As I sit here writing this, thinking about about the meaning of the Fourth Of July, I realize things don’t need to be hard, dark and heavy all the time.
Looking at life through a lens of neutrality — or nonduality — can be a comfort. This is the idea that nothing is inherently good or bad. I find it helpful to reach neutrality through meditation or Daoist philosophy, like opens in a new window“The Story Of The Lost Horse” by Zhuangzi.
But what if “delulu” is your preferred summer vibe? I have a practice designed to bring a sense of optimism and magic to the lens through which you’re seeing the world. I think we all could use a little.
In Chinese Medicine — in acupuncture, in qigong — we talk about something called Yi, or intention. Yi is something beyond imagination. It is a “mental resolve,” a use of thought beyond hope — leaning toward trust and belief — directed toward making imagination come to life.
So here’s the practice. Before any fireworks you attend this week, sit down with your journal and list out your criteria for the world you want to live in — or the life you want to experience. Before you leave for the fireworks, take a few moments to quiet your mind and focus on that list.
As each firework rises into the sky, use your Yi — intend that each rocket is carrying your vision upward. As it blooms outward, see it imbued with the energy of your criteria for a better world: peace, justice, ease, joy, vitality, abundance — whatever it is! Each exclamation from the crowd is a response to your vision. Each sparkle is a seed, supercharged by being witnessed — and planted into the hearts of many. Each explosion is a repeated sowing of what you’re calling in. Imagine those sparkles showering down upon you and reigniting your Yi, your resolve.
I guarantee it will uplevel the July 4th vibe.
