Heaven on Earth for Me

By Nadirah Adeye

When I initially began the process of responding to the question What does Heaven on Earth look like to me? the response that felt most true was: Heaven on Earth is Spiritual Practice. Heaven on Earth is Service to Others. Heaven on Earth is Self-Care.

For me, spiritual practice means reaching places of expansion and touching something that is greater than myself. In those times I deeply understand that the small and personal life that I lead is a very very tiny element of a much greater thing of which I am a part. The small and personal is precious and insignificant at the same time. It reminds me to honor everything and not hold too tightly to anything.

A sense of service to others reminds me not to get too caught up in the minutiae of my own life. I can spend (waste?) plenty of time navel gazing and worrying about fixing myself, but if I just turn my gaze outward and look for ways that I can be of service, I’m able to get out of my own way for long enough to reconnect to the lessons of my spiritual practice. And then my growth and sense of connection to the world around me (and the others in it with me) becomes both deeper and more expansive.

At the same time, the radical importance of self-care is my personal battle cry to people who tend to err on the side of taking care of others before themselves. A big part of my practice revolves around finding the places of contraction inside myself and allowing them to relax and then remembering to do that over and over and over again. I believe that self-care is a revolutionary act because of the various ways people are encouraged to disconnect from themselves with perpetual distractions, noise, and interruptions.

I went on a silent retreat this summer and, as tends to happen when I return home from a retreat, I’ve found myself clearing out old items that no longer suit my life and focusing on increasing the simplicity of my daily living. I’ve been revisiting my studies of minimalist living and feeling a deep appreciation for what is in my life already. In that spirit I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to allow myself to notice and take in the multitude of ways that Heaven already surrounds me and has woven herself through my life. So, as an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment, here are 100 words reflecting a couple days in my own Heaven on Earth:

Good morning kisses. Family. Sisters of family and of spirit. Communities of sacred walkers and magick makers. Falafels. Orgasmic and ecstatic living. Dance, laughter and joyous rituals. Gray mornings and sunshiney days. Lemon tree gifts. Altar gifts. Birthday parties and children’s laughter. Women’s gathering spaces. Social justice work and communities who take action together. My Beloved. New challenges and opportunities. The moon. Little boy songs (with made up words and melodies). Celebrations of Life. Laughter to the point of tears. Sitting with sadness and knowing it will pass. Managing responsibilities with curiosity and excitement. Letting myself be good enough. Love.
 

Nadirah Adeye, MA, Faculty Relations Manager, is a mother, lover, priestess and walker of the third path with over 20 years' experience in service to the Divine. She is committed to work that aligns social justice and spiritual practice and is also quite certain that her calling in life is to receive daily massages.