Lately, I’ve been in a groove. I received messages from the divine. Mainly, to let go of my old ways of thinking. Being my stubborn self, I stayed stuck to figure out what was I suppose to let go. Today, I organized some old pictures to send back to an old friend. Next, I tackled the mess inside my closet.
Then, it hit me.
Getting rid of old clutter and making room for new opportunities was spiritually satisfying. I did some research on how cleaning can be a form of meditation. Buddist Monks have their own philosophic views on cleaning. They believe the source of human suffering is obsessing over material things. Shoukei Matsumoto, a Japanese Monk who wrote the book, A Monk’s Guide to A Clean House and Mind, wrote this:
We sweep dust to remove our worldly desires, we scrub dirt to free ourselves of attachments. We live simply and take time to contemplate the self, mindfully living each moment. It’s not just monks who need to live this way. Everyone in today’s busy world needs to do it.
It might not seem like it, but it can take something as simple as clearing your physical space to clear the junk from within. This is what it means to let go of old thinking and why I was stuck. I am surrounded by the past, my youth, and there was no room for the new me to grow. In an instant after cleaning the closet, I felt myself feel energetic. There is more to do and I am looking forward to having some pet projects. There is a more reassuring feeling of hope for my future and can feel the transformation pushing forward. I tried so hard to go back to the old me. As a result, I was holding myself back.
The final thing I had to do, was to give up my old prayer ties in the fire. This was a huge deal. Those ties hold old prayers and offerings. I am making new ties and they need room to flourish. So, the ties go into the fire. I said a quick prayer and watched the spirits flow into the ether.
I am ready for the next phase of my life.
