Retreat

Today the sky is a little more textured, with grey and light grey, and a bit of white. The temperature sits at 66 degrees fahrenheit.  They say it will warm to almost 80 degrees.  We'll see.  Today is Friday.

The word "retreat" is both a noun and a verb.  This morning a short poem and reflection came.  The two came together as one becuase the writing talked about a desire to retreat - to go into a cave and just sit (verb);  and the invitation was a question prompted a vision of a retreat space (noun).  Our privilege as human beings is that we experience both.

Living today is full of wonder.  Humanity is making discoveries in science/health, we are expanding our reach both in material and non-material ways.  An example of how far we are reaching is reflected in a  front page news story that talks about reaching into outer space in a practical and serious attempt at deeper understanding about the universe (we used to refer to UFO's and now are calling them UAP's - unidentified aerial phenomena).  

Then there is the practical reality for most humans:  how to survive in a world that continues to be at odds with itself.  And how to contribute to making this world and the future world a better place for humanity to flourish.  And beyond that, how to find an answer to the eternal question, "Who am I?" and/or "What is my purpose in this lifetime?"

We are going into a new season - leaving the fullness of summer very soon and entering the fall, when the energy will shift to a more reflective cycle.  The retreat into quiet will begin as temperatures go down, things return to the earth after allowing a harvest to happen, and a blanket of quiet will begin to cover all things in the world.  Maybe.

Given the energy that has been part of today's societies, there may be no chance to move into what nature is calling us to do in this part of the world. Understanding that energy shifts in different ways in other parts of the globe, we hold both as reality.   As part of our collective, lived experiences we face the truth of our times as we hold awareness of the universal energy. There will very likely still be conflicts, struggle in the aftermath of many unforeseen natural occurrences, media stories of things mostly gone awry.  And we will reflect.  Some will retreat.  Some will prepare spaces to receive those in retreat.

How can one prepare a space that offers succor, beauty, quiet embrace by taking all of what the natural world has to share, and integrating the things human beings have created?  It's coming to a time to retreat to a retreat space - physical, mental, spiritual.  And the question will arise:  What can each of us do so that the next steps taken are taken with great care and awareness of what the world really needs from each of us now?