Poetic Revelations: Follow the Tickle
Be Joy-informed
“What is worthy of a life’s dedication does not want to be known by us in ways that diminish its actual sense of presence. Everything true to itself has its own secret language and an internal intentionality with a secret surprising flow, even to the person who supposedly puts it all in motion.”
~ David Whyte
This is a weekly publication for heart-centered warriors, trying to make it through this thing called life with an intact, open heart (and strong voice).
SELECTED POEMS
Don’t Hestitate, Mary Oliver
The Worst Thing, Chelan Harkin
Dear Embodied Hearts and Dancing Souls,
The most beautiful season is upon us. Here where I live, its Fall with that crisp cooling breeze rustling the branches and leaves. It turns out I live near many persimmon trees and the fruit is still quite green. See Post Scripts for today’s Dance Chapel.
Coda. I didn’t share the punch line to the Buddhist van story last week. After they dropped me off at the Delhi Bus Depot, I took an auto-rickshaw to my childhood home. My aunt was sitting on a stool in the main hallway (which is uncovered on one side so its also a long balcony) cutting vegetables for dinner. Her hands are well worn from many years of household work. My 23 year old self cannot stop glowing about how happy the monks were. My wizened aunt abruptly stopped what she was doing. With low key annoyance, she looked at me and scolded in Hindi: “Oof! They don’t marry and don’t have children. If they’re not going to be happy, who is?!”
Wise, wise words. Her truth spilling out all over the place. The clouds began to part in my youthful brain that perhaps adults didn’t all naturally thrive taking care of their young. I still crack up and fill with awe from the reality check she provided.
But this is why I perservere. I do not want the bliss that comes from running away to the mountains and meditating away from humanity. No. I am trying to find my way as a messy human within a web of relationships, responsibilities, and other pursuits that feel like a rich life.
Embodied Play has the ability to bring us into presence, so we can respond with more lightness to ourselves and others.
Following the Tickle: I’m in a funny space as we approach the Fall equinox, tiptoeing through my vocational and life style choices. As the integration continues, I resonate with David Whyte’s quote above. Sometimes I love sitting for long bouts just letting this presence tickle me.
Tickles are another piece of information from our bodies we can follow. Its another hack for turning our to-do lists into bouts of joy. Saturday morning I let my various projects swirl around, feeling them in my body, and opened up to what might bring the biggest tickle. It came from sprucing up an old article. Following the tickle, I held up a prism to the sunlight, snapped photos, and posted an article and continued following that flow.
The tickle, when we open ourselves to it, comes directly from the information floating in our energy field. Whether external or internal, our body picks up on the vibrations and frequencies.
Activate your Joyride. I have a feeling this “tickle’ prompt is going to be a helpful as I make my choices going forward. I have been playing with the feeling of “stepping on the gas’ in my life vs “stepping on the brake.” In a somatic session the other day, it is clear my body wisdom is still gravitating towards a brake. Actually, “give me a break” were the actual words that arose from my movement.
I encourage you to listen to today’s podcast. I was inspired by Cynthia Winton-Henry’s use of the term “joyful abandon” on last week’s post. It is so important to use Joy as the gas pedal for co-creating with the Universe.
First it lets the Universe know we are willing to play with a full deck of cards, with both our Humanity and Divinity and all the resources there in. Second, Joy (like Play) is hardwired into the language of the Universe. Its constantly expanding with Ease and Grace. As another one of my teacher’s said to me this week:
God is gentle, not mental. ~ William Linville
Just as our lives may have been trauma-informed, our hearts can steer us in a direction that is Joy-informed. I believe the Universe is asing us to play at this level. That’s why I’m pleased with this week’s activation. It catches a particular vibe - a state of being that is highly receptive.
Stay #heartwoke. To your exquisite unfolding,
Monisha
NOTES:
I am excited the payment functionality for the weekly letters is now set. You can still choose the free option. Let me know if you run into an issue.
Tuesday Dance Chapel Zoom link (same each week):
NEW Dance Chapel Link: 825 748 1773 or Click here (has password)
Passcode: wedance