Yoda Wisdom

Movies and stories, throughout time, have inspired us, entertained us and provided us with gems of wisdom from those who have walked various paths in Life.  When you read stories or watch movies (of course, be selective!), look for the gems - even if there are only a few phrases here and there, you will find these gems to hold deeper things.

*****************************************************************

Yoda, in Star Wars (various episodes):

 Yoda:   A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.
*****************************************************************

Yoda: That place ... is strong with the dark side of the Force.  A domain of evil it is.  In you must go.

Luke: What's in there?

Yoda:  Only what you take with you.   Your weapons ... you will not need them.       
*******************************************************************

Wars not make one great.

Use your feelings, you must.

A Jedi uses the force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.

*******************************************************************

Luke:  Is the dark side stronger?

Yoda:  No ... no ... no ...  Quicker, easier, more seductive.
********************************************************************

Attachment leads to jealousy.  The shadow of greed that is.

Size matters not.  Look at me.  Judge me by my size, do you?

**********************************************************************

Luke:  I don't believe it.

Yoda:  That is why you fail.

*********************************************************************

Control, control.  You must learn control.

Fear is the path to the dark side ... fear leads to anger ... anger leads to hate ... hate leads to suffering.

Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.

Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.

Try not.   Do.   Or do not.  There is no try.

You must feel the Force around you.  Here between you ... me ... the tree ... the rock ... everywhere!

***********************************************************************

Hard to see the dark side is.  

***********************************************************************

A Jedi's strength flows from the Force.  But beware of the dark side.  Anger ... fear ... aggression.  The dark side of the Force are they.  Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight.

A little more knowledge might light our way.

Death is a natural part of Life.

Reach out and sense the Force around you.

Through the Force, things you will see.  Other places.  The future .. the past.   Old friends long gone.

The fear of loss is the path to the dark side.

My ally is the Force.  And a powerful ally it is.  Life creates it; makes it grow.  Its energy surrounds us and binds us.

********************************************************************

Luminous beings are we ... not this crude matter.

********************************************************************
Always in motion is the future.

Pass on what you have learned.

May the Force be with you.
*********************************************************************


Yoda Wisdom .... Stories? Myth?

Ah the stuff of stories... the very stuff we are made of ... As this Year closes off ... and the Winter Solstice brings the Return of the Light ... The days are getting slowly longer now ... Dream on ... dream big if you wish ... May 2012 be a Year full of Light  ... the very light of which you are.

What is Normal?

Some of you will have already walked down this road before.  This blog will then simply be a reminder to you.  The reminder is to avoid judgment, labelling others, gossip, comparison and work to be extra-ordinary ... and to look closer at what normal really is.  It is also a reminder to practice a larger scope of acceptance for the differences, gifts, talents and Way of viewing things.  We are richer due to our diversity; working together, we can create wondrous things.

In these times, we have a labelling disorder!!!!  Perhaps we can come up with a label for this and place it on those who tend to label others excessively and even inappropriately.  Then we can place this into the big book of labels!  By the way, this book is getting to the point where any one of us having a difficult time could be found in its pages ... with an appropriate medication (often prescribed by psychiatrists and doctors) to go with it.   Have you ever seen this book?  The DSM ... Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Published by the American Psychiatric Association ... APA.  There is much written about the pros and cons of this book and its use, so you will still find many people using it (incorrectly and unnecessarily at times) and others who claim it is creating much havoc in the arena of counselling, psychiatry and the general public (school system too).  It is not the purpose of this blog to focus on this ... just for your general awareness ... look into it more deeply if you wish ... we are here today to go over the basics about what we consider normal and how this can create unintended consequences ... specifically in the way we view things and people. 

As we could write a book about this topic, this blog can only a peek into this area to bring some light into it.  I like to encourage people to look more deeply in any areas they find interesting or necessary to explore deeper for any reason ... especially if they have been labelled or someone they know has ... really do your work ... explore all options and all possible sources of information and ways of looking at things ... finally, trust in your inner sense.

My heart especially goes out to the children; many truly gifted (albeit in their own way) children are labelled due to the fact that their talents and interests lie in areas not valued as equally important in a society and school system still mostly ruled by logic and linguistic aspects.  There are other talents many of these children have that often go unnoticed.  There are many examples of this in the stories of adults who were once labelled in various ways and who are very successful today.

Ever consider what normal really means?  In statistics, a normal distribution is a bell-shaped curve .... once calculated, when one looks at this curve, the majority of the people studied fall in the center of this curve.  Let's say it is IQ or the intelligence quotient that is studied.  If you were to look at the normal distribution of this, most people would fall into the center of this curve and so, being taught this, the average person now says that it is normal to be a person who falls into this category.  Well, according to the numbers, and their definition ... it is.

Ok, but what does all this really mean?   Are we to strive to be normal?  Did you know that it is getting to the point that it is normal to see an obese person ... child?  Is this what we should strive to be?  It is normal to find fast food restaurants in every city.  Is it healthy for us to be eating there?  In some countries it is normal for a husband to beat and abuse his wife - even to kill her if she commits adultery.  In certain areas (and you might be surprised at the illiteracy rate in North America!) it is normal to be illiterate.  Check out the numbers yourself!

It is normal to find highly unconscious people in every neighborhood - people who think they are awake just because they are out of bed ... while they feel, see and experience very little of reality ... living from their necks up ... shallow chest breathers ... armoured with tension bands all over their body which can be easily read by a trained eye..... and over-loaded by stressors which they find unable to cope with (how many people feel this is just normal and part of life, as they go on pretending all is well in their world? ... you might be surprised ... or not!) ... loaded with caffeine, sugar, alcohol, overall unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, and other stimulants ... did you know this is normal?  Are you one of these normal people?  We don't have a label for these people, because it is normal!!!  Yet they are ill in a different way ... a way we do not label yet.  Does this sound harsh?  It is what it is.  These things would easily fall into a beautiful standard normal bell curve, and we can all go on in this way feeling very good that we are normal!

Did you know it could be considered normal to be anxious, depressed ... neurotic in some way and on some sort of medication these days?  Ask any counsellor working in the community how many of their clients are or have been on some sort of mood altering prescription.  The percentage is very high in many communities all over the world ... so high that it is common to find people coming in asking for these mood altering medications since they have heard so much about them.  I am one of these counsellors and have experienced these things.  Will this be the new norm?  Isn't it already so?

How the statistics are arranged in order to determine this is one thing (how the standard curve came to mean what it does to us...not the subject here)...  IQ tests have had their share of debates to contend with -  in terms of what it is we are really testing with them and whether the Intelligence we are measuring really should be given the measure of attention we have given it - particularly in the school systems.   Other researchers have asked ... Do these IQ results always relate to success in life? (which is another subjective area)  ... How I define my successfulness in life may be different than the way you define yours... who is to say which is better or correct ... or the proper measure for success in general?  Yet look around us and see that it is so. 

We are told what intelligence is - based on scientific and statistical mathematical results based on tests.  Who designed these tests?  What measure of intelligence is used?  Who determines that this is the standard by which we should be governing ourselves and our schools and the future of our planet? ... which one can see by analyzing the specific questions on these tests ... is this what we consider intelligence?  Research alternative philosophies on education and fringe science ... many other ways of looking at education and the developing human exist - one with much more wisdom and given very little credibility in mainstream thought in most places.

Are there other forms of intelligence and ways of being in this world which we overlook and lack appreciating?  Are tests used to place labels on people set up to consider these other (and also extremely useful) forms of intelligence?  If not, are these other forms of intelligence de-valued?  Look around you for the result of the answer to that question; avoid accepting status quo without understanding that which so much value has been placed on.   Know and understand deeply what you value... or be honest and say `I do not really Know; however, I am learning more about that now'. 

Rather than accept labels, look beyond things and stand on the edge of new discovery ... say to yourself .. there is more we have yet to learn ...  We do not know it all - at one point in history, people were killed for professing that the world was round ... NO - IT IS FLAT,  they yelled.   But they were wrong ... I tell you now .... we do the same today but in different arenas!!!

If we look at what is valued... first on an individual level, then on a family level, then on a community level, then on a global level, we will see where we are at, really.  Are we really civilized .... a peaceful species at ease and in harmony with each other and the planet on which we live?  What if we totalled all the people on the planet and certain characteristics ... what would be normal then?   Would you want to be considered normal?

Consider less about being normal and accepted by the general population.  The general population is normal.   Consider more about being YOUR potential ... working to improve yourself always ... working to be extra-ordinary.  Set your own standards, using wisdom.  Be your own person.  If someone wants to place a label on you, instead of taking it on, notice that they likely have a label or two of their own to contend with (which they may not even be aware of ... they may be too busy seeing what is wrong in others).

Everyone has areas in which they can improve ... whether spiritual, physical, emotional or mental etc!  Walk away, label-less ... if you have areas to work on, take on the Work ... not the label.

 

Kung fu and Chi Kung as a Healing Art

Though many have heard of Kung fu, I am always surprised at how few people know that this is a spiritual and healing art as well.  During casual conversations, the ideas people have continue to surprise me.  Yes, it is better known, perhaps, as a combative art and many enter into tournaments in order to demonstrate physical skill and technique, but this is a surface view.  To be fair, it also does depend on the teacher.  If a teacher only knows the combat and fitness aspects, then that is what he/she will teach and present.  Perhaps a teacher is not willing or interested in sharing other aspects of this art; this can be true as well.  While there are those who do present the healing and spiritual aspects of this art, it is not yet mainstream.  Nevertheless, Kung fu and Chi Kung are definitely healing arts as well as paths one can walk to enlightenment.  In today's blog we will introduce some basic points about how Kung fu and Chi Kung focus on healing.

Spine: Central Axis

The spine is one key of focus in the art of Kung fu and Chi Kung as I was taught it.   This would not be surprising, as Kung fu was influenced by Yoga ... certainly, in all true spiritual arts which contain fundamentals of healing and energy work, it would be vital for the spine to be part of the Work.  It is, after all, the denser manifested form of the major main flow of energy called the Central Axis ... or Main Central channel ... among other names found in Yogic and Oriental Traditional Medicine.  Working this major vertical flow in our system contributes to the balance and harmony of all other energy flows in the body and their subsequent organ manifestations.  Maintaining the balance and harmony of the flows of energy in our system contributes to health, mental/emotional balance, vitality, peak performance in all the arenas of our life, and the ability to progress spiritually.

We have heard much about the spine in terms of our physical health.  In some chiropractic offices you will find a spinal chart with references to the organs and systems in the body that the vertebrae refer to.  This is due to the fact that chiropractors understand that spinal alignment contributes to overall body health.  Osteopaths are also aware of the importance of the spine to overall health and well-being.


When experiencing various physical ailments, movement arts are extremely beneficial and there is a real science behind them - we benefit from generations of refinement and deep understanding of the energetic aspect of our being.  The plow and shoulderstand asanas are a useful example from Yoga, here.   When someone is experiencing tightness in the chest, as with those who suffer with asthma, they will find a lot of congestion in the upper region of the back and will find it challenging to do those asanas (postures).  If one is even a little experienced in Yoga and/or other movement arts and also suffers from asthma, one can develop sensitivity to the point where one easily recognizes build up of blockage in this upper thoracic area of the spine and when one attempts to do the plow or shoulderstand one may find that it is particularly difficult on days when one's energy has more blockage than usual in this specific area.  Spending time doing these asanas on those days brings amazing relief, releasing the blockage in this area and bringing relief from related symptoms ... all medication free and natural!!

In Kung fu we also do the plow and other postures which work the lung meridian and open up the chest and back areas: the crane and air (out of the five animals and elements we work with), is the animal and element most associated with the lungs in our movements.   I say most due to the fact that all systems and organs are interrelated and determining root causes is not always black and white.  For example, it is important to have a healthy intestinal life for more than one reason ... it is very likely that if there are asthmatic/allergy issues in the body that the intestines (and one's diet) require attention ... or that if one has skin issues that the lungs/large intestines are somehow being affected.  We also must not overlook the impact of family issues and mental/emotional stress.  Environmental influences are also vital: quality of air and water one is ingesting as well as pollutants to name but a few.  The art of Kung fu and Chi Kung is holistic - the whole person is considered: body, mind/emotions and spirit ... and the whole system is looked at as a cooperating unit which is interdependent upon its many infrastructures working together in harmony.

Other than working the central axis, we work with other keys as well: flexibility; meditative Chi Kung movements (though movement in general can be meditative even if done fast if that is where one's attention is); working with acupressure points on the body via movement; deep stances; working with the hands and limbs to free up the flows of energies via particular movements and to strengthen muscles, ligaments and tendons (also relating to the meridians and health). Kung fu and Chi Kung can be static or dynamic in movement - both equally effective and used at different times for different purposes.

Doing Kung fu and Chi Kung is so useful in recovering from illness, maintaining health and as a preventative maintenance program. It is also an incredible art for the inspired athletic type who is already healthy and wishes to remain so. Many athletic individuals enjoy exploring the more physical side of the art; within it lie wonderful practices which can bring the body to peak condition.

Those interested in a spiritual path also find this art to be a lifelong path of development spiritually. There are so many benefits of this art on all levels of Being. This is why I am so passionate about it ... one can walk the path through life with its many benefits and explore its different aspects and still not be able to master it in this lifetime - that is the richness it holds.


In the system of Kung fu and Chi Kung that we were taught, there are five animals and five elements studied.  Tiger, crane, leopard, snake and dragon are the animals; earth, air, wood, water and fire are the respective elements.  With consistent Work over time, we study these animals and elements in our movements and as energies which are applicable to our lives mentally/emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Some basic points about the art:

-- There is a heavy focus on breath work and energy movement which is a major key in healing and growth on other levels

-- The art is circular in nature ... also holding significant reference in the natural world as well as spiritually

-- The movements work all parts of the body ... and target all major meridians, flows of energy and organs in our system ... bringing the mind/emotions, body and spirit into balance and harmony

-- Over time, one can free one's body from tensions and obstructions to energy flows and one feels freer and has more energy as one moves about in daily life ... the body is fit, strong, fluid, flexible and healthy.  

-- When one progresses and Works on the path, studying and applying its deeper aspects, one releases many non-essential layers covering up the essence of who and what one really is ... this is an important part of healing

-- One has the opportunity to break unhealthy conditioning and other patterns which prevent one from reaching one's potential in life.  Mentally and emotionally one can attain harmony, balance and control over the Self. 

-- One can work the art according to what one wishes to focus on

-- Mirrors of self-reflection are ever present if one is willing to look ... this is a major key to healing and wellness - often overlooked.  

Our organs and various systems are interrelated

  

Holistic approaches search for the root cause of the issue which can rid the system of the illness and symptoms entirely ... these approaches realize that the root cause may originate in a completely different area of the body (as well as  considering mind/emotions or spirit).  They also employ natural substances found in nature and not fabricated in a laboratory; for example,  many practitioners seek out training in the use of herbs, proper diet and essential oils in order to provide professional care and quality advice in the holistic arts.


Our mental/emotional states also directly affect the physiology of our bodies and our subsequent health and wellness ... even leading to and contributing to major diseases and illness; this point is often overlooked, but must be understood and applied in order for healing to be complete and sustained.


A traditional approach may take a while to reverse and heal completely if one has suffered with a condition which is now chronic; however, this approach is wiser as the entire person is brought to higher levels of wellness and is not further burdening their system with the additional well known effects of prescription medications (which are often suppressive of symptoms and not dealing with the root cause),  and sometimes unnecessary surgeries ... when it may not be required.   We are not saying that modern medicine is never useful ... please do not misinterpret.  It would be wonderful to see the two methods converge ... taking the best practices from both ... but this is not where we're at globally yet (though there are signs that there is movement in this direction in different places), so we must develop wisdom and discernment and Know for ourselves which approach is best and when.   

Transform

Kung fu and Chi Kung use the body and the breath as tools in moving the energies in the body in ways which bring about harmony and balance and thus can be called self-healing arts.

Transformation through walking the path of the Art of Kung fu and Chi Kung Life is possible.  Engage in the journey and discover this and so much more for yourself.

KNOWING and Knowledge, Beliefs and Techniques

When taught and done ... applying core principles inherent in all true spiritual paths ...  Kung fu, Chi Kung, and Yoga are spiritual arts.  One can walk these paths to spiritual enlightenment and continual growth in all aspects of Being.

To KNOW  versus  knowledge, beliefs  ... techniques 

 Going out for more seminars or more techniques is not the answer to further growth - which many people mistake for being more advanced in an art.  We are better off being able to apply what we KNOW by BEING it and moving into the depths of a teaching and one's self.  Avoid skipping over this point lightly.

There is a vast difference between knowledge and Being ... so going out for more and more information and knowledge and being able to repeat it does not equate a higher level of Being or Knowing.  This is equally true in the field of martial arts.  One can master many techniques, forms, weaponry etc. and still be on the surface (or external) in one's training - even at peak physical ability and capacity for movement.  The same can be said for Yoga ... or any art.  On the surface two individuals may appear to be doing the same thing - or that one is able to do more than the other; however, there may be big differences between these individuals on other levels.   Learn to distinguish this difference for your self through your own training and experience. 
  

This is not to say that knowledge is not a part of the path ... nor that going out to learn other techniques or methods is useless.    For some of us, this is an important and valuable part of our journey of coming to understand certain things (particularly the philosophies, various areas of technical specialty and discovering the interconnection between all genuine paths) ... it can also add fun and spice to our journey and is an adventure in itself.   What I am stressing is that knowledge often is confused with genuine level of Being of a person. 

It is interesting to note, here, that as one Works, one's level of Being genuinely changes, one begins to KNOW things without having to strive for the knowledge ... it comes as a result of experience and developing wisdom.   This no one can take from you and since you KNOW, you are in a better position ... there is no need to argue over what you know for you have become it.  Knowledge is different in that if we take it on without really knowing it, it is merely another belief.  

How do you know what you know?   Are you simply repeating what you were taught - or have you really become it and made it your own KNOWING?   Do you really KNOW?  Is your knowledge base and belief system your own or were you simply brought up into it and now believe the same things others before you have believed without ever embarking on the journey to discovery and true Knowing yourself?  Useful questions!   Ask this of all things you think you know ... of your beliefs, values, priorities, philosophy of life.  Make a list of these things and ask these questions.  Who taught me this?  Is this something I simply believe?   

 If you do not KNOW (and to KNOW is a challenge to describe with words alone), then you must say ... this is what I believe according to what I was taught or read or whatever.   If that is the case, then allow yourself to be open to new possibilities, because a belief is not Being or KNOWING.   To have faith is a wonderful thing ... when applied; however, it is not KNOWING.  Those who KNOW do not need faith because they KNOW.  For those who do not KNOW, faith carries them through ... perhaps due to a belief or even a feeling they may have that something is true ... it is still not KNOWING ... which is a higher level thing.   Faith and belief can contribute to miracles and other phenomenon, and in themselves are not good or bad; we are merely looking at the difference between KNOWING and belief and faith ...  this is another topic entirely. 

In order to truly KNOW something, one must BE it.  So we embark ... engage in the journey and Work to raise our level of Being through continual, consistent and disciplined Work.    

Path of the Warrior(ess), Natural Healer/Physician & Priestess (Monk)

The spiritual path I walk is the path of the warrior (add the `ess' .... if you like ... to represent the feminine version), Natural Healer/Physician and Priestess.   What does this all mean, really?  As this is a topic with much depth, we will visit it briefly and look at each aspect as an introduction to the three aspects.

THE WARRIOR

What does it mean to be a Warrior?  One may see images of a person doing battle with weapons and fancy movements ... vanquishing the forces intending to do harm to the innocent.  While this is true in a simplistic view of the word, Warrior training involves so much more than combat skills, and fighting.  However, in a metaphorical sense, we are certainly doing battle on some level ... with ignorance ... with the darkness - within.... always within first.  As a warrior we work to bring more light into our own life in order to be a brighter light in the world.   This isn't always a pretty picture or an experience of ease and bliss for many.

Growth and evolution can often be an experience with periods similar to that known as the dark night of the soul.  While we certainly experience fun, bliss, and pleasure on our path, it would be an illusion to imagine we can walk in this way always - life is simply not like that right here and now ... where we are at (externally and internally ... and this is different for everyone).  We can enter ... connect with ... experience blissful states, yes.  For the majority of us, there is much to face and transform/transmutate and until we reach a certain place in our Work, it is certainly not always blissful!  There is a saying that ignorance is bliss!!!  True - if one takes that to mean the bliss of ignorance ... when we do not know something (for example, the darker aspect of ourself .... it is far easier to be blissful) ... want to be ignorant?  

A warrior is prepared to See, Feel and Look inside and out ... and if one embarks on the path and realizes that one does not possess this quality, one is able to Work to attain it.  Without first seeing oneself as one really is, there is no room to Work.  


I recall speaking with a woman once who had tumours removed, an eye surgery, joint issues, eczema and was obese.   When I asked her how she felt inside her body, she said, in a huff,  "Oh, I  feel just great ... why?   There is nothing wrong with me."   This is an example of ignorance is bliss: she was so insensitive to herself inside and out that she could not feel her body crying for help and change - though it was plain to see.  She was the type to work to keep herself in a positive mental state ... by not Feeling ... very dangerous.   She also had other issues which she was unwilling/unable to acknowledge or see and was therefore stuck mentally and emotionally in her relationships as well.   Years later, she had hip surgery and bowel impactation which also required surgery.   Working to keep ourselves in a positive mental state is useful; however, not at the expense of the other aspects of ourself working together.

A Warrior is prepared to See what IS - to truly KNOW and is prepared to Work in order to See and KNOW.  To see what IS means we give up illusions - some of those illusions trick us into adopting a belief that if `I do not go there, then all is well '- baloney ... one does not go there and so `There' is never brought to light ... and lies covered up in whatever one does to protect one self from feeling these places and moving beyond them ... most of this can be read in people's bodies quite easily.  So the work of the Warrior is to face all, transform and transmutate ... and overlook nothing.  This takes bravery, determination, impeccability and consistent effort over time (remember?). 

In times of peace, the Warrior returns within and continues in her/his spiritual refinement and development - the focus within.  If war is brought to one's homeland and the peace and well being of one's people and one's family is threatened, the Warrior may decide to do a different type of battle.   What type and how/when is very relative to the situation.  Even Warriors run and hide if that is the best option in the moment - there is no glory in death that is avoidable.  Many warriors in the past ran from danger and so the arts survived and were able to be passed on  - even though there were deliberate measures taken to try to wipe out these teachings over the centuries - all ancient teachings hold stories of this tragic truth, as many cultures rich with spiritual truths and gems were persecuted in our history.
 
For our ancestors, battle and warrior training was certainly applied in combat situations as the world they lived in was different than the one we experience in the Western world today.  For these people, combat skills were a matter of life and death - often, peaceful agricultural communities would be ransacked by travelling bands of thieves and murderous individuals.  The training these people had was skillfully disguised in regular farming tools - as well as in their full body movements (their body was a weapon).  Having warriors trained in these ways was often the determining factor of survival of a village in difficult times. 

Some of the movements we have learned have their roots in these times.  Some of the same movements were used to cultivate spiritual awareness and meditative states ... purifying the meridians of the body and leading to higher states of awareness and consciousness.

In fact, the art we teach does have combative elements, but we do not currently engage in tournaments - nor have I ever personally done so.  To me, the art has always been very personal and spiritual in focus - with additional healing and practical philosophical aspects.

I have never felt the need or desire to perform and/or compete in a formal tournament.   My arena is in the real world and in my day to day life.  The opponent I have to face with all I have learned and experienced is usually myself.  Though we all face experiences in life where another person feels like an opponent, in one way or another, our own inner challenges are definitely there along the Way.   Many students of Kung fu (as well as various other arts) find an interest in tournaments; this is neither good or bad ... simply something they may feel to do at some point in their training and path of study.

We were trained to always be prepared as though we were going to a tournament in every class.  In every class, I felt an internal element of working towards my own personal best.  This has become a lifestyle now.  Life is a tournament - every day we are performing ... there is no preparation  ... only NOW, and so we are always in training and always ready to do our best.   This is impeccability.  This is the path of a warrior.

In everyday life we encounter situations in which we can utilize the skills and attributes of a warrior.   What might some of these be?  Start up a list ... write them down in your journal. 


SPIRIT ... not enough can be said about the cultivation of SPIRIT in an individual - a true requirement, actually!   Flexibility and fluidity, strength (inner and outer), power, control (remember that power and control are not over others, but over ourselves and our own life ... in our use of these words ...  and our use of the word Spirit in the above sense is imparting a zestfulness where one's Spirit is shining through in all one does), discrimination, determination, mental/emotional balance, transformation and transmutation, extra-ordinary abilities, intuition, clarity of mind, sobriety, peace, calm, contentedness, sharp wit, higher intellect, personal brilliance, stick-to-it-iveness, commitment, greater will to do things ... and more...!   What qualities have you come up with in your list?   

As you Work in this Path, you have ample opportunities to see and feel for yourself where your own Work lies.   You also have the time and space in which to cultivate that which you can further develop.

Notice perfection was not on the list?  We will make mistakes ... even at higher levels ... there is always room to learn more and to better ourselves; perfection is not required!   Doing your best (impeccability) is.

And we can really develop these qualities through the arts of Kung fu, Chi Kung and Yoga?  Most definitely.

So Warrior training is more than mere physical training, ... this is the part that is often misunderstood and not applied.   We all know that  physical training is not to be overlooked!   At higher levels of training we finally not only realize that all of life is our training ground - we are actually living this.  We are not merely filled up with concepts, information and knowledge; we are a living example of the benefits of a spiritual practice and its practical application to life here and now.  We are extra-ordinary due to the extra-ordinary things we have done in our training and Work.  No one can give this to us and so we all develop these things according to our own consistent personal efforts over time.   In this Way, a most serious mind and commitment is required ... while being able to have fun!

Every day we are presented with various challenges and perhaps difficulties (as we view them).  Walking as a warrior, we have tools we can use in any given moment to deal and cope with what is presented to us in a balanced way; this is how we maintain high levels of energy and harmony in our life.   We are not only able to manifest and maintain abundance on the physical level, but continue to progress spiritually.  This is the Walk of the Warrior in balance and control of him/her self.  This, we can call Mastery.


THE NATURAL HEALER/PHYSICIAN

The aspect of the Path that we call Natural Healer/Physician refers to the training which involves both technique in the Healing Arts and higher level healing which moves beyond technique and operates on the level of energy itself.   Over the years of our journey along this Path, we learn and can apply both ... eventually also attaining mastery in the Healing Arts. 

Today, on our path, Healers/Natural Physicians specialize in certain things like Herbs and Flowers or Traditional Chinese Medicine or acupressure, Arts such as Jin Shin Jyutsu, Naturopathy, Aromatherapy, Massage, shamanism and so on.  All healing work involves a deep understanding of the mental/emotional aspect.   Most begin with technique or pick up techniques later (and there is nothing wrong with technique; however, the physical  manifestation is not the level at which disharmony originates) - eventually all must come to KNOW and experience that all disorders, dis-eases, illness etc. are energy related first.  Mastery in the art of Healing requires working at the level of Energy ... which is what we are.

We still seek out medical attention for emergencies like broken limbs, serious misalignments, accidents or other similar situations; however, we do not require medical attention when we are at higher levels of health and wellness: spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.  

We realize that we can experience challenges either metabolically, structurally or mentally/emotionally.  The modalities we learn assists us in learning how to address these issues we may experience as they arise.   We seek out natural interventions first and give ourselves the space and time to heal ... rather than looking for a quick fix or a pharmaceutical option which often treats symptoms only ... leaving the individual with the root of the problem unaddressed as well as having to deal with the many side effects that often come with the pharmaceutical route.

We look at all factors when faced with health and healing: spiritual, emotional/mental, physical, environmental, familial/ancestral etc.  An individual must be prepared to do their part in the healing process.  It has taken many years of sustained imbalances of various sorts for someone to manifest an illness ... being prepared to walk the road to vibrant health and well-being is a requirement for sucess!

 On this path, we Work to be a living example of health.  Prevention is key.   Mastery (in this Way),  includes the ability to heal one self and be the living example of a level of health and well-being others can attain with Work.  Thus, it is vital to study health and healing principles on this path in order to be able to assist one self and others to regain inner balance and control of vitality, health, energy and well-being.  


MONKS, PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES

As a Monk or Priestess in this Art, one is first a Monk or Priestess in one's own life.  This requires dedication in the practice and experience of developing a connection with what is referred to as the Divine ... within one's self, in and around all things.  This individual no longer requires an intermediary between themselves and what they view as Divine, Spirit, God, Universal Energy, The Source, the All That Is....however one views it.    They now embody it and impeccably bring this into their everyday life .. sharing this with others and assisting them to learn how to do the same.

As is seen in many religions - with their altars and rituals, prayers, blessings, sacred rites/ceremony and divine connection, anyone can learn to be a monk, priest/priestess in their own right and in their own life ... applying these principles into their own life and later offering service to assist others with theirs ... later teaching and mentoring (if called to do so) to those who also wish to do the same.  

Throughout time, the Shaman, Monk, Priest, Medicine Man/Woman etc. were the intermediaries between man and Spirit or God.   As priests/priestesses, individuals were skilled in the handling of a troubled individual - Knowing and having a deep understanding of the delicate workings of the human psyche/soul.   These people were able to assist others in many ways:   making their way through delicate transitions in life; they offered comfort, guidance or a swift kick in the butt during difficult times (and having the wisdom,experience and skill in determining which is called for in every situation);  they provided assistance in the interpretation of dreams; guidance in finding their own unique place and fulfilling their personal destiny in life; heal from troubling ailments and understand the nature of their suffering ... and so on.

As a Monk or Priestess, you become this intermediary.   Not only do you attend to the service of others who come to you for assistance - you first have developed the ability to assist yourself.  Once again, the importance of walking your talk is vital. 

One can see how this is a personal journey which lasts a lifetime - there is always room to grow and learn in Wisdom.  We do not break down this path into three distinct phases of training - they are really interwoven and developed simultaneously over time ... though there are periods when one aspect may be focused on more than the other two.   This is a path we walk our whole life - we are dedicated to this path and commit to continue to grow and learn ... Working through difficult times ...celebrating the breakthroughs and times of peace and joy ... and grinning and bearing the many inescapable challenges that one is bound to face on such a journey.  

Know Thyself

To not be seen for who and what you really are by someone else is not at all as impactful on your Life and Being as to not see your self for who and what you really are.

When others do not see us for who and what we really are, it may be an inconvenience ... depending on the circumstance and your perspective.  In the bigger picture, it is really not worth your time or energy to fret over these types of things.  If we do care whether others see us as we see ourselves, this is useful information and provides us with more reflection.  Who cares?  Why care?  How is this distracting us from what is really important or what is present in the moment?  As we self-reflect, we are able to learn more about ourselves, and relationships are a wonderful tool we can use for Knowing Ourselves.

Most people do care, generally speaking, about what others think or how others feel about them.  This is one of the difficulties that arises in relationships, and is mostly related to the fact that we hold self-images and egos (false personalities full of mechanical and formatory behaviours is another way to view this) within ourselves which are difficult to see unless we are willing to look in the mirror of self-reflection and see things how they really are. 

If someone presents us with something we do not hold as an image of ourselves, we tend to slip into resistance, denial, redirecting ... all these forms of defense arise.  Soon we are behaving in ways that surely do not reflect who we see ourselves as, but now we feel justified and so that becomes another buffer we have difficulty seeing through.   We find others who support our view (and we stick with these people and get along quite well with them) and this further validates and justifies our view and now our ego and distorted self-image is solidified even more.  In order to see ourselves clearly we must face the fact that we are supporting a false self ... a false personality.  How many of us do this Work?  It is not very popular!

If someone confronts us about something we have done or not done - even if inaccurate, our best response is receptivity... listening, hearing and reflecting back to the person what it is we hear or understand them saying.  When this is done properly, we often find that we can clear up misunderstandings and misinterpretations and that we leave with a greater understanding of what is really bothering the other person.   This is communication.

Most people will not hear before they are off into a reaction mode - this interferes immensely with communication.   How can anything be resolved if someone is not hearing effectively?  We are better off tuning in...hearing...listening...showing interest in the other person and what they are saying - no matter how difficult we may imagine this to be.  Remaining calm in order for understanding and harmony to be gained is critical.   If one or more people are not willing to participate in this way, communication breakdown occurs, drama escalates, people are not heard, blaming occurs and suddenly things escalate out of control. 

Ever notice that those who do not see you as you are really aren't interested in finding out whether their perceptions are true?  So your efforts in demonstrating who you are and how you are do not really matter .. simply Be YOU and this is enough.  If it were that easy to simply Be YOU, we wouldn't have the sorts of challenges we do in our life.  From drama in relationships to stress and illness ... many of the things we call negative experiences in Life are the result of not knowing who and what we really are.   So once again, the Work is pointed back at ourselves.

This leads us to the second point: to not see your self as who and what you really are is far more important than concerning yourself with how others perceive you.  It is a huge trap to look at a mirror and see a distorted image.   Though this second point is really where our attention is best placed (looking at our own reflection), it is a skill and one requires the awareness of the benefits of doing so ... this has to override the comfort of staying in the old pattern.  The pattern has to be seen ... it has to be accepted as real and within us ... it has to be faced ... a new healthier pattern has to be learned ... the new pattern has to be applied appropriately and consistently. 

This applies to me.  This applies to you.  No one can escape this fact, for it is a human condition - a condition which can be transformed.  Look at yourself ... observe your relationships ... always bring a receptivity to seeing the part you play in things ... apply this and be free from the illusion that this only applies to others!   We began this blog by stating ... to not be seen for who and what you really are by someone else is not at all as impactful on your Life and Being as to not see your self for who and what you really are.  Place your attention on your inner growth.  Be brave and willing to look at the places that you normally react to with self-importance or self-pity.  There is rich ground for liberation in the dark ... darker parts of ourself.

Students have asked these questions:

`What about the times that I wish to gain understanding and tactfully point something out to someone and receive no listening .... only redirecting, blame and reactions?'

`What if communication breaks down and there is nothing I can do to regain harmony because others will not do their part?'

`What if I am willing to communicate in this way and others are not?'

I have heard this time and time again from students who have the tools and then re-enter relationships where others do not have these tools - nor the desire (or awareness) to look at themselves.  I have seen many students take steps backwards in their attempts to now reenter a family  ... thinking things will change because they have ... or things will change because they will now assist others in seeing things differently ... or things will change because they are different and their family will now see this and behave differently.  

Some of these things are possible, but we must remember that it takes the willingness and ability of others to cooperate in new things and new ways.   Often, families come to a comfort zone where there is the superficial illusion that all is well - due to a lack of real inner Work.  Doing the best they can to stick together, all the patterns are set, so everyone just plays them out.  Anyone who shakes or rocks this comfort boat is often attacked and seen as creating trouble  (even when their perceptions are accurate).... For students who face this challenge in their family, I often suggest that they speak their mind with calm ... attempting to clear out what they wish to express.  If they are not met with an equal calm and understanding, I usually suggest that they can choose one of these options:

1.  Continuing to remain calm, work at furthering your attempt at communication.  State your concerns and your position and refuse to engage in the negativity coming your way ... focus on the issue and what you desire to express.  See if resolution can occur and work to make changes with the cooperation of the other(s).

2.  If your attempt to communicate fails and they do not work with you in order to hear or see what you are communicating, see whether you can come to your own inner resolution.  Can you learn to tolerate the outcome ... the continuing behaviour which is not changing?  Do you require some time and space to assist you in doing this?  Do what you have to do for yourself to respect your own boundaries.

3.  If you have attempted step 1 and 2 with no success and they will not see or hear your view.... and you find the situation intolerable for whatever reason, consciously choose to put yourself in a better place doing other things with your time.   Put boundaries up regarding the situation and/or the people involved.  Decide what you will tolerate and what you will not ... stay away until it either shifts or you have shifted enough to deal with it without it affecting you.  Make this choice consciously with full awareness of potential consequences.  Above all else, continue to work on yourself. 


Some students are so intertwined in their relationships and the patterns and dynamics that they find it difficult to determine what is about them and what is about others.  In our training we learn to read people and situations very well and in depth.  This comes after many years of Work on coming to Know Our Self FIRST.  Once we know ourselves, we read others with accuracy and ease.  After some time we learn how to read things that others do not see in themselves - or are not willing to admit to others.   We learn to pay attention to language, tone, behaviour, body readings, energy, the medications a person relies on, health issues, favourite food and drinks, attitudes and behaviours to see what they really hold inside.  Knowledge and experience in feeling and sensing these things can teach us about ourselves and others. 

We can not blame others for their ignorance - to do so would not help.  We often have plenty of our own things to work with too ... we are not Working on the level of blame of others, we are Working to expose reality for what it is and to face it in order to heal and truly grow.  Those who resist this, do not and can not (in their present level of Being) see this in themselves, so we are better off returning to our own inner Work and if we are choosing to avoid being around them, to do so not with holding on to resentment and anger or grief ... but to feel these things fully in our bodies as they arise within us, see them for what they are and then to release these energies so they do not poison us.  It's all the holding on that we are able to read in others ... those who claim not to harbour these things within them can not lie to one who can See ... and often enough do not realize they lie to themselves ... it is their conditioning and patterns which keep them where they are.

So where are we left with all of this?  As usual, in this Work, we are always coming back to our self.  Care less if others do not see you for who or how you really are ... care more about revealing to your self who and how you really are.

The Light and the Dark

POLARITY ... BALANCE
HARMONY ... WHOLENESS
THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE

Yin and Yang ... dark and light....cool and hot
...  inner and outer
breath in & breath out ... female and male...
  moon and sun ... left and right ...
 conservation and destruction ...
 contracting and expanding ....
passive and active ...
negative and positive etc.

 Metaphors, images and references to the light and dark can be found throughout time - in our stories, art, religions, spiritual references and daily life experiences.  There are a variety of ways to look at the light and the dark ... these words can represent many things.

What have you been taught about the light and the dark?  Is this a spiritual belief? Specifically, who taught you this?  Who taught them?   Are these ideas of light and dark part of a scientific theory ... personal experience?  What is your belief?  What do you KNOW?   Take some time to ponder and explore the many meanings and ways in which we can see the light and dark manifesting inside and all around us.

The symbol on the right is the Yin/Yang symbol.  As a complete circle it represents the foundation of the whole universe ... the innate polarity,  potential balance/wholeness in all things.   In this symbol, there is no specific representation on either side for what we label as good/evil; rather, both sides (and therefore all things), hold these potentials and it is when either side is out of balance that we experience the effects of what we call good/bad.   The Yin/Yang symbol is far too vast for us to discuss here today.  It is a study in itself; it also holds significance in Oriental medicine.

Given that the words dark and light have layered meanings, ponder the words positive and negative also.   In physics we have no good or bad attached to this meaning - it relates to electricity, polarity and energy.   In day to day conversation, we often do have good/bad attached to the words positive and negative.   There are many such things in our realm of communication and words ... this is one reason why feelings (or one can say sensing the energy), intuition and direct Knowing can lead us to understanding something with no words at all.   If we are talking, then, we require clarity and understanding of what we are saying/hearing with the words we are using/listening to ... people do not always interpret what we are saying the way we are intending it.  Misunderstandings occur this way all the time!

One thing one can notice, upon study, is that in any genuine spiritual path, there is ample material written and focus on the inner development of the human.   In some paths, it is clearly taught that this has to do with the fact that our latent abilities come forward the more we do certain Work and that if we are not balanced, we can fall into traps relating to power over others, greed, wrath, and other destructive tendencies.   In this way, the light and the dark represents our inner potential to manifest in different ways.   Some of these ways are constructive and others are destructive.  Both are useful in their balanced application. 

New growth after destruction via fire

One example of this is the fire which destroys all life in its path - yet leaves fertile ground for new life to come forth afterwards.  Another example is when we come forward in a dominant explosive way ... destroying something which is out of balance and disrupting harmony ... perhaps manifesting as anger;  it may be a moment (or period in history), in which something is destroyed (like an illusion or a lie or uncovering the actions of a serious crime).   In this way, the destructive force has an outcome which moves the energies one way.   There have also been periods in history where wars were fought for greed, power, lust and so on.  During these times, the destructive forces moved the energies in a different way.  So in viewing this, we see that constructive and destructive ... DARK AND LIGHT are not good or bad in themselves ... our intents and results of our actions are the things to consider ... intents alone are not enough (remember the saying that good intentions have often paved the way to hell? ... they can and have ... unintended consequences wreak havoc at times).

Even with Work, it is possible to see some people fall towards their more darker tendencies  (now we use the word to mean destructive in the sense of creating disharmony and unnecessary suffering to oneself and others around one)  - even after rising to spiritual heights in their Work ... we see this in the stories of the fallen angel in Christianity, Yogis taking advantage of their students, priests abusing altar boys and Masters of various traditions involving themselves in criminal activities.   We often equate higher levels of spirituality to certain ethical and moral behaviours, but the reality (at least of the here and now that we are dealing with), is that anyone can fall ... the Work is on-going and therefore it is useful for the development of self-knowledge, awareness, conscience and daily self-reflection to be a primary focus ... along with a balanced code of ethics.   Knowing Ourselves can lead to a harmonious and unified Wholeness within where we are able to use these dark and light forces in balanced ways.

As mentioned above, it is a common theme in many spiritual paths to examine ourselves, as it is taught that there is a light and a dark side to all things.  This theme is found in many traditions.... from the light and the dark side teachings of Christianity to the Yin and Yang in Oriental paths, to the light and dark teachings of the Aboriginal and shamanic teachings of many countries around the world.  Remember that these teachings are layered and so we use the terms loosely, at times, and many of us forget or do not know the many meanings of these words.

The following, is an interpretation of an old North American story:   As we read this story, keep in mind that this teaching is speaking metaphorically of the dark and light in terms of the way we used these terms above (dark being ignorance and leading to unnecessary suffering and disharmony) ... or dark meaning ignorance and light meaning an enlightened view:

A Grandfather was teaching his grandson about the light and the dark.  He said to him ``Grandson, an ancient battle which has existed as long as we know goes on in me and in all humans.   It is a battle between two wolves - one light and one dark.  The light wolf represents love, tolerance, compassion, truth, healing and all that is of the light.  The dark wolf represents hate, judgment, intolerance, lies, destruction and all that is of the dark.''  The grandson looked up and said, ``Which one will win Grandfather?''  ``Whichever one I feed,'' Grandfather replied.   Ever and always, it is suggested that it is our inner attention, focus and awareness that creates the outcome ... whether light or dark.    There are many stories such as the one above which come from various traditions and spiritual teachings.  Look some of these up yourself.




Major energy centers

 In the shamanic, Yogic and also the Kung fu Chi Kung Path I studied, the root of these teachings lie in the Knowing of the energetic aspect of the human being, and that all we are, feel and experience is experienced energetically first.  As mentioned many times in blog topics and throughout the various pages of the website, all is energy first and what we view as our bodies and our world around us is the denser manifestation of this as the energies dense down and create our various systems operating as the whole of the physical body and planet in/on which which we reside.

Energetically we can speak of the light and the dark with a different meaning.  Consider a dark pond or stagnant water ... sitting without movement ... less oxygen.  Different creatures will be able to flourish in these waters (and so it is with our bodies ... another blog topic later).  Humans avoid drinking out of still pools.  Our physical body, being the house of our essence ... soul ... is like water.  We are made up of mostly water, after all.   When we are stagnant - on any level (physically, mentally/emotionally, spiritually), we develop a greater density in certain areas (we can call energetic centers).  These centers are then darker.  As we do certain Work, the greater the light (and of a higher frequency) is in and around and through us.  So if we say to someone, as Yogi masters  ... and others .... have been known to say.  `` you are dark ... there is little light in you'', this carries a deeper meaning than what the average person has come to understand.

To the left is a picture representing the human energy system.  When one can truly SEE THE LIGHT, this is one of the deeper meanings.  Discover for yourself ... be open and never settle for what you think you know to be true based on belief alone ... look instead to KNOW. 

To SEE THE LIGHT is used so loosely in some traditions that people have only used and understood the superficial meanings of this phrase.   Ask someone who only believes in a religious dogma, without personal experience of this level of Being, what to see the light means, and likely their reply will not be to the depth of what the Yogis or the ancient masters spoke of and could SEE... unless they heard of this teaching or have experienced it on their own.

``If therefore thine eyes be single, thy whole body shall be filled with light''  Matthew 6:22.  Someone who has not done certain Work, but has studied the Scriptures and goes to Church will interpret this quite differently from someone who actually Sees this Light.   This is not good or bad - only different levels of Being and understanding ... and more importantly - KNOWING.   People have various interpretations of things.  As we evolve, the same thing can take on deeper meanings.   References to the light of which we are... whether they are the words in sacred texts, famous literature, philosophy, art and symbols used throughout time in various cultures ... and can be found throughout spiritual teachings of various true paths ... look into it yourself ..  Better yet - do the Work and you will See ... references still exist in many ancient texts, but these are words only and they do nothing to alter your perception or level of Being if you do not See - only certain Work on yourself will.

It's up to us to bring the Light into the Darkness

On the right, there is a picture of a person sitting in darkness and psychic pain ... in a dark room with the light shining in on him/her.  There is much the picture can represent to someone looking at it.  As we have all likely heard at one time or another - a picture speaks 1,000 words.  One way to view this picture is to see it as a representation of the dark night of the soul written about also in various traditions and therefore with various perspectives.

The dark, in this usage of the word, represents that within us which we must transform by bringing the light of our awareness to it... only then do we have opportunity for choice and change in our life.   Much of the darkness we experience we bring upon ourselves, and so the Work involves honest self-reflection.   Surely, we face things that are the effects of external influences; however, the Work is still always within us - from remaining open to discover useful ways in which we can manage these things to doing the Work to gain knowledge and insight about ourselves and All That Is.   It is still in our hands via the development of our level of awareness and Being to our own daily choices and actions to bring light into the darkness within us and the World around us.




metaphor for conscious and subconscious mind

 The picture on the left has often been used as a metaphor for the conscious and subconscious mind.   The part of the iceberg which we normally see is that which lies above the water.  We equate that to our conscious mind.   Then there is the part of the iceberg that is below the surface of the water.  At times this part can be quite large - even larger than that which is at the surface.   It is like that for us as well.  What we have available to our conscious mind is but a fraction of that which we do not have direct knowledge of, access to and awareness of ... we call this the subconscious mind. 

In psychology and the study of human nature this is a common theme - and that which lies below our level of awareness is often that which causes us the greatest suffering, illness, distress and  so on - whether it is emotional, mental, physical or spiritual.   That which lies below the surface is that which we are ``in the dark about'' in our lives ... or about ourselves.  Our Work is to ``bring to the light of consciousness that which has been in the dark'' or ``below the surface''.    This is another way of looking at the light and the dark in everyday life.   To see that totality of the iceberg for what it is, is to KNOW THYSELF.   It is a life-long endeavor!    In our Soul Counsel sessions, we do quite a bit of Work on this level.

We have certainly seen or heard of dark times in our histories over the centuries. In historical accounts, all continents have experienced war and tyranny - which is still, unfortunately, seen today in many places and in different ways.  The interplay of dark and light  forces does not necessarily have to manifest as a war; it can be more subtle, as in the hearts and minds of cultures due to the many influences the people are exposed to ... in so many arenas of their lives.    All this can be seen as the interplay of the dark and light once again.   Out of balance, humans are capable of behaving cruelly and with destructive hateful intents and actions.   Rather than blame a race or a people for being responsible for the massive pain and suffering we have had on this planet, we have to come to see that this light and dark force lies within all races and cultures and people - regardless of their religions, beliefs and so on.

It is useful to explore all aspects of our selves: habits, personality, inherited family traits, conditioning due to our upbringing and other peer, societal, religious, cultural, historical, economic, political, significant relationships etc. influences.   By doing so, we come to Know ourselves better ... the light and the dark.     It is only when we deny, repress, project, resist and so on that the aspects of our self we do not like/wish to see can wreak havoc in our lives.   Fear not what you come to know of yourself ... it is there whether you like it or not.   You can balance and create harmony in and around you.

Here are some images with halos around them.   In many references, these halos are referred to as light. In some cultures (and religions) it represents an enlightened one ... in others, a holy one (and then ask, what do these terms mean?).   What have you been taught of these images?  Do you know of any others?   They hold stories, history and knowledge.

Buddhist statue - note hand
position and glow around head





Roman Catholic Church painting
of Blessed Virgin Mary and baby Jesus













We have explored some of the ways in which we use the words dark and light.  There is more we could expand on as well ... with examples from other studies, traditions, religions and spiritual paths.  All that is written here, can be woven together and tells a story - even though it reflects teachings from various traditions and spiritual approaches.   Look deeply into all things ... if you remain on the surface - or only believe what you are taught,  you may find that what you have come to know is superficial ... how much more is there?   What else will we come to Know over time? ... as individuals ... as people ... as humanity ... leave the windows and doors to Knowing open ... remain teachable always.

Is Work Painful and Difficult?

I've been asked why Work seems painful and/or difficult at times.  Since this is a common experience for people, I have posted some comments on this:

Some of the Work we do involves particular movements of the body.  When we have blockages in the flows of energies (manifesting as physical areas of body armouring or tensions or accumulations of various sorts), we may feel discomfort when we Work to release these blocked areas in our physical form.  Correcting postural imbalances and other structural issues in the physical form (which also misaligns flows of energies within), can also feel uncomfortable.  Bringing the breath deeper into the tissues when we are accustomed to being shallow breathers may also feel uncomfortable until we adjust to increasing the vitality of these areas.    

In many traditional spiritual teachings, Work is not comfortable - it is anything but.   It is rare not only to find a traditional teacher, but an individual willing/able to Work under one.   This, however, is a totally different topic for another time.  It is relevant to this blog topic only in that there are different ways in which people Work.   There is also a difference in what people consider painful and difficult.   Some, who grow quickly, are willing to experience unpleasant sensations and personal reflections.  With the correct attitude and approach and a certain inner balance and strength, they are prepared to to do extraordinary things and therefore get extraordinary results.   If one lack these qualities and is still willing and able to Work, they can be developed with consistent effort over time.

Pain is relative to the perception of the person and/or to the degree to which one pushes through something.   It is very individual.   There are also different types of sensations which we label as pain ... sensations is a much better word to use.  When we are working, we will feel different sensations in the physical body.  Remember it is energy first .... then physical.   We are also able to observe ourselves as we are moving and reflect on this as well.   We are always learning ... always moving (even when still) ...  observing ... Working to unite, feel more and to awaken more fully to All That Is.

Some of the Work we do does not directly relate to movement in one of the Arts we teach.  It is Work on cleaning our mirrors of self-reflection in other moments.   Why is this painful or difficult?   Once again, it is a very subjective thing.  For some of us, looking at ourselves as we really are - seeing the clear reflection ... compared to our image of ourselves ... can be very painful,  but that is due to a personal internal reaction to the reflection and the inner resistance to seeing what Is in this moment.  We will only see comfortably according to our personal level of Being, so stretching and pushing to see and feel more can be uncomfortable for us at different moments, depending on the person.  Our attitude and approach to the Work has an immense impact on our experience doing it.  

It is not useful to judge ourselves or another if/when they are confronted with something they perceive as difficult and embark on their own journey of battling/working through something on the inside.  We all have things which we perceive as challenging .... places inside where we'd rather not Work ... whether we're aware of them or not, there they are.   Once a reflection is seen for what it is and a real change takes place, energies have shifted and the battle/difficulty passes. 

For those who do experience parts of their journey which feel painful or difficult to them, a time may come when they approach their Work in a new way and they adjust to the fact that true growth means to look (and move) into the places which are not easy to see (or easy to get into if it's a movement); one begins to enjoy finding something to release or shift, as it represents more freed energies and further growth.   The sensations, emotions, reflections and physical discomforts ... are all now viewed/experienced in a more objective way - without the reactions, resistance, creative avoidance tactics, dramas and waste of precious energy.

Pain and difficulty are subjective experiences, and to label them generally in relation to any Work is not possible.   Every student is unique ... our perceptions and experiences differ - even when we are in the same room and doing the same thing.   This shows us how individual the Work really is.

Some qualities we cultivate which assist us in our Work include:  Persistence; dedication; inner strength and stability; passion;  fluidity/flexibility; determination; focus; willingness to learn, to see and to feel what Is; discipline; clarity; desire to Work;  and let's not forget the ability to enjoy Work and have fun along the Way!

Consistent Work Over Time

So what do we mean when we use the phrase consistent Work over time?  What is Work and why is it capitalized all over this website and Blog?

Work with a big W represents true spiritual growth which can be seen as a change in the level of Being of a person.  Many things shift with a change in the level of Being in a person.  Perspectives, Health, mental and emotional patterns, priorities, habits, Knowings (with a big K), relationship dynamics etc.  These changes are not due to external things or a belief system ... they are the result of being at a new point of reference energetically ... leading naturally to changes which can then be seen in and around our world we have created. 

Though a certain amount of study and knowledge about techniques and healing and so on are a part of learning, the true changes that take place in the level of Being of a person do not entirely relate to this ... which is why we have intellectual spiritual practitioners whose levels of Being (therefore, direct Work and experience) do not match what they may have acquired in terms of their knowledge base ... another way of saying they are unable to Be what they know.  This is the result of the heavy intellectual ... rational focus in our society, schools and other arenas, so it is inevitable that we would see this today. Some paths say you must walk your talk; this is another way of saying the same thing.  It is best to avoid placing judgment on individuals who are not a reflection of what they know and simply be aware that it the result of plenty of conditioning which results in this fact. 

Practitioners may teach others about chakras, for example, never having seen one themselves.   When one can See the Light, does one need to have faith and believe that one is made of light?  No,  it is no longer necessary - one simply Knows now.   If one studies and learns that one is made of light and there are things called chakras, does one now Know this? (with a big K - to really Know).   No, it is simply a piece of knowledge that one believes.  So in this way, belief can be tricky ... this is the difference between knowledge and Being or Knowing with a big K.  It can be a trap for some, for real Work has not been embarked on (or continued) which can lead one to what is real as an experience for one  self ... one relies on knowledge and in itself, knowledge will not take one all the Way.  It is useful to go along with experience and Work, but not as a primary base. 

We use the phrase consistent Work over time to remind ourselves and others that this is the true focus in order to raise our level of Being.   Our Work is on-going (no matter what we have attained so far, there is always more to learn and room for growth).  To be unaware of where we truly are is an illusion ... an unclean mirror of self-reflection.  To believe fanciful ideas about reality with no experience of it ourselves is to buy into something without knowing what it is.   An example of this is when people believed that the world was flat because the scientists at the time - who were given much credibility in the eyes of the general population - said it was.  When new ideas came about which claimed the Earth was round, people were murdered for their radical beliefs!  And yet they were right.  Work with what you Know and proceed with an open mind from there.

Experience for your self; test it out yourself.   Question things your self and do your own Work.  No one can take away what you Are and what you Know.  So ask yourself ... without pretense or illusion ...  what your beliefs are (about yourself ... others ...  the world ... spirituality ... healing ... etc)  and what do you truly Know directly?   As long as you are clear about the difference, you will remain open to learning new things.  We all have beliefs; they influence our actions/reactions and thoughts/emotions.  Whose beliefs do you carry within and are you aware of them?  They are the result of conditioning as well.  Which ones serve you well?  Which do not?  Know the difference.  Remember that people have also been killed in religious wars based on different belief systems; some of these belief systems were fundamentally wrong.

Do the Work that cleans your own mirrors ... search deeper for new areas to bring the light into ... the Work goes on, so enjoy the path and your Walk along it ... cultivate inner strength for the challenging part of your journey and for the times that it may feel easier to get caught up in fantasy and illusion or to flow with the currents of the mainstream ... be patient with yourself ... love and nurture your self.  Be willing to see that which may seem difficult ... the real Work is always within you.