Its a beautiful summer day. Walking along a neighborhood street, the mind is occupied with something it finds important. A little attention is scanning the scene; eyes brush across a bed of purple irises, move on.
There was an iris with several irises; like a photo, mostly form, mental recognition and labeling. Awareness has touched only the very surface. It is not seeing them now, but mind automatically filling in the form outline, following past experience with this or other iris beds.
Strong light from a clear sky spotlights the blooms, and awareness drifts back. Attention is called forth and this iris bed with specific irises is coming into focus. Details of how they look today are reaching conscious mind as the important thoughts begin to drift towards the background.
The irises are shaded and deeper purple outside petals, stripes inside, and lighter shades of lavender down deep. Each one catches the light a little differently, shows a unique face and attitude. Attention moves gently over them, noticing each one, tracing the petals, appreciating the variations of color and texture. The eyes are touching them now, caressingly appreciative.
Through the receptive eyes perception moves down into the heart. The irises reach out with the brilliance of their light, the softness of the silky petals, the uniqueness of their form. Attention is deepening and broadening into feeling. As it is drawn deeper into the irises, it arises from deeper inside.
Seeing from the heart and being, the irises are experienced below their surface. Like a kiss that draws you into the essence of a lover, awareness is drawn deeper. Glancing becomes looking, deepens into seeing, broadens into feeling. This iris is more than form and light now, it is life and essence. Perception evolves to an interactive experience. The mind has released its thoughts and is simply aware, a channel for the heart and the soul to engage the iris.
What was a sense of touching the iris, becomes a full co-creation in each moment. Seeing is not just passive reception, but an active interaction, shaping the iris and the perceiver in ways that are magical and unlimited in possibility. The essence of the iris is perceived from essence, pulling awareness deeper inside as well as out.
The Soul is dancing with Spirit in the fluid form of a iris, this iris, all irises. The iris is a fluid energy form, a construct of Spirit, shaped by deep perception. The soul is also fluid and alive, being shaped and imprinted by the iris. The universe is meeting itself in this moment of sunshine on a sidewalk, and nothing will ever be the same.
There are layers to awareness, to perception, and to being. The deeper we drop into them the closer we come to the place where the universe is constantly being created and recreated, we become a participant in a dance that reforms our being as well as the world around us. Spirit dances at this level underneath appearance and form, everywhere, all the time. Here is love and joy and beauty, all in the form of an iris, a pebble, or another human being.
(© 5/2015)
