We embark on the thirty-second day of a 40 Day Practice, based on the energy of the Labyrinth (releasing – contemplation – receiving). If you have a local labyrinth, I invite you to walk the labyrinth with today’s theme as your focus. If you don’t have a local labyrinth, you can create your own, take a walk somewhere peaceful, or even sit in contemplation in your own home. I will be scheduling various public labyrinth appearances, and you are welcome to join me when and where you can, if you feel moved to do so.

The theme for today is Focus. Today’s culture makes it very hard to focus on one thing at a time, and a very large industry has grown up around the idea of helping us create focus. We are like 5 years olds, not wanting to sleep because we’re afraid we’ll miss something. This has, of course, made us so scattered that we miss the important things all the time.

Questions that might help you see what can be released: What expectations do I place on myself? If I only completed five things today, what would they be and why? If I expected of others what I expect of myself, what would the result be? If I expected of myself only as much as I expect of others, what would the result be? Do I give myself time and opportunity to recharge my batteries? How often? Is that enough? What am I afraid of?

Suggestions for contemplation: Just be. Sit (or stand) and let all the noise and the chatter run its course, without participating in it, arguing with it, picking it up, analyzing it – just watch it pour out of you like viscous liquid, flowing down an imaginary drain. Breathe. Connect to the earth. Connect to the sky. Breathe.

A mantra for receiving today might be “I give myself permission to focus on one thing at a time, and I open myself up for guidance to show me what is important in this moment.”