Holding your heart softly, dear Elena. Praying for the ones in your life who suffer.
Too often I think of myself as the one who needs to tend to the ten-thousand things. If I won´t do it, who will? Stopping feels like I´m slacking on my responsibilities.
Still a riddle, a giant koan, that I sit with daily.
Where to stop.
When to stop.
With my very old cat, my lady, who suffers from an unknown illness, I NEED to clean the house daily. She will creatively find new corners and small nooks to leave her marks. Little dots of poo.
It feels like a free Yayoi Kusama exhibition in my living room.
Which makes me place every step very carefully.
Ironically the thing that keeps me going is the thing that makes me stop.
Elena, I need more silence in my life right now. I need to learn to welcome it and see what it has to teach me. There are answers there, to what I am struggling with right now, that I know will come to me if I can just get comfortable in the silence. Andō's beautiful meditation is such a help to do that. I've now subscribed to Silentium. Thank you for bringing her into your world and ours.
Dear Elena, happy birthday! Feliz cumpleaños! Thank you for the blessing of getting to know Andō, what a gift!
Silencie for me is, where I can hear my soul… in silence I recognize myself, where I have deep conversations with every color of my being… the light and the dark, I embrace both with humility and awe.
Forever grateful…. My heart smiles at you both!
Gracias por tanto querida Elena, eres un regalo del universo.
Will take a deeper dive into this tomorrow, when I will have more time in my day/morning to sit in silence, and to connect with Andō’s offering. I do crave and enjoy silence and stillness. With a busy household it’s often rare to have an empty house that allows quiet, but when I do have that physical space, rather than sitting to meditate / journal / reflect, I inevitably get caught up in doing some work or household tasks or errands. Like you, I don’t really ever ‘stop’ - what a question. Definitely need to sit with this more, although I would say the past year I have taking more time for myself or my needs, although at the expense of financial income. I feel a lot more balanced, though, and do feel more stillness and confidence as a result. Thank you for your gifts and sending much love x
Angela, may your deeper dive serve you well. Remember that this stopping, this silence is an inward turning, and can be done in the midst of the busy marketplace of life. It is a practice that over time, leads us into an undisturbable peace, whatever the circumstances. It is to dive deep into that inner sanctuary, the cave of the heart.
Regarding the financial aspect — there is no richer one than the one who has discovered this diamond in their pocket, this inward turned silence of the heart, this true peace. This peace cannot be disturbed, even by the busiest household.
Yes, phenomenal silence is nice, when we are gifted the space to experience it, but there is no greater gift, no greater riches than to discover the impenetrable silence within, and to realise that it is with us always.
Wishing you the blessed opportunity to stop, to sit, even with a busy mind, and to realise this — that one which perceives even a busy mind, is of the nature of peace itself.
I have tears and goosebumps as I read through your kind and generous words. Ringing so true - internal silence and peace even in the external chaos. Reminds me of my yoga practice where being peaceful and calm while on the edge is so key to growth; you have reminded me that the silence and peace in my heart is possible anytime. Thank you thank you x
Bless you Angela. May those tears be of joy, and recognition, resonance with what is speaking to you from this silence. I am grateful to have been a vehicle for this reminding of your heart's call. Much love, Andō x
thank you for this thoughtful reflection, Angela. sounds like changing this flow of so much doing in life is also at your door, also with financial considerations... i hear you and am with you.
Dear Maia, Thank you for your kind words and enthusiasm for this work of the spirit. I am here for the long game, however I am needed to show up for others. This is the work.
Stopping for silence, oy vey. My puppy dog mind bouncing around, chewing on my shoelaces, peeing everywhere and biting me with her little needle teeth. Laughable, precious, frustrating as hell. Is the practice to love, suspend judgment, and just let the puppy be a puppy without trying to make her be something else?
I do enjoy silence. It seems more challenging during this time when my heart is heavy, my mind spins and reaches for resolution.
Thank you for this reminder of how silence and stopping can be an invitation to just be. I know it’s not easy, but I also know that’s where divine love is also felt more deeply.
I spent this summer, with a little travel visiting my girls and my granddaughters.. but mostly it was my summer of solitude. I walked nearly every day in a nearby park with a beautiful garden that many hands and hearts tend to. It’s like a garden of love. I walk around the reservoir noticing how the sky and water always match. My teacher here said it’s because they are one.
Your posts have helped me with this calming down…, still learning how not to be so ‘busy’
Thank you for sharing your journey. One of my biggest takeaways has been contemplating the word
‘Softening’ …. Thank you for that, I had not realized before how that can apply to so much. 🙏🏼
Dear Caroline, may you dare to sit with, in, and as silence, and be blessed by that. I understand about the fear that many experience around silence. But please know that it is a gift that will keep on giving, and that ultimately, we will fall in love with it. I host silent sittings on Sunday evenings (London time) via Zoom, all are welcome, of all faiths and none. Andō x
Bless you dear Elena, as I am touched, and blessed by this sharing of my life's work here in Softening Time.
Thank you, hands pressed together at the heart, Andō.
PS: Happy Birthday!
honored, humbled, bowing respectfully.
Glad to have come across your work through this post here, dear Andō. Will indulge in your beautiful work tonight.
Thank you Natalie, I'm happy to find you here too. Thanks to Elena for the connections I am making here today.
Sending BIG quiet love from the mountains of Western North Carolina where somehow i got a signal ♥️
so happy to see your heart here, Kin
Holding your heart softly, dear Elena. Praying for the ones in your life who suffer.
Too often I think of myself as the one who needs to tend to the ten-thousand things. If I won´t do it, who will? Stopping feels like I´m slacking on my responsibilities.
Still a riddle, a giant koan, that I sit with daily.
Where to stop.
When to stop.
With my very old cat, my lady, who suffers from an unknown illness, I NEED to clean the house daily. She will creatively find new corners and small nooks to leave her marks. Little dots of poo.
It feels like a free Yayoi Kusama exhibition in my living room.
Which makes me place every step very carefully.
Ironically the thing that keeps me going is the thing that makes me stop.
A koan indeed.
FREE YAYOI KUSAMA POOP EXHIBIT! koans everywhere!
Elena, I need more silence in my life right now. I need to learn to welcome it and see what it has to teach me. There are answers there, to what I am struggling with right now, that I know will come to me if I can just get comfortable in the silence. Andō's beautiful meditation is such a help to do that. I've now subscribed to Silentium. Thank you for bringing her into your world and ours.
Oh, thank you Amy, from me too. My invitation is not only to get comfortable in the silence, but to fall deeply in love with it. x
so good to hear this. silence can be a real gift to us, so strange how it was never prioritized as kids...
beauty-full
thank you, Daniela.
Thank you! I love the question what makes me stop? Knitting came to mind.
And the image of your meditation practice space is helpful- it’s so simple to put a little physical space aside…
I’m looking forward to hearing mediations from you and guest teachers this month!
Happy birthday!!
Thank you always
so much love, Reesey. your enthusiasm is a gift!
Dear Elena, happy birthday! Feliz cumpleaños! Thank you for the blessing of getting to know Andō, what a gift!
Silencie for me is, where I can hear my soul… in silence I recognize myself, where I have deep conversations with every color of my being… the light and the dark, I embrace both with humility and awe.
Forever grateful…. My heart smiles at you both!
Gracias por tanto querida Elena, eres un regalo del universo.
Thank you Pao, happy to connect with you here, through Elena. You sound like a lover of silence, I am happy for you.
Love, Andō.
y tu tambien, querida Pao, eres un regalo del universo. abrazos, amiga.
Will take a deeper dive into this tomorrow, when I will have more time in my day/morning to sit in silence, and to connect with Andō’s offering. I do crave and enjoy silence and stillness. With a busy household it’s often rare to have an empty house that allows quiet, but when I do have that physical space, rather than sitting to meditate / journal / reflect, I inevitably get caught up in doing some work or household tasks or errands. Like you, I don’t really ever ‘stop’ - what a question. Definitely need to sit with this more, although I would say the past year I have taking more time for myself or my needs, although at the expense of financial income. I feel a lot more balanced, though, and do feel more stillness and confidence as a result. Thank you for your gifts and sending much love x
Angela, may your deeper dive serve you well. Remember that this stopping, this silence is an inward turning, and can be done in the midst of the busy marketplace of life. It is a practice that over time, leads us into an undisturbable peace, whatever the circumstances. It is to dive deep into that inner sanctuary, the cave of the heart.
Regarding the financial aspect — there is no richer one than the one who has discovered this diamond in their pocket, this inward turned silence of the heart, this true peace. This peace cannot be disturbed, even by the busiest household.
Yes, phenomenal silence is nice, when we are gifted the space to experience it, but there is no greater gift, no greater riches than to discover the impenetrable silence within, and to realise that it is with us always.
Wishing you the blessed opportunity to stop, to sit, even with a busy mind, and to realise this — that one which perceives even a busy mind, is of the nature of peace itself.
Go well dear one.
I have tears and goosebumps as I read through your kind and generous words. Ringing so true - internal silence and peace even in the external chaos. Reminds me of my yoga practice where being peaceful and calm while on the edge is so key to growth; you have reminded me that the silence and peace in my heart is possible anytime. Thank you thank you x
Bless you Angela. May those tears be of joy, and recognition, resonance with what is speaking to you from this silence. I am grateful to have been a vehicle for this reminding of your heart's call. Much love, Andō x
thank you for this thoughtful reflection, Angela. sounds like changing this flow of so much doing in life is also at your door, also with financial considerations... i hear you and am with you.
Ando is a wonderful choice to begin this month of silences! So much appreciate her presence here.
Dear Maia, Thank you for your kind words and enthusiasm for this work of the spirit. I am here for the long game, however I am needed to show up for others. This is the work.
Love, Andō. x
thank you for reading, Maia. x
Stopping for silence, oy vey. My puppy dog mind bouncing around, chewing on my shoelaces, peeing everywhere and biting me with her little needle teeth. Laughable, precious, frustrating as hell. Is the practice to love, suspend judgment, and just let the puppy be a puppy without trying to make her be something else?
little needle teeth... letting her be with certain boundaries... love...
And… HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 🎁🎈🎉
so sweet! thank you.
I do enjoy silence. It seems more challenging during this time when my heart is heavy, my mind spins and reaches for resolution.
Thank you for this reminder of how silence and stopping can be an invitation to just be. I know it’s not easy, but I also know that’s where divine love is also felt more deeply.
Beautiful, Elena. 💞
Gorgeous. Thank you.
thank you, Jiling, for being here with us.
PS
Happy birthday! Another year around the sun! Blessings…
thank you, Stephanie. x
Recently I framed a little square that says
‘Awareness comes in silence’
I spent this summer, with a little travel visiting my girls and my granddaughters.. but mostly it was my summer of solitude. I walked nearly every day in a nearby park with a beautiful garden that many hands and hearts tend to. It’s like a garden of love. I walk around the reservoir noticing how the sky and water always match. My teacher here said it’s because they are one.
Your posts have helped me with this calming down…, still learning how not to be so ‘busy’
Thank you for sharing your journey. One of my biggest takeaways has been contemplating the word
‘Softening’ …. Thank you for that, I had not realized before how that can apply to so much. 🙏🏼
sending so much love, dear Stephanie...
💚
Beautiful .. I will read again and will sit with silence (which I Fear)
Thank you and Happy Birthday!
Dear Caroline, may you dare to sit with, in, and as silence, and be blessed by that. I understand about the fear that many experience around silence. But please know that it is a gift that will keep on giving, and that ultimately, we will fall in love with it. I host silent sittings on Sunday evenings (London time) via Zoom, all are welcome, of all faiths and none. Andō x
Thank you
thank you both, truly