Preparation and Surprise

Image by MarcelGermain via Flickr

So many fun and exciting preparations will take place in this final countdown week prior to the big ocean adventure/trip/pilgrimage/voyage thing!

I've wakened the last few nights with thoughts of the next day's chores and checklists.  I'd say lost sleep is not a good thing but as I lie awake checking items off my lists, I eventually become bored with that and then turn to prayer (a good thing) for some anxiety relief!  Succumbing, I call upon my "alphabet prayer list" - seems to calm and lull me back into dreamland.  (The alphabet prayer  A, B, etc. naming those names that come into my head for each letter and then adding a prayer for that person.  The name can be a first name, a family name, a famous person name - for example a first name like granddaughter A with a calming prayer for her back-to-school anxiety, or proceeding with the B's, a last name as in daughter K's last - with a prayer for her writing skills, or a family name like McM - with prayers for everyone's safe travels, a J name - a recently scooter-injured person's name comes to my mind with a prayer for healing and less pain, sometimes the deceased seem particularly prominent during the alphabet roll call.  As I said, the alphabet prayer ultimately soothes my anxiety and I'm off to sleep with often the last amusing thought of "wouldn't Oprah be surprised to know I pray for her occasionally when I "hit the O's?"

Missing a little sleep, feeling a sense of excitement or maybe anxiety during the day, I sometimes think I'm over-reacting to the excitement of this trip planning.  On the other hand, how can I resist to prepare as fully as possible in order to then let what happens, happen!  It's like wrapping one's own surprise birthday present - sort of knowing what's inside the package, loving the outer layers of shiny colored paper and ribbon, ultimately removing the outer layers to find an amazing, "just thought I knew what it was," surprise!

Do you ever remember preparing for such a journey or such an event? Maybe it was a graduate school

diploma in your hand, or the amazing foreign face of the child you had longed for, or how about renewed acquaintance with a long lost friend or cousin?  These are amazing gifts we think we know are coming to us - but can never really imagine the actual thrill of the unwrapping!   If you have a minute I'd love to hear a sharing of something for which you prepared and then had to let it happen...........

 

Pilgrimage/Journey Ideas

Image via Wikipedia

Most of MindSieve's readers know that there's a big voyage for me beginning later this month.  In preparation, I've been reading fiction regarding the South Pacific, Michener, Melville, etc. and a book on pilgrimage mindfulness; being in the present moment, being conscious of the sacred that surrounds a traveler on the journey.

I'm currently pondering thoughts of some small, meaningful treasure that I will take along in my luggage to leave on each island that we visit.  Has to be non-harmful to the environment, not showy, ornate or obvious - just something that I will know I've left behind.  Any thoughts or brainy ideas that come into your head(s) regarding the item?  Have you left treasures as you've made especially meaningful journeys somewhere in your life?  I would love to hear about those treasures.

I'm planning to prepare several soul collage pages to fit in my new journal - pages that I'll "listen" to from time to time while we travel.  The journal - oh, yes, I have a new journal and of course, I have several books downloaded on my Kindle for those days at sea made for relaxed reading, napping, reading.   I'm wondering about a daily book of readings/devotions/contemplative writing for the trip.  I know that you readers have favorite "reads" that you use seasonally, yearly, daily and I'd love your suggestions about a small volume (I might just Kindle it).  So, please give this some thought and send me your list of favorites - there must be one out there that is just yearning for my attention.




Now, lest you think that I'm overworking this pilgrimage stuff, you're probably right.  On the other hand, the planning is so delightful and it seems to be putting a couple of my creative activities in gear - i.e. the writing and as it happens, the painting as well - so I'm letting the planning do its thing and I'm going along for the ride:)

Again, put on your thinking caps and send me a few thoughts about the treasures to be left behind and the volume of daily reading.......I look forward to the thoughts that come from you!

Photo - Wikipedia - Storm in the South Pacific

September 1 Countdown

Cover via Amazon

Countdown to what you might ask?  Well, three weeks from today we will depart on a long dreamed of cruise to the South Pacific.  We've refused to succumb to counting away the days but now with September 1 arriving we are preparing each day in fun and for us, interesting ways.

 For example - I finished my re-reads of James Michener's HAWAII and TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC early this summer.   I'm now reading William Manchester's OUT OF DARKNESS ( see Country Parson today for that book's review:))  I'm also re-reading a fabulous book by Phil Cousineau entitled THE ART OF PILGRIMAGE.  Similar to the first time I read it, I've been intrigued from the first words of the Forward and marvel each day at what Cousineau has to say on the subject of travel and pilgrimage.  For example in the introduction he writes, and I quote:

"Within these chapters are stories, anecdotes, quotes, and vignettes interlaced with practical suggestions from travelers, artists, and pilgrims thoughout history.  Connecting these voices are a series of meditations or contemplations that suggest different ways to practice what pilgrims and poets and keenly perceptive travelers have done for centuries, to see with the "eyes of the heart," as the Sufis say, and transform the inevitable ordeals of of your journey into opportunities to learn something about yourself and the wide world around you." 

And a quote in the book from Mark Twain -  "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."


So it goes in the beginning of my studies toward knowing more about the vast Pacific and yet another part of this globe that we will be visiting, sailing through, resting upon, etc.  I find these topics fascinating - maybe you'll like hearing about some of them also - particularly for ANY trip of consequence, I recommend the Cousineau book.  Anyone out there read anything of Mr. Cousineau's?