“Aurora Musis amica: Dawn is friend of the muses.”

~Latin Proverb

I am not necessarily writing this post for public consumption, but more as a record for my own self. (In case the fighter against early rising should return to the forefront of my mind at some point in the future.)

For months now I have been trying to focus on getting up earlier. A few years ago I did not get up before 11am, ever. Then up until the past few months I was an 8:30-9am kind of riser. Now its 5-6am, nearly ever day.

With travel in a different time zone and with several of my guides/deities telling me that rising earlier would benefit me spiritually, I have been putting in the effort to shift into this mindset.

When I say effort, I do not mean an alarm clock. I hate the things, a vile and often rather violent way to be awakened…not a great start to your day. I mean by simply telling myself to wake up earlier, willing myself to attune to the sun.

The shift has been gradual and I have not been overly harsh with myself on the occasions when I failed to get up early.

But I now seem to have reached the place where I am getting up at or before dawn. Today I rose around 4:45am and am glad for it.

So, now, WHY do I get up before dawn?

Simply put, peace.

I have, most of my adolescent and adult life, been in constant pursuit of peace. I like quiet. But with my pre-dawn rising I no longer have to search for peace.

This is because, firstly, I have come to the spiritual maturity to know now that peace cannot be pursued, it must be found within. And also because, secondly, the morning is the true time of peace.

This Earth is now (over)populated with human beings who live a regimented, clock-driven life. They must be on the highway by 8am, they must be at work by 9am. Not all live this existence but so many do.

So many live this existence that even in the high mountains, without a house or road is sight, if you stop and listen, you can hear the distant roar of traffic. (No lie. Try it sometime.)

But those people running the race are not yet running it at 5am. The televisions and radios of neighbors are not on and the street lights in the road are often shutting off. There is peace, for time alone, peace from pulsating electronics and ringing telephones.

I get up so that I can leave the t.v. off, sit and meditate, read some affirmations. I get up early so that I can start my day off right. So that I feel refreshed instead of overtired, so that I get to drink my cup of tea alone and get my shower in before most other people even open their eyes.

When I do get up early, I get to say good morning to the sun. I get to hear the first bird chirp of the day and the chorus that rises in crescendo after that.

Getting up before dawn always, without fail, results in a smoother and more productive day. I get more done and yet, oddly enough, also have more free time to myself.

Yes, I do take an afternoon nap. And yes, I do go to bed early (most times.) But even if I don’t, my body wakes me up early regardless.

I am so proud of myself when I rise early, because I know that I am serious about what I do. That I enjoy my career (Self-employment rocks!) and that I am strengthening my spirit and my connection to nature.

So, why don’t you get up before dawn?

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