The Flutterings

I sit at the kitchen table enjoying and nourishing myself. The sweetness of orange, the crunch of rice cakes, the heaviness of almond butter and the deep unique flavour of apple butter.

Movement in the skies to my left caught my attention… what flock of birds is this? ...snow buntings now? But no! Twas leaves! Large dried leaves of the poplar with the gracious lift of wind current swirling them about! Just enough leaves to catch the drift, just enough drift to catch and lift. Circling up, fluttering side to side. Balanced, playful and deceptive in their pattern of flight.

I kept watch in this brief minute or two as a few more leaves were gathered from the earth and lifted to heights they thought they would not feel again. The flight pattern was unique to each leaf! I continued to watch as the breeze dropped them amongst the pines rooted just beyond the stone wall. One by one they tucked themselves among the pine branches… and it was done.
What a gift to witness. What a thrill to experience. That wind current swirling and those leaves flying. Lovely.

Being in the moment. I hear this from myself in my teachings. I also hear it from many others; published authors, other teachers, online messages, poems. From my perspective and understanding of these teachings, it is to be able to stop and be in this moment. To not be distracted form this moment with what is to be done or what has been done.

This is also part of our yoga practice. To be in the pose. To be on our mat. To be in the present moment and connecting body and breath with movement. Whether we are there or on the journey there, yoga can be that moment… then another… then another… etc. How we are on our mats is how we are off our mats. My intention is to marry the two and be the same person on my mat as off my mat, with love, acceptance, forgiveness. One moment at a time. The present of presence.

Blessings, Denise