Side-notes on being human; Introduction for 100 Blessings for Enchantment

I’m adding a new feature to my 100 Day Project this time. Sharing finished blessings each day is an adventure I’m greatly looking forward to. And… I don’t want it to begin to appear that there is not a very human side to a spiritual adventure like this one.

What I know from my last 100 Day Project is that every single day there is a blank slate, then comes the inspiration (eventually), then the ups and downs of the creative process, the fear and enthusiasm, the writing and the edits. Much like life.

Spiritual work done as a human is no less follied or pinnacled than any other type of work. I think it’s important to talk about that. I believe the human part is the whole point of spiritual work. If it doesn’t make me better at human-ing and more connected to the rich and mysterious gift of living on this planet, what is the purpose?

And, the purpose of spiritual work might be something totally different for you. And that’s as it should be.

What I wish we were more open about are the doubts and the hardwon heights and the inner wrestling and the tender knowing in spiritual work. It’s rarely a linear ascent. It’s possible that it’s only me who has such a human experience of spiritual work; but my hunch is that it’s not.

So, on days that there has been something particularly human of note, I’ll be writing a blog post about it and adding a link to it in the comments of my finished blessing.

For example; today. I had prepared my introduction and graphics for my project before this long weekend began. I planned to do a few mouse clicks and enjoy an easy launch!

This morning, as I was waking up, I had a nudge to take a brief walk with my husband in a nearby park that has a stream running through it on our way to grab some Dutch Bros coffee.

A nice quick walk. Then on to the day of iced coffee and leisure.

As we walked the trail toward the stream, I noticed a dirt trail that veered off of the paved path. I’d never noticed it before. My spirit leapt with recognition. There it is! To which my mind said– Wait, what? There WHAT is? What?

And my heart started to sink because I knew this exchange within myself well. I knew I needed to go down the dirt path. But what I wanted was iced coffee. And to not annoy my sweet husband who was also ready for a day of doing nothing.

I slowed and asked him, “Does that trail run along the stream?” I knew that he knew that we both knew what I was asking. “You wanna go down it?”

“No. Not really.” he chuckled.

“I do.” I smiled sheepishly.

We both shrugged and headed in. It was a beautiful trail and we took turns pointing out birds and flowers and lizards. After a while, I looked up and saw a single tree standing above drainage tunnels that led to tiny ponds and a section of thick brush that had been carved through by some kind of machinery.

There it is! I felt my mind and heart open to what my spirit had already known.

This tree was welcoming me into partnership for my project, as a physical place to visit and as a power place to begin my journeys from. A group of birds gathered in the tall brush next to it. It was a beautiful moment and I was filled with awe.

Immediately, I heard my spirit tell the tree that I would return to pick up 100 pieces of the trash that was scattered in the area in gratitude and as an offering to her for her shepherding of me through my project.

Wait, what? What? But… iced Coffee. Husband. Lounging.

Because that is how it is to be a human doing spiritual work. It can be a little messy. There are moments of confusion and resistance. And that’s okay.