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Beth Patterson

Host, Virtual Tea House

A few things I’ve learned in the past 2 weeks—January 22, 2010

 

I’ve learned that karma comes around more quickly the more open I am to learning life lessons.

I’ve learned that sleeping outside around my firepit can push my reset button from just about any disturbance in my peace of mind.

I’m learning that working away at a craft like watercolor teaches me things that no book ever could.

Like what, you might add?

Like, water takes the path of least resistance and  seeks its own level (like most humans).

Like, allowing water to do what it will will provide far more interest than harnessing it (like evolving humans).

I’ve learned that those friends that call you out of the blue from 3, 000 miles away just because they’re thinking about you, even though they haven’t seen you in years—those friendships are few and far between.

I’ve learned that beating on drums with friends can recalibrate my heart’s rhythm.  Really.

I’ve learned that sleeping dogs sometimes need to be woken up to go on long hikes so they will sleep when you do.

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That’s about it.  It’s a short list, but it’s been a busy and difficult couple of weeks round these parts. 

What have you learned lately?

Published Friday, January 22, 2010 6:44 PM by Beth Patterson

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Kathryn Ruth said:

your learnings are big.

and i'm glad you shared them.

i don't know what i'm learning. i feel like i'm on the edge of learning. maybe next week i'll know.

January 23, 2010 12:18 PM
 

Sunrise sister said:

I'm learning that the more I collage and paint, the more contented I am with myself.

I'm learning that the more I imagine something actually happening regarding creativity, the more it happens.

I'm learning that listening more expands my heart.

I'm learning that finding stimulation for my artwork is easy enough and oh so useful when it comes to results.

I've learned to let go of some bloggers and their sites as they have no interest in my comments or my site and it's more of a habit than a joy to visit theirs with no interaction.

I've learned to fastforward movies that either have no relevant point for me or are too inane for me to have selected them in the first place.

I've learned that I don't have to finish a book just because I started it.

Now, where did that all come from?:)

January 23, 2010 1:57 PM
 

Beth Patterson said:

Hi Kathryn--I look forward to next week, then...!

Sunrise Sister!  You and your comments are SOOOO welcome here! I loved what you're learning and I learned from just reading them...I'm coming over to your blog right this second and leaving you a comment there as well!

January 23, 2010 3:57 PM
 

tania said:

Brrr....it is quite the ritual to sleep at the fire pit this time of year but the Vestal Virgin in me loves the idea of giving my dreams to the fire.  And....speaking of dreams, since laying off coffee, meat, wine and wheat, I have real dreams again!  I hadn't really realized that until right now.  Thanks for keeping up this exercise....like I've said, your process always triggers something in my process.  

January 25, 2010 12:19 AM
 

Beth Patterson said:

Hi Tania--

Yes, it was cold--it was Thursday night when the wet, wet snow fell...so it was soggy more than cold, but still, to sleep around the fire and let it take my dreams and anxieties was a great ritual.  

Glad you're having real dreams again--yeah!  Worth the price of admission, so to speak?

January 25, 2010 8:47 AM

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About Beth Patterson

The Virtual Tea House website became 'word-ripe' when, over a cup of jasmine green, I realized that the web has an expanding part to play in the communal aspects of spiritual growth.

With a master's degree in religion, my career spans 20 years in end of life care and I currently work in the field of child abuse intervention and advocacy.

Here in beautiful Central Oregon, my spiritual homes of the high desert and the mountains are both in proximity. And for good measure, four hours away is Grandmother Ocean and the stunning Oregon Coast.

I'm making decent progress on the goal set by my mother early on: she taught us that the goal of humanity should be to become ever-more eccentric, i.e. more fully human.

Entering the 'forest-dweller' phase of life, I am honored to host the Virtual Tea House for all who wish to explore how our lives are enriched and made new a thousand times each day by the spirituality we embody. Exploring this engagement together is the purpose of the Virtual Tea House.

Welcome! Let's have a cup of virtual tea together and share what brings us joy, what we are being taught by life, how we are leaning into the Big Questions posed to us each day in sometimes 'distressing disguises'.

Follow me on Twitter, if you must
http://twitter.com/MyraB

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