Spring Cleaning - by Marcia Sacks

When my alarm clock woke me from this Herculean task, I recorded my dream. Then in my reflection on it asked, "What if I'd been lucid -- aware that I was dreaming -- and just said, "I don't need any of this stuff. I'm just going to let it go and start my journey home right now!"

It's easy to conceptualize doing this in a dream. If you realized that you were dreaming, and knew that in your lucid state you are the creative director of your dream with unlimited potential, you might be happy to put down the suitcases (your emotional burdens) and walk (or fly!) freely and easily toward home (union with the divine?). Sounds good!

But how about in real life. If I said, "Why don't you leave your baggage behind and move on? You know -- your resentments, fears, guilts, old scripts, bad habits, desires and attachments. Why don't you just leave all that stuff from the past behind and walk on into the future free and easy?"

Hopefully, you'd say, "Wow! What a liberating thought!"

But if you're like me, most of the time I just pick my past right up and struggle off down the road with it.

That's why I like the idea of Spring Cleaning. A time to evaluate, take inventory of our old patterns, and throw out (sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally) what's not working in our lives.

First, take a look at what's weighing you down, the pieces of heavy luggage you take with you everywhere. Don't get hung up in the process. Just grab a pen and piece of paper and write down at least your top three, such as:

·Fears ·Guilts ·Long-time resentments ·Buttons that always get pushed by other people ·Circumstances that produce a negative response ·Chronic negative statements about yourself

Take time to review your list. Ask for each item: "Am I willing to let go of this?"

Thorn Bush Story

Long ago, a wise yogi was walking down a road. From off in the distance, he heard a terrible moaning and groaning. As he hurried to give aid, the cries of pain grew stronger. He came upon a man hugging a huge thorn bush, his face and arms scratched and bleeding. "Help me, help me," cried the man.

"My son," said the yogi, "I have a solution for you ... Let go of the thorn bush."

Ah, satori! Slowly the man removed first one arm. Then the other. Finally, with the wise man's suggestion, he was able to step back from the thorn bush. The man smiled. "I feel great!" he told the yogi. "Thank you."

But in the next moment, a wave of uneasiness overcame the man. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the yogi with suspicion. "You can't have it! This is my thorn bush!" And he grasped the bush even harder than before.

The yogi shrugged his shoulders and silently blessed the man as he walked down the road, the cries of agony fading into the distance.

Practice Letting Go

Maybe we need to practice letting go in some non-threatening ways. We only have to let go of our old patterns for a moment to feel the freedom and understand the benefits of that practice.

One way to practice symbolically might be to take a walk without your wallet or purse or any ID. Reflect on: Who are you now?

Another is just your basic "spring cleaning." Going through your drawers and closets (on a small scale maybe just one drawer or closet) and getting rid of things that are no longer of use (pens out of ink, worn out rubber bands, twisted paper clips, for example, in your desk drawer).

In her book Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach says, "...consider clearing away the fashion clutter of past incarnations that lurks in your closets. Just because you bought it once doesn't mean you have to keep it forever. Be willing to let simplicity pare down your wardrobe to your authentic essence."

In Clutter's Last Stand, Don Aslett suggests, "Getting the clutter out of your life can and will rid you of more discouragement, tiredness, and boredom than anything else you can do."

Visualization and Meditation

Visualizations are very powerful. Try imagining yourself throwing your old ideas and patterns into a trash can or a sacred fire pit, or tying them to a string on a helium filled balloon and watching them rise up into the heavens. You can also visualize the Divine (in your own chosen way) and picture yourself handing your old patterns, habits, fears, resentments, and negativities over to One who knows exactly how to help you in the most wise and harmonious way.

A good meditation for detachment is the "neti, neti" mediation. (Neti is a Sanskrit word meaning "not this.") Sitting with your back straight and eyes closed, watch your thoughts. As each thought arises say, "Neti" or "I am not this" or "I am not this thought." Let go of the thought and return your focus to the center of your mind. Repeat with the next thought. Enjoy the spaces between the thoughts. Take time after your meditation to contemplate: "If I am not my body, my emotions, or my thoughts ... who am I?"

Good Times

Astrologically there are some good times for Spring Cleaning. The Vernal Equinox (March 20) is naturally one of them. Pluto station points (March 17 and August 23 in 2001) are very potent both physically and psychologically for cleaning closets. Eclipses (June 21 & December 14, 2001) are also powerful times for change. If you want to practice letting go on a more regular basis, try the last few days before each new moon. And if you're particularly mindful -- how about right now, this moment. Leave the old baggage behind and start your journey home.

Marcia Sacks is a professional astrologer and meditation teacher in Chicago's northwest suburbs. She is a disciple of Goswami Kriyananda and a swami at the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago. For information on consultations and classes call 847-882-3315 or email astrology@marciasacks.com