In Honor of Dr. Wayne Dyer (1940-2015)

In Honor of Dr. Wayne Dyer
May 10, 1940 ~ August 29, 2015
"The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about."  Wayne Dyer


Dr. Wayne Dyer became a presence in my life in 1976.  Since that time he  remained true to himself as a role model for humility, kindness, and compassion.  As an international author, his many books and endless quotes were inspiring.   As a well known motivational speaker, he empowered diverse audiences, and renewed passion for life.  He displayed open heartedness, respect with honor, and the sense of oneness between us all. 






BIBLIOGRAPHY


• Erroneous Zones
• Pulling Your Own Strings
• The Sky's the Limit
• You'll See it When You Believe it
• Real Magi
• Your Sacred Self
• Gifts from Eykis
• Being in Balance
• Change Your Thoughts-Change Your Life
• Don't Die with Your Music Still in You (with Serena J. Dyer)
• Everyday Wisdom
• Everyday Wisdom for Success
• Excuses Begone!
• Getting in the Gap
• Inspiration
• The Incredible Force
• Living the Wisdom of the Tao
• My Greatest Teacher (with Lynn Lauber)
• The Power of Intention
• A Promise is a Promise
• The Shift
• Staying on the Path
• 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace
• Your Ultimate Calling
• Wishes Fulfilled. Mastering the Art of Manifesting
• There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem
Children's books[edit]
• I Am (with Kristina Tracy)
• Incredible You! (with Kristina Tracy)
• It's Not What You've Got! (with Kristina Tracy)
• No Excuses! (with Kristina Tracy)
• Unstoppable Me! (with Kristina Tracy)

Living Humanely

"Over the years, I have developed a picture of what a human being living humanely is like.  She is a person who understands, values and develops her body, finding it beautiful and useful; a person who is real and is willing to take risks, to be creative, to manifest competence, to change when the situation calls for it, and to find ways to accommodate to what is new and different, keeping that part of the old that is still useful and discarding what is not."  Virginia Satir

When we recognize all of our diverse parts, our self-appreciation deepens.  We may do one thing particularly well, but whatever we tinker with is important as it  helps to shape the whole.  The little incidental aspects of our personality contributes to what makes us unique.  Even our pocket of irrational emotions needs to be added to the overall picture.   There is a need to feel what is between all of the wrinkles and creases.

While exploring our inner landscapes, we have a greater understanding of our needs, wants and desires.  We reconnect with our inner child, renewing and being attentive.  We also begin to hear our inner voice.  The more we travel inward, the nonsensical chatter of the outer world is less likely to distract us.  

In time, as we sort our lovely selves out, we realize we have created a sacred space within where all can be holy.  We can invite angels, spirits, guides or God to enter and be present.  We can sit in contemplation, quietly listening for answers to our articulated questions.  

Integrated, we continue to expand through experience, but we are traveling not as a vagabond, but a seasoned wayfarer.  We find our selves to be less threatened, more compassionate, and open hearted, living humanely as best as we can.

Become a Positive Force

"It takes much less energy to be FOR something

rather than against something."

Madisyn Taylor

Re-phrasing is an excellent way to align our thoughts.  Instead of being against war, it is more positive to be for peace.  People focusing on anti-abortion might be better placing all of their energy into pro-life.  Working for equality may be more productive than fiercely opposing prejudice.

On a personal level, instead of labeling our lovely self as a klutz, we can report we are athletically challenged.  When asked if we are a writer, we may want to say our strengths are in other creative endeavors.  We may suggest the wonderful experience of dining out rather than admitting we are a terrible cook.

In relationship with ourselves, we can speak more kindly instead of destructively.  Instead of naming ourselves an idiot, we can recognize a better response or a more meaningful path or simply waking up to what is intimately important.  "I blew it," could be exchanged for "I will make more thoughtful decisions."   

By choosing positive words, we build self-esteem and feel more worthy of our accomplishments.  We can use affirmations to build ourselves up rather than derogatory remarks tearing ourselves down.  Re-phrasing requires thought and effort, but in the long run, we become a force we never imagined.

Enchanted Escape Hatch

"I do not understand 

how anyone can live without some small 

place of enchantment to turn to."

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Filled with gratitude, we turn inward with appreciation for the life we have in spite of obstacles.  We no longer seek consolation on the outside, as we awaken to the 'knowing' deep within us.  When we can visualize a safe haven to rest our weary bones, we will be stronger by doing so.

When we gently close our eyes, we can travel to places of comfort we have visited or imagined.  As the creator of this special space, we can fill it with sounds of nature or exquisite art or endless shelves of books.  The peaceful scenario, filled with enchantment waits to embrace us.

Designing a place of solitude is important for maintaining sanity and eliminating stress.  When we feel we are in the presence of something greater than ourselves, we can rest and renew.  Some are mesmerized by paint from the artist's pallet while others drift with music or stretch with yoga.  Others may take pen to the page to unloosen the thread of an unwinding thriller.  So pick up a magic wand and be escorted to an enchanted escape hatch!

Carved From Stone

"Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, 

make glorious and fantastic mistakes.  Break rules,  Leave

the world more interesting for your being here.

Neil Gaiman

There is insight to be found during discussions regarding errors.  The bottom line question is of course, "Is there such a thing as a mistake?"  What we once considered a great idea, may in hind sight be one of our worst decisions.  If we can create a little distance from our inner critic, we might salvage the importance of any experience.

When we view challenges in our life with a broader lens, we can see where events are like building blocks.  Individually, they might just look like stepping stones, but when seen from a fresh perspective, we find ourselves observing a well placed stones creating a solid foundation.

To appreciate our lapse in thinking by sifting through the debris, the emphasis on mistake shifts to the lesson learned.  Each stepping stone contributes to our individual path leading to our intended unique self.  In a sense, our character is carved from stone.  

Level of Acceptance

"To be beautiful means to be yourself.

You don't need to be accepted by others.

You need to accept yourself."

Thich Nhat Hanh

While observing, we seem to easily find beauty in others, but not in ourselves.  Taking notice of a strangers behavior, we make assumptions about their lives based strictly on the story we tell ourselves.  We imagine their perfect life, always giving them the benefit of the doubt.

With ourselves, however, we are not as generous.  We recall isolated instances of missteps from the past or current troubled relationships.  We might be overwhelmed by not knowing our way into the future or stressed by the lack of connection between our work and inner yearnings.  We are hard on our selves whereas with strangers, we are much more forgiving.

We strive so earnestly to meet a level of acceptance, wearing false hats and made up faces.  We stray farther from our original nature investing in the dreams of others, ignoring our own.  The twist is this:  if we would simply accept ourselves just as we are, others would do the same.

With Covered Eyes

"You cannot find peace

by avoiding life."

Virginia Woolf

What if we were like children and could simply cover our eyes to hide what we no longer wanted to see, like poverty, prejudice or war?  If there were someone we did not want to face politically or intimately, could we innocently close our eyes believing the scenario would fade away?

There is something blissful about being a child with covered eyes.  The world retracts like waves being pulled back into the sea.  The quiet presence of self grows larger and it seems as though we are looking completely within, falling away from the outside of all things.  We find comfort in this stillness, like it is our home and a safe place to be.

We can find this same experience through contemplation, prayer or meditation.  This silent retreat, no matter how we enter it, is a reprieve from all that draws too dangerously close.  We find our selves wrapped in a warm sensation naming it God, Divine, or the Unseen.

The simplicity found in childlike actions can restore our heavy hearts, calm our scattered mind, and spiritually uplift us.  We can modestly withdraw without calling attention to ourselves.  Without any elaboration, one can be in pause behind the covered eyes.

Create Form

"When conditions are sufficient, something manifests

This is what we call a 'formation.' The flower is a formation,

and so are the clouds and the sun.  I am a formation,

and you are a formation."

Thich Nhat Hanh

YOUR TRUE HOME

by Melvin McLeod

It would seem we would gain more insight about our true nature if we were to excavate what blesses our hearts and the hearts of others.  If we accept responsibility for our lives and move beyond the dysfunction in our families, our focus can be well placed of the goodness intended for us.  As long as we remain shamed or blamed, we will remain a victim.

When we explore our inner landscapes and recognize our unique qualities, we can invest our time and  energy into developing these strengths.  We, too, can create form in honor of the greater good.   As we begin to take action to propel our uniqueness forward, we will find ourselves supported by existing diverse formations. 

The ability to embrace and strengthen all parts of ourselves, will bring us to rewards of full living.  Not materialistic, but abundance in many differing forms.  With an attitude of gratitude, we gather more momentum and will live in deep appreciation.

No More Lies

    "The only lies for which we are truly punished

are those we tell ourselves."

V.S. Naipaul

It is difficult to recognize personal truth when it has been buried for so long.  Like old boxes stacked in the cellar, we hide our gifts under lies we tell to our selves.  Why do we do that?  Are our lies based on how we think others perceive us or do we simply  choose to remain small?  Are we afraid to bring attention to our abilities or do we fear our power waiting in the shadows?  

In preparation for a return to my career, I was working on my resume.  While talking with my college roommate, she offered to edit the document.  I emailed my streamlined version to her that night.  Within a week, I received a package in the mail.  I couldn't imagine what it was.  

Upon opening the parcel, I found a stack of professionally printed resumes.  The paper was an off white linen effect with a font that was neither flamboyant nor common.  The chosen format offered clarity with precision.  As I read each paragraph in total disbelief, tears ran down my cheeks.  

Every experience listed was accurate and truthful, but coupled with her business language, the impression being made was far beyond my wildest dreams.  I hardly recognized myself except for the slivers of my working history.  Word positions and re framing had worked miracles.

I wept, as the deep awareness of my self destruction surfaced.  There were no enemies, no keeper of the cage.  There was only myself to hold accountable for the complete lack of appreciation and disregard for gratitude to the Divine for creating me.  It was then I promised to terminate the negative and begin to sing the positive.  No more lies! 

Tears, Laced with Hope

"Our real blessings often appear to us

in the shape of pains, losses, and disappointments;

but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in proper figures."

Joseph Addison

It is remarkable to witness the resilience of a person caught in the depths of an emotional storm.  There is little to do to protect them from unanticipated flying debris or the unearthed brokenness of despair.

As time stretches we observe the spirit expand to withstand the pressure of avoidance or denial; and then saddened with the contractions of reality and injury.  Helpless, we stand guard as a loyal guest on the disrupting path.

We quit holding our breath when we hear the first attempt of laughter coming through tears, laced with hope.  In time, the laughter is transitioned into positive action.  The residue of pain is expressed through unique creativity and at long last, the loyal guest not longer stands guard.

Murkiness of My Own Vision

"Do you consider yourself a blessing

or just another person?"

Jonathan Anthony Burkett

As I settle into my place in the gathered circle, a beautiful woman approaches me, looks directly into my eyes and with great certainty says, "I love you!"  She does this every time I see her.

These words are spoken with confidence and commitment, but not in a sexual way.  When this situation presents itself, I feel very uncomfortable even though I know she speaks with sincerity.  The discomfort stems from my resistance to let others slip between my carefully placed barriers.  What could she possibly see deep within me that triggers such a heartfelt response?  She is seeing something, I choose not to recognize in my self.  

The sacred space of the gathered circle continues for a few days.  I find myself especially listening to what this woman has to share.  I can find no fault, no way to discredit her.  It is noticeable to me that I am beginning to let her words slowly chip away at my carefully bricked wall.

This intense woman is entrenched with passion and empathy.  She is tightly wound by her efforts to be present for others and to be active in the world.  I begin to notice how deeply she peers into the eyes of others and really sees. I begin to allow her love to wash over me with certainty.  Her words cleanse the murkiness of my own vision.  I experience such joy I reach out to her and blurt, "I love you!"

Painful Lines of Truth

With time, we come to understand 

that simply being present to each other 

is our most basic moral obligation.

Diane Musho Hamilton
Everything Is Workable 

We really need to hear ourselves speak our truth out loud.  When our words are spewed into the distance between our lips and a listener's heart, we can discern if we are building a story from our own perspective or if we are following the painful lines of truth.  

The listener, a silent witness, displays compassion with a willingness to gently hold the raw emotions until they can be transitioned into calm.  There is no need to struggle for appropriate responses like quoted scripture or memorized verse. Just be present in the moment with constant eye contact as it is a definite sign of undivided attention. A few silent  gestures encourage the sharing to continue.

Listening can be one of the greatest gifts of the world.  Even when we are not in agreement with what is being said, it is important to hold the space open with love.  By listening to each other with compassion, and really hearing what is being said, we move closer to peace.

Finding My Way

"Let us decide on the route that

we wish to take to pass our life,

and attempt to sow that route with flowers."

Madame Du Chatelet

No longer am I willing to keep my heart barricaded.  I  unlock the door and journey  across the threshold, knowing there is no need to be alone.  I feel the presence of Divine Spirit guiding my passage which will subject me to life experiences requiring my best attempts at navigation.

I feel prepared to make difficult choices without the weight of heavy emotions.  With accepted strength, I will no longer allow fear to cause resistance to the awaiting path.  I will travel slowly to engage with others, willing to help and be helped.

Long awaited dreams have formed intentions too powerful to be ignored.  With respect towards my self and others, I will listen, ponder, and explore ideas in accordance with my perceptions as well as those appearing to be conflicted.

Honor  will be given to earth, body, and sky.  Bright rays of sunshine will rekindle love in my heart, and the birds will accompany me with lullabies.  The moon will light my passage through darkness and the stars will fill me with light, energy, and love.

The first steps have been taken, shedding all that blocks my route.  My feet seemingly float across the path as I delve deeper into finding my way.

Artistic Genius

"Life is a pure flame, and we live

by an invisible sun within us."

Sir Thomas Browne

Continue to explore inner landscapes until we arrive at our core.  It is in this spot we will find our magic and gifts waiting to be delivered out into the world.  It may be insightful wisdom; the ability to plant a community garden; compassion for the poor; or the vision of a monument.  

Within us, desires wait to be discovered.  Choose and expand a simple desire and with each action we fuel our fires.  Our confidence grows as we learn with our hands on experience.  Whether the task is great or small has no significance.  The purpose is discovery and follow through.

Our responsibility is to carry what we sense, visualize, or perceive out into the world.  Our contribution is not like any other.  It may be similar, but no two are identical.  It is through our commitment to personal expression that differentiates us from others.  Each perception expands and contracts to make a sprawling landscape of artistic genius.  

Flapping Around Like Sheets

"Much of what was said did not matter,

and that much of what mattered could not be said."

Katherine Boo

BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS:  

Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity.

There are numerous words left unspoken in life.  We let a perfect moment slip by without expressing our appreciation or gratitude.  A time presents itself susceptible to forgiveness, but we let it silently pass.  Confrontation by someone squelches our voice as we are bombarded by condescending words.

The perfect time does not really exist.  We are called to make the time, to find the pause, and speak up.  There is no reward for swallowing our self-respect.  We will not expand into a better person by hiding our words.  We gain resentment, a lack of self-worth, and a free fall into darkness.

Our opinions, whether right or wrong, need to be given voice.  How else will others truly know us if we do not speak our truth?  There are too many insignificant words hanging out in space flapping around like sheets on a clothes line.  The words not being heart felt, lack in meaning and fail to stimulate.

When our words are aligned with our feelings, our posture and attitude straighten.  Even if what we say falls upon deaf ears, our self-respect will increase.  In time, we will be surprised how others are taking us a bit more seriously or even seeking us out for perceptions.  Our confidence grows and our space on this earth flowers.

The Space Between

"It's not so much that we're afraid of change or

so in love with the old ways,

but its' that place in between that we fear.

It's like being between trapezes.

Marilyn Ferguson

One foot is on the edge of the cliff while the other stretches out to find purchase for the next placement.  When solid ground is hidden from us, we might quickly withdraw and remain settled in what we know, even if it is uncomfortable.  It takes courage to blindly move forward, especially when we are required to release what is known to us in exchange for the unknown. 

Even when we make our intention very clear, and follow explicit directions to manifest our change,  the new scenery may not look at all like we planned.  We must be patient with this transition into the unknown.  If we can maintain an attitude of adventure and allow time to completely unfold what is hidden from us, we will adjust in a more serene manner.

We can stand behind a completed painting and be touched by its beauty; but if we stand behind the artist every day experiencing each detail in depth, the completion would offer a bountiful container of memories.  Then we  know how colors blend no matter how unlikely.  We see how the deliberate moves of the artist's brush suddenly create the unexpected.  Even to idly watch the paint dry gives pause for imagination.  We invest into the process receiving deep insights rather than valuing only the end result.

So when we find ourselves in that place between death of the old and birth of the new, embrace the uncomfortable feeling of being untethered in one place or the other.  Consider it a pocket of calm offering a rest stop before the adventure begins.  There is meaning in all spaces of our lives, and they are meant to be beneficial. 

Comfortable or Pretty

"Travel isn't always pretty.  It isn't 

always comfortable.  Sometimes it

hurts, it even breaks your heart.  But

that's okay.  The journey changes 

you ~ it should change you.  It leaves

marks on your memory, on your 

consciousness, on your heart, and on

your body.  You take something with

you ... Hopefully, you leave 

something good behind."

Anthony Bourdain

When Anthony Bourdain divulges his inner thoughts, it is dramatically different from what one would expect.   We tend to have preconceived ideas, and miss the beauty of the inner soul.  He is a perfect example of being so comfortable with who he is on the inside, he doesn't give much worry as to how he appears on the outside.  Opinionated, yet respectful, there is much to learn from this traveler.

Anthony Bourdain's words speak well of his experience.  Whether we travel to a foreign country or on a vision quest, it isn't always comfortable or pretty.  If we can remain open to the experience, we will be touched in the moment, memory, and heart.  In the process of movement, we can be exposed to disappointment or pain; but these things are catalysts to deeper experiences.

If we remain closed off, covered with fear, our travels will not be able to impact all of our senses.  When we open to an experience, we will be touched in some particular or lofty way.  Everything around us will benefit from our willingness to step through fear and evolve.

In The Midst of Chaos

"In a noisy world, seek the silence in your heart.  And through the power of silence, the energies of chaos will be brought back to harmony ~ not by you, but through you, as all miracles are.  When we visit this silence regularly, particularly in the morning, then the days of our lives become lit from above."

~Marianne Williamson

Living without chaos was a youthful goal of mine.  I envisioned my adult life as calm and serene.  Then  I came to realize life is chaos and my goal needed to change to living in the midst of chaos.  There was a choice as to how I could respond to the craziness of my surroundings.

If we begin our days with peace of mind, we are more apt to remain balanced throughout our day.  Just by being still for a few moments can prepare us for our day.  We can find those moments on the back porch with our coffee; in the shower; staring out a window; and through deliberate prayer, contemplation or meditation.  Some will say, "I don't have time for that!"  which really means being silent to begin the day has not yet reached priority level.

In the middle of family breakfast, morning meetings, or business travel, a person benefits from being mindful of being calm.  Getting pulled off balance by rudeness, not being listened to, or total disregard, can be avoided.  By experiencing  each chaotic moment with remembered silence, we can calmly continue forward without losing our inner alignment.

As we experience the beauty of silence, it will grow within us becoming our very nature.  We will find our selves navigating in the flow of life rather than defensively barging through.  Experiencing silence in brief moments throughout the day, will keep us mindful of Divine Spirit working through us enhanced by our calm in spite of the chaos surrounding us.

Gloriously Perfect

"I have been an avid  fiction and non-fiction reader,

all  of my  life.  I can't imagine life without books ...

 to touch and hold; to escape and explore; and to 

experience the life and minds of others.  

Magnificent  books have  shaped 

 my mind into a wondrous globe."

Virginia Carlson

VIRGINIA'S VOICE

A young boy asked his mailman if he could have all of the junk mail from his satchel.  The postman asked him why.  The child said he did not have any books in his home to read and he needed to practice his reading.  The kind man then posted this experience on Facebook where it went viral.  As a result, the young boy received a wide variety of books and complete sets of book series.  His home was beginning to look like a  library!

I clearly remember the day I received my first library card.  It was my most prized possession.  A branch of the city library was not far from my home and I walked by it every day to and from school.  Prior to having my own card, I would stop by  after school to wander through the stacks.  I would sit at an old wooden table and read a few chapters before returning the book to the shelf.  Rarely was the same book waiting for me the next day.  I would choose randomly to hear the words of yet another author.  

Imagine my delight in being able to carry books home with me, where I could curl up and read.  I was so excited to be able to start at the beginning and actually read each page until the end.  I read so much my parents would hide my books from me.  "Go out and play," they said.  On the way outside, I would find a book they had hidden in the oven or the breadbox and scurry outside to find shelter under a huge tree.  Gloriously perfect!

My expansive reading habits remain with me.  I believe my obsession with reading has created a mind that can gently hold numerous opposing views until I begin to see the similarities.  Many characters  have  been visited by my inquiring mind, and each one has touched me in a differing way.  This has given me a particular desire to see each person as an individual and to discern how unique characteristics shape life.

My mind is not brilliant, but it is radiant, filled with amazing insight, color, and texture.  When frustrated by trying to explain a theory to someone, I will often wish they could just walk around in my head for a while so they could catch a glimpse of majestic wonderment, woven carefully together. 

Hey, You're Not The Boss of Me!

"If you hear a voice within you say

"you cannot paint,"

then by all means paint, 

and that voice will be silenced.

Vincent Van Gogh

The radiant young woman stated she taught a meditative painting class.  She apologetically  shared facts about her background which did not include art classes.  She also minimized the meditations she used as they were her own, not some well known person.  No, she wasn't a writer, she made clear.

Why do we do that?  Why in a vulnerable moment do we share a passion of ours then spend wasted minutes convincing the listener we are no good.  I was drawn to this young woman, and I wanted to know more.  She again began to back pedal telling me all of the things wrong with her class.  I finally interrupted her and aggressively said, "I don't want to hear those parts!  I want to hear what prompted you to do this! "  Pleasure slithered across her face.  She then shared how she had visualized painting for years, and imagined having a private space to create.  She was innocently endearing.

Divine Spirit prompts us, gives us nudges towards unexplored areas of our lives that would bring us joy or pleasure.  It is not as though we would need to master these areas, but to experience them.  Then ego jumps in with dripping negativity, squashing the desire and squelching the excitement.  This is when we need to raise our voice to ego and say, "Hey, you're not the boss of me!"

When a splendid idea flits across our mind, we need to pay attention.  We can reduce it to a manageable size so we can begin right away or we can enlarge the idea, expanding it into true passion.  The key is to follow through at any level possible.  Start little until a mentor appears or a reasonable class to share the basics becomes available.  Whether it is music, painting, or writing, when we raise our awareness, opportunities unfold.

The Dark Side of Pollyanna

Pol ly an na

noun:  an excessively cheerful or optimistic person

 origin:  early 20th Century; the name of the optimistic

heroine created by Eleanor Hodgman Porter (!868-1920)

The name, Pollyanna, was given to a fictional character who was sugary sweet and outlandishly hopeful.  Our society tells us:  "Put on your game face" or "Show your good side".  This may be fine for a fictional character, but emotionally crippling for a human being.

There are parts of self entrenched in darkness, reaching out with gory hands, and grasping at a stream of light.  Feet can be unsteady and struggle to remain on a chosen path.  Conflicting knowledge can overwhelm, and there is definitely a dark side to every Pollyanna.

The posts on the blog, Virginia's Voice, strive to highlight strengths while shining light into darkness.  The intention is to illustrate how to replace judgment with loving kindness.  There is encouragement to discover nooks and crannies waiting to be explored with creativity.  The goal is to be able to present to the world our truest sense of self while aligned with all of our diverse parts.

Taboo Against Knowing

"As it is, we are merely bolting our lives ~ gulping down undigested experiences as fast as we can
stuff them in ~ because awareness of our own existence is so superficial and so narrow that nothing
seems to us more boring than simple being.  If I ask you what you did, saw, heard, smelled, touched 
and tasted yesterday, I am likely to get nothing more than the thin, sketchy outline of the few things
that you noticed, and of those only what you though worth remembering.  Is it surprising than an 
existence so experienced seems so empty and bare that its hunger for an infinite future is insatiable?
But suppose you could answer, "It would take me forever to tell you, and I am much too interested in
what's happening now."  How is it possible that a being with such sensitive jewels as the eyes, such enchanted musical instruments as the ears, and such a fabulous arabesque of nerves as the brain can
experience itself as anything  less than a god?  And, when you consider that this incalculably subtle 
organism is inseparable from the still more marvelous patterns of its environment ~ from the minutest
electrical designs to the whole company of the galaxies ~ how is it conceivable that this incarnation 
of all eternity can be bored with being?"

~Alan Watts, The Book:  On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are


There is something about this passage from Alan Watts in The Book:  On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, that reaches deeply within me.  He sharpens my perception of existence with his poignant wording, and opens my soul to a deeper life experience.

Savor The Heart Spoken Words

"When your heart speaks,

take good notes."

Judith Campbell

Like cleaning out an attic filled with debris, carefully extract outdated images we no longer wear.  Discard the cruel phrases that linger in the air.  Examine painful memories and then let them gently float away.  Dust off old dreams buried in the clutter.  Let old yearnings for expressing the unique sides of the self manifest into plans of action.  As we begin to think clearly, we begin to hear our inner voice.  The more attention we give to this voice, the stronger it will become.  It will support, encourage, and flood our minds with hope for things to come.

When we pay attention, we begin to engage with the voice, understanding far more than we used to.  Greater insights are unveiled  and we grow stronger by applying the shared information.  To be engaged with the voice in our heart, confidence grows, the sense of connection encourages us, and we are less likely to feel alone.

Gradually, our appreciation for the wisdom unfolding within us is worthy of recording.  We begin to silence our mind at will, light a candle, welcome the Divine and quietly be prepared for the message. A journal can be the keeper of the words to be visited again and again.   If we are lucky enough to find ourselves in the flow of communication, write accurately, knowing it will all make better sense when we re-read our writings later.

Over time, the written messages from our heart spoken by our inner voice, will become a treasure trove.  As we glance through the words hastily spread across pages, we marvel at how such information arrived.  We may not even remember writing it.  It might read differently than when we wrote it.

The Divine speaks to us through our writing.  We find ourselves guided or comforted.  We are actively engaged in our lives again, knowing we are connected to good.  Our awareness builds an appreciation for all things.  We find ourselves to be more comfortable in our world.