Closure Precedes Spring

“Life moves on and so should we”

---Spencer Johnson

WHO MOVED MY CHEESE

I chose a book from my shelf to share some time with my favorite author.  When I opened the book, an envelope fell out.  I recognized it immediately from years ago.  While attending a spring ritual for a group of women, we all wrote down 'seeds' we wanted to plant in spring, hoping to see them blossom in the summer and reap rewards in the fall.  We took the small slips of paper with our intentions written down and safely sealed them in envelopes.  Our outcomes would be shared during the forthcoming winter ritual.  Apparently, we never remained focused nor experienced closure.

Gently I opened the yellowed envelope, wondering what 'seeds' I would find.  The slips of paper were still folded and dropped into my lap.  One by one I read them all.  With pleasure, I made a small pile of 'seeds' I definitely had sowed and harvested much to my pleasure.  There was one strip of paper that didn't resonate with me at all.  I could not imagine what my abbreviated words were supposed to mean.  The last piece of paper I lingered over the longest.  It was an intention I definitely did not complete, even though I know I remember working very hard at it.  It was personal in nature and held great meaning for me at that time, but now  a few years had passed and I realized it was not realistic for me at all.

The successful goals were completed as they had something specifically to do with me.  They were successful due to my creative drive and spirit.  The goal left incomplete even though effort was made, was dependent upon another person's actions.  Clearly, we are more successful when we are focused on changing our selves and not dependent upon changing another.

I then realized all of my excitement about spring coming had over shadowed closure needed for those made last spring.  We must finish before we renew.  We must let go before we begin.  We must let die so we can be reborn.  We must clean up the left over clutter before it becomes a weight in our unconscious minds.

I sat in my chair being very mindful of what  'seeds' I needed to remove from my garden.  I needed to not only weed out the weeds, but to remove aspirations that would never grow.  Sad as that seems, we must face that some things just aren't meant to be.  We must place our love and energy into what we know we can grow.  Closure  precedes spring.

Spiritual Team



The purpose of our journey on this precious earth is now to align our personalities with our souls.  It is to create harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for Life.  It is to grow spiritually.  This is our new evolutionary pathway.  The old pathway ~ pursuing the ability to manipulate and control ~ no longer works.  It now produces only violence and destruction.

~Gary Zukav~


Years ago, I had a friend who was always kind, thoughtful, and happy.  I mean always.  She was sincere not at all false in her efforts.  Everyone loved being in her presence.  I had the opportunity to spend a length of time  with her, and I knew I would see her true nature.  I was amazed to discover that 24/7, she was as heartfelt as anyone I had ever met.  I asked her, "Marge, don't you ever get tired of being happy?"  She looked at me confused as she clearly didn't know what I was talking about. 

My continuously happy friend Marge was intimately connected with Divinity.  She was completely integrated with body, mind, and spirit.  When puzzled over something, she would pray, meditate or contemplate until the issue was resolved.  She never reacted out of anger or disappointment.  She felt every emotion I ever felt, but unlike me, she experienced life like she was a part of a spiritual team.  She did not face life alone.

We have more choice than we are willing to believe.  When we wake up do we choose to be grumpy or happy?  Are we selective with our kindness?  Do we spend time doing what we love or what we rather not do? 

We always have resources at hand, but we do not always use them.  We have hunches, insights, and gut feelings about decisions we are about to make.  Do we pay attention to our intuition?  If we are so totally disconnected from the God within, we may never hear the guidance available confirming that we are never alone.



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!

Taking Up Residence ...

If there is any human tragedy,

there is only one, and it occurs

when we forget who we are

and remain silent

while a stranger takes up residence

inside our skin.

 THE GLASS RAINBOW

James Lee Burke

It is raining yet again this morning.  I tell myself that the rain is nurturing the flowers, trees, and gardens.  I repeat to myself that animals need the water for bathing, playing, and drink.  I selfishly wonder why it can't rain all night while I sleep and be sunny during the day when I have things to do.

So I sit in my comfy chair and read my morning meditations while listening to the birds happily chirping at the feeders.  I make an entry in my journal realizing that my attitude is not one of gratitude.  There is a heaviness weighing on my heart which will make for a very long day.

With any transition, whether it is relocating, career change, marriage, birth or divorce, there are blessings as well as losses.  Blessings are easy to embrace, but not so much with the losses.  Losses need to be identified as such especially if they are not tangible.  Once recognized, support can be established which brings balance back into the experience of change.

So as I assess my losses, I know that I must create more support in my life.  I miss the insights, encouragement, and presence of friends.  Action must be taken to establish new friends, yoga classes, energy work, and connection with other writers.  Managing my time better would help as well.  Tending to the yard early of the morn (when it is not raining), unpacking some boxes, and then reserving time for exploring new options.

If my issues are not recognized nor addressed, my energy will continue to be drained.  My spirit too easily can become a mere flicker of flame rather than the bright light I am meant to be.  Without appropriate interaction with others, it is too easy to "remain silent while a stranger takes up residence inside our skin."

This Amazing Day

I thank you God for this amazing day,

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees,

and for the blue dream of sky

and for everything which is natural,

which is infinite,

which is yes.

e. e. cummings

In the morning, as you open your eyes,

give thanks for all of the gifts

that will arrive to you on this day. 

While you eat your lunch,

let your heart fill with love,

allowing the love to spill completely through you.

Before you end your day,

jot down three things

you are grateful for.

Good days don't just happen.  We must carry a positive intention, support visions of happiness, and be grateful for all that is bestowed.  All is good!