plenty
From Gather Magazine. Photograph by Gentl and Hyers food styling by Maggie Ruggiero Prop Styling by Ayesha Patel
With Autumn themes of harvest, feast and gathering on my mind, I’m inspired to dwell in the essence of what is truly enough for contentment and well-being. The word plenty so well encapsulates this sense of fullness for me. When perceived threats of loss and lack stir up like dark and stormy clouds, as they sometimes do, I know I can choose to place my attention on something around or within me that is evidence for the truth of ultimate well-being and abundance. Plenty, for me, is not so much a cup-that-runneth-over, but one that fills and fills as needed simply through my attention to what is good and nourishing in my world. It’s humor, love, appreciation, nature, inspiring intellectual thought, creative expression, the general wellness of my body… These are the rays of light that penetrate through and scatter those clouds of not enough.
On the flipside of plenty is lack and that is a reality so many people experience so often that it should not be ignored. It’s not just the material lack of food, clean water, warmth or resources… there is also the lack of self-worth, compassion, faith and creativity that are at the roots of harm done unto self and others. The experiences I’ve had with a number of individuals in my life story has made me very intimate with these themes. They’ve been hurtful and scarring in many respects, but have also provided inspiration to become more aware of what realm my attention resides in as a matter of moment-to-moment choice. In Buddhist cosmology, one of the psychic domains described is the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts. The hungry ghost figures are depicted with scrawny little necks and huge bellies — riddled with powerful desires they can never really satisfy. The hungry ghost is a metaphor for that part of ourselves that may feel perpetually empty and can never be filled up. It most often arises in addiction, self-abuses of various kinds and outwardly hurtful behaviors toward others which are all a consequence of not experiencing oneself as basically good. A lack of compassion for self and others creates disconnection which is where the flow of supportive energy becomes disrupted in such a way as to further entrench us in a sense of emptiness. We must bring ourselves back regularly to our own center, to compassion for self and others in order to mend that sense of lack in our being and, once replenished again, we must share our own fullness with others to keep the flow of interdependent support and regeneration alive and thriving. To me, this is the essence of community—it begins with love for and centeredness within oneself which, in turn, makes us able to fill the cups of others.
Ultimately, whether it’s through the experiences of loss and collapse or regular gratitude for even the smallest of blessings in our lives, there is always something to remind us that our own Plenty is a self-created reality determined by what mental realm we reside in and where we choose to place our attention. As I remind myself of this, I also invite you to hold the word Plenty like a talisman; let’s center ourselves and take refuge in the present moment of possibilities. When it feels as if there’s not enough time, rest, resources, acknowledgement, help, desired results, whatever… you can take this talisman into your hand and place your attention on what is good, nourishing and soul-filling then simply experience how it grows when nourished by your attention. We must never forget that we are a the creators and script-writers of our experiences and therefore endowed with the ability to manifest plenty of whatever we wish in our lives!
