The Simplicity of Meditation

"The hush of heaven . . ."

this a.m. i woke up and just needed to spend some reflective time with myself and try to get "things" back in balance . . . after my tea was properly brewed i took it, my camera and a couple of books out into the early morning sun. i snapped a few shots as i briefly wandered the garden. i studied the pond. i sat in my gliding bench. i read. i felt the sun on myself and grew sleepy. i read some more. i sipped at my tea. i pondered what little i had read from an inexpensive book that i picked up a few years ago called "Spiritual Notes to Myself" by Hugh Prather:

. . . "Don't seek to dampen your anxieties by meditating. Don't expect to receive blinding insights. Don't look for miraculous changes. Just sit quietly and listen to the hush of heaven. And as you rise, keep it resounding in your ears." . . .



so, i listened. i heard the trickle of the rock fountain that sits in the pond and the birds noisy chatter as they gathered at the birdfeeder; doves cooing, robins warning the blackbirds, finches singing. i think that i may have even "heard" the sun on my face and the spicy chai tea on my tongue . . . i didn't "try"; i just enjoyed each sensation as i noticed it . . .






i hope my photos bring you "the hush of heaven" that i was able to feel this morning in my garden. and i hope that it "resounds in your ears" as it does in mine . . .
already, the day is clouding up again but i am grateful that i was able to enjoy the brief morning sun and all that came with it.





the postcard giveaway is nearing. i have family coming to visit for a few days this week but i still foresee my 100th post and this giveaway happening before the next weekend is over. so, once again, i tease you with more photos . . .

this card features two faux posts: one on the front with the name of my blog and the event being celebrated and one on the backside which is my standard signature faux poste for all of my cards.
as you can see the poste on the back isn't yet dated as i am waiting to date it with the exact date of my 100th blog post. life is uncertain and i am not positive just which day it will be so i've left it blank until the day of the giveaway. this happens to be the 79th postcard that i've made and that number is incorporated into the (signature) poste.

i have had a number of people tell me that they are unable to leave comments on my blog but have left comments on the flickr posts which have featured the progress of this card/giveaway. i am choosing to include those flickr commenters into my giveaway. i'm not sure why it isn't always possible to leave comments on the blog but i do know that i have run into the problem myself and found it very frustrating. maybe somebody out there understands the dynamics of this and can explain it . . .
anyway, just thought that i should explain myself with just who would be included in the drawing.

i apprecieate every soul out there who finds my blog a legitimate use of their precious time and i also appreciate my flickr contacts that find the time to check out my photostream and leave feedback for me there. i wish that i had a card to give to every single one of you and wish you the best of luck in winning.




and last but not least:




EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKkkkkkkkk~!~ did you know that snails had such evil looking eyes~!???!~ go ahead. click on it to enlarge. if you dare~!~