Gideon’s Challenge – Dancing Goats

Amalthea DancingDancing Goats 

Sometimes
you just have to
ignore the eyes
watching on
and
wiggle your ass
to the music
with the freedom
of a carefree
moment
and
let them laugh
with a smile
on your face

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Gideon’s Challenge – Quiet Kisses

Hydrangea BlossomsQuiet Kisses

Can we
just stay home
and burrow
together
under cool covers
with the
ceiling fan on
and whisper
sweet nothings
to each other
in the
quiet space
we share

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Gideon’s Challenge – The Bait

Whidbey Island InletThe Bait

Why is it necessary
to lay the trap
with words spouted
in a tone
recognized
as contentious
and meant to cause
hackles to rise
as nonsense words
spill forth
like thorny vines
to bristle sharp
as front and center
the bait is lain out
for the taking

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Gideon’s Challenge – Meditation and Mindfulness

The Buddha and Miss LunaMeditation and Mindfulness

Recently, someone asked me “How often do you meditate?”, and I had a hard time answering this question. The thing is that I do multiple types of meditation every day; but I don’t count them.

I pause multiple times a day to just slow breathe for a few minutes, and focus on those breaths. These breathing exercises are a coping mechanism, and help with my nerves and moments of anxiety. It is meditation, but I don’t count it as such.

I do grounding meditations before client readings. These help to ground and center me for the reading and put my head and energy into the right space. But, I don’t count them as meditation, even though that’s what they are.

I pause for moments of gratitude. I paused for moments of enjoyment from my senses and/or from my synesthesia. I don’t count these as meditation either, although they are in fact a brief mindfulness meditation.

What I count as a meditation is usually a 10 minute or longer stretch of mindfulness meditation and breathing exercise that’s done strictly for me and only for me. This is why we often see my posts saying that my meditation is skipped, even on days when I’ve actually done multiple meditations during the day.

The other types of meditation, I don’t think really count. Not that they don’t do their job or aren’t a type of meditation. I just don’t consider them to be time that was aside for that purpose and just for me.

So with this in mind, I ask to the question “How often do you meditate?” Do I answer multiple times a day? Or do I answer few times a week? I’m still not sure.

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Gideon’s Challenge – Paradise Found 

French LavenderParadise Found 

Sweet scents
of lavender
and sweetgrass
blend with sage
cedar
and furniture polish
as footsteps
carry
through the door
and black fluff
rubs
against ankles
in greeting

Photo © ZenStatePhotography

Gideon’s Challenge – Happiness

Purple PansyHappiness

Pretty faces
greet us
vibrantly
to remind us
summer
isn’t just
a slow crawl
through hell
but a
fleeting moment
of beauty
to lift the spirit
and draw out
a smile

Photo © ZenStatePhotography