White Swans; A practice in Stillness & Inner Peace

Swan Lake Painting by Addie Hirschten

I was driving to my office on a gray and rainy morning this week. I was in a hurry as I had not been as time-conscious as I should have been. And, there, in the middle of the white river canal was a flock of five white swans. Their stillness and grace were a stark contrast to the rushed state of being I was in. I stopped for a moment to take in their beauty, in awe of this delightful and unexpected surprise to my day. Their presence reminded me of the ability to be still, to float above the turbulent waters in our lives, the ability to be at peace when there is a rainstorm or gray clouds around us. It reminded me of my ability to be centered, regardless of the situation I am in. Water is the element of emotion. The ability to be present with our emotions and at the same time above our emotions, quietly riding the waves of them is possible. No drama, just peace with what is. Stillness within the movement. It’s a practice that comes from mindfulness, the ability to observe and be aware of our inner knowing. It doesn’t come from the rush, the rushed thoughts in our heads, or the way we rush about our lives, but from the still spaces we allow ourselves to have. Stillness is all around us in winter and is the perfect time for us to find our own still points, those spaces of quiet regulation that nourish our body, mind, and spirit. Take a moment, a breath, and connect. Stillness, it is in you.