It’s hard to determine what the “first principle” is. Taoists refer to it all the time, but, since the Tao is undefinable, it is not explained.  As much as I can tell, it is like watching a river.

It flows.  it is never ending, always rushing, bouncing, foaming, polishing.  if a good fisherman knows the way the river flows, through seasons and time of day, she can catch the best fish.

So I learn more and more to be aware of how the flow is around me.  Not pushing the river, struggling to make life what it is not.  Yet pointing my little raft in the direction I choose, hopefully over instead of against the rocks.  I am not a salmon, therefore after a while of going against the flow, I surrender to the current, lie back on my little tire tube and bounce downstream.

The Divine is present in me, my raft, the river, the shore, the air the mountains and the flow.

There’s a great quote I saw recently: Relax.  Nothing is under control.

How wonderful when that can be embraced.  When I can flow with the first principle of Flow.  This is how all happens.  Simply.  Flow.

Teaching the mind to simply flow, however, is yes, like training a monkey or dog, and also a practice to show the body/brain eternal compassion for its task of survival.  Its assumed task of survival.

Starting in each now, I can fill myself up with the Gift of grace, the fun of Her love, the delight of the swirling skirts, raucous laughter, and soul-touching eyes that are my center.  In no thing, in no one, in all Am I That.

Of a tummy ache–take something and watch the food.  Of no sleep–better evening practices.  Of the principle, how things work, the way it is.

Accepting the Way it is, is recognizing that I Am That I Am.  From the Baghavad Vita, the 12 steps, the 8 fold path, the Quran and the Christian 10 commandments–if we are completely present, we are stationed in compassion for self and others.

When the hypnotic earth-bound mind can’t release the veil of tired, achy, limited, short, and sad, I lean on the glory of Your light and love.  Today is Your day.  Show me the Way for each of my steps.

New year, new day, the view of new upon us.  shrugging off the old, facing that abyss cliff with our tools in hand, nature friends, high ideals.  A quote of the Fool I heard already today rings through me: I am not afraid.  I was born to do this.

Born to change, to move, to experience, to cry, to laugh, to sit and watch the day lighten up the bare forest, the full firs, making way for laughing geese as they fly.

This is the first principle, knowing that the moment is never frozen.  That sitting in stillness only reveals the process of the product.  There is no such thing as finished, done, product.  Fun joke of human life.

Here. We.  Go.

Hurray for new beginnings!  Honor and gratitude to new endings!  Light up the sky with celebration for every second ends and begins again.

Freaky.

Stop thinking and end your problems, says the Tao.  Train as a warrior says Pema this morning, “aspiring to reconnect with the natural flexibility of our being.”  Wow.  Yeah.  Let’s do both of those things today.  And every day.  Every moment.

Bless to us along the Way.

The Wheel turns faster some days, the mind trying to grip the ring and fly off o the rollercoaster at the same time.  The year ahead whirls around me and I haven’t left my house this morning.

Sweet One, I lean on your Presence.  Show me a light on the Path.  Allow me safe passage.  Remind me that it is only step by slow step that the Way diverts, turns off, tangents from one forest to another.  Soothe my marauding mind, and lead it back to your sanctuary within.

With Your silent eyes, just look at me, and I will know where to find You.  You speak in every cell of my body, each movement of the air I breathe and with the slightest wave of the green branches that reach to Me.

Being drawn to a major change like the force of an emotional magnet.  Called by spiritual sirens, pulled to the right thing to do, kicking and screaming the whole way.  Even thinking of the journey to the journey.

Nothing ever stays the same.  First “discovery” of the Buddha–impermanence.  So why not surf it, instead of being pushed over by it.  I can feel the wave coming.  The roar of the ocean.  The pull of those unknowns who call for me.

Yahooo!

What am I to be? is a question I ask the Divine often.  I am a human being, not a human doing.  It is a reminder to listen to the soft whispers of the best Path from within me to the flow of the Divine Way.

Like the frongs of a palm, I sway.  Always anchored to the branch and peeling trunk of the stalwart tree of me.

Let’s talk to these palms in front of me.  They are puzzled about being clipped–like they all have a flat top with branches cut that by nature hang down straggling, old hippies with beards, fresh green n top.  They like the coolness this morning, secretly sipping at the moisture in the air.  They are inviting.  Yet neutral to my ponderings of a major move.

We are here for you, no matter where you be.  Always says the tree.

Free to be me.

Trust.  Trusting fear.  How would that work?  The idea of a major change–another one this year of major changes–makes my heart jumpy.  Fear starts whining and the scared kid inside pouts and stamps her foot that she “DOESN’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING!”  How to be openhearted to that?

Like a grandmother–kindhearted.  Like walking on ice.  Gently settling in a hottub. Balancing between the blazing warmth of desert sun and settling back in the cool shadow.  Back and forth perhaps.  Stretching the heart like taffy or kneading it like bread.

Time to get to know a new part of me.  The part that looms ahead, that saddens and terrifies me–major change.

I lean into Your Presence.  The palm leaves wave gently like the folds of your gown.  The brightest sun is a thimble glimmer of your warmth.  The cool tile reminds me of Your soothing touch.  I lean, I lean, I lean into Your grace.

Carry me as I discover more of You in me.

Imagine responding instead of reacting.  WHAT?!?!  Rather than instantly succumbing to a knee-jerk yelp, taking time to make a considered response.  Crazy.

The fear of making a mistake runs me, reading to point the finger for shame, blame, guilt, mistakes, fault, and anxiety.  Churns the stomach, makes the heart pace restlessly throughout the morning, ready to fight or flee.

I am
safe
gifted
successful
at every moment
twist
turn and
breath.

Healthy and well thee
I lean on You.
I see You.
I feel You

In
as
With
Around
Behind
Within me.