As September 1st rolls into clear view this week I’m immersed in preparing an Orientation for all the new Year of Inquiry participants.
September always feels like the start of something new. End of summer, beginning of more indoor time.
I grew up going to school every single September of my whole childhood, and young adulthood.
It gets in your bones. A conditioned feeling of preparing. Movement into growing darkness. Movement into the internal life. More quiet, scholarly work. Get the harvest in, hibernation is coming.
Winter on the distant horizon.
Batten down the hatches!
People in my family said “batten down the hatches” like so many historical shipping phrases, even though no one worked at sea or was a part of sea life for generations.
The hatches are the openings to the sky. The crew covered them tightly with wooden “battens” and canvas when a storm was coming. Preparing for rough seas ahead.
Which is a bit dramatic, perhaps, about the movement into autumn, here in the northern hemisphere where I live.
And yet, I used to truly feel this way internally about silence, darkness, quiet, emptiness, space.
Going within meant remembering. It meant Alone. Lonely. Sad. Despairing. Lost. Afraid. Untethered.
I almost wasn’t aware I had this dread, either.
Until I sat down to meditate, or had too open a schedule without a to-do list.
Then, when I was alone and silent, instead of “peace and quiet” it felt like the volume went UP on anxiety, sadness, grief.
I’d want to see a movie, read a good book or “accomplish” something….or in the past: eat, drink, smoke, physically move (exercise), listen to self-improvement audios.
So yesterday, I guess it was no surprise really at the end of summer on an overcast day with tiny raindrops….
….Gosh. It seems like a really good day to start cleaning out the shed, organizing things to take to the dump, make a stack of For Sale items and Giveaways. Put on gloves and haul, stack, throw away, go through 15 year old files. Watch videos briefly on how to move the shed once it’s emptied.
Get ready.
I was alone and doing this almost all day. Phone in the house, computer lying idle. Physical movement, thoughts dancing through.
It does feel good to “do” a job. It still often feels initially better than sitting in silence and stillness.
At least, according to my mind, which comes up with all kinds of reasons why moving slower and sitting quietly is bad.
In quiet sitting, I might feel worried, troubled, afraid, or bored.
Which is probably why I love The Work so very much.
There’s something to “do” with all those thoughts, with that thinking energy. With the feelings of wanting to “batten down the hatches.”
The Work asks, like a little innocent kid…..
….Hey you! Over there! Yes, you! The one running so fast and so busy and working so hard and “doing” lots of stuff!? YOU!
What are you doing over there, preparing for a big storm? What storm do you think is coming? Why do you think so? Where did you ever get that idea? What are you so worried about?
I love that The Work invites you to actually look at the storm, rather than simply assume it’s coming.
The Work asks “is it true?”
You get to sit in meditation and wonder about your answer, and maybe not answer quite so fast.
And instead of being aware of a huge storm, you can look at one rain squall at a time, and look with a clear pair of safety glasses at that one situation only. That one conversation, that one upset, that one argument, that one moment with that person who scared you, tormented you, disappointed you.
Last night, after my satisfying day of doing (especially according to the one who likes to see accomplishments)….
…..I sat quietly and pondered the Year of Inquiry group, everyone about to start inquiring together on our journeys within.
One person had withdrawn during the day via email, and another one joined.
I updated my list.
I then closed my eyes and held still, feeling the deep appreciation for this moment exactly as it is, without a single need to improve, or take away, or fix, or add, or change anything.
Feeling so grateful for all those preparing to join me, with a joy that inquiry will be in our pockets as a special tool for the entire fall, winter, spring, and then in Summer Camp for The Mind (always included for Year of Inquiry friends).
I love that if I feel upset, whether a drop or a huge brewing storm or a downpour of upset….
….I have four questions, and finding turnarounds.
And I have people to do it with once, twice or three times a week….
….for all the months ahead, through holidays and travels and cold weather and political change and relationship worries and the movement of life.
Even if you’re not doing something as big of a commitment as Year of Inquiry, there are ways to “do” The Work and get it done, as Byron Katie says.
Call the Helpline, get a fabulous partner to connect with regularly. Set time aside to sit and write out your work, if you’re able and willing.
If you’re thinking of joining Year of Inquiry, I’m creating an Orientation presentation that’s brand new (first time I’ve done it).
This Orientation will help people know exactly how to dial in no matter where they live, access the recordings of our calls, prepare for partnering (which is optional), share on our private forum, and enter their own inner world with the best “batten” I could ever imagine having….
….The Work.
The Work is a ‘batten’ to “batten down the hatches” of overwhelming, wild, freaked out, grief-riddled storms.
The Work addresses all the storms experienced in the PAST, the ones I already lived through that made such lasting impressions on me.
And low and behold, when these become less frightening, less dark, light spring rains, or even the sunniest weather I could ever have imagined with crystal clear blue skies….
….then there’s no fear of the future, or winter, anymore.
“The Work is merely four questions; it’s not even a thing. It has no motive, no strings. It’s nothing without your answers. These four questions will join any program you’ve got and enhance it. Any religion you have–they’ll enhance it. If you have no religion, they will bring you joy. And they’ll burn up anything that isn’t true for you. They’ll burn through to the reality that has always been waiting.” ~ Byron Katie in Loving What Is.
If you’re ready for companionship and joining fellow inquirers to help you stay in The Work and “get it done” then come join us in a Year of Inquiry. Three time zones allow you to connect at least once a week, for 3 weeks every month. You’ll then choose if you’d like to be paired with someone in the group (highly recommended) for a month at a time, getting the support of others and sharing in such a deep way, people make life-long friends.
When I left the School for The Work in 2005, I noticed I just did not do The Work that often.
It didn’t fit into the category of “doing”. It was more like sitting still in silence, meditating. Good for me like eating raw broccoli perhaps, but I couldn’t see the immediate results, and it was a little nerve-wracking and awkward all by myself, and felt “hard”.
I would have signed up for a Year of Inquiry in a heartbeat. It’s half the fee of the school itself, and offers structure to stay in The Work for an entire year.
And this year, we’ll be doing a monthly intro session to our topic to do Q & A, share best practices of The Work, hear quotes from Loving What Is, and the retreats (for those who choose to attend) are now 4 days long instead of 3.
Everyone in YOI has access to my phone to text, or my email to write, in case of “emergency” if you go into stormy weather. I am here for all members of YOI when you need it, along with the official solo session everyone gets during the year for some in-depth work (people doing the full YOI including retreats receive at least two solo sessions).
I consider everyone who joins YOI to be my personal teachers, those who are like my fellow students of life. You bring me inquiry in a way I would never do it if left to my own.
If left to my own devices, I’d be cleaning out sheds and battening down hatches with wood and canvas, not four questions.
If left to my own devices, the storms would always be on their way, looming in the distance because I never remembered to ask the question….
….is it true?
“Anger, fear, sadness, discomfort, pain–they should not be allowed in….I believe they are dangerous to my well-being. And so I spend my life running away from them….Much of our suffering comes from deeply unaccepted feelings of helplessness, powerlessness, weakness, insecurity, and uncertainty in the face of this moment.” ~ Jeff Foster in The Deepest Acceptance
Put down the hammer, nails, canvas, battens, and visions of dark clouds in the future (or past).
We’ve got some work to do. Called….answering four questions.
Much love,
Grace
P.S. Learn about Year of Inquiry here.