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.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, August 26, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
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. |
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.
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| 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.
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| Major energy centers |
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 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.
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| It's up to us to bring the Light into the Darkness |
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.
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| metaphor for conscious and 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.
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| Buddhist statue - note hand position and glow around head |
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| 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.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
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!
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!
Friday, June 24, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Full Moon Observations
This full moon cycle also has an added lunar eclipse. What has this month's cycle added to your awareness? What have you noticed that you would like to let go of?
During the influence of a full moon, it is a well known fact that hospitals find many more incidences of accidents. There are also stories of mental health wards in hospitals observing a greater mental disturbance in their patients during the influence of the full moon. When I was growing up, both my parents worked in a hospital, and during a full moon, there were times that mental health ward patients were found leaving the hospital and wandering the local neighborhood in their gowns. What is this about?
Most of us know that the moon influences the tides of the waters on the Earth. What are we mostly made up of? Correct...water.... What is all around us at all times? Influences of various energies inside and around all things ... this we are affected by in many ways. Waking up more fully, being present to what is in all moments, and gaining the knowledge necessary to do something ... this will assist us in being out of the path of some of these influences... or to use these influences in a positive way.
During the influence of a full moon, it is beneficial to apply an even greater awareness about you as you go about your daily activities. This does not mean we are to be less aware any other day!! Given the greater amount of unconsciousness observed in many during a full moon cycle... leading to accidents and emotional disturbances, bringing a greater awareness to your life around a full moon is another way to enhance your Work. Notice the changing flows of the energies in and all around you - whether it's the people you are in contact with or something going on around the ones you know.
Older cultures used the changes all around them.... in the moon, the seasons, subtle observations in nature and the heavenly skies.... to their benefit. Whether gardening, picking plants at an optimal time, healing, starting new projects or releasing old patterns, timing was a key. They demonstrated a greater understanding of universal laws and changing energies and how these things impact us in our daily lives. We are fortunate that much of this knowledge still exists today so that we can learn it, apply it and pass it on.
During the influence of a full moon, it is a well known fact that hospitals find many more incidences of accidents. There are also stories of mental health wards in hospitals observing a greater mental disturbance in their patients during the influence of the full moon. When I was growing up, both my parents worked in a hospital, and during a full moon, there were times that mental health ward patients were found leaving the hospital and wandering the local neighborhood in their gowns. What is this about?
Most of us know that the moon influences the tides of the waters on the Earth. What are we mostly made up of? Correct...water.... What is all around us at all times? Influences of various energies inside and around all things ... this we are affected by in many ways. Waking up more fully, being present to what is in all moments, and gaining the knowledge necessary to do something ... this will assist us in being out of the path of some of these influences... or to use these influences in a positive way.
During the influence of a full moon, it is beneficial to apply an even greater awareness about you as you go about your daily activities. This does not mean we are to be less aware any other day!! Given the greater amount of unconsciousness observed in many during a full moon cycle... leading to accidents and emotional disturbances, bringing a greater awareness to your life around a full moon is another way to enhance your Work. Notice the changing flows of the energies in and all around you - whether it's the people you are in contact with or something going on around the ones you know.
Older cultures used the changes all around them.... in the moon, the seasons, subtle observations in nature and the heavenly skies.... to their benefit. Whether gardening, picking plants at an optimal time, healing, starting new projects or releasing old patterns, timing was a key. They demonstrated a greater understanding of universal laws and changing energies and how these things impact us in our daily lives. We are fortunate that much of this knowledge still exists today so that we can learn it, apply it and pass it on.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The Roots of Things
With a little effort, one can get to the root of the matter and work at the level of cause.
This can relate to relationships, personal effectiveness, work and business matters, spiritual development and weeding out difficult plants in a garden or area of lawn!!
I meditated on this recently as I was working in my yard. There is a particular plant which is overcrowding a lovely grassy area. This plant is very prickly and therefore is not fun to step on while playing barefoot in the yard whether one is human or dog.
The thing is that the roots of these plants grow deep if left too long and they will keep coming back quickly and spread if not removed. The most effective (eco-friendly) way of dealing with these plants is to pull them out by the root... and to continue to mow them down in the process.
Depending on how fast they have spread and the size of one's lawn, this can seem like a daunting task -and it is for me, as I am speaking of a fairly large area off to the side which has not received much attention over the last few years - other than mowing. These prickly plants have found a liking to the area and have really spread.
I have accepted the task of slowly, over time, pulling these plants out by their roots. If I am not careful, they also sting and can cause discomfort and irritation to my skin. (Essential oils can provide relief and healing for this, according to my experience).
The many things we come across in life are no different than this situation. I contemplate this each time I go out to pull more out. I contemplate the fact that some of the things we wish to alter in our life have become a bigger issue due to our own neglect. I also reflect on the fact that transforming certain things sometimes occurs with some pain and discomfort.
Our attitude and approach to the task is something to keep in mind as we set to Work. How do we go about doing what we have chosen to do in the world(s) we have created? Are we Working at a vision we have created with heart? Do we desire some new visioning?
I also realize that when we unite our self in action to a vision we have, that consistent effort over time will certainly assist us and that we will see progress ... as long as we persist and Work at it in the way that gets at the Root of the Matter.
Friday, May 27, 2011
There Will Be Days
There will be days. Hmmmm.... have you ever felt like this? The day moves along .... not much is accomplished, and it all seems to have been a waste... or just doesn't go as we planned or imagined it would. Is it just one of those things, or is there a reason for this?
Yes, the answer is yes. Ocassionally, there are circumstance and situations which are the result of our acquaintence with or involvement with people and events which have their own sets of causes and effects. In other words, we do not have control over certain things. They are, perhaps larger than our own personal world and involve many other factors. Other times, we are the ones creating the chaos and can not see it for what it is. This takes awareness and a level of awakening too. It also takes courage to admit when we are the ones creating this sort of day for ourselves and others (who will experience the results of our behaviours).
What we do have an effect on is our own world we are co-creating all the time ... and therefore the effects of our actions we are always experiencing in the now ... whether personal, familial, work or business. It is vital for us to determine what is our response-ability and what is not.
Without awareness of our self and without the unification of our body, mind and spirit, we feel like things happen to us and around us all the time. We have even created a wonderful expression for this: ''Shit happens'' was a very popular phrase not long ago .... but sometimes used to excuse the poor behaviour of our own (and others) doing.
There will be days when everything clicks and things just flow along. Our energy is balanced and we are able to create the sort of day that we desire.
Cleaning our mirrors of self-reflections ... seeing our selves as we really are is a major key in really succeeding in co-creating your life according to our dreams and zestful visions. It allows us to alter and adjust our selves along our way ... keeping what is working and shifting what is not.
When we are not quiet and still inside, we see ripples in our mirrors ... things are distorted and we neither hear, see, feel, act, think, respond or create with clarity and precision. We do not do what is best in the moment due to these distorted images and reflections and misuses of our energies ... then we may experience ONE OF THOSE DAYS ... if we are aware, we look at what we can do to alter things that we are response-able for and it will shift.
Sometimes we feel we have focus when what we really have going on is an improper use of focus and attention. Some of us operate with hysteria ... others apathy and depression. We sometimes operate on sugar and caffeine and/or driven mental projections. We neglect our bodies, emotions, spirits. Then we are best advised to STOP and see clearly what is needed within in order to gain balance.
Our body gives us messages ... the way our life and day is going will tell us things about ourself ... our mental/emotional states are messages ... being quiet and still will tell us things about ourselves if we really want to know them. If we listen to our self, and apply what we really need, truly, things will shift and we will feel better, and soon will be saying that these are the days of my LIFE!
If having ''one of those days'' is due to another's behaviour .... or to a larger effect - like a town or world crisis, then our part is in knowing how to respond in a way that is most beneficial to ourselves and others in that moment. Cultivate inner peace, a clean mirror and true wisdom.
Yes, the answer is yes. Ocassionally, there are circumstance and situations which are the result of our acquaintence with or involvement with people and events which have their own sets of causes and effects. In other words, we do not have control over certain things. They are, perhaps larger than our own personal world and involve many other factors. Other times, we are the ones creating the chaos and can not see it for what it is. This takes awareness and a level of awakening too. It also takes courage to admit when we are the ones creating this sort of day for ourselves and others (who will experience the results of our behaviours).
What we do have an effect on is our own world we are co-creating all the time ... and therefore the effects of our actions we are always experiencing in the now ... whether personal, familial, work or business. It is vital for us to determine what is our response-ability and what is not.
Without awareness of our self and without the unification of our body, mind and spirit, we feel like things happen to us and around us all the time. We have even created a wonderful expression for this: ''Shit happens'' was a very popular phrase not long ago .... but sometimes used to excuse the poor behaviour of our own (and others) doing.
 |
| Clean the mirror of self-reflection and you will see better all that is within and around you. |
There will be days when everything clicks and things just flow along. Our energy is balanced and we are able to create the sort of day that we desire.
Cleaning our mirrors of self-reflections ... seeing our selves as we really are is a major key in really succeeding in co-creating your life according to our dreams and zestful visions. It allows us to alter and adjust our selves along our way ... keeping what is working and shifting what is not.
When we are not quiet and still inside, we see ripples in our mirrors ... things are distorted and we neither hear, see, feel, act, think, respond or create with clarity and precision. We do not do what is best in the moment due to these distorted images and reflections and misuses of our energies ... then we may experience ONE OF THOSE DAYS ... if we are aware, we look at what we can do to alter things that we are response-able for and it will shift.
Sometimes we feel we have focus when what we really have going on is an improper use of focus and attention. Some of us operate with hysteria ... others apathy and depression. We sometimes operate on sugar and caffeine and/or driven mental projections. We neglect our bodies, emotions, spirits. Then we are best advised to STOP and see clearly what is needed within in order to gain balance.
Our body gives us messages ... the way our life and day is going will tell us things about ourself ... our mental/emotional states are messages ... being quiet and still will tell us things about ourselves if we really want to know them. If we listen to our self, and apply what we really need, truly, things will shift and we will feel better, and soon will be saying that these are the days of my LIFE!
If having ''one of those days'' is due to another's behaviour .... or to a larger effect - like a town or world crisis, then our part is in knowing how to respond in a way that is most beneficial to ourselves and others in that moment. Cultivate inner peace, a clean mirror and true wisdom.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Four C's
An interesting phenomenon is that there are things we can pick up as little tools to apply in our life everywhere we go. This was passed on to me yesterday ... on a truck show, the host asked people to call in to tell him a minimum of two ways that they have become more efficient at what they do .... a mechanic called in and said that it was the Three C's he learned while studying to become a mechanic .... Condition, Cause and Correction. He said that he used this tool as a mechanic and then found it applied to life too.
He noted that there is often something in the present that becomes a condition we no longer can tolerate ... we then decide that something has to be done. Then we begin to look into the past or near past to see whether we can determine the cause ... usually, with good investigating skills, this can be determined ... then we have to decide on and apply the proper correction ... and if we do so, the condition we do not desire is eliminated. If we are effective in this and do not wait until the Condition has run rampant, we become very efficient in whatever we are doing.
So why did I call this blog topic the Four C's? Well, if you've been reading my other blog notes and check out the website, you will that I repeatedly use the phrase consistent effort over time. I do so because it is what I have applied in order to get the results I have worked at achieving in various arenas in my life. So we can add to this tool and call it Condition, Cause, Correction and Consistency. With Consistency in Application of a Correction, we will maintain the results we want.
I like this tool, because it can demonstrate something we can apply - whether it is to our spiritual practice ... and some of the pitfalls we will experience along the way .... or whether it is a health concern, financial concern, relationship concern ... and so on.
Without calling my method such, I realize that this is one of my ways of approach in Souhl Counsel sessions and other Work we do. Anyone who has been to see me will realize this. We discuss the reason for coming (Condition... we also look for multiple conditions which can be related). We then look at the Cause ... understanding and insight can assist us tremendously - can assist us with gaining awareness of what we do and how we do it in the moment ... which can be contributing factors to our Condition. Finally, we focus on Correction (solutions... tools to apply...what are you going to do about it? ... whatever we want to call it). We are also reminded in session that consistent application over time is the key.
Here is an example. This example is health related, but also contains mental/emotional and spiritual aspects: An individual comes in to see me many years ago due to an appearance of arthritic conditions in their joints ... something they observed had appeared slowly over the last two years. This person was quite distraught, as they were very active in sports, health conscious and was used to viewing things with a positive mindset.
We proceeded to examine some history. We found that there was a turning point in this person's life several years ago where stress became an overwhelming factor. This person relates that their eating and sleeping habits were poor (and not typical for them) and that their negativity in thoughts, words and actions also increased due to feelings of helplessness regarding their situation.
So the person came in with the Conditions they desired to alter: mental/emotional overwhelm - leading to behaviours not typical for them, arthritic symptoms and insomnia. With work, we discovered the Causes: perceptions of being trapped in a situation they did not feel able to alter, poor eating habits, poor thinking patterns relating to themselves and their situation, and ultimately lack of the necessary action of dealing with their situation effectively ... in a way they really had the desire to do it (which opened up another area of Work where we went from there... not the focus, here).
We worked with practical actions (Corrections) the individual could take in order to deal with the Conditions, and with Consistent Work over time, these Conditions were corrected. The person felt better - regaining their balance and harmony inside and out.
Consistency over time is a key. It is true that it takes time to develop these conditions - they usually do not show up overnight. Our being can handle certain amounts of stress and strain ... however, consistent stress and strain (of the damaging kind) over time wears us down in many aspects and the effects creep up over time. This means consistency is key in reversing the effects of the causes. Then it becomes a lifestyle if one wishes to maintain the positive benefits.
So if there is something you wish to alter ... however big it may feel or appear to you ... despair not, but take the necessary steps to attain what you desire - in any aspect of your being. Remember that the sooner we we are able to detect the condition creeping up, the easier it is to deal with it effectively.
He noted that there is often something in the present that becomes a condition we no longer can tolerate ... we then decide that something has to be done. Then we begin to look into the past or near past to see whether we can determine the cause ... usually, with good investigating skills, this can be determined ... then we have to decide on and apply the proper correction ... and if we do so, the condition we do not desire is eliminated. If we are effective in this and do not wait until the Condition has run rampant, we become very efficient in whatever we are doing.
So why did I call this blog topic the Four C's? Well, if you've been reading my other blog notes and check out the website, you will that I repeatedly use the phrase consistent effort over time. I do so because it is what I have applied in order to get the results I have worked at achieving in various arenas in my life. So we can add to this tool and call it Condition, Cause, Correction and Consistency. With Consistency in Application of a Correction, we will maintain the results we want.
I like this tool, because it can demonstrate something we can apply - whether it is to our spiritual practice ... and some of the pitfalls we will experience along the way .... or whether it is a health concern, financial concern, relationship concern ... and so on.
Without calling my method such, I realize that this is one of my ways of approach in Souhl Counsel sessions and other Work we do. Anyone who has been to see me will realize this. We discuss the reason for coming (Condition... we also look for multiple conditions which can be related). We then look at the Cause ... understanding and insight can assist us tremendously - can assist us with gaining awareness of what we do and how we do it in the moment ... which can be contributing factors to our Condition. Finally, we focus on Correction (solutions... tools to apply...what are you going to do about it? ... whatever we want to call it). We are also reminded in session that consistent application over time is the key.
Here is an example. This example is health related, but also contains mental/emotional and spiritual aspects: An individual comes in to see me many years ago due to an appearance of arthritic conditions in their joints ... something they observed had appeared slowly over the last two years. This person was quite distraught, as they were very active in sports, health conscious and was used to viewing things with a positive mindset.
We proceeded to examine some history. We found that there was a turning point in this person's life several years ago where stress became an overwhelming factor. This person relates that their eating and sleeping habits were poor (and not typical for them) and that their negativity in thoughts, words and actions also increased due to feelings of helplessness regarding their situation.
So the person came in with the Conditions they desired to alter: mental/emotional overwhelm - leading to behaviours not typical for them, arthritic symptoms and insomnia. With work, we discovered the Causes: perceptions of being trapped in a situation they did not feel able to alter, poor eating habits, poor thinking patterns relating to themselves and their situation, and ultimately lack of the necessary action of dealing with their situation effectively ... in a way they really had the desire to do it (which opened up another area of Work where we went from there... not the focus, here).
We worked with practical actions (Corrections) the individual could take in order to deal with the Conditions, and with Consistent Work over time, these Conditions were corrected. The person felt better - regaining their balance and harmony inside and out.
Consistency over time is a key. It is true that it takes time to develop these conditions - they usually do not show up overnight. Our being can handle certain amounts of stress and strain ... however, consistent stress and strain (of the damaging kind) over time wears us down in many aspects and the effects creep up over time. This means consistency is key in reversing the effects of the causes. Then it becomes a lifestyle if one wishes to maintain the positive benefits.
So if there is something you wish to alter ... however big it may feel or appear to you ... despair not, but take the necessary steps to attain what you desire - in any aspect of your being. Remember that the sooner we we are able to detect the condition creeping up, the easier it is to deal with it effectively.
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