Dismantle Blockades

       

"Your task is not to seek for love,

but merely to seek and find all the barriers

within yourself that you have built against it ... "

Rumi

 

The layers of protection we build around our hearts may keep love at bay, but these barriers restrict all levels of love.  To regard love strictly as romance is like viewing food as desserts only.   It can be wise to limit desserts or romance, but there is no need to stop eating or loving entirely.

We hide behind barriers whether we are consciously aware of them or not. Like spies behind a darkened wall, we watch the suspicious behaviors of those who might harm us.  We go down our imaginary check list, tallying points of acceptability while ego fills us with dread and fear.

Author of THE SEAT OF THE SOUL, Gary Zukav encourages his readers not to ask who can be the best partner, but to focus on what kind of partner we shall be.  It is when we create a deep appreciation for ourselves and acknowledge our personal value and power, we can dismantle our blockades.  When we are confident in what sort of partner we are willing to be, we will attract like minded prospects.  Perhaps the most vital point is not to lower our own sense of integrity nor give up our realistic goals.  No longer hide, but go proudly out into the world prepared for love to find you.

Fly

“Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralysed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds' wings.”

― Rumi,

Essential Rumi 

 

 

 

After numerous lessons from life, we realize the need for balance whether it is with sleep, food, exercise, work or relationship.  We understand the phrases about not appreciating light without darkness or joy without sorrow or fortune without misfortune.  Over and over again we begin the walk across the tightrope hoping to use impeccable footing, and not fall, intending to create perfect balance. 

Time passes and we develop a sense of when we are tipping the scales without conscious focus.  We just know what we need and what we need to shed.  It is as simple as breathing in and out if we but discipline our behaviors.

When we have tentatively mastered balance, we seem to experience the momentum changing.  Life seems to slow down and we grow impatient, and then without any indication, life will also speed up leaving no time for real time.  There can be somewhat of a whiplash effect.

So back on the tightrope, we have secured in our memory every step to perfection, but then the rope begins to contract and then expand.  We find our selves desperately struggling to adjust our gait to adapt to these uncertainties.

And is this not what life is ... a series of uncertainties?  Intention and deliberate organization will not hold strong against the winds of change.  We must be adjustable when faced with the unpredictable and flexible with the illusion of certainty.  Finding comfort when we are confined by time and peaceful when we are expanded in creation is necessary for experience with balance.

It is when we gather acceptance and compassion into our heart that we finally become authentic and discover true appreciation and gratitude.  The unnecessary has been discarded through trial and error and we create anew with resilience.  It is through this labor of contraction and expansion we learn to spread our wings and fly.

Less is More

 

 

 

Come, come , Whoever you are

Wanderer, Worshipper, lover of leaving

it doesn't matter,

ours is not a caravan of despair.

Come, even if you have broken your vow

a hundred times

Come, Come again, Come.

 

~rumi

 

 

Walking by the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the chilly waves cleanse my feet, and all negative thoughts.  I am lulled by the sound of the ocean and comforted by the warm sun upon my back. The gentle breeze encourages me to walk just a little further, and then a little bit more.

 

I came across this Rumi quote written on a post card in a great unique shop named THE GREEN PINEAPPLE.  I have been a wanderer all of my life whether it be of body, mind, or soul.  Life has guided me in so many directions, I have often wondered if I don't have 'gypsy' blood.  My travels have been many, but only to places provoking deeper parts of my self to surface.   The more I get to know my inner self, the more I realize I am no longer the person I have been.  Layer upon layer sheds, and the lighter I find my self feeling.  Letting go of issues that once mattered encourages me to believe that less is truly more.

 

Excused from a rigid routine, free floating through a sunny day, my mind relaxes and my spirit is calm.  Perception of life is easily broken down into small pieces for me, and I carefully review delicate ponderings.

 

Rumi speaks of broken vows and I am reminded of the many I have earnestly made to my self, only to allow them to lapse in the pursuit of another.  Being gentle with my self, I realize as I stretch, grow, and change, earnest vows cannot always be honored.  To remain rigid in the confines of previous thoughts does not lend it self to deeper understanding just waiting beyond the boundary.  Stepping through the many illusions all based in fear, I feel closer to Spirit and connected to all things in nature and beyond.

 

There is a freedom here, a pure sense of "no-thing-ness" as the water tickles my feet and the ocean seems to extend forever.  Last night's dream returns and I once again try to decipher the many layers of meaning.  There is a distinct message loitering just beyond my understanding.  I will continue to unearth the symbols unknown to me in hopes of making the message clear.

 

It is time to turn around and go back.  The sun shines in my face, and the ocean continues to play with my feet.  There is no more longing.  The yearning has stopped.  I am here, clearly present in the moment and I know I can ..."Come, Come again. Come."

 

 

 

Spiritual Genius

 If you are seeking, seek us with joy

    For we live in the kingdom of joy.

    Do not give your heart to anything else

    But to the love of those who are clear joy,

    Do not stray into the neighborhood of despair.

    For there are hopes: they are real, they exist –

    Do not go in the direction of darkness –

    I tell you: suns exist.

    - Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

Several years ago, I was taking a yoga class from Nancy Long, Yoga Teacher Extraordinare, who introduced her students to numerous poets, one of such was Rumi.  I loved him immediately. 

Jalal-ud-Din Rumi lived to be 66 years old, passing on December 17, 1273.  He was a great Sufi mystic and poet spending his life in Turkey.  Now 700 years later, Rumi is recognized in the West as easily as in the East.  According to Andrew Harvey, "Rumi is being recognized as the unique spiritual genious he is, as someone who is fused at the highest level and with the greatest possible intensity the intellect of a Plato, the vision, passion and soul-force of a Christ or Buddhas, and the extraordinary literary gifts of a Shakespeare."

Rumi's works have been translated by many, but most importantly, perhaps, by Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, and Jonathon Star.  Andrew Harvey writes, "No other poet or philosopher of whom I know has Rumi's almost frightening intimacy of address, and no one I am aware of in any civilization have conveyed the terror, rapture, and wonder of awakening to Divine Love with such fearless and gorgeous courage, such humility and such unflinching clarity."  (Andrew Harvey quoted from THE DAILY OM)

If you are wondering what to do with those Amazon or Barnes & Noble  gift cards,
check out the many works of Rumi.  He makes for a wonderful companion on a long and cold winter night.  He will reach out to you from every page and you will hear him in every word.  He is a presence not to be ignored.

  .  

"Let Your Note Be Clear" ~ Rumi

"God picks up the reed-flute world and blows.
Each note is a need coming through one of us,
a passion, a longing pain.
Remember the lips
where the wind-breath originated,
and let your note be clear.
Don't try to end it.
Be your note."

-- Rumi

Dennis Merritt Jones is an Award-winning author, Keynote speaker, and spiritual mentor.  My daughter brought him to my attention with an article entitled:  Let Your Note Be Clear:
Are You Listening to Your Emotions?   He was referencing the poem by Rumi displayed above.

We all have longings or yearnings which we choose to disregard.  We distract our selves and repress the feelings whether out of fear or anxiety.  To pay attention to the nagging feelings, we just may be called to action and therefore we resist.

What if these repressed ideas were really unexpressed desires of the soul?  What if these random thoughts were messages from deep within us.  They could be prompts to redirect our intentions. 

In choosing to repress emotions, the energy builds within us and eventually can manifest itself in our physical bodies.  If we would take brief moments to at least acknowledge the promptings we receive, we would be advancing ourselves emotionally or mentally, physically, and spiritually. 

Not all messages are exciting or joyful, some are actually painful.  Once we embrace the emotion as a teacher, we will learn the lesson, release the fear, and freely move forward. 

Rumi says to "let your note be clear" and to do this, we must sit with our longings, and understand the message.  If we believe the yearnings from our inner being have been lovingly sent by the Divine, we will be able to navigate through our lives gaining wisdom as we honor and respect the message received.

Wizard, Not Magician

In the West a wizard is primarily thought to be a magician who practices alchemy, turning base metal into gold.  Alchemy also exists in India, but the word alchemy is really a code word.  It stands for turning human beings into gold, turning our base qualities of fear, ignorance, hatred, and shame into the most precious stuff there is:  love and fulfillment.  So a teacher who can teach you how to turn yourself into a free, loving person is by definition an alchemist.

Deepak Chopra

THE WAY OF THE WIZARD

Some of our best teachers in life may have appeared to be our enemies.  Think about it.  Looking at our lives, who have taught us the harshest lessons ... kind folks or those in clear opposition? 

I have been blessed with many loving teachers, but I have definitely gone up against opposition sometimes learning the hard way.  There have been times that I longed for a teacher to come into my life, but not always did one appear. 

The expectations we hold for a teacher, are they for magic or wisdom? Do we long for a magician to appear and remedy all of our problems or do we prefer a wizard who will teach us wisdom to face our own challenges?  

Many of us long for a secure place to enter and listen to wisdom. Some of us travel near and far seeking the wisdom of would be wizards.  Deepak Chopra says, "A wizard exists in all of us.  This wizard sees and knows everything."  So once again we are prompted to stop exploring outside of our selves, and begin to explore our own inner landscapes.  

When we are finally open to the wizard within, we begin to not only hear wisdom, but we begin to use it to free our creativity, love, and spiritual nature.  Embracing the knowledge within, we begin to expand our awareness and attract wisdom from all surrounding people and things.  We experience a full sense of being and a true purpose in life.  

Rumi shares with us:  "You are the unconditioned spirit trapped in conditions, like the sun in eclipse."  We can endeavor to set our selves free through self-discovery and deep appreciation for who we truly are ... Wizard, not Magician.

Of Being Woven ... Rumi



Of Being Woven



 "The way is full of genuine sacrifice.

The thickets blocking the path are anything

that keeps your from that, any fear

that you may be broken to bits like a glass bottle.

This road demands courage and stamina,

yet it's full of footprints!  Who are

these companions?  They are rungs

in your ladder.  Use them!

With company you quicken your ascent.

You may be happy enough going along,

but with others you'll get farther and faster.

Someone who goes cheerfully by himself

to the customs house to pay his traveler's tax

will go even more lightheartedly

when friends are with him.

Every prophet sought out companions.

A wall standing alone is useless,

but put three or four walls together,

and they'll support a roof and keep

the grain dry and safe.

When ink joins with a pen, then the blank paper

can say something.  Rushes and reeds must be woven

to be useful as a mat.  If they weren't interlaced,

the wind would blow them away.

Like that, God paired up creatures, and gave them friendship."

The Essential RUMI

Translated by Coleman Barks

 

The spiritual path is one we walk alone, but during this proces we meet mentors, fellow travelers, and bits and pieces of our inner selves.  It is important to never totally isolate our selves as we need the the wisdom and challenges that other spirits so generously bring.  Along the way, you will discover and create the balance of weaving the tapestry of life.

Parts of My Hermit Self ...

Which is worth more,

a crowd of thousands

or your own genuine solitude?

Freedom, or power over an entire nation?

A little while alone in your room

will prove more valuable than

anything else that could ever

be given to you.

The Essential RUMI

Translation by Coleman Barks

with John Moyne

More and more I discover new parts of my hermit self.  Little by little, I withdraw into the solitude of life rather than the chaotic motions.  My home and surroundings are important to me, as this is where I spend the majority of my time.

The word  power frequently carries a physical and masculine tone to it which I have never been endeared.  I much prefer the word empowerment which is the power over oneself.  This is the freedom I enjoy.

Even when I travel, I enjoy settling in and enjoying the common activities of the given culture.  I am not interested in the large resorts or hotels or fancy restaurants that somehow lose the ambiance of the culture.  I like to wander to neighborhood eateries, bakeries, and delicatessens where the locals trade.  The elders sipping coffee are always willing to tell the community history in very meaningful ways.

Sitting in my room, I can feel compassion and appreciation for all that has been given to me.  The greatest gift of all has been love ... priceless!

The Guest House by Rumi

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~ Rumi ~

(The Essential Rumi, versions by Coleman Barks)



Their is a field ...


Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing,
there is a field.
I'll meet you there.

Rumi
(Sufi Mystic 1207-1273 A.D.)
translation by Coleman Barks

September 11, 2001, was like any other morning for me.  I got up, got dressed for work, and drove downtown.  I like my mornings quiet, so as usual, I had not listened to the television nor had I had the radio on.  It was a beautiful fall day.  As I walked to my office from the parking garage, there was a man on the sidewalk giving away doughnuts as the new doughnut shop had just opened.  I laughed and told him I couldn't start my day by breaking my diet!

Everything seemed normal as I rode the elevator up to my floor, but when I entered the suite of offices, I instantly knew something was wrong.  The offices were strangely silent.  Not seeing any one, I wandered into the break room and found others gathered around the television.  They told me that an air craft had strayed and hit one of the towers in New York.  As we stood there, we watched another air craft strike the towers again.  The horror unfolded before our unbelieving eyes.

The president of our agency called from Chicago telling us to evacuate our office as no one knew the extent of the horrendous tragedies that continued to be broadcasted with speculation of a terrorist plot.  As my office mates left for their homes, I told my boss that I wanted to stay.  I did not want to return to my empty condo and witness these heart breaking moments alone.  She was of the same thought and so together we settled in front of the television praying and crying as we continued to become overwhelmed by the destruction that followed.

Hours later, emotionally exhausted, I made my way home.  I stopped for gas still not knowing how the next few days might unfold.  I grabbed some milk and a few other items to tide me over.  Who knew what might happen?

Upon arriving home, I checked my computer and felt relief to find that my energy worker friends had already started a schedule for participation similar to a 'prayer chain'.  At least I felt as though I were helping by sending energy, love, and light during an impossible situation that rendered so many helpless.

I felt like a child building a fort in front of my television where I ended up spending the remainder of the day and evening.  I kept my cell phone charged and anxiously awaited telephone calls from my four adult children to validate their safety.  Otherwise, I spent the day and evening in prayerful seclusion.

In the days that followed, my community like other communities across the United States pulled together.  Random acts of kindness were noticeably present and heroism was blatantly reported.  I realized, however, that I was becoming mesmerized by the horrific and graphic televised reporting.  The phrase 'evil doers' seemed to trigger and arouse a mentality that I wanted no part of.

I continued to participate in an energy vigil networking across the land.  I attended a few gatherings with like minded people only to turn away when conversations were laced with hatred and revenge.  I was deeply disappointed to observe some spiritually evolved individuals unravel before my very eyes using anger to intensify the raw feelings of others.

In the days, weeks, and months that followed, most everyone experienced an emotional roller coaster ride.  It was a time that has been etched in my mind, never to be forgotten.  I cannot even begin to imagine the loss, horror, or never ending grief that others suffered.  I can only pray that no one, that no country, will ever experience such catastrophe again.

Spiritually, I respect the holiness of all life whether human being, animal or plant.  Judgement is not mine to give and I strive to not be misled by hatred or violence.  No, I do not understand the workings of the world, so all I can do is establish peace within myself and hope for others to do the same.

As Rumi says, "Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing, there is a field.  I'll meet you there."

This Night Will Pass ...

This night will pass ...

Then we have work to do ...

Everything has to do

with loving and not loving ...

--Rumi

Where The Light Enters You

The wound is the place

where the light enters you.

Rumi

When I make presentations to various women's groups, I have them take a sheet of paper and draw a line horizontally across the page, from left to right.  Then I have them draw vertical lines pointing up from that base line, for each happy moment in their lives, such as life celebrations (graduations, marriage, birth, anniversaries, retirement).

This task finished, I instruct the women to draw vertical lines down from the base line, for each difficult moment in their lives, such as life challenges (death, divorce, moves). 

With these directions being completed, I then ask the ladies to go back and place a star at every turning point in their lives.  Slowly, chatter begins to build with interesting insights.

All of the stars symbolizing turning points are discovered to be placed in life's challenges and not in life's celebrations.  It is through our struggles that we learn and gain wisdom.  It is from here that we alter our course and change directions.

Harshness can crack life wide open, leaving the sense that nothing will ever be the same again; but when the challenge is faced allowing light to enter the wound, healing and empowerment follow.