Be Gentle

Our seed of awakening for the month is Be Gentle. We all experience moments of brilliance and flashes of illumination throughout our days where we remember, embody, and embrace our Oneness with all of life. In all the other moments, we need and deserve to be treated with gentleness. As we are gentle with ourselves, we are naturally gentle with others and the world.

One of my early spiritual teachers, Adyashanti, whose name means primordial peace, assigned me the task of practicing affectionate awareness. I was to approach life with fondness and tenderness, having a sweet appreciation of and for it. I agreed to embrace and embody that approach from that point forward.

For many years, spiders were the bane of my existence, evoking sheer terror at their mere sight. My instinctive reaction was to crush them forcefully, hoping to rid myself of the overwhelming fear they instilled in me.

Even after their demise, the lingering dread of their potential resurrection haunted me, sending shivers down my spine. However, a profound shift occurred in my perception, thanks to the guidance of Adyashanti and the practice of affectionate awareness.

It was a typical day at home when I encountered a giant spider scaling the wall. Instead of succumbing to fear, I chose a different path. I approached the situation with compassion and respect. Gathering a glass and a piece of paper, I devised a plan to liberate the spider from the confines of my home without causing harm.

With steady hands and a calm demeanor, I gently trapped the spider under the glass, carefully sliding the paper underneath to create a barrier. With the spider safely secured, I escorted it outside to freedom, bidding it farewell with a heartfelt wish for it to continue its vital role in the ecosystem.

The sense of accomplishment and joy that flooded my heart was unparalleled. By embracing a mindset of respect, compassion, and gentleness, I liberated the spider and myself from the chains of fear that once bound me.

Since that transformative moment, every encounter with a spider reminds me of my interconnectedness with all life forms. What was once a source of terror has become an opportunity for growth and connection.

From crushing them to gently setting them free with a cup to using a gentle vacuum tube found on Amazon.com to catch and release them unharmed, each interaction reinforces the newfound harmony between myself and these misunderstood creatures.

My journey from fear to affectionate awareness towards spiders encapsulates the profound transformation possible when we approach life with an open heart, a gentleness of being, and a willingness to embrace the inherent beauty of all beings.

Extending that same gentleness toward myself in my dark moments, negative thoughts, or times when I feel less than or insufficient comforts me. Being gentle with myself is a soothing balm for the soul. You can do this, too. Kindness is gentle.

Practice random acts of kindness this week to experience being gentle.

And so it is.