Like Leads To Like

I went to a fairly violent movie today, for reasons that are not clear to me.  The name of the movie does not matter, but one theme clearly expressed in the movie was that actions motivated by anger, judgment or ego lead to more of the same, while actions motivated by love and compassion also lead to more of the same.  This is a theme which is generally, but not always true in real life.  Personally, I have done each type of action many times in my life.  At this point, when I feel anger, judgment or any of various feelings prompted by self-centered ego, I do not act at all and simply let the feeling pass.

Balance

During my twenties, while studying for my B.A. and then my Ph.D., I focused, intently, on developing what is usually called my ”left brain”, my logical, scientific, cause and effect side.  For the next decade or so I made primary use of that aspect of my brain, while also feeling that something was missing.  Then, recognizing the source of my imbalance, I began trying to develop my intuitive, creative, feeling side (right brain).  I am still striving for the correct balance since, as Maharaj puts it “Mind creates the abyss, the heart crosses it.”  Today, I began (again!) the study of English grammar, in order to improve my writing, a creative process that will require both parts of my brain.

Understanding Is Not Required

In my experience, during discussions of spiritual principles or ideas, people frequently talk in terms of understanding or trying to explain the ideas.  I must confess that I have spent much of my life trying to understand or explain these principles and then a greater sense of freedom came along, when I shut down that part of my brain.  Things like the feeling of being connected or experiencing some sort of Divine intervention can be partially described but our words can only point to them, not explain them.  Spiritual experiences can certainly be known, but not understood, which is wonderful.  In my view, trying to explain them is like trying to explain the glory of sunlight or a rainbow.

Dark Night

Having gone through what St. John of the Cross called “The dark night of the soul”, a period of absolutely no consolation in anything coupled with extreme physical and emotional pain, I now feel/know a deep connection with God and just how wondrous this process called life is.  For me, that dark time lasted for several years with increasing glimpses of what I was seeking, and was completely necessary for me to become the person I am today.  During that time, I could only find consolation and healing through my connection with that force I call God.  As many people have commented in the past, God was always there, I just needed to make the connection.  It took what it took.  I sincerely hope that others can make that connection without going through what I did.

Understanding Is Not Required

Many of the things I do and say are strange to people raised within the dominant culture, things like sensing and using energy fields around people and things or experiencing the healing power of love.  As a result of the strangeness, the ideas often elicit fear or anger.  In my case, those ideas are rooted in personal experiences of mine or those of many others who have written them down in the past.  The ideas are very practical and have a direct bearing for life on this planet.  I cannot say that I understand or even try to understand these things (as I often say “understanding is not required”), but I use them in my day-to-day life.

Humility

I really enjoy watching the various birds that come to our feeders, especially the thirty or so crows.  Not to be insulting, but I get the same feeling from them that I get from observing the people that I come in contact with; delightful, charming, well meaning and silly at times.  We are very much like elaborate, complicated crows.  I used to formally study animal behavior, and even went so far as getting a Ph.D.  I now work with people, observing, connecting and dealing with human behavior.  In many ways, the basic drives and instincts are still evident, very humbling.
The words I say and print often surprise me, today is a good example of that.

My Glass is Full

I choose to be a positive force for people and things around me.  I also make an effort to be realistic, to admit that life is difficult and frequently unpleasant.  For example, I, often, have minor fear-based thoughts, physical pain or limits imposed on me by my disability.  Those same fear-based thoughts, physical pain or limits have led me to a wonderful life of connection and love for God, other people and things.  Both sides are part of my reality and I choose to embrace each.  Having had this realization, it’s not that my glass is half empty or half full, it is full.

Balance

Being in town, rather than fifteen miles out, feels very solid, like this is right where we should be.  Maria and I have each sensed for a while that our role was to be a source of  “peace in the middle of chaos”.  That is more likely to happen in the middle of town, which is where we are located now.
There has been a gradual shift in this culture away from the spiritual and towards materialism, consumerism, intellect and instant gratification.  The shift towards materialism, etc. is not, in itself, a bad thing, in fact that shift has led to significant advances in things like technology, science and medicine.  However, in the absence of spirituality that shift has also led to a sense of fear-based chaos, an imbalance.  Maria and myself, as well as many others, have, in some ways, turned away from materialism and toward the peace and love of the spiritual.  We still own and participate in things, but also emphasize the importance of the spiritual.

Listening

We went to Picture Canyon, within the outskirts of Flagstaff, today.  The excursion ended up being a very pleasant experience in listening to and being with the spirits.  We could each feel it when we entered the “zone” around the canyon.  Having entered the zone, Maria suggested various places along the way that we could stop to do our ceremony, for fear that it was too far for me to walk all the way to the canyon.  For some reason my sense was that it was important to get to the edge of the canyon, so we continued.  Once there, we sat, I meditated and was shown, clearly, what to do in terms of a ceremony using our pipe, a feather and smudge mix.

Connection 2

We are all connected to each other, everything else and the force/power/energy that most people call God.  I feel it, love it and love it.  To me, that connection feels very, loving, compassionate, understanding and cohesive.  It is a very strong, wonderful feeling that has been written about for many centuries by many people.  It seems to me, that connection transcends any sort of differences between people and other people or the earth that supports us.  I choose to honor that connection in my daily activities and I make every effort to not violate it, for any reason.