Crossing Bridges

"After having been applauded

for busy-ness and productivity,

there is guilt about stillness."

Gay Luce 

 We cross many bridges during our lives (from child to adult, student to teacher, single to wife, wife to mother, mother to grandmother, novice to master, business to retirement) as we transition from one phase to another.  Some do cross gracefully whereas others may go kicking and screaming.   It would be accurate to say whether we welcome crossing the bridge or not, and adjustment is always a part of the transition. 

As in many situations, a forthcoming transition can create anxiety.  Even though we may be eager to move forward the transition is taking us out of our comfort zone into the unknown.  We may grow concerned of losing power or position in the world.  We may no longer be recognized by a certain label we have been displaying for years.  Especially when the work role is removed, we grow concerned about usefulness.

Many of us have been trained to see our selves as what we do for a living, and when we disengage we have a sense of uselessness.  In retirement, many will throw themselves into activities without discretion in order to fill in the empty blanks.  When faced with unexpected quiet or stillness, we need to take our time in learning how to embrace just 'being'.

When we do not learn to let go of fear and to embrace the unknown, we create a very rigid life style for our selves.  We do not experience any variance in our lives as we stick to our script.  So when we retire or physical ailments curtail our busy-ness, we are at a loss as to what to do.  Self-image or ego can become damaged by the sudden void which seemingly offers nothing for us to do.

The need to create a purpose surfaces.  Some fill it with extensive travel, volunteering, hobbies or avocations which become just as rigid as the earlier life style.  Underneath this need to be constant movement, we find the fear of dealing with our feelings.  We stay active disallowing our true nature to surface.  We will go to great depths to avoid what we have repressed.  For many, the act of being still is riddled with anxiety.

For those who are curious about this pause in time,  they find themselves exploring their fears.  They discover prejudices, misconceptions, or our culture's need for materialism.  When we begin to shed the many layers neatly stacked one upon the other, we can discard what we no longer need and feel freedom.  Whether on sabbatical or permanently leaving employment, many experience a huge relief.

It is in this stillness we learn to channel our energies into new aspects of life bringing deeper meaning to this physical experience.  We shift our thoughts to the earth, to the next generation, to compassion, and to meditation or prayer.  When we sit in the stillness we begin to experience our authentic self and a voice gently encourages us to be of service to our inner self and the outer world.  Our identity is no longer found in a career definition, but in our true nature as role model, gardener, painter, volunteer, writer or mother of a heartfelt cause. 

There is work to be done, yes; but the heart felt application comes only after one becomes comfortable in being still.  It is in this very stillness that direction is received, leading us to our highest nature.  By just 'being', we begin to resonate with the rhythms of the Universe, inspiring us to be empathetic human beings.  We then bring our love for life as service to our fellow human beings, to the world, and to all that breathes. 

If we pay attention to the stillness now, we can navigate life in a more meaningful way.  Do not wait for this understanding to come until we are crossing the last bridge of our life.

Life Form Again

“If you live in the dark a long time and the sun comes out, you do not cross into it whistling. There's an initial uprush of relief at first, then-for me, anyway- a profound dislocation. My old assumptions about how the world works are buried, yet my new ones aren't yet operational. There's been a death of sorts, but without a few days in hell, no resurrection is possible.”

Mary Karr
Lit: A Memoir


Jesus proclaimed we could do anything He did and some things we could do better.  It is my personal belief that Jesus the Christ died and rose from the dead, creating a symbol or cycle all humans experience.  I believe we  shed old parts of our self (dying), struggle for rebalance (hell), and then stretch into a more defined sense of self (rebirth).  I must admit it often seems as though hell appears before death more so than prior to the rebalance.

Challenge comes to us and having free will, we have the option to master the opportunity.  In order to do so, we at times need to detach from ego or material attachments creating fear of the future.  It can be hell not knowing what will be remaining once we have given up so much.  Our resistance and denial can also add a few flames to the fire.  The death of the old can be painful, but it also can bring relief.

The period after the death of old patterns can be uncomfortable as we are released of dragging old baggage around.  There may be a sense of freedom, but it can be followed by a loss of connection.  We know what we do not want any more, but we do not know what to welcome in or what will be brought to us next.  There can be great discomfort in this suspension. 

Eventually, the void created by the death of the old, begins to balance with a new definition of the self.  We begin to gather in a greater sense of compassion and acceptance building a new strong foundation.  Our creative expression may exceed, our original gifts may flourish, and our authentic self grows stronger.  Clarity forms with deeper understanding, our hearts and minds become more expansive, and our spiritual connection strengthens.

Easter and/or Spring  is the very reminder of new birth or rebirth.  It is inspiring to watch seeds develop and sprouts struggle up through the earth.  Displayed on healthy stems, flowers display the vibrant colors of life.  And so  Spirit and Divine Energy takes life form again.

 

So How's That Working Out For You?

The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it.

                                        Eckhart Tolle

                                 Oneness With All Life

Math, algebra, geometry, and numbers in general have never been my strength.  Somehow I never came up with the right equation, and in many ways this seems to be holding true in my life.

Every year I forewarn my self about the holiday season and how it impacts emotion which in turn triggers responses otherwise never intended to be spoken.  I tell my self to stay in the moment, not to wander into the sadness of the past nor stray into the unknown future.  I know these things to be true and time has taught me these simple precautions are vital.

Today, however, the world of unfairness had broken through my defenses and crowds of questions have rushed in trampling over my carefully placed safe guards.  They are demanding answers and no matter how I link the information, the equations are not coming out satisfactorily.  

Fear shakes me so violently, my rose colored glasses fly off and I see nothing but poverty, illness, violence and death.  Instead of seeing the beautiful spirit emanating light from the heart, I see hunger in the belly, and hatred in the eyes. 

I return to the safety of solitude and begin to mend the fences trampled down.  I pull my resources around me and begin to read passages of well worn books and journals.  Centering myself, I breathe in loving light and exhale the darkness of fear.  Thoughts, prayers, energy and light restore my sense of balance.

Through creative visualization, I begin to send  love, light, and energy out into the world of pain.  I become a deliberate vessel of light pouring brightness into the world of darkness.  I will hold this space in time for as long as I can, clinging to what I believe to be true and hugging the present moment.

Building Walls

The walls we build around us

to keep sadness out

also keeps out the joy.

Jim Rohn

The walls were necessary for my emotional health.  They protected me from hurtful measures of others, not realizing the pain was always trapped inside.  The walls could be lowered when I felt safe enough to do so.  They could go up or down, much like a garage door manipulated by a remote control.

There were all kinds of walls:  short walls, tall walls, walls with windows, and walls that were re-patched with great regularity.  The walls were really never the same, joined together with different colored bricks or differing mortar.  They were strong though, and that is where I felt safe.

The walls were my protection, protection I felt I needed; however, I never once considered the harm I might have down to someone left standing innocently on the other side. These walls of mine, they kept everyone out.

Strong winds, storms, earthquakes, or any force in life can crack or take walls down.  Too many times to remember, when life happened to blow my walls down,  I dusted my self off and climbed out of the remaining rubble.  I could always wash off the dust and debris, but some how the scars of survival remained.

It is only now, so much later in life, that brick by brick I am taking the walls down ... all of them.  It is so uncomfortable, this feeling of being vulnerable and so unprotected.  This has not been a conscious decision on my part, but rather a growing need created by a crack in the foundation from the built up pain.  The walls cannot hold it any more.

While excavating, I examine each brick thanking it for protecting me for so many years.  I reach for understanding how this all began and how I can prevent it from happening again.  Although exposed, I welcome the fresh air as it blows the dead past away; and the sun warms my heart as it ushers in the new.  I know that night will come, that dark will fall once again, but I long to see the smiling moon and to watch the stars lead me, once again, safely on my way.

  

Hope Resides

I find hope in the darkest of days,
and focus in the brightest.
I do not judge the universe.

Dalai Lama



The twisted spell in my darkened mind has finally shattered and hope resides! This beautiful spring day fills my heart once again with joy, and fear no longer holds me in place.

I am reminded of what I learned from Eckhart Tolle in THE NEW EARTH. He wisely spoke of the pain body residing within us begging for drama and to be fed with extreme emotion. He advised that we stay present in the moment, be aware of the demands of the pain body, and to quietly wait for calm to return. He suggests we do not allow ego to pull us further into the drama or pain. This can be accomplished by staying in the moment.

Hope is pulling me forward today, tomorrow, and the next.   Feeling somewhat rebirthed, after loitering in the labor of darkness, I am building inner strength to be my 'old' self again.  I am once again ready to trust, to believe, and to experience hope eternal! 

Like A Shadow ...

We are shaped by our thoughts;

we become what we think.

When the mind is pure,

joy follows like a shadow

that never leaves.

Buddha

The curtain casts a shadow at the window while I drift into reverie.  I become the shadow dancing in the breeze.  I gaze out the window watching shadows fall over neighbors homes and trees. 

When younger, shadows were perceived as a frightening
thing, but as I grew older I realized a floating darkness simply brought a contrast to a view.  An artist uses shadows to enhance the depth of the painting and the same is true in life.

Let us begin to perceive shadows as an accompaniment to help us discover the depths of a situation.  Allow the shadows to help us discern the accuracey of a stiutaion instead of grasping at false facts out of fear.  Step through the shadow or fear and you will discover joy waiting for you!

The Person I Intended To Be

Lock up your libraries if you like,

but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt

that you can set upon the freedom

of my mind.

Virginia Woolf

After I made pink lemonade, I sat in my white wicker rocker under the cover of the patio.  I think I was half-wishing to be drawn back into time, to be found on my old screened-in porch, and to have little feet gathered around me.  It was a time when I was secure and not afraid to be bold.  Not yet did I know the magnitude of the challenges in life, but I don't think I would have been as discouraged as I find myself of late.

Twenty-four hours of my life passed by today.  In one sense it feels like a loss, but in an other, is it more of a gain?  Where is home anyway ... is it here or is it there.  I am not who some others expected, and yet, here I am.  The person I intended to be.

Round or square, hot or cold, black or white ... choices I don't seem to care to make.  I hesitate to speculate as nothing seems to be what it appears.  Left or right, up or down, above or below ... all decisions for others to make.

The sun has hidden itself as the rain now pounds down.  The humidity feels like a sadness hanging on me, like a heavy wet woolen coat.  The splashing of the rain drops refresh my toes, but these clean feet have no desire to go.

I seem unable to quench the thirst still lingering in my heart.   I am ever so grateful for the splendor of my mind, but long for an artistic flair to dissipate my despair.  The ancient freedom of my mind whispers, "simply let it be."

Breathing in Wisteria

 

You have to believe in your self

when no one else does.

That's what makes you a winner.

Venus Williams

For numerous years, driving to Nashville has been an excited return to all that is inspiring and good .  This trip, I was gone for only three weeks, yet I feel out of rhythm and out of sorts.  Misplaced and without a sense of direction in an overwhelming sort of way best describes how I feel while sitting out back breathing in the wisteria.

The yard has an arbor covered with wisteria.  I was not familiar with this flower until my daughter first moved to Tennessee.  It reminds me of an upside down lilac, but much more fragrant.  It has varying degrees of purple and the most interesting gnarly branches.  The vines are unruly and offer a delite similar to watching the gracefulness of a ballerina.  Bees swarm all around its heavy ladened flowered branches and I just want to be lost in its beauty.

Upon my return, there is so much waiting for me to do, but I feel frozen in place without the ability to invigorate my spirit.  Granted, I never have tranisitioned very well, but I am simply stuck in time and place. 

It is not that I don't believe in my self, as I do most definitely. It is not that I don't believe that others believe in me, as many definitely do.  I guess I just don't care about being a winner.  I'd much rather just sit in my white wicker rocker breathing in this wonderful fragrance of the wisteria.

I'd Like To Dance

Listening to your heart is not simple.

Finding out who you are is not simple.

It takes a lot of hard work

to get to know who you are

and what you want.

Sue Bender

The premature arrival of spring warms my face and heart.  For the first time in a long time, I feel my inner self awaken with stirrings of new growth.  I must have been frozen in time during the winter, and I believe the ice is beginning to thaw.

Heavy coats are no longer needed for protection and by taking off my hat, my ears are hearing much more clearly.  And without the bitter cold winter winds, my eyes have a much brighter perspective. 

The sweet sounds of spring are encouraging me to accept the challenge and to master the lesson so new seeds can be planted this spring.  My face embraces the sun and its warmth heals all that needs to be forgiven ... especially my own doings.

There is freedom when I cast my shoes aside and place my bare feet on the greening grass.  Joy pumps up through me, and quite honestly ... I'd like to dance.

Vacillating Duality

Light is meaningful
only in relation to darkness,
and truth presupposes error.

It is these mingled opposites
which people our life,
which make it pungent, intoxicating.

We only exist in terms of this conflict,
in the zone where black and white clash.

~Louis Aragon



Spiritual/Material
Acceptance/Critical
Fluid/Rigid
Humble/Ego
Blessing/Rejection
Give/Take
Honor/Disrespect
Recognize/Ignore
Wonder/Worry
Dream/Repress
Creative/Stagnant
Embrace/Abandon
Freedom/Freeze
Opportunist/Victim
Rebirth/Death
Energy/Lethargic
Depth/Transparent
Laughter/Tears
Joy/Solitude
Cleanse/Decay
Forgive/Bitterness
Oneness/Isolate

Walk into the darkness of your soul,
bringing light to what is hidden,
so that you will fear no more.

Self-Sabotage

As the long night slowly yields to day,

I, too, surrender to my next step

Which carries me toward

My natural state of limitlessness.



Danaan Parry





Every day of this week, I have been hoping to have a solid time for writing. I have this idea in my head that needs to get down on paper before it floats away as quickly as it arrived. It is a great thought and I keep adding color, feeling, and substance to it. Each day, however, something gets into the way.

So this morning I awaken, knowing that the day is absolutely free! I can get up, put the coffee on and begin my journey through the written word. I can finally write to my heart's content.

This doesn't happen. I sort laundry, brush lovely Hannah our Golden Retriever, wash out the bowls for Trudy the Tuxedo cat, dust mop floors, run the vacuum, and think about tackling the linen closet that seems to be in disarray. 

This is clearly self-sabotage! I need to give myself permission to create the time and space for my artistic or creative expression. Self-worth is certainly laced into this scenario. All of the roadblocks I have been placing in my way are just distractions. This hesitancy I feel is nothing but fear.

The ego laughs at its ability to mess with my mind. It whispers, "who do you think you are?" It creates images in my head of others invalidating my work. I know this old trick and I must quickly step through this self-imposed fear before my ideas evaporate into thin air.

I open the back door, slip off my shoes and stand on Mother Earth. I let her energy run up my legs and restore my energy. I look at the birds flying freely, flowers pushing themselves up through the ground, and the beautiful blue sky. I breathe in the crisp calm air and release my stagnant thoughts. 

I am ready now. Once again, I am excited to share my words even if they never get read. It is what I do. It is what brings me fulfillment and joy. I am happy to be me!

 

The Dark Knight of the Soul

Save me , O God, 

for the waters have come up

to my neck.

I am stuck in the mire of the deep,

and there is no where to set my foot.

I have come into deep waters,

and the waves overwhelm me.

I have grown weary from crying,

my throat has become hoarse;

my eyes have failed while

I await my God.

~Ann Rice

Harvesting journals can be an emotional, but insightful task.  By harvesting, I mean sifting through writings and highlighting dreams, challenges, insights, and words having significant meaning ... even when you don't remember recording them.  Reading personal inscriptions can be inspiring and reflective of challenges finally overcome.  It is like an emotional tracking system.  

Depression is a normal part of a cycle humans rotate through.  I do not mean clinical depression, but depression in general.  It can be referred to as PMS or menopause, or mood swings, but all people cycle through normal levels of depression.  There are varying degrees, such as: monthly, seasonal, or a one time life experience, etc ...

Several years ago, I spent months enduring an extreme sense of loss.  Loss of my self and of all things I believed.  While reading Carolyn Myss, I came across the phrase, "dark night of the soul".  It was originated as a title of a poem, DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL written by St. John of the Cross, a 16th Century poet and Roman Catholic Mystic.  In addition to his own thoughts, the poet reflected ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas and in part, Aristotle.

The poem written by St. John of the Cross, a Spanish Carmelite 

priest, narrates a journey usually traveled during the night, in search of the light of the Creator.  The poem was written while the priest had been imprisoned. A painful experience of abandonment enables a person to grow in spirituality and union with the Divine. 

My experience in the "dark night of the soul" was most unpleasant.  I felt entirely detached from all things holy, and harshly abandoned spiritually.  My mind was riddled with confusion and doubt.  Hindsight shows this was a gift of purification.  I aimlessly wandered through concepts and beliefs, discarding much of what I once held dear.  Issues from my past surfaced, raged with emotion, and eventually were processed. What remained shined brightly and there was plenty of room to welcome the new.  I felt a more personalized, and yet broadened perspective of the connection between us all.  I had lost rigid concepts and gained a spiritual union.  It was during this time my energy work became more pronounced and a sincere spiritual awareness of others became prevalent.

Spirituality can be very challenging, but always rewarding.  It is a path walked in solitude strengthening personal gifts, insights, and awareness.  Ultimately, oneness with nature and all people grows obvious, as well as the sense of oneness with Divine Spirit ... never abandoned and always empowered.

Carry Your Holiday Light ...



               When Christmas bells are swinging

                above the fields of snow,

              We hear sweet voices ringing

                from lands of long ago,

               And etched on vacant places

                 are half-forgotten faces

                Of friends we used to cherish,

                    and loves we used to know.

"Christmas Fancies" - Poems of Power 

               - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Christmas songs, candles, and merriment frequently carry us down memory lane.  We recall friends who may be challenged by health issues or who may have transitioned through death.  Old childhood or neighborhood friends may come to mind.  Co-workers we promised to stay in touch with may have gently drifted away or life long friends may have discontinued contact.

Holidays can be filled with laughter as well as longing.  We miss what once was familiar and wonder if life will ever be the same.  No matter how satisfying our current relationships may be, remnants of lost love may still hang like cobwebs in the darkened hallways of our minds.

This year, when we raise our glass with a toast for the new year, will our glass be half-full or half-empty?  Will we be looking through the distorted lenses of illusion or through the colorful spectrum of creativity and imagination? 

Our lives become the product of our focus.  Embrace the possibility of dreams and untangle the fingers of fear.  Anticipate all that is positive and wise.  Carry your holiday light into your darkness, so there will be light forever more.



"Either you be or you don't be."

... unplugged ...

                 

To be or not to be

is not the question of compromise.

Either you be or

you don't be.

Golda Meir

Mercury in retrograde, end of Mayan calendar, global warming, and religious warnings are just a few areas of current concern.  We must be cognisant of the many shifts going on around us, but do we really need to be fear based?  Seriously, there is so much information being misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misrepresented, the negativity can be overwhelming.

If I were not rooted in my spiritual beliefs, I would be blown away by the negativity and/or violence in the newspapers, television and other forms of media.  Darkness, doubt and fear multiply in the hearts of many.

I just need to be unplugged.  Quiet time can be filled with yoga, meditation, and ancient transcripts.  Walking in the park will engage me with a positive connection to the outside world.  Listening to music will certainly soothe my frayed soul before I settle into rest.

                "Either you be or you don't be." 



It's All A Ride by Terri St. Cloud

“ alone and shaking,
she wondered how she'd get thru.

the doubts surrounding her, keeping
her awake.
and then she remembered.

it's all a ride, a journey, a dream.
the twists and turns of which she
couldn't even fathom.

she closed her eyes and rested.
she'd travel where she must.
never knowing where she was going...
but knowing it was a ride worth taking."

                                                                      ~terri st. cloud

www.BoneSighArts.com

                      



Dismantle Our Illusions

The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid,

but he who conquers that fear.

NELSON MANDELA

We all experience fear, but we do not necessarily experience the same fear.  One person may fear flying in an airplane while another fears dogs, so there is not a constant in the fear ... meaning it is not factual or we would all have the same reaction.

In A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE, author Alan Cohen states "One of our missions in life is to discover what holds us back from being ourselves and dismantle our illusions."

This author suggests they we bring to mind someone who does not share our fear and visualize them handling the same situation with ease and peace.  The

next time you are feeling fearful, duplicate similar behavior of confidence and calm. 

Alan Cohen suggests that we ask our self this question:

"If I were not afraid, I would ....

• ________________
• ________________
• ________________
• ________________

Go ahead!  Make a list and see just how much fear limits us from experiencing life fully.  Take the risk and face each situation with peace discovering the illusion of fear.

Adorn Yourself Accordingly ...

Know first who you are,

and then adorn yourself

accordingly.

Epictetus

Stoic, AD 55

A few years ago, I was gathered with some women exploring our spiritual beliefs and personal truths.  The conversation wandered into a discussion about  the image we project onto others.  Unexpectedly, a very dear friend pointed at me and exclaimed, "Well, look at you.  You are all decorated like a tree!"   I was so caught off guard, I quickly withdrew into myself and allowed the conversation to move forward by saying, "Why thank you!" I felt embarrassed, defensive, and hurt. 

I tried very hard not to feel that this was a personal attack, but more of an observation regarding the diversity of women.  I believe that it was pointing out the differences between good friends. Later, in the safety of my home, I reviewed this bothersome remark.

When I no longer felt defensive, I began to explore the evolution of my dress code which ran parallel to the unfolding of my spiritual life.  All of the changes that occured on the inside of me, were eventually reflected on the outside.

As a little girl, I was dressed in feminine attire until I morphed into a 'tom boy'.  Entering a private college prep academy, I quickly realized I was totally out of my league in fashion.  When I left for college, I packed one pair of black flats and one pair of navy blue heels.  Fortunately, my college roommate and I were able to swap clothes frequently.  My interest in clothes accompanied my marriage, but was quickly replaced with pregnancies and booties. 

After having my three boys, I was gifted with a daughter on Mother's Day.  Into my life came patent leather shoes, little gloves, smocked dresses and matching bonnets.  There was enormous pleasure in dressing this beautiful child.

Once I returned to a professional career, years later, my respect for myself began to flourish.  I was not fanciful, but tailored clothes were a must.  It was during these later years that my spiritual self joined forces with my physical self producing a confidence that was reflected in some flair.

As my daughter entered a professional career, she too fashioned a style of her own, and repeatedly assisted in discovering designs suited for myself.  I had a multitude of shoes, suits and a casual wear.  I developed a very good sense of color scheme accented by unique jewelry.  I liked who I was and thoroughly enjoyed dressing in what reflected how I felt.

Self-discovery brought me to compassion and acceptance of myself.  Nurturing myself comforted my wounded child and love became possible.  In celebration, I adorned my body accordingly. 

Each of us will choose what feels comfortable on us.  Our apparel may change from hour to hour or day to day.   We may have a set uniform that we can live in repeatedly and indefinitely.  It does not matter, but realize there is choice for all of us.

Celebrate yourself! Be festive in your own way!  Use music, dance, and poetry to herald the unfolding of your beautiful self.  And if someone says you are lit up like a tree ... know your internal light and the loving kindness of your heart is shining through for all to see!

Running Away From Fear

"What is needed, rather than running away or controlling
or suppressing, or any other resistance, is understanding fear;  that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it.  We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it."

Author Unknown



 In early childhood, I learned how to run away from what I feared or experienced while standing perfectly still.  There are many psychological terms for this, but my focus is not on terminology.

As a child, when life became painful, I would emotionally retreat.  I never felt any sense of power or permission to relax into being my self.  In order to make sense out of my world, I would suppress my feelings and rearrange actual circumstances in order to feel safe.

Through years of education, I came to understand the reasons causing such a reaction within me, and I also attracted greater fears of living.  I learned more sophisticated behaviors to disguise my emotional running, rather than embracing methods for healing. 

Finally, in adulthood, I began to observe my fears and placed my energies into releasing negative people, places, and situations to create a place of safety.  Facing unpleasantness, my life skills grew stronger, but I could still hear my feet pounding down the corridors of my mind, preparing for flight. 

The eventual correction, however, was that I remained in the present moment without being prompted to escape.  Instead of running away, I listened, risking fear and pain.  I mentally instructed myself to emotionally 'stand still' allowing all things to pass through me. 

The desire to follow my spiritual path was stronger than my need to stay hidden.  In order to learn and experience the magic of life, I needed to be open and vulnerable to the lessons presented before me.

Life is filled with challenges and personal growth expands through the most difficult times.  When fear prevents our progress, we need to remember it is an emotion and not a fact.  We need to step through fear and not allow it to be a barrier to our personal freedom.

Hope Whispering

When the world says

"Give up,"

Hope whispers

"Try it one more time."

Author Unknown

There must be a line between stupidity and the willingness to try something one more time.  There is an old saying, "Fool me once shame on you.  Fool me twice shame on me."  

Forgiveness comes easily to me, but once trust is broken I am definitely challenged.  Life seems to offer a dance, but I just cannot seem to master the rhythm. 

My meditations and contemplations seem to be unfolding a shift in my awareness.  I am replacing worry with wonder which immediately shifts a heaviness that I have been carrying in my heart.

It seems as though my life has been fear based.   Now I am attempting to daily engage life with an open loving heart and by being simply aware of the changes of others.  Perhaps strength comes from maintaining my own sense of self and just letting others unfold.  The result is hope whispering in my ears.

Genius Within

When you have shut your doors, and darkened your room, remember, never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone, but God is within, and your genius is within. 

                  Epictetus
                  Stoic, AD 55





The time will come when you are ready to slow down, to still your mind and discover the love, beauty, and understanding that awaits you.  As your spiritual growth deepens, truth becomes your simple guide through all that you desire to know.

In quietude, your mind begins to reflect emotions that are both healthy and unhealthy.  The challenge is to discern which are true and to discard that which is false.  It is time to cleanse your inner being of all that prevents you from moving forward.

Begin to explore what makes your life balanced.  Who is it that supports your desires and who is it that triggers a disconnect creating disharmony or lack of control.  Consider your values and what you want your life to represent.  Distance yourself from people who do not encourage you and let your personal space be filled with what you choose.

Fear can appear, but you must learn to step through it.  If you study the facts, you will discover that most of fear is just a 'feeling' and not truth.  Confront your fear and strive to understand why it is there. 

With each day, be mindful.  Monitor your thoughts so when they become negative, you can replace those thoughts with affirmations.  Live in the moment without dwelling in the past or projecting too far into the future.  If you feel fragmented, gently bring your mind back to the present and feel your heart spreading love throughout your being.

As you slow down, it is easier for you to simplify your life.  Through introspection and contemplation, you can bring peaceful change into your life.  In moments of solitude, the mystery of life slowly unfolds creating a spiritual attitude to support simple truths about life. 

It is important to empty your mind of negative or false beliefs so there is room for new concepts and truths.  Wisdom and knowledge easily take root when there is a nurturing place for them to grow.  You must make space by weeding out all that no longer serves you.

Becoming more familiar with the workings of your mind, you begin to realize what a powerful tool it can be.  By expanding your awareness, your intuition or gut-level feelings will become more apparent and useful.  Remember, you are always seeking the simple truth in any situation.

In many ways, you are the creator of the life you are living.  Through your personal choices, dreams, and inspirations, life begins to take on meaning.  If you allow negativity to dominate your thoughts, the outcome will be disharmony. 

Every morning, tune into your inner self.  Bring focus to your day with positive intentions and curiosity.  At mid-day, pay attention to how you are doing.  Do you feel a sense of balance or is your day going in some one else's direction?  When evening comes, consider ways to nurture your inner needs.  Speculate as to how you could have made your day better or what other resources you could have used for support.  At bedtime, be thankful and grateful for the mystery of your day.  Extend prayers and blessings to family and friends. 

Be still and recognize your goodness. 

You are everything you need.