Winter being

The season has been pulling me in. It’s been a lesson and curiosity to me to note my resistance. Not my body but my mind. As much as we talk about the value of being rather than doing, it is contrary to what our culture teaches us. It’s 3 o’clock and I’m thinking, “What have I been doing today? What have I accomplished?”


My current morning routine includes staying in the bed for engaged, intentional breath-work and a meditation on “waking words.” It can take up to 45 minutes. When I started this practice it was much shorter because it felt too much like lying around when I should be getting up and getting to things. I suppose in a way the intentionality of it is technically doing something. What’s perhaps different is there is no tangible accomplishment. The cat is not fed, nor coffee made. I have not checked or responded to any messages or planned the day. I’m simply there with my breath.


There are days when I won’t have the luxury of that much time in the morning unless I wake up much earlier. For now part of this practice is not setting an alarm if I don’t have to and including at least some time for the practice if I do. And on a day like today simply letting things unfold after that.


This is not solely a spiritual practice, although it is that. This is an intentionality practice of shifting my own paradigm, of living into the understanding that our value, my value, is not based on accomplishments. Those things can speak for themselves, but my intrinsic me-ness is more central and internal. This is a lesson of the cherry blossom tree. The tree IS, even now without blossoms or leaves.


An embodying practice, daily morning breath-work has also helped me feel calmer and more centred throughout the day. I find myself more able to feel into what my body needs in the moment, what food, what movement. And I find I’m enjoying those things more. It’s quite lovely.


Winter, in the rhythm of seasons, is the slow time, a time of quiet tasks and inward focus. Many animals move into hibernation and plants go dormant. So I’m embracing this slower pace and breathing into what it’s like to simply be.

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Centred on evocative and deeply healing guided meditations, Kimiko holds On-line Healing Circles Monday mornings at 9 a.m. and Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. pacific. Please join us. Learn more at the Good Vibrations: the Energy of Resilience facebook page, check out the Healing link on this site or drop her a note by e-mail.