The Spiritual Art of Paying Attention

March calls to us to prepare for the arrival of spring and to release our winter mood swings.

Our ancestors gathered information about the seasons from observing things like the fur on caterpillars and the patterns of flying birds. Everything they saw told them something about the world. Most of us have long lost the ability to see the patterns of earth and nature. Yet we are being urged to pay attention once again.  

Rapid Transformations

Now our planet is in the midst of rapid transformation on all levels, from social economic to earth changes. These things have always been a part of life, yet there is little doubt of the current intensity. Yet we go about our business of , car pools, reality shows and—not that there is necessarily anything wrong with those things.  

In many places the human cry for change is based on simple needs such as the ability to provide one decent meal a day for the family. In other places it is the age-old cry against human oppression. As we look about the world at the revolution in Egypt, uprising in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East and in our own backyard in Wisconsin, we are being asked to pay attention.  

How to Be More Observant

What is the spiritual art of paying attention? It is when we shift our actions from the focus of doing to that of listening and observing what is going on around us. It is observation without judgment and listening with our heart instead of our ears. When we pay attention this way, it becomes almost a meditation.  

Henry Miller, the American novelist, said, “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”   The mantra now is to be aware.

We need to pay attention to our bodies and hear what they are telling us in the subtle signs they give before an ailment begins. I am an empath and feel other people’s pain. When I sit across from people, I sometimes feel tremendous physical agony that they can hardly feel because they are not aware of their own bodies.  

Pay More Attention

It is time to pay attention to our moods and discomforts. What are they saying to us? When we are able, it is good to pay attention to the true energy of our family members and friends. Ask most people how they are,  and they say, “Fine,” almost instantly. What is the truth?  

When we pay attention, we can begin to listen and really feel the pulse of coming events, patterns and truth. We can utilize this awareness to aid in healing by adding our collective positive thoughts to the changing patterns that are occurring around us.  The point of paying attention is not to go into fear at what is occurring but to be attuned to it. See everything as the flow of change that is inevitable. Enjoy the beauty that we have in observation.

It’s like watching a snowflake fall and knowing there will never be another one like it. Yet you were a part of it in that brief moment. We are all a part of the transformation we are seeing. Embrace it and bring in healing if you are able.