Radiant Spirit (final): Ten Practices of Abundance

 

Note:  This is the final installment of Rick’s “Radiant Spirit” article, featuring practices 8-10, that we can work with daily.  Previous installments posted below (starting on April 4); comments welcome.

Worship is the Ultimate Art Form 

We have forgotten worship. We were oppressed with it, and it became a chore. But receiving the continuous overflow of fullness engenders awesome response. Worship is the art-form that anyone can practice with anything that is at hand. You can create your own style of loving life, of giving back the overflow – flowers, water song, dance, altars. Make altars wherever you go, indoors or outdoors, in the back yard, in the living room, and in the office. The altar of the earth, the altar of the sea, the altar of the desk, the altar of the soccer field, allow your inner artist to burst forth in praise and glory!

Making versus Doing  

Doing so much and being nothing, working so hard, and becoming exhausted, but making things as an artist changes everything. Children love to make things. And ye shall be as children! Making a meal, making a bed, making a card instead of buying one, making time; all of these activities cultivate the art of atmosphere, and it is atmosphere that allows abundance to blossom. Every time you are required to sign something, put all of your power into your signature, seeing that it will make a difference, that your voice, you intent, your commitment can manifest care, love, and substance.

An Attitude of Gratitude 

This is something you cultivate like a beautiful garden. It requires attention, nourishment, weeding, and care. And what is there to be more grateful for than being you? Whatever I am, whatever I am involved with in this moment is the most important thing in the world. Is it not spectacular to be alive? To sweep the floor, to sip the tea, to go to the meeting, to be a citizen, to greet the store owner, to park the car; what else could be so wonderful?  

As you do these and like practices and build them into your day, you begin to be less anxious, less concerned with how anyone might evaluate or judge you, more giving, more at ease, and ultimately you notice that you are entering the game, the “lila” as the classical Indian teaching of bhakti, or divine love, calls the play of existence. This very earth become the lotus land of purity; this very body becomes the body of awakening, and the gift of your own life experience can be ever shared with a full and open heart.