I've been thinking a lot about paradise lately, especially since I've just returned from a place that spoke so loudly of it, I have to call it Paradise, as in, capital P Paradise.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to be able to find paradise when you're smack dab in the middle of it, namely, the big island of Hawaii, easily one of the most exotic places on the planet.
Hawaii has something for everyone and in spades. Within a time span of about four hours, (give or take) a person could go skiing at Mauna Kea, the island's largest volcano, and afterward catch up on their tan while riding some serious waves at Hapuna Beach. And in between, they could visit a rainforest, bathe in the tide pools at the base of a 3,000-foot waterfall, and go hiking over the lava fields near Kiluea. OK, most people probably wouldn't attempt to do all these things in one day, but if someone really wanted to, and if they got an early start, they easily could.
At the end of 10 days in Paradise, my blessings cup was full and running over. Watching the sunset from 14,000 feet at Mauna Kea in the company of my most dearly beloveds, I was moved to tears by the majesty and the beauty of it all.
Playing amateur astronomer for a few hours while gazing at the stars through the telescopes at Mauna Kea's visitor's center, I saw that Saturn really does have rings just like in all the photos and identified the constellations I learned in 4th grade science class. I felt like a tiny, insignificant speck in the universe, yet connected to it all. I saw that I was the stars' future, for their light traveled millions of years to reach this point in time where I could be the observer.
Sitting next to the pilot in an eight-passenger helicopter, hovering over Kiluea's bubbling cauldron of red-hot lava, then flying deep into the keyhole of Weipeo Vally just to see a 3,000-foot waterfall, I once again was moved to tears. How could anyone be so blessed as I in that moment? What did I ever do to deserve such bliss?
I could go on. Every day was a new opportunity to experience the joy of being in Paradise. And most of all, to not only be in Paradise, but to be there in the company of my dearly beloveds, it was all beyond the pale. But all too soon, it was time to leave Paradise and return home.
Back at home, I noticed myself wanting to prolong the experience I'd just had. I wasn't ready for it to be over. My heart was still back in Hawaii, as if keeping that experience alive in memory could somehow buffer the reality of the everyday world, which while a not a bad place to be, lacks a few of the bells and whistles I'd just experienced.
Or did it? I began to wonder, what is this thing I'm calling "Paradise"? Is it a physical place, or is it more a state of mind? With that inquiry in mind, I began to look around my life with the intention of discovering Paradise, not in the exotic, but right here in the ordinary, everydayness of it all. And guess what? I found it! And what's more, it's always been here.
I've discovered that Paradise is a state of mind in which the observer gives one's self completely over to the moment. Body, mind, spirit, and soul -- all align in a moment of "exquisite recognition," pure presence and a conscious appreciation of being alive, right here, right now.
Looking out through the sliding glass doors of my kitchen, I discover paradise right outside my door. There on my deck is a riot of color, geraniums and hydrangeas that I've watered and nurtured and are now taking off like gangbusters in the warmer weather. The winds that blow across the San Francisco Bay and sweep across my deck might just have traveled from Hawaii to get there. The sun I watched set every evening in Hawaii and the moon I watched rise there are the very same sun and moon that entered into an annular eclipse last Sunday evening, visible from my deck.
The truth is, every moment has this potential seeded within it, for paradise is what we bring to the moment through our willingness to open and be receptive to the beauty that is already there.
It's far easier to receive beauty when one is removed from the distractions of the everyday world. This is why we take ourselves on "vacations," to escape the mundane and enter the realm of imagination and magic. In other words, to enter the landscape of the soul. Paradise is soul territory.
Minus the demands of the mundane, the sublime is always waiting to be discovered. It's always there, right under our noses. That we have a greater challenge accessing the sublime when life calls us to the ordinary does not negate the greater truth; the riches of life accompany us wherever we go. Paradise is in the eye of the beholder. Seek and ye shall find.
Here are five things to keep in mind when searching for paradise right where you are:
1) Being present is not optional. It's mandatory. If you want to access all the glory and magnificence of each and every moment, it will require that you show up fully, totally and completely. Wake up, show up and sit up. Then watch what happens.
2) Listen to the silence. When we are truly connected to what is, words are not necessary. In fact, they often get in the way. So stop the chatter and become still. Paradise speaks in a language all its own. It requires our full focus and attention. In the silence, we can hear the song that beauty sings.
3) Love what is before you with all your heart, mind, and soul. It's all there, it's always there, bathing you in its glory. Yes, even in those moments that appear to be scary or filled with conflict, in their very midst, if you open your heart to it, Paradise is serenely waiting for you to come to your right mind and receive its blessing.
4) Gratitude is the great turbocharger. Life is always showering us with abundance and goodness. It is we who erect the barriers that make us unavailable to it. When we're in gratitude, the doors open, the barriers fall and we avail ourselves to even more of what we're grateful for. Spend time in gratitude and I dare you to be unhappy.
5) Go for the gusto . Life is a coat of many colors. Some of them you'll have to seek out beyond the edges of your comfort zone. Take that helicopter ride, trek down to the bottom of that valley, eat that strange thing you've never eaten, take a leap of faith into the unknown and discover what awaits you. Learning, growth and joy lie beyond the realm of what is known. Or as Julia Cameron wrote: "Leap and the net will appear."
It's easy to recognize paradise in the exotic, like Hawaii. It's a bit trickier, but also very doable, to recognize it right under your nose. But you have to have the eyes to see, the ears to hear and the heart to feel it. Oh, and the soul to let you know you've hit pay dirt!
Maybe Paradise is recognizing that who you are is already perfect, created from the same "star stuff," as Cara Sagan says, that makes up the universe and everything in it.
Perhaps Paradise is simply coming home to yourself and loving what you find, warts and all. Or maybe it is recognizing that home is wherever you are. That after all, is the soul's destination. For as long as it takes for the light of a star to reach your eyes, that's how long the soul has been on its journey back home to Paradise.
What is your take on paradise? Where do you find it in your everyday life and what is the most exotic place you've ever visited and found yourself awash in glory?
Please do leave a comment below and/or come and visit me on my personal blog and website at Rx For the Soul. For personal contact reach me at judith@judithrich.com.
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Aloha and blessings on the path,
Judith
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What a wonderful trip. It is something I think many people would love to experience. I wonderf if the people who live there day after day, year after year, have the same experience. Actually, they would be the ones to see paradise even in the ordinary. What is one persons exotic is another persons ordinary. So following your observation it seems you may also be saying the big "P" comes from within. It seems like its something we set an intention, or maybe even dream about and then with our unblocked expectation we manifest it. It could be that you created the experience 'cause it came from you and you saw the beauty 'cause it was you. How wonderful to see it all around you, wherever you are. We could take a lesson. I am going to get me some plants for my paradise.
when I am able to step away from the world
when I am able to step out of my self
when I let doubt go
when I let fear go
when I let lack go
I find Love waiting for me.
In the moments of quiet repose
I steal away to the Secret Garden
there I sit with Rumi
we speak of Joy
we speak of Peace
we speak of Grace
Knowing Love surrounds us
In the moments of quiet repose
I move beyond my self
and I embrace the One
One power
One source
One beingness
Oneness surrounds me, fills me, is me.
This is beautiful! Sounds like Paradise to me.....
Your poetry fits right in with the discussions we've been having here for several weeks. Perhaps you'd also like to read an earlier post of mine, The Soul's Call To Your Inner Poet:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-judith-rich/soul-calling_b_1444547.html.
Welcome to this place we call the Wisdom Well. Please feel free to drink of the waters here and leave a piece of your own wisdom behind. Hope to see you here again.
Many blessings,
Judith
PS- And count me as your newest fan!
Rolf
I remember in the mid 90's driving north on I 65 in Indiana toward toward and just south of Indianapolis where some hills are, early morning after a fresh snow of about six or more inches and looking across a big field with one huge Oak tree out in the middle likely there before any white man the last vestige of a hardwood forest that had spanned a good chunk of a continent now gone, stark and fully rounded each branch clearly visible against the white surroundings. It inspired this.
Finding My Way
The road becomes a river.
The leaves begin to fall.
I watch and I await,
that which is in us all.
I strive for that which is beyond me;
and find it not at all.
My mind it bends and shapes me
until I let it go;
and find it there before me
in a mist above the snow...
Thanks so much for sharing your moment of quiet repose with us. Having grown up in Ohio and Michigan, my Mid-Western roots resonante perfectly with your words and the images evoked.
Consider me your newest fan.
Hope you'll come back again to the Wisdom Well. You're in good company. We're a warm and friendly bunch here and there are several poets among us.
Welcome and all the best your way,
Judith
and looking out over the frozen tundra
-25C and the magnificense of this splendor
where the snowshoe rabbit, its' white purity
protecting life
and across the valley, a family of wolves
moves slowly preparing for its' breakfast
and the carabou may keep this family alive
in paradise, this exquisite frozen paradise
with its' abundance of life, under the snows
above the snows
and here there is peace, stillness as I gaze
across the miles of frozen vastness
where no other human moves or is present
no homelessness, no hunger, no conflict,
no bitterness, no hated, no jelousys, no wishing
for the neighbors objects, paradise in the vast stillness
and one knows love in the vastness of freedom
in the vastness of safety while surrounded
360 degress by the total expanse of the cosmos
and now I must return across the frozen tundra
moving over the ice crystals hearing the crunching
of ice, knowing the freedoms of paradise
again filled with the love of this vast emptyness, beauty.
Rolf KrogsætherC.2012
Another gem!
" Paradise in the vast stillness"
" and now I must return across the frozen tundra....... knowing the freeedoms of paradise
again filled with the love of this vast emptyness, beauty."
You have touched the true essence and shared it with us in all it's magnificence.
Thank you and Bless you
Thank you for your gentle response. The immensity of that place and the knowing we are only temporary visitors here can leave a deep sense of sadness when one sees the devestations of the blind, the humans run amok in blood and kaos.
Blessings to you onethot
Rolf
Happy weekend of memories!
I thought you did a fine job in your reveal of the subjective nature of Paradise. What is found in the angles from which each of us view our surroundings, though divergent and at times existing in dissonance within and with others, defines the concept and gives paradise its beauty.
To see through our own angle into another's is the trick.
Lawson
The angle of insidence equaling the angle of reflection. The visual objectivity within the subjective existance leaves one focused except in the white out, except within the swirling snows of the full blizzard. light. Darkness. And mans' creative lamps clear the way with angles of reflections through the darkness.
Have it well Lawson
Rolf
Looking at the red geraniums outside my window, my heart sings! I plan to spend time in the garden this weekend, and if the weather permits, a visit to the beach.
Spread the joy, love and blessings,
Judith
As you say, it is where I am right now in the middle of everything, in a semi-busy neighborhood and my back is the paradise, with trees and birds singing its song and in rain the creek overflows like a river. The sound of it is heavenly; I do not need the blue sea to be in paradise.
Do take care of your eyes first, answer later...XO
"Nobody gets too much heaven no more
Its much harder to come by
Im waiting in line
Nobody gets too much love anymore
Its as high as a mountain
And harder to climb"
http://youtu.be/nREV8bQJ1MA
I have a friend who owns Waipio Wayside B&B in Honokaa who has lived year round in her very own Paradise for many years now. Talk about living the good life. Hilo is my favorite place on the Island as it has that definite feel on quaintness still with a farmer's market every day and the owner of the Hotel I stayed is the most hospitable hotelier I have ever met. I was on the Island for three weeks and spent 8 days in Hilo.
Yet I can sit on my patio in my own garden and appreciate being in paradise of my own creation. Just being on this site is a blessed paradise of richness of friends, a well with deep knowledge shared and nearby is Cara's Cafe which is another paradise filled with love and the warmest sharing and best of all, no judgements passed which gives up freedom in paradise.
Welcome home Judith and thanks for sharing your time in paradise.
Wonderful having you back here. Major hugs,
Judith
First off, the explanation of the real paradise was too long and mushy. It's nice that you had a good time and saw good stuff, but it should have been shorter. Also pertaining to that, of course people would go see "paradise" if they had to money to lavish on such a trip, but with the economy as it is now, it simply is not possible for many, 10 days at that.
Second, really? Come on. Your ordinary is still better than so many people's. A deck with pretty flowers and whatnot. I too enjoy my "apartment balcony," the trees and so on, but I couldn't help but think of the people living in less stellar conditions. The people on the streets, losing their homes, struggling to find food, living in violent neighborhoods. I can't see that this concept of "finding the paradise in the ordinary" pertains to many people. While being grateful and appreciating the beauty (if any can be found) of one's surroundings can do wonders for someone's spirit and outlook, it certainly is not a road to "Paradise." Not to mention some simply may not be able to escape the distractions of their lives.
I respect your opinion even if I do not agree with it.
Thank you so much for helping me to be even more grateful.
Bless you
Okay. That's fine. I'm grateful too for many things in my life. Food, shelter, opportunities, a new day. I simply have offense with the usage of the word paradise. I have no issue with the replies or different opinions as everybody is entitled to theirs. If you think I have helped you to be more grateful, than that is great. Have a nice day.
It's always good to receive varied opinions and points of view and I appreciate that you took the time to share yours. I never thought I was a "one size fits all" kind of writer, nor do I pretend to be. But your share reminded me that even as I wrote this post, I had in mind a friend from years ago who was homeless and lived outdoors in the Colorado winters. I thought about him as I considered what was paradise for him. We never know what it is for another person. Interestingly enough, paradise was exactly what he had, a "home" in the park and an electrical outlet to make his daily fresh juice. That was it. And he was happy.
I do believe that paradise, or whatever we want to call happiness, is not dependent upon outer conditions. And that was the point of this post. What would you call a warm smile or a hand extended to a person in need? I'd call it love and some people call that paradise. Too mushy? Perhaps. I'll take it any day.
Best to you,
Judith
hugs and love,
H
I am not familiar to your writing. You seem to have quite a following of loyals. I happened upon this as I frequent mindful living and GPS portions of the huffington post for interesting and insightful reads. That is nice that your friend found peace and happiness in his situation, but was it paradise? My issue was with the word paradise and that leap from Hawaii to some flowers on a deck. I guess I would just have labeled that has "your happy" "your peace" instead of paradise.
Of course happiness is not dependent on our conditions, again, I just could associate found happiness, my bliss, with "paradise." Perhaps this is just where I disagree. A warm smile and a hand extended is a wonderful moment, a life lesson, a good human gesture, but not paradise, sorry. That is just me. I put my opinion out and that is fine if no one agrees. Best to you as well.
Thanks,
So nice to have you back here. I smile as you recount your journey of coming home to embrace the simple things in life. Perhaps we all took the long way around just to get back to the place of recognition that we had it all along and it was simple and free. And hallelujah at the journey! For look where we went!!
I'm happy to hear that your life is unfolding in grace. Bravo, dear woman.
Big blessings,
Judith
So good to see you here again..... you've been missed in these parts.
I have been aware of your permanent installation in Paradise throughout your writing these past 4 years we've been gathering here. It is evident in everything you share, your perspective has always risen above the mundane to reflect the deeper Truth. Paradise is knowing the Truth and being grounded in it, regardless of appearances.
You are a warrior of the spirit my friend. Deep bows to you,
Judith
Your words ring so true and speak wisely, as always.
Much appreciation for your sharing and for you.
Delighted to "see" you here again. Missed your presence.
AUGUST
Golden and blind from crossing the desert so that it might live,
make the soul a smith of many sorts, a cathedral of swallows,
idols without sex like spaghetti
lie beside us in pure fields under the blue sky, the slow arc
of gleaming fuselages, thunderheads on a great migration, flowing
boneless and affirming as milk
back into the center of God, the summer
we could
stir all that blue
into ice cream and everything would be okay.
And just for the record, as I mentioned in a reply to Pat, eye surgery is on June 5th. But thanks in advance for the well wishes.
Appreciating you as a gift to behold,
Judith
Thanks so much for taking the time away from your beloved horse to come here and leave a comment. How wonderful to discover a passion so compelling and to give yourself to it as you have. This is truly paradise, yes?
I'm your newest fan..... do come back.
Blessings your way,
Judith
Thank you. Just checked out your blogspot. What a wonderful way to get in touch with yourself. I especially felt drawn to what you wrote about trust, understanding, and unconditional love.
Have only ridden ( correction. tried to ride ) a horse a few times in this lifetime, but they are majestic and beautiful animals.
Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Paradise is physical space as you mentioned. It is also a state of mind, all coupled with the ordinary, and the quiet when one opens to it. It requires an awareness and appreciation for the space one lives. I’m laughing because a paradise for me is the first 15 minutes when I get home each night. And then the honeymoon or temporary time in that paradise ends.
Well, I must say, it's a mutual thing, this Paradise we share here together each week, and having you here is one big reason why it's so great.
I do wonder however, what it is that takes you out of your 15 minutes of paradise when you first get home. What does it look/feel like for you in those 15 minutes and how does it feel when you leave there? Curious minds just wondering.......
May your 15 minutes be a doorway to infinity......
Love to you,
Judith
The end is probably settling into the routine. Check-in and chat, dinner, pick-up from volleyball practice, 2 hours of homework, check it and re-check it, then, finally the great deep breath @10:00. At which time the wife asks, will you rub my feet? I call it, going from paradise to the meat grinder. But it’s all good.
Just saying Hi, and thinking that there are some who never realize even 15 minutes. We should help them... but, I do know what you mean about temporary! :p
Lawson
:)
LOL... we should form a club! The "Honest, I Did Submit It Club," or the "Lost in the HP Labyrinthine Catacomb Club," or the "Button, Button, Who's Got the Damn Button Club."
Mine took over 11 hours! So, just hang in there. I presume the HP guardians of potty mouth minions are doing the best they can, but it's hard to have a conversation when the participants are forced to take turns "talking" every few hours... @%(*&^*$ amazing!
Lawson
You create laughter. You create pensiveness. You create wonder.You create warmth in my heart !
Well, this one of yours only took 6 hours... I think ??
Do you suppose it could be because by now it has been realized that there is so little need of moderating at the Well and the Cafe ??
I like the " HID-SIC" Club. Where do I join?