The Veil

God cannot leave us.

It is just that our soul is so vast,

we do not always feel His lips

upon the veil.

St. Catherine of Siena

(1347 ~ 1380)

In spiritual discussions, insights and mystical moments are frequently compared to a veil being lifted.    The veil being lifted refers to the sudden ability to see or understand something within a blink of an eye. It is so fleeting, the experience cannot be put into words or be appropriately reflected.  

This uncharted spiritual experience could also be compared to a drapery being pulled aside for a clear view and then replaced back into position, blocking what one had just seen.  It happens so quickly one wonders if they have experienced it at all.

It is as though the human being experiences a spiritual moment implanting a 'knowing' into our memory, but this 'knowing' is not accompanied by the spiritual language to explain such an experience.   Deep within, we have just witnessed an explanation of an unknown, but have been left with human limitations.  This 'knowing' leaves us with a feeling of affirmation and validation increasing our faith and dedication without a tangible explanation.

Spiritual "ah-ha" moments expand our understanding and knowledge, but leave us unable to appropriately relate them to others.  If not written down to the best of our abiltiy, the exceptional experience can be quickly forgotten as though it had never happened at all.

We need to be aware to notice the veil.  Our hearts must be open to see through the parted veil.  When we allow for stillness, our body, mind, and spirit are deeply connected and we are humbly embraced by all that is ...

Be the Voice

                                          



To open ourselves to new possibilities and success in every aspect of our life, we must be willing to change the entrenched ways in which we perceive ourselves and act in the world.  The first step is to change our limited sense of identity.

Deepak Chopra
Seeing Ourselves With New Eyes



This morning, with coffee mug in hand, I was reading Deepak Chopra's newsletter,
Chopra Centered Lifestyles.  I browsed through several interesting articles, but the article about Seeing Ourselves With New Eyes, really hit home.  Dr. Chopra discussed how we are changing every minute of the day just as everything in nature changes.  Physically our body changes ... blood, skeleton, liver, DNA ... just as our emotions are constantly changing.  Unfortunately, our awareness is generally focused on jean size or career advancement or relationship shifts.  We tend to miss our moment to moment changes which offer the opportunity to breathe in and out a more expansive version of our beautiful self. 

Our ego is very invested in keeping everything the same so it can control us much easier.  Ego will go to great lengths to distract us from any nuance of  creative shift.
Simply recall the last time an idea sparked in our brain about doing something differently to nurture our self.  For example, we are driving home and suddenly remember the Barnes & Noble gift card in our purse.  In a flash, we see our selves dashing into the book store, knowing there are sales going on, to grab a piece of pleasure.  Immediately, our ego kicks in, "I better go straight home.  Traffic is going to get bad.  I can go another time.  I should run into the grocery store instead."  Ego sits back and grins.  Our spirit is dampened and repressed.

Now imagine if we told our ego to 'take a hike' and drove straight to the book store.  In a matter of minutes we dash into the store, we find not only one book but two for the price of one, and the check out line has only one person waiting!  With our new treasure trove we joyfully drive home, imagining delving into our discoveries.  We greet our family in much higher spirits feeling refreshed and empowered.  By allowing simple change, our family reaps the benefits, our surroundings support the happy mood, and ultimately we bathe in the residue of self-respect and a sense of honor for our selves.  Ego sulks.

Transformation is an on-going process not a once in a life time 30 minute make over!  We truly need to listen to our selves so we can hear discrepancies as we communicate.  Too many times we are on automatic pilot and respond with statements that are no longer applicable to our belief system.  When what we say is not in alignment with what we feel, we must immediately replace the inaccuracy with current truth.

We have many automatic responses that are no where near the truth in our heart.  We say "yes" when we really mean "no" and perpetuate unpleasant circumstances.  Maybe at one time we enjoyed this particular activity, but we have changed and our reality of change has not yet been edited into the story we tell of ourselves.   The change has not been noted, because we have not taken the time to be aware of who we truly are at any given moment.

An easier visual is thinking of parenting the ego.  The ego is an impetuous child getting its way at all costs and usually making our inner selves miserable.  We must be the adult behind the impulsive child for our own good will.

My mentor tells me:

 "Be the voice behind the voice."

 .



What Does It Mean ... 12-12-12

 The Ancient Mayan calendar speaks of 12-12-2012 as the end of times as we know it, and the beginning of a new cycle of evolution for planet earth, humanity and the cosmos. Mayan elders say that the Ancients were informing the modern world to be ready for a giant transformation for the human race. Interestingly, traditions across the world including Buddhism, Tao, Hopi and Vedic knowledge predict a ‘Golden Age’ or ‘Satyug’ in their calendars around the same period. December 2012 is being looked upon as a significant spiritual event and a momentous shift in the collective consciousness of the planet.

~Body, Mind, Spirit Journeys

Being the humans that we are, there is a diverse response to the forthcoming 12-12-12.  There are many predictions with various reactions.  Some are planning a celebrational trip to Peru or Mexico while others are dreading destruction, death, and the end of the world.  The world will always have spiritual visionaries as well as doomsday negativity. 

Personally, I would like to look beyond the fear of catastrophe and invest my time, meditations, and thoughts into the realm of hope.  As portals will seemingly open, we will be offered a new beginning.  As in all shifts that occur, a space is created ...  an opportunity for change whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual.  Whether viewing the reports of Ancient Scrolls, Spiritualists such as Tom Kenyon, the Bible, or Scientific Research, interpretations are rarely accurate.  So the point need not be the right or wrong of timely prediction, but rather placing the emphasis on what is to be learned.  As always, what is the lesson?

Harmony Surrounding Us

The beauty of a woman in not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.  The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.  ~Audrey Hepburn

The identity of the woman was unknown to me.  I was simply standing near her when I felt so drawn to her.  As my attention was pulled to her, she looked up and briefly stared into my eyes.  Nothing was said, and there was no body language to be read, but we exchanged appreciation for each other through our eyes.  We both knowingly smiled and continued on our  separate ways. 

As I washed dishes by the kitchen window, I observed a very plump female cardinal sitting on the edge of an old iron pot.  Water had gathered in the bottom and apparently she needed a drink.  Perfectly balanced with her feet clinging to the edge of the pot, she gracefully tipped her body over to reach far below.  As she pulled herself back up, water was dripping from her beak.  As though she could sense my eyes upon her, she cricked her neck and looked right at me.  I felt as though she really did have an awareness of me so I silently whispered, "You are so beautiful." 

The lady across the street spends lengthy morning hours sitting on the ground in the midst of her flowers.  I have only met her once, but every morning while I wait for my coffee pot to finish dripping, I look to see if she is in her garden.  I can only see her back, but her movements are slow and deliberate.  She isn't just weeding, she is delicately removing unnecessary growth that detracts from the flower.  She unknowingly creates a very peaceful scene and I begin my day with a sense of calm.

When I pay attention to what surrounds me, I frequently find affirmation, encouragement, and oneness.  When I relate to my surroundings, I feel much more connected and alive.  All things are living together in a harmony we hardly recognize as we are too focused on the negative aspects of life.  We choose what we see and draw it to us.  If we but take the time to slow our selves down, the journey can be enhanced by the harmony we see surrounding us.