Dear Friends,
Yesterday’s teaching invited us to notice the steadiness of the earth – its ability to receive what comes without pushing away or holding on. Today is a chance to reflect on how that quality shows up in your own experience.
This is not about trying to be non-reactive, or holding yourself to an ideal of calm. It is simply an invitation to notice what steadiness already exists, and where it feels more difficult to access.
You might explore one or two of the following reflections, letting them unfold naturally:
- When sensations arise in the body, where do you notice stability beneath them?
- Are there parts of the body that seem more able to “receive” experience without commentary?
- What happens when you allow sensations to be present without immediately adjusting, fixing, or explaining them?
You might also notice moments of reactivity – not as something to correct, but as information. Tightening, bracing, or pulling away are natural responses. Can those reactions themselves be met with a bit of curiosity or kindness?
Earth steadiness does not mean absence of sensation. The ground can be firm and uneven at the same time. In the same way, steadiness in the body can coexist with discomfort, movement, or change.
You can explore this reflection in everyday moments as well:
- While standing in line, notice how the body bears weight without effort.
- When sitting, feel the support of the chair without needing to adjust.
- When something feels unpleasant, see if there is a part of the body that remains neutral or stable.
There is no need to arrive at a conclusion today. Reflection is not about deciding how you should be – it is about noticing how experience actually unfolds.
You are welcome to share a brief reflection – by replying to the email or commenting below. Noticing where steadiness shows up (or where it doesn’t) may help others recognize something similar in their own experience and offer gentle encouragement as we continue together.
Tomorrow, we will bring this exploration into a simple earth-based practice, letting steadiness be felt rather than thought about.
With good wishes,
Andrea
Thanks for the lovely reflection, Andrea. This reflection brings to mind the importance of homeostasis and equilibrium, where steadiness results from constantly changing states.
Hi Donna, Thank you for this reflection. That dynamic balance of homeostasis is such a good example of how steadiness does not mean stillness, but an ongoing responsiveness. I appreciate your insight.
I really appreciated the perspectives that earth steadiness does not mean absence of sensation and that the ground can be firm and uneven at the same time. The connection between those thoughts and the inquiry “When sensations arise in the body, where do you notice stability beneath them?” is something I look forward to exploring in practice. When discomfort or pain arises, I have found re-directing my attention to a place in my body where I’m not experiencing such sensations helpful, and I think that experience is linked to the inquiry too. Thank you for these prompts to curious practice, Andrea.
Hi Susan, I appreciate this reflection. The way you link the inquiry to your experience of redirecting attention to a steadier place feels very aligned with the spirit of the practice – we can let stability be discovered rather than created.