The Seasons and Breathing

Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.

Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.

~Yoko Ono

Of Note: The four seasons are reminiscent of the four cycles of breathing: inspiration, higher interlude, expiration, lower interlude. Activity followed by inactivity, and then again. It is during those periods of inactivity, the interludes, where the fires carried from the breath create. Paradoxically, these are the magical times. We might remember that in-activity has its place as we scurry from one doing to another in a constant state of busy-ness. We are told that without moments of quiet through meditation, we will not discover our true Self. Sogyal Rinpoche said of meditation: "Its purpose is to awaken in us the sky-like nature of the mind, and to introduce us to that which we really are, unchanging pure awareness that underlies the whole of life and death."

Today's Weather Report: At 40 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny, you would think it is spring outside. Summer and winter are the extremes and not interchangeable, but there are days in spring and fall that could fool you. This photo of the leaning maple tree was taken last fall on the Namekagon River that runs next to our property. It clings to live with perseverance though one day will fall into the river and be swept away by the currents.