Notes on Tending
Some (sometimes contradictory) notions about the practice of contemplative tending.
Here are some (sometimes contradictory) notions about the practice of contemplative tending.
Identify something very specific and stick with that.
Let yourself keep responding to whatever presents itself to you openly and without a specific intention other than just to maintain your attention.
Faced with an overwhelming stack or pile or mountain? Touch one thing and then the next thing and just keep doing that for the whole period.
Keep moving.
Allow yourself to be still.
Let the activity work on you as you work on the activity.
Let yourself drift freely and notice where you feel most drawn and inquire as to whether there is something important for you there even if it is not where you have accorded priority in the past. And even if you can’t tell at the moment why this would be important to do, just let yourself enter the activity and see what happens.
Doing nothing is doing something.
Attempt something that feels difficult as if it is something very neutral or very easy. Think about what you bring to tasks that you have identified as easy. Perhaps what is happening is that you can identify the steps. Sometimes in a difficult task, the steps feel out of reach. What is the first step and then the next step?
Experiment with time!
Let yourself work at whatever pace feels most possible. What if you give yourself twice or three times the amount of time you think something should take ?
What if you give yourself less time than you think the activity takes?
Let time work with/for you, i.e. soaking a pan rather than scrubbing it, something as simple as that. But it also works somehow if you start a difficult task and set it down and come back to it that it can sometimes become more doable, as if some process has been underway in the interval.
Notice little grooves where self judgment can get caught. be as explicit as possible with setting any judgment down.
What activities have you decided are not important enough to do? What if you give them top priority for one period? Sometimes doing the low priority thing gives us way into the high priority thing or sometimes the whole notion of priority changes.
Easy thing first.
Hardest thing first.
Do only one thing at a time.
Notice elegant ways to do several things at once.
Harness the power of mise en place
Be spontaneous
Prepping the activity is already the activity.
10 minutes / ten things
Identify the pleasure, tune toward it
Set out a block of time rather than intended activities. Be available to what happens in that time.
Special half-day soji session on Sunday January 4, 10 - 3 PST
In the tradition of “dai-soji” extended soji sessions at the change of the season.
It’s an opportunity to dedicate a half-day to wholehearted tending! Imagine the possibilities. You’re welcome to come for as much of the time as you can.
When you register you’ll receive a schedule.
To register follow the link below. There is no extra charge for the extended session.
The schedule will follow the same rhythms of our usual sessions, but each soji period will be a bit longer, and there will be more time to develop a sustained rhythm for writing and reflection, and rest~
Sunday, January 4, 10 - 3:00 PST
Each session includes
A short informal talk & discussion
A brief meditation/free write inviting inquiry
Guided writing & discussion
6 soji sessions /off screen