A Somatic Meditation
If you practice this meditation for awhile, you'll experience some interesting things as you go about your day. How long is awhile? It's actually different for everyone. It may be a few days or weeks. It may even be that you experience something different that very same day. What can you expect? Again, there's a smorgasbord of experiences and they're all good. You'll actually feel more alive, more in tune with your body, your inner-being, and with others. You'll feel more centered within yourself, more connected, grounded. You'll find that some things that might have pushed your buttons in the past no longer have the same charge they once did.
Somatic has to do "with the body." This particular practice brings consciousness to your physical body merely by focusing your own awareness on different parts of your body. This is not a body-scan. You don't want to zip through this. You want to do this very, very slowly -- take your time. Give this time to yourself; luxuriate in the whole experience as if you're taking an awareness bubble-bath.
When I do this meditation practice, I start with one side of my body beginning with one foot; and then I move up my body. When I get to my head I move back down the other side of my body and end with the opposite foot.
You want to use your awareness to really feel whatever part of the body you're focusing on. For example, let's say you start with your right foot, notice (with your awareness) the feel of your foot, the way it curves, the temperature, the texture. Just notice whatever you notice. Then, as you move up to your ankle, notice (with your awareness) the bones in the ankle, how they protrude out a little. Notice how when you move up the front of your leg from the ankle, to the shin, how the skin over the shin-bone feels. Is it taut? Is it sensitive? Just notice whatever you notice. Go over your whole body with this awareness-touching.
Try this meditation practice in bed before you get up in the morning and before you go to sleep at night. If you want to use this at work during a break, go for it. Experiment with it. Enjoy it!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
How's Your Energy for LIFE?
Think about that question. Really feel into it. Right now, in this very moment, are you able to tap into yourself and really feel your own aliveness? Are you aware of this feeling of aliveness during your day in whatever it is that you're doing? I wonder if you actually feel more alive some times and then other times you really don't feel anything at all.
These are the same questions I asked myself as I read an excellent newsletter article, "Why Personal Boundaries Matter" by Lauren Zander. Zander is the founder of Handel Group, a private corporate consulting company in New York. Thanks to her article, I was reminded of the importance of personal boundaries in keeping ourselves centered and authentic. Only when we're being centered and authentic within ourselves are we able to be with others in an authentic way. I was also reminded of how naive I was most of my life as to how important personal boundaries are to our health and well-being. Personal boundaries actually do effect our zest for life.
A Personal Boundary Connection
Isn't it interesting how our energy actually gets zapped when we fail to establish and maintain our own personal boundaries? There really is a connection to how we feel when we establish and maintain our personal boundaries and when we don't. Here are a couple of examples from Zander's article of personal boundaries being violated :
-- the mom who works long hours at the office all week and spends her evenings and weekends caring for her family with nary a break for herself
-- the dad who always says "yes" to requests from neighbors, relatives and friends -- even when helping them intrudes on his own plans.
Did you recognize anything about yourself in either of these examples? The thing about boundaries that many people don't understand is that boundaries show that you respect and honor your own needs. Do you feel that having your own needs is foreign to you? If so, isn't it time for you to (1) identify what your needs are and then (2) establish some personal boundaries that can help you get your needs met?
On the other hand, there are those whose boundaries are so rigid to ensure their own needs are met that their needs always take center stage. Quite often we see a dynamic between partners where one person has strong boundaries and the other has weak or no boundaries at all.
Identifying Unmet Needs
We all need to be cognizant of our own personal needs; and, quite frankly, we should not expect someone else to know what those needs are. Yet sometimes we get so lost in routines of the day that we don't even think about our needs -- specifically the little ones. For example, maybe you need to take your lunch-time away from your office instead of sitting at your desk. Maybe you need to allow yourself time to take a nap. How can you discover your unmet needs? The next time you become frustrated, annoyed or whiny, ask yourself questions about what needs you may not be honoring.
It's important to recognize that it's OK to have needs and to honor them. It's also important to remember that other people have needs and we need to honor them as well. When our needs conflict with others, it's time for communication and possibly negotiation. Remember communication includes listening as well as talking. Oftentimes when we listen we find out information we did not know. By letting others know what we need and listening to what others need, we may very well come to a better understanding as to what it is we actually do need.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Stress as a Habit
First let me be clear that I'm not saying that stress is always a habit. There are many things that can cause stress. We can experience stress from outside influences as well as inner-influences. The whole idea that stress can be a habit hit me a few years ago when I was working with a Naturopath and he noticed that my resting pulse was higher than normal. We were looking at at various kinds of things that might be considered stressors in my life, including the possibility of a sensitivity to certain foods. He gave me the assignment of keeping a record of my pulse-rate throughout the day, beginning first thing in the morning before I even got out of bed.
One of the best things that came out of my work with him was the realization that I'd thrived on stress most of my life. For me, stress had become a habit, a pattern of behavior that was completely unconscious. My first clue showed up when he asked me: "What's the very first thing you do in the morning?" Whatever I answered, he shook his head and said: "No, I mean, when your eyes open, when you wake up, what do you do?"
Three years later I still remember my answer to the Naturopath. With great sense of aplomb and energy, I raised my arm, hand in a victory-fist and said: "I jump out of bed like a race-horse leaving the gate!" I'll bet if he would've checked my pulse-rate in that moment it would have been extremely high. He looked at me, smiled, then asked if I would change my normal waking behavior for two-weeks so that we could get a record of my resting pulse-rate. He explained that until I took my resting pulse, I needed to do everything v e r y slowly. He described a scenario where I'd actually recognize that I was waking up first; I'd slowly open my eyes and just lay there. Next, I might just notice things, like the light in the room, my breathing, maybe even my heartbeat, and the stillness in the room. After laying there for awhile, before even raising my head, I needed to take my pulse-rate.
Waking Up with Presence
My Naturopath gave me a gift of presence, first, by being very present with me and describing alternatives for how I could begin my day in a state of calm instead of stress. For all the years that I'd been waking up like a race-horse, I unconsciously had been putting undue stress on my body. I was putting myself in an automatic state of fight-or-flight which had a direct affect on my hormones and my heart-rate. Secondly, his wanting to see a record of my resting pulse meant that, for at least two weeks, I needed to begin my day in a way that I don't remember ever doing -- waking up with presence. When we are present, time literally slows down. It's like watching a single-snowflake as it falls in the midst of all the other snowflakes. That single snowflake appears to be falling much slower than all the other snowflakes. If you've never experienced this phenomenon, try it next time it snows.
Mistaken Aliveness
Something else I've learned about myself and stress is that with stress I often experience anxiousness which on one hand feels like a lot of energy but on the other hand (after awhile) it feels energy-draining. While doing some self-inquiry work around stress, I discovered a fascinating truth about how I experience stress & anxiety -- it has a similarity with the feeling of aliveness. Isn't that interesting? I wonder if somehow we forget how to authentically feel such a basic, essential quality like aliveness? I'm curious whether it's possible to actually mistake the experience of stress or anxiety for aliveness itself. What do you think?
First let me be clear that I'm not saying that stress is always a habit. There are many things that can cause stress. We can experience stress from outside influences as well as inner-influences. The whole idea that stress can be a habit hit me a few years ago when I was working with a Naturopath and he noticed that my resting pulse was higher than normal. We were looking at at various kinds of things that might be considered stressors in my life, including the possibility of a sensitivity to certain foods. He gave me the assignment of keeping a record of my pulse-rate throughout the day, beginning first thing in the morning before I even got out of bed.
One of the best things that came out of my work with him was the realization that I'd thrived on stress most of my life. For me, stress had become a habit, a pattern of behavior that was completely unconscious. My first clue showed up when he asked me: "What's the very first thing you do in the morning?" Whatever I answered, he shook his head and said: "No, I mean, when your eyes open, when you wake up, what do you do?"
Three years later I still remember my answer to the Naturopath. With great sense of aplomb and energy, I raised my arm, hand in a victory-fist and said: "I jump out of bed like a race-horse leaving the gate!" I'll bet if he would've checked my pulse-rate in that moment it would have been extremely high. He looked at me, smiled, then asked if I would change my normal waking behavior for two-weeks so that we could get a record of my resting pulse-rate. He explained that until I took my resting pulse, I needed to do everything v e r y slowly. He described a scenario where I'd actually recognize that I was waking up first; I'd slowly open my eyes and just lay there. Next, I might just notice things, like the light in the room, my breathing, maybe even my heartbeat, and the stillness in the room. After laying there for awhile, before even raising my head, I needed to take my pulse-rate.
Waking Up with Presence
My Naturopath gave me a gift of presence, first, by being very present with me and describing alternatives for how I could begin my day in a state of calm instead of stress. For all the years that I'd been waking up like a race-horse, I unconsciously had been putting undue stress on my body. I was putting myself in an automatic state of fight-or-flight which had a direct affect on my hormones and my heart-rate. Secondly, his wanting to see a record of my resting pulse meant that, for at least two weeks, I needed to begin my day in a way that I don't remember ever doing -- waking up with presence. When we are present, time literally slows down. It's like watching a single-snowflake as it falls in the midst of all the other snowflakes. That single snowflake appears to be falling much slower than all the other snowflakes. If you've never experienced this phenomenon, try it next time it snows.
Mistaken Aliveness
Something else I've learned about myself and stress is that with stress I often experience anxiousness which on one hand feels like a lot of energy but on the other hand (after awhile) it feels energy-draining. While doing some self-inquiry work around stress, I discovered a fascinating truth about how I experience stress & anxiety -- it has a similarity with the feeling of aliveness. Isn't that interesting? I wonder if somehow we forget how to authentically feel such a basic, essential quality like aliveness? I'm curious whether it's possible to actually mistake the experience of stress or anxiety for aliveness itself. What do you think?
Saturday, September 27, 2008
A Daily Practice --
Periodic 3-Minute Presence
Here's a daily practice that you can do multiple times during the day every day. And, if you will do this practice, I can assure you that you will experience more clarity and more energy throughout your day. Now, since this is a 3-minute exercise, there should be no excuses that you cannot find the time! I won't name names. You know who you are J
You can do this at home, work, the gym, while standing in line, while waiting for a traffic light to turn green. You can do this practice any time, anywhere.
Here's what you do:
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing . . . STOP. Focus your attention inside yourself. See what you notice. Whatever you notice don't judge it and don't let your mind start dialoging about it (or you might go over your 3-minute practice time limit!). Just notice whatever you notice. Your stomach might be rumbling (yes, you might be hungry but remember -- no dialogue -- just notice it). Your breathing might be shallow. Just notice it (you might actually spontaneously take a deeper breath, or not). Your toes may feel cramped. If you're outside, you may feel a breeze across your skin. If you're inside, you might feel air from an air vent move your hair a bit. Whatever you notice is just whatever you notice.
The most important part of this 3-minute practice is your complete focus. If you go over 3-minutes, that's OK. You may need to time yourself in the beginning, but after awhile you'll be able to do this without timing yourself.
Periodic 3-Minute Presence
Here's a daily practice that you can do multiple times during the day every day. And, if you will do this practice, I can assure you that you will experience more clarity and more energy throughout your day. Now, since this is a 3-minute exercise, there should be no excuses that you cannot find the time! I won't name names. You know who you are J
You can do this at home, work, the gym, while standing in line, while waiting for a traffic light to turn green. You can do this practice any time, anywhere.
Here's what you do:
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing . . . STOP. Focus your attention inside yourself. See what you notice. Whatever you notice don't judge it and don't let your mind start dialoging about it (or you might go over your 3-minute practice time limit!). Just notice whatever you notice. Your stomach might be rumbling (yes, you might be hungry but remember -- no dialogue -- just notice it). Your breathing might be shallow. Just notice it (you might actually spontaneously take a deeper breath, or not). Your toes may feel cramped. If you're outside, you may feel a breeze across your skin. If you're inside, you might feel air from an air vent move your hair a bit. Whatever you notice is just whatever you notice.
The most important part of this 3-minute practice is your complete focus. If you go over 3-minutes, that's OK. You may need to time yourself in the beginning, but after awhile you'll be able to do this without timing yourself.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Inquiring into Who’s Manifesting What?
We really are multidimensional beings. We exist with many bodies, i.e., physical, subtle, and causal. Each body manifests itself as an expression of Being. Once we’re able to shift our perspective back and forth from the narrow, bounded Ego/Personality-view and the vast, boundless Soul/Spirit-view, we’re able to recognize that the more contracted perspective comes from the egoic-mind. We’re also able to recognize that the perspective from the Soul/Spirit is more expansive and inclusive – a big heart-mind. As mature, integrated human beings, we’re to learn how to consciously hold both realities. True choice (intention) can only come from our capacity to hold both realities.
The act of manifesting itself is a sort of contraction – a pulling out of the plenum that which is already present – a bringing it into a denser form. Since the egoic-mind operates from relative-knowing or archived past experiences, what appears to be the act of manifesting is extremely limited. The egoic-mind is quite childlike (narcissistic) – it wants what it wants without thought of the whole. The egoic-mind uses manipulation and seduction to get what it wants. And, the egoic-mind will resist any manifestation that threatens its identity (structures).
Let’s look at an example, a woman, Saleme, decides to sell a particular product. She feels passionate about what she’s selling; she sees how the product can be beneficial to anyone who purchases it; and, she needs the income. Selling this product is the work she’s chosen as a means for making money. The problem is that she’s not manifesting the sales, not making money. As a result, she feels rejection every time a lead hits a dead-end. Her own intrinsic value is merged with the value she sees in the product she’s trying to sell; so when someone is not interested in purchasing the product, there’s a part of her (egoic-mind) that interprets it in a way that tells her that she has no value. The egoic-mind says “You’re not enough. If you were more (fill-in-the-blank) then you would be a better salesperson.” This part of the egoic-mind is often referred to as the super-ego. It’s the internal-parent, the inner-critic/judge.
What is Saleme to do? First she must recognize that what’s happening is an inner-dynamic within her mind; and, she needs to get to the root of this inner-dynamic. She needs practice experiencing her own intrinsic-value. Also, inquiry-work could help her see how the egoic-mind is translating early life-experiences into the present. Some part(s) of her ego is putting up roadblocks to keep her from experiencing success in what she wants to do. Who is it that’s manifesting the feelings of rejection? Who is it that sees selling this particular product so important? There are any number of questions that can arise during authentic inquiry-work where questions open us to the larger dimensions of our being. This whole experience is part of her soul’s journey. It’s not enough to know that she has intrinsic value – she must experience it for herself – for we don’t really “know” anything intimately unless we experience it directly.
We really are multidimensional beings. We exist with many bodies, i.e., physical, subtle, and causal. Each body manifests itself as an expression of Being. Once we’re able to shift our perspective back and forth from the narrow, bounded Ego/Personality-view and the vast, boundless Soul/Spirit-view, we’re able to recognize that the more contracted perspective comes from the egoic-mind. We’re also able to recognize that the perspective from the Soul/Spirit is more expansive and inclusive – a big heart-mind. As mature, integrated human beings, we’re to learn how to consciously hold both realities. True choice (intention) can only come from our capacity to hold both realities.
The act of manifesting itself is a sort of contraction – a pulling out of the plenum that which is already present – a bringing it into a denser form. Since the egoic-mind operates from relative-knowing or archived past experiences, what appears to be the act of manifesting is extremely limited. The egoic-mind is quite childlike (narcissistic) – it wants what it wants without thought of the whole. The egoic-mind uses manipulation and seduction to get what it wants. And, the egoic-mind will resist any manifestation that threatens its identity (structures).
Let’s look at an example, a woman, Saleme, decides to sell a particular product. She feels passionate about what she’s selling; she sees how the product can be beneficial to anyone who purchases it; and, she needs the income. Selling this product is the work she’s chosen as a means for making money. The problem is that she’s not manifesting the sales, not making money. As a result, she feels rejection every time a lead hits a dead-end. Her own intrinsic value is merged with the value she sees in the product she’s trying to sell; so when someone is not interested in purchasing the product, there’s a part of her (egoic-mind) that interprets it in a way that tells her that she has no value. The egoic-mind says “You’re not enough. If you were more (fill-in-the-blank) then you would be a better salesperson.” This part of the egoic-mind is often referred to as the super-ego. It’s the internal-parent, the inner-critic/judge.
What is Saleme to do? First she must recognize that what’s happening is an inner-dynamic within her mind; and, she needs to get to the root of this inner-dynamic. She needs practice experiencing her own intrinsic-value. Also, inquiry-work could help her see how the egoic-mind is translating early life-experiences into the present. Some part(s) of her ego is putting up roadblocks to keep her from experiencing success in what she wants to do. Who is it that’s manifesting the feelings of rejection? Who is it that sees selling this particular product so important? There are any number of questions that can arise during authentic inquiry-work where questions open us to the larger dimensions of our being. This whole experience is part of her soul’s journey. It’s not enough to know that she has intrinsic value – she must experience it for herself – for we don’t really “know” anything intimately unless we experience it directly.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Soul Connection to Manifesting in Life
Once we understand that we actually have different perspectives -- a view from our ego and a view from our soul -- it may very well shed more light on how manifesting works in Life (For soul/ego perspectives, see April blog-article "A Soul Connection to Life's Experiences). Awareness is the light we shine. It is awareness that informs us when we ask the questions: "From which perspective am I viewing others? Myself? Life Itself?" As you read this article, you might even ask the question "Why is it important for me to know which perspective?" The short answer is that the view from your ego is limited -- the view from your soul is much more inclusive.
We are constantly manifesting with every breath we breathe and, I might add, with every thought that comes and goes. No matter whether any of it is conscious or unconscious -- it's all the act of manifesting. We rely on many unconscious and necessary processes to manifest in order to keep us alive. For example, it's a good thing we don't need to always be conscious of our breathing in order to be sure we breathe. That said, it's important to see and understand what we're manifesting unconsciously with our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. It's interesting that the verb to manifest is synonymous with to reveal, to become apparent (by seeing more clearly whether visibly or through understanding).
There's a tendency for some toward thinking that they "should" only view the world from a spiritual (soul) perspective. Posh! Developing an ego is not an accident. Ego development is the beginning of the process of becoming a human being. This process begins in childhood as a means to help the child feel safe, to give the child the capability to become less dependent on parents so s/he can go out into the world. The problem inherent in this process has to do with forgetting who we are. This problem reveals itself later in life when we find we're still using thoughts, ideas, beliefs from the past that helped us through our developmental process. There are few guides who can remind us that we are not limited to the ego's perspective -- we are more than what the ego perceives and Life itself is more than the ego perceives. Imagine what it would be like for children to have such a guide – someone who understands the necessity of the child’s ego-development process as a means for individuation and autonomy AND who can reflect the seemingly paradoxical bigger truth of interconnected wholeness.
(to be continued)
Once we understand that we actually have different perspectives -- a view from our ego and a view from our soul -- it may very well shed more light on how manifesting works in Life (For soul/ego perspectives, see April blog-article "A Soul Connection to Life's Experiences). Awareness is the light we shine. It is awareness that informs us when we ask the questions: "From which perspective am I viewing others? Myself? Life Itself?" As you read this article, you might even ask the question "Why is it important for me to know which perspective?" The short answer is that the view from your ego is limited -- the view from your soul is much more inclusive.
We are constantly manifesting with every breath we breathe and, I might add, with every thought that comes and goes. No matter whether any of it is conscious or unconscious -- it's all the act of manifesting. We rely on many unconscious and necessary processes to manifest in order to keep us alive. For example, it's a good thing we don't need to always be conscious of our breathing in order to be sure we breathe. That said, it's important to see and understand what we're manifesting unconsciously with our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. It's interesting that the verb to manifest is synonymous with to reveal, to become apparent (by seeing more clearly whether visibly or through understanding).
There's a tendency for some toward thinking that they "should" only view the world from a spiritual (soul) perspective. Posh! Developing an ego is not an accident. Ego development is the beginning of the process of becoming a human being. This process begins in childhood as a means to help the child feel safe, to give the child the capability to become less dependent on parents so s/he can go out into the world. The problem inherent in this process has to do with forgetting who we are. This problem reveals itself later in life when we find we're still using thoughts, ideas, beliefs from the past that helped us through our developmental process. There are few guides who can remind us that we are not limited to the ego's perspective -- we are more than what the ego perceives and Life itself is more than the ego perceives. Imagine what it would be like for children to have such a guide – someone who understands the necessity of the child’s ego-development process as a means for individuation and autonomy AND who can reflect the seemingly paradoxical bigger truth of interconnected wholeness.
(to be continued)
Friday, April 04, 2008
A Soul Connection to Life's Experiences
Have you ever wondered what the connection is between your life's experiences and your soul? In fact, maybe a better question is "Are you conscious of experiencing life through the various expressions of your soul?"
Initially, I gave my healing practice the name A Soul Connection for two reasons: (1) it best describes the exploration work my clients and I do together, and (2) it attracts people who are ready to break out of the rigid patterns from which their ego/personality confines the soul.
It's true that the development of the ego/personality is a necessary part of the process of being human. The problem arises when we recognize that we feel cut off from the essence of who we truly are. Whenever we have an image in our mind of what we should be doing, how we should look, how we should act, we're completely disconnected from who we are -- it feels as if we've lost our connection to our very soul.
A Soul's Perspective
From the perspective of the soul, most things are very interesting. The soul has a natural curiosity and innocence. The soul isn't wanting to know things to archive them in the head for later use. Instead, the soul wants to know things directly from actual experience each and every moment.
The soul isn't worried about what other people think of her, about proving her value, strength, intelligence, or beauty. The soul is value intrinsically. The soul is intelligence itself as well as strength, beauty and much, much more.
As souls, each of us are constantly changing -- we love change! We want to experience as much in life as possible. We are the very essence of aliveness. We want to try new things. We're curious about everything.
An *Ego/Personality Perspective
From the ego perspective, "the ego rules!" The ego thinks it's in charge of everything and tries to control everything. That said, the ego is afraid of everything -- especially change. The ego uses fear to keep us small, weak, hidden/invisible, and numb. The ego is not capable of trusting any one or anything which means everything is a threat.
It's the ego that keeps us separated from our connection to our soul.
(to be continued)
*For ease in writing this piece, I'll shorten "ego/personality" to merely "ego."
Have you ever wondered what the connection is between your life's experiences and your soul? In fact, maybe a better question is "Are you conscious of experiencing life through the various expressions of your soul?"
Initially, I gave my healing practice the name A Soul Connection for two reasons: (1) it best describes the exploration work my clients and I do together, and (2) it attracts people who are ready to break out of the rigid patterns from which their ego/personality confines the soul.
It's true that the development of the ego/personality is a necessary part of the process of being human. The problem arises when we recognize that we feel cut off from the essence of who we truly are. Whenever we have an image in our mind of what we should be doing, how we should look, how we should act, we're completely disconnected from who we are -- it feels as if we've lost our connection to our very soul.
A Soul's Perspective
From the perspective of the soul, most things are very interesting. The soul has a natural curiosity and innocence. The soul isn't wanting to know things to archive them in the head for later use. Instead, the soul wants to know things directly from actual experience each and every moment.
The soul isn't worried about what other people think of her, about proving her value, strength, intelligence, or beauty. The soul is value intrinsically. The soul is intelligence itself as well as strength, beauty and much, much more.
As souls, each of us are constantly changing -- we love change! We want to experience as much in life as possible. We are the very essence of aliveness. We want to try new things. We're curious about everything.
An *Ego/Personality Perspective
From the ego perspective, "the ego rules!" The ego thinks it's in charge of everything and tries to control everything. That said, the ego is afraid of everything -- especially change. The ego uses fear to keep us small, weak, hidden/invisible, and numb. The ego is not capable of trusting any one or anything which means everything is a threat.
It's the ego that keeps us separated from our connection to our soul.
(to be continued)
*For ease in writing this piece, I'll shorten "ego/personality" to merely "ego."
Monday, September 17, 2007
More Explorations with Essential Oils
Last week's dental visit went very well. I got high marks for the condition of my gums and teeth. In fact, there's been improvement in the gum-pockets. I can't help but wonder if using Thieves essential oil on my toothpaste twice a day hasn't helped the condition of my gums.
We've had more week-end house guests and so I've had more opportunities to offer essential oil uses and remedies to folks to try. Our friend, Dani loved the Lemon oil in water with stevia that I mentioned in my last post. Since writing that post, I purchased some Grapefruit oil and have been using it the same way. Dani loved that one too. One day she also tried some Thieves on the bottoms of her feet after a shower to help with an allergy-symptom (stuffy nose, watery eyes). She may have been allergic to one of our cats, although she has a cat. I think she love the Thieves oil as much as I do.
Another guest had a congested cough. He'd listened to us talking about how some of us had used a couple of drops of Thieves in some honey for respiration, problems dealing with colds, etc. Finally he asked if we could fix him some Thieves and Honey for his cough. We did and he stopped coughing almost immediately. He slept later than normal the next morning; and, when he awoke he said that he'd slept better than he had in a few days.
I ordered the Essential Oil Desk Reference -- the package that included the big book itself along with a smaller version that's spiral bound to carry, plus a CD. The CD is wonderful for doing searches and the small spiral bound book goes with me wherever I take my case of oils, i.e., trips. If you're interested in purchasing this desk reference, go to www.essentialscience.net.
Lastly, I've got a Young Living website up: www.youngliving.com/dsaunders. Come visit my site and take a look around.
That's it for now. I'll keep on writing about my experiences and explorations.
Last week's dental visit went very well. I got high marks for the condition of my gums and teeth. In fact, there's been improvement in the gum-pockets. I can't help but wonder if using Thieves essential oil on my toothpaste twice a day hasn't helped the condition of my gums.
We've had more week-end house guests and so I've had more opportunities to offer essential oil uses and remedies to folks to try. Our friend, Dani loved the Lemon oil in water with stevia that I mentioned in my last post. Since writing that post, I purchased some Grapefruit oil and have been using it the same way. Dani loved that one too. One day she also tried some Thieves on the bottoms of her feet after a shower to help with an allergy-symptom (stuffy nose, watery eyes). She may have been allergic to one of our cats, although she has a cat. I think she love the Thieves oil as much as I do.
Another guest had a congested cough. He'd listened to us talking about how some of us had used a couple of drops of Thieves in some honey for respiration, problems dealing with colds, etc. Finally he asked if we could fix him some Thieves and Honey for his cough. We did and he stopped coughing almost immediately. He slept later than normal the next morning; and, when he awoke he said that he'd slept better than he had in a few days.
I ordered the Essential Oil Desk Reference -- the package that included the big book itself along with a smaller version that's spiral bound to carry, plus a CD. The CD is wonderful for doing searches and the small spiral bound book goes with me wherever I take my case of oils, i.e., trips. If you're interested in purchasing this desk reference, go to www.essentialscience.net.
Lastly, I've got a Young Living website up: www.youngliving.com/dsaunders. Come visit my site and take a look around.
That's it for now. I'll keep on writing about my experiences and explorations.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Discovering Young Living Essential Oils
Such an exciting time! A couple of weeks ago I took a plunge that I didn't see coming. I signed-up to be a Young Living product distributor. If someone would've told me I'd be doing this, I would have looked at them in utter disbelief. Why? Because I typically don't like selling anything. So, why'd I do it? Hmmmm, let me see.
A distributor gets all products at wholesale value which is 24% off the retail value. To maintain my wholesale customer pricing, the only obligation is to purchase $50 worth of product(s) per year. That’s it!
So, to get started with my exploration of essential oils, I enrolled as a distributor with one of the four Start Living Kits: Everyday Oils. The Young Living Everyday Oils Kit includes the following 5 ml bottles of essential oils: Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Thieves, Frankincense, Valor, PanAway, Peace & Calming, and Purification.
When my package of essential oils was delivered, I felt like a kid opening everything and smelling everything. It was wonderful. I'd been researching all the ways I could experiment and use the oils.
One of the first things I did was to put a few drops of lemon oil in a 10 oz glass of purified water along with a package of Stevia then stirred it and drank it. It was the most delicious-tasting lemonade I've ever had. I carry a bottle of lemon oil in my purse to add a couple of drops to water served in restaurants.
Here are some other ways I've been experimenting with the Everyday Oils:
Such an exciting time! A couple of weeks ago I took a plunge that I didn't see coming. I signed-up to be a Young Living product distributor. If someone would've told me I'd be doing this, I would have looked at them in utter disbelief. Why? Because I typically don't like selling anything. So, why'd I do it? Hmmmm, let me see.
A distributor gets all products at wholesale value which is 24% off the retail value. To maintain my wholesale customer pricing, the only obligation is to purchase $50 worth of product(s) per year. That’s it!
So, to get started with my exploration of essential oils, I enrolled as a distributor with one of the four Start Living Kits: Everyday Oils. The Young Living Everyday Oils Kit includes the following 5 ml bottles of essential oils: Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Thieves, Frankincense, Valor, PanAway, Peace & Calming, and Purification.
When my package of essential oils was delivered, I felt like a kid opening everything and smelling everything. It was wonderful. I'd been researching all the ways I could experiment and use the oils.
One of the first things I did was to put a few drops of lemon oil in a 10 oz glass of purified water along with a package of Stevia then stirred it and drank it. It was the most delicious-tasting lemonade I've ever had. I carry a bottle of lemon oil in my purse to add a couple of drops to water served in restaurants.
Here are some other ways I've been experimenting with the Everyday Oils:
- peppermint -- (1) I massaged my husbands back with a few drops where he was sore from working on re-building our deck; (2) A house guest asked me if I had anything that would help her with a sore neck and shoulders. I offered her the peppermint oil and explained how to use it.; and, (3) Another house guest had an upset stomach and I suggested one drop of peppermint in a 10 oz glass of purified water.
- Lavender -- For relaxing before sleep, I massage a couple of drops on the bottom of each foot before going to bed; then, I run my hands over my pillows to pick up the scent off my hands.
- Thieves -- I've been adding one drop of Thieves to my Tom's toothpaste. It tastes great and I feel like it's helping my gums as well as possibly reducing plaque (will need to research this).
I'm still experimenting and will continue to write more about what I discover. In the meantime, if you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a wholesale member, or distributor, for Young Living Products, feel free to contact me.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
HoloSync CD: Awakening Prologue Continuing
It's been about 10 weeks since I began my daily practice of listening to the Awakening Prologue CD. I must admit I'm still amazed at how I look forward to sitting, listening, and at times, even adding my Kath-meditation practice while I'm listening. So, it's true that you can do your regular meditation practice while listening. Time goes so fast, or maybe it just doesn't even exist while doing this practice.
Here's something interesting I've discovered: I can do this practice in the car -- as a passenger, of course; and, I still feel the meditative-state is very deep. We've had a couple of 4-5 hour car-trips where I knew that I could grab an hour on the way to listen to my HoloSync CD. I brought my eye-mask to block out the light, put my headphones on and it all worked like a charm.
There's only been one instance where I felt any discomfort in listening to this first CD set and that was when I accidently pressed a button on my CD-player where I realized after about 5 minutes that I was listening to Immersion (Track 2) instead of beginning with The Dive (Track 1). Before I realized my mistake, I noticed I was feeling "antsy" (which was very unusual). I kept feeling like time was dragging and yet I knew I hadn't been sitting and listening for very long. I wanted to get up and do something else. The experience was so unusual that I decided to look at the track-window on the CD-player. That's when I saw Track 2 rather than Track 1. Since then I've been very careful to make sure that I'm on the right Track before I take my glasses off!
Since that one uncomfortable experience, I've re-read a couple of the support letters I received from Bill Harris, Centerpointe's founder, and he mentions the importance of noticing, watching, and just observing with curiosity what's happening. That's excellent advice to use when I'm meditating at other times during the day without the CD.
It seems that I'm not the only one who for a long time had this image in my head about what it looked like and felt like -- how it should be -- to be meditating properly. No one ever told me that the times when you're struggling during the meditation are often the deepest meditative states. I didn't know that until I read some research Bill Harris mentioned in his book "Thresholds of the Mind."
So, yes, I'm still practicing and learning and enjoying the whole exploration!
It's been about 10 weeks since I began my daily practice of listening to the Awakening Prologue CD. I must admit I'm still amazed at how I look forward to sitting, listening, and at times, even adding my Kath-meditation practice while I'm listening. So, it's true that you can do your regular meditation practice while listening. Time goes so fast, or maybe it just doesn't even exist while doing this practice.
Here's something interesting I've discovered: I can do this practice in the car -- as a passenger, of course; and, I still feel the meditative-state is very deep. We've had a couple of 4-5 hour car-trips where I knew that I could grab an hour on the way to listen to my HoloSync CD. I brought my eye-mask to block out the light, put my headphones on and it all worked like a charm.
There's only been one instance where I felt any discomfort in listening to this first CD set and that was when I accidently pressed a button on my CD-player where I realized after about 5 minutes that I was listening to Immersion (Track 2) instead of beginning with The Dive (Track 1). Before I realized my mistake, I noticed I was feeling "antsy" (which was very unusual). I kept feeling like time was dragging and yet I knew I hadn't been sitting and listening for very long. I wanted to get up and do something else. The experience was so unusual that I decided to look at the track-window on the CD-player. That's when I saw Track 2 rather than Track 1. Since then I've been very careful to make sure that I'm on the right Track before I take my glasses off!
Since that one uncomfortable experience, I've re-read a couple of the support letters I received from Bill Harris, Centerpointe's founder, and he mentions the importance of noticing, watching, and just observing with curiosity what's happening. That's excellent advice to use when I'm meditating at other times during the day without the CD.
It seems that I'm not the only one who for a long time had this image in my head about what it looked like and felt like -- how it should be -- to be meditating properly. No one ever told me that the times when you're struggling during the meditation are often the deepest meditative states. I didn't know that until I read some research Bill Harris mentioned in his book "Thresholds of the Mind."
So, yes, I'm still practicing and learning and enjoying the whole exploration!
If you're interested in trying this new technology that truly helps one reach meditative states, click here.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
HoloSync CD: Awakening Prologue
For 14 days I listened to Centerpointe's HoloSync CD called "The Dive" -- the first part of their program called "Awakening Prologue." There was definitely a sense of deeper meditation and not as much monkey-mind chatter as I normally experience with other meditation/sitting practice.
I found, and continue to find after about 40 days with the program, that I look forward to listening to these CDs and have included this listening as part of my spiritual practice. I listen according to the protocol provided by Centerpointe's founder, Bill Harris: I listen to "The Dive" for the first 30 min. and then immediately follow with listening to "Immersion" for another 30 min. This one hour sitting/listening goes by without noticing time -- it's as if I just sat down moments ago and the hour is up.
There's another CD that I listen to at night as I'm falling to sleep; it's called Longevity. I love the idea of communicating with ones's DNA. There are two parts to this CD that I alternate on different nights: (1) the first track is beautiful music with nature-sounds plus Bill Harris' voice leading a sort of guided meditation with affirmations concerning health of DNA, etc.; and, (2) the second track's music is a little different along with the nature-sounds and includes the same affirmations but on this track they're silent (subliminal).
There are a number of benefits that I'm experiencing that I feel I can attribute to listening to the HoloSync CDs, one of which is that my sitting practice has finally become consistent. Not only am I sitting and listening to the HoloSync CDs, I'm also doing my other sitting practice once or twice a day. I can't tell you how amazing this consistency is for me! Other benefits I'm discovering are the same as what many who meditate experience consistently: (1) lowered stress-levels, and (2) increased energy, intuition, ability to focus, and problem-solving skill.
I must admit that I'm looking forward to moving to the next level (set) of CDs in the near future; and, I'll write more about this subject in the future as I continue with the programs.
For more information about Centerpointe's Holosync CD programs, CLICK HERE.
For 14 days I listened to Centerpointe's HoloSync CD called "The Dive" -- the first part of their program called "Awakening Prologue." There was definitely a sense of deeper meditation and not as much monkey-mind chatter as I normally experience with other meditation/sitting practice.
I found, and continue to find after about 40 days with the program, that I look forward to listening to these CDs and have included this listening as part of my spiritual practice. I listen according to the protocol provided by Centerpointe's founder, Bill Harris: I listen to "The Dive" for the first 30 min. and then immediately follow with listening to "Immersion" for another 30 min. This one hour sitting/listening goes by without noticing time -- it's as if I just sat down moments ago and the hour is up.
There's another CD that I listen to at night as I'm falling to sleep; it's called Longevity. I love the idea of communicating with ones's DNA. There are two parts to this CD that I alternate on different nights: (1) the first track is beautiful music with nature-sounds plus Bill Harris' voice leading a sort of guided meditation with affirmations concerning health of DNA, etc.; and, (2) the second track's music is a little different along with the nature-sounds and includes the same affirmations but on this track they're silent (subliminal).
There are a number of benefits that I'm experiencing that I feel I can attribute to listening to the HoloSync CDs, one of which is that my sitting practice has finally become consistent. Not only am I sitting and listening to the HoloSync CDs, I'm also doing my other sitting practice once or twice a day. I can't tell you how amazing this consistency is for me! Other benefits I'm discovering are the same as what many who meditate experience consistently: (1) lowered stress-levels, and (2) increased energy, intuition, ability to focus, and problem-solving skill.
I must admit that I'm looking forward to moving to the next level (set) of CDs in the near future; and, I'll write more about this subject in the future as I continue with the programs.
For more information about Centerpointe's Holosync CD programs, CLICK HERE.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
About the DVD “The Secret”
I’ve procrastinated in writing about it, but I’ve clearly known that I need to write about it. Writing helps me connect to the deeper recesses of truth for me, so here goes.
Let me begin by admitting that I actually cried (well, tears welled up in my eyes) a couple of times while watching the DVD. I felt “some truth” being touched within me; and, simultaneously, I sensed what I’ve termed “snake-oil salesmen.”
We create our own reality? I don’t think so . . . at least not in the sense that this DVD portrays. Now, I can see how different identity-structures within our psyche create what might be believed to be reality. It’s not reality though . . . it’s an image of reality seen through the lens of an identity-structure – a limited perspective from our ego/personality.
I do agree to some extent that what we focus our energy on can manifest. What does this really mean? It means that when we’re clear and determined about what we want or need, the potential is there! Actually, potentiality is always there, but it takes recognizing what we want, being clear about it, opening to all the possibilities of attaining it, and taking action to move toward it (whatever “it” is). Another piece that I think is extremely important is being aware of our own capabilities and limitations, which doesn’t need to be a show stopper, by the way.
If, on the other hand, we’re stuck in an identification having to do with some deficiency, i.e., not good enough, smart enough, not worthy, etc., then guess where our energy (thoughts and actions) are focused! Speaking of deficiencies . . . we ALL experience deficient feelings – including these so-called “enlightened ones of The Secret”! Repressing or ignoring them does NOT make them go away. These feelings provide rich soil to dig into and explore. Replacing these “negative feelings” with positive feelings only covers them up. When we do cover up whatever we’re experiencing (because it’s ‘negative’), we are not in touch with Reality and we’re digging a deeper hole for ourselves.
Speaking of hole reminds me of Almaas’ “Theory of Holes” which has to do with deficiencies. Our culture of advertising and consumerism feeds our sense of deficiency; and, this DVD does exactly that! Here’s a short excerpt describing the “Theory of Holes”:
“ . . . the sense that something is lacking, and therefore, something is wrong. When we feel such a deficiency, we try to fill the hole we feel in ourselves. . . we try to fill the hole from the outside.”
The DVD is selling “how to fill your holes from the outside.” This tactic is not as empowering as portrayed. How can you be empowered if you are unconscious as to what’s really going on inside? Why not be curious about a limiting belief and explore how you came to believe it and even challenge it? Inner-exploration is more likely to lead to manifesting what you want, because (1) you’ll have more clarity about what you really want; and, (2) you’ll be more relaxed and open to the possibilities of whatever it is.
I’ve procrastinated in writing about it, but I’ve clearly known that I need to write about it. Writing helps me connect to the deeper recesses of truth for me, so here goes.
Let me begin by admitting that I actually cried (well, tears welled up in my eyes) a couple of times while watching the DVD. I felt “some truth” being touched within me; and, simultaneously, I sensed what I’ve termed “snake-oil salesmen.”
We create our own reality? I don’t think so . . . at least not in the sense that this DVD portrays. Now, I can see how different identity-structures within our psyche create what might be believed to be reality. It’s not reality though . . . it’s an image of reality seen through the lens of an identity-structure – a limited perspective from our ego/personality.
I do agree to some extent that what we focus our energy on can manifest. What does this really mean? It means that when we’re clear and determined about what we want or need, the potential is there! Actually, potentiality is always there, but it takes recognizing what we want, being clear about it, opening to all the possibilities of attaining it, and taking action to move toward it (whatever “it” is). Another piece that I think is extremely important is being aware of our own capabilities and limitations, which doesn’t need to be a show stopper, by the way.
If, on the other hand, we’re stuck in an identification having to do with some deficiency, i.e., not good enough, smart enough, not worthy, etc., then guess where our energy (thoughts and actions) are focused! Speaking of deficiencies . . . we ALL experience deficient feelings – including these so-called “enlightened ones of The Secret”! Repressing or ignoring them does NOT make them go away. These feelings provide rich soil to dig into and explore. Replacing these “negative feelings” with positive feelings only covers them up. When we do cover up whatever we’re experiencing (because it’s ‘negative’), we are not in touch with Reality and we’re digging a deeper hole for ourselves.
Speaking of hole reminds me of Almaas’ “Theory of Holes” which has to do with deficiencies. Our culture of advertising and consumerism feeds our sense of deficiency; and, this DVD does exactly that! Here’s a short excerpt describing the “Theory of Holes”:
“ . . . the sense that something is lacking, and therefore, something is wrong. When we feel such a deficiency, we try to fill the hole we feel in ourselves. . . we try to fill the hole from the outside.”
The DVD is selling “how to fill your holes from the outside.” This tactic is not as empowering as portrayed. How can you be empowered if you are unconscious as to what’s really going on inside? Why not be curious about a limiting belief and explore how you came to believe it and even challenge it? Inner-exploration is more likely to lead to manifesting what you want, because (1) you’ll have more clarity about what you really want; and, (2) you’ll be more relaxed and open to the possibilities of whatever it is.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Opening to the Flow of Reality that is Life
Continuation of Exploring a Kabbalistic View of Nothingness
Hesed-like Nature –
There’s nothing fixed about Reality. Reality is dynamic, constantly changing from moment to moment. Any identity structure, whether perceived as good or bad, is fixed. From this perspective, how can any identity structure be a part of true reality? The soul itself is dynamic, flowing, and can be experienced as such; however, these aspects of the soul cannot be experienced directly from within any fixed-structure of the personality.
Initiating the Opening – Expanding the Container
Possibly the most important step toward initiating even a crack of an opening is to recognize the contracted-state imposed by the identity-structure. Recognition is not easy when one is locked in place within an identity. Opening to ‘what is’ can be perceived as very scary at first, especially from the perspective of a contracted state, from within an identity-structure.
It’s ironic how an identity can make one experience a variety of negative emotions and feelings and yet the mere thought of exploring the experience feels threatening. Why? The negative emotions and feelings are familiar – known. Exploring them moves one into fear, fear that whatever will be experienced will be terrible, painful, and eternal. Now how does an identity know what will be? It doesn’t know.
Identities are comfortable with their miseries because at least the miseries are familiar territory.. The soul, by its very nature, is curious about experiencing whatever arises and exploring every aspect of the experience to see and feel whatever there is in the moment. The soul is naturally open, dynamic, constantly moving, changing, growing, flowing, developing. An identity is fixed, rigid, narrow, stuck, limited.
Approaches to Opening
All of the following approaches can be used to re-connect with personal consciousness – the soul. The order is not important. For example, one might use the 2nd approach first which can lead to revealing something about the 1st. In the moment that we practice these approaches, there’s a connection resulting in liberation from an identity, an identity that’s rooted in the past. In practicing these approaches, one is present to a direct experience in the present where healing takes place. Healing is about awakening into the present to whom we truly are. It does take practice. The more one practices, the more easily one can be present with ‘what is’ – with reality, life itself.
1. Recognize the contracted state through the feeling, the emotion. Name it.This first step can be enlightening in itself. An identity wants to be seen and understood, because it’s a part of us frozen in time that was not seen and understood. One can recognize the identity through paying attention to what one is experiencing (the feeling, emotion).
2. Ask open-ended questions with curiosity and wonder. Asking questions that are open-ended, like “how” or “what,” invites a full expression of what’s being experienced in the moment. Using beginning statements like: “It’s interesting that I feel a tightness in my chest . . . I wonder, what does this tightness look like from the inside?” Using consciousness itself, with all the creativity available in consciousness itself, invites realizations beyond anything an identity could imagine. Other questions or insights can arise while exploring from the inside of the feeling or emotion.
3. Locate where in the body the experience is taking place; describe it; let it unfold, change, move; and, describe in each moment what’s experienced. Embodying the experience in the present actually metabolizes the experience. Identity structures are really unmetabolized experiences.
To be continued . . .
Continuation of Exploring a Kabbalistic View of Nothingness
Hesed-like Nature –
There’s nothing fixed about Reality. Reality is dynamic, constantly changing from moment to moment. Any identity structure, whether perceived as good or bad, is fixed. From this perspective, how can any identity structure be a part of true reality? The soul itself is dynamic, flowing, and can be experienced as such; however, these aspects of the soul cannot be experienced directly from within any fixed-structure of the personality.
Initiating the Opening – Expanding the Container
Possibly the most important step toward initiating even a crack of an opening is to recognize the contracted-state imposed by the identity-structure. Recognition is not easy when one is locked in place within an identity. Opening to ‘what is’ can be perceived as very scary at first, especially from the perspective of a contracted state, from within an identity-structure.
It’s ironic how an identity can make one experience a variety of negative emotions and feelings and yet the mere thought of exploring the experience feels threatening. Why? The negative emotions and feelings are familiar – known. Exploring them moves one into fear, fear that whatever will be experienced will be terrible, painful, and eternal. Now how does an identity know what will be? It doesn’t know.
Identities are comfortable with their miseries because at least the miseries are familiar territory.. The soul, by its very nature, is curious about experiencing whatever arises and exploring every aspect of the experience to see and feel whatever there is in the moment. The soul is naturally open, dynamic, constantly moving, changing, growing, flowing, developing. An identity is fixed, rigid, narrow, stuck, limited.
Approaches to Opening
All of the following approaches can be used to re-connect with personal consciousness – the soul. The order is not important. For example, one might use the 2nd approach first which can lead to revealing something about the 1st. In the moment that we practice these approaches, there’s a connection resulting in liberation from an identity, an identity that’s rooted in the past. In practicing these approaches, one is present to a direct experience in the present where healing takes place. Healing is about awakening into the present to whom we truly are. It does take practice. The more one practices, the more easily one can be present with ‘what is’ – with reality, life itself.
1. Recognize the contracted state through the feeling, the emotion. Name it.This first step can be enlightening in itself. An identity wants to be seen and understood, because it’s a part of us frozen in time that was not seen and understood. One can recognize the identity through paying attention to what one is experiencing (the feeling, emotion).
2. Ask open-ended questions with curiosity and wonder. Asking questions that are open-ended, like “how” or “what,” invites a full expression of what’s being experienced in the moment. Using beginning statements like: “It’s interesting that I feel a tightness in my chest . . . I wonder, what does this tightness look like from the inside?” Using consciousness itself, with all the creativity available in consciousness itself, invites realizations beyond anything an identity could imagine. Other questions or insights can arise while exploring from the inside of the feeling or emotion.
3. Locate where in the body the experience is taking place; describe it; let it unfold, change, move; and, describe in each moment what’s experienced. Embodying the experience in the present actually metabolizes the experience. Identity structures are really unmetabolized experiences.
To be continued . . .
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Identity Structures and Moving through the Tree of Life
A Continuation from "Exploring a Kabbalistic View of Nothingness"
Scanning what I’d written yesterday, I had two thoughts:
(1) This depiction of the tree reminds me of what appears to be mythically god-like characters (Keter, Chochmah, and Binah or gods of Will, Wisdom, and Understanding) who are dropping down what looks like a double rope. When the rope hits bottom, it begins to reveal itself as the Tree of Life.
(2) I thought the process, as I’d written it yesterday, reminded me of how the IKH process works . . . with a client, we first make the space (TzimTzum) and within this space is a reflective (and often transparent) quality that enables the two of us to do the work. Usually we begin with wherever the client is in the moment: an issue arising, a concern, a curiosity. But there’s an identity that speaks, sometimes more than one. And, when anyone is stuck (fixed) in any one identity (Nega-Gevurah within Hod?), there is little to no movement, change, growth (Nega-Gevurah within Netzach?). The issue (content) reveals the foundation (Yesod), insubstantial as it may be, where one stands. One built that foundation, even when one might think others built it. Yet rather than blaming oneself, hating oneself, one needs to promote the change and growth that one needs to move from the stuckness – to grow up. The alternative is to remain a sprout that doesn’t have the energy to reach for the Sun and to receive the nourishment, the nutrients, necessary for growth.
Until one is aware of the Truth of the situation, the stuckness, the complete and utter imbalance in Life that this identification causes, there is no desire to change, no desire for growth. When this desire to change is accompanied with the awareness of the Truth of ‘what is,’ one stands in the midst of Tiferet. At this point, as one can sense the harmony of Reality Itself AND simultaneously realizes the wanting to become unstuck, one may be inspired to remember, to “check in” with Reality often (directly, in present time) in an effort to stay as awake as possible (conscious) of this point that includes both ‘what is’ AND ‘wanting to unstick’ (relax?).
Now, the harmony of Reality doesn’t need to feel like Heaven, like some might think. Who really even knows what Heaven feels like anyway? Actually, maybe a better way to say it is that one can be in-harmony with Reality. From a place of harmony, there’s no automatic reaction to the experience; there’s clarity; and, ‘right action’ is evident. Right action is crystal clear. Why? Because one is in present time. Automatic reactions come from past time, which is something one has learned from the personal historic past.
Gevurah-like Nature of Identity Structures
All identities are structures in our body/mind/soul. These structures are fixed and constrict by their very nature. Young children, however, play with identities. A young child can expand (1) personal self-boundaries, their sense of self, to include identity structures that they’re curious about exploring. This exploration is relatively easy for young children since their sense of self is tenuous until age six or seven – the structures that comprise the personality/ego is still forming until that age. So, to young children, these structures are as disposable as the cardboard boxes they love to imagine as forts and castles. In play, young children don the garments of an identity that they’re interested in exploring. The garments include not only clothing, like cowboy boots or ballerina tutus, but also the assumed character traits the child imagines might go with the chosen character-identity.
These character-identities created during play come and go easily for the young child, depending on the interest and explorative nature of the child. These identities are imaginary and are chosen by the child. Depending on the depth of imagination available, the identities can be perceived as real ‘temporarily’. In play, the young child temporarily leaves collective reality to enjoy a wonderfully imaginative world that exists in the child’s mind.
As so-called adults, our identities are also donned like garments, yet most of our identities are not chosen consciously, however; and, these identity-structures (fixed-structures) form fixed-personalities. The structure of the fixed-personality thickens and becomes more and more rigid with age. Within this rigid-fixedness, there is no room, no place for growth or for change. And through this fixed-personality lens, one participates in a fixed-reality without dynamism, flow, potentiality – a narrow, lifeless dead-zone. True Nature itself is obscured, hidden from the individual.
The very basis of an identity-structure foundation is formed from a mistaken identity -- “this is who I am.” Some time in the past, the child perceived something to be true based on a mis-perception of the reality of an experience. The child is never taught how to “check out” reality, so the identity becomes a fixed-structure in the personality. This personality retains a fixed-belief about the way reality is and his/her relationship with that reality resulting in the world being created in the image of this belief born from a quite innocent mis-perception.
To be continued . . .
(1) This capability to expand has a Hesedic-quality where there’s more space for creativity and flow.
A Continuation from "Exploring a Kabbalistic View of Nothingness"
Scanning what I’d written yesterday, I had two thoughts:
(1) This depiction of the tree reminds me of what appears to be mythically god-like characters (Keter, Chochmah, and Binah or gods of Will, Wisdom, and Understanding) who are dropping down what looks like a double rope. When the rope hits bottom, it begins to reveal itself as the Tree of Life.
(2) I thought the process, as I’d written it yesterday, reminded me of how the IKH process works . . . with a client, we first make the space (TzimTzum) and within this space is a reflective (and often transparent) quality that enables the two of us to do the work. Usually we begin with wherever the client is in the moment: an issue arising, a concern, a curiosity. But there’s an identity that speaks, sometimes more than one. And, when anyone is stuck (fixed) in any one identity (Nega-Gevurah within Hod?), there is little to no movement, change, growth (Nega-Gevurah within Netzach?). The issue (content) reveals the foundation (Yesod), insubstantial as it may be, where one stands. One built that foundation, even when one might think others built it. Yet rather than blaming oneself, hating oneself, one needs to promote the change and growth that one needs to move from the stuckness – to grow up. The alternative is to remain a sprout that doesn’t have the energy to reach for the Sun and to receive the nourishment, the nutrients, necessary for growth.
Until one is aware of the Truth of the situation, the stuckness, the complete and utter imbalance in Life that this identification causes, there is no desire to change, no desire for growth. When this desire to change is accompanied with the awareness of the Truth of ‘what is,’ one stands in the midst of Tiferet. At this point, as one can sense the harmony of Reality Itself AND simultaneously realizes the wanting to become unstuck, one may be inspired to remember, to “check in” with Reality often (directly, in present time) in an effort to stay as awake as possible (conscious) of this point that includes both ‘what is’ AND ‘wanting to unstick’ (relax?).
Now, the harmony of Reality doesn’t need to feel like Heaven, like some might think. Who really even knows what Heaven feels like anyway? Actually, maybe a better way to say it is that one can be in-harmony with Reality. From a place of harmony, there’s no automatic reaction to the experience; there’s clarity; and, ‘right action’ is evident. Right action is crystal clear. Why? Because one is in present time. Automatic reactions come from past time, which is something one has learned from the personal historic past.
Gevurah-like Nature of Identity Structures
All identities are structures in our body/mind/soul. These structures are fixed and constrict by their very nature. Young children, however, play with identities. A young child can expand (1) personal self-boundaries, their sense of self, to include identity structures that they’re curious about exploring. This exploration is relatively easy for young children since their sense of self is tenuous until age six or seven – the structures that comprise the personality/ego is still forming until that age. So, to young children, these structures are as disposable as the cardboard boxes they love to imagine as forts and castles. In play, young children don the garments of an identity that they’re interested in exploring. The garments include not only clothing, like cowboy boots or ballerina tutus, but also the assumed character traits the child imagines might go with the chosen character-identity.
These character-identities created during play come and go easily for the young child, depending on the interest and explorative nature of the child. These identities are imaginary and are chosen by the child. Depending on the depth of imagination available, the identities can be perceived as real ‘temporarily’. In play, the young child temporarily leaves collective reality to enjoy a wonderfully imaginative world that exists in the child’s mind.
As so-called adults, our identities are also donned like garments, yet most of our identities are not chosen consciously, however; and, these identity-structures (fixed-structures) form fixed-personalities. The structure of the fixed-personality thickens and becomes more and more rigid with age. Within this rigid-fixedness, there is no room, no place for growth or for change. And through this fixed-personality lens, one participates in a fixed-reality without dynamism, flow, potentiality – a narrow, lifeless dead-zone. True Nature itself is obscured, hidden from the individual.
The very basis of an identity-structure foundation is formed from a mistaken identity -- “this is who I am.” Some time in the past, the child perceived something to be true based on a mis-perception of the reality of an experience. The child is never taught how to “check out” reality, so the identity becomes a fixed-structure in the personality. This personality retains a fixed-belief about the way reality is and his/her relationship with that reality resulting in the world being created in the image of this belief born from a quite innocent mis-perception.
To be continued . . .
(1) This capability to expand has a Hesedic-quality where there’s more space for creativity and flow.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Exploring a Kabbalistic View of Nothingness
Awakened at 3:33 a.m. thinking of nothingness and emptiness; and it was like a part of me trying to write poetry about it. And, then, my mind began looking at those two word-concepts and experiences. I thought of Ayn Sof Nothingness and Malkhut as emptiness.
In the Kabbalistic creation story, Ayn Sof (Nothingness) pulls back and makes space within Itself for creation to take place – Nothing-ness makes room for Something-ness. From my analytical (?) perspective, it appears that Nothing becomes One and then makes room for an Other – Two. There’s a part of me that asks: “How does that work?” And, another part answers: “Don’t even try to figure it out.” Well, the true part of each of these ‘voices’ in my head is that, yes, I’d like to understand, and yes, I don’t think I can ‘figure it out;’ however, I can be open to the potential of understanding as it unfolds – if it unfolds.
This Kabbalistic view of nothingness included a memory of my experience of Malkhut and emptiness as the last sephirah on the traditional Tree of Life. In this memory-concept, Malkhut is empty – has no light of its own – yet reflects the light from all the other sephirot. Malkhut has this reflective quality, like a mirror, or still water, or . . . hmmm . . . a question just arose: “I wonder if the qualities of clear transparency AND reflectiveness can be combined (integrated)?” As I look up from my writing, I notice a glass covering on the doors to our stereo cabinet. I can see a reflection; AND, I can see it’s transparency -- I can see the stereo equipment through the glass. So, my direct experience in this moment answers the question – yes, both qualities can co-exist together. So, this could mean Malkhut’s quality of emptiness can co-exist with its quality of reflectiveness. Could this be called transparent-reflectiveness? Or, maybe reflective-transparency? Interesting.
I’ve always thought of Malkhut as a container; and, in my perception of containers, they hold something, or nothing (could be empty). And, here’s where my distinguishing nothingness and emptiness came from, I think. I experienced emptiness as the inside of a container and nothingness as nothing, boundless nothing. I’m thinking of how, when one says: “there’s nothing in there,” that the reference is to there being nothing inside (within) and that is usually synonymous with empty.
Now the Buddhist “Emptiness is Form; Form is Emptiness” arises. And, with this Emptiness-Form-Emptiness I think “because boundlessness is not perceived” – the form, some boundedness, exists to hold the emptiness, as well as fullness . . . without the boundedness there is no form; then there is nothingness.
I just noticed the reflective quality of my cat’s eyes as she sits in my lap and looks up at me. This experience reminded me that reflectiveness is not always empty as well; it’s the surface that’s reflective, in this case, where with water and the glass door-cover, it’s the substance, the material (matter); however, in each example, light is necessary for the reflectiveness. I would not be able to see the reflections without light. Now the question arises: “Does the quality of reflectiveness need light?” I think so.
And, now I’m sensing this “bouncing-ness” that’s a felt-thought having to do with the relationship of light and reflection. There’s a bouncing-back-sense. This piece feels important but I’m not “getting it” yet. It does feel that it has to do with soul, personal consciousness, but I’m not getting the particulars yet.
I just got this image-thought-question: “What if Ayn Sof created Malkhut first?” And then, this scenario flowed out from that question:
The space within (that Ayn Sof created from Itself) had a reflective quality, so that in the presence of light (with the awareness of Itself), One could see a reflection of Itself. This reflection is an image. Assuming Ayn Sof was aware of the Light (since It is Light), It would see Itself, or the image of Itself.
Another thought arises: “We were made in God’s image.” Then, “We are a reflection of the Divine.” Then, “Everything we see is a reflection of the Divine.” Next, this image-thought of Ayn Sof shining a light on parts of Itself. Since Ayn Sof is boundless, I can’t imagine a “mirror” capable of reflecting boundlessness in total (an interesting limited perspective, possibly?). The Kabbalistic perspective, however, is that we could not perceive this totality without shattering. Is the “we” that would shatter our personal consciousness, our very soul? Or, is the “we” that would shatter our identifications created by our Ego-Personality?
Back to the “idea” of Malkhut being the reflective quality and the first sephirah. This looks to me like an upside down tree now. And, now the thought: “Out of nothingness, an awareness arose that included a desire To Know Itself and To Understand Itself.” This statement reminds me of Keter, Chochmah, and Binah. The question arises now: “How far back in time have human beings (wise ones?) been saying: “Know Thyself.”
Let’s look at this upside-down tree now as a process To Know Thyself:
1. Malkhut is the reflective quality; it reflects back as Light shines (awareness shines?) It may also include the quality of transparency. (depending on what?)
2. Yesod is a foundation and is the ground (of Reality? Being? Awareness?). Our perception of the ground upon which we stand, our reality, our Being depends on what? Or, is it Yesod that has the transparent quality? i.e., a glass bottom boat.
3. Netzach/Hod – a process of becoming – is like a seed planted in the ground. Within the seed is the blueprint of whatever the see is to become. And, within the growth and development process, there’s persistence and determination to continue, to survive at first, and then to thrive. There are stages in this process of growth and development. During each stage there are various identifications, i.e., a seedling, a sprout, a young plant, a mature plant. Growth can be affected by any number of conditions: container size, food, light, water. A healthy Hod is awareness of its own nature of becoming; awareness of itself in relation to its foundation; and, it’s movement toward the Light and growth (change).
4. Tiferet is the attainment of a natural balance, harmony with the Truth of the process of becoming with awareness of the present state within this process, which has evolved from previous states/stages.
5. Gevurah/Hesed is the contraction and expansion that is eternal and present within each moment of the process; it’s a Divine inhalation, exhalation, and the pauses in between.
To be continued . . .
Saturday, August 12, 2006
The beauty of realizing Life's dreams and aspirations comes from truly manifesting in alignment with one's True Nature -- who we truly are, not who we think we are or pretend to be. Within each moment of being present and aware of our True Nature we experience an indescribable aliveness. This aliveness flows throughout our very being and that which is manifested from that place of authenticity (truth, harmony) is preciously real. It's real because it's not an image of something created by the Ego. It's real because both the Relative and Absolute worlds are transcended.
Lately I've been working with quite a number of clients in helping them with their own manifesting projects, mostly dealing with big life-transitions. Some of these clients are somewhat knowledgeable about Kabbalah because of the work we've done together in our Integrated Kabbalistic Healing sessions. These are the clients who are also very interested in understanding how Kabbalistic wisdom and understanding fit into their own manifesting process. As is often the case, we get to their question for me: How do YOU do it!? I always find it interesting how others think that it's easy for me -- easy to manifest what I want in life. Actually, there's quite a paradox here, because it is easy and it's not. I go through my own periods of struggle which (a) other people don't necessarily recognize, and (b) the struggle is really part of the process.
From this point on, I'm going to be using a lot of Kabbalistic language. If you're reading this article and would like to learn more about Kabbalah and manifesting, contact me.
Manifesting from my Tree of Life
One of the reasons that I'm able to manifest so easily, I think, is my determination and perserverence (Netzach). Once I make up my mind that I want to do something, it's like the wheels begin to turn directing my focus and attention on the efforts I need to make in order to bring whatever it is into Reality. My Netzach needs to be in balance with my (Hod), and this is especially true when my efforts are directed toward manifesting something in the world.
There are times when my confidence (Hod) wavers -- it's there and then it's not. When this wavering of confidence is happening, it's because there are a number of things happening within my Tree. Hod is also about identity and what we're identified with. My confidence wavers when, rather than being identified with the part of me that holds the vision of what is possible from the view of my True Nature, I'm identifying with an image of myself that the Ego is creating. The Ego is a master image-maker. I know this about the Ego and yet I forget.
If I'm identifying with an image of myself, then I'm not seated in Reality! These images are not real. These images are manufactured by the Ego as a means of protecting itself. And, if I'm responding to Life experiences as an image of who I am, this affects how I relate to others and how I see others. Image-selves see other image-selves. That's not even a real relationship!
The foundation from where I stand and my connection to everything is supported by Yesod and Yesod informs, feeds (Malkhut --physical reality) and how I see the world (Assiyah) . Here's an important piece, I think. Yesod is also informed by Tiferet (Harmony). For me, that's where the "not my Will but Thine" comes in. Tiferet is also connected to Keter (Will). When every aspect on my Tree is in proper relationship, there is absolutely no difference between my will and God's Will. Truth with a capital "T" comes from a healthy Tiferet, so how could it even be possible for there not to be One-Will (I don't know how I know this, honestly; it just feels right).
When my Gevurah (judgement, boundaries) are too strong and rigid, I'm much too contracted. And, in this state of contraction, I have very little love and kindness (Hesed) for myself. It's obvious, looking back at the times when I've been so constricted/contracted, that I needed Hesed's expansiveness. Isn't that always the way though? We hardly ever recognize when we're in that contracted state -- we're too contracted. My Tiferet won't resolve (reach Harmony) until I do recognize my contractedness and relax, let go with love and kindness (expansion). In that very moment, where Gevurah and Hesed are in relationship with each other, providing the balance that I need, THAT's when the separation between my will and God's dissolves into One-Will. This is not about doing what a parent wants us to do against our will. This is about being mature enough to see that we both want the same thing. What is this same thing? It's not the object alone that we're wanting to manifest! It's the Divinity within the object and knowing there's no separation.
Some people have issues with the word "God" -- I don't. Probably the only issues I have around the word "God" is about others limiting who and what God is. That said, I wonder if a number of issues around manifesting what one wants in Life isn't also about a contracted-belief in God. I see this contracted-belief in God as one of those images created by the Ego. It's just an image and yet the images the Ego creates often hold us back from being in Life, the Real.
I love this Goethe quote: "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creativity), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless and splendid plans; that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed have come his way.”
(to be continued)
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Big Mind/Big Heart -- View from the Absolute
Because I am, heaven overhangs and earth is upheld.
Because I am, the sun and the moon go round.
The four seasons come in succession, all things are born,
Because I am, that is, because of Mind.
Eisai-zenji in the Kozen-Gokuku-Ron
We've come to understand that when we dialogue with voices that come from the Relative, whatever they have to say is truth from their own limited perspective. The dialoguing practice provides space and time for each voice's perspective to be heard and giving each voice the freedom to speak for itself allows it to have a space -- something we've rarely done consciously in the past. Have you noticed the immaturity of these voices? This immaturity is rather narcissistic in that the whole world revolves around it. Interestingly, as each voice is given an opportunity to speak, all the other voices listen and learn. And, because of the open-ended questions we ask that come from a place of curiosity and wonder, the voice we're dialoguing with gets to explore it's own limited perspective. Each voice can actually become more conscious and thereby have less need to be intrusive, demanding, obnoxious, controlling, etc.
The opportunity to dialogue with Big Mind, as well as Big Heart, frees us to let go of all our limited views -- even if just for the moments that we're doing the practice. We actually get to experience what it's like to embrace and include it all. Even the idea of something this big can be scary for the Ego UNTIL it sees (experiences) that it's not annihilated (which is its fear) but instead is actually embraced and included in the wholeness.
Once we've experienced Big Mind and Big Heart, we can return over and over. In fact, you may find that beginning all of your dialogue practice from this point on with Big Mind changes the practice -- probably making it easier.
Lastly, after you've experienced and practiced with Big Mind/Big Heart, you'll be able to relate to the Buddha's allegory excerpted below:
The Head of a large household goes off on a journey and leaves his head servant (Controller) in charge of the house while he's away. This arrangement works fine as long as the Controller remains clear about his servant role. However, the Head stays away too long and the Controller forgets that he's there to serve the Master and begins to act as if he (Ego, small mind) was the Head of the house. When the true Master returns, he may need to set things right by putting the Controller back in his proper role as the Master's servant.
So, after practicing with Big Mind/Big Heart, we'll surely want to dialogue with the True Master.
Because I am, heaven overhangs and earth is upheld.
Because I am, the sun and the moon go round.
The four seasons come in succession, all things are born,
Because I am, that is, because of Mind.
Eisai-zenji in the Kozen-Gokuku-Ron
We've been working mostly within the Relative View dialoging with voices (selves) having to do with the Mind (small mind or ego), the Body, and the Emotions. We began touching the Absolute View by dialoguing with Soul and specifically, with soul qualities. Additionally, we've learned to always end our sessions with the Integrated Human Being, the one who functions in Reality and through inner-realization work continuously unifies all parts of ourselves into the wholeness of whom we truly are.
From the Relative View
All of our inner voices (selves) come from Small Mind (Ego) and have something to say that we, as Integrated Human Beings, need to hear. Note: They're all a part of Big Mind. They just don't know it!
From the Absolute View
Everything is included with no exceptions. As the One, the Absolute, we are infinite and boundless. From this view, we can see there are no limits and everything is absolutely perfect. Everything manifests from this Oneness which is existence itself.
The opportunity to dialogue with Big Mind, as well as Big Heart, frees us to let go of all our limited views -- even if just for the moments that we're doing the practice. We actually get to experience what it's like to embrace and include it all. Even the idea of something this big can be scary for the Ego UNTIL it sees (experiences) that it's not annihilated (which is its fear) but instead is actually embraced and included in the wholeness.
Once we've experienced Big Mind and Big Heart, we can return over and over. In fact, you may find that beginning all of your dialogue practice from this point on with Big Mind changes the practice -- probably making it easier.
Lastly, after you've experienced and practiced with Big Mind/Big Heart, you'll be able to relate to the Buddha's allegory excerpted below:
The Head of a large household goes off on a journey and leaves his head servant (Controller) in charge of the house while he's away. This arrangement works fine as long as the Controller remains clear about his servant role. However, the Head stays away too long and the Controller forgets that he's there to serve the Master and begins to act as if he (Ego, small mind) was the Head of the house. When the true Master returns, he may need to set things right by putting the Controller back in his proper role as the Master's servant.
So, after practicing with Big Mind/Big Heart, we'll surely want to dialogue with the True Master.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Bridging the Gap: Integration of Emotion and Soul Voices
At this point, we may find it helpful to look at the two words: gap and integration. What do these two words mean for you? Maybe a better question is "what comes up for you in this moment around the word integration? gap?
Your first thoughts will probably be the intellectual knowing that comes from "what you know." What you know comes from mental concepts and ideas based on what you've heard others say, what you've read, or maybe what you've experienced. The level where we "know" things comes from our archives of stored information from the past rather than what we're experiencing directly in this moment -- in the present.
Wisdom-questions, Knowledge-Questions
Wisdom-questions take us deeper into ourselves whereas knowledge-questions keep us at the surface level where we "know" things. You can imagine how much our soul might love wisdom-questions. And, conversely, you can imagine how much our ego might love knowledge-questions.
When we ask wisdom-questions, we're asking from a place of wonderment, openness, expansion. From this place/space, we're open to anything that arises. Questions coming from such an open, expanded place leaves plenty of room/space for answers to arise from outside of our archived data bank. It's interesting that wisdom-questions often evoke other wisdom-questions and these other questions seem to drop us into a deeper, more expansive space.
You can see how asking knowledge-questions results in a narrowing focus as our minds search our archives for "the answer" -- the correct answer! The answer to knowledge-questions is stored in a small space, so that's where our mind has to go in order to find the answer.
Gap between Emotion and Soul
In the previous article, I introduced how Emotion and Soul arise from two different worlds or perspectives: Relative and Absolute. Emotions show up because of an "other" -- person, place, or thing and needs an "other" in order to be an emotion. Emotions need cause and effect, because they are the effect of some cause (and vice versa). Emotions come and go. Soul, with all its qualities, is ever-present whether we're conscious of this presence or not; and, soul does not need an "other" for it to be "what it is."
We can perceive this gap (difference, opening, space) between the two, emotion and soul. Working toward understanding the different emotions through dialogue practice helps to bring light into this gap. We begin to understand why particular emotions present themselves -- what triggers them.
If we let ourselves be curious enough to discover what the emotion is telling us that we're needing from an "other," we also find that it's a soul quality the ego is trying to imitate. We're literally reaching outside of ourselves for the soul quality, i.e., love, understanding, strength, that is not only within us but it's part of who we truly are.
Integration
The first step toward integration is the uncovering. We finally understand what the emotion is pointing to. It's like "the finger pointing to the moon;" it's not the moon itself. Once we see this truth, we begin to notice the presence of soul qualities that were actually present all along. We can actually dialogue with any soul quality to find out anything we're curious enough to find out -- including how to integrate It, our very own soul quality, into our lives. We can ask questions like, "how can I be aware of your presence more?" The bottom line here is that the more we're aware of, and directly experience, the ever-presence of our soul and it's qualities, the less we need the pointing devices, the emotions.
The integration process begins with our enlarging the space (ourselves) that embraces and includes both the pointing device (emotion) and that which is pointed to (soul quality). The foundation for this integration process is curiosity to know the truth and the courage to ask the questions that will inevitably lead us there. A vehicle for this integration process is dialoging and reflecting back (verbally aloud or in writing) to ourselves what we've learned. Keeping a notebook helps provide a map of the territory we're exploring.
At this point, we may find it helpful to look at the two words: gap and integration. What do these two words mean for you? Maybe a better question is "what comes up for you in this moment around the word integration? gap?
Your first thoughts will probably be the intellectual knowing that comes from "what you know." What you know comes from mental concepts and ideas based on what you've heard others say, what you've read, or maybe what you've experienced. The level where we "know" things comes from our archives of stored information from the past rather than what we're experiencing directly in this moment -- in the present.
Wisdom-questions, Knowledge-Questions
Wisdom-questions take us deeper into ourselves whereas knowledge-questions keep us at the surface level where we "know" things. You can imagine how much our soul might love wisdom-questions. And, conversely, you can imagine how much our ego might love knowledge-questions.
When we ask wisdom-questions, we're asking from a place of wonderment, openness, expansion. From this place/space, we're open to anything that arises. Questions coming from such an open, expanded place leaves plenty of room/space for answers to arise from outside of our archived data bank. It's interesting that wisdom-questions often evoke other wisdom-questions and these other questions seem to drop us into a deeper, more expansive space.
You can see how asking knowledge-questions results in a narrowing focus as our minds search our archives for "the answer" -- the correct answer! The answer to knowledge-questions is stored in a small space, so that's where our mind has to go in order to find the answer.
Gap between Emotion and Soul
In the previous article, I introduced how Emotion and Soul arise from two different worlds or perspectives: Relative and Absolute. Emotions show up because of an "other" -- person, place, or thing and needs an "other" in order to be an emotion. Emotions need cause and effect, because they are the effect of some cause (and vice versa). Emotions come and go. Soul, with all its qualities, is ever-present whether we're conscious of this presence or not; and, soul does not need an "other" for it to be "what it is."
We can perceive this gap (difference, opening, space) between the two, emotion and soul. Working toward understanding the different emotions through dialogue practice helps to bring light into this gap. We begin to understand why particular emotions present themselves -- what triggers them.
If we let ourselves be curious enough to discover what the emotion is telling us that we're needing from an "other," we also find that it's a soul quality the ego is trying to imitate. We're literally reaching outside of ourselves for the soul quality, i.e., love, understanding, strength, that is not only within us but it's part of who we truly are.
Integration
The first step toward integration is the uncovering. We finally understand what the emotion is pointing to. It's like "the finger pointing to the moon;" it's not the moon itself. Once we see this truth, we begin to notice the presence of soul qualities that were actually present all along. We can actually dialogue with any soul quality to find out anything we're curious enough to find out -- including how to integrate It, our very own soul quality, into our lives. We can ask questions like, "how can I be aware of your presence more?" The bottom line here is that the more we're aware of, and directly experience, the ever-presence of our soul and it's qualities, the less we need the pointing devices, the emotions.
The integration process begins with our enlarging the space (ourselves) that embraces and includes both the pointing device (emotion) and that which is pointed to (soul quality). The foundation for this integration process is curiosity to know the truth and the courage to ask the questions that will inevitably lead us there. A vehicle for this integration process is dialoging and reflecting back (verbally aloud or in writing) to ourselves what we've learned. Keeping a notebook helps provide a map of the territory we're exploring.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Emotion as a Pointing Device toward Conscious Understanding -- Bridging the Relative & Absolute Worlds
Are emotions mental states that arise spontaneously? How are emotions related to feelings? What is the relationship, if any, to love as an emotion, a feeling, and a soul quality?
A general definition of an emotion describes a neural impulse that moves an organism to action. It's considered to be a psycho-physiological state and really does arise spontaneously and involuntarily.
As physical expressions, emotions are related to feelings, perceptions, beliefs associated with objects or others -- even a certain aroma can remind us of someone or an event and "wha-lah" a particular feeling and/or emotion arises instantly. We're all aware of how the physical body responds to emotions, i.e., changes in temperature and breathing; increased heartrate; tightness in throat, chest, or belly. You may very well come up with other ways your own body responds to specific emotions.
From a neurobiological perspective, emotion is a pleasant or unpleasant mental state organized in the limbic system of the mammalian brain. These mammalian elaborations use neurochemicals, e.g., dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonim, to step-up or step-down the brain's activity level.1 These 'states' are manifestations of any number of various non-verbally expressed feelings from one end of a continuum to the other end.
Looking at emotions energetically, we experience unpleasant (negative) emotions as energy-draining and pleasant (positive) emotions as energy-calming and sometimes as very alive and exhilerating. Emotions move energy -- e-motion (energy in motion) -- WHEN we facilitate rather than hinder the movement. Most of us have an automatic tendency (reaction) to "hold our breath" when we begin to experience a negative emotion. By doing the opposite, by breathing consciously, we facilitate the movement of emotional energy through us.
An emotion is experienced as a response to the nervous system and is a part of the Relative-world; a soul (or essential) quality is an expression of the Absolute-world. An emotion needs an "other" in order to arise. An emotion points toward a part/voice that needs something and is somehow trying to protect the self. An essential, soul quality doesn't point to anything outside of itself; it's complete, whole in and of itself -- it is what it is. There's no garment or anything covering up what It is. There's nothing else determining what It should be. Love is pure, unconditional Love. Strength is calm without needing to be inferior or superior to anything else.
Consider this. The Ego rules in the Relative-world and it trys to imitate Essence. From the perspective of the Relative-world, we are our Ego/Personality and from this perspective our emotions often define who we are, i.e., an angry person, a happy person. From the Absolute-world, we are Essence and our essential qualities define who we are -- our True Nature, i.e., Love, Value, Strength. From an integrated perspective, we're able to see both views; and, we're able to understand compasionately with an open heart what's being pointed to. We're not really an angry person. We're feeling angry and that feeling/emotion is pointing to some part/voice who needs to be heard, who may be feeling unloved, unappreciated, disappointed.
Guideline for Dialogue Practice
Actually, we've already done some dialogue practice with the Voice of Fear, one of the primary emotions experienced by both humans and animals. So, we know that we can find out interesting information by talking with Fear, and other emotions, directly. I'd like to suggest a slightly different variation for dialoguing with emotions. Let's see how it works for you.
Are emotions mental states that arise spontaneously? How are emotions related to feelings? What is the relationship, if any, to love as an emotion, a feeling, and a soul quality?
A general definition of an emotion describes a neural impulse that moves an organism to action. It's considered to be a psycho-physiological state and really does arise spontaneously and involuntarily.
As physical expressions, emotions are related to feelings, perceptions, beliefs associated with objects or others -- even a certain aroma can remind us of someone or an event and "wha-lah" a particular feeling and/or emotion arises instantly. We're all aware of how the physical body responds to emotions, i.e., changes in temperature and breathing; increased heartrate; tightness in throat, chest, or belly. You may very well come up with other ways your own body responds to specific emotions.
From a neurobiological perspective, emotion is a pleasant or unpleasant mental state organized in the limbic system of the mammalian brain. These mammalian elaborations use neurochemicals, e.g., dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonim, to step-up or step-down the brain's activity level.1 These 'states' are manifestations of any number of various non-verbally expressed feelings from one end of a continuum to the other end.
Looking at emotions energetically, we experience unpleasant (negative) emotions as energy-draining and pleasant (positive) emotions as energy-calming and sometimes as very alive and exhilerating. Emotions move energy -- e-motion (energy in motion) -- WHEN we facilitate rather than hinder the movement. Most of us have an automatic tendency (reaction) to "hold our breath" when we begin to experience a negative emotion. By doing the opposite, by breathing consciously, we facilitate the movement of emotional energy through us.
An emotion is experienced as a response to the nervous system and is a part of the Relative-world; a soul (or essential) quality is an expression of the Absolute-world. An emotion needs an "other" in order to arise. An emotion points toward a part/voice that needs something and is somehow trying to protect the self. An essential, soul quality doesn't point to anything outside of itself; it's complete, whole in and of itself -- it is what it is. There's no garment or anything covering up what It is. There's nothing else determining what It should be. Love is pure, unconditional Love. Strength is calm without needing to be inferior or superior to anything else.
Consider this. The Ego rules in the Relative-world and it trys to imitate Essence. From the perspective of the Relative-world, we are our Ego/Personality and from this perspective our emotions often define who we are, i.e., an angry person, a happy person. From the Absolute-world, we are Essence and our essential qualities define who we are -- our True Nature, i.e., Love, Value, Strength. From an integrated perspective, we're able to see both views; and, we're able to understand compasionately with an open heart what's being pointed to. We're not really an angry person. We're feeling angry and that feeling/emotion is pointing to some part/voice who needs to be heard, who may be feeling unloved, unappreciated, disappointed.
Guideline for Dialogue Practice
Actually, we've already done some dialogue practice with the Voice of Fear, one of the primary emotions experienced by both humans and animals. So, we know that we can find out interesting information by talking with Fear, and other emotions, directly. I'd like to suggest a slightly different variation for dialoguing with emotions. Let's see how it works for you.
- As usual, check in with the Overall Voice -- in this case, the Voice of the Overall Emotional Body. Think of this voice as the part of us that houses, or contains, all emotions. This voice is aware of all activity, i.e., agitation from some emotions, coma-like states from other emotions. We check in with this Overall Voice to find out about what's going on so that we can understand more about ourselves, thereby becoming more consciously aware. After checking-in, we can ask if there's a particular emotion we should speak to; or, we can just say, I'm curious about the emotion of ___________ and would like to dialogue with it.
- Let's say that you're curious about why you often feel disappointed (in relationships, at work, in Life). Disappointment seems to "be up in your Life right now." You could ask to speak to "the One Who (Always) Feels Disappointment." Remember to make the shift in your seat and then ask the question "who am I speaking to?" And, reply "the One Who (Always) Feels Disappointment." This helps seat you in (embody) the voice with which you're wanting to dialogue.
- Ask any number of questions from the place of curiosity and wanting to discover whatever you can about this part/voice. The voice/part gets to say whatever it wants to say; it's speaking from it's perspective only. What the voice/part says may not, probably is not, the truth BUT it's the truth as that voice/part knows it from it's very limited perspective.
- The dialogue that originated with Disappointment may lead to another, like "the One Who is Angry" or "the One Who Feels Unloved." Move along and dialogue with each of these as they arise, however, remember to be considerate of the voice/part with which you're speaking as you would with an actual person. You wouldn't just leave them hanging while you go off and talk with someone else who just showed up, would you?
- Once you feel like you've gotten to the bottom line, an understanding of some sort, you may want to see if you can find out which Essential, Soul Quality is being imitated? You may be able to find this out by asking the voice/part you've been working with, or you may want to explore dialoguing with the emotion itself. I'd suggest a question like: "What Essential (or Soul) quality are you most like?" How are you the same? How are you different?
Exercise
Using the handout sheet (bubble diagram) where you listed your emotions, pick those that you're curious about, those that you'd like to know more about, to use in your practice sessions. Use the guidelines provided above.
Comment Area Below
I encourage you to use the comment area below to share your experience and insights. Feel free to use your initials if you're uncomfortable using your name on this blog.
1 Source: Wikipedia Article on Emotions
Saturday, July 01, 2006
The Soul: Beyond the Boundaries of the Mind
Our soulfulness is an intricate part of our humaness. We would not exist as human beings without our soul. So what is this -- soul? Can we recognize it in some way? Can we feel it? Can we somehow touch it? To say that we know that we have a soul without exploring what it is or what it means seems to be missing something deeper.
Ask any number of people "what is the soul?" and you'll get varied and usually ambiguous answers that come from concepts and beliefs, probably from a particular tradition or religion with which one has affinity. What are the chances that any one of these people can answer the question from direct experience? Can you answer this question from direct experience?
The soul is an organism of consciousness1. The soul is dynamic, constantly changing moving, flowing, unfolding and transforming. We might even see the soul as an archtype for Life. As an organic consciousness, the soul embraces and includes the ego development process and uses life-experiences to evolve -- consciousness with an even greater richness and potential. In a sense, the soul is learning how to live in the physical.
Soul, Presence, & Essence
In all the many years of reading, studying, and research having to do with the soul and it's association with Presence and Essence, my favorite teacher/author on this subject is A. H. Almaas. He describes the medium or field of the soul as the Presence of pure consciousness, the ultimate building block of our psychic life -- Essence or True Nature. He explains that Essence manifests by differentiating into Presence with recognizable qualities, i.e., peace, love, compassion, truth, pleasure, joy, strength, will, clarity, intelligence, spaciousness, etc.2
Qualities as Gateways to the Soul
From a Relative, or Dual perspective, a quality is dependent on both a subject and an object. Relative-love, for example, needs someone to give love and someone or something to receive the love. From an Absolute, or Non-dual perspective, love is love with no other purpose than to be itself. To fully embody the presence of love is to be love through and through absolutely.
What would love be like from a Transcendent perspective -- one that includes both the Relative and Absolute views?
Using the voice dialoguing practice, we can directly experience the soul just as we have previously with the Mind and the Body. We'll always begin the dialogue session by checking in, speaking with, the Overall Voice of the Soul. We can find out from this voice whether there are particular qualities that it feels would be beneficial for us to speak with. We can also let this voice know if there's a particular quality we're interested in speaking with. Remember to go back to the Overall Voice after speaking with a particular quality to check in; and, always end the dialoguing session with the Integrated Human Being. It's extremely important that you, as the Integrated Human Being, take the time to reflect verbally or in writing what you learned from each dialoguing practice.
Exercise
Using the handout sheet where you listed your soul qualities, pick those that you're curious about, that you'd like to know more about, to use in your practice sessions. Remember to start with the Overall Voice of the Soul and then proceed as described above.
Comment Area Below
I encourage you to use the comment area below to share your experience and insights. Feel free to use your initials if you're uncomfortable using your name on this blog.
1 A. H. Almaas, "The Inner Journey Home"
2 ibid.
Our soulfulness is an intricate part of our humaness. We would not exist as human beings without our soul. So what is this -- soul? Can we recognize it in some way? Can we feel it? Can we somehow touch it? To say that we know that we have a soul without exploring what it is or what it means seems to be missing something deeper.
Ask any number of people "what is the soul?" and you'll get varied and usually ambiguous answers that come from concepts and beliefs, probably from a particular tradition or religion with which one has affinity. What are the chances that any one of these people can answer the question from direct experience? Can you answer this question from direct experience?
The soul is an organism of consciousness1. The soul is dynamic, constantly changing moving, flowing, unfolding and transforming. We might even see the soul as an archtype for Life. As an organic consciousness, the soul embraces and includes the ego development process and uses life-experiences to evolve -- consciousness with an even greater richness and potential. In a sense, the soul is learning how to live in the physical.
Soul, Presence, & Essence
In all the many years of reading, studying, and research having to do with the soul and it's association with Presence and Essence, my favorite teacher/author on this subject is A. H. Almaas. He describes the medium or field of the soul as the Presence of pure consciousness, the ultimate building block of our psychic life -- Essence or True Nature. He explains that Essence manifests by differentiating into Presence with recognizable qualities, i.e., peace, love, compassion, truth, pleasure, joy, strength, will, clarity, intelligence, spaciousness, etc.2
Qualities as Gateways to the Soul
From a Relative, or Dual perspective, a quality is dependent on both a subject and an object. Relative-love, for example, needs someone to give love and someone or something to receive the love. From an Absolute, or Non-dual perspective, love is love with no other purpose than to be itself. To fully embody the presence of love is to be love through and through absolutely.
What would love be like from a Transcendent perspective -- one that includes both the Relative and Absolute views?
Using the voice dialoguing practice, we can directly experience the soul just as we have previously with the Mind and the Body. We'll always begin the dialogue session by checking in, speaking with, the Overall Voice of the Soul. We can find out from this voice whether there are particular qualities that it feels would be beneficial for us to speak with. We can also let this voice know if there's a particular quality we're interested in speaking with. Remember to go back to the Overall Voice after speaking with a particular quality to check in; and, always end the dialoguing session with the Integrated Human Being. It's extremely important that you, as the Integrated Human Being, take the time to reflect verbally or in writing what you learned from each dialoguing practice.
Exercise
Using the handout sheet where you listed your soul qualities, pick those that you're curious about, that you'd like to know more about, to use in your practice sessions. Remember to start with the Overall Voice of the Soul and then proceed as described above.
Comment Area Below
I encourage you to use the comment area below to share your experience and insights. Feel free to use your initials if you're uncomfortable using your name on this blog.
1 A. H. Almaas, "The Inner Journey Home"
2 ibid.
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