Monday mornings are enjoyable for me. I get an opportunity to sit at my computer, receive lots of information both spiritual and material about the world, and envision my week. As I sit here this morning, I’m inspired to look at the world from a slightly different perspective, and I thought I’d share it.

I’ll start by looking into the past. Have you ever played in the arena of keeping a gratitude journal or notebook, or held to a daily practice of giving thanks? You’ll know the feelings of satisfaction, contentment, and/or joy that such practices bring, by providing a space to align with the soft, clear, gentle flow of gratitude as an energy. My experience with such practices has been rewarding in that it makes the recognition of being grateful such a part of daily life.

So let’s consider this practice, from a minor shift of perspective, while invoking a small variation in the approach. What would it be like to have a practice of “making your unique contribution to the world?” What could it look like to keep a contributions journal? What thoughts, words, and deeds might be part of a practice of making a conscious contribution of joy, happiness, empowerment, upliftment, assistance, even gratitude?

For myself, I can envision a quiet space in the evening, at the close of the day, where I sit in contemplation of what has unfolded. I have a sense of noticing the instances in the day where what I said or did represented a genuine expression of my unique gifts for the world, and made a positive contribution to someone or to many. The words are gentle and kind, and the acts are thoughtful and authentic.

Furthermore, I can envision holding the experiences quietly within my awareness and then letting them go into the world, with a sense of each one continuing to touch people in a loving manner.

And, as with a gratitude journal, it seems as though such a practice supports me in gaining a more conscious awareness of the opportunity to contribute to the uplifting energies of the world on a regular basis throughout the day. Many spiritual practices speak of endowing each thought, word, and action with grace and reverence. Such is the nature of the contribution practice I’m considering.

I notice this concept fills me with enthusiasm and feels heart-warming. I look forward to seeing its benefits unfold in my life and for those around me.

With gratitude for the contribution you are making, in reading and receiving this communication!

I  just glanced out the window and saw a flicker perched on the edge of the squirrel-resistant bird feeder in the side yard.

This flicker is an unexpected guest, a 12-inch stately grey woodpecker sporting a brilliant red neck band and a boldly speckled chest.

It’s interesting to me that the flicker turns out to be of insufficient weight to close the counter-balanced lever arm that keeps squirrels from consuming all the seed ~ he’s that big and stately, at least as big as one of the smaller squirrels that haunt the feeder looking for handouts.

He’s got the attention of my indoor cat, who moans piteously at the window, out of thwarted hunter instincts, perhaps, or from frustration at being separated from a potential play mate. With Arthur, more a lover than a fighter, it’s often a challenge to distinguish motivation!

Between us, Arthur and I manage to send enough attention energy at the flicker that he flies off to the shelter of the neighbor’s pine trees. The wind picks up and patchy snow squalls make their way across the yard. Minutes of concentration on Arthur’s part do not result in the return of the flicker.

Why, you may wonder, do I invest blogging electrons in relaying the tale of the flicker? 

Earlier today I wrote a short piece for the Quantum Well-Being newsletter on the importance of trusting one’s own information. The flicker appears less than twenty minutes afterwards, providing me the opportunity to put my teachings into practice.

It’s fun to notice the thoughts triggered by the flicker sighting. In particular, the moment I spotted the flicker, a specific piece of information passed through my awareness about the esoteric meaning of the flicker as a totem. I even recall the source of the meaning ~ it was provided by a capable shaman, Ted Andrews, in his book “Animal Speak.” In the past, I’d often consult the book to tease meaning out of the frequent visits by various feathered and furry friends to my yard.

The flicker gives me the opportunity to examine how much of Ted Andrew’s information about the flicker totem is, indeed, still my information. I notice that for me, the flicker is handsome, dignified, perservering, and connected deeply to the comfort and joy of learning about nature from my mother and grandmother.

It’s a surprise to me that the information gleaned in the past from Andrew’s book is culturally informative, and esoterically intriguing, and ultimately, not true of my own experience of the flicker. I have no basis to either accept or reject the esoteric meaning of a flicker, whereas I have experience of its association with dignity, persistence, and happiness. Simultaneously I can hold one as a possibility and accept what is true for me now.

It turns out, for me, that the value of the flicker sighting is in demonstrating the wisdom of trusting my own information, albeit experiential. It also reveals that while much of the information I’ve absorbed over the years may have been true for me in the moment of encounter, perhaps its truth may not withstand the test of time. It’s a reminder that updating my world view is an ongoing and vital part of increasing my awareness.

At a summary level, I can say that today’s lesson of the flicker is twofold: information undergoes transformation with time, just as much of the physical world does, and good teachers (like Ted Andrews) cushion their teachings in an energy of ‘allowing’ that supports each of us in becoming more clear about the truth of our own information. I also notice these two observations may find their way into newsletter articles in some future moment.

Do you imagine the flicker had any inkling of the contemplation his presence at the bird feeder sparked?

I’ll leave you to trust your own information on the question ~ enjoy!