“The ancient art of alchemy shows a way: Pay attention to your deep and complex interior life, become more sensitive about your relationships, consider your past thoughtfully, and use your imagination at its full power. Work from the ground up toward finding the work that will make your life worthwhile.”―
I’m sitting in a local coffee shop. The sun has just risen. It is cold but we have clear skies and sunshine. Sort of what you’d expect at this time of the year. We are transitioning from fall to winter. Earlier, on my way over here, the northeastern sky was alive with pink clouds, indicating the chance of snow this evening and into tomorrow. I’ve just described the exterior world around me but what about my interior life that Thomas Moore speaks about in his quote? At this moment there is a peace and serenity, primarily due to my investment in a spiritual practice. I sit in quiet each morning to let go of the chatter in my mind. I’ve learned to take in deep breaths. Throughout the day I pause to check in on my state of awareness and presence. It is just one way I pay attention to the deep and complex interior life. May you enjoy this day!
4 Comments
Cedric Canard
Another nice, moody fog photograph Monte. Lovely warm, earthy tones too. I’ve been enjoying your posts and I am sorry for not commenting more often. I liked your thoughts on writing a journal. I agree with you, when it’s in our capacity to do so, writing our thoughts down is a good way to make sense of things and discover aspects of ourselves that we would otherwise remain ignorant about. I started to write posts on Plop for that very reason and for the 400 or so posts I published I must have written three or four times as many for myself. One thing I found over the years of writing is how much my “interior world”, as Moore put it, is constantly reflected in my “exterior world”. It’s as if they were one of the same 😉
Monte Stevens
Many of the mystics I’ve read, and tried to understand, speak about the connection between the interior world and exterior world, just as you say. I am one of your fans who enjoys your philosophical writings and glad for all your thoughts and willingness to share those with us.
Joe
Nicely stated, Monte. That inner dialogue can be at odds with Moore’s ‘interior life’ but with such beautiful exteriors as you’ve shown here any difficulty with the inner dialogue can be easily cast away. Hope this day was as welcoming as the scenery.
Monte Stevens
Yes, it was. Now today is cold, 10 degrees, but we are suppose to get upt ot 40 degrees. We’ll be in flip flops and t-shirts this afternoon. Have a great end of October.