Your Abundant and Intentional Life: A Merrie Woode Moment at Chapel
The following letter was written March 29, 2020 to fellow Merrie Woode alumnae, by request. It is a visualization in one of my favorite spots in a beautiful and sacred place for me and those who know it.
Even if you are not familiar with this spot or with Merrie Woode, in Sapphire, NC, you can take yourself, with imagination, to any beautiful place. A place where you feel safe and comfortable and inspired. Find solace there.
We can take ourselves away from the media, away from what feels like chaos and into a peaceful and beautiful place that feels like safety, love, joy and comfort. When we do this, we change our own bodies, our brains, our ways of being, our health and how we show up in the world.
Take some time right now to go to a beautiful place. Allow this letter to take you where I go from time to time. Come anytime.
Hello All,
Today, being Sunday, I thought we ought to take time to go down to the Chapel at camp. You can read this through once and then take a walk in your mind to the Chapel area or, as you read along, take breaks and let your mind wander and go where the words take you. Step out of your present thoughts and take a nice Merrie Woode break.
Close your eyes and take a deep, slow breath … into the nose …. way down into your belly.
Now let it go. Allow yourself to squeeze the air all the way out.
Now take another, in … and then out. Deeply … and slowly. And a third breath … in … and then out.
And now, in your mind’s eye, take a walk down to the Chapel area at camp. Perhaps you’d like to be there with a friend - new or old - or maybe just by yourself.
Now have a seat on the stone steps. Or down in the grass. Maybe just lean up against a tree at the back or against the stone steps. Where are you most comfortable?
Notice, with your eyes still closed, what kind of day it is in your imagination.
Is it sunny? Maybe you can feel the sun on your face.
Or maybe it’s raining or cool or misty? Don’t try to change what shows up. Just feel it. Be there.
You’re in your Sunday whites. Got your tie on. Notice if you can hear any birds. Maybe the crows are calling. Or that sweet trill of a towhee - “drink your teeeee” - he says. Hear the cooing of the doves. What other bird songs do you hear? Maybe a hawk calls out.
Hear the breeze rustling the leaves around you. What season is it? Is there a breeze in the maples in the steps, and in the big tulip poplar to the right towards the lake. Perhaps you hear the wind in the pines. Or the ducks landing on the lake.
What do you smell? Can you remember the sweet mountain smells?
If you open your eyes in your mind, look out towards Little Bald and see the light on the water, … maybe the waves from a breeze … or if it’s raining, watch the water dance - rain and lake dancing together.
Just feel yourself safe in this spot. Warm, no matter what the weather. Comfortable. Hard cold stone beneath you or the soft grass from the ground. Or that great tree holding you steady.
Allow yourself to just sit for a minute. No mind. No where to go. Nothing you have to do, except soak in the wonder of the green and the trees and the cabins close by. Maybe you are surrounded by friends. Smile with each other. Smile to yourself.
Now take another deep breath. Maybe put your hand over your heart-or both hands over your heart. Feel whatever comes up. Let the feelings move through and cleanse you. Take a minute and be with yourself in this beautiful place.
Do you have a favorite song you want to hear? Someone singing to you? Or the voices of 200 girls singing. The Camp Hymn is a given on Sundays. … I love its words:
God who touches Earth with beauty, make my heart anew.
With your Spirit recreate me, pure and strong and true.
Like your springs and running waters, make me crystal pure;
Like your rocks of towering grandeur, make me strong and sure.
Like your dancing waves in sunlight, make me glad and free;
Like the straightness of the pine trees, let me upright be.
Like the arching of the heavens, lift my thoughts above;
Turn my dreams to noble action, ministries of love.
God, who touches the earth with beauty, make my heart anew;
Keep me ever by your Spirit, pure and strong and true.
Take one long, slow and comforting deep breath. And take a second to look around the Chapel area one more time. Take your time. If you have friends here, send them love. And even if you are here alone, send your friends and family love.
Thank them for Being. They are with you always.
Thank Camp for its gifts to you. Thank the Chapel area.
Remember, you can come back any time. It’s always right here with you and for you.
And now, thank yourself. For all that you are and all that you give.
Thank God for this day. And for all of our many blessings.
Have a great day and week.
In gratitude, Martha
PS. Big hugs.