My Sunday List
July 14, 2024
Words
Each day provides its own gifts. —Marcus Aurelius
Music
I listened to Stardust yesterday morning while having coffee. If you know that album, of course you understand why it’s the perfect one for a weekend morning. After it ended, my Spotify algorithm took over and about four songs later, “Tulsa Time” came on and good Lord what a classic. There’s no way you can feel bad if you cut a little rug to this in your kitchen right by yourself. I’m so grateful my parents had good taste in music. I might’ve missed recordings like this. Makes me want to get a pickup truck and go to the woods.
I watched
My sister turned me on to this incredible documentary on Carl Jung called Matter of Heart. I bought it on Amazon and can’t wait to watch it twenty more times. It’s all over the internet, apparently, and I think you can even watch it on YouTube. Highly recommended for a deep look at the unconscious. The older I get, the more I think the unconscious is responsible for most decisions. I’d rather get in touch with mine lest I be directed by something about which I know nothing.
Book
You know your work is right when you can’t wait to get to it. That’s how I feel walking into the museum every weekday morning. Part of my work this week was reading Truckload of Art, an extensive and fully-realized biography on the extraordinarily talented, polymath Terry Allen. I have always admired Terry, as well as his partner and co-conspirator in life, Jo Harvey Allen. What a team and what an inspiration. This book explores a wholly-lived life, a deeply trusted and revered love (and artistic partnership) with another, and an extensive body of work from which there are many deep things to learn. He and Mr. Greaves will be at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to talk about it next weekend. I’m gonna have to sneak in.
Favorite moments
Realizing every day that I’m not throwing my time, self-esteem, individuality, and brain power away by scrolling social media.
Standing on my hands and feeling weightless. The endorphins that flood my body afterwards don’t hurt, either.
Any time I took a break to meditate and pray.
Painting in the morning room yesterday.
What I’m wearing
What I’m cooking
You know, it’s just too hot to eat much. Cherries are always a good idea. Watermelon is too! Greek yogurt with a little granola for breakfast. Blueberries. Cold things — ice cream, popsicles. I’ve always enjoyed grazing the most — big meals feel like they should be reserved for big groups, which I also love, but it’s too hot for gathering too. I will let that be until the weather turns.
Favorite Photo I Took This Week
I’m grateful for
A beautiful, soft nest in which to live.
Friends. The real ones. The ones who know themselves and know the beauty and depth of true exchange.
My relationship with the Great Spirit.
What I made
Adjustments.
Something wonderful I noticed
There is so much to absorb in the course I’m taking — The Divine Exchange — through The Center for Action and Contemplation. I’m overwhelmed with the beautiful ideas. I know that I have the ability to feel immersed in love at any second if I only tune in to the magnanimous energy of God, which I’m processing as gravity itself — the property that holds this whole thing together. That’s some major Peace. Love.
What brought me joy
My dogs.
My home.
My son.
My sister.
My friends.
Music.
Reading.
Painting.
Appreciating every part of everything.
Prayer
Thank you, Great Spirit, for the life you put in me. Thank you for the blessing of this experience. Please give me the strength to turn all things over to you and the faith to know you will work miracles in me through whatever you place in my blessed path. Allow me to gracefully release what is not meant for me, and to hold tightly and lovingly to what is. Allow me clarity, focus, and courage. Allow me to rise to my highest vibration. With deep gratitude I pray.
Intention for the week to come
May I be present and fully inhabit my mind, spirit, and physical body.
May I breathe peace in, and breathe love out.
May I have the self-possession and grace to meet others with kindness and acceptance.
May I find the flexibility in myself to gracefully accept the imperfections of life.
May I think before I speak.
May I think more than I speak.
May I be grateful.
May I allow myself to trust.
May I have CLARITY.
May I be patient.
May my vibration resonate in harmony with the universe.
May I be open to what the Great Spirit knows is for me, and may I walk my path accordingly by remembering I can only take it one step at the time.
Something I’m thinking about
How to become free of defense mechanisms and live my own life with an open heart.
How to be self-aware and not self-obsessed or self-centered.
How to allow it all and know that I’m okay regardless of outside events because I am safely held and cared for as a deserving being in the universe.
How none of these things ⬆️ were taught to me by my caregivers.
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
Habit
Looking inward, not outward.
Best Word or Term
Dustsceawung: Contemplation of the fact that dust used to be other things — the walls of a city, the chief of the guards, a book, a great tree: dust is always the ultimate destination. Such contemplation may loosen the grip of our worldly desires.
Let us enjoy but not cling to anything, for every single thing we can see and touch will soon be dustsceawung.
Wishes
That we all are and will be well.
That we all are loved.
That we all put our pasts behind us every minute.
That you will forward this to one person you think might like it.
Have a wonderful, peaceful, joyous week. And thank you for supporting my work here at The Autotelic.
Peace. Love.
Allison
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We are made of stardust so it stands to reason that dustsceawung is a concept to ponder.
My weekly dose of power, depth, wonder and peace. Been really struggling lately and this Sunday post has pulled me off the ledge many a time. Thank you.