Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy
I
am
now
form,
being
opened,
treated
as a jewel
never seen,
Unknown and
unimagined. I
speak without
fear or longing.
They listen for a
signal or sign of a
familiar being. One
who inhabits time or
place or both. Smiling,
I turn from jewel into a
mirror. They relax now,at
once relieved and secure;
they recognize only what is
known and so forget the jewel.
I can now travel through space,
Knowing all that needs knowing.
Evie Preston
The cool breeze of delight swirls
And spins me onto the soft grass.
The profusion of harbor activity arouses my
restless spirit.
Little white sails on little white boats catch the
delightful breezes
As the ferry makes constant progress towards its
destination.
I sit up and take stock.
The handsome schooner glides effortlessly around
the harbor.
I imagine my pirate self silently swimming out to the ship.
Like a shark, I circle around then quickly scale her stern.
Stealthily, I stash myself away from sight.
Then, single handedly, I overtake the crew and captain,
Proclaiming myself the all victorious mistress of the sea.
My hostile captives, stirring with mutinous intentions,
Are quickly subdued by the enlightened captain.
He alone has understood my true objectives.
For I am a pirate of peace.
My fierce ambitions are to tame the vessel of discursive, distracted
mindlessness
As we sail on the surface of our primordial ocean.
I open my eyes,
The sun has shifted.
The boats are moored.
The schooner has sailed.
My dog licks my face,
It is time for a walk
In the cool breezes of delight.
-Evie Preston
It’s the day after,
After what? she asks,
After a lifetime of the days before.
Before what?
Before turning 60.
I’m 60 and 1 day old,
As new as the newborn yawning in her crib.
As old as the antique bench where I sit,
Right this moment.
So how does it feel?
How does what feel?
How does 60 and 1 day feel?
It feels mysterious like love around the corner,
And fragile like a connection taking hold,
Maybe,
Certainly,
Almost there,
Way off in the distance.
Yet, right here,
With myself,
I’m landing in the connection.
A love supreme.
The newborn stretches,
The antique bench settles.
Evie Preston
Waiting for my car in the “quiet room”
Separates me from the noisy silence of bored faces.
Hum drum music,
Hulking thighs spilling over upholstered seating.
Flashback to Dad’s office,
Big people,
Little me.
So long ago,
Yet right here in the Toyota waiting room.
My hair’s gray now,
Actually blond.
It’s the best I can do,
Until the gray tells me I’ll never be ten again.
Pema says waiting rooms are for “John Cage moments.”
Just pause, three breaths, again and again.
What are we waiting for?
The $900 bill?
The next flashback?
A kiss?
Nothing.
-Evie Preston
The steps, oh the steps.
The view, oh the view.
The excitement, the smell, the joy, the anticipation of
a great day.
Full blown wonder at the majesty of it all.
Oh my god, the waves are perfect.
As we run down the steep steps and careen through the sand.
I stop short.
I have on my new two piece, just like Margo’s bikini,
Only a two piece, just right for me.
She’s thrown a fit to Mom but I don’t care.
It’s mine and I love it
The sand like butter and sugar under my feet,
Plenty of room to stretch out.
I don’t have to worry as there is endless space for
us all.
I take my towel and carefully lay it down, careful not to get
sand on it
I place rocks on each corner.
I spread the Coppertone all over my body.
Again I am still.
Everyone is in a good mood and the waves are perfect.
I can trust this.
Today I can trust the love and fun and cooperation and acceptance and care.
It will last all day.
Today I can let go.
Today I can bodysurf forever.
I can race Dad and tumble and suck in the salt water.
I can eat hard boiled eggs and peanut butter and jelly and Pepperidge Farm Cookies.
Today I can wallow in the luscious pool of clay and swim it
all off.
Today I have landed at Baldwin’s Beach!
-Evie Preston
On June 28th 2013, I had a wonderful experience teaching meditation, mindfulness and relaxation practices to clinicians at Willingway Hospital, a treatment facility for alcoholism and addiction in Statesboro, Georgia. The training was also open to addiction councelors from other nearby facilities.
This amazing group, most of whom were new to meditaion and mindfulness practice, participated fully in this interactive and multidimentional training. We had an incredible day of experimenting with short meditation practices and contemplative exercises as well as restorative yoga practice in the afternoon. Everyone took this opportunity to “stretch” their comfort level inorder to gain new ways of working with the mind, training the mind and relaxing the mind and body. Here are statements from two of the participants;
” I attended the training with Evie on June 28th at Willingway. When I think of meditation, I think of sitting on the floor with my legs crossed saying a mantra. But when I got to the training, it was something totally different. It opened my mind up to different types of meditation that I can use as a Recreation Therapist with the patients that I work with. The different types of meditation will allow me the opportunity to show the patients that there are healthy ways to deal with stress without looking for an instant gratification from alcohol and drugs. I will also apply the different techniques to my personal life as well.”
-LaShawn Napier, CTRS
“I’ve always thought that meditation was about ‘checking-out’ mentally. One of the things that Evie taught me is that it is actually more about getting in touch with myself, with my thoughts and feelings, and embracing them. My group was asked to participate in a 10 minute meditation and my initial thought was, “there is no way I will be able to do this!” To my surprise, 10 minutes passed and felt like only a few. WOW! Unbelievable! I am grateful for Evie’s training; I have been able to practice it on a daily basis and show those that I work with new techniques for relaxation. Thank you, Evie!”
-Eleanor Dunn
Listening to the presence
the presence of Nyiasha
she, like the filddle heads
unfurls into the spring of herself
A fern who breaks through long awaited soil
fingering for sun
Her years reach almost 20 now
She sits like an elegant plant beside me
halo of cloud hair christens her head
seeds germinate inside her
listening to the live presence of Nyiasha
Listening to her listen beside me
her willow roots have taken hold in the banks
the river inside me syncs to
the river going by us below
swelling like my so much love for her
after such a long time
Dead and broken hurricane trees and driftwood
bask and roll beneath wild dogwood
blossoming white like star blessings
the shore and forest floor
the mystery of Nyiasha
her quiet strong strength discovering itself
as the last days of adolescence linger
lapping lazy like willow branches
getting in the last taste of a time
that will move on
through her new door of sky
Alexandra Morgan May 4, 2013….Birthday Picnic at Sojourner Truth Park