Day 85 of continuing recovery
I was recently asked, “What is your spiritual practice?”
The question stymied me for a moment. What is a spiritual practice? What’s it for?
Then it came to me. Whatever it is, I need it now. I’m preparing for surgery to remove all of the metal in my back. I’ve got some loose screws. The doctor used a technical term to describe what’s happening. The screws are “wiggling” — not good.
The prospect of this surgery is motivating me to grow both more resilient and more tender; to receive life directly without interpretation; to lift the veil of my conditioning.
My spiritual aim is to be happy, joyous and free. I want to have a way of being — a presence for myself and others; to be awake to true essence; to be aware of suffering; to be always healing, always in recovery; to be resilient and resourceful; and to be of service.
In order to experience the profoundly miraculous nature of life in these ways, I need to keep doing certain practices every day. Doing them daily is hard – very hard – in the beginning. Then the flow gets going. The time for practice comes up and my body moves into position for the practice. I do the practice no matter what. No matter what I do the practice.
Here are spiritual practices I am working on to make daily no matter what:
- work with a 12 Step sponsor
- eat three weighed and measured meals a day, without flour or sugar or caffeine, and nothing in between
- attend three 12 Step meetings a week
- get up every 20 minutes from sitting at the computer — I set my iPhone to chirp and I get up no matter what I’m doing. I walk around my house and drink a small cup of water
- on my knees in prayer then 30 minutes of Quiet Time first thing every morning… after walking Miss Miranda, of course
- 3 phone calls to 12 Step fellows
- spiritual readings as suggested by my sponsor and others
- journal three times a day on these four questions: How am I distinguishing between myself and others? How am I distinguishing between what happened and what I made it mean? How do I know something is true – grounded in reality? What I am learning?
- Consider this metaphor. I am the guardian angel.
- Keep my commitments, stay honest, and do service.
- Fundamental to all of these practices for me is the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path.
A book was recommended to me this weekend. I made a commitment to read it: The Intuitive Body: Discovering the Wisdom of Conscious Embodiment and Aikido… by Wendy Palmer
Hallelujah!
I just this moment received the most incredible gift in the mail! I’m quaking with awe and reverence. I’m so touched. My most-long-time friend, Susan Waite, and her daughter, Alexis Waite — champion professional snowboarder/now energy healer and jewelry maker — sent me the gift of a gorgeous clear quartz crystal necklace that Alexis made… to get me through surgery as smoothly as possible. Lexi does such beautiful work as you can see from her Etsy site, FeralStone.
Lexi wrote in her note to me, “It will help and so will your Angels, of course. Remember to ASK!” Lexi is so very wise.
Thank you, G-d, for my friends and family. Thank you for this touchstone from Lexi and Susan. I am grateful beyond measure. Please, may all beings be well, happy, and peaceful. Lexi told me to ask. I’m asking.
saint valerie,
you our all treasure
and if that is your crystal above,
that is in deed beautiful work.
may you have the good fortune to fully trust the hands that will work on your body.
…Am dealing with loose screws in my teeth. …
and the dentist I trust is in Austria-
lovepeace angel dreams
nicola
Dear Nicola,
That is indeed my crystal above. It is truly beautiful work. The vibrations are quite lovely, too.
I was just in touch with my dentist today. I asked if he would offer to swab his patients as possible stem cell donors and he agreed! (My dear friend Beth’s daughter Shira needs a stem cell donation from someone outside of her family. She has Hodgkins Lymphoma.)
I have been going to Dr. Bowers, my dentist, for about 30 years. He and his staff are totally wonderful. He’s in a row house on East Capitol Street. He has some interesting art and he plays good music.
Here’s his address and phone number:
Larry Bowers DDS
711 E. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC.
(202) 544-0086
Love & Light,
Valerie
This is all so remarkable that it needs no further comment from me – except!
Isn’t it amazing that Susan has brought her daughter Lexi into your life. It all just goes on and on and on!
So true, Mom. On and on and on.
Love & Light,
Valerie
Valerie, the crystal necklace your friend mad is beautiful! I did not know that you were to under go more surgery. When is this surgery to be performed?
I will continue to keep you in my prayers.
Theolyn
Hi Theolyn,
Thank you for your prayers! They are very welcome. We don’t yet have a date for surgery. Most likely after the holidays. I’ll keep you posted.
Love & Light,
Valerie
Soo excited that you are enjoying Lexi’s crystal pendant! It is encoded with love and healing just for you, my dear! I was so happy when Alexis wanted to send her to you. <3
Strangely enough, we were just now talking at dinner about how truly healing crystals and certain metals are for the physical body. For example, Lexi has sort of a chronic bad left hand from breaking so many wrist/hand bones and surgery to repair. She usually wears many rings on her fingers, and especially a crystal ring on the bad hand. This weekend she was away and not wearing the rings, and her hands ached badly. She put the crystal ring back on this early morning, hand felt good all day. Removed it a couple of hours ago, hand is aching. Hmmmm. She just went up to her apartment to put the rings back on so she can go down to her studio to work tonight. 😉 Thought you would enjoy that little illustration of crystal healing power!
love you lots, dear Valerie!
Good morning Susan!
It was lovely to put on Lexi’s crystal pendant this morning. It felt so good in my hands and, once over my heart, it brought me closer to peace. Then I looked in the mirror and was delighted! It kicks my style up to a higher level altogether. 😉
Love & Light to you and yours,
Valerie