Monday, May 16, 2011

What Are You Adding To The Energy Soup?

This tree is just down the road from me. I call it the heart tree. It's a bit hard to see in the photo but people have gathered stones that are shaped like hearts and tucked them into the mossy crevices of this living tree. It makes you smile just to see it.

In my imaginings, one creative soul tucked in the first rock and then others joined in, searching the ground for heart-shaped stones and adding them to the collection.

The tree reminded me of a Dharma talk I heard a while back. Heather talked about how we live in a teeming energy field. Everything is alive with energy. We are part of the ingredients in a giant pot of energy soup, if you like. Her question to us was, when the going gets tough (or anytime really) it's good to ask ourselves what do we want to contribute to the energy field? What do we want to contribute to the energy soup, a bitter, slightly off ingredient or something sweet and tasty.

I loved this question as something to ask myself as I go about my day. And I had the opportunity to answer it as I spent Friday in the city doing errands; getting a haircut, doing banking, buying vitamins, and generally rushing about before overnighting with a friend. As I ate a muffin and walked down a busy street I decided to pass a fellow walking a little more slowly than I. As I passed him, he picked up his pace. This felt oddly uncomfortable, so I picked up mine. And then I heard a quiet, but not too quiet voice say, "Do you always cut people off?" In my mind I had not cut him off as I did not tuck myself back in front of him but somehow he felt cut off. Quickly my mind thought I have an opportunity here. So I slowed down and said, "did it feel like I cut you off, that was not my intention. I apologize if that's how it seemed. Really what I am doing is rushing about doing a bunch of errands." And at that point we began a little chat, remarked on the sunny day and when we parted at the stop lights, he wished me a nice day. It was my impression that I had not sent him on his way to stew about how rude and inconsiderate people are and that perhaps he even felt a bit cheered by our exchange. I felt like I had added at least a pinch of something wholesome to the energy soup. In the past I probably would have shrugged and thought, he's having a bad day and carried on.

So I offer this to you, this little question, that can be answered in tiny ways, like my walking experience or in large ways, especially with dear ones. What are you adding to the energy soup? A great thought I find, when things get a bit dicey.

15 comments:

  1. Hopefully kindness and encouragement.

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  2. What a great idea! It would add a bit of extra help to making those little choices that seem to crop up all day long - whether to say something or not, to pick something up or leave it on the ground, to make the extra effort or not.

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  3. Small kindnesses, and a little thoughtfulness, are usually repaid in so many ways. In this case it removed some of the stress of haste from your own life for a moment, and made you feel a better person. A good thought.

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  4. Carole - Yes!

    David - It is a nice little succinct way that's easy for a bear of very little brain like myself to remember! I like your fleshing out of the possibilities.

    Jo - I forgot to mention that important part, that not only my fellow walker felt better for it but so did I! Yes always a reciprocal action.

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  5. What a great idea about the "heart tree"! And what a delightful encounter with the man on the street. What I love about it is that you met him where he was... You *saw* him. Such a wonderful example you are to be more conscious, present, accepting and loving... Big Heart Bows! Love, C

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  6. Wow! Good job. Sometimes I feel too shy to be kind, but this is a good reminder to try and overcome that.

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  7. Beautiful story; the gesture of an open heart. Thank you for this inspiring post dear Carole
    ~ miriam louisa

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  8. MeANderi - I can see you starting your own heart tree! Maybe wherever we go we need to start heart trees??? Heart bows from the heart tree!

    Mandy - Sometimes I am in the camp of feeling shy too,for sure sometimes shyness wins. But this felt like the Dharma leading the way, there was a spontaneous easiness about it.

    Miriam Louisa - Thanks for your kind words! And happy settling in.

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  9. There is a tree like that, or more a bush, in chatham Mass on the bay.

    nice way to think about our "negative" energy. When we indulge in it we are adding rotten tomatoes to the soup.

    I like your story. Best of all really is that this man and yourself had a little time to chat and share in this busy world of rushing people.

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  10. suki - fun to hear of another heart tree. Chuckled over the "rotten tomatoes". It's true, it is connection that is so important, we are social beings and this warms our hearts. and yes to feel that connection in many and varied ways makes it sink in.

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  11. For many years we had a glove tree here at the beach...it was actually a riot to see all these many gloves (mostly heavy rubber surfers wet suit gloves) blowing about on the bare branches of this drift wood 'tree' beached into the dunes...waving frantically...apparent from far far down the beach...HEY HEY Come here!! Come stop by and chat awhile.


    Your encounter sounds like excellent 'peace warrior' practice...not easy to step up and take the initative to make peace but there you were and that's what you did...and you betcha he had a sweet after taste from the encounter...as do we in your share.

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  12. What a wonderful story and example of the choices we make - moment to moment - to alter our perceptions, our experiences, and by doing so, alter the experiences of others as well. It also transforms the situation from uncomfortable or upsetting to one of connection. Thank you for the reminder of how easy it really is.

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  13. What an interesting concept-- adding to the energy soup-- I will have to think about that as I am in my studio and home a lot and I live on a small island and am a bit isolated-- but I do love that tree with the heart shaped rocks-- I have a small collection myself and would love to see so many of them tucked into the moss of a tree.

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  14. Deep bows, Carole! I was feeling a tad vulnerable when I read this a few days ago but it pushed me forward in a good way. Interesting how the quantity of spice we put into the soup is important. Passion in large amounts becomes disruptive; in too small amounts allows other flavours to overpower it. Measured doses of what I put into the soup is a good practice!

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  15. merci- love the image of these waving gloves! what fun! I like that idea be a "peace warrior". thanks as always for your kind words.

    spirit - it is those tiny moments during the day when we get to choose isn't it?

    layers - you are adding to the energy soup in your thoughtful and considered comments in the blogosphere and the lovely peace and tranquility you spread through your artwork and blog.

    108 - yes that is an interesting comment, even if it's a good spice, too much can ruin the soup! thanks for your wise perspective as always.

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