Origami is the Japanese
art of paper folding which can become an encouragement to prayer and meditation.
As we learn to fold a paper crane or other origami form and fold them over and
over, our fingers are occupied without needing to think about the folding. Our
mind is freed for prayer or meditation.
In my work as an
expressive arts facilitator in end-of-life care in hospice, I folded cranes
prayerfully for patients and families. I taught them to fold cranes, too,
encouraging them to think of a word or scripture or blessing we could write on
the wing of a crane. We hung them with wire and beads, perhaps, on a fan pull
in a hospice room or a bulletin board in a patient room in long-term care.
One grandmother who I
visited in her home set the goal to fold one for each of her grandchildren
before she died, a task she happily completed. One daughter asked me to write
the word “patience” on a crane for her as she tended her mother. When I needed
to cope with my own grief at the loss of a patient, I would fold a crane
mindfully to honor the transition, and hang it from my car rearview mirror
until the Florida sun faded it, helping me to honor this person and the sacred
nature of the work.
Life-long
Learning
Folding an origami crane
was something I had tried for years to accomplish using Japanese books with
pictures. Finally I found online written instructions that accompanied pictures
and was able to master this seemingly daunting task. Now there are YouTube
videos to smooth the path.
As our comfort with
online learning increases, it seems the possibilities for life-long learning
are legion. Dipping our toe in that water, having a savvy friend on call or the
nerve to ask questions over and over of any online or real person source who
might help is key…OK and persistence and the spiritual challenge of dealing
with frustration.
Sharing
our Gifts
Today I prepare to teach
women in a Catholic church to fold origami hearts as a prayer practice, perhaps
with healing intention, perhaps as a gift to demonstrate that someone is cared
for, prayed for, and well loved. I found
several articles on origami and spirituality/prayer. I read about knitting as a
spiritual practice knowing that process works in a similar way. We can write a prayer or a blessing inside
the paper, on the heart, or simply pray as we fold.
And THEN there is
Pinterest and I am off clicking and emailing links for future reference…and I
feel it in my chest…a Maslow Peak Moment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_experience
(Yes, I know Wikipedia is not an academic
source but can still serve us with discernment.
I find a wreath made of origami
cranes I know I need to try and a crane mobile that might work with some
dye-cut spiral paper I found.
Ebbs
and Flows…and maybe fewer Peak Moments
And, for me, a fear of not
having those grand rushes of excitement about learning or doing something new
is one of my concerns about the Elder years. I realize I love to teach and need
to honor that longing and do what it takes to keep on doing that in whatever
form presents itself, despite that, “When-are-you-ever-going-to-retire”
conversation that springs up occasionally.
I am still claiming the notion of “refirement” rather than “retirement.” My prayer is for God to continue to offer me
paths to share my gifts and at a pace that can be joyful.
Do
you have something to look forward to?
Do
you have an interest that needs to be explored? If you do not and feel like a
person who “used to be someone,” then I encourage you to explore the process of
Sage-ing. The tools for re-contextualizing your life to harvest its meaning and
wisdom can support your path to living more joyfully in the present moment even
if that moment looks a bit different that it did in your 40’s.
More
Visit
http://sage-ing.org/
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