Aligning with Grace

I begin this entry, at precisely 11:11 AM. For those into numerology, you know I begin it on an auspicious moment of perfection. Every moment is perfect as it is. And every moment is auspicious. Each one comes bearing its own unique gifts, whether we have the eyes to see such things and the ears to hear them - or not... I arose and went down to the river with Grace, my kayak, and a cup of coffee in tow. It has been such a long time since we've been able to go paddling because of my physical recovery from surgery, the constant rains of the last couple of weeks, and appointments that had been on my schedule for some time. But today, the universe conspired to assist me and grant me this wish! That, and the fact that an insightful dream last night very much indicated I must go in. And so I did, on this magnificent morning, where the gentle breeze and the warmth of the sun joined together to enshroud me in its canopy of healing magic. There is nothing like the exhilaration of those firs...

I arise early, on this Sunday morning, with the first feeble rays of sunlight seeping into me, and rousing me from sleep. A heavy fog blankets my yard and neighborhood, and I excitedly make my way down to the river in silence... It is breathtakingly beautiful in the park. Herds of deer grazing, breakfast in deep oblivion, illuminated by pristine shafts of early morning light, piercing through the fog and the trees, which punctuate the skies, like exclamation points... I step onto the boat launch, inches from the water, and am silent witness to squirming tadpoles. I yearn to paddle on this exquisite morning, but I must make my way to the other side of the river to teach a very early yoga class... The river before me disappears into the gray mist - blending into the sky and the shoreline of the neighboring state I will momentarily be crossing. I cannot ascertain where one begins and the other ends. I watch a pair of fishermen silently glide away from the shore, swallowed by the thick and...

How does a soul wake up? In so many different ways... What makes a soul wake up? So many different things... Like, meditating or practicing yoga, in the early morning with the windows wide open, after a long, hot summer, to the sweet sounds of birds happily chirping... Like, paddling on a river you have all to yourself - surrounded only by blue herons and creatures great and small... Like, spending time with a treasured friend, and laughing joyously with great abandon... Like, being in the effortless company of a like-minded soul, that energizes your own, and never drains you in any way... Like, listening to great music as you dance all around the house... Like, completing a designated task, and crossing it off the list, and then enjoying the fruits of a job well done... Like, reading, and writing, with all the time and not a care in the world... Like, going for a long ride or walk in a park, or along the beach... There are many things that make us feel alive, and make our souls wake u...