Perceptions and Alignment

Equally, we require a collective past ~

hence the endless reinterpretations of history,

frequently to suit the perceptions of the present.

Penelope Lively

Perceptions govern our lives.  What we see, feel or do are based on how we perceive truth.  It may not be someone else's truth, but it will be our personal perception of the occurrence of things.  At times, our perceptions may be perfectly aligned with some one else's or even from the collective consciousness accumulating over time and space.  When such alignment occurs, we can find ourselves experiencing overwhelming emotion.

Dr. Wayne Dyer has been a world wide presenter and author for many years.  He isn't just 'seasoned.'  In my perception, he is a willing instrument of Spirit, and is used frequently to touch the hearts of those who hear or read his work. 

Dr. Dyer was on tour and presented one of his lectures at the San Pietro Abbey in Assisi, Italy.  His words were based on the life of St. Francis of Assisi.  The audience was filled with eager listeners and found themselves experiencing Wayne Dyer aligned with the perceptions of the man, Francis.

Towards the end of his presentation, Dr. Dyer told a story that had been passed down in time about St. Francis meeting a leper.  St. Francis was very afraid of lepers, but he forced him self to interact with this particular leper.  He extended kindness in spite of his overwhelming fear.  In this story, the leper turns out to be Jesus thanking St. Francis for his faithful attention to others in spite of his personal safety and fears.  Reportedly, St. Francis was overwhelmed by emotion and broke down in tears. 

At the ending of this story, the audience noticed Wayne Dyer with tears streaming down his face.  He did not try to wipe them away nor did he try to explain the alignment he felt at that moment with the feelings of St. Francis.  In support of the unusual moment, the audience lifted their hands in silence while Wayne Dyer wept.

This experience with perceptions and alignment can happen to any one at any time or any place.  It most generally will catch the person off guard, totally unsuspecting of the possibility and experiencing overwhelming emotion.  Often times, the person will respond by saying, "I don't know what came over me."

I have had such an experience, and perhaps one day I will share it.  It happened when I aligned myself with the stars ...

The Way You Look

 

When you change the way you look at things,

the things you look at change.

The way you perceive things

is an extremely powerful tool

that will allow you to fully

bring the power of intention

into your life.

Wayne Dyer

Like a caterpillar, I have been incubating in a cocoon of darkness for several days.  I am not a very patient person, so when a stream of light slipped through a slight crack in my isolation yesterday, I knew it would not be much longer before my emotional webbing would gently release me.

It seems there are steps we all transition through:  unknowing, awareness, beckoned to action,  and living in the light.   It is a simple configuration that can be applied to many situations.  When there is a presenting problem we are a victim until we realize there actually is a problem.  We stop being a victim when we review our choices and take action on at least one.  The movement towards correction empowers us and we then have the courage to move forward.  This being accomplished we feel ourselves living a better life.  There seems to be hope.

A mentor of mine saw all things biblical as symbols and templates. He believed the number three to be highly significant in diverse ways.  So he encouraged me to be present with a problem for three days without worry, judgment, or thoughts of outcome.  When I can be still, stay in the moment, and let the three days pass, there always seems to be an appropriate resolution waiting for me.  Emotions are balanced and energies are restored.

As a human being, however, I 'know' these things, but I simply forget.   I get caught up in the drama and the emotion then freeze, losing all ability to apply what I know to be true.  This is part of the process of transitioning.  It is symbolized by the spiral, as we continuously cycle in and out of experiences, learning the lessons we need to know.

I find myself telling friends to be gentle with themselves, to keep resources in place, and to nurture their souls.  As I offer these words to others, I hear my inner voice saying, "Are you listening to this?"

Wayne Dyer is a favorite author and presenter of mine.  I have been aware of him since 1967 and have enjoyed watching him unfold.  He has stayed true to his spiritual path, helping thousands of others along the way.  He encourages us to use perception as a tool and to keep our intentions pure.

Creative visualization enables us to do just that.  If we mentally see ourselves being spiritually powerful, embracing diversity, and receiving the joys of life, our life will unfold more gracefully than not.  We are less likely to be pulled into someone else's drama, become unbalanced, and lose our way. 

If our intention is clear and we remain mindful, we are frequently supported by synchronicity and magical moments.  If we get up in the morning and say, "Wow!  This is going to be a great day," the intention usually holds true.  We know the reverse is true as well. 

There are so many surprise happenings in life when we hold our perceptions and intentions in place.  Think of all of the 'accidental' meetings that occur that lead us right where we need to be. 

Perceptions can be altered by previous unfortunate experiences and we must be certain to not let negative memories taint present opportunities.  What you see is what you get.  What you think becomes reality. 

I have been trapped in a cocoon by a false perception in a current situation.  It took three days for me to alter my perception and set a concise and clear intention.  Today I can navigate through my day like the flight of a butterfly!

Finding Safe Passage

The heights by great men

reached and kept,

were not attained by sudden flight,

but they,

while their companions slept,

were toiling upward in the night.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

In my late twenties, I was reading a book that supported the idea of re-framing our language to change our self-assessments and general out look on living.  The substitution of words that impacted me the most were "I made a mistake," instead of "I failed."  Somehow, I had been thinking that every time I did not succeed or perform to the best of my abilities, I had failed. Failing carries a great deal of pressure and judgment whereas making a mistake is correctable and forgivable.  

Several months ago, I was reading an inspirational message suggesting the substitution for the word "worry" with the word "wonder."  I thought I would give it a try, and once again I felt a definite shift in how these two words impacted me.  The word worry is frequently accompanied by stress, anxiety, and tension.  The word wonder is light, creative, and positive in nature.

Now enters Dr. Wayne Dyer who distinguishes between the two words beliefs and knowledge.  "Beliefs," Dr. Dyer explains, "are notions we acquire from the outside world -  judgments and world view of those who influence us.  Knowledge, on the other hand, proceeds from within.  We know what we know because we know it, and it has nothing to do with what anyone else tells us or does."

The difference between words can alter the cadence of our life.  By re-framing through the choice of using words that are accurately defined and less harsh, alters how we feel about our selves and the world we live in.  For example, the word "sin" is derived from a Greek archery term meaning "to miss the mark." How in the world did this word get so twisted into a threat of being condemned to hell?

We choose our words carefully.  We try not to offend.  We speak in a way that others will understand us and accept us.  And the more we do this, the farther we grow away from our own truth and identity.

I had been selected to be a part of a team to present an inspirational message to an audience of emotionally and spiritually wounded human beings.  I was very excited about this opportunity and I gathered several of my favorite books to be used as resources.  I quickly made an outline that would include all of the support the audience would be wanting to hear.

The team met for a preliminary meeting and the chairman, a man I greatly respected, examined our outlines and accompanying notes.  I knew he would be very pleased with my expertise.  After he read through my material,  I could tell that in his hesitation he was trying to find the best words. 

This kind gentleman looked me right in the eye and said, "These are wonderful facts based in psychology and sociology, but I want you to go home and write from your heart."  I was stunned.

Eager to do my best, I immediately picked up my pen and started writing based on my feelings from personal experience.  I wrote what I felt was a definite part of my self.  I understood that the listeners would not be hearing from my professional self, but from my own wounds and healing.

At the weekend retreat, I did not find my self to be nervous.  I was uncomfortable with allowing my self to be so vulnerable, but I was willing to be open.  I asked spirit to use my words to comfort all who were present.

The end result was overwhelming.  Without referring to one note, I spoke to the hearts of each person present.  I offered encouragement and the promise of living in the light again.  There was not a dry eye in the audience when I ended with, "It is not enough to know God's love, we must be God's love."  I have 'no' idea where those words came from other than the knowledge that dwells within us.

So when we are crossing a bridge from one section of life into the next and a fog seems to settle in, we can think about the impact of our words.  We must choose our words wisely from our heart as we work steadily to improve our life.  The fog will clear, the sun will rise, and we will find safe passage once again.