Celebrating 420
It's not what you think!
I remember being at Rainbow Gatherings and hearing the 420 Call, communicated from camp site to camp site, alerting us to visitors.
420 became lore for pot smokers, with different origin stories ranging from the rumor it was the code for a pot bust to kids arranging to meet after school at 4:20 to spark up.
Whatever the truth of its origin story, when you say 420 in certain crowds, you get a reaction.
What of 419 and 421? There’s always a moment before and moment after - where is the contrived meaning of those numbers? (Perhaps we start a little something here, now :-).
The following is not directly related to what we all think of when we think 420, but the fact that I’m writing about it at all implies it was at least the inspiration for making the connection.
Draw whatever conclusions you will…
I’d love to hear your 420 stories! Leave a comment below!
Happy 420!!
I know what you’re thinking, and I do celebrate that meaning from time to time.
Today, I’m looking at 420 from a different angle altogether, perhaps from a more wholesome view.
While I’ve been on (and sometimes off) my cushion in a formal way since 2000, today marks the most consecutive days ON.
The only reason I would even know that is because a few years ago, I started using the Insight Timer app which logs my sits.
Before today my longest consecutive run was 322 days. I have had a regular meditation practice for many years, but there have always been missed days sprinkled in.
Today marks, can you guess? Yup! 420 days in a row - absolutely something to celebrate!
I am so grateful for the journey that brought me here, detours and all! Mostly, I am grateful for my students and clients who keep me showing up on the daily. I would not be doing what I do if I were not walking the talk.
Accountability matters. Integrity matters.
As a teacher of meditation and yoga, and dabbler in the Dharma, I feel responsible to myself and to my students, to do the explorations, directly.
And trust me, I have not always been as committed to my practice as I am today; there are still times I abandon my higher Self due to an unskilled patterned response or in service of momentary gratification.
What do I do?
Sit
Do the work
Respond better the next time
Experience my own fallibility
Practice gentleness
Repeat
The simplicity of mindfulness meditation practice does not sufficiently address the complexity of what it takes to regularly, Take Your Seat.
For many of us it can bring up our shadows, or aspects of them. So, when I work with anyone in the meditation space who shows a willingness to sit, I see their courage before anything else.
May the fruits of our practice(s) be of benefit to all beings!
Today holds amplified 420 healing energy as well.
On my 420th day of unbroken days of meditation, I baked a batch of cookies for a friend who is caring for a loved one with cancer. I did the same for my own mother when she was in full decline. It was a game changer.
There are many ways to ground, heal, and be of service.
If you would like to explore working together to create or return to a meditation practice, I’m here for you! Send me a message and we’ll set up a Free Pathfinder Call.
I did not know where you were going with the 420 and loved the surprise! (I also represent an entity in the cannabis space so it’s always lingering in the back of my mind from a work perspective). Wow!! Congratulations to your 420 days of sitting. I’m totally impressed. I can barely log 420 seconds of sitting. Not gonna lie (as my kids say) I can practice and do practice one-pointedness in my asana practice but I find sitting so hard. I believe you are in the right neighborhood when you talk about shadow stuff. I do think Insight Timer is amazing though—what a treasure trove of resources. OM.