connect with nature in the morning
Mornings are sacrosanct for Reiki master and energy healer E. Barrie Kavasch, a descendent of the Cherokee and Creek tribes and author of more than 15 books on Native American culture, including The Medicine Wheel Garden. “Our own internal wisdom knows this,” Kavasch explains. “We come from origins that tell us we should be up and about.” Growing up on a family farm in Tennessee, Kavasch and her siblings would wake up before dawn to milk the cows. “Our days would be filled with energy and enthusiasm. We would have done so much by 8:30 a.m.,” she says. “I can’t imagine a morning without being in close touch with nature.” Even those not living on a farm can gain from the enlivening benefits nature will bring to the tired human body.
Step outside. In many ways, getting outdoors provides the best way to get your mind and body in sync with the morning. “The first thing I do each morning is get up and go out for a walk. I fill my lungs with the morning air,” says Kavasch. Even if you don’t have time for a walk, simply stand out in the morning light to get connected with the world around you.
Open a window. If you can’t get out, bring the fresh air in. Pull open the blinds and open a window to let in the light, smells, and sounds of a new day.
See blue. Among the Pueblo and Navajo people, says Kavasch, seeing turquoise first thing in the morning is considered a blessing. This helps explain why they’ll often paint a portion of their windowsills or door frames in this brilliant color. “Turquoise is considered a sky stone, reminding us of when the sky is at its brightest and sunniest,” says Kavasch. “To see it upon first opening your eyes is a blessing for the hours that follow.” To set the stage for a better morning, try keeping a turquoise stone, bracelet, necklace, or colored item by your bedside or in your window so you see it first thing in the morning.
Water your plants. Invite nature into your home by placing houseplants throughout; then take time each morning to water and care for them. Just touching and focusing on this element of nature can gently draw you into the new day.
Enjoy a taste of nature. A bite of fresh fruit or a sip of juice can recall a vital connection to the natural world and help gently awaken your senses. Think of that taste as more than food; it represents nature’s bounty.
Waking up in the morning should be as pleasant as falling asleep at night. The Zen Alarm Clock’s gradual, gentle awakening is transformative.
Boulder, Colorado—an innovative company has taken one of life’s most unpleasant experiences (being startled awake by your alarm clock early Monday morning), and transformed it into something to actually look forward to. “The Zen Alarm Clock,” uses soothing acoustic chimes that awaken users gently and gradually, making waking up a real pleasure.
adapted from Body + Soul, March 2006
Singing Bowl and Chime Alarm Clocks and Timers
Now & Zen’s Soothing Chime Alarm Clock
1638 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80302
(800) 779-6383
Posted in Chime Alarm Clocks, Now & Zen Alarm Clocks, Progressive Awakening, sleep, Sleep Habits
