“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.”
– Mevlana Rumi
Some days, even Rumi is wrong.
I’ve been sick this week. One of my partners brought home a bug and, careful as we try to be in our communal household of five people, I succumbed.
Mostly I’ve slept. Done some reading. Snatches of work that had to be done – a new class starting, things to schedule with students and clients, conference deadlines. Slept some more. Read some more. Slept some more.
I’m not so good at resting, but this week, the extra sleep and reading have been good. Every morning, I’ve still risen to my prayers. Every morning – yes later than usual – I’ve done a few minutes worth of meditation. Then tea. Then food. Then mostly back to sleep.
My brain isn’t even really clear enough to find a flow in this piece of writing this morning.
So why am I doing it? Why am I making this less than perfect offering (cue the Leonard Cohen)? Because it is my practice. I write a post every week, just as I pray and meditate each morning. After this, I’ll get more rest.
There are many things included in my practice. But this week, mostly, my practice has been listening to my body.
Not telling my body what I think it should be doing. Listening. And that listening has led to the practice of sleep.
I’ve done daily spiritual work for years. Struggled with it. Embraced it. Felt held by it. Fought it. Returned to it. My life is supported by this practice. It makes it easier when the practice needs to broaden, soften, or change.
My wish for you, is that you offer yourself gentleness when you need it, and firm direction when that is what you need.
No matter what our days look like, practicing is up to us.
What do you want? What do you really need? What does your practice look like, for today?