Saturday, November 10, 2018

Energy Musings.  Here. Now.

This Weekend.

Theres a chaotic energy whipping through the trees today, stirring things up, moving them around.  In some cases, movement/stirring is a good thing.  In some cases, not so good.  A favorite astrologer of mine likes to talk about loss vs gain in astrology (think retrogrades) not from an absolute perspective as “good or bad” but all relational.  For instance, if you lose a beloved pet, that can be seen as a negative. But if you lose weight to get healthier, that can be a positive.  Loss, though often considered negative, can also be what is necessary and desired.

This is true of everything that is out there, which makes the complexity of our world quite apparent and calls for the need for true discernment in all situations.

Lately, there has been a serious lack of subtle discernment.  While the main “message” of an event (for instance) may be positive, without full understanding of the energetics of language (in particular) we can find ourselves in a deep mess though that was never our initial intention.

And let me tell you, there are those of us out there who are constantly “cleaning up” energetically after such messes and see the implications that others choose not to see.

The request here is to pay attention, and then to pay attention even more deeply still.  How do we do that?

Come in to stillness.  Come in to silence. Rest here a while.  Let go of all attachments.  Let go of all beliefs.  Let go of all triggers.  Let go of all judgement.

No.  REALLY.  ALL of them.

This is where we fall short.  We let go of the things that we want to let go of, but hold on (sometimes even more intensely) to the places we think or believe in.  And we somehow fall in to the very dangerous and false assumption that “if only all those other people would let go of x,y,z…. then the world would truly change”.  If you notice ANY part of you beginning to externalize or blame in this way, take a GIANT step back.  And repeat the steps above.  Clear your internal slate.

So much is happening in the energetic field right now.  Change wants to come.  But those who are initiating that change for the betterment of all beings everywhere are still BLIND to the places where they are actually holding back that very same change they wish to see fully realized.  They think its others that are holding back the change, and fail to realize it is actually them.

All I can say is this: be honest about your blind spots.  Look for them.  Ask others to help you.  You’ll know what they are when you are triggered.  First, you have to recognize when in fact you are triggered (or listen if someone else tells you you are!!).  Then look there.  Whats behind the trigger? Thats the place for you to work.  When there are no more triggers, you come in to the true ‘neutral zone’ and then… only then… will you see the path forward that has been waiting for you, for us, for all this time.

From the depths of my heart and the trueness of my being, I offer you this today, this weekend, and moving forward.

Song of the Day: High Hopes by Panic at the Disco

Advertisement

Saturday, Aug 18th, 2018

Energy Musings. Here. Now.

The Weekend Report.

Your Authentic self shines behind the clouded sky.  A blanket of grey, like a dusty lens, covers the clarity you seek.  Its only a matter of cleaning a small place to see through, a before you can get a glimpse of the work of your soul.  But when we clear off just one small spot in the midst of  a large dusty surface, it can quickly become consumed again.

This weekend, find a moment to cleanse an area of  your awareness.  There are many ways to do this:  meditation, coaching, yoga, QiGong, art.  You might choose where you go and what you do to “clear your mind”.  From that “clear mind” place, pay attention to what you notice.  This is but a partial view what and who you really are.  And an important starting point.

The question is:  will you remember it the next day? And the day after?   or rather:  HOW will you remember it the next day?  And the day after?!

This is a place for you to be creative and playful.  Write it in a journal, compose a song, make a picture, call your best friend, put sticky notes on your computer.  Find something you do every day anyhow, and add a reminder to the activity.  For example:  I light a candle each evening before going to bed. If I put a beautiful note right next to my candle with my insights, I will see and read it every night.  Then remembering becomes part of my evening ritual.

Eventually, you will be ready to clear more of the lens, take a bigger look: see more, be more.    For now, start with a peek, and let it in.

Song of the Day:  Johnny Nash.  I Can See Clearly Now.

 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Energy Musings.  Here. Now.

The energy of this moment.

What happens today, when you stop.  Just stop.  Like right now.  STOP!

Stop doing, stop trying, stop moving.  Really stop.  How long does that “stop” take?  As you ‘stop’, what parts of you have stopped?  what parts of you keep going?  Did you really stop?

Stop the excess.  The extra.  The “more than”.  Stop the thoughts, the mindlessness, the triggers.  Stop being lost.  Stop creating suffering.  Stop worrying.  Stop projecting.  Stop.

Then ask: What is essential?  What never stops?  What is vital to your being?  What is vital to this Earth?  What is vital to life as we know it?

We stop so that we can listen, see, hear, feel.  So we can notice.  So we can pay attention.  So we can create IN-tention.  We stop so that when we “go” we go forward with clarity, connection, calm, centeredness and true discernment.  We stop so can remember who we are, why we are here and what are work is.

Sometimes, we think of a stop as a “pause” or a “time in”.  But really, that pause must be a full on, no faking, 100 % STOP.

I remember once a cop pulled me over at a stop sign.  He noted that I came to a sort of “rolling stop” but not a full stop, and he kindly and patiently explained the difference.  A Full Stop is just that: giving your wheels the full amount of time to truly and completely stop.  And then waiting (like a full breath!) before you start again.   And when you start again, it feels like you are starting from the the very beginning.   Like when you first start your car in the morning. How long had I been mostly coming to a “rolling stop” at stop signs and not even noticed?  After that, I paid much more attention to stop signs.  I was grateful to this police officer for calling my attention to a place I had lost awareness.  Now, when I come to a stop sign, (especially the ones back in quiet neighborhoods where I find its easiest to sort of kind of roll to a stop-ish, and keep going because its clear no ones around…) I really, truly STOP.  This is my practice.  And it feels different.  I notice what it means to stop and what it feels like to start again from a place of really stopping.

When did we lose connection to what it really feels like to stop?

Today, re-connect yourself to the experience of truly stopping.  Throughout your day, as you remember to, whenever and wherever you are.

Stop.  Look.  Listen.  Then see how the very next moment unfolds for you.

Word of the Day:  Stop!

Song of the Day: Stop and Smell the Roses by Mac Davis

Thursday, April 5th, 2018

Energy Musings. Here. Now.

Today!

How are you?  No…. really.  Move inside yourself, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and ask yourself “how are you?”  “how am I?”.  And then Listen.  Listen to your Self.  Listen the way you would listen to a dear friend.  With patience and true care.  With all your attention focussed on the listening.

At first you might get the stuff on the surface, the stress from work, the business of your days, the tiredness in your body, etc.  This, you probably already know, but still…. listen.  Then just keep asking “how are you?”  like a mantra repeated and just keep waiting, listening, patiently.

Ask your bones, Ask your tissue, Ask your cells…. How are YOU?  Ask you organs, your blood…. How are you?  Ask you mind (be ready for an earful!)….. How are you?  Ask you emotions, feelings, sensations….. How are you?  Ask your eyes, ears, mouth, nose, throat….. How are you?

Ask and ask again.  Without any expectations. Without any need to change anything.  Without any necessity to do anything. Just to listen and ask and listen and ask and listen and ask.  How are you?

Ask you breath…. How are you? And let the breath show you the breadth of its wisdom and knowing. Let it move through every part of you and reveal the inner landscape with its keen awareness.  Listen.  Listen. Listen.  Listen to the breath.  Really get to know, How you are.  And then keep asking, throughout the day:  How are you now?  How are you Now?  How are you now?  And notice, notice the shifting or rigid landscape that is your experience.  Notice what it means to be tuned in to you.  Notice and love and hold and be patient and kind.

How are you now?

 

Song of the Day:  Hello, I love you. by the Doors

Monday, March 5th, 2018

Energy Musings. Here. Now.

Today!

Neutrality is key.  How do you maintain a state of equilibrium especially in challenging times?  It is one thing to practice accessing this inner space on your own, and quite another to put this into use through your day, your life, your interactions.

Of course, we all have to start where we are at.  Begin with the breath, begin with finding a quiet place, begin with a class or a book or an app.  Begin by connected to this state of neutrality. What does it feel like to truly be ‘neutral’?  How does your body respond?  Your breath?  Your being?  Is it a familiar comfortable place, or does it put you on edge?  Notice what is here as you practice coming into a state of equanimity.

But remember to include these skills and tools as you move off your cushion into the world.  Asking the same question with the same non-judgmental sense. Pay special attention to your home, and those  closest to you.  While sometimes this may feel the most challenging place to make change, your honest reflection will give you a true sense of the results of your practice.  Without judgement, be willing to see what is here and where you are caught up.

Neutrality is up this month as a theme.  And this week, we look at ourselves, our relationship to our inner life and our interactions with our loved ones.  Starting here, we begin to cast our “neutrality net” in ever widening circles.

Word of the Day:  ataraxia. noun.  a state of freedom from emotional disturbance and anxiety;tranquillity.

Song of the Day: Equanimity by Ryan Stewart.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Energy Musings.  Here. Now.

Today!

Happy March!  This new month transitions us from the depths of Winter to the renewal of Spring.  From deep within the Earth, questions are calling:

What are you masking? What are you hiding? What are your “best intentions” that are really concealing other motives?

You’ll be asked to search deeply and to look honestly at these places.  Its especially easy right now to skim this process and miss the point.

You might try asking it this way:  Who’s approval are you seeking right now most?  Who do you most want to impress?  How do you judge your own success?  What are the invisible ‘inner’ rewards and results that nobody else knows about?  Are you OK with accepting this quality of reward over external fame, success or wealth?

Not that you need sacrifice one over the other.  But this Spring, with its customary burst of creative energy, you will be given a remarkable opportunity to align yourself with your greatest potential…. IF you are able to let go of the need to please others, to seek external reward, to impress your peers or teachers or parents.  And, as often happens, you might THEN  find yourself in that place of “success” you have long been chasing after all.

But there are not shortcuts to this process and certainly no trickery involved.

Be honest. Be real.  Look yourself in the mirror.  And be willing to see your own reflection.

 

phrase of the day: ‘lay it on the line‘

song of the day:  Secrets, by One Republic.

Feb 2, 2018

Energy Musings. Here. Now. 

Today!

The recent Full Moon/Eclipse unearthed some deep dark places both personally and collectively.  How have you been navigating this darkness?

The beauty of the full moon is its radiant light, so remember to bring in the light today, this week and as you continue to feel the ripples from the last lunar event (which you likely were feeling before the event as well!).  The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as it also “candlemas” today, and whatever your personal belief system, the call to light & bless candles is completely aligned with the energy of the moment.

Light your candles with intention and focus, not just a strike of the match.  Invision that light coming in to the dark places in YOU and with its luminosity, gently creating vision and awareness.  Keep conversation to a minimum today and over the next few days, as the volatile nature of what has been ‘unearthed’ lends itself to triggered places in others (and ourselves) so language is tricky right now.  Even the best intentioned wording can cause sudden harm. Practicing being silent is a form of deep listening and particularly beneficial right now.

Resist the urge to be loud, opinionated, passionate, boisterous, etc this weekend.  Remember:  timing is everything.  And the alignment through discernment to know when something is appropriate or not is key.

Silence.  Prayers. Candles. Stillness.  These are the things this day and weekend are calling for.  Find your own way to honor these needs.

Peace.

 

Word of the Day:   Coruscate is a verb that means to sparkle or give off reflected flashes of light. Think of the way the little mirrors on a disco ball coruscate as the ball twirls, making the dance floor sparkle.

Song of the Day:  The Sound of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel

Friday, January 26, 2018

Energy Musings.  Here. Now.

This Weekend and coming Week!

Unplug

In the next week leading up to a very potent full moon closing off January, its a great time to unplug and tune IN.  This could mean literally, stay off the devices and anything that connects you to the internet or set strong boundaries around this area and stick with them.

Your passions, particularly strong held ones that have been suppressed (perhaps necessarily) will be bubbling to the surface so watch your words carefully and keep email to a minimum.  Theres a danger here of your intention being easily misread.  Rather, take this burst of conviction to a creative outlet:  dance, draw, sing, play, write.  Allow it a creative voice rather than an argumentative one and you’ll be setting the right path forward.

As issues come up on your radar and those around you get triggered,  keep a light heart and an open mind.  And remember the powerful effect of the Full Moon as the time approaches.  The Super (appears larger than usual) Blue (2nd full moon in a month) Blood (lunar eclipse) Wolf (traditional name of Jan moon) Moon.  Phew.

Are you ready for it?

Song of the Day:  I am Woman by Helen Reddy

Wednesday, Jan 24, 2018

Energy Musings.  Here. Now. 

Today: Lost Horizons.  

What are your Horizons? The things you look to? Dream about?  Wish for?  What fills your heart when you gaze at the open sky? at the sea? What manifests for you in that place where the Sky touches the Earth?

Right now, “horizons” are lost, in the dizzying distractions of our world and lives.  You may not have even noticed.  Most people haven’t.  Marching stoically forward with artificial intent thinking they are ‘progressing’ but really they are just on auto pilot.  How do we stop this communal madness?

Its actually quite simple:  just stop.  pause.  Look around in every direction.  See everything from a new perspective. Take in all the information around you instead of in just one direction.  Maybe even seek out a place where you can physically gaze out upon the Horizon.  Be with it.  Breathe with it.  Surrender to it.  And then …. notice.

Where are you?  What have you been doing?  Whats happening around you?  This simple act of pausing and noticing wipes everything clean so you can hopefully see more clearly.  This cleansing is not a once in a while thing, but is part of our work right here  right now.  Actually, in every moment.  But as many times as you can remember will work as a starting point!

One at a time we can shift from being “lost” to “finding our way”.  With patience, persistence and compassion for ourselves and those around us.  If you’re feeling the confusion of lost horizons right now, its time to take some action to bring yourself back on your rightful path.

Word of the Day:   Beyul.  (Tibetan: སྦས་ཡུལ, Wylie: sbas-yul) are hidden valleys often encompassing hundreds of square kilometers, which Padmasambhava blessed as refuges.   They are places where physical and spiritual worlds overlap and Tantric practice effectiveness increases with multiple perception dimensions.^[1]  Buddhist texts indicate beyul are discovered when the planet is approaching destruction and the world becomes too corrupt for spiritual practice. 

Song of the Day: Beyond the Blue Horizon by Lou Christie

 

Tuesday, Nov. 7th, 2017

 

 

Energy Musings. Here. Now.

Today!

Take a deep breath in, close your eyes, listen to the sound of your breath.  Spend a moment here, just being with what is.  What “IS”, is always the breath.  Nothing less, nothing more.  How deeply can you connect with your breath?  The flowing river of your Be-Ing?  The breath is both your physical presence here & now AND it is your universal, formless, nature.  Understanding this helps us to cope, release, shed and let go during difficult times.

Now is one of those times.

Look outside, at the colors, the movement, the patterns around you.  Connect with something other than the news, politics, “stories” today.  Connect with something deeper, richer, longer lasting than any of these outlets can offer you.  Connect with the Earth and with your Life Force.  The breath will lead you to both.  Take off your shoes, play in the leaves, light a fire.  Or simply be still.

Today, even if just for a moment, Just Be.

Drink in the nourishment of this sacred place of Be-ing.  Restore your Self.

 

Song of the Day:  Stillness of the Day by Paul Adams