investigations, insight, unconditional Love for the greater Oneness, tales of adventure, and shameless optimism from the edge of the not so distant future
This is a brilliant use of Xtranormal, a site that allows one to make movies using animated characters and stilted computer-generated dialogue. This episode features wise words on the true nature of reality…
This morning I decided to visit a Unitarian church in Toronto. I grew up going to a UU church in Cincinnati, and I attribute much of my intellect to being brought up in an open minded tradition. I thought it might be a good place to meet some kind, thoughtful people.
The old joke that Unitarianism is “church lite” (half the ceremony, none of the guilt) came to mind during the sermon. The young, articulate, female minister discussed how many UU people are uncomfortable with the word God and other traditional religious language, while others simply choose to let it represent something other than the (sometimes repressive) “traditional” meanings. She even joked about getting rid of the word church and calling it a club.
One of the hymns chosen had the word God in it, and the minister said most congregations generally avoid singing those. I’m glad they chose to include it today, because one phrase from the hymn became a mantra for me today, which pulled me through a very emotionally lonely weekend:
WISE BEYOND DESPAIR
I’m not sure if I’ll go back (I like a LOT more music in a church service) but I’m grateful I attended today.
My favourite quote from the book Save the Cat, the Last Screenwriting Book You’ll Need is, “statis is death.”
After many many many hours of meditation (of various forms) I’ve learned how to handle a lot of emotional energy. I’ve also become a lot more aware, and a lot more connected.
That said, it feels like the stronger I get, the more I am asked to endure.
I’ve given up figuring out “why” I just do my best to harmonize whatever it is (wherever it may be coming from in the ethers.)
/glad to be of service
The main points from a document I like very very much:
Principles of Spiritual Activism
www.agnt.org/snvSpiritActive.htm
1. Love those with whom we are in conflict. This is a real challenge for most of us.
2. We are all spiritual beings. See the image of God in everyone.
3. We are all connected and part of the web of life.
4. We can pray. Prayer is powerful and effective and should precede all actions.
5. We are conscious beings and are part of a collective universal consciousness. As such, our positive thoughts and intentions can have a beneficial impact on all life forms.
6. Shift our motivation for action from anger to love.
7. Be aware of any negative thinking on our part. Be alert for fearful or angry images which arise in our consciousness. We have a choice. We can let negative thoughts rule us and our behavior or we can replace these thoughts with more positive images.
9. To promote peace, we need to become peaceful ourselves. Meditating can help us develop peace and learn to live more in a state of love.
10. Develop a non-attachment to outcome. Buddhists believe this is the path out of suffering.
11. Let go of the need to be right and in control. Be open to all possibilities.
12. When involved in a dispute, focus on the issues rather than attacking the opposition.
13. We should not isolate ourselves from the pain and suffering of the world. As we let the pain in, we become transformed, compassionate and motivated to action.
14. God created life and we are intelligent beings capable of creative genius. We can co-create, with God, a better future.
15. Peaceful, non-violent direct action is an appropriate way to demonstrate our protest to harmful, unjust laws or practices.
16. We are all One with God, each other and all life. In this oneness, may we love one another and be of service.
A quote from A Course in Miracles (Chapter 13 #6) that was a good reminder today:
“When you have learned to look on everyone with no reference at all to the past, either his or yours as you perceived it, you will be able to learn from what you see now.”
When we truly embrace and embody the concepts of both Nonduality and unconditional Love, we must practice them in each moment.
This means that we Love every aspect of ourselves, everyone else, and every situation as part of the grand Oneness of everything.
To do so reflects an all abiding Faith that everything is in divine order and a knowledge that everything is working out perfectly right Now!
With practice, you can live in Love with everything no matter how things appear to be.
From the wonderful book Lessons from the Source:
Nothing can happen to you that is not for your highest good. Make this into an affirmation that works well for you and use it repeatedly. This is a particularly difficult concept to embrace, especially when you are faced with loss or grief or disappointment. But remember that you have chosen this lifetime for its lessons, and you cannot be aware of all of those lessons while you are learning them. Remember also that loss and grief and disappointment are concepts generated by human consciousness out of its lack of understanding of the “big picture.”
I’m at the point Now where I’m confident that things are going as they should
so
though this phase may not be the most enjoyable in the grand scheme of things
this too I Love
and I know
it’s key
philosophy-wise I’m leaning towards this sort of thing Now
I was just on a Skype conference call with a “spiritual teacher” and got kicked off for asking too many questions! Perhaps he is looking for followers rather than students…
He kept saying that 3D reality “does not exist” and that this “flesh suit,” taxes & policemen, etc. are “bullshit” that someone spiritual shouldn’t have to deal with.
I questioned him about whether it was worth learning how to master the 3D realm & got kicked off!
In my view, to truly be spiritual is to love this realm & endeavour to do our best to learn how to move within it as Love (as opposed to denying/hating on 3D because its density seems unpleasant in comparison to the ecstacy of eternity!)
I once met a Buddha who was working in a convenience store on Commercial Drive in Vancouver. He spread the light just be-ing present in the World. Though guru types have their place too, these humble teachers are hugely influential.
Though being in a cosmic headspace, dialed into the greatness of the Universe, etc. is a nice place to be if you can get there it doesn’t mean we should shirk our experience here as pointless. We are here for a reason. Perhaps we even have important work to do (whether it’s recognized as such by “others” or not!)
I have been a fan of the book No Time For Karma for some time. Today I discovered this short page within the site which has some great material…
Reminders for Old Souls
http://www.notimeforkarma.com/html/reminders.html
When we see evil in the world and process that evil with our intellect, we come to the conclusion that evil needs to be resisted. The ego absolutely knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that our responsibility is to fix what is wrong on this planet. “Resist not evil” (bible). “All correction belongs to holy spirit” (ACIM). Do the master teachers really know what they are talking about when they tell us to not resist evil? A mind which responds with resistance to perceived evil is participating in war, not peace. A mind which holds fear about a perceived evil is actually helping to perpetuate the evil because thoughts (positive or negative) held in mind manifest. We have been resisting evil for so many lifetimes that this is difficult to grasp. It is difficult because it is one of the final lessons which free us from karmic repetitions. This concept sets us free from fear, pain and struggle. Honor your causes. Do your best to end suffering. The process should feel freeing and joyful, not heavy. We use our mental powers to visualize what we want, not what we would resist. Visualize peace. Visualize green. Visualize love between all kingdoms, human, Gaia, universal. The Garden of Eden is returning to earth. Nothing can stop it. We have already gained critical mass. Use your inner vision. Sit in your meditation chair and ask for a vision of earth in one hundred years. Beautiful, totally beautiful. Can’t be stopped.
I’m going back to the name Margaret and making changes in my online identity very soon.
Stay tuned, etc.
From the awesome Zenhabits site:
Be Still
http://zenhabits.net/2009/07/be-still
Take a moment to think about how you spend your days — at work, after work, getting ready for work, evenings and weekends. Are you constantly rushing around? Are you constantly reading and answering messages, checking on the news and the latest stream of information? Are you always trying to Get Lots of Things Done, ticking off tasks from your list like a machine, rushing through your schedule?Is this how you want to spend your life?
If so, peace be with you. If not, take a moment to be still. Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already. Just be in the moment.
Then after a minute or two of doing that, contemplate your life, and how you’d like it to be. See your life with less movement, less doing, less rushing. See it with more stillness, more contemplation, more peace.
Then be that vision.
It’s pretty simple, actually: all you have to do is sit still for a little bit each day. Once you’ve gotten used to that, try doing less each day. Breathe when you feel yourself moving too fast. Slow down. Be present. Find happiness now, in this moment, instead of waiting for it.
Savor the stillness. It’s a treasure, and it’s available to us, always.
A friend left her Cosmic Tribe Tarot book at the house I was living in (which I am now visiting pre-Entheos) and I’ve only “done readings” from it twice.
OMG is it ever a beautiful deck by a beautiful artist!
Both times I chose the same card & the following passage stood out:
In the card a wild party is going on. Lots of strange things are happening. Everybody is really loose and all kinds of craziness streams out of the cups of people’s emotions. This party is wild in a bizarre fun-house kind of way. People don’t seem to be themselves. And while they appear to be having fun, there is an intangible sense of desperation lurking behind the bright lights, outlandish outfits, and zany music. Look, there in the corner, it’s the cosmic eye, and it’s bloodshot!
A reminder for myself today to repeatedly stop and rest as awareness throughout my busy day…
Rest as Awareness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIX_zk5NN6g
In this simple yet profound satsang, Adyashanti reveals the heart of the teaching — what it means to rest as awareness. He explains how the egoic mind state keeps us from truly resting, and shows us what we need to relinquish so that a direct, immediate access to awareness can spontaneously happen with no effort on our part.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s blog site GOOP is quite well-written, interesting and insightuful.
This week, three experts, including Michael Berg, co-director of the Kabbalah Centre, talk about addiction…
Addiction is simply a misguided yearning of the soul. What happens with alcohol, drugs, sex and money is that they are short-term fixes for this deeper desire. Sure, in the moment, they give us a certain amount of fulfillment, but as we know it never lasts.
Our soul has this massive thirst, and we are trying to quench it with a teaspoon.
Here’s a PDF version of the 2007 article “Coping With Quantum Novelty” suitable for printing…
This is from the Children of the Sun newsletter.
MAJOR GLAMOURS OF THE SPIRITUAL PATH
The Glamour of Self Identity
This is the major trigger for all other glamours and which creates the greatest separation between self and other, between the human and the divine. This is attachment to the formed human expression including its physical form, the bodily appearance, a held image, to emoting response and with attachment to roles. The emotion of personal identity creates unending desires, cravings, fear, doubt, neurotic thought and a continuous wheel of large and small sufferings in all areas of life.The Glamour of Power
This glamour is often unselfishly created during a time when one feels to be in great spiritual alignment while experiencing great openings and new abilities. There is emotional attachment to the sense of power that develops. There is then a growing tendency to call attention to ourselves, to the mission that we are carrying out, to the confidence that the Masters have in us, that our view is the best view.The Glamour of Materiality
This is the attachment of emotion to outer forms and false appearances which creates desire for needless material possessions. It is the false perception of values which ignores true spiritual principles and our forward movement into selflessness as a group consciousness. The present world economic situation is a result of this particular glamour in which we all have contributed.The Glamour of Devotion
This is one of the strongest glamours in the spiritually focused due to deep devotion and dedication to the spiritual path. The high level of devotion can innocently result in the formation of personal desires and glamorized ideals. There is great emotional attachment to a teaching, a concept, a vision, a view, a teacher, a Master, healing something, assisting the Earth, etc.. The glamour restricts the more expanded vision while closing us into a box of fantasy, personality longings, a long list of desires and to do’s. While immersed in this glamour, it is impossible for divine messaging to be correctly interpreted or even to enter.The Glamour of Psychic Perception
As a result of the quickening of planetary energies, many people are opening into the realm of extra sensory perception. This provides easier access into the colorful and inviting realm of the psychic world and the illusory astral plane. One thinks the incoming visions and messages are divine truth when, in fact, they are clothed with distortion. This occurs due to spiritual pride, zealous ambition and emoting attachment to the self identity and its abilities.The Glamour of Destiny
As a result of emotional attachment to one’s Path, this glamour produces high aspirations but limiting vision, selfish interpretations and self centeredness due to the individualized focus versus true realization of group consciousness. This is also the attachment of emotion towards the belief that we have important work to do in the world, that we are special, the Christed ones, ascension’s “first wavers”, starseeds, etc.. There is much preoccupation with identity and an overemphasis of spiritual ambition. Fantasized realities can also result.The Glamour of Sentimentality
This is the desire to emotionally be or react in a certain way. This is overemphasis of emotion placed upon a needed response from another in order to satisfy a desired level of personal comfort. This glamour attaches to the personalities of others. There is emotional reaction to another’s emotional response. It is also the strong emotional desire to love and to be loved on the human level. (Definitely a most challenging one to overcome in the process of personality-Soul fusion.)The Glamour of Speculative Belief
This is the formation of held concepts, beliefs and resulting emotional patterns based upon the attachment to information that is not derived from one’s own illuminated consciousness. The glamour produces conditioned belief through the blind acceptance of information from someone else’s principles, theories and assumptions or from messaging that is based on a guess, a possibility, a potential, a prophecy or ancient claim, etc..The Glamour of the Messiah Complex
This is attaching emotion to the role of being a savior and the illusion of having to take on the suffering for others. This is a very common glamour experienced by teachers and healers.The Glamour of Self Importance
This glamour produces an overemphasis towards a sense of duty or responsibility. There is hurriedness, impatience and always something to do, create, plan. Self centered tendencies create continuous desires to share the opinion, the experience, the creativity, the message. There is much self reference and talk, “my project”, “my vision”, “my view”, “my experience”.
Here’s an insightful blog entry from the founder of the spiritual media company Sounds True.
Manifestation Manifesto
http://shop.soundstrue.com/blog.soundstrue.com/wordpress/?p=45
Over the past few years, I have heard more and more people talk about “manifesting.” From what I can tell, the going definition of manifestation is “learning how to use spiritual principles to get what you want out of life.” Of course, it is usually stated in more palatable language like “how to realize your dreams” or “how to create the life you want.” Often, when I hear people describe this view of manifestation, I find myself feeling irritated. So, I decided it was time to write my own “Manifestation Manifesto.” (As you can see, I’m using this Publisher’s Blog as a chance to constructively express – at least I hope I’m being constructive – many of the pent-up frustrations I have been feeling as a publisher in the field of personal and spiritual transformation for the past 24 years.)So in response to all of the manifestation talk I‘ve heard over the past few years, here is my “Manifestation Manifesto”:
Step 1. Listen to your inner voice.
Step 2. Do what your inner voice says.
Step 3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2.
That’s my manifesto (very short!). And although it sounds quite simple – and it is from a conceptual viewpoint – that doesn’t mean it is easy.
Made a video for the “heart opening” flute track with poetry…
a meditative track “remixed” from the Heart Chakra track @
www.sourcevibrations.com/downloads.html
and the creek sound @
www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php? id=66327
audio digitally remastered by Akhentek
flute playing, poetry, & video by Margot
TEXT:
take a moment
and STOP
remember…
everything that is going on
every 3D appearance
all the stories
are mere illusions
tiny temporary sparks
impermanent!
see the BIG picture
all existance is ONE
Now
go inward
breathe
notice whats real
only Love
Now
Love Now
and if your Now is dark
Love it alll
(all the more)
Love the dark
as part of the Oneness
for its perfect lessons
and bless it on its way
because…
its all One
Now
life happens this Way
for your benefit
always (all ways)
only Love
Now
Love Now
I love the words, images, and music here:
“Sometimes what seems like courage is simply blissful (?) ignorance of how much one is dealing with.
Can you ground out awareness and relax?”
Below is a link to my current desktop wallpaper, the first of a series of weekly considerations from the ever-wise Elysha.org
It says, “You are the one powerful peace that is before, through, and beyond creation.” — Julie Sarah Powell
I was raised in the Unitarian tradition and am very grateful for the way it encouraged me to think for myself while still fostering communion and spiritual togetherness!
Here’s one example of how children are taught about Good Friday, a day Christians reflect upon the Crucifixion.
Good Friday for Kids
http://www.danielharper.org/blog/?p=120My main learning objective was that these UU kids would know what “Good Friday” means. They had all heard Craig’s story of Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem in last Sunday’s worship service, so we went from there. I used excerpts from Sophia Fahs’s Jesus, the Carpenter’s Son, pp. 127-131. I gave them the story of Jesus challenging the commercialization of the Temple, framing this as a tale of a religious challenge to the politicized Temple hierarchy. We looked at pictures of the Temple at Jerusalem from UCLA’s Urban Simulation Team, to get a sense of the scale of action Jesus was involved in. Then I briefly told how Jesus was betrayed to the Roman military police by one of his followers, and then executed on what we now call “Good Friday.” I did not go into details of the means of execution — not with a five year old and a six year old present.
One girl made the obvious comment: “‘Good Friday’! — but it wasn’t good at all, they should’ve called it “Bad Friday.’” Needless to say, we also discussed (at an age-appropriate level) the inherent ambiguity of the story and the attendant difficulties of understanding it fully. The kids were also fascinated by the idea that live animals were sacrificed in the Temple at Jerusalem in Jesus’s day, and we spent a little time discussing this alien notion.
We ended by sharing a snack of cinnamon grahams and apple juice, and then everyone helped clean up.
I find the idea of being able to say “Forgive them for they know not what they do,” upon crucifixion a very inspiring example of Divine levels of compassion we are all capable of.
Last night I went to a full moon meditation with yogini & musician Bachan Kaur with a group of wonderful neighbours.
We listened to a track with harp and singing and were asked to whistle the tune along with the recording, feeling the way the sound moved in our bodies. It can be challenging to whistle in tune (especially in a group) and at a few points we burst out laughing. I did not whistle much myself as I was busy loving the harp sounds & happily fantasizing about playing the instrument.
Remembering that I have the precious gift of music in my life brought in an intense feeling of joy about the future & the laughter reminded me my “problems” are actually quite mild. Once I was in that happy headspace I was clear enough to receive some good “higher self” information about my healing process and faith that I’ll know what to in each moment.
May all of you feel a similar joy today!
Drawing by Bachan:
when thoughts of worry about which way to turn appear
taking a deep breath
relaxing about the unfathomable array of possibilities
relaxing about the feelings surrounding clarivoyance of probabilities
choosing this:
I Love it ALL as a singularity (and as self)
Now
image by Tony Westbrook
