The Seeker's Anchor

A fundamental aspect of the human condition is that we are constantly seeking and searching for meaning and purpose in life. This is one of human beings' most irritating qualities, and we have numerous irritating qualities. It is also what makes us brilliant, inspirational, a co-creative.

Seeking is fundamental to who we are, and it is really the only one of our irritating qualities that I am unwilling to lose.

But it can be really awkward and disorienting to be in a constant state of philosophical shifting and reevaluation. It puts us in states of periodic confusion as we re-frame and try to find something to hold onto, some anchor to keep from drifting off into esoteric madness.

All That Is is so vast and unfathomable, and yet we are driven to try to comprehend it. I don't believe there is such a thing as ultimate comprehension of All That Is. If ultimate comprehension was possible, that would require All The Is to be finite and quantifiable.

I imagine that All That Is is expanding faster than our capacity to understand it. By our very understanding we ourselves are causing All That Is to expand. To imagine that we might definitively understand All That Is, is like trying to catch-up with something that has had a head start of Infinity.

It the midst of such vastness, what is there to provide an anchor? What is at the root of every other useful belief? What can we hold onto that will not be torn away when our various working philosophies are inevitably uprooted?

I believe that thing is Love. Universal Divine Love: Love that is a force of nature, a law of physics, the mind of God, the dynamic creative principle, the essence of All That Is. Love that transcends beliefs and religions and judgements and perhaps even discernment.

What if we asked All That Is to allow us to be a channel for such Love, and to be willing to be adjusted in such a way that this might be possible? Whatever else we do or say or think or believe, let it be at its foundation, Love. To ask even for the willingness to be such a thing, might itself change the course of our collective destiny.

What is energy work?

What is the difference between Reiki and Energy Work? I am often asked this question and the answer is both simple and complicated.

The simple answer is that there is no fundamental difference. Both are accessing the universal divine love principle, aka God, Creator, All That Is, Mystic Law of Life, et al., for the purpose of facilitating healing on the physical, emotional, mental and even deeper levels.

As both a natural energy worker and a Reiki Master I can also see some differences in the application of different modalities. Reiki is quite formalized and requires attunements. The great thing about this is that it allows anyone who is interested to increase their access to this universal energy. The formalization of the system allows it to be taught to anyone wishing to learn.

Energy work that is more intuitive does not usually require any attunements, but it seems to be something more born-in - and therefore very difficult to teach.

In recent years I have been called to teach the kind of energy work that I do. At first, when Spirit called me to do this, I thought "How do I teach something that I never had to learn?" So, I took the three Reiki attunments in order to learn a structure within which I can begin teaching energy work. My hope is that, as I attune others to Reiki, I can also assist them in working both within the formal Reiki system and also though intuition.

My Reiki Master, Maureen Amen, is trained in many energy healing modalities as well as Reiki, and she is able to incorporate a variety of styles into her work. She is the perfect teacher for me. I was averse to doing Reiki in an overly rigid manner, and she is not the least bit rigid. You might say, she puts the fun in fundamentals.

Everything in the universe is Energy. Physics tells us that energy is not created or destroyed, but only changes form. Energy Work is the transformation of energy for relief of physical, mental, and emotional blocks. By observing and interpreting your energy body, or aura, people with particular intuitive gifts can help you to identify areas in which you may be experiencing blocks in your life, and facilitate the release or transformation of those blocks.

When there are no blocks, the universal divine love can flow freely within you, the way it is intended to do.

Just so you know: Energy work is not intended to replace conventional medical care, but it can be a fine compliment to any other wellness modalities. As I see it, conventional medicine, alternative medicine, energy work, and prayer all exist for the same reason: to help us feel better, live longer, connect with the divine, and make the most of the wonderful gift it is to be a human being.

The End of The World as We Know it

Oil gushing into the gulf, global climate change, 6.5 billion people increasing exponentially, loosely propped up economies, glaciers melting, rain forests (the lungs of the planet) being rapidly cut away, civil and privacy rights slipping away in bits and chunks, terrorism, synthetic biology creating a cell from scratch, technology simultaneously connecting us to everything, and distracting us from everything.

Any one of these things would be enough for any of us to run naked through the street - complete with screaming and arms flailing wildly. But, for the most part, we don't scream and flail. And it would be pointless. Naked screaming, although tempting, is not a particularly articulate response to the situation. But that begs the question: is there any articulate response?

It's all so overwhelming, there's no way to hold it all in our heads. It's all so far beyond our ability to deal with it. If we can't count on the basic structure of society to hold itself together anymore, what can we count on? I read a quote that summed it up, "If you're not overwhelmed, you're not paying attention."

Those of us who have chosen to be born in this time period surly must want to learn something truly important from this experience.
This is certainly the end of the world AS WE KNOW IT. But that doesn't mean it's the literal end of the world. More and more, the world we are used to is transforming into something we hardly recognize. It can be tempting to roll up in a ball and hide under the bed, or simply distract ourselves endlessly with the endless buffet of distractions that constantly flood our senses.

Now, more than at any time in history, we are called to go inside and operate from the platform of "know thyself". Otherwise we are whipped into the great spinning vortex of uncertainty and confusion. At no other time has it been so important for each person to consider what really matters: how to live in awareness of our connection to all things, and the consequences of our thoughts, words, and actions.

Gandhi said, "Be the Change that you want to see in the world." That is no mere flowery cliche'. It is a profound and powerful call to action, and not so easy to achieve. World peace cannot be imposed by any government or institution. Peace cannot come from out there. Peace only comes from within. The only within that any of us has real influence over in our own. You may think, "But it's no good if only I change - unless everyone else changes, too."

I understand that position, and on the surface, it makes sense. But I'd like to propose a different way of looking at it. When the consciousness of one person changes, it affects the collective consciousness.

How's that? We are inextricably connected to one another to a degree far greater and deeper than most people realize. We are all connected as one great mind. Imagine each of us as a cell in one great universal mind. When you change your consciousness you change the world in ways beyond what you might think is possible.

Determine to be a light of peace. Determine to love your enemy (not just tolerate - love).

This is difficult enough! In fact it can seem impossible. It often seems more possible to change the whole world than to change oneself. That's partly why we so often focus on changing the world instead of ourselves - because it seems easier! But it is not easier - and is in fact impossible. Each person is in charge of changing themselves and nothing else. Certainly - that's a big enough job.

But the magic of it is this - when you change yourself to Be the way you want the world to be, you make it easier for others to do the same. You add your piece of the collective mind to the greater good and progress of the collective. This can influence the rest of the collective mind toward good and progress. Because we are so interwoven with all other consciousness, a change in our own consciousness sends waves of change throughout the collective. Becoming the change we want to see in the world isn't just the best way to change the world -it is really the only way.

Intention and Purpose

How do you get from here to there? Well, you can float along and see where the current takes you. But if the current is created only by forces around you, you may not end up where you really want to be. What is your purpose? Why are you here? That's a question we always ask as we begin to wake up to who we really are. You will find clues to your purpose when you discover what it is you are passionate about. But how do you know what your passion is? Passion is strong emotion and it manifests in a variety of ways. Ask yourself, what gets me all riled up? What really ticks me off, gets my goat, makes me want to wheel out my soap box and have a good rant? What feels exciting, fascinating, whets your curiosity, gets you sad, happy, or jealous? Maybe it is politics, the environment, child welfare, world cup soccer, cooking, the arts, or . . . you fill in the blank. No matter what the emotion is that you are feeling - if it is a strong emotion, it is a marker for your passion. Ask yourself, what is this strong emotion trying to show me? Excitement, enthusiasm and curiosity are classic pointers to our passions. But the less enjoyable emotions are there to guide us, too. Anger may be showing you the things in the world that you would like to be better than they are. Maybe you can envision something better and your angry that reality isn't like your ideal. Jealousy might be there to show things you wish to achieve, but have not yet figured out how to do it. Once you have identified what it is you really care about, you have the main ingredient in understanding your purpose. Once you have identified your purpose, the next step is to connect with your Higher Power - whatever that is for you - and make the determination to use your passion/purpose in the best possible way - for the greatest possible good. It is not necessary to have a plan already lined out as to how you are going to do that. That will unfold along the journey. The central point is this: by identifying your passion and then determining to use it for the greatest possible good, you have aligned your intention with your purpose. With Purpose and Intention aligned - you will begin to see the pieces fall into place and a direction for your life's purpose will begin to open up in front of you.

Brave New World of Nagging

Technology has done so much for us. It has expanded us. The internet is an outward expression of the mystical interconnectedness we have always been, but rarely felt. But it has also added a whole new set of things to nag our ourselves about. Haven't blogged enough, haven't checked all of my e-mail fast enough, didn't pick up every cell call as soon as it rang, don't know how to skype or tweet. Perhaps it would be wise to refrain from nagging ourselves about anything that was not yet invented prior to . . . (oh, pick a number, let's say) . . . 50 years ago. Cheers! Love! Namaste!

Love with a Capital "L"

Is there such a thing as unconditional love? The answer to this question depends on one's definition of love. What is love? Human beings usually experience love as a feeling. The feeling of Love comes from the energy of Love. In other words, the feeling of love is not what brings love into being.I will attempt to explain what I mean with the following analogy: When you smell a cake baking, you use your senses to perceive and interpret particular olfactory vibrations and you recognize this sensory data as "aroma of cake". The cake exists, and so you smell its aroma. Lets say you have a cold and your nose is so stuffed up that you cannot smell the cake. Even though you do not smell it in that moment, the cake smell vibrations are still wafting around you. Your stuffy nose is blocking your ability to smell the cake - even though the cake smell is all around you. When you regain your health, and there is no longer a barrier to the flow of sensory information, you will be able to smell the cake's aroma. Or, let's say your nose becomes a little clear but is still a bit stuffy. You will then smell a bit of the cake smell, but not a fully as if your nose were unobstructed. When you experience feelings of Love you are allowing yourself to perceive the energy and vibratory signature of Love. Love exists, so you can feel it. However, if you create a barrier between yourself and Love, you will feel it less. Love is not a feeling, just like cake is not a smell. If we are open to feeling love we can feel it - just as we can smell a cake if our senses are unobstructed. Love feels great! So, why do we not allow ourselves to feel it every minute of every day? Just as a stuffy nose can get in our way of smelling the lovely smell of cake, self-limiting beliefs and fears get in our way of feeling love. In my next blog entry, I will discuss the kinds of self-limiting beliefs and fears that block us from experiencing the Love that is constantly around us.

What Blocks the Flow of Love?

So, what self-limiting beliefs and fears block us from experiencing the Love that is constantly around us? People often hold themselves back from feeling Love because they are afraid that it makes them vulnerable. Maybe you have felt love for someone and it hasn't worked out. Maybe you loved someone and they were incapable of giving love back to you. Maybe you experienced a betrayal, or your expectations weren't met in some way. You opened your heart and let out some love. When you didn't get what you wanted in return, you felt hurt. To avoid feeling hurt again, you closed your heart. Love is more than just a feeling or emotion. It is a force of nature, a law of physics, a universal principle that is far greater than our capacity to perceive. We perceive little facets of it in our love for each other. It is an energy that is bigger than romantic love, bigger than brotherly love, bigger even than the love of a parent for a child. Love contains all of the qualities of romantic, brotherly, and parental love, but it is even more than this. Our human expressions of love give us only a glimpse at what Love is. If you choose to, you can open yourself up to greater and greater degrees of Love and allow yourself to manifest this very high vibration in the world. Unlike romantic love, that can be given on one day and taken away on the next, the Universal Love Principle is not given or taken away. It simply Is, always. We don't have to create it, or manifest it. We simply have to allow it in. How do you do that? All you have to do is remove the blocks and it comes rushing in. There is one basic thing that human beings use to keep love out. That one thing is Fear. Fear of getting hurt, fear of what it may mean to be loving, fear of allowing that much power into our lives, fear of changes that will occur for us if we allow that much Love. Change is scary - even if it is change for the better. Consider these ideas as they may help you to overcome some of your fears: Just because you love someone doesn't mean you have to do what they tell you to do. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you have to be their friend (although you might decide you want to). Just because you love someone doesn't mean you owe them anything.Just because you love someone doesn't mean they owe you anything. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you have to agree with them. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you approve of all of their actions.Love with a capital "L" is not dependant on who you are, or who other people are, or who deserves what, or what is fair. Love just Is. Love is Unconditional.

Thoughts on sitting in Peace

Feeling Peaceful is a little like feeling in control. But I think it is a false sense of peace if it requires that I feel in control in order to feel it. True peace is a centeredness that exists in any circumstance. It is the center of the wheel and does not get caught up in the chaos of ever changing circumstances. There have been times when I felt something like peace because I believed that I had all of my ducks in a row, so to speak. But as soon as the ducks stepped out of line, I recognized the limits of my control and no longer felt at ease. So, if we wait for external circumstances to support our desire for peace, the feeling will be short lived, at best. When I feel unsettled – especially in disagreements with people I love– it is easy to get swept away with hurt feelings. I have been steadily improving my ability to re-affirm my inner center of peacefulness. When I do this, there is less energetic chaos and the disagreements pass more smoothly and easily. We all have a right to peace because it is our birthright as human beings. We are peace in our center that is divine. So, we have a right to it simply because we exist. No other permission is required. Peace is a letting go of resistance and judgment of what is. It is a feeling of trust that I am safe and in the flow of life needing to fear nothing and resist against nothing. Teaching peace is a process. As with teaching any sort of concept, teaching peace would require exploring what peace is and why it is desirable. Many people are so attached to grudges, and judgmental-ness, and other feelings that get in the way of peace. First there is the process of breaking down these beliefs and attachment so that peace can be experienced. There is a way to create a space within which a person can step into peace if they a willing to do so. Energetically, I try to create a space for my clients to feel more peaceful. When they are getting up to leave a session with me, my clients often say, "I feel a lot better now". So, I believe they may be feeling more peaceful from the work we do together. Then they will interact more peacefully with the people in their lives and the affect may spread beyond the immediate circumstance.
November 3, 2009

Predicting the Future

If someone says they are psychic and tells you that they know for CERTAIN what will happen in the future, they are not really psychic. A real psychic knows that the future does not exist until you decide it into being. Thoughts, words, and actions in the present create tendencies and likelihoods of what will happen next.
Some people have the capacity to see a much broader field of these probabilities, and so their accuracy in seeing probable outcomes is heightened. Thoughts, words and actions create energy patterns - because everything is energy. A gifted psychic is a person who has a heightened awareness of these patterns and can see, or otherwise sense, these patterns better than the average person.
Based on observation of current energy patterns, a highly intuitive person can see the likely outcome of a current situation. It's like, you can see where the current energy pattern is headed and what it is likely to meet up with.
(This works in the other direction, too. You can look at the current energy pattern and trace it backwards to see what past events led to the current situation.)
This information can be useful if the direction you happen to be going is not taking you where you want to go. You can take that information and switch directions, or get more clarity on what is getting you stuck in ineffective patterns. As soon as you change the pattern of your thoughts, words, or actions in the present, you have changed the course of your future.
Psychic abilities are only meaningful if they assist people in improving their lives. Otherwise, it's all just cheap parlor tricks and showing off.

The Trouble with Perfectionism

In order for Perfection to exist in Time and Space, we would only have to get rid of two things - Time and Space.

Positive Thinking is an ingredient - not the whole recipe

I am glad to see that so many people are currently learning and experimenting with the Power of Positive Thinking and the Law of Attraction. Thoughts and words have tremendous power. But Positive Thinking was never supposed to be a substitute for Action. Thoughts have power, words even more so, but without action - there is no manifestation. Positive thinking without positive DO-ing, leaves the energy of our intentions stuck there in the realm of potentiality - action is required to set the intention free.
So, what prevents people from taking action? If you boil it down it seems to always be a fear of something that holds people back: fear of success, fear of failure, fear of being judged, fear of finding out that you are not exactly who you thought you were, fear of other people finding out that you are not who they think you are (or - who you think they think you are.)
How do you shift that? How do you get past the fear?
First - set the intention that you will overcome it.
Then DECIDE that you will overcome it EVEN THOUGH it will probably be very uncomfortable.
If you wait until you are not afraid of success, or failure, or being judged before you begin to take action -- you simply will not take action.
Here's an analogy: Saying "I won't do this or that until I overcome my fear", is like saying "I won't go to Europe until Europe isn't so far away."
Once you finally go to Europe, you are there, and it isn't far away anymore - but until you go there it is always far away. Until you risk success, or failure. or being judged, or whatever other fear is holding you back - you never completely defeat your fear. Facing fear is uncomfortable - sometimes very, very uncomfortable. The only real sacrifice you need to make to overcome a fear is to be willing to feel uncomfortable for a while. That discomfort does not kill you - and it DOES make you stronger.
Positive thinking, speaking AND action are the ingredients of Positive Manefestation.

Waking Up

Do you ever feel as if your whole life is a dream? Actually, I feel that way sometimes. When I am meditating, I often hear an inner voice tell me to wake up. Like "Awaken, Awaken, Awaken". The concept of awakening to truth is found in many religions and most esoteric practices. Awakening is usually likened to enlightenment. But I wonder if it is not simply esoterica, but perhaps a more literal waking up that is called for.
As humans, we are constantly flooded with sensory and extra sensory information. In order to function at all we have to ignore vast amounts of information in order to pay attention to the things we have to pay attention to. Autistic people are said to be very sensitive to the flooding of sensory stimulation, and so withdraw into themselves in order to cope. I think there is getting to be so much sensory stimulus for all of us that we all are withdrawing. Obsessive use of video games, computers, texting, i-pods, and all the gadgets we quickly become obsessed with, are sometimes used as an escape. These gadgets allow us to hyper focus on one thing thus shutting out the myriad stimulus all around us. I am not saying that these "newer" technologies are a special case. We have been doing the same thing with TV for decades. I am also not saying that technology is causing this. Humans are more and more desperate to withdraw from the vast amount of data, images, ideas, and technology can be a place into which they can withdraw. Of course, if it were not for all of the technology, we would not be so constantly barraged with data. I am not blaming technology for anything. Technology is created and used by humans. We are the only ones responsible for what we do with it. No one creates products unless there are consumers ready, willing, and able to consume it. That said, why do we consume it? And, are we stopping to think about what we are not doing, while we are hyper-focused on some game, or farmville, or mafia wars, or texting a vote for the next "American Idol"? These activities tickle the creative part of us just enough that we might think we are actually DO-ing something. When you let technology burn up all of your time - whether it is gaming, tv watching, facebook time sinking, or anything else, you keep yourself asleep and hyperfocused on someone else's life and creativity. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, necessarily. I'm just suggesting that we all consciously decide if that's what we really want from life.