Take Rest - astisini - Sky Story Bed & Breakfast, Retreats at Grasslands National Park

Great Blue Heron On Helium, oil on canvas, Diana Chabros - Photo credit: Ellery Russell — Great Blue Heron On Helium, oil on canvas, Diana Chabros – Photo credit: Ellery Russell

astisini (ah-stees-inn-nih)

nehiyaw/Cree term which means ‘take rest’

A weary busker at a music festival walked up to a Buddhist monk and said, “Knock, knock”. The monk replied, “Who’s there?” The busker responded “Oman” to which the monk queried, “Oman who? The busker opened his instrument case and gestured, “O man, he paid me hum!”

The world today is offering up a lot of change (no pun intended!). As a result people are tired, perplexed and often broken. We are seeking respite, solutions to new problems, moments of joy, and methods of release.

The winter season, though incredibly beautiful, can feel dreadfully long and challenging for many of us. This past year ‘exhaustion’, and ‘moments of fear’ uncharacteristically prevailed for me and others in my circle of contacts. Perhaps for you, too.

I think of my friend who lives a few blocks from me and continues to care tenderly for her brother who experienced a massive health crash over a year ago during which he crossed the veil. Thankfully he returned, though life is now very different for both of them. A deep lesson in present moment awareness, everything is taken day by day, moment by moment. I also think of another friend, a meditation teacher, who moved to our Village for an interim period of time having recently sold her home and belongings in preparation to move across the world. She is finding immense peace here and, having reconnected with grasslands, she is re-exploring life through an intuitive creative lens. She may stay for an indefinite period of time and I appreciate having her in my midst.

For me, the winter season sped by in a blur without my usual markers of accomplishment. Instead, as tourism was very flat across the province my days have included travel to provide ongoing support for two elderly family members, a bout of illness in January, business learning, and a solid self-care routine including meditation and some intuitive painting.

One’s auto response in times of stress is to shrink and contract. Instead of fluidity, flexibility and softness, the mind and body can become rigid, hard and prone to depression, anger, anxiety and frustration as ways of coping. Though my meditation practice held me in very good stead, I realized as the weeks rolled by that it was important for me to locate my sense of JOY. It was with huge relief that I realized that joy still activates for me and does so in abundance when I breathe and remember the lesson of impermanence. I step back into the witness lens and whether on the mat, in conversation with furry beings, immersed with paint in the studio or passionately engaged with community members on topics like food sovereignty, joy surges forth with its swell of healing energy. So grateful! Of course my ultimate goal is for mind to become stable and balanced in the face of all change; to remain non-judgmental, without labels of good nor bad, the recognition of reality and development of skills necessary to address whatever is at hand.

Taking that extra moment or two to lift our head up and acknowledge reality as simply ‘change’ provides an opportunity for glorious insight. This too shall pass and be followed by yet more change.

On a recent trip to one of my favourite mineral spas, Sleeping Buffalo, Montana my life partner Joseph Naytowhow (josephnaytowhow.com) and I had the pleasure of witnessing herd after herd of pronghorn (North American antelope) in the hills. This year sees an abundance of them! The pronghorn symbolizes speed, adaptability, resilience, and survival instincts. It is the second fastest land animal in the world, only surpassed by the cheetah, and has long been respected by indigenous cultures worldwide. Grasslands is enjoying large herds as well. May pronghorn inspire you in the months to come!

Nature in Me© Intuitive Painting Retreats

If you’ve never tried intuitive painting, here is an example of an unfinished painting going through the intuitive process…four different stages with more transformation to come! We use humble materials of paper and high grade tempera paint. No experience necessary. Must be over 18 years of age. All genders welcome!