Lessons From the Monks Cell:
What does that mean, letting the (monk's) cell be our teacher? For one thing it means that there is a blessing in persevering when a practice gets boring... staying in the cell or "sitting on the eggs", means noticing our appetite for over stimulation. The cell teaches us to slow down, to be less of a slave to our impluses, to notice what is right in front of us... the cell teaches us to trust in the presence even when it feels like absolutely nothing is happening. The cell helps us to see that skipping from one activity to another, from one interest to another from one focus to another results in never putting down roots,never going beyond surface reality.
The Desert Mothers: Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness Morehouse


Experiencing Fear
A key point in working with fear is to keep asking a fundamental question: "What is this". the question is not what is this about", which leads to historical rehashes. the answer to "What is this" is always physical. For instance, lets say we're afraid a new acquaintance is going to write us off. Rather than withdrawing or turning on the charm, we take a few moments to feel our clenched neck and shaky hands and stay engaged in whatever is going on.
..It has been said that fear is the opposite of love. Actually, love in its fullness, has no opposite, and can encompass even fear within its loving circle. by taking the necessary baby steps to experience our fear, we express our wish to live in the openess and wholeheartedness of love.
Untrain your parrot and Other Nonsense Instructions on the path to Zen Shambhala

Creating a special space and time just for myself to “sit on the eggs” brings forth the invitation to the practice of regular meditation.

A wise old hen once told me that eggs don’t hatch unless we sit on them. . . . .

I’m finding that to be true also.

Thank you, Vonda!