Article Highlights:

• Where the fun is
• What is a Seer?
• The beauty that you are

Dear Beauty,

Acclaimed dessert chef Christina Tosi decided to dedicate her work to creating adult versions of sweet childhood delights. When asked why she chooses to makes cakes and cookies her food arena rather than “serious” cuisine, she replied that she’d tried that and got burned out by the fine dining world.

It was no fun at all, she said, and she stopped cooking professionally altogether. When she found herself cooking again it was to make treats for friends and coworkers and that’s when she realized that for her the fun of food was in a creative reinventing of the baked goodies from her childhood. After all, she said, “The world is more your oyster when you approach it with a childlike sensibility, it’s a more curious place, a more beautiful place.”

Thinking later about the relationship between fun, childlike sensibility and beauty, I reflected that the childlike perspective is one that’s open, discovering, interested, amazed. I realized then that with this perspective it’s possible to see beauty and delight everywhere. It was then that I heard the voice of my heart with this message:

Your Beautiful Moment
A Message From the Heart of Love

Beloved One,

There is a wondrous beauty in every moment, residing there like the twinkling of a star. It seems sometimes hidden by hurry or distraction or dark clouds but even then it is there, awaiting your notice.

At any moment, dearest, you need only lift your eyes and notice. Notice what is already there, however mundane. It is then you will truly encounter the spiral on your notebook, the feel of your pen, the unconsciously familiar smell of ink, the sound of your thoughts scratching out onto paper.

Notice the dearly vulnerable uncertainty on another’s face, the tubes of flowers in your grocer’s isle, the humanity of the people you pass without really taking note. Notice them. Notice more of what surrounds you. Notice. For what is a Seer but one who sees?

The world pines for your notice and Life blooms extravagantly in the warmth of your sincere interest. All of life opens to the light of being seen.

Notice what is before you, and smile.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“All of life opens to the light of being seen.” What a lovely statement, and how true! I have a thought… this week, let’s each create moments of beauty by choosing something we rarely notice and then see it anew. Even in the most common things is wonder and beauty. A word of caution however, if you practice this with frequency you may be overwhelmed by the beauty always with you.

You might even choose yourself as the subject of your deeply honoring interest, if so I think you’ll ultimately be overcome by the beauty that you are.

To the light within that notices the light in all things,

With love,
Mayet Leilani

Article Highlights:

• Who greets you?
• Attending your own garden
• Join me there

Dear Secret Gardener,

I attended a funeral that, amid the sadness, also had many moments of beautiful and glad-hearted sharing.

Printed on the program was a poem by Thich Nhat Hanh:

Tomorrow, I will continue to be.
But you will have to be very attentive    to see me.
I will be a flower, or a leaf.
I will be in these forms
And I will say hello to you.
If you are attentive enough,
You will recognize me,
And you may greet me.
I will be very happy.

Reading this again later, I thought to myself, “Who is greeting me now, when I’m too distracted to hear?  Who could I hear if I paused to be attentive?  The ancestors perhaps, with a word of encouragement?  A friend who has passed?  Perhaps the spirit of the flower itself even?  Who don’t I hear?”

So I listened… right then I became attentive and said, “Hello?  Who greets me now?”  Then I listened attentively.

The little Japanese Maple began to shimmer outside my window in a sudden breeze.  The clouds above made just enough room for the sun to highlight it prettily in its shady grove, and the wonderful wind chimes nearby tinkled melodically for a time.  The wind, the sun, the tree, it’s leaves, their melody… they greeted me.

“Hello,” I said, “I recognize you.  Thank you so much for showing up to greet me in such an immediate way!”  They did indeed seem happy to connect.

It dawned on me then: I have a secret garden. One that’s there just for me.  It’s in what’s around me, different every day, each moment.  My own secret garden.  You have one too.

I thought it would be fun to enter our secret gardens  together, right now, through the portals of our attention.  The garden’s are separate but we are not.  It would be fun to do this with you.  Pause momentarily, be attentive to the subtle world around you.  Who is there?

Perhaps you will ask for someone in particular to give a message or let you know they are there.  Maybe you will hear someone ask you for something.  A butterfly might flutter by, or you’ll feel a hug.  Perhaps you’ll feel my heart open toward you.  You might hear the voice of your own Soul.  Or the room might feel so full you will be certain of Presence.  Let’s pause together and see!

As well, maybe this week or this month we can let it be our secret delight… taking many, many moments to be attentive to all around that can be seen and heard and shared in our own responsive secret gardens.

From my attentiveness I greet you now, and recognize the beauty of your intrinsic goodness that’s so very apparent, even from here.

In recognition,
Mayet Leilani

Dear Mindful One,

I thought perhaps just a poem today, a musing on mind that I had one day.
May it find you in a perfect moment,
Much love,
Mayet

Frame of Mind

The mind
always clinging
to like, dislike
Obsessively repeating
repeating what it
already knows
nothing new to say

Such relief
Turning away
freed from its
linear fixations
Mind is not just that
collection of limitations

It is also un-fabricated
Primordial purity
the essence of
Life’s magic

It is a joy
Being in that
frame of mind
Informed by the
Heart’s Truth

~ Mayet Leilani