Sky With Clouds

13 Jun Sky With Clouds

At 8.30am for 20 minutes, I bring my attention to a virtual group who “come together in stillness, and send light and love to people who need it.” It’s a brilliantly simple way to connect with a positive attitude. My inspiring friend Julie sets the intention every morning. Yesterday I scrubbed the bathroom first; today I was still in pyjamas. I like the invitation to come together across the ether. The energy of this group helps me to commit to this restorative practice. It can be really hard to find time to meditate, let alone do it. “Even if it is very foggy, cloudy or stormy, the blue sky is always there, for us, above the clouds.” Thich Nhat Hanh describes the sky, as a similie for our true nature – often cluttered or obscured with clouds. The clouds are the mental chatter of worries, memories, inner dialogue and the distractions that usually fill my head. By noticing the ‘clouds’ that cross or blot out my mental space – observing their texture and quality, it helps me to become more present. This foundation of mindfulness acts like an anchor, and then I can focus on generating more expansive thoughts. By allowing a few minutes to do a calming practice at the start of the day, my nervous system resets; so I feel better, and perhaps others benefit too.
Thich Nhat Hanh teaches mindfulness, global ethics, and peace.