Thanks for the question Angel!

Normally I wake up to the morning song of the birds in my garden which I absolutely love. If you listen carefully there is something quite unique about their sound at first light. It seems like every bird is coordinated and in sync - later in the day it seems they are just acting much more individually - I guess because of the disturbing noises of traffic and our society.

So first light is a very special time for me and I begin by just really relaxing in bed and taking the sounds right into and through my body.

Then after a while I feel the pull to get up. However I don't have a fixed routine. As every day I allow the pull simply to take me where it will. Sometimes this might be a walk out in nature. At other times I'm guided to do formal meditation.

There are consistent themes to this wake up "routine" though. Firstly its important to warm the body up and dissolve away any stiffness or tight energy through gentle movement and breathing. I also find it important to maintain a clear and empty mind. Breathing helps flood the body with energy. Even if its only a few minutes of inner stillness, breathing and movement, I find this is enough to set me on course for the whole day.

When I wash, it tends to be first with warm water and a flanel (but no soap), then afterwards with cold water to activate the endocrine system. I help this along by not drying but brushing the water upwards along my body. Then I'll stand for a few moments and feel the flow of energy up and around my body. I'll then dry the skin rubbing vigorously with a towel - this cleans away any dead skin fully activates the meridian energy system and supports the endocrine flow.

I often hear people complain that they don't have sufficient time in a busy and hectic life to partake of such routines. My view however is that this is quite myopic! If we look after our energy system and listen to what the body really wants, then we'll lead a much more healthy and invigorated life - we'll need less sleep and find we can really connect with the consciousness of the moment more.

If you like taking showers, you might like to try this morning shower meditation...morning shower

Best wishes

Chris

Hi Chris,

Now I see why I didn't have you down as the "wake up to the deafening shrill of an alarm clock in the early hours" kinda man

It's magical that you find the time to listen to the birds outside as you wake up. I can hardly think of anything more beautiful.

I do feel way better when I start of with meditation in movement or focused breath work. I'd love to make time to take a walk in nature. I am inspired by your post above. It reminds me about the importance of taking time to sort out my energy first thing. Afterwhich all else will flow properly. I needed to hear that!

Every day is another new chance to get off to a good start.

I have found skin brushing a brilliant for invigorating me first thing lately. It's a form of dry brushing with a natural body brush. It exfoliates the skin and gets the blood and lymph flowing. I go over my whole body with strokes (always towards the heart: as it helps the blood back to the heart and encourage lymphatic flow) for as little or as long as I feel like). I feel so tired now if I don't do it!

Off to get some beauty sleep. Got birds to wake up to in the morning.

Angel Love

I began the day today by tending my house plants. It felt most grounding and therapeutic (both for the plants and myself). It was a gentle transition from the world of dreams

I share Chris's view on waking in the morning and tend to feel moved to meditate first thing, whilst allowing anything that no longer serves to evapourate away leaving my space clear and energised. I find at this time I might receive a strong higher guidance that sets the tone for shape of the day to come. Spontaneous stretching, moving Openhand meditation or yoga work well for also clearing my energy field and encouraging vitality.

Hey I am an avid skin brusher too. It is so refreshing and uplifting that it makes a huge difference to my morning zest. It is like having our own personal health spa to hand on a daily basis. So empowering!

With Love
Trin
x

Oh, yes. I only eat breakfast when I am hungry and then it tends to be fresh, raw organic fruit.

I find that eating heavier foods in the morning slows me down, making me feel sluggish rather than energised.

I like to do some stretches in the bed, look out the window at the trees out back, wash my face with cool water to help wake me up, and then go in the living room and open the blinds (which I close at night) to let it all the light. I check my cat's food and water so she's not left wanting. Then I brush my teeth and I make something for breakfast. Potatoes or eggs and toast or fruit - whatever I'm in the mood for. My dining room is small, but there is a nice view of some plants out front so I usually eat breakfast there. After that sometimes I will water the plants out front, depending on how hot its going to be that day. (Too hot and I'll wait until evening.)

Its a pretty bland morning routine, but I don't need coffee so it must be working okay.

Doesn't at all sound bland. Sounds like a gentle and beautiful way to begin the day with an element of free flowing in there. I find water the plants rather meditative .

Welcome to the forum! And heartfelt thanks for sharing.

With Love Trin
x

My morning began around 6am today as I listened to the morning bird song from my bed.

I then found myself doing an Openhand meditation session followed by some spontaneous stretching and body work. It felt such a gentle and grounding way to begin the day, setting a good pace of connectedness.

As I completed the session I noticed rather frantic bird chattering in the garden below.

We have a little house sparrow fledgling who fell out of his nest a couple of days ago. He's living in the bushes and tree just out the back, too young to fly. The parental care is an amazing sight to witness. They are still trying to protect and feed it until it is able to fly and become independent. I noticed one of the neighbourhood cats on the prowl... in favour of survival of the fledgling I chased it off.

The sparrow parents are an inspiration! I watched as the mother called it out of the vegetable bed encouraging it to hop out of harms way up the branches of our willow tree towards the bird table. The mother then hopped repeatedly on and off the bird table bring the baby seeds to eat, undeterred by the rather unimpressed looking pigeon who was at this stage having to share its bounty of fresh seeds.

After that I spent a while digging of our latest veggie beds before I get to work with home schooling. Phew! I thought it might be fun to make a new bird table today.

I discovered the morning shower meditation last year and I still do it. It's great, really works and I highly recommend it.

I used to live in a place where I'd get up in the morning and watch the deer in the mist, a truly inspirational start to the day. Having moved house, my attunement with nature has to wait until the kids are at school and I walk the dog. That said, my hard work at attracting birds to my town garden has paid off, I really enjoyed reading your narrative on the sparrows, Trin, I've got a few families here now and they're a joy to watch. Such cheeky things!

With Love
Michelle x

Hi Michelle,

Yes its a great little meditation isn't it. I haven't been able to do it for a while - our shower has been broken! However, I've spent the last couple of days camping in Wales at a wonderful lake on Taliaris Mountain. In the morning I had an amazing 'skinny dip' - it was a little chilly but deeply invigorating. Overcoming the initial reticence is truly worthwhile. It kept me feeling vibrant the whole day.

Much love

Chris

It brings me such a smile to imagine the birds flocking to your garden It feels right to allow the countryside to evolve in our back garden too even though we won't be getting anything larger than the odd squirrel passing through.
The blackbirds have come to learn that I throw out the apple/pear cores first after breakfast too.....

With Love
Trin
x

We can easily solve that!

There's a hose full of ice cold water in the yard if you start missing the shower meditation.