Intention: Attention directed inward.

3 Feb

We’ve been in this little house for almost 2 years. Sold our farm in WV and moved here. I loved the farm. Loved my garden and our goats. Loved milking and tending the herd. The beauty of the place was unsurpassed. Our home was built from trees harvested on the land–storm damaged poplars that were down and needed repurposing. It was lovely. I never thought we’d leave. But in my experience matters of the heart often fly in the face of logic. More powerful than any THING ever could be. And when the something ELSE called, we listened. With attention. And discovered again how Attention to specifics–in conjunction with INTENTion–can bring about amazing transformation.

On Tuesdays I hang out at my sister’s. She’s a weaver. Another friend who makes medicine bags comes by and the three of us work on our projects and from time to time have very engaging conversations. A few weeks ago I heard myself voicing concern that some THING was wrong with this little house we moved into. And what ever it was, it needed to be addressed. My sense of equilibrium/ease–the need for– was flashing on high alert. And so my medicine bag friend sent me home with instructions to put small muslin bags of salt in the corners of the rooms.salt

smudge She also advised smudging–which I do regularly–and specific visualizations. Intention. Attention directed inward?

What I had not anticipated was the momentum that would gather in the face of such seemingly benign acts. Salt? Who would have guessed?

This is what happened: my studio/work space received a total overhaul. Now it WORKS for–rather than against–me. But the kitchen? Major problem. Like this: when the stove door was open, it touched the sink cabinet. It blocked the little 3 foot wide “walking through” space. Anyone on the other side would be blocked in until the door closed. Same with the refrigerator door. Constant traffic jams. Constant. And the kitchen was so small that I couldn’t have communion with others while meal prep was happening. With more than one person, it felt like we were stuffed in a phone booth.

The problem: some time in the past the house had been retro-fitted with basement stairs that were put in the kitchen. Taking up a LOT of space. The stairs had to go. Unfortunate because I was constantly running to the basement for one thing or another–usually related to dyeing fabric or some other cloth related project. But I can simply go outside, down some steps, and enter the basement that way. Anyway, a contractor appeared as if by magic:construction
a much-needed heat register was uncovered from the previously ill-thought-out stairs addition:heat register and in a week or so we should have a user-friendly kitchen. In the meanwhile, breakfast happens and heart space continues to fill.logan eating And to think, all of this–from the BIG move to this little project–evolved from simply voicing an idea–a need–a dream. An intention.

12 Responses to “Intention: Attention directed inward.”

  1. laurieclifford February 3, 2013 at 2:23 pm #

    Again, no words. Just love you sooooo much!

    Like

  2. Jennifer February 3, 2013 at 2:31 pm #

    I can’t wait to see it! Love……..

    Like

  3. Mo Crow February 3, 2013 at 4:55 pm #

    this is good to read I am dealing with the whole corner of the house turning into a water feature every time it rains, have converted the corner of the studio into a conservatory & thinking salt in that corner will help too… it’s all in the intent ahe?!

    Like

    • patricia February 3, 2013 at 5:39 pm #

      yes. salt does amazing things.

      Like

      • Mo Crow February 6, 2013 at 6:48 pm #

        the bowl of salt placed in the corner has really shifted the energy here too Patricia! The space feels clear and dry & I can draw again at last with renewed focus & clarity. Thank you so much, this sympathetic evolution that we are participating in with Jude over at Spirit Diaries is strong magic and thanks too to Grace, I had never heard of Gandhi’s Salt Revolution! Have you read The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson ?

        Like

        • patricia February 6, 2013 at 6:50 pm #

          sooooooooooo glad to hear this–and no, i haven’t read the salt roads but will look it up. thanks.

          Like

  4. grace Forrest~Maestas February 3, 2013 at 6:10 pm #

    remember…Gandhi changed everything with a Salt Revolution….
    i love this. changing things. let us watch as it goes on, ok?
    and this beautiful soul at breakfast…oh, how his hair has a life of it’s own and those
    eyelashes, his foot.

    Like

    • patricia February 3, 2013 at 6:19 pm #

      so glad you “remembered” me the salt revolution. the power of salt, again. . . . and the beautiful soul is grand boy. i cannot say “my” grand son. thinking of kahlil gibran–“your children are not your children…they come through you but not from you.” so no ownership implied here, just an abundance of BIG love for being able to share space with this one. and yes, the eyelashes!

      Like

  5. deedeemallon February 14, 2013 at 1:56 pm #

    You remind me that I am out of Epsom’s – bathe in a salty bath most nights… it’s supposed to relax, soothe, and pull toxins out of the body.

    our house was a barn, converted to an orphanage, then eventually a house. There’s no sense of darkness here, but sometimes, in one upstairs room, a sense of chills and stuck energy – so yes, we have smudged, call forth the Archangels to stand guard at the four corners of the property, placed mirrors, and waved bells and feathers around. It’s probably time to do so again!

    You are going to feel SO GREAT with a kitchen that flows — kitchens are often the heart of a house, and flow there is so important. Stay strong getting through it! I know it can be so, so disruptive, and knowing this is going on makes me understand your Mountain Cloth in a whole new way.

    Like

    • patricia February 14, 2013 at 2:01 pm #

      you are so right about this All. the kitchen is 90% now and what a huge difference it makes. love that you visited here.

      Like

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