Here it is, actually Sunday night, and I’m feeling agitated/messed up/peaceful/chatty/thoughtful once again. I’m sure you’re all here somewhere with me.
I have been thinking about starting some kind of routine/ritual both in the morning before I get out of bed and in the evening before I go to sleep. Something to refocus me: something to guide me, relax me, teach me; something to give my mental chatter and A.D.D. a rest.
I’m not much for religion these days — I held onto a little bit of it through the years, just enough get me through, but I think most of it disappeared when I lost my son.
I’ve tossed around several Goddesses for a number of years, along with spirit guides (who helped me write my books) and guardian angels who watched my back. I’ve looked for faeries to light my way, along with miracles meant only for me and words that blow through the pine trees that only I could hear.
So perhaps it’s time to take a break from the airy fairy and try some actual, old fashioned therapy.
I’ve thought about reading poetry before I get up in the morning. Not necessarily the creations of friends and newfound poets, but the old-fashioned ones. Robert Frost and taking the road less travelled and Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson and Marilou Angelou. Beautiful, soulful poetry. Simple start-the-day poetry. No preaching; just musical words.
A beautiful way to start a day, don’t you think?
Then, when all the madness of the day is done, instead of wasting time online on Facebook or some other mindless rot, I have started going to bed, listening to soothing music, and reading a classic, physical book. Not an iPad book, not a magazine — a real live book.
I am beginning to think our grandparents and great grandparents had it right. No TikTok, no television series we have to catch up on, no blasting rock and roll or video games till midnight. I mean, all those are wonderful activities — but not when we need to sleep.
Life is full of love and play and intellectual stimulation. Full of highs and lows and frustrations and dead ends. But it’s also a gateway to wonderful worlds, wonderful thoughts. We just have to find a way to get to them.
It’s the calming of the mind that recharges us. The calming of the psyche. The calming of the soul. We can deal with anything during the day, but it’s the dawn and the twilight that really connects with our soul. Our center.
We need to find ways to reconnect.
If you have access to Amazon Music, there are a couple of music playlists that work well for me: Studying Music: Music to Study By, Relaxing Piano, Study Music, New Age Music, Meditation Music, Classical Piano, Calm Music Piano: Soothing, Relaxing, Soft Background Music for Sleep, Massage, and More, and Study Music: Soothing, Calm, Relaxing New Age Music and Classical Piano for Studying, Meditation, Yoga.
Most of the music is minor chord relaxation music — I hope it helps you relax and dream as well.
Let me know how YOU reconnect with yourself.
Humoring the Goddess 
Yes! And it’s hard! Music.. okay. I enjoy my Playlist. But now I’m trying to stick to actual books. Although for some strange reason I just downloaded Dante’s Inferno…
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I’ve recently implemented no social media and/or TV at night. I’m trying to stick to a natural winding down of sorts.
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Nature is the do-all, be-all to whatever ails you, I swear. I love music, I love writing, I love history. But I love the peace and quiet of outdoors. If the mosquitoes aren’t horrendous I try and walk around outside too. I love being spiritual, too. But sometimes I need something physical to connect to. Gods and Goddesses and spirit guides can only meet you in the ethereal. We all need real live communication, hugs, music, and nature to take care of us in THIS dimension. Thank you for sharing your heart.
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Hope you are writing and listening to music too!
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Thank you for the suggestions. I love that you feel grounded and peaceful after listening to David. I think that is what I need now and then. I hate to contribute this mental state to getting older, although I’m sure that’s part of it. I love being busy, I love my family, but I love my time alone too. I am happy to hear you have returned to writing poetry, too. I have written very little through the years, focusing more on fantasy fiction, but just the motions of writing put me in a better state of mind. Let’s continue to escape now and then together!
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Try tarot cards and regressions. Both can work miracles.
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I seem to be pretty much on the same page as you even if for different reasons. Still being spiritual without all the baggage, if you know what I mean.
Yes, music is a big part of my ‘therapy’ and also reading the old poets Yeats and Christina Rossetti being some of my favorites.
Being in nature is the best way I’ve found to slow down and reconnect to myself. Just a simple ten-minute walk in the woods can do more for me than twenty therapy sessions. Listening to bird songs and the wind in the trees is the most soothing music ever created. And, yes, hugging trees. I just read something about how they have proven that just touching a tree long enough can help with depression and anxiety. All I know is it has always helped me. Just leaning against one for a while works and of course there is the walking amongst them…
Find peace, my friend, on your long road to recovery.
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Thanks for today’s post. The one thing that has helped a lot these last two years has been watching one of my favorite poets during his Zoom series. It’s called 3 Sundays and is scheduled every other month. Each series has a topic and involves poetry. You may want to check it out . David Whyte at his Many Rivers site. I tried it out for one series and have returned every other month since then. I’m on a very limited income, so trust me, if it didn’t feel vital, I wouldn’t do it. He helped me to remember the gift of poetry and now it is part of daily life, even if it’s just one poem. I’ve even returned to writing some here and there. I stink at it, but the process is what’s fun. Anyway, after each Zoom presentation (without all the faces and interaction- just David) I am grounded and so peaceful. Wish I could hold onto that feeling all the time. Just wanted to share . I totally get what you’re feeling . And yes, I miss simpler times even in my own Chicago childhood. Kat
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Reblogged this on GrannyMoon's Morning Feast.
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