened yet, so maybe I shoudl try small simple things like what you suggest here…
lucila recently posted… Rhythm
Wow. It’s nice to be reminded that it can be that simple – because it can. Sometimes, I am trapped… 8 of swords-like, in a prison of my own making. Lighting a candle, opening the windows, and getting back to work is often enough.
Seonaid recently posted… Sunk Costs – More About Nuclear Power
The familiar, every-day rituals of life are so powerful.
We forget that, I think. But then, once in a while, something makes us remember it.
Amber recently posted… Talking to Happy Mom Meagan Francis
That is a beautiful alter. I could just sit here and stare at the picture for a while and THAT would be restoring.
mumsyjr recently posted… thoughts on my fifth mommyversary
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