My Sunday List
June 01, 2025
Words
“As children we learn which behaviors cause approval and disapproval from our families, teachers, and friends. We tend to develop those things which are acceptable and repress those things which are not. Those things we repress or deny about ourselves become our shadow.” —Richard Rohr
Music
This afternoon I’m catching up on a bit of genius, World Famous Headliners by the World Famous Headliners, which was/is a supergroup consisting of Shawn Camp, Pat McLaughlin, Al Anderson, Michael Rhodes (we sure miss him), and Greg Morrow. Any of those fellas on their own is astonishingly good. Together, they’re ridiculous.
Special notice to Shawn Camp, who’s getting a lifetime achievement award for songwriting from the Arkansas Country Music Awards tomorrow. Well deserved.
Joy
A thrown together dish that ends up being delicious. Last evening, I thought “hmmm, I don’t really have any groceries and don’t really want to have to get any right now.” I had some already cooked chicken breasts, some white mushrooms, and parmesan cheese in the refrigerator and some delicious herbs growing in the back—oregano and thyme, specifically—so I threw it together with some onion, garlic, stock, and instant rice in my biggest iron skillet. Cooking is art. Cooking is love. That’s the secret ingredient in every delicious bite.
lemon balm and thyme Going out in the early morning and checking the flowers. I’m carried away with the raised beds I put in the front yard in April. They’re already filling up with pollinators for the bees and butterflies. I dream of a full garden out there with only a few pathways for walking.
The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
Inspiration Card of the Day
I like to pull tarot cards some mornings. I don’t rely on them for exact information or anything but I do like to use them as prompts to think about a situation. I don’t think guidance necessarily comes from tarot, rather the nudge it gives our intuition.
Today’s card, pulled from Tasha van Ree’s the Untamed Elemental deck, is Root.
From the guide book:
“Stabilization. Root is the starting point, He is the vast, unseen network of life that draws energy from the Earth and creates a stable platform for life to grow and thrive. It offers a constant source of sustenance, connection, and communication. Root delves and twists, sharing insight with his neighboring kin and creating a strong community. As the most ancient and reliable anchor of planetary support, he guides us to grow stronger and more stable.
Root asks you to establish firm foundations and develop a relationship with your own network of stabilization. He is the connecting force that carries all answers, so take stock: Are you receiving the right nourishment? Are you drinking enough water, getting enough movement and sleep, breathing deeply? These pleasurable and achievable practices should be your starting point. An imbalance in one of them will translate to depletion in other areas of your life. Nurture your roots and watch your life blossom in miraculous ways.”
Aren’t these words that we all need to hear? I know so many of us are running on empty. I tied a red leather cord around my wrist that shows just a little under my watch to remind me to send a little love inward. It sounds so much easier than it is. But every time I notice it, I try.
Gratitude
Evidence of angels. Sometimes you just know you’ve encountered one.
Flow. I’m so lucky to get to do something I love for work. There’s a zone I like to find when I’m deeply into whatever I’m doing—my breath evens out, I’m calm, and my brain feels well oiled. It’s grounded, yet loose and fun.
Noticing progress. Part of wisdom is knowing ourselves and knowing our flaws. One of my big ones has always been not standing up for myself and then letting it all come out in the wrong way. I’ll never be the person I’d like to be, but I noticed the other day that I was able to express myself without feeling like I was floating outside my body. This is one of the rare times I feel like it’s okay to use the saying “if you know you know.”
Desires
Truth. Times are strange. Today, John Henry and I drove out to meet his aunties at the lake, and I was bowled over by the beauty I witnessed on the drive and on the water—the colors, the terrain, the ancient formations we can and can’t see. It’s easy to get discouraged about the state of the world when things feel topsy turvy, and for me, things feel topsy turvy right now. There’s no general consensus and we’re each being fed exactly what we ordered. But being in nature and witnessing quiet is simple—look at that beam of light on the left hand side of the image telling me everything I need to know.
Courage. Doing what’s inconvenient but right beats out what’s easy every time. Not necessarily when I’m having to do the thing, but definitely later, when I look in the mirror.
Prayer
Let me be good. Let me remember to talk to you and hear what you have to say to me. Let me value your divine knowing over anything and everything else, over anyone and everyone’s opinion. Let me be choosy about the counsel I seek. Let me be loyal, kind, and compassionate to my friends and family. Let me use good judgment and strength of character in every moment. Let me never forget that each breath is a gift from you, from this universe, from the miracle that is this moment of perfect combustion. Let me be strong in my faith. Let me receive inspiration. Most of all, let me love and be loved.
Intention for the week to come
May I be the best version of myself at every opportunity.
May I be patient. May I be kind.
May I have self-awareness.
May I clear clutter from my life.
May I welcome change.
May I love unconditionally.
May I slow down my emotions and keep them at arms length. They are clues—not answers, not truth.
Something I’m thinking about
How to appreciate the juggle.
There are times I just have to keep throwing it all up into the air until they fall into place. Words are sometimes like that. Music can be that way too. And handling multiple projects at the time requires a wide view plus faith that you won’t let anything drop. Challenging, yes. But an act I’ve grown to love a little bit.
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
DO NOT EVER LET THE BASTARDS GET YOU DOWN.
Wishes
That we all receive the love we deserve.
That we all find comfort and peace.
That we all find time for the things that soothe us.
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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I don’t what made me decide to follow you… the Universe works its own magic … and I just love it. I especially love your photos the end… I feel you singing… have yourself an awesome day and Thank You for all that you share…
A red string tied around your wrist is also a Kabbalah custom to ward off misfortune. So, whether the intention is to bring peace, love, grounding, or luck, it’s a sure bet!