If you work in an office, you could tack up a shot of the deer on the wall by your desk.

I used to do a little practice I called stalking. I would go in the hills and walk very quietly and deliberately, trying to be fully aware with all my senses. The rule was, whenever I saw or sensed a deer, I would silently approach as close as possible without them seeing or sensing me. If they did see me, I would freeze, even if I were in the middle of a step with one leg up. I would have to stay in that position until the deer turned away, and then I would continue my approach.

It was a great mind-body awareness practice. I did that as part of my Tai Chi and Chi Gung training. Those were rewarding days

Thanks for your thoughts,

John

That is incredibly insightful! I’m impressed that an encounter with a deer triggered this kind of… epiphany, if you will. Sharing your story with us serves me already… I’m already imagining referencing back to that deer as soon as I drift at work tomorrow. It will really help me out. It’s a lot better than telling myself that I should ‘smarten up!’ Be like the deer… that is way more zen!

I like to think that the animal, or biological part of us, is the excellent vehicle we use to explore our spiritual and energetic nature.

Like any vehicle we depend on, we want to keep it well-tuned, and we want to pay close attention to our driving. You are right: being aware in the present moment is simple, and elusive — and it changes our life if we can master it.

Thanks for dropping in.

Bringing our full awareness into the present is such a simple, but often elusive, act that changes everything in our lives. Thanks for sharing your experience with this.

Lexi

I feel strongly about strengthening the basics. It makes everything that follows that much more effective.