REST

When I am near the ocean I am aware of the timing of tides and the sun. I go to the beach a half hour before sunset.

I love to walk and sit by the shore as the sun goes down.I love to sit on the jetty, the feeling of solid rock beneath me , surrounded by water and sky, imbibing the awe and magic of light. Sometimes family or friends come with me and it is wonderful to share the beauty. Sometimes I go by myself and settle in to being present with the transition from day to night, feeling the changing colors of the sky and the glory happening. The experience both excites and soothes my body-mind. I am filled with a sense of peaceful happiness. If I miss it I am usually a much more grumpy and busy person in the evening.

When I am away from the ocean’s horizon and celestial help, I practice other ways to make the transition between day and night. I seek out experiences that give my body-mind release so that I can soften into a more relaxed evening.

I intentionally take a half hour after dinner, when the night has come, to shift the energies of the day to a more contented, slower, calmer way of being. I connect to myself through movement and stillness, breath, touch, sensing, singing. Sometimes I practice yoga, chi gong, or t’ai chi. Sometimes I dance, draw, paint, or sew. I improvise how to release the accumulated tension of the day and settle into evening time with less of a to-do list mind.

Here is a 9 minute audio to help you shift into a more restful state or into sleep. It guides you through settling, feeling the weight of gravity, and releasing the senses in the face. Try it and let me know in the comments below if it was helpful for you.