“Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralysed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds’ wings.” ~Rumi, The Essential Rumi
As the days wear on, I am becoming more and more of myself.
In life we experience both contraction and expansion.We are the unfurling flowers of the universe. It is in our nature to expand. When we choose to contract does that make us the dying bud? I don’t think so. It is necessary at times for us to contract in order to learn. It pushes us to open up to the world. You must know one to know the other; kind of like having to experience the dark in order to know light. Who wants to spend a lifetime shut off, hardening?
When we are cold, uncaring, suffering from guilt or shame we are contracting. We are unable to forgive in a shriveled state. When we are stagnant, we don’t experience growth which is vital to fulfilling purpose and finding peace.
When we set our intentions to believe in life and the guidance of spirit, we open ourselves to love; we expand. When we surrender to Spirit, we receive truth and extend love, thus entering the dwelling of gratitude. It is impossible not to be at peace when one lives a life of gratitude. Sure you might experience rough times. Pain is paramount to growth. You will even shed tears as you will be sensitive to the good and bad of the world. But because you know it’s a part of the purpose you’re not in a state of anxiety.
Grace allows us to let go of fear and anger. Grace leads us to forgive. This is expanding. Have you ever noticed how difficult life seems when you are contracted and how easily it flows when you are expanded? This is a part of coming in tune with the nature of our true selves.
What do you believe? It makes all the difference.
Where is the heart guiding? Is the spirit energized, is it blossoming? Are you coming into yourself?
In reality, we have a choice of contracting or expanding. Finding peace is a choice as well…we choose the road we travel.
“When we choose to contract does that make us the dying bud? I don’t think so. It is necessary at times for us to contract in order to learn. It pushes us to open up to the world. You must know one to know the other; kind of like having to experience the dark in order to know light.”
Suzi, I LOVE how you said that because I find it to be try. And isn’t something how the changes in seasons sort of represent that? Winter we contract and go within; learning. Then when spring arrives, we expand and take what we learned; blossoming.
So for me, I think there is wisdom in both contracting and expanding.
Great post! And I love that quote!
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I think so too, Ron.
Beautiful, Suzi! Perhaps that’s why winter is so hard on some of us — we soooo want to expand, but the cold and snow forces us to contract. Well written, and what a beautiful photo, too.
Yes, winter is hard on a lot of folks.
I love the analogy of expanding and contracting. So much of life unfolds in the closing and opening. Absolutely adore that Rumi quote. Thanks!
Yes, a lot happens in that space.
I hadn’t thought about it, but we do go through expanding and contracting. As long as the process continues, we are growing.
Absolutely.
Yes!
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ~ Anais Nin
Open Sesame!
Love that quote, one of my favorites!
Lovely Suzi–thanks for sharing. I agree with the statement that we cannot tread water; we are either expanding or contracting. I hope to be seizing the opportunities placed be for me; though I confess to needing a good kick in the pants from time to time.
I need that kick at times as well…a whole lot more often than I’d like to admit!
This is so true – so many things have their cycles. In writing, I find I have periods of creativity, and then there is a need to withdraw and consolidate.
Life is certainly cyclic.
Pain is paramount to growth…Grace allows us to let go of fear and anger. Grace leads us to forgive. Wonderful advice! I love how you phrase these things.
Awe, thanks…I think truth rises within each of us.
“Grace allows us to let go of fear and anger. Grace leads us to forgive.” An excellent reminder, Suzi. Your posts are always SO inspiring. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Laura.