Acceptance

I received the first copy of my book today & immediately went into a combination of terror, awe and gratitude.  Gratitude won out and I shed a few tears.  Maria began reading the book and quickly noted some repetition in the text, which was intentional, and then a typographical error which was not intentional.  I immediately began obsessing about possible errors in the book before realizing that if there are errors that they will be part of the experience of the book.  I calmed down.

Healing

With any physical problem there are also the emotional and spiritual components.  The emotional and spiritual components are sometimes major as in heart attacks or colitis or minor in the case of a broken finger.  It has been my experience that it is best to address all components in order to achieve healing.  Surgery addresses only the physical and it is tempting to leave it there since it appears that the problem has been addressed.  However, it is a good idea to also address the emotional and spiritual components in order to avoid future complications.

The God/love part

Today, during working with a client, I was very much aware of the “knowing” I was writing about yesterday.  In this case it felt like I knew, understood and was communicating directly with the soul or essence part of the person.  I’m referring to what I usually call the “God part” which is closely connected to the Source/God/love & is more concerned with eternity than worldly matters.  As far as I can tell, we all have that part and tend to get in touch with it during times of extreme stress.  For me, getting in touch with that part requires focus.

Prayer & Meditation

Today I have been very aware and even preoccupied with the realization that I sometimes know things that I couldn’t possibly know.  This “knowing” is most obvious in my working with clients.  I frequently end up knowing things that help me in working with them, in fact they often now just expect it, smile when it happens and no longer ask “how did you know that!?”.  I just realized that the important fact is not that I know things, a very self-centered view, but that I am told what I need to know in order to be of service.  The information frequently comes to me during my period of prayer and meditation each morning, as I ask for guidance for that day.  I just need to avoid my ego attachments, listen and act accordingly.

Restoration

This was a restorative day of exercise, napping, meditating and contemplating, basically appearing to accomplish nothing.  I did listen to music (oldies!) when doing some of the exercise but I make an effort to eliminate or minimize distractions like busy work or TV.  I generate a feeling of love, gratitude and peace within myself and then sort through events of the recent past through meditating with my eyes closed or contemplating with my eyes open and just staring into space.  At the same time, I ask and listen for guidance.  If I encounter anything that does not feel right or complete, I decide or ask what action to take.

Differing Beliefs

In their book Miracles of Mind, Targ and Katra, Ph.D. describe several differences between the beliefs of spiritual healers/mystics and the western scientific person.  They point out that the healers and mystics believe things like the presence of auras & spirits, the fact that consciousness exists independent of the brain and the notion that there is an eternity that humans are a part of.  The fact is that I know these things rather than just believe them and it makes absolutely no difference that some people do not believe them, their beliefs don’t change things and I respect and honor their approach.

Gratitude

I lead a highly contemplative, meditative, introspective and spiritual life for which I am extremely grateful.  I am also very aware of the various antics that I and other humans perform each day and get tremendous pleasure from watching.  Rather than getting frustrated, I think of myself and others as a bit silly & cute.  Some of my lifestyle has been necessitated by my disability, which is just the way life happens.  My hope is that others can learn and grow from my example, without going through similar challenges.

Personal Fulfillment

I was just reading through “The Perfect High”, a poem by Shel Silverstein that I find very descriptive and enjoyable.  The fact is that I have spent years, in vain, looking outside of myself for a sense of fulfillment, as described in the poem.  I have now done a great deal of introspective work and have the sense of fulfillment I was searching for.  I also now put my process in my writing with none of the fantasy or romanticism described within the poem.  My hope is that others will benefit.

Paradox 2

I refer to the paradox I spoke of yesterday as the “empty fullness” of life and I take great delight in the situation.  I enjoy going about my day being aware of the paradoxical nature of my actions and the actions I observe with others.  It is clear to me that, overall, our actions are moving in the direction of integrity or love, albeit slowly and often hard to see, but always there if we look.  That movement is not quick, fun or easy, but it is happening.

Paradox

I have realized and am comfortable with the fact that, on the one hand, most of my daily actions mean little or nothing and that, on the other hand, those same actions are of tremendous value.  I am fine with living within that apparent paradox and would like others to know and be comfortable with the same.  First I recall the words of Pries when he commented that "nothing matters very much and very few things matter at all", which is true within our daily reality.  However, everything that we do, say or think also impacts, often only minimally, on the totality of energy or the integrity of the universe and in that way our daily activities have value.  That is part of the reason that I choose to act out of love.