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.

The Art of Reflection and the Many Faces of Negativity

There are many aspects to the Work we do.  (By now, we know that Work with a big `w` refers to the path we walk).  We will discuss a bit about the Art of Reflection.   We will also take a look at negativity and its effects on us and our energy reserves today. 

ENERGY STORES

Part of our Work is the taking in and storing of energy(ies) which is vital to our well-being and necessary for us to use in furthering our growth spiritually.  It is like a feedback loop ... we Work to gain energy which we can now use to continue to progress in our Work ... of course we also require and use energy for other things.   We gain and store energy by applying practical tools -  in both a formal practice, where we set a specific time aside to do certain movements and breathwork, and the informal setting of our everyday life ... this is what is meant by the saying that life is our dojo. 

In this path of study, you can be a householder ... with children ... a job ... etc. and benefit from Walking in this Way.  We are fortunate that doors have been opened and we have the possibility to benefit from this Work and attain whatever we are willing and able to attain given our unique situations and personal efforts.   Of course, given our vast differences in health, lifestyle, time and effort into the Work, we will get different results. 

If we are too tired to do our practices and/or are too stressed and have no energy reserves left, we can lose our ability to respond to things in a balanced way ... we may find practices challenging to do when we are tired or stressed out from how we are responding to our various life experiences and situations.  So we can say that we also Work in order to be energy efficient.  We then use our energy to continue in our Work and in our Life ... with as much balance and harmony as we are willing and able to create and sustain - given our own acquired abilities.

WAKING UP

Surely, the Work is in the Now ... in every moment ... wherever we are and whatever we are doing.  We are always in the Now ... what we mean when we say that the Work is in the Now, is that we are aware and conscious to all that is to various degrees - some of us are walking asleep ... in the Now ...  and not present with and in it.   There is so much talk of this these days ... yes, and for the most part, mostly talk.  We can offer you tools to check how awake you really are ... how willing are you to see?

When we are not fully present, we are more likely to respond out of a negative pattern and unconscious behaviour (thought, word or action); this, in turn, triggers others to do the same if they are equally not present (I also use the word unconscious ... unaware) ... and this, of course, leads to suffering and is fuel for further negative internal/external dialogue and so on.
  
There are also those who are conditioned to be 'nice' ... and this has nothing to do with being awake, aware and fully present to what is ... so it is a tricky thing ... this state of being awake.  All of our practices have to do with waking up more fully ... you only KNOW what this REALLY means when you are there yourself ...

THE ART OF REFLECTION


Reflection does not get in the way of the Now ... we gain from reflection and then we take this insight into our daily life.  Stopping to reflect often presents us with insight and aha's about things we did that we were previously unaware of.   When we stop to consciously reflect, it is quite different from allowing the mind to run rampant with mental movies and incessant internal dialogue on its own (unconsciously... not under our direct instruction).  So we choose when and how long to reflect and then we move on.

We can stop to reflect at any time during the day ... right before bed ... at various times of the year ... we can reflect about the day ... the week ... the month ... a year ... 

By the way, how HAS this last year been for you (2011?) ... were you at ease and in the flow with your life?  What situations came up which gave you big mirrors about yourself and what will you do differently now?  What did you learn about yourself? ... What are you doing now based on this reflection? ... How about your lifetime? ...

Have you ever had a tremendous shock in your life?  How did this impact you and your life afterwards?   Many people speak of having their life flash before their eyes right before death, a near death experience, an illness or a tremendous shock.  I experienced this when I was very ill ... and near death.  It was an amazing experience (I did not say fun) ... full of all the dark and light of how I was and the things I had experienced up to that point in my life.  Revealing, indeed.  

I now KNOW why certain monks have practices whereby they live as though they might die at any moment ... it is not a morbid practice ... it is reflection and presence to a high degree.  I have had other near death experiences and they have enriched my life - shocks have always made me see things with fresh eyes ... like being reborn without the garbage, conditioning and traumas we pick up along our journey.  These shocks provided me with opportunities to wake up more fully and to move in life in directions I may never have travelled.  But those are other stories ...

Bring the Art of Reflection consciously into your life as a practical tool.  In your formal practice, you are doing this reflection in the moment as you are moving ... but it is not a purely mental reflection ... it is all of you at once ... in keen observation, sensing, feeling, hearing, seeing, being inside and out all at once ... if you do, you will move without thinking about dinner or what someone said to you ... you will move freely.   We do formal practice in such a way that the mind finds it very difficult to take over!  We then Work to carry this forward with us throughout the day ... the formal practice being a big boost.

This way of reflecting is not the same as unconsciously daydreaming about the future and rehashing the past in daydreams and fantasies at any random time of the day.  This is what is unconscious and what we Work to stop.  

REFLECTION AND NEGATIVITY

Reflection is a tool we use.  As we reflect about the negativity we can see in our thoughts, words, actions, in and around us, we do so with awareness and then we move on with our day, applying what we have learned.  Negativity is a huge energy drain and so we are very interested in finding how it shows up in our lives in order to do something about it.  

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What are some of the Faces of Negativity?

There is a lot of misconception around negativity.  I once heard/read the story below and it stuck with me ever since.  It has become a reminder to me that when responses are genuine and are appropriate to the moment and the situation, they may come across to someone else as harsh or negative, when they are simply genuine responses to something in the moment and can be taken as a mirror of behaviour if dished out in the balanced measure to what is given. 

This is one of the big traps regarding negativity: people often justify true negativity as being a genuine response and a genuine response as being negative ... this is due to a lack of inner clarity and ability to see one's self and others as they really are.  Here is one story for clarification:

A woman priestess was studying under her master teacher when she came across a challenge in her understanding.  She was learning about the practice of loving kindness towards all beings and found herself unable to apply it in one situation.  She went before her teacher and explained:  '' I have been applying loving kindness to all whom I meet as my meditative practice.  Every week when I go to the market there is a gentleman there who pinches me and accosts me with rude comments and gestures.  It seems to be getting worse each time I go.   Work, as I do every time I see him there, I have so far been unable to feel this loving kindness towards him.''  The teacher smiled and told her, ''The next time you go to the market, bring your umbrella and when he touches you and speaks rudely, give him a sharp slap with your umbrella.   Then bless him with loving kindness in your heart,  walk away, and continue with your practices.''  She was never accosted by this person again.

This is a useful story in that many of us put up with inappropriate behaviours under the guise of being a spiritual and loving person.  We have the right to place boundaries up - and we can offer love and forgiveness to those who behave in this way ... in our hearts.   Others have no issues with placing up boundaries, but they do so aggressively and then gossip about it and carry on about it long after it is over ... this is also negative, and wastes energy.

So as we contemplate negativity, we must consider that it also involves having developed enough awareness, wisdom and discernment to respond to what is with a balanced approach. 

Subtle or obvious sarcasm:  We have a funny pattern in our communication style: its called humorous sarcasm... we can see it in the popular sitcoms on TV, in our friends, family etc ... perhaps we have picked this pattern up ... this form of sarcasm hides the subtle aggressive tendency we have towards each other - in other words, it is so easy to hide our true feelings and intentions and mask it as just a joke - just humorous sarcasm.... We hear things like:  "I did not mean it seriously - if you want to take it that way, it's about you!"   OK, so how about saying what we REALLY mean then?  Where is the heart and soul in our communication?


Judgment:   When I was growing up, I was taught the way of the Catholic Church and religion.   Of course, judgment was something spoken of and quoted all the time.  'Judge not lest ye too be judged', I was taught.

Hypocrisy abounded all around me as I saw that words did not make the individual able to do what was taught.  I was judged all the time by the very people who taught me not to and who attended the same church as I did.  Does this occur only in the Catholic Church?  Obviously not. 

My point, here, is that a teaching is only useful when applied and it requires a certain level of awareness and self-reflection to be able to see that one is or is not applying things ... with wisdom.  Many devout religious and otherwise spiritual people are hypocrites ... which has nothing to do with the path they are on ... only to do with their own level of being and ability to look into mirrors of self-reflection ... are they AWAKE or not?   Some paths do not lead people towards true awakening ... other paths do ... this is also true and has nothing to do with judgment ... it simply is what it is.

Also, to call it like it is, is not judgment ... it simply is what it is ... as long as it is not a projection of our own ...

People make judgments all the time ... including most of us who imagine we do not!   Work at catching the subtle ways that you may judge ... another's path ... another's way of dress ... someone's beliefs ... whatever .... simply catch yourself doing so in the moment ...

We judge and label our children and other people without truly understanding them.  This is now a norm in our society.   Judgment is a big part of the negativity in our world and inside us. 




Gossip:

Gossip creates drama and drama is a waste of energy.  We talk about others' lives and share our judgments, opinions, and often twisted views about what is going on with anyone who is interested.  Though we sometimes view this as a childish behaviour found in the public, high school, or college environments, we as adults, do this ourselves. 

Gossip is a common behaviour ... we are not speaking about sharing important information for awareness ... we are speaking of the kind of gossip which is hurtful - such as the spreading of rumours... or our own negative views and judgments about something or someone.  

We will sometimes speak of others in negative ways and this can taint the view about someone in a way that is not even accurate.   We see this happening in families and social environments all the time.  What a surprise we get sometimes to find out that people have believed things for years ... things about us that are not even true ... or at least, if partially true,  tainted with the warped perception of others!  

It is best to avoid gossip.  Sharing useful information or talking about things in order to learn from them is one thing, gossip is another... learn to distinguish the difference.



Unconscious and Mechanical Responses and Attacks:

This is something we see as a part of the conditioning we all experience.  We learn to respond (re-act) in specific ways and patterns as we grow up and throughout our lives.   If we Work to Wake Up, we come to see ourselves as programmed with responses, dramas, patterns ....most of which are unconscious to us. 

The more we awaken, the clearer we see ourselves... and into the mirrors that life presents us with via people, places, situations, energies, etc.   The more we awaken, the less likely we are to react with an unconscious and mechanical response and attack ... towards others or ourself.

The negativity we are faced with every single day of our life is either an unconscious internal pattern of our own (mental/emotional ... postural ... energetic etc.) or it's in our daily environment  - coming from others and from various energies all around us.

We say that patterns of responses which we may find negative and even hostile are mechanical ... this means they are not conscious and coming from a chosen place.   They are unconscious reactions to whatever.

 We often feel attacked either by the thoughts, words or actions of others or even ourself (like when we rehash negative experiences or unconsciously berate ourselves ... our own negative internal dialogue can be enough to drain us!). 

What can we do about this?  One thing we can do is to work on Waking up.  This will alter us and our perception of these things.   As we alter ourselves and raise our level of being, we no longer react to things the same way.  

Another thing we can do is use our minds in a practical way... when we are met with this in our environment, we simply learn to avoid reacting to it and see it for what it is ... look at the reality of where it is coming from.   From a place of mental/emotional balance, we can make a decision that will assist us in the way that is best for our particular situation.


Mental/emotional balance and control

This is, perhaps, one of our greatest challenges. 

As humans, we mainly have one of the following two patterns:

1.   We leak so much vital energy engaging in mental and emotional outbursts ... we are the one who have the main pattern of expressing our negativity outwards towards others and also towards ourselves at times

2.  We waste incredible amounts of energy stuffing these things inside us in order to appear already balanced ... or to avoid feeling these negative things ... or to avoid expressing them outwards towards others. 


BOTH OF THESE HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS

When we outwardly express negativity in an unbalanced way, we impact not only our own energy system, but those of others who may not be able to deal with this negativity well ... in which case they will also be affected.  It is vital for us to really feel the impact this has on us in so many ways (including how this can lead to illness ... and how it drains us of our energies) ... and to then apply consistent effort over time to alter this pattern.

When we suppress these negative states or unconsciously hold these negative energies inside (because we are `good' people or 'nice' people ... or trying to be this way ... or whatever other belief that may cause us to hold these tensions and negativities inside) ... we create chronic patterns of tension and energy blockages in our system and this also wastes incredible amounts of precious energy and can contribute to illness.


How many other faces of negativity do you know of? ... we mentioned a few of the big ones above.   Deal with these with balance and wisdom and you will find you have a great deal more energy to apply to your Work.   Use the Art of Reflection in your daily life to assist you with this.   Put your gained energy into the positive aspects of your Work and yourself ... cultivate Beauty, Love, Compassion, Wisdom, Tolerance, Clarity, Balance and the other traits of a Warrior/ess into your daily life with conscious presence.  


Search out assistance with the areas you may get stuck in and keep Working!   Play and have fun too ... this helps release tensions ... hug those you feel to hug ... smile when it is genuine ... put your feet on the earth ... let the air caress your skin  ... the sun embrace you and feed you ... MOVE YOUR BODY and LIVE!

Words and Concepts: Mental and Rational Traps

 When you look at the picture on the left, what happens?   Perhaps some of you simply view the picture and have a feeling or a body response to it; others may find words and concepts appearing in their minds: thunderstorm, dark, night, lightning and so on.

What if I then drew your attention to a metaphor that a storm is like our mental/emotional inner states and that lightning can represent our nervous system?    Doesn't lightning also look somewhat like our veins and capillaries?

What if I then said that this picture is used by me to represent what goes on inside of us metaphorically and that there are many symbols and realities in nature and the universe that are exactly like we are on in the inside ... if we but stretch our perceptions and paradigms?   Now you may find that your mind wanders in different directions ... or struggles with the concept ... or has already contemplated such things and can shift easily to this view.

In other words, depending on how we think about things, we can view the same thing and experience something entirely different.   This is similar to the meaning in the old saying that a Master (a Master of what? ... there are many things we can Master ... we even have preconceived ideas about what a Master is), can walk into a room and someone may not even see the Master for who they are ... their own judgments, perceptions, views, patterns and thinking gets in the way of seeing what is right before them -- or seeing something in a different or new way.

How about the image to the right?  If we simply look at it,we will receive impressions.  These impressions may be tainted with our previous conditioning and experiences in life.

To a very young child new to the world, this will be a pure experience and feeling ... without judgment, words or labels.   If someone says ... 'Oh, I see you have made a scale.  We use scales to measure things.  See how it balances on each side?'  Now it is becoming a mental concept.  If one has an open mind, it can still hold room for other ways that this symbol can hold meaning, and so there is less rigidity.  This is one way of viewing the saying: "having a child-like mind".  If one tends to be close minded and is more rational, this image may now become an inflexible concept in their mind.  Rigid beliefs are also created this way. 

After many years of seeing this image as a scale or balancing tool, and someone begins to speak of this image in a way we haven't heard before, we can either remain open and 'weigh' out the new info for ourselves without judgment, swallow this new way of viewing it without any contemplation of our own, or reject it entirely.   The question is: Are we aware of what we are doing with this (mentally)?

Here is another image.   This one holds a lot of historical, political, social, and religious significance to us ... depending on our background and culture.  Even so, it is an image that has spread worldwide.   I can say, surely, that if we asked various people all over the world, we would find many ways of talking about the significance of this picture ... depending on whom we ask, of course.   Regardless of what we might believe, there is a true story to this painting ... amidst the many interpretations, stories and histories that are passed around.

Many people asked about this picture above, would say similar things ... due to their exposure to certain religions, experiences and upbringing.  We would also find others that could talk about this image in ways we have never heard.   Concepts, words, beliefs and stories are dependent on many factors.

So the saying goes: A picture speaks a thousand words.   I wonder ... which ones do you entertain?

So what do our words really mean?   Look them up in a really good dictionary.  In there, you will even find root meanings of words going back to the times when we were forming more and more concepts and labels and identifications and classifications of things.   At least you will find a bit more information about the word and can find deeper meanings to some of the things we say every day.  With many words, these deeper meanings stem from a time that held other ways of viewing things.

The words we use attempt to clearly reflect that which we wish to communicate - often at the expense of losing something vital .... something which requires direct experience ... and which often lies more in the realm of the subjective world of the observer.   Read this blog with this in mind too ... these are only words ... attempting to point in certain directions ... the real Work is in the doing.   Everyone who reads this is coming in with their own filters, views, paradigms, mental patterns and histories ... and will go away with different levels of understanding and Knowing about what is discussed here today.


There is still a whole lot more to this; however, as we find that we frequently misunderstand one another and read things without absorbing the essence of what someone is saying ... or what a writer is truly working to express.  How could this not be so ..... we are not that person writing or speaking and there are many things in direct experience that are impossible or challenging to relay with words and concepts.   People reading the same material will also absorb different levels of that material depending on their education, world experience and level of Being.   This is why we can go back to something years later and grasp an entirely new level of understanding due to our own inner changes over time.

Growing up with words and concepts has contributed, in some part, to the deadening of the other ways in which we can innately experience and KNOW things.  Our words and concepts have become rational traps.  This is how people also misunderstand one another -  their words and concepts ... mental and rational traps, interfere with the heart of the matter ... the essence of the matter ... seeing, feeling and sensing the real message.   Communication and Knowing is far more than words.

For a simple example:  We can say things like "Have more confidence in yourself, my dear" ... that sounds fine, superficially.   Now, how are we going to do it?  It is merely a mental concept unless we are able to demonstrate it ourselves ... many people sit in seminars trying to learn how to be more confident!   Surely, the knowledge we can gain from the spoken and written word can lead to a level of understanding and open doors ... it does not mean we have integrated this knowledge into our Being ...

We sometimes read books about how to be more confident (or whatever we have read or taken a course on),  and then walk around repeating the words we have just read - as though we have integrated these things into our being ... when what we really require is direct experience in situations which require us to develop confidence.   This is another example of what I mean when I say that words and concepts can become mental and rational traps.   We also often mistake knowledge for Knowing.  Words and concepts can lead us to misunderstanding, and illusion when not used with wisdom.  Though the example of confidence is a simple one, we can find many more ways in which this is a common occurrence in our world today.

For the most part, our knowledge has outstripped our level of Being.  We can learn to develop both and require the willingness and ability to see ourselves as we really are in order to Work in balance.

We live in a world where words are very important.  We record knowledge in books.  I am not suggesting that it is all meaningless.  Books, seminars and schools have their place ... particularly when they are aware of and stress the various other modalities of learning - like hands on, direct experience and practical application.

For example, one can learn in a seminar, about all the chakras, their colours, their representations etc ... until this knowledge become Knowing through direct experience of Seeing them, feeling the energies in and around them and so on ... this knowledge is superficial ... a mental and rational concept only.   Some people will say that chakras are illusions ... because they never saw one.  Others will go to a course and learn about them and then believe they exist without ever discovering for themselves whether this is really true.  Both are in an illusion ... of different sorts.  This is dangerous ground: for example (one of my favourites):  when people grew up centuries ago, they learned through books and lessons that the world was flat.  Then they went forward in their lives speaking of this as a fact when there was no direct Knowing of whether this was true ... and in that case, it wasn't. 

Who is doing the writing ... who is defining a word?   What is really meant by that word?   Early in my training, I was studying under three different teachers.  I felt confused over certain words that they used.  One teacher said "Take the word 'Need' out of your vocabulary" ... another teacher advised us to use the word Need to express that we have core needs coming the essence of who we really are.  A third teacher divided these expressions into needs, wants and desires ... and used these words in different ways once again.   At first this seemed very contradictory to me.  Then, some time later, I came to see that all three were correct and that they each held a truth expressed in a different way and they were not contradictory to one another at all.   It was all just a word and concept trap.   I had to experience, contemplate and open up to grasp the entire way of viewing these things.  In the end, I was able to apply all three ways with clarity.  


So, who is doing the writing or saying the word?   This is also another useful question.  When we read about something - especially historical, religious and political materials, it is very useful to keep an open mind and remember that we are always reading from a person's adopted viewpoint, paradigm and belief system.   These things define the world we live in ... the way we see it.   It is often necessary to come to understand a person or a system's vocabulary and inner culture before one can truly be closer to understanding what is being communicated.

I am definitely saying that we would benefit from developing awareness about these traps and see the many ways we misinterpret what is seen, written and said.  Knowing that we distort, misunderstand and carry the baggage of our own projections onto words and concepts, we will use them anyway ...  with a greater understanding and openness ... sensing and intuiting ... allowing pictures to form ... and remaining open to direct experience.   In this way, we will not cling to concepts and words alone, but use them alongside our other inherent faculties.

We are more complete when we use all of our ways of knowing: we find much material on the integration of the person ... using both sides of our brain ... left and right side integration: the rational and the creative/intuitive ... yin/yang ... dark and light ... integration allows for the words and concepts without the mental and rational traps which come from an imbalanced way of perception.

This is something you  have the opportunity to experience directly in the Work we do - especially in the movement Arts we teach.  The body does not lie, as we can easily find how we are split and/or out of balance within ourselves as we move ... see ... feel ... reflect on what we are doing ... and how we are in the world in our everyday life too.  There are no words or concepts in certain aspects of the Work we do.  In this way, we learn there is a way to Be without them ... and things can be seen and experienced directly and in new ways (or old ways, really ... which have been forgotten ... not applied).

So ... are we to abandon our words and concepts?  We live in a world where these things exist all around us now ... we are suggesting that developing the awareness of these traps is is both a necessary and useful skill in order to live a fuller life.   Once we do so, we Work to discover what we can Know and Be alongside and beyond them. 

BALANCE AND HARMONY

When you come across the word BALANCE and HARMONY in this Work, remember that they are only words.  We are conditioned to view words in certain ways and are often not clear about what we are talking about - mostly due to a lack that our words and concepts really have in expressing what can only be directly felt, seen, heard, and experienced.


So - avoid getting hung up on the words.  To get a deeper understanding .... about how words and concepts trip people up, please read our text on WORDS AND CONCEPTS ... mental and rational traps (subject of our next blog and an insert on our various pages on the website  ... soon to come).


Use your feelings, intuition and allow pictures to form about what you are reading in order to gain a deeper insight.  Words alone will keep you in your head rationalizing ... remember, that our Work is experiential and direct ... Philosophy and knowledge are keys - and only a small part of the Work itself.  if you engage in the Work and DO it, you then have an opportunity to KNOW it ... there are no
guarantees in true Work of this sort - you WILL, however, get what you will attain through your own efforts and according to your own level of BEING.  This is different for everyone; how can it not be?   We show you the tools; you Work them!


Healing is very much like this too.  This is why people will get various results ... a key part in the healing process is you ... your approach ... your openness ... your level of being ... what you are ready for ... and so on.  Engage in the process and take it as far as you possibly can.   Make it your lifestyle and priority to see how far you can evolve in this lifetime.


As we Work in this Art, we are taught various principles and philosophical tools - tools which are and have been used by us ... and by others who have walked a similar path before us.  While much of what we apply in our lives (and in the Art today) comes from older teachings passed on by others, we also embrace
new discoveries with discernment and wisdom.


This is the way in which arts have grown over many generations.  It is vital to hold dearly to what works and continues to work, without discounting growth and evolution within the art and our selves. Having said this, it is clear to me, having walked this path in life for many  years, that we have much to learn about applying some very simple things ...  not in knowledge, but in true application.
                             
          
            Balance and Harmony are two of these simple things.


 In Jin Shin Jyutsu, I've heard it said that some of us are in harmony with our disharmonies.  Perhaps others have said this as well.  I have certainly SEEN it in real life.  This is one of the core practices of the Way of the Art of Kung fu Chi Kung Life System we teach ... a practice of seeing clearly in the mirrors of self-reflection ... how we really are, instead of how we imagine ourselves to be.  We can be in harmony with our disharmonies by not being inside of ourselves (when we imagine we are, and think we know what is going on) ... we can be a part of creating havoc in relationships due to our unconscious patterns of reactions, attitudes and behaviours or we may be unaware or ignore the signs that an illness is settling in due to our inability to feel subtle shifts in the various workings of our inner systems ... we have a part in creating imbalance and disharmony inside and out. 

Avoid judging yourself or another for these things ... if you were not taught how to do things differently, then embark on a journey to discover how  ...


I recall working with a young man in a self-development portion of a program I was working in.  I had to call him in to speak with him about his inappropriate behaviour and the effect it was having on the others in the group.  He denied his behaviour in the group setting when I attempted to bring it to his attention.  I remained firm yet fair in my attempt to have him own up to his behaviour,
as he was in danger of being dismissed from the program.  When I told him that it appeared to me that he was carrying a load of baggage and that a core emotional response of his was anger, he tensed up in front of my desk, clenched his fists, banged them on the table and yelled,  "I'm NOT angry,'' looking at me in a huff and face turning red.  I looked at him in amazement and asked,   "Well, what would you call that?"


I remained calm, and spoke to him briefly ... ignoring his anger and focusing on the fact that I knew there were other higher ways of being within him - underlying the outer shell of his anger and inappropriate behaviours.  He was later dismissed from the program due to an outburst.   After a week or so, he called me to say that he reflected on our discussion.  He said I was the first person to ever hold my ground with him.  He went on to apologize for his behaviour and owned up to it.  He also added that I was correct about the family baggage he had to face if he was to be free from his underlying anger.  He finally had an opportunity to do something new.

The point, here, is that since others had not held their ground with him and likely always focused on the anger and not the underlying issue, he had developed a way of harmony with his inner disharmony and emotional/mental imbalance in his approach to everyone.  He went unconscious about his anger and his habitual responses to people and his life situation ... no longer feeling it or seeing it until it was reflected to him directly.  He suffered immensely as a result ... so obvious to see by most everyone but himself.


We are all like this to various degrees - the 'stuff' within us which we really could Work on to alter our level of Being are rarely things we embrace when they are drawn to our attention.  We are in harmony with our various disharmonies and imbalances.  We no  longer see them, feel them or Know of them ... until something major happens ... like a big shock or illness .... even then, we are lucky if we sustain the awareness of the root of it all.   


BALANCE

In  the world today, due mostly to our mental/rational conditioning and experiences in school, the word balance might bring up an image of a scale or a measuring tool of some sort.  If one Works on oneself and has personally experienced the ebbs and flows of balance in one's life and being, this word would conjure up a different feeling/picture.

In one of our uses of the word in this Art we teach, we use the word balance similar to the definition in the Oxford Dictionary (2005) as a noun meaning mental and emotional stability: the way to some kind of peace and personal balance.  Is this attainable?  It is, indeed - it is an inner condition with outer benefits and is attainable to all who wish to experience it for themselves.  Is this balance a rigid state?  Of coarse not!  Nothing in life is static - all is dynamic and changing ... moving all the time ... altering even as we speak.  This balance we refer to is the Art of Being and moving with what is and moving in balance inside/out while doing so.


The Oxford also mentions a balanced approach as meaning an adjective which describes something that takes everything into account.   This is what our holistic and spiritual perspective does, as we are multi-faceted beings.

In an electric circuit, the Oxford also describes balance as showing symmetry with respect to a reference point - usually ground.  We apply this principle to ourselves in a similar way.  Our practices assist us in working to gain symmetry between our upper and lower, front and back, left and right sides and parts of our body/being on all levels.  These symmetries, or lack of, relate to energetic imbalances ... remembering that we are energy first and that our physical form is but a reflection of energies moving.  There are many considerations in root causes of imbalance of energies:  physical accidents/traumas, environment and conditioning, improper diet, our lifestyle ... mental/emotional patterns ... many things can impact our energy and form.


 In Art, the Oxford goes on, balance refers to the harmony of design and proportion.  I like to refer to the work of Masaro Emoto and his crystals when I speak of this and how it relates to our Art.  When we Work to gain balance, we become aware of subtle shifts of energy over time ...  differences in feeling
and texture inside of ourselves.  This leaks out to the outer, and we sparkle in our own unique way when balanced.  Every one of us has a natural beauty and vitality that emanates when we are feeling balanced and in harmony inside and out.   We can also read imbalances in the eyes, skin, posture, tone of voice and other outward manifestations. 


In Masaro's work with crystals, he would notice that certain words, tones and music affected crystal structures ... the ones considered the most beautiful were crystals with balance and symmetry to them ... clarity of form and structure.  This is a great analogy for us when we consider our Work and how we too can and do create ourselves by what we are exposed to on the inside and out ... by what we allow inside and around us.  Masaro's crystals, exposed to harsh tones, certain types of music and negative words, lacked symmetry, clarity and balance.


To assist you with a picture, hold the image of a crystal in mind ... How might we be like a crystal?  After all, we are made up of mostly water.  Water forms crystals.  Water has been shown to have memory and the capacity to hold information - like crystals - which is why they are used in computer technology ... among other applications we have found for them.  Imagine what you feel like when you are in a state of balance ... imagine what you feel like when you have what you may call one of your `off days' ... this gives you an idea of the ebb and flow of balance within you.  You have the ability to develop the sensitivity, observation and reflection skills necessary to determine what throws you off.  You can also learn tools which can assist you to regain balance when you are impacted/affected by various things which do cause a disturbance in your inner/outer flows of energy.



HARMONY


The Oxford definition of this word as a noun, means the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.  It also refers to being in agreement or concord.


In our Work, we mean the unification of the Body, Mind and Spirit as One unit and in agreement within the person so as not to create disharmony or fragmentation ... division between the parts of us that pull us in different directions ... us wanting different things in different moments as opposing parts of us come forward ... flip-flopping in decisions... regrets, disappointments... unsatisfied and unhappy states... mental and emotional upheavals caused by unconsciously prolonged negative inner states.  When we are in harmony, all the parts of our physical body work together as a unit and we are well ... symptom-free, have energy and are vibrant.


I like the analogy of music, which states that harmony is produced when notes are played at the same time and have a pleasing effect on our system as a whole.  We can learn to create this inner harmony.  

Musical harmony is a great analogy to our inner harmony as a person (our energetics) ... when all of us works in sync, a beautiful sound unique to who we really are is heard, seen and felt ... like a truly harmonious symphony of players of various instruments. Harmonious music is healing - music ... sound ... rhythm ... vibration ... light ... energy .... like you ... like me.




HARMONY AND BALANCE IS ATTAINABLE

In summary, though Harmony and Balance are not permanent rigid states, they are none-the-less true attainable inner states which when mastered lead us to living life without getting stuck for long periods of time in the negativity; strain; harmful stress; striving; illness; mental/emotional labels and ups and downs; dramas involving energy loss; chaos; confusion etc. etc.

When mastered, harmony and balance are states we attain quite easily if/when we are temporarily affected by something.  Our tools are refined to the point that the extreme fluctuations experienced by most people are no longer part of our experience. 


These are just words.  Once experienced, you will KNOW this and BE this yourself ... regardless of what anyone says.   So remember that the philosophy and knowledge we share is only a small part of this Path of Study ... the real Work is in the doing of it.