September is one of my favorite times of year. Although I grew up with cold weather in the U.S., in Japan September and October are quite different. Somehow the moon feels bigger. Air sits differently in my lungs. And at night the sky expands and becomes majestic.
Autumn touches Hawaii gently. It’s more about which vegetables and flowers are in season, which fish can be harvested, and the waves. Even so, in this month I can still feel the need to clear out and expand.
How can I clear out what I no longer need inside, to make room for what is to come?
To find my answers, I went swimming.
I spent hours in the ocean, surrounded by bright turquoise waves. Things get very simple in deep water. You breathe. Move your arms and legs. Notice nature in and around you. Wiggle your toes and fingers. Breathe more. Relax your mind. Let go of what you don’t need.
A friend was swimming nearby and we began talking about politics, and the upcoming U.S. election. I am eager to see a new president, and the more we talked about the election, the more I forgot where I was. I focused on the discussion and forgot everything else.
Then a wonderful thing happened. I began getting salt water in my mouth from the waves. They began coming in, reaching me at the exact moment my mouth was open, talking politics, causing me to stop and sputter. It hadn’t happened before.
By the third time it happened, I got the message and laughed. That beautiful ocean was gently giving me guidance. She was saying: “It may be very important, this election, but do you need to talk about it NOW??? NOW??? NOW???”
The message was clear. “Ocean time” is the time to be present, in your body and in nature. Relax your mind. Let go of your concerns. Allow the waters to do what they do best: heal.
Later, as I was walking up the beach to grab my towel, I realized that when it comes down to it, everything in life is “ocean time”.
We have nature around us in one form or another. Each season brings its own harvest, and leaves us with gifts. Use what is in your environment. You may not have an ocean nearby but surely there are trees? A mountain? The sky? A moon? A garden or park? These will help you clear out your cobwebs and relax the mental strain.
Let your conscious mind relax its grip on making sure everything gets done “the right way”. Do your best and let the rest go. Breathe. Move your arms and legs. Wiggle your toes and fingers. Listen to your heart.
And if you happen to get “salt water” in your mouth a few times, take note. (smile) What guidance would it mean for you? Maybe a gentle way of saying: “Do you really need to be thinking about that now?”
Enjoy this time.