Grow Towards the Light
Have you ever watched one of those time lapse videos of plants filmed over the course of a day? It's so incredibly beautiful- almost like watching a dance. Their leaves rise and fall, pulse and sway. And as the sun travels its way across the sky they subtly seek its nourishment.
I've been thinking about how plants innately seek the light, quite a bit as of late, partially because we are newly the keepers of a 12x8 plant wall in our home. (Thank you Hilton Carter for bringing this vision to life. If you aren't familiar with his artful eye and plant wisdom, check him out here) Our plant wall is a living patchwork made of 190 tropical plants, each tucked into their own felt pockets. It has a drip watering system that filters down from the top, keeping their thirst quenched. They receive sun from a skylight directly above the staircase and two grow lights mounted on either side where the wall looms. As time goes on, these little fledgling plants will begin to fill in, grow lush and grow literally upwards seeking the source of their sustenance from above.
I think humans are also born with this innate sensibility. While we don't photosynthesize to survive, when we are really tapped in, we DO have a subtle awareness- an internal compass that leads us in the direction of what brings us joy and nourishment. In acting school they call it following your impulse. Those little muscle twitches, we often train ourselves not to follow. The bubbling up of a laugh or a cry that we swallow. The yearning we might feel for a nap that we "power through". The tingly feeling that tells us to get out and move our legs when we are overwhelmed, but instead we keep ourselves rooted to the spot. By no means is every moment of life going to be joyful, pleasurable or fulfilling but honing our ability to know where to seek these qualities is something worth cultivating.
In my meditation this week, I've been playing with the visual of a growing towards the light like plants do. It's been a creative way to connect with those subtle impulses within myself. Already, I feel the dynamic nature of listening to the wisdom of my senses. Maybe you would like to try it yourself:
Find a warm, light filled spot in your house even if it's just one tiny patch of light.
Get super comfortable. Bring pillows and blankets. If you need more support, set up with your back against a wall.
Instead of holding yourself erect and upright, feel the way that your breath moves you. Notice the subtle pulse that creates a rise and a fall within your body. You might even exaggerate that pulse physically so that there is movement in your spine.
Let your hands come to rest on your physical body. You might even give the surface of your whole body a little rub or pat down as if you were removing any energetic residue in the way of letting your sensitivity ignite.
Imagine that the whole surface of your skin was receiving messages from the sensations that ebb and flow all around you. Is there a pocket of warmth and does it feel good? Let your body carry you towards it. Are you resting on something soft and would your body like more contact with that softness? Nestle in a bit. What do you hear and taste and how can you zoom in to the details of it?
Continue to let your receptors feel into the subtle sensations and vibrations that pass through. Anytime you find one that leads you towards curiousity or joy, invite it in and explore it some more. Maybe your body physically shifts towards it or maybe it's just your attention that moves towards it.
You can practice for as long or a little as you'd like. 5 minutes or 45, if you find yourself wrapped up in the experience.
When you're ready to come back, gradually let your eyes open flooding even more light into your system. Take a deep breath in and then sigh it out through the mouth.
Maybe take a few minutes when your meditation is complete to free-write about your experience and if you feel like sharing, we always love to hear from you!
It can be extremely challenging to seek light when our human experience can be so filled with tremendous darkness. My hope is that by learning how to glean what nourishes us even in the bleakest of conditions we might know the way well enough to help others find their own light source. Happy January, my friends and keep growing towards the light.