I have to admit, that I was so frustrated with "splitting" that I came home and "lumped it" - that is - read the whole book on a Sunday afternoon. Now, I'm reflecting upon it all, and enjoy the temporal approach - each month of the year - representing the seasons, and coming and going. How easy it is to fall into the realm of lack, self-pity, sorrow, when all around us, if we take the time to look, we have plenty, richness and blessings - the only thing we have is now.
March - that month when you can't wait for spring and there is more mud and somehow that longing can lead to things not usually 'wished' for - a black jaguar and I liked the way Noelle longs for an earthquake to quench her desires and "retrieve that sense of precariousness ..and sense of balance" as she explains that "in California we pay for beauty, sunlight, mildness of seasons by living with the knowledge that at any moment, the ground could give way beneath our feet." Maybe it equates with living life fully as you are remeinded constantly that you only have today.
I grew up sharing the view that riches are not to be desired, so I like her idea that "receiving the blessings of abundance" should result in gratitude rather than be seen as greed.
At the end of the chapter, Noelle discusses needing an earthquake to “restore some ballast to the sudden, frightening loft of my desires.” It is if an earthquake symbolizes a way to keep her grounded. What is it in our own lives that provide that grounding when our desires exceed what is realistic? I found it interesting that an earthquake was utilized twice in this chapter (see passage discussed by Peggy) as a way to provide balance.
I have to admit, that I was so frustrated with "splitting" that I came home and "lumped it" - that is - read the whole book on a Sunday afternoon. Now, I'm reflecting upon it all, and enjoy the temporal approach - each month of the year - representing the seasons, and coming and going. How easy it is to fall into the realm of lack, self-pity, sorrow, when all around us, if we take the time to look, we have plenty, richness and blessings - the only thing we have is now.
ReplyDeleteMarch - that month when you can't wait for spring and there is more mud and somehow that longing can lead to things not usually 'wished' for - a black jaguar and I liked the way Noelle longs for an earthquake to quench her desires and "retrieve that sense of precariousness ..and sense of balance" as she explains that "in California we pay for beauty, sunlight, mildness of seasons by living with the knowledge that at any moment, the ground could give way beneath our feet." Maybe it equates with living life fully as you are remeinded constantly that you only have today.
ReplyDeleteI grew up sharing the view that riches are not to be desired, so I like her idea that "receiving the blessings of abundance" should result in gratitude rather than be seen as greed.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the chapter, Noelle discusses needing an earthquake to “restore some ballast to the sudden, frightening loft of my desires.” It is if an earthquake symbolizes a way to keep her grounded. What is it in our own lives that provide that grounding when our desires exceed what is realistic? I found it interesting that an earthquake was utilized twice in this chapter (see passage discussed by Peggy) as a way to provide balance.
ReplyDelete