And we're back!

Hello all!

Do you know, the last time I wrote was almost a year ago?! I'm surprised to see that! But it makes sense when I consider the why. I've been on an academic journey this past year, working on my Masters in Counselling Psychology. Which means I've been doing copious amounts of reading and writing, assignments, papers, proposals, and scholarship applications, and the desire to write for fun fled for a while. Alas. I've loved all the academic and reflective writing this program has required. But I realized just today, that I've missed the writing that I do for this blog, and that I love so. So. I'm back:)

Tonight I had a class on campus, and we finished a little earlier. It's a glorious summer evening out there, here in Ottawa, and so I decided to grab a little dinner and go sit Strathcona Park, a sweet park by the river. I sat up on a wall along the river and watched the ducks and geese and other fowl putter around in the shallows. Watched the water slowly roll over the rocks and flow down river.

Almost immediately, the mantra "So Hum" started going through my mind. So Hum is roughly translated, "I am that". It's a great mantra to remind us that we're part of something bigger than our bodies, our emotions, our situations, our circumstances.  I am not just this.

As I watched the birds play and putter, I heard "So Hum" and it continued to pulse in my mind. I am part of something bigger than myself. I am that. The world outside of myself. The flow of the universe. The sweet energy that flows in and through and connects all living beings. I sensed the mantra as I watched the ducks - playful, sweet, cute little things. Then I looked to a seagull, and thought, oh, gross, I'm not like that. And then thought, hmm. I'm part of everything. What is it about a seagull that makes that seem unappealing, as opposed to a cute little duck? Seagulls are pests. Annoying. Scavengers. Needy little dirty creatures. Ah. OK. I don't want to be like that. Connected with that. But to be honest and admit to my humanness, I sometimes act like a pest, a needy little creature to get my needs met. And that is ok:) Seagulls are also playful, they soar beautifully, they're determined, persevering little fellows, their plump smooth white bodies are kind of pretty. So Hum. I am that. Then I saw a beautiful swan. It was more delightful to say "I am that" about the swan:) Elegant, graceful, but also fierce fighters, bossy, demanding, regal and likely entitled. I am that:)

It was a fun little mindful time to connect to all that:) What are you connecting with these days? What is nature teaching you?

Ah it feels good to be writing like this again. Looking forward to doing much more of this. Because it makes my soul sing and shine.

Peace to you all!

Angie