Threads in Self-Portrait

"By seeking the spiritual thread, I saw the purpose contained

within the individual events and how each event

was built on top of the previous ones,

creating a pattern of oneness, wholeness."

Machaelle Small Wright

BEHAVING AS IF THE GOD IN ALL LIFE

MATTERED 

It is with the passing of time that we are  able to look back over past experiences and connect the dots.  What we once regarded as isolated instances suddenly present as stepping stones or a foundation for yet to come experiences.  At a given time, we may feel as though we got hood winked into doing a particular job we would have never agreed to do if we had been more aware. 

When I was hired as Director of LITTLE PEOPLES ARTS AND TALENTS day care center, it had not been made clear to me that I would be responsible for the bookkeeping.  Math is definitely not my long suit even though I am highly organized.  So it was an act of drudgery to learn how to balance the books.  I mastered it, but I sure did not like it.  Years passed and I found my self to be an entrepreneur and the owner of my own business, THE TOWN CRIER.   I was remarkably confident to be able to generate my own bookkeeping based on past experience which I had resented at the time. 

When piecing together a quilt, or using stitches to embroider, we become aware of how a pattern emerges and just how important our skill in creating a solid beginning has been important.  The same can be true on the negative side.  A college friend decided to continue her French rather than start a new language like Spanish.  Years later deep into her career, she occasionally mentioned how sorry she was that she had not learned Spanish, the second language of our country.

All of our experiences eventually connect.  We have a variety of decisions to make with our free will, but all efforts apply to the whole.  There is an old saying, "All roads lead to Rome."  We are not always aware of how our life is made up of many individual and often times random  pieces that  eventually form our unique self-portrait.

Be A Voice, Not A Victim

 

 ... I began to identify and order my emotions, and to develop a sense of inner power that allowed me to move through life not as a victim who constantly reacted to the destructive actions of others, but more as a creative individual who continued moving through life despite the actions of others around me.  I was learning that the power center that motivated my life did not exist outside of me, nor was the power held by anyone around me.  It was inside me, and no one could diminish its potency unless I allowed them to.

 

Machaelle Small Wright

Behaving As If The God In All Life Mattered

 

 

A child is impacted by his or her surroundings whether it is of poverty or wealth.  Likewise, the child is impacted by whether or not he or she is abused, neglected, shamed or encouraged.  The child's behavior will be impacted by whether or not the teacher sets the example of revenge or resilience.  Without any sense of power, the child will surely face an upward battle in life, struggling with trust and safety issues.

 

Once a child gains a sense of self-control, he or she can stop reacting and begin to act.  Once one can clearly see there is choice in all things (not necessarily good choices, but choices), he or she will no longer feel the sting of victim.  Although this is only one step in a long process leading to self-empowerment, it is vital.

 

Instead of reacting out of fear, a person can pause long enough to question what action would be in his or her best interest.  Knowing there is choice, life is no longer happening to a person, but rather the individual is responding to it.  If, however, feelings are allowed to grow numb, the erosion will wear down all sense of self. 

 

Generally speaking, a victim does not see choice nor does he or she use his or her voice.  Start speaking up, even if no one hears you.  You will hear the sound of your voice and it will slowly empower you to speak more and more.  With voice comes self-respect and honor.  Speak your truth using your newly found inner strength.  Be proud of the voice God has given to you!

 

 



Balancing Energy between Nature and the Self

When our consciousness changes,

our own energy field makes a corresponding shift.

Machaelle Small Wright

BEHAVING AS IF THE GOD IN ALL LIFE MATTERED



During transitions, there is so much focus on changes occurring on the inside of us, we frequently forget that we impact change in energies that surround us.  When our bodies change in size, we change the size of our clothing.  When our families grow in size, we hopefully can increase the size of our living space. 

When our awareness brings us to significant spiritual change, our vibrations change as well.  This change in our energy is not always compatible with our surroundings.  We may need to rearrange our room or replace decor that no longer makes us feel good or supported.

We experience this shift of energy with our friends as well.  Our level of energy attracts others on the same frequency, so when our energy is altered,  we might adjust relationships to family, work, or play.

As our energy changes, it is important to change our environment as well.  Clutter or collections that no longer resonate with us need to be given away or stored.  We need to cleanse the palette so to speak.  Then slowly we begin to add new things that support our new way of thinking and feeling. 

Plants or flowers, rocks or gems, and feathers or leaves, all carry there own energy.  All things are made of energy: paintings, artistic symbols, mirrors, etc.  So we need to balance ourselves and the energy surrounding us.  Discard anything that feels emotionally heavy and invite in things that stir the heart.  Allow surroundings to come alive!

Machaelle Small Wright is a wonderful author with an amazing personal history.  DANCING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE MOON is perhaps my favorite of her books.  Her emphasis is on the necessary balance and communication between nature and ourselves.  Co-creating with nature, Ms. Wright established Perelanda, a nature research center in Virginia.