Barbara Haynes - Every Day a Holy Day: Exercises, Experiments and Practices for Mindful Living

Copyright 2016 Barbara Haynes, All Rights Reserved

Illustrations 2016 Barbara Haynes, All Rights Reserved

Author photo 2016 Kathleen Dreier Photography

http://www.kathleendreier.com/

Cover design 2016 Gailyn Porter

Editing and proofing; Tabatha Jones

Consultant; Claude Needham, PhD

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the copyright holders, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, internet publication, or broadcast.

Distributed by Gateways Books and Tapes

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Nevada City, CA 95959

1-800-869-0658

530-271-2239

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ISBN Softcover 978-0-89556-278-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Haynes, Barbara, 1950- author.

Title: Every day a holy day / [Barbara Haynes].

Description: Nevada City, CA : Gateways Books and Tapes, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016018754 | ISBN 9780895562784

Subjects: LCSH: Mindfulness (Psychology)--Problems, exercises, etc. |

Self-actualization (Psychology)--Problems, exercises, etc. |

Awareness--Problems, exercices, etc.

Classification: LCC BF637.M56 H38 2016 | DDC 158.1076--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016018754

Dedicated to
My Beloved Teacher
E. J. Gold

First and foremost, the question is: Who is the author of a book, and is their life an example of what theyre writing about? So many spiritual books and teachings are at our fingertips these days, many of which are written by brilliant and charismatic individuals. Yet, how are we to know whether or not someone truly lives according to the philosophy they are speaking about? This is of utmost importance. Words may be inspiring and clear and convincing, yet if they are not coming from a person who walks their talk and practices what they preach, the words will definitely not impact us deeply beyond our intellect.

Ms. Haynes has dedicated her entire life to embodying the exercises that she generously offers us in Everyday a Holy Day. In this title, she goes right to the core consideration of living a spiritual life. It is that we have a stable sense of the holy and sacred world in which we live. There is so much confusion and aggression around most of us, which makes it challenging to remember that this world is holy. To have an ongoing feeling of the sacred in the midst of being barraged with technology, entertainment, consumer products, and addictions, is not easy.

Potent and reliable medicine is needed to bring our attention back to what our hearts long for. Ms. Haynes book is such medicine, offering us a palette of gentle yet powerful possibilities. We can easily use our natural instinct to know which ones fit us like a glove. These are exercises that Ms. Haynes has tested throughout the past 30 years. They are not theoretical suggestions, but rather what she has discovered to be transformative. And what she offers can be seamlessly applied in our daily lives.

This book is not about having a peak experience, although these exercises can be a catalyst for this. Ms. Haynes is pointing us to a way to live our lives, which all authentic teachings are about, to be one with our environment and the people with whom we relate. She gives us a lifetime of keys to keep unlocking the doors and deepening our relationship to our hearts desire.

Purna Steinitz

Bozeman, Montana

June 22, 2016

I first came across the idea of using exercises or experiments to open new perspectives on myself, the environment and my relationships with others when I encountered E.J. Golds book Practical Work on Self in 1984. Mr. Gold offers exercises in his book that allowed me to gain a new understanding of myself.

I worked with each of the twenty-four exercises in Practical Work on Self and found the results revealing.

I had a most profound experience while doing the Popcorn exercise.

I was driving my car a stick shift and attempting to watch the movements of my body doing its job while keeping an eye on traffic. Suddenly things changed. Though traffic continued, it felt as if everything had gone into slow motion, I could see around the car in a way that would not normally have been possible - more like a sensing than a seeing. I drove another five or ten minutes in that state before I arrived home. When I left the car I had a definite feeling of having been cared for ever so gently by the car and I gave it a pat on the trunk in thanks. I walked through the house and finally sat down on the sofa where I enjoyed another half hour of heightened perceptions.

One Wednesday afternoon, about a year ago, as I was preparing dinner, I had the thought: how easy it would be to keep the kitchen clean and exercise my attention if I remembered all the things and areas I had touched during meal preparation and made sure to clean them during clean up.

My Wednesday afternoon meal prep inspiration got me to thinking about the various little exercises, experiments and practices I have done over the years and the ones I currently do to strengthen my attention and presence. I decided to gather them together and share them.

At one time or another, I have done all the exercises in this book. Some have become a part of my life while others I pick up and put down as the need arises. They have all come from personal experience personally experienced.

The exercises are not in a particular order. I encourage you to use them in whatever way works best for you. Opening the book and letting synchronicity take a hand in choosing which one you will do that day is a great way to approach the exercises. Keeping a journal can help you work with the experiences you have as you do the different exercises.

I hope you will find this book useful and that it will inspire you to find ways to make every day a holy day.

Barbara Haynes

Grass Valley, Ca.

2016

While cooking a meal, notice what your hands touch. Spice jars, salt shakers, and drawer handles are some of the things that come to mind. When cleaning up after the meal preparation, be sure to clean those places, items, utensils, etc. that you touched while you were cooking. As you wash each of the items used in your daily meal preparation, reconnect with the time during your meal preparation you used the item.

As you prepare food, generate an attitude of gratitude toward the food for its willingness to sacrifice itself to feed you, your family and friends.