The Practice: Just Do The Dishes

I heard the voice from the whirlwind. It said, ‘just do the dishes.’
Byron Katie

I developed a habit of needing to figure everything out ahead of time. To protect myself, I needed to know who was where in the house, what they were doing and what mood they were in. I needed to know how to make myself safer because of all the crazy uncertainties I lived with as a child.

Until a few years ago, this survival technique carried over into my adult life and dominated my attention. To say I was obsessed was an understatement. I lived in fear, either making decisions based on what happened in the past or being proactive about the future. I was never present right now.

The power of simply being in the moment, even when fear is present, is what Byron Katie is referring to. Presence is just doing the dishes. Presence is simply being here now.

The Practice of Presence

The present moment is the substance with which the future is made. Therefore, the best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment. What else can you do?
Thich Nhat Hanh

Now my Practice, my new habit, is that of Presence. I take the time to sit in silence. I allow the thoughts and emotions to arise but I don’t attach to them. I become aware of the sensations within my body but, again, without attaching to them.

Yes, the Practice of being wholly present requires great concentration and focus, and is well worth the effort. Being in the moment without attachment brings a new freedom, a new enjoyment of life without fear.

Sitting In the Fire

*It takes great courage to simply sit in the fire and allow what is arising.*

One of my teachers, Neelam, called me aside once when I was drowning in fear and anxiety. She told me something so simple yet profound, it changed my life.

She said, “Lee, if you can find the courage to sit in this fire, I promise you great freedom.”

I didn’t know if it was possible, I was sure I was a lost cause—the pain of past trauma was always so overwhelming. But I trusted her, my heart knew she was speaking truth.

She gave all of her students this simple Practice that had only two parts:

Sit in silence twice a day–notice your breath and the sensations in your body.
Practice Self-Inquiry Journaling.

Her tender guidance helped me to fully understand that the inner peace I was seeking was always there, always available. The Practice would take work and a strong commitment to living a life free from suffering.

Over the years, with her encouragement, I made the Practice my own by adding breathwork, movement and essential oils. Sometimes my Practice is a more elaborate ritual. Other times I simply sit or lie, breathe and do my body awareness meditation.

This is how I stepped out of the self-abusive cycle of emotional pain and suffering I was caught in. I want to share this Practice with you. Play with it, take what you like, what works, massage it, make it your own.

My Personal Practice

Set up:

Eliminate or minimize distractions
Light a candle or two
Diffuse some wonderful essential oil (see the examples below)
Place one or two crystals near by–rose quartz is my current favorite

I sit or lie down in a comfortable position, spine straight but not rigid.

I begin to focus with three or more rounds of breathwork

Body Awareness Meditation

*Our bodies know, often before we do, that we are moving into reactivity.*

Here I bring my awareness into my physical body, gently scanning from head to toe (or toe to head) while I’m noticing the sensations that are here. I’ve learned to not attach to the sensations but to gently notice them.

Here is my audio recording of this beautiful meditation. It’s about 10 minutes long. Consider getting comfortable and hitting play:
https://www.leebyrdmystic.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Body-Awareness-20221216.mp3

When done, I just sit or lie for a few minutes more, and then I usually journal my thoughts.

Journaling: Writing down what has occurred is a simple way of getting in touch with how I am feeling, what emotions are present, what I have just experienced.

Movement: Getting the blood flowing helps balance the hormones. I might:

Take walk in nature (slow or brisk).
Do a few gentle yoga stretches or a full Sun Salutation.

Maintaining Emotional and Physical Balance

I have done a lot of work and have released emotions. I then practice maintaining balance:

Rest
Our bodies heal when we nourish them, and part of creating and maintaining our health is to make sure we get enough rest. This means a good night’s sleep as well as taking breaks throughout the day; sometimes I indulge in a short nap while other days I will sit for 5–20 minutes in meditation 2 or 3 times a day. Experts agree that turning off our electronic devices during rest periods, and most especially at night, is extremely important. This is an important part of my Practice.

Hydrate
When we start down this path of discovery we begin to dislodge things that have been stuffed away–this is both physical and emotional. I have a special water bottle I carry with me, drink freely, and refill with fresh, clean water.

Essential Oils — Inhale, Apply, Diffuse

Essential oils were our first medicine, used by priests and physicians alike. They have enhanced lives for thousands of years, offering a variety of benefits for emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness that can be truly life-changing.

It is imperative that we use only pure therapeutic essential oils as anything less may not give the desired results and, in some cases, can be harmful. I have used all of these regularly over the years. Here are a few suggestions*:

Sandalwood — awakens the life force energy, supports cardiovascular and has been known to remove negative programming from the cells in our body

Frankincense — has a very high frequency and has been used for centuries for sacred ceremonies to help improve communication with the Divine

Tsuga — helps reduce anxiety, supports and balances the cardiovascular and respiratory systems (excellent for Yoga or other movement)

Lemon Vitality — invigorating, purifies water, detoxes the liver; add to your water to enhance hydration

Lime Vitality — supports the digestive and immune system; add to your water to enhance hydration

*Before using any essential oils, please read this disclaimer. Note that I use only Young Living Essential Oil because I know they are the purest available.

By taking the time daily and especially times when I stressed to focus on the Practice, I have tapped into the wisdom of the ages and changed my life completely. Yes, I still have times when anger or fear or some other challenging emotion arise, but now I have the tools to bring myself back to the present moment. I have a Practice.

Emotional freedom is our birthright. Learning to slow down, be present with what I am feeling has saved my life. Try just doing the dishes. See if taking these simple actions can bring you back to Presence too.

Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.
Eckhart Tolle