250704 What I learned in my studies this morning 5*

Today's Meditation(s):

The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh (ed. by Melvin McLeod), Four Mantras

The first of several entries on this lesson, I've got a lot to work through here.

First, I don't believe in magic magic, something which would set aside the rules of physics at my behest. But that's not what Thich Nhat Hanh is saying here. He's talking about simple magic, daily magic, rituals that can change my life over time.

A spell is a series of sounds, movements, words, and / or thoughts meant to make the world be as I want it to be.

A mantra is the same, meant to make me be as I want to be.

One is impossible. The other is achievable, if I'm willing to pay the price.

That price? Time, which I will spend whether or not I use it to improve myself, and attention, which is the real bugaboo here.

I neither practice mindfulness nor meditate often enough.

I procrastinate. I forget. I deliberately avoid. I do whatever but be mindful or meditative. 

My attention is not yet engaged. (Though a few minutes ago, I mindful-ed my way to putting back the bowl of cereal I didn't need.)