curiosity of the soul
Reflections from practice
On Soul…
An unfamiliar acquaintance, my soul.
A stranger or casual encounter at best.
A closed chamber that has lived long chained shut.
But the pulsation, the passion, the longing is like a room filling with water and the hinges of the door begin to bust open bolt by bolt.
In another time, perhaps another dimension, my soul was free, reckless and uninhibited.
My soul was in charge and there did not exist fear, or doubt or confinement.
My soul did hide away in the safety and security of my being.
But I sway to the rhythm of its full potential and I beg to know it intimately.
On Breath…
Breath becoming.
Breath exploring the body.
I pause to notice my breath and in wonder I experience calm washing through the depths of my vessel.
A tingling, a softening, a reckoning with stress and activity.
Breath becoming.
Breath discovering.
Breath is all there is when everything else is stripped away.
Oh how I savor this breath on this day.
I watch my sleeping child breath with fascination.
I see her smooth little belly rise and fall and I am flooded with gratitude.
On Stillness…
Quiet, I listen carefully
Still, I listen carefully
The subtle sound of air, I listen carefully
The faintness of my own breath, I listen carefully
My thoughts are random, scattered like fallen leaves blowing in a strong wind.
Some are moving lightly across the ground.
Some are lifted up from underneath and swirling as they blow.
The sound is a combination of wind and the dry crackling of the leaves bouncing into one another.
My thoughts blow, bounce and swirl.
One after another until I open my eyes to anchor back into my sense of sight
Meditation is hard, Meditation is raw, Meditation is frustrating, Meditation is life.
And the only stillness today was the spontaneous pause between inhale and exhale.
On Creativity…
In my fragility there is an abundant strength
In my weariness, there is an accessible lifeline
In my anger, there is unseen love
In my terror, there is trust
I am overcome with sadness at times and overflowing with joy at others
I am drowning in my self doubt and yet I can’t help but feel a strong pulse of creativity
There it is…that pulse of creativity…that pulse is where I aim to ebb and flow
Writings - Revelant topics on balancing form & feather in life
LOOKING BEYOND THE MIRROR
Applying Form and Feather to Life
Travel
Making Conscious choices when you travel can help you experience the world with awareness, respect and appreciation for its beauty. Below is a list of resorts and locations that meet the Form and Feather criteria of Eco-friendly, respectful during the building process to preserve the land, give back to the community and the staff and emphasize these values with the guests. Below is my travel criteria and a list of locations and resorts that I have personally been to and reviewed.
Form and Feather Travel Criteria
Responsibly source all products and materials used at the resort
Employ people in the local community and offer fair wages and benefits
Build sustainably without disrupting the landscape and beauty of the area
Have a visible recycling policy and program
Use sustainable and recyclable products on the property
Family Friendly
Offer activities for guests that give back to the community
My favorite destinations and resort collections
Costa Rica
The Cayuga Collection of luxury resorts
Harmony Hotel in Nosara, Costa Rica
Arenas Del Mar in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
The Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort in Nosara, Costa Rica
Borgo Iesolana near Arezzo, Italy
Avalanche Ranch in Carbondale, CO
Retail Purchases
Form and Feather highlights retailers that are truly living the form and feather values. Appreciation for beauty and earth can go hand in hand. There are retailers that go the extra mile and sacrifice rapid growth for conscious business practices. We also value moderation in purchasing items like clothing, toys and household accessories to limit the amount of waste down the road. Research is still being done on this list of retailers. Stay tuned for more information to come.
Food and Eating out
One thing I love to do is go out to eat because it gives me a break from cooking. However, eating out has opened my eyes to the significant amount of food waste, over-indulgence and harmful restaurant practices that do not adhere to living in balance with form and feather. As a consumer in the restaurant industry, there are simple ways to influence change by choosing establishments that understand how our bodies influence our spirit. Living in form and feather requires that we consume less meat and animal products, consume portions that are enough to sustain us and choose restaurants that value whole, cooked foods and keep current on health research findings. We require far less food to sustain us than we are currently eating. Form and Feather salutes the following establishments for their commitment to health and longevity. In any given week, you may find me eating at the following local restaurants: