Monthly Spiritual Check-Up Elul/Virgo
(Read this, then call me. Save 15-20 minutes.)
Energies of the Month
RECEPTIVITY TO PRAYER -- Known in the tradition as a time when the Queen is in the field. The source to which we direct our prayers steps out of the guarded sanctuary that is usually their place of dwelling to be among the commoners of the field. We may commune with the divinity more easily in this season.
RETURN/TESHUVA -- Outwardly and Inwardly. Outwardly we heal relationships that are in need of repair. Inwardly, we return to our soul-point, our heart space, the place within us that is the well of faith. That well thrives by constant nurturing.
AFFINITY/AFFECTION -- All living creatures have at their center a soul-spark. Coverings of flesh, culture and identity form the layers of our individuated selves. But the exalted state of a virgo consciousness is in constant awareness of the soul-spark we share with others. We treat everyone as a beloved, because at the root, we are of one heart.
Reflections:
1) How has your physical, emotional and spiritual health been over the past month?
2) What spiritual postures have you embodied most often in the past month, (Grief, Joy, Depression, Complacency, Fear, Healing, Acceptance, Remembrance, Compassion, Struggle)?
3) Which devotions have you given your time to? Which dynamics are flowing, and which are impeded?
4) What friendships or relationships in your life are challenging? How might you begin to engage them in a new way?
5) What questions are occupying your thoughts?
Assignments
-- This month is a season for cultivating new practices, to carry with you through the new year. Find a practice you’d like to incorporate into your spiritual life. Practice it rigorously through this month. Every day, 3-5 minutes at a time, 1-2 times per day.
-- We’ll be studying “Generosity and Loneliness” together over the course of the new year celebrations. I’ve loved reading George Hyde’s book “The Gift,” about gift economies, the artistic spirit, and what binds the fabric of community. Read it with me! Purchase a copy here.
--Practice the posture of generosity by giving gifts of all kinds. Write postcards, help a friend clean their home, give away precious things you never use to someone who will use them. What does it feel like to hold the posture of generosity? What pulls you out of the posture?
