Holding your own Atmosphere and Alice in the Dark Hole

 

Hold yourself with balance and control  ... never abandon Your Self

One of the reasons we experience difficulties with manifesting our true potential is that we are often swayed by the atmospheres of others ... or by the various environments we find ourselves in.

For many of us, if we are surrounded by negative people, we find ourselves in a negative state some time later - or even right away (and I am not suggesting that we are always aware of this).  We also become roused and excited when in the atmosphere of excitement.  Children feel pressured into fitting in with their peers and families and most adults are no different.  To demonstrate individuality, unique creativity and thinking beyond the box of what is considered NORMAL is often seen as a threat ... or worse - madness.

Have you seen the movie Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp?  The movie starts off with a scene called Dreamers and Alice is a little girl.   She wakes up late in the night with another one of her nightmares.  Her father takes her back to her room to talk with her.  She explains the recurring nightmare to him as falling into a dark hole and seeing strange creatures.  She tells him about these creatures and then asks him if he thinks she has 'gone around the bend'.  He places his hand on her head and says quite seriously,  'I'm afraid so.  You're mad ... bonkers ... off your head.  But I'll tell you a secret - all the best people are.' 

Alice grows up into a fine young woman and is still having this recurring dream.  She wonders if it is normal to keep having the same dream over and over.  Her father has since passed away - leaving her no one she can talk to about these things.  Her mother wishes to see Alice happy - supporting the proposal of a marriage to someone Alice does not find herself compatible with.  It is clear that her mother does not think like her father did - and certainly does not understand Alice.  She tries to get Alice to be a 'proper' girl: 

Alice's mother:  'Where's your corset?'
Alice:                  Looks at her mother (somewhat annoyed, it seems to me), saying nothing.

Alice's mother lifts up Alice's dress and looks disapprovingly at her:  'And no stockings,'  she says.

Alice:  'I'm against them.'
Alice's mother:  'But you're not properly dressed.'

Alice:  'Who's to say what is proper?  What if it was agreed that proper was wearing a codfish on your head.  Would you wear it?  To me, a corset is like a codfish.'

Alice is taken to an engagement party - where she is going to be asked to marry a young Lord.  It is obvious that they are not well matched and Alice runs off at the last second -- right in front of the crowd as she was proposed to.  She disappears into the forest and 'falls into a dark hole' ... not unlike her dream, likely.  ( As a side note, consider, here the relation to the astral plane and dreamtime.   Those who are so inclined find much growth certainly does occur in just such the manner that Alice experiences ... albeit in differing degrees, depending on the nature of the person).

She finds herself facing puzzles that question her current view of reality.  Along the way she meets up with very interesting characters and finds that the best of friends are sometimes found in the most unlikely places. 

What happens to her in there is quite fascinating.  She finds out that some of the creatures she comes across are not at all sure that she is the same Alice they have seen there before.  She wonders if she is in a dream.  During the adventures in this strange land, she discovers she is indeed the Alice of the prophesy and the same Alice these creatures and beings have seen before.  She undergoes a transformation of sort:  She is told she is not the same Alice ... then she is called almost Alice ... to Alice indeed  ... in her full glory.  

Alice struggles with her identity and is very confused when the others talk about her as though she was the wrong Alice:

``You'd think she would remember all this from the first time``  (she has obviously been here before, and doesn't seem to recall)

``You brought the wrong Alice!``   (Imagine that it takes Alice of a certain nature to complete this task  .. so it is with us and manifesting our true potential, is it not?))

``She's the right one - I'm certain of it``

``Give her a chance!``

``I told you she is the right Alice!``

``I am not convinced``

``She doesn't look anything like herself``    ``That's because she is the wrong Alice!``

Alice:  ``How could I be the wrong Alice, when this is MY dream?``             (How, indeed - a good question...)

``Absolum will know who she is.``

Alice:  ``Who is this Absolum?``

``He is wise.  He is Absolute.``    


People have various ways of accessing the divine in their search to discover themselves ... who they really are ... what they are really capable of ... in Wonderland, it is Absolum who assists Alice  (among other interesting characters who also assist her)  and determines when she is 'Alice indeed'   .... what and where is Wonderland?   ... the answer to that tells you who Absolum really is ... how you answer that tells of your level of being, your personal belief system and so on ... so answer it for yourself ...



In Wonderland, Absolum is a blue caterpillar.  He is known in the land as being all knowing.   Alice has a few interesting encounters with him.  He is one of the ones who states quite definitively that ``this is not the same Alice that was here before.''  Each time she meets up with him, he assesses her current state until he finally tells her that she is Alice indeed.   This is not until she seems to come back to having her ``muchness`` return to her when she succeeds in her mission while there.   How do we access this muchness ... how do we lose it, and if/when lost, how do we regain this?


Alice ends up fulfilling the prophesy as laid out and even slays the Jabberwalkie in order to save the land from being controlled by the obsessive, jealous, conniving and ignorant Queen of Hearts.

  

Alice has no one to talk with about her dreams ... or about seeing things differently than what is considered normal and acceptable in the social circles her family engages with (and also different than what was considered normal during those times in the culture she was in).    As we see in the beginning of the movie, her father was a man who believed in dreams, taking risks, and forging into the unknown - even at the risk of being called mad himself by his fellow colleagues.  But her father is no longer there, and Alice embarks on an inner journey of discovering and recapturing her true inner essence, which is also quite different from the norm - but brilliant indeed. 

This story is a reminder to us that "Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" (Einstein).     Throughout history, we have seen time and time again that humans cling to what is known (or what they perceive and BELIEVE to be the truth at the time).  Forging outside the edge of what is considered acceptable, appropriate, common knowledge, popular religious belief, current social standards, family beliefs and traditions etc. still continues to haunt those spirits who are not at ease with what is already being done, but who go before others and pave the way for further growth and advancement in all fields and endeavors. 

There are times, in some people's lives, where they feel they may be standing on the brink of a precipice ... or a fork in the road ... or a dark place with no support or anyone to relate to ... or in a place in life in which there are sooo many routes to choose from ... with every move we alter our path in life ... sometimes it takes falling into a dark hole and entering Wonderland to see the path that is fully ours.   Sometimes, risking appearing mad is necessary in order to do something great.


Though often ridiculed, judged, isolated and/or labelled in one way or another, these individuals are the ones who can lead us to new heights.  Sometimes, they have a Queen of Hearts to deal with or a Jabberwalkie to slay ... or Lords to leave ... or families to disappoint (as many families have projections and expectations on us and how our own dream SHOULD look like .... according to whom?)    In the end, once they make it through their own Wonderland, they come out on the other side stronger,  prepared to move forward and ignore the opposition they are likely to encounter ... daring to believe in their own visions and expanding the known world's horizons.


 One last point about the movie:    Once Alice is close to completing her mission, she is convinced that Wonderland is all a dream and that none of what she's encountered while there truly exists. This upsets the Mad Hatter - who has become quite fond of her, and who is not aware that he isn't real ... by the end of the movie, the lines between what is real and what is a dream are thinning.   When Alice wakes up from her `fall into the hole`, she does not marry the Lord ... she stands up to all the guests, her mother, her sister, and engages in a business deal which is quite out of character for a young lady of that time. The gentleman who takes her on as an apprentice in his company can see her brilliance and steps out of the norm himself.     Alice is Alice indeed .... suddenly quite confident and assured within herself. The movie ends with her embarking on a journey aboard a ship.    A beautiful butterfly flies by her and she sees it as Absolum.    This leaves us with a wondrous feeling:   Was it REALLY a dream?    What is real and what is a dream?    She is transformed ...  how could it not be real in some way?   And do we really need to define that?


The end of the movie, with the butterfly reminds me of an old story from Chinese philosophy.  Rather than going into an explanation of this, I leave it up to you to reflect on over time ... its meaning may change for you over time as well - even if you have heard this before:


The Butterfly Dream by C.W. Chan

Once upon a time, Chuang Tzu dreamed that he was a butterfly, flying about enjoying itself.  

It did not know that it was Chuang Chou.

Suddenly, he awoke, and veritably was Chuang Chou again.

He did not know whether it was Chuang Chou dreaming that he was a butterfly, or whether it was the butterfly dreaming that it was Chuang Chou.

Between Chuang Chou and the butterfly, there must be some distinction.  This is a case of what is called the transformation of things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The story of the transformation of Alice holds a key: all (true) mystery schools hold keys which can open doors for us.  Though there is never any guarantee to our personal results, this is due to us and us alone.  Like the journey Alice took, we may find our way into Wonderland ... what we will find is part of our own story and our own possibilities.
 

Crow and Coyote

How lovely for the timing of this topic this week, as I received a phone call from someone today (after this post was already up for a few days ... today is Monday the 18th) and had the opportunity to play coyote!   Or as a loving family member taught me: `` I played in the garden with someone today``.    We have much to learn from one another, but it is not always clear who is doing the learning.   We can play with trickster energies, remain open and play in the garden ...

And if we play in the garden and find that our lovely friend is really a snake ... remember... in the end, the only one who is deceived is the deceiver themselves ... Look to the end of this blog topic to find an added piece on the snake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many cultures around the world have nature-based spiritual philosophies and ways of teaching and coming to Know about the inner and outer world(s). 

I have always enjoyed teachings from many sources and see real value in being open to various ways of perceiving things ... various paths of study in spiritual disciplines.   I am especially fond of nature teachings.  After all, the 5 element and 5 animal style of Kung fu I teach comes from the ancient direct observation (or called stalking in shamanism) of these things ... direct experience and observations of these things over long periods of time ... centuries if one considers accumulated experiences.

Today I want to bring up my fondness for Crow and Coyote.  We do not study these animals in Kung fu, Chi Kung or Yoga, but I have encountered these animals in nature, have stalked them, and have also had teachings and personal experiences with various animals we find here in North America.  


Crow     

Crow has had many associations over time.   Today I will talk about one aspect of Crow: its ability to See and to Call out what it Sees.

Crow energy, as I was taught by one of my teachers, involves the ability to Call it as you see it.  One of the gifts of this type of individual is that he or she sees into things that others gloss over and then feels the urge to do something ... bring something into the light ... he or she feels to sit up high on a perch and CAW CAW  ... look, here, I have something to say about this and you may not want to hear it, but I will say it none the less.   In many cases he or she is not the popular one in the crowd.  Our histories are full of real life stories where people have been persecuted for having this gift. 

For the most part, those who are popular in most crowds tend to follow the crowd.  Over the course of our history we see many examples of this in politics ... politicians and other leaders have often given us lip service in order to win votes ... this is a popularity contest.   It takes leadership and authority to step out of the norm and Caw it like you see it.  It takes a good sense of self to speak up if a view is different than what is considered the popular or accepted one.  Some politicians and leaders have been this sort of example, and we are in dire need of more. 

It takes a higher level of consciousness and awareness to see things the way they really are as well.  To call it as you see it takes courage as well as discernment.  Crow in the light brings things up that others would prefer to brush under the carpet ... turn a blind eye to ... go unconscious about ...  Crow in the light is all around us.  Cultivate these qualities within yourself.

Crow in the dark is mistaken about what he or she is seeing due to a lack of higher wisdom, consciousness and awareness.   Crow in the dark does not Know Oneself.   Individuals stuck here will bring things up that may be a projection of his or her own darkness within.  Negativities within this us may then become projected out into the world around us as we sit up on our perch and  CawCaw ... calling everyone on their stuff while forgetting to look within and do our own work too.   Crow in the dark speaks up and speaks out views that are incorrect ... like preaching that the Earth was flat!   There are more popular views today that are also incorrect ... can you see them for what they are .... crow in the dark is all around us ... develop the ability to see it for what it is.



Coyote

Coyote is another marvelous teacher.  Coyotes are known for their tricks.  Here, in the country, even as I write this blog, coyotes are known to work together when hungry in order to trap and attack a tame dog so they can eat.  I will give you an example of how they have been reported doing this:  One of the coyotes plays coy... calling out and even darting in and out of a bushy or wooded area as though to call the pet dog out to play.  When the dog goes out to check it out, the other coyotes attack it and then eat. 

Coyote in the light works by tricking us.  We may see our loved one, friend, or a teacher behave one way and then another.  Things may appear to be full of contradictions and soon we find we are confused.   This is not always a negative!  After all, what in this universe or in nature all around us is always exactly the same - energies are always moving no matter how static things may appear to be.  Trickster energy is at work when an individual tricks us by catching us being rigid or judgmental or assuming that we know exactly what this person or thing is all about.  

In a teacher, trickster energy may be used consciously or come out in a students projections of how things should be.   As a student ... and even as a teacher, one can always learn from the mirrors presented with coyote energy. 

Coyote energy can be light, tricking us into learning things in new ways ... learning through trickery.   If someone has coyote energy, they may appear one way in this moment and another way the next ... coyote adapts and cares little for flair or appearances.  Coyote is not always direct, but can fool you and become so when you least expect it.  Coyote energy is great for acting and for play!

Coyote in the dark  uses trickery for power, greed, personal gain at the expense of others involved.  Coyote in the dark will trick you and draw you in to his or her world where there is a potential for you to become a pawn in the world of someone else's dream.  Learn to develop discernment and wisdom for coyote in the dark ... as with anything, this requires higher consciousness, awareness and wisdom.

Things, people, places, life, our world, philosophies, religions ... may not be as they appear to be ... in the light or in the dark!


Snake

Snake in the light is often used as symbol for the kundalini energy (taught in some Eastern spiritual disciplines ... as in some forms of Yoga) ... rising up the spine and clearing out blockages as it moves upwards within our main central channel (as we were taught in Kung fu and Chi Kung ... but also known in its physical representation as the spine).  In Kung fu, as we were taught, the word kundalini was never brought up, but working with moving the energies to clear out blockages and to heal and develop spiritually was.  We can feel these moving energies within us and kundalini rises whether you use the words or not, as a direct result of certain Work you do over time and according to how you Work ...   It is best to avoid attempts at forcing this energy to move prior to being prepared ... one can Work to do so over time and with awareness; however, one can also Work to force these things and this is not advised here.  We could speak of this in more detail, but this is not the space in which to do so. 

Symbology of the snake can be found in most cultures and various spiritual paths.  In some religions, it is seen as a symbol of evil, temptation - even the devil. 

Snake is found in the Garden of Eden story taught to Roman Catholics ... it is in this story that a snake tempts Eve (who represents the first woman) to take a bite out of an apple off the tree of knowledge ... a tree both herself and Adam (the first man) were forbidden to touch.   This story is very interesting and holds much inner meaning - which is misinterpreted to degrees depending on who is reading and interpreting this story ...  and then this is based on an individual's level of being or some understanding they may have picked up intellectually. 

The Virgin Mary in the Catholic faith can be found depicted in a statue or  picture holding her arms out and standing on planet Earth while stepping on and killing a snake.    My grandmother had such a statue, and when I asked her about it when I was about 6 years old, she told me the story she was taught.   Anyway, the snake, here represents evil ... what kind of evil?  Where did this originally come from?  Has the snake ever been looked at in the light? Has it ever represented something spiritual and positive?  If you spend the time and effort to ask and then search out these answers, you will find some interesting things out (if you haven't already ... this is common knowledge in these days).

Some sources even go as far as comparing a snake to a woman, as their beliefs teach them that woman is evil and a temptress in nature ... leading men to their fall spiritually.

In older spiritual cultures and traditions, the snake held a much more positive light.  Depending on which culture you look at, it represented and still represents many more things than what I wrote about above:  transformation and healing; transmutation of poisons in the body in order to heal; alchemy; wisdom expressed through healing; sexuality; a symbol for the sexual/creative life force energy within us as taught in Eastern spiritual traditions (Kundalini Energy Rising ... enlightening ... healing ... releasing ... transforming).   It has also represented death and rebirth as it sheds its skin and renews itself.  

Snake in the light brings about healing and transformation ... death of old things and old ways and rebirth into the new in one's life.   A person operating in snake in the light offers forth healing energies and provides an atmosphere in which others can heal and transform ... transmutate ...  and more.

Snake in the dark may represent someone manipulative and secretive in nature ... beguiling and lying ... twisting and turning things into something they are not ... bringing about death and decay without its associated rebirthing and regenerating ...  Snake in the dark resides in dark places, stalking its prey and striking swiftly with intent to harm, playing tricky mind games with ulterior motives ... then moving in for a direct hit.  Snakes can also hide in plain sight ... or hide in the light ... where they pretend to be something they are not.   Snake in the dark is another kind of trickster -- not one to use when teaching ... not one to use when growing or evolving ...

Snake has received negative attention for so long that many people still do know of its positive light and inner meaning behind the dark stories told in religions.   This is an example of how a symbol is altered over time and comes to mean what is only passed on in belief ... only by those who do not question and whom merely swallow what they are taught.  In order to go beyond the intellectual knowledge, then, one has to Work and then snake will ``show you the light`` inside and around yourself.  

Later, after some other projects are completed, I will write pages about the animals and elements as they pertain to the style of Kung fu I teach.  Snake has other references I have not discussed here.

A Mystical Path

We hear a lot about mysticism, the mystics, a mystical path and mystery schools etc.  What does all this really mean and how do we sort through so much surface stuff and get to a place where there is some real depth to our search for understanding and spiritual growth?

Let's look at the word mystic and mystical ...  it is defined in a Chambers dictionary as relating to mystery ... the mysteries ... or mysticism: mysterious : sacredly obscure or secret : involving a sacred or a secret meaning hidden from the eyes of the ordinary person, only revealed to a spiritually enlightened mind...

there is the key right there in the very last part of the above definition .... except that I would change the word ``mind`` to ``Being`` ... as the word `mind` as used here can be misinterpreted ....

We can see from this that a mystery school can be viewed as one which passes on teachings which may enable one to become enlightened ... to discover the hidden and secret meanings to things not seen by ordinary people.  What things?  All things in all aspects of life.  This could mean to See beyond the veil of the purely physical and external ... it can also mean to see the mirrors of self-reflection clearly ... and to experience what is beyond the scope of that which is experienced in ordinary life ... to delve into the extra-ordinary ... to become the extra-ordinary.   This does not mean merely more intellectual knowledge (which most places provide ample amounts of) ... though philosophy and knowledge is very helpful ... it relates more to direct experience and true transformation.

People see things differently based on their level of Being ... or you can look at it as based on their assemblage point of reality (as shamans do) ... or you can look at it as based on their level of enlightenment ... and so on.  Levels of Being are on a continuum which can be viewed as the progression of the soul or of an individual as he/she learns and evolves ...  it is individual and dependent on many factors (which we will not get into here).

A group of people study under a particular teaching and a number of teachers.  Many people in this study group see things in a similar way.  Several people see things in a different way.  Upon listening to many conversations, one may even wonder whether they studied under the same teachings and teachers at all.  This can occur with differences in levels of Being among students.   This may also occur when reading a book.  Several people may only find surface material to contemplate ... others walk away with deeper insights and wisdom.  We can find the same example in movies as well  as every day conversations with those around us ... and so on.  

We can only comprehend at the level we are at ... we can only SEE at the level we are at .... understand ... intuit ... evolve ... heal ... behave ... experience .... create ... and so on.  And no one but ourselves are responsible for any of the above.

This is what is meant by the old saying that one can walk right by the master and not see the person for what they are ... according to our level of Being once again ... we will judge ... assume ... interpret .... this is the same with a person's search for the mystery school or path of study ... we will get out of something exactly what we are at that point ... and nothing more ... until we are ready.

Souhl Center is a Mystery School ... we have the tools to show you a Way ... as in all Ways or True Spiritual Paths, you will experience things according to your own level ... your own ability and willingness to grow and evolve ...  and in your own time.

Integrity

At times, I wait for an inspiration to wander into my mind for my next blog topic.  Sometimes it comes so suddenly and I am unable to stop writing, as I am fired up with passion and purpose to share.  Other times, I find something I am passionate about and it takes time to write it out the way I feel it inside.  Sometimes the words are harder to put down than what lies inside in its entirety already.   Either way, it is always my deepest intent to impress upon anyone who reflects upon these words the motivation to act upon what is suggested ... to act in a manner which will bring out MORE of who they are ... in essence, health, wealth, mental/emotional balance, understanding, spiritual growth etc.   We are talking about wholeness, here ... we are talking about integrity.

Today, I found inspiration in the word integrity.  How many times have we heard this word ... used it ... heard someone else use it?  ''You need to work on your integrity as a person.''    ''She was a woman of great integrity.''   ''They lack integrity in their work.''   What do we really mean when we use this word?

Well today, as I was travelling, I was listening to an audio tape and heard the definition of this word...

Integrity:  wholeness ... the quality or state of being complete or undivided.

 I was delighted.  I had never heard this definition before and had my own taste, flavour, and idea of what this word has meant to me, given the context in which it has been used over many years in many places I have been.  I had this sense of what the word meant, but it had never really impressed upon me the deeper meaning this word can have.

When I heard this definition, it amazed me due to its direct relation to the Work we do at Souhl Center ... and in other places where we go to develop ourselves, heal, connect with what is Divine, bring out our essence and so on.  This wholeness principle is found in so many places ... like whispers for us to follow in order to find our way. 

Kung fu, Chi Kung and Yoga, in the way I was taught, is also about unifying the self.  These arts use the body as one tool with which to unify all the aspects of who and what we really are.  The psycho-spiritual approach I use in counselling is also about unifying the self, and it is so clear to me how divided we are.  We are out of touch with our essential nature - which is all about Integrity.  Our essential nature is whole.  Mastery is unification and wholeness.  Mental/emotional well-being and health is about wholeness.      

As we progress along our Way, we integrate fragmented aspects of ourselves, disowned energies, and splits between body, mind, emotions and spirit.  We move into wholeness and Work towards being One inside ... to be undivided.  As we do so, our experiences in life alter, our perspectives shift and we create ... and live life with integrity.

Mental/Emotional Healing

The storms of our fluctuating emotions

It is a fair statement to say that much of what ails us as humans comes from the misuse of our mental/emotional capabilities.  In the realm of health, mental states such as persistent patterns of negative thinking over periods of time ... negative focus ... negative reactions and so on, can lead to chronic emotional imbalances and subsequently disturb our other body functions. 

Healing systems such as Traditional Chinese medicine, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Reiki, Yoga, Kung fu, Chi Kung and other Eastern Arts consider mental/emotional factors an important part of healing and maintaining high levels of health and wellness.  Various forms of therapy in Western cultures also acknowledge the importance of a healthy mind and emotional well-being.   Many more doctors in this age are asking people about their stress levels and we find countless books we can read and programs we can sign up for which all offer practical ways for us to improve ourselves in these areas. 

Mental/emotional states affect our body's state of tension/relaxation.  This, in turn, impacts muscles, meridians, energy flows and organ health.  We limit our experiences in the world and what we choose to engage with due to fears, anxieties and so on.  We are also aware of how our internal states impact our decisions such as what we eat or how much we eat ... substance abuse and other choices we make day to day.


          Factors which affect our mental/emotional states: 
 
-- our thoughts, words and actions we make in the world and inside ourselves

-- what we learn to place our attention and mental focus on ... or lack of attention and focus

-- foods we eat

-- quality, type, intensity and frequency of exercise

-- stress factors in our lives ... in the environments we engage with most

-- family patterns and our conditioning as children and over our lifetime - habits

-- our overall health .... illness and/or accidents ... or illness we are born with
 
-- our internal reactions to our experiences ... and any traumas we may have experienced over time

-- any training or personal experiential work we may have engaged in

-- our personality type (here, astrological influences of time of our birth may be included)

-- our personal level of Being


                                       Personal level of Being

This last point I made above is the one I choose to focus on the most in the Work I do and teach to others.  When we alter our level of Being we can either degrade or develop ... evolve ... grow ... whatever word you wish to use to describe what is often referred to as enlightened or a 'higher' state of Being ... higher, having a few different meanings here.  

When we are enlightened in the way that I use the word, it suggests that much of what has been lying in the darkness of our consciousness ... wreaking havoc in our lives, health and energy levels has been brought out into the light of our awareness.  To me, an enlightened individual has faced many aspects of themselves and has attained a level of mastery over themselves ... creating an inner unification which in tern affects them in beneficial ways on multiple levels.  As we awaken and continue to grow spiritually, an 'enlightened' person can come to mean other things as well.

How does one become split (within) in the first place?  How does one develop the ability to suppress feeling and experience  ... separate the body and the mind ... interrupt natural free flowing energies and breathing patterns?  ... creating a perfect environment for many things to lie buried deep within which we then work very hard (albeit unconsciously) to keep them there?   Why do we not even realize (for those who have not the awareness or for those who have not embarked on inner work) that this is truly the reality of most of our imbalances?  

Once again, it is our friend CONDITIONING ... subtle repetitive habitual patterns over time.   It is like travelling in one's car.  Initially one is very aware of the roads and the way to get to where one is going.  Over time, if one goes the same way over and over, one will eventually find oneself going into automatic pilot mode (or more accurately ... unconsciousness ... where one is not really fully there .. fully present ... one is thinking of other things, for example ...).  Suddenly one wakes up and says ... Wow, I am here already?

This is the same with our mental and emotional patterns.  We develop them over time and then we just go on in life, fall into unconscious patterns and occasionally wake up and say, `Wow ... How did I get into this mess?'  Or  `Why am I so upset over such and such?' ... Or `Why is it that I always react the same way to this particular type of person or situation?' ....or `Why do I always attract this type of thing into my life?'.


In the Work we engage in at Souhl Center, we use keys which assist us in mastering ourselves so that we can heal our mental/emotional patterns, regain lost energies we have wasted in holding in place patterns which have only served to keep us stuck.  In doing this Work, we have the opportunity to expand our development in all aspects of our being. 


There is a popular saying which is very true indeed:  

 I have added the additional first line to the saying below.  Thoughts are the real culprit behind most emotions.  Thoughts and emotions are so closely connected that I have come to place them together (mind/emotions) in the writing I do.  If one is aware, self-reflective and vigilant, one can come to observe that indeed it is a thought that usually comes before an emotion.   We emotionally respond, due to habit and conditioning, to where we place our mental attention.  I have come to see, in doing my own Work, that this is true.

Also remember, while reading this, that emotions = energy in motion.   If you do so, this can be seen on another level too. 


Watch your thoughts, for they affect your emotions.
Watch your thoughts for they also affect your words.
Watch your words; they affect your actions. 

(Here, I like to also add ... watch your thoughts and emotions, for they can affect your movements inside and out in life ... this includes your body movements, which can tell us a lot about where a person is holding tensions etc.)

Watch your actions; they can become your habits.
Watch your habits; they can become your character.
Watch your character, for it can become your destiny.



If we continue to keep doing the things we have been doing and we can come to see that the results of doing so are detrimental to our well-being and growth physically, mentally/emotionally and spiritually, then we can Work to do something new. Doing so consistently and persistently over time is a Key!






  

Healing Part 3: Healing Family Patterns

Self-reflection

Clean your mirrors ... self-reflection ... perception ... perspective ... accuracy in perceiving what is before you ... discernment ... wisdom ... consciousness ... projections ... patterns ... awareness ... willingness and ability ... openness of mind ... mental and emotional flexibility ... inner strength ... courage ... determination ... Work ... learning ... application ... co-operation ... development ... spiritual growth ...

What do all these things have to do with today's topic on healing and family patterns?  These are all skills we have the potential of developing on the Path we study here.  They are some of the MANY benefits we can acquire with persistent Work over time in the Arts we teach.  So those who have worked with me have heard me use these words in different contexts.

Some questions I have received were about the healing process and the realization of the benefits of working through family patterns as part of healing.  Those of you who have asked these questions have already come to see these patterns and are interested in learning more.  This blog topic today is for you, and I will answer your questions to the best of my ability below.   Know that this is a major core of healing and that your work in classes, apprenticeship practical Work, personal assignments and soul counsel all address these things over time.  Be patient with yourself ... dedicate yourself to your Path and Work and be consistent with these things over time.  You will see the transformation!

My many years in the work of counselling have shown me that there are, indeed, patterns we pick up as children.   These patterns are often traceable down several generations before the knowledge of the history disappears from our family memories.  Working with the number of people I have has enabled me, over the years, to do my own research by asking questions about family histories.  The faces that lit up when the answers to my questions revealed patterns that they were repeating which were similar, if not identical, to the patterns of members of their family was so amazing to see!  Some people were shocked to see that this pattern held such a huge hold on the decisions and choices of future generations.  Every person, who realized this pattern was in place, wanted to break it ... And there lies the key: at some point ... somewhere along the family line, new patterns can be created which can alter the history of future generations along that family line.  It is wonderful and refreshing to see someone come along in a family with the determination, courage, open-mindedness and willingness necessary to do this kind of Work! 

In Soul Counsel Sessions, my approach in working with others in healing their familial patterns, continues to include assisting others to gain awareness of their own inner/outer habits and patterns in the present moment and how that impacts their life.   We do look at family histories to see the reality of the force of these familial habits, characteristics and patterns which flows down and affects others generations later.   To see this reality has nothing to do with blame, shame, pointing fingers, hanging onto histories or bashing our beloved family members (regardless of their inappropriate behaviours over many years).   Being able to see things as they were, to speak of them as they were, and to eventually work to get to the place where this holds no more inner or outer charge (or affect our life in a way that is limiting to our personal potential), is the essence of this work in healing familial patterns.  

In many cases, individuals wish for their family members (especially if there were years of stressful and/or traumatic and deeply hurtful experiences), to own up to what they did ... to apologize sincerely ... to somehow make amends.  Though this is possible, it would mean that these individuals would have to embark on a personal healing path as well  - or to at least have enough awareness to see what their part in things really were.   For the most part, this healing journey is going to be yours  ... taking place within you ... and often you will feel alone and not joined by family members on an honest journey of family healing.  This is in no way negatively impactful to your own healing ... it simply reflects the level of being of the other people involved ... perhaps they are in denial and have many other inner buffers and resistances to seeing things the way they really were.  That is not your Work! 

Individuals have to first gain the awareness of what they are doing (or that they have the potential to evolve themselves) and then they require genuine interest in learning how to alter what they are doing.   This is true on all levels: spiritually, physically, mentally & emotionally.

This process of looking at ourselves can also be very painful for some people.   They work so hard (and it takes sooo much energy to do this) to hold up the image of what they would like to appear to be that they can not see how they really are.   This creates a lot of inner tension and body/postural changes which can lead to eventual illness for them that it is a real shame once one realizes this ...  They have histories of their own that were obviously never dealt with.  It does us no good to attempt to drag others onto the healing path we are on - though it can be very tempting when one realizes the inner and outer freedom, joy, health etc. this can bring!  This is the same about spiritual paths and journeys as well!

Many of the patterns in our life as young and mature adults prevent us from experiencing and living the life we have the potential of.  This is why we Work to see them and to adopt healthier patterns, habits and ways of being.

Yes!  We do break patterns via movement arts!  Much of what we experience in life (and have challenges processing energetically in our many energy centres), gets stored into the various tissues in our bodies ... these accumulations or depletions create various illness over time.   It works like a circle ... if one does the movements in a certain way, one gains self-awareness which deepens significantly over the years ... movements free up the accumulated tensions in the body ... the movements we do directly impact our meridians/energy centres and therefore we are healing ourselves every time we do movements and breath ... we heal the body in layers and so this is a process that takes time ... with the release of these tensions, we begin to think and to feel better ... the Work we do with self-reflection brings in the piece of awareness and understanding about ourselves ... so we continue to progress: we think, feel, act differently ... as we continue to Work, we progress spiritually and we gain other abilities ... we then continue to work and it goes around in a cycle ... with each cycle we release more, heal something else, gain more ability and so on.   The process is individual as we are all so different in what we can (willing and able) release ... depending on what illnesses we may already have or a history of physical trauma from accidents etc... or  mental/emotional traumas ... for many of us, there are multiple things we have to work through.  You also know, if you read our last blog, that we may experience cycles along our journey, and regress at times -- only to rise up higher when we overcome that which we had to work through.

So what do family patterns have to do with healing?  Quite a bit .. and to different degrees for us as we are so individual.   We also create some of our own unique patterns as responses to things we experience and some of these can be future patterns in our family lines.  What patterns do you have?  Where might they originate?  How do you track your patterns and what do you do, practically speaking, as a tool to alter your patterns?  What new healthier patterns are you currently working to create for yourself?    As always, seek out wise counsel for guidance and assistance along your Way.

As we walk along our Way, throughout our lives, we will be presented with many opportunities to test out our new skills and to see where we are really at!  If we are willing to look into the mirrors provided to us by All that Is around us inside and out, and to clean our own mirror of self-reflection, we can continue to Work and grow always!   The benefits of doing so far out-weigh the inner/outer challenges we face when living life in this way.

Healing (Part 2) ... Healing Cycles

cycles

My initial blog on healing prompted questions from some of you.  Due to the number of questions, I decided to address them in a few more blogs about Healing over the course of the next two months.  As you know, Healing is a broad topic and we could write a book about it.  Please also know that what we will discuss in this series is limited and is really directed at the ones who have asked me specific questions.

  Healing is individual ... so it is for many things relating to us as humans.   Though there are some very simple common things we can all do to gain higher levels of health etc., we are also very unique in our requirements. 


  A number of you have expressed dismay at having to face things you imagined you were done with ... having Walked on your Way for some time.    As with other things in life and in our experience, healing can occur in cycles. Many of you will be able to reflect on your own journey and see this to be so for you ... perhaps, for others, it is not. Today's blog is about cycles, as some of you have requested that we look into this area a bit more and have asked questions about experiencing cycles not only in your healing but on your spiritual path.... so this is for you!  Remember, most things do not come along perfectly in straight lines!  Look around at the various forms in nature -- circles and cycles everywhere!  We are no different here.

It is true that we will only be able to See and to Heal that which we are ready to.  This is why so much emphasis is placed on developing higher levels of consciousness, awareness and the ability to self-reflect.  It is beneficial for us to see ourselves clearly and to accept or search out the existing opportunities to heal things and to alter our patterns ... creating a freer life inside and out. It is up to us to have or to develop the inner willingness, dedication and determination to embark on the journey and to See and Work in the areas which will bring us this freedom.    Freedom?   From What?   Now that, too, is a huge topic ... freedom from things like: domination and control by others (if you don't Captain your ship in Life, someone else will); suffering (inner and outer ... meaning mental/emotional and physical); various illnesses; loss of vital energy; zest in life ... doing what we love to do daily work and in leisure; lack of free movement of our body ... which can be like a prison for us without flexibility, strength, relaxation, endurance and general well-being etc.  

 Some of you write that you have found yourselves repeating patterns in life ... patterns you felt you were done with long ago - or on a previous healing journey.   I have certainly experienced this as well along my own journey.  This is part of the cycles we speak of. 


You may notice that though the pattern you find yourself in is similar, it may or may not be exactly the same.  Perhaps you have been able to alter parts of it - or the pattern is not as strong as it used to be.  Your pattern may have multiple aspects to it, and so as you learn and heal, you are able to alter these aspects of it a bit at a time until you are finally done with it.   Other times, it is simply that you thought you were done with it, but you weren't; the circumstances it needed to reappear were simply not there.  At times, you may find that are able to see something and alter it immediately. Over the many years, as we walk along our Path, we Know ourselves better and better, and our ability to Work through these patterns with greater skill and ease increases.

No one ever said that we will arrive in a place that is perfect and that we will stay completely balanced for the rest of our lives while we are here. There are too many random and external factors beyond our control. What we can learn is how to notice when we may be slipping out of balance.  We are able to develop the awareness and the skill to bring ourselves back into balance and harmony so that the many challenges we encounter along our journey do not lead us into places where we will unnecessarily create our own suffering through choices of our own (see our page on balance and harmony).

One of the things we can develop over time with consistent Work is mastery of the Self.   For the most part, though we have times when our growth is expansive and we have periods where we are in the flow and all is well, spiritual growth and healing occurs in cycles as we Walk our chosen path and encounter many challenges along our way.

Let's move in a little deeper with this......  

Our life is flowing and we are connected ... somehow we are in the flow of synchronicity and all is just as we like it.  We are in the place we always wanted to be; perhaps we have finally ``arrived''  in the place we dreamed of as children when imagining our future life.  Many of us have periods like this in our life.  After much diligent work and healing we find ourselves feeling whole, full of developing inner power and potential.   Things just seem to flow in the right way.  Perhaps we are in love, having a child, in the career we always imagined, in the pinnacle of our achievement we've dreamed of, or have come far and walked many long years on our spiritual journey.  Perhaps we have been in this state of flow for many years - or perhaps we have entered this place not long ago.  


Those of you who wrote in with your questions, talked about many of the following experiences:   Suddenly, it is as though a dark cloud has entered into your life.  The spiritual path which has flowed suddenly becomes more challenging and obstacles arise when once the way felt so clear.  Suddenly, or slowly over some time, you find yourself in a situation (or situations) you imagined you were somehow now immune to ...

`I thought I was done with this', you found yourself saying ... `I thought I was on my way now and that the light would be always present and after so much healing and work it would just all be so much easier now'.   You thought you finally knew how to create the life you always wanted ... or you were living it ... but THIS ...  no this was not part of the picture you had in mind.   `How did I end up HERE?', some of you have said.   You might find yourself ill or in a difficult marriage (that began with much love and bliss) ... or dealing with various issues with your children or family ... or career ... or path of study ... or teacher ... or you find yourself in financial lack and are unable to move forward to do what you desire ...  suddenly your parents are ill or people you know are dying and so on.  You find yourself entangled in old familial patterns and issues once again ...

 For some of you, the ones you thought were your dearest companions turn out to have their own issues and they deceive you ... betray you ... lie to you or cheat you ... Suddenly the synchronicity is gone; the magick you were in touch with disappears and you may find yourself ill and desiring healing once more.   Perhaps falling, over time, into despondency or apathy or despair, you may find yourself falling back into old patterns ... old ways ... darkness fills your inner light and your vision - once bright and full of hope ... dims.  `Perhaps', you imagine,  `the Path I am walking is not for me, after all, and I have failed'.  Your stories are not so different after all!   The questions I have received on this topic all have the same theme: falling (or I will suggest it is more like `feeling like falling'),  from grace after attaining a certain level of benefit from Work done).  


Though I am unable to say that this is the way for everyone, I can definitely say with full confidence that this is a very common occurrence for those who embark on the healing journey or a spiritual path.  I have certainly encountered periods of loss and personal challenge after committing myself to the path I continue to walk today.  It has not always been easy!   Periods of major growth along my journey have then been followed by new challenges and though it may feel like I have started over more than once, it is not so ... it is simply movement to another level which also requires Work.  I have also worked with many people over the years, and these experiences are common; it's not the first time I have heard these stories.


It is, after all, a lifelong path we remain on.  We are not perfect; we can; however, develop our impeccability and determination to stand up and keep moving forward no matter how many times we seem to fall or feel pushed down.   We can work at developing inner control (which has nothing to do with suppression or denial!) and mastering ourselves.   It does us well to remember that we do not control all things and there are so many factors outside ourselves, that most of us are bound to experience challenges in our lifetime in many ways and at different times.   Though our trials and experiences may be very different, we often find that healing and spiritual development and growth is cyclical in nature ... with periods of growth and healing ... followed by what seems to feel like a loss or a spiral downwards.


The interesting point, here, is that if one stays true to one's path and the many practical tools one learns along the Way, these periods which feel like a downward spiral bring us up to higher levels than where we were before we even fell.   This is a phenomenon of cyclical spiral growth.   Just like the coils of a slinky or a spring, if one looks at the spiral, one sees that it goes down before it springs back up even higher.


So for those who are in this spiral now and are aware of it,  remember to keep working ... keep applying ....  keep walking the path.


Do you find yourself in a pattern you thought you were done with?  Face it newly and rise above once again.  There is a reason it is still there and you are facing it ... look for it ... be willing to see what you have to see in order to move forward once again.  Healing and spiritual growth comes in cycles; you will clear out what you need to clear out when you are ready to do so.  In your own time ... in your own way.  This does not mean we get complacent or lazy; it means, rather, that healing does not always occur all at once!!  Know that you can overcome ... rise above ... heal this too ... whatever it may be.   We are only done when we are done and that, too, is something we can learn to accept and come to peace with ... and no one can do it for us.


The one thing you can do to assist yourself in this process on your path is to stay committed to truth ... be willing to see what you need to see in order to move forward (not being willing to do so is what holds us back and prevents us from moving forward).  Clean your mirrors of self-reflection .... apply your tools ... seek out counsel and guidance when required along your journey and at different times in your life as you require it ... do what you find needs to be done and keep walking along your way.  


Avoid judging yourself or others and open to the compassion, kindness, understanding, wisdom, discernment, love, peace, acceptance, stillness and beauty all around and inside you.  Embrace it and switch perspective when it is beneficial to do so.  This also has nothing to do with `using your big voice' when it is appropriate, creating and maintaining boundaries in your life and time and doing what you desire to do in order to take care of yourself and minimize the impact of negative people, environments etc.  People confuse being a nice person with foolishness in various situations.  People also confuse this with having free license to do whatever they feel like doing.   Developed wisdom and discernment makes clear these distinctions!


A person I was working with once said to me ...``I'm doing what I am doing because I am stressed out. ''   True, this person is in a very stressful part of his life and is in a pattern that is repeating for him (he has been in this pattern on and off since his teens).   When I pointed out that he was falling in the same way as his mother has fallen and that he could end up in the same place, the person became very quiet and then justified his actions with the saying: `well, I am stressed out and this is why I do drugs and drink'.   He was very angry, tense and ill.  His health had been deteriorating for several years and his relationships and life was chaotic and negative.

Yes, I would agree that people respond to stress in different ways; however, it would be wise not to let this be a scapegoat or justification for allowing one's Self to continue doing things which are harmful to oneself... or harmful to another.   When we justify things we do, even if what we are experiencing is very challenging for us and is our greatest Work in this lifetime, we still will not overcome it or grow if we justify and rationalize why we are doing what we do.  We also do ourselves no favour by seeking validation from others who tend to agree with our point of view or behaviours - especially if our behaviours are self-defeating.  They simply join us in our private hell due to the fact that they are in there too.  We are better off seeking out wiser counsel outside our circle of fellow sufferers ... who are all in the same boat.


As to the situation I speak of above, I would agree that this person has quite a bit to deal and cope with; however, I see their potential, their inner beauty and ability to rise above and overcome waiting for them to access it - and no one can do it for them.   They simply have to go inwards, face things as they really are, feel the pain, and connect with the part of themselves that lies within ...  the part that desires better.  Embarking on the healing journey would enable this person to feel better and thus have the energy they require to deal with the challenges they are facing.  


No one said the Work we have to do to heal our lives would be easy, though at times it can flow along quite nicely.    I tell you as surely as I write this that if you do not embark on the healing journey when you sense and know it is vital for you to do so, there is only more pain and suffering ahead - it does not get better as we engage in things which pull us away from facing it.   In the end it will still be there and we may even have a resulting illness to deal with now as a result of the years of denial and suppression into the body where these stresses and tensions accumulate over time.   


Our mental/emotional states can also develop patterns, as we learn to cope in ways that are not healthy and we create mental buffers to seeing things the way they really are ... all a protection mechanism in order for the psyche (or our soul) to survive the perceived or very real threat to its survival here.   In the end, if we survive, the Work awaits anyway.   One very practical aspect of the Warrior training we provide, is being given the opportunity to develop skills over time which assist one in being able to face the inevitable stresses and challenges in life.  A Warrior learns how to avoid the unnecessary stressors and also how to deal effectively with the ones that are unavoidable.


Stress is inevitable ... when we look at what it really means (look up the word in a good dictionary), we find that stress is a part of life here.  It is, and always has been, our own personal response to things that create the real problems most times, and this we can learn to gain control over with consistent Work over time.

How long will this take? ...some of you asked ... as long as it takes for you ... personally ...

So, for those of you who have found in your own personal life stories, that there are cycles of growth and that your journey has not been a straight and narrow path, know that this is so for many of us on along the Way.   Keep working ... avoid losing faith ... learn what your patterns are and bring forth your courage to face them.  Over time, if you continue to Work and are willing and able to face yourself, you WILL MASTER THEM .... learn the tools, then apply apply apply your tools ....consistently over time ... Work ... enjoy the lulls when they come ... surf the waves of magick and synchronicity as you attain the inner gifts along the Way - use them wisely ....  see that ,indeed, (if you Work in a certain way) that you always gain higher levels of learning how to co-create your life with greater balance ... and harmony. 

The Process of Healing Part 1

Distortion of the Essence

The process of healing is a very broad topic that can extend in many directions.  We may require healing on multiple levels during various times in our life ...  are often only aware of the physical aspect ... and sometimes only after things are already in a chronic state.

We will discuss the healing process briefly today ... as all our topics are brief ... requiring depth and experience to fully delve into their richness.  We will look at certain aspects of healing, knowing that this is a broad topic which can be looked at in various ways.

The real question in regards to healing is HOW we become imbalanced and in requirement of healing in the first place.  There is the infamous question and study of nature vs. nurture which has been researched and philosophized since antiquity.  Are we the way we are as a direct result of our acquired genetics, or are we the sum of our various choices, experiences and environments over time?  We always inevitably end up in the same place: we can not overlook the effects of either.   One important point remains: we are discovering, in some branches of research, that we are indeed able to affect the manifestation (and aspects of the activation of specific parts) of our DNA code by certain things we do.  Look up the research yourself.

Look up, as well, the many documented cases of individuals living when they have been told they would die, healing from a labelled disease when they were told there was nothing anyone could do for them, reversing so called illnesses/diseases which they were told were incurable, and placing aside medications and prescriptions over the course of their healing process as they achieved inner/outer balance in other natural ways.  You can easily find these cases for yourself with research.  Many of these people have come forward and some have even written their own books as a testimony.

This directly relates to the healing process.  If we can directly impact our DNA, then we can no longer give in to the ``inherited'' stories of our acquired illnesses and we are embarking into a world where our personal responsibilities for our well being are far more obvious than ever ... especially considering the fact that we are able to communicate and share information at a rate never before recorded in human history.  People all over the world are coming forward and sharing their incredible personal healing journeys.  We have, more than ever, both the answers and incredible opportunities to discover enlightening truths right under our nose along with a host of distortions and illusions.   Sorting through these things takes wisdom and discernment.   Take the time to educate and enlighten yourself.

The healing process includes  the obvious considerations of mind/emotions, the physical aspects  of a person and the spirit.   Many of the arts I have personally experienced in my own practices share a common philosophy: that most of our imbalances originate in the mind/emotions: Yoga, Jin Shin Jyutsu (as well as many other Arts similar to this ... acupressure, Traditional Chinese medicine ... acupuncture...and so on), Kung fu and Chi Kung, Reiki..... and many others.  The interesting thing is to be able to track this for yourself as it occurs in your own life. 

For example, if you have ever noticed that reacting strongly to certain events creates a huge energy loss within you, you have directly experienced the beginning of the manifestation of tensions, energy shifts and changes within yourself.  These internal/external reactions to certain events, situations, people etc. create tensions in the physical body ... but they are energetic first.  Over time, tensions, stress and so on directly impact and interfere with the natural flows of the energetic system in our body and thus begin to alter the normal function of  our organs and various systems ... like our digestive and elimination systems for example.  

This is why, for example, you may feel like you have an upset stomach/bowels when you are overly excited or worried or upset in some way.  Other people notice they feel jittery, hyperactive, depressed, unable to eat or sleep ... and many more physical symptoms which occur as a direct result of some sort of reaction to a life situation or an experience of some sort.   Over time, our mental/emotional reactions to things (which are often internal for many of us and even out of our conscious awareness if we are not willing/able to fully BE with what we are experiencing and feeling), affect our entire being and in ways unique to our own constitutions. 

There are many tools we can learn to assist us in gaining a higher level of awareness of, balance and control of our inner emotions and mental states.  This is a very useful thing to learn, as it can assist us in attaining much higher levels of energy and well being.  Spiritual practices are a wonderful tool in this arena as well.   As we gain a level of mastery in these practical ways, we can learn to apply this in many useful ways to other aspects of our life... leading to greater levels of peace, health and abundance.

We also have to look at our choices during times of emotional/mental stresses and strains ... these choices tell us about our addictions.  Most people are not aware of the many faces of addiction: food, electronic escapism (we are always outside of ourselves and in a mental world full of computers, facebook and other social medias, cell phone apps...texting, radio and TV.... on and on....we are not talking about moderation here), food, caffeine and sugar, work and career over-identification (which takes the form of unhealthy striving and lack of personal balance), alcohol, relationships, sex, thrill seeking ..... anything can become an addiction when it begins to take over our lives and distance us from what is really going on and what we are feeling.  Addictions bring us further away from the personal level of balance and harmony we can attain.  

Addictions show up most forcibly during times in our life when we feel most vulnerable, stressed, tired, imbalanced and ignorant to its hold on us.  Our addictions are used to temporarily distract us from whatever it is that is drawing our attention and is in need of healing and assistance.   Addictions often run rampant or suddenly show up after the loss of someone we love,  or due to our reactions to relationship dramas and issues, work stress, family strains, loss or lack of personal vision in life and so on.  Addictions lead to imbalances which can lead to eventual illness when not addressed over time.

Other times, we are in need of healing due to a direct physical reaction to an external situation like continual exposure to toxins or other substances noxious to our inner balance.  We may have been involved in an accident of some sort or are born with a particular deficiency.  |All of these things can also be addressed as we embark on a healing journey to discover ways to heal and attain our own highest personal level of well-being.  

Once we determine how we became imbalanced in the first place, we can move forward and take the necessary steps to well-being and personal healing.  There are many ways to approach healing and we would do well to look at each aspect of our lifestyle over the lifetime of our journey here: exercise; breathing patterns; diet and quality of food and drinks chosen; water; addictions; mental/emotional issues to be dealt with: personal histories and stories and patterns; personal philosophies and belief systems; spiritual interests and tendencies; energy levels....and so on.   When we require assistance, it is useful to seek out professional guidance and support.

We can benefit from in depth work and consistent application of the many practical things we can learn to do .....over time.   It truly is a lifestyle thing and healing is a journey that may look differently as each of us is unique.    A spiritual path is also one which provides us with the tools we require to walk with personal balance in our life and to heal that which ails us on different levels.  Visit the pages on our website and see how we may be able to assist you in attaining your personal best.   Enjoy your journey and may you be blessed with the healing you require in whatever way is best for you.

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

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.