I read the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed a few months back, about the time the movie came out.
Something that struck me at the time was the part in the book where she reflected on the extra psychic or spiritual weight we carry, like carrying a chip on our shoulders or an extra rock in our pack. It struck me strongly enough that I had it down as a potential blog topic for this month.
I think, after the events of the last few weeks, perhaps we all ought to examine the weights or rocks that we carry psychically or spiritually, and let go of those that no longer serve to keep us centered or grounded, the ones that now drag us down instead of buoy us up and shut us away from our fellow human beings.
What stones can you put down today?
Next week is a new month, and a new area of our lives to explore. We will be pondering the area of careers.
Until then, Namaste!
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Sunday, June 21, 2015
MaXIMIze - Spiritual Health - Honoring Our Connections
Happy Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year.
Happy Father's Day, at least here in the States.
A day of sun to be spent with someone's son who may or may not have a son of his own.
Happy Sunday, a day many - not all, but many - set aside to commune with the Son and the Father.
Wow, so much synchronicity in this day, so much connection!
Last night we saw Noel Paul Stookey and Pam Mark Hall at a house concert in a nearby town. For those of you who don't know, Mr. Stookey is Paul from Peter, Paul and Mary, a folk group many of us grew up listening to in the 1960s and 1970s.
One of the songs he shared last night was One Flame, Many Candles.
Some of the lyrics he shared were:
One flame, many candles
One sky, many stars,
One sea, many rivers,
One love, many hearts
He went on to at the end of the show to add the following:
One forest, many trees
One tree, many branches
One branch, many leaves
It reminded me of the Scripture where Jesus tells us, "in my Father's house are many mansions…" John 14:2.
So, I would add:
One species, many races
One race, many people
Or - even better - leave race out of the equation, for once. We are all Homo Sapiens, no matter our color or culture.
One species, many people
One person, many siblings
We are all connected with each other and our planet. What we do to it and to others, we ultimately do to ourselves.
Part of being spiritually healthy is recognizing that connection and honoring it in our daily lives.
How are you honoring your connections today and every day?
Until next time, Namaste!
Happy Father's Day, at least here in the States.
A day of sun to be spent with someone's son who may or may not have a son of his own.
Happy Sunday, a day many - not all, but many - set aside to commune with the Son and the Father.
Wow, so much synchronicity in this day, so much connection!
Last night we saw Noel Paul Stookey and Pam Mark Hall at a house concert in a nearby town. For those of you who don't know, Mr. Stookey is Paul from Peter, Paul and Mary, a folk group many of us grew up listening to in the 1960s and 1970s.
One of the songs he shared last night was One Flame, Many Candles.
Some of the lyrics he shared were:
One flame, many candles
One sky, many stars,
One sea, many rivers,
One love, many hearts
He went on to at the end of the show to add the following:
One forest, many trees
One tree, many branches
One branch, many leaves
It reminded me of the Scripture where Jesus tells us, "in my Father's house are many mansions…" John 14:2.
So, I would add:
One species, many races
One race, many people
Or - even better - leave race out of the equation, for once. We are all Homo Sapiens, no matter our color or culture.
One species, many people
One person, many siblings
We are all connected with each other and our planet. What we do to it and to others, we ultimately do to ourselves.
Part of being spiritually healthy is recognizing that connection and honoring it in our daily lives.
How are you honoring your connections today and every day?
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, June 14, 2015
MaXIMIze - Spiritual Health - Connections
I have learned a lot from reading the works of several great spiritual leaders and teachers.
You'll see me reference the New Testament, particularly the parable of the mustard seed. I also trust in the Golden Rule, which can also be translated as Karma. What you put out in the world is what you get back.
More modern teachers I've learned from include Henry David Thoreau, Ernest Holmes, and Julia Cameron, as well as Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I also count Richard Bach and Leo Buscaglia among my spiritual teachers.
I find spiritual inspiration everywhere - in people I've met, places I've been, things I've seen. Nature herself is a constant source for me with her annual themes of toil and rest, death and resurrection. Just this weekend, I saw our native California Buckeyes going into their summer hibernation - called aestivation - and know that, while they appear to be dying back now, they will come out in leaf and flower again in late winter/early spring of next year.
Just this morning, I was reading Julia Cameron's "Finding Water," the last part of "The Complete Artist's Way," and she quotes Thoreau - "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." Wow! This quote accompanied her essay titled "Companionship," which reminds me that we are never truly alone.
And that reminds me of a poster I've seen since probably the late 1970s. Perhaps you've seen it as well. The poem on it is called "Footprints," and the image is that of two sets of footsteps along the beach becoming one, as if one make of the steps is now being carried by the other.
We are never truly alone in this world. We are all connected to each other and to every living thing on this great blue ball that we call Earth, that we call Home.
My challenge to you this week is to notice and acknowledge the connections - big or small - in your life every day.
Next week's message on spiritual health is no quite clear yet, but I know it will come when I put pen to paper.
Until next time, Namaste!
You'll see me reference the New Testament, particularly the parable of the mustard seed. I also trust in the Golden Rule, which can also be translated as Karma. What you put out in the world is what you get back.
More modern teachers I've learned from include Henry David Thoreau, Ernest Holmes, and Julia Cameron, as well as Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I also count Richard Bach and Leo Buscaglia among my spiritual teachers.
I find spiritual inspiration everywhere - in people I've met, places I've been, things I've seen. Nature herself is a constant source for me with her annual themes of toil and rest, death and resurrection. Just this weekend, I saw our native California Buckeyes going into their summer hibernation - called aestivation - and know that, while they appear to be dying back now, they will come out in leaf and flower again in late winter/early spring of next year.
Just this morning, I was reading Julia Cameron's "Finding Water," the last part of "The Complete Artist's Way," and she quotes Thoreau - "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." Wow! This quote accompanied her essay titled "Companionship," which reminds me that we are never truly alone.
And that reminds me of a poster I've seen since probably the late 1970s. Perhaps you've seen it as well. The poem on it is called "Footprints," and the image is that of two sets of footsteps along the beach becoming one, as if one make of the steps is now being carried by the other.
We are never truly alone in this world. We are all connected to each other and to every living thing on this great blue ball that we call Earth, that we call Home.
My challenge to you this week is to notice and acknowledge the connections - big or small - in your life every day.
Next week's message on spiritual health is no quite clear yet, but I know it will come when I put pen to paper.
Until next time, Namaste!
Sunday, June 7, 2015
MaXIMIze - Spiritual Health - Meditation
For me, meditation is a practice of quieting the mind by focusing on the breathing. It is also a practice of acknowledging thoughts that stop by as I'm meditating and then letting them go on through rather than stopping and chatting with them a while. There is no judgement, joy, sadness or fear when the thoughts come through as I am meditating, merely a "hello, yes I acknowledge your presence as you go through my mind" and then a refocus on my breathing.
By practicing as little as three to five minutes of meditation, my mind regains clarity from what could be chaos, and is able to more sharply focus on the heart of what matters instead of the "what if," "if only," and other thoughts that breed fear and stagnation rather than growth and movement.
I meditate by either sitting cross-legged with my hands palm-up on my knees or by lying in corpse pose, on my back, feet a little bit apart, arms at my sides, my hands palm-up. In either position, I breathe slowly and purposefully in through my nose, filling my belly and lungs fully. I hold for a beat or two, or four if I am really agitated at the beginning of the meditation session, then exhale through my nose, emptying first my lungs then my belly fully. Inhale, hold, exhale.
After a few breaths like this to clear the mind and body of tension, I sit or lie quietly breathing normally for a few minutes. If thoughts begin to stay around rather than pass through, I bring my attention back to my breath for a few counts.
I find that meditating in the morning before I get ready for the day - work or weekend - helps me deal with any stressors that come up in a much calmer fashion than I once would have.
I also find that meditating prior to going to bed or even taking a nap helps me sleep better, deeper, and longer, and awake more refreshed than trying to sleep with a head full of thoughts clamoring for attention.
So, my challenge to you during this month of focus on spiritual health is to find a few minutes each day to meditate and see what changes occur within you because of it.
Next week, I'll share some other mindful activities and some thoughts from people I turn to for spiritual guidance and inspiration.
Until next time, Namaste!
By practicing as little as three to five minutes of meditation, my mind regains clarity from what could be chaos, and is able to more sharply focus on the heart of what matters instead of the "what if," "if only," and other thoughts that breed fear and stagnation rather than growth and movement.
I meditate by either sitting cross-legged with my hands palm-up on my knees or by lying in corpse pose, on my back, feet a little bit apart, arms at my sides, my hands palm-up. In either position, I breathe slowly and purposefully in through my nose, filling my belly and lungs fully. I hold for a beat or two, or four if I am really agitated at the beginning of the meditation session, then exhale through my nose, emptying first my lungs then my belly fully. Inhale, hold, exhale.
After a few breaths like this to clear the mind and body of tension, I sit or lie quietly breathing normally for a few minutes. If thoughts begin to stay around rather than pass through, I bring my attention back to my breath for a few counts.
I find that meditating in the morning before I get ready for the day - work or weekend - helps me deal with any stressors that come up in a much calmer fashion than I once would have.
I also find that meditating prior to going to bed or even taking a nap helps me sleep better, deeper, and longer, and awake more refreshed than trying to sleep with a head full of thoughts clamoring for attention.
So, my challenge to you during this month of focus on spiritual health is to find a few minutes each day to meditate and see what changes occur within you because of it.
Next week, I'll share some other mindful activities and some thoughts from people I turn to for spiritual guidance and inspiration.
Until next time, Namaste!
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