Spiritual Journey-One Word 2024

This morning a quiet sensation flowed through the chilled wind. Winter announced its arrival with freezing temperatures and icy crystals that decorated my car windows. I felt the push-pull of Nature reminding me to to breathe in winter's frosty breath and feel replenished. As I swept crystals off the car windows, stillness surrounded the grayish morning. Awed by the magic of the winter scene, I listened to the sounds of quietude, finding peace within. 

move slowly on

winter's frosty path-step back

just be and pause

witness small moments

reflect, renew, replenish

breathe in stillness

pause intentionally

breathe in earth's quiet stillness

with verve

©CVarsalona, 2024

Happily, I went to yoga where I heard a mantra that sparked a plan. "A New Year, a New You!" This solidified my intent to find one little word that would enhance last year's guiding word, Be.  

Have you thought about pausing to witness quiet moments? It is the mindful, intentional pause that allows us to focus on, and be engaged in the moment not the hustle and bustle of life's to-dos. I have spent years as an educator and educational leader studying the art of mindfulness. Today, while scurrying to yoga class, I solidified my intent to find one little word that would enhance last year's guiding word, Be. I decided to cultivate mindfulness with an intentional pause each day. 

inhale

one word

stillness announces

my hope-filled wish

pause

©CVarsalona, 2024

While researching how to practice the pause, I found a quote from Eckhart Tolle: "In today’s rush we all think too much, seek too much, want too much, and forget about the joy of just Being." My one word, "Be", guided me last year. Adding an intentional pause this year will strengthen my spiritual walk. I hope you will join me as I pause, reflect, and renew my spirit throughout 2024. May the magic of winter also encourage you to pause and witness quiet moments?

🌲🌲🌲

I  look forward to joining the Spiritual Journey community hosted by teacher/author/poet Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche.

Here, I will find poetic goodness and spiritual enrichment flowing. 

 Logo designed by Margaret Simon

Color My World SJT

Another month has passed as I try to be still, quiet, and grateful for life. I desire to color my world in colors that sparkle with joy and appreciation. Thanks to this month's Spiritual Journey Thursday's host Bob Hamera, aka arejha, for the prompt "think about the colors you project to others, colors that act as a guiding light".

My one word for 2023 is "be".  I wrote this line about my one word, Be is a guiding spirit. It follows that my word should interact with colors that affect me emotionally. Below, I tinted my "digital inspiration" with blues to signify calmness, something I highly desire.

******

In the Bahamas

be colored my world

with the warmth of yellow sunshine

the energy of foaming turquoise waters

the vibrancy of deep reds on pirate night

and the comfort of delectable beige bread

that affected emotions and moods

that energized each blessed day

that swept away stressors

existing in daily living-

coloring my world

bright and

j

o

y

f

u

l

©CVarsalona, 2023

******

Before the night is over, I reflect on my proposed action for "be": Prepare daily for change, renewal, and peace. Colors can help me bring a sense of serenity to my being and others.  Through research, I found a Guiding Light Color Scheme with a beautiful palette of five colors. They are B'Dazzled Blue, Sea Serpent, Pale Robin Egg Blue, Papaya Whip, and Cinnamon Satin. I shall ponder how these colors can lift my spirits during the winter months.

I listen to Colour My World by Chicago for the umpteenth time today, to find words to soothe the soul.

Colors

as time goes on

colors appear

backtracking

through eras

coloring my world

with blue hues

of the seas

of the sky

calmness

floats in a blue mist

touched by healing hands

of the Divine

I see

I  touch

I "be" in the

presence of peace

©CV, 2023

There are so many colors to discover in this world. It is my hope to find the colors that will brighten the sky and bring joy, not only to me but to others. 

Spiritual Journey - 2023 One Word Guide

As the new year opens, one word reveals itself as my guide on my 2023 spiritual journey. In anticipation of this wonder-filled event, I open my heart and mind to accept not a resolution but a guiding spirit. A word as quiet as a winter forest in early morning evolves. It swirls in wonder, colors the sky in imagination, and settles in a pillowed corner of content. In a dreamlike state, it opens in a restful pose. One word, newly added to my one word list echoes the thought of the "most inspiring and visionary spiritual teachers in the world today", Eckhart Tolle. 

Just be and enjoy being!  

- Eckhart Tolle

What I Know About My 2023 One Word

Be is a guiding spirit.

In the yoga studio, it appears as presence on my mat.

 In life, Be, will slow down my continual hurried pace

through the power of now.

Am I ready for this challenge?

It has been a long time coming.

I lean on the Lord, reminded of His words:

"Be still, and know that I am God!

Be strong and of good courage;

Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:

for the Lord, thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."*

©CVarsalona, 2023

*Bible Verses

To Be Present

open your heart

fully listen

believe in faith

find joy's presence

reach out for hope

embrace the now

seek life's balance

pause and begin

appreciate

just being!

be true to you

throughout this year

©CVarsalona, 2023

4x4 poem

May this year provide a journey of wonder and surprise

as I allow my one word, be, to guide my spiritual journey. 

In a quiet room, I write with the muse on my shoulder and the spirit of love and peace above.

I look forward to joining the Spiritual Journey First Thursday community hosted by teacher/author/poet Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche.

Here poetic goodness and spiritual enrichment flow.