Spiritual Tuning In
August 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There are so many ways to tune in spiritually that it’s difficult to know where to start!
In order to ‘remember’ that we’re souls having a human experience, not humans having a spiritual experience, it is important to tune in on a daily basis, if not hourly, if not every minute. Of course we get busy so we forget!
A ‘trigger’ of some kind is usually necessary to tune in with regularity. But what do we do once we’ve been ‘triggered’?! For me, it’s about love. To tune in to your heart and fill it to overflowing with love works every time. Love for the Source, love for me, love for my family, love for my special friends and albeit a little harder, love for all the souls on this earth.
I know that some of us hoard our love, saving it only for those close and ‘worthy’. We’ve only got so much to go around. A fabulous way to tune in to Infinite Source is to imagine a large cone emanating from the crown of the head up and out into the Universe where there is an unlimited source of love, peace, courage, grace, and anything else we need.
If we feel that we are running low on any of these wonderful spiritual feelings, all we have to do is open the channel and ask for more. It will be received.
If we have gone off the rails in terms of being the magical soul we know we are supposed to be, our bodies will scream ‘Oh no! This doesn’t feel right at all’. By taking note (which usually takes conscious practice), we can quickly recognise that the negative feelings and thoughts we might be having are against our spiritual nature and that the replacement positive feelings and thoughts are there for the asking.
We are never alone to cope with all the hard things by ourselves, but we do have to pay attention in order to transcend our daily dramas! What can you do today, this minute, to fine tune your inner spirit?
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Simplicity
July 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There is a real trap when walking the spiritual path I’ve discovered. How many of us have read every book anyone has ever recommended, or we’ve seen on-line, in stores, etc? We are on a journey of exploration after all, trying to find a pearl, an ‘aha’ moment, something which will bring us beauty, purity, clarity and simplicity.
Frederick Baile’s book “Hidden Power for Human Problems” is a truly wonderful book written many years ago, long before self-help books came into vogue. It can be found on Amazon.
The second is The Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
and Wisdom to know the difference
Simplicity itself, so I won’t attempt to analyse or explain. Rather, I will leave you to ponder just what this wonderful prayer means to you.
How simple our lives would be if only we could put it into practice!
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Freedom
June 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment
What did Jesus Christ, Gandhi and Martin Luther King have in common? To my way of thinking, they all had complete spiritual freedom. Not that they were, or are, the only ones, but they are the ones that immediately spring to my mind.
Irrespective of the culture or religion into which they were born, these secular souls lived the Way, and spoke without fear of consequences. The fact that all of them were killed is immaterial. The fear of death simply did not feature in their thinking. It did not interfere with their spiritual freedom to do and say what they felt had to be done and said.
Martin Luther King wrote
My scepticism concerning the power of love gradually diminished… Prior to reading Gandhi, I had about concluded that the ethics of Jesus were only effective in individual relationships… but after reading Gandhi, I saw how mistaken I was
(Taken from Peace Interactive). What Dr King realised was that there is no limit to God’s love and that violence is not the Way.
Nelson Mandela, who was convicted of treason as one of the leaders the African National Congress, spent 27 years in jail mostly on Robben Island. I would argue that he did not lose his freedom but only his liberty. Freedom is a state of mind and Mandela has also credited Mahatma Gandhi for being a major source of inspiration in his life, both for the philosophy of non-violence and for facing adversity with dignity.
If you asked many people, they would say that freedom comes with a total lack of responsibility, but there is one belief I share with these greats - that freedom comes only with responsibility. There is a greater freedom to be found here. Responsibility for themselves and for the greater good of others is what these wonderful folk took on, and with that came freedom from fear. Halelujah!
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Balance
May 1, 2008 | 3 Comments
Don’t you love the feeling of being in balance? ‘Balance’ is truly one of those wonderful words that describe a magical, joyful life. If only we could manage to be balanced more of the time!
Then why aren’t we? We all know that the pace of modern life is faster than in the days when we baked our own bread, milked the cow and grew our own vegetables. How then do we make time for balancing activities like quiet time for spiritual reflection?
Of course the answer is simple (if only the execution was!) You assess your priorities and make time! You have to have a really big YES so you can say NO to some of the cluttering activities you may currently be enjoying!
You may like to do an exercise where you consider how much time and effort you spend in various aspects of your life:
- health/fitness
- personal learning/growth
- family/friends
- romantic partner
- fun/recreation
- surroundings
- work/money
- spiritual growth
All are important and valuable. Make up your own if these categories don’t suit you.
Richness in one can be used to spill over into others, eg. If you focus on the spiritual aspect of your life, you will spend less time and energy on less balanced activities like arguing or working too long each day.
If you have a particularly low participation rate in any aspect of your life, contemplate whether this is something you need to address. Most of us believe that all our time is taken up, so it means that something will need to decrease if something else is to increase. We all have the same 24 hours!
What puts each of us in balance is a personal thing, but listen to your body, mind, heart and soul and you will know when you’re there.
“If the day and night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet smelling herbs – that is your success. All nature is your congratulations”
– Henry David Thoreau
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Passion
April 1, 2008 | 3 Comments
‘Spiritual’ and ‘Passion’ – on the surface this seems an anathema. For me, Spiritual implies a peaceful place, the serenity of knowing and accepting. Passion conjures up visions of extravagant gestures, vehemently spoken words, an unwillingness to accept the views of others as valid.
Passion is “a very strong emotion, intense sexual love, an outburst of very strong emotion, an intense enthusiasm for something” according to the Oxford English Dictionary. On deeper reflection though, this all seems a narrow definition of passion. Perhaps passion doesn’t need to imply ‘fire and brimstone’? I’m not talking about the ‘Passion of Christ’ or religious suffering here either.
The strong emotion could of course be love, hate, rage, etc. In any case it smacks of a lack of self control, of emotions, thoughts and knowings not being in balance. While there is nothing wrong with intense feelings for someone or something, if you are walking on the Spiritual path, the manifestation of those emotions will probably be less forceful, more accepting – as if they don’t actually need to be shouted out.
There are some very spiritual beings on this earth who have managed to transcend all such extremes and practise loving detachment instead. On the other hand, a total lack of passion about anything seems sad to me.
I have strong feelings for God, my partner and my family but in very different ways! So the outward signs of those passions manifest in totally different, and (I hope) appropriate ways.
Up to each of us I guess to get our balance right, to decide where we sit with passion – feel it, allow it, or transcend it.
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Dreaming
March 3, 2008 | 4 Comments
Do you really think for a minute that God doesn’t want our dreams to come true? Perhaps we’re the ones who get in the way, not Her/Him.
OK, so how do we get out of our own way?
I’ll give you an example. My dream has always been to live on a property – a place of beauty and tranquillity where I can produce the food we eat, grow beautiful flowers and trees, overlook a serene lake or river, write, and have others share as much as possible.
Periodically I do the homework to see what’s out there, and for how much. Then I become agitated and upset because achieving this lifelong dream seems a long way off, and I don’t want to be so old that I can’t lift a shovel when it finally happens!
On a recent occasion when I was actually quite distraught, my beloved said something which just stopped me in my tracks. He said “dreams are meant to make you happy not sad”.
Then I remembered! (Every-day spirituality has a lot to do with remembering.) If you have a dream that is worthy, that contributes, or that you have always wanted, this is what needs to happen:
- Put it out there! – meditate, pray, express your intentions/desires
- Don’t expect any other person to deliver your dreams
- Do whatever is in your power to align with your dream every day. By all means work towards it. My mum always said “God helps those who help themselves”!
- And above all, remember, the ‘How’ of the thing is none of your business! The Universe knows the means by which all things come into being so we don’t need to!
- Smile! (and appreciate what you already have)
May all our dreams come true (whenever the Universe feels it is time)!
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Heartstrings
February 1, 2008 | 4 Comments
Aaaaahhhhh, Valentine’s Day! Conjures up images (and expectations) of romantic love doesn’t it? They play romantic love songs on the radio, show smushy movies around this time and of course, how could you miss the commercialism (oops sorry, romance!) in the shops with all the teddy bears, ‘I heart you’ signs, choccies, etc.
I am reminded a little of Christmas in that the true meaning of the occasion often becomes obscured with all the commercial hype. Valentine’s Day seems to me to be another opportunity to demonstrate our deepest loving and compassionate feelings not only to ‘the beloved’, but also to family, friends and fellow beings. Surely our hearts are big enough to encompass more than just one other person!?
If you think your love needs to be rationed in case you run out, and that you need to be frugal and highly selective about who receives it, consider asking Infinite Source for more, and it will be gladly be given.
Open up your Crown Chakra to receive an infinite supply of love from the Universe. Focus on your Heart Chakra. Meditate on your heart to expand loving feelings towards everyone. Wear pink and green, buy some pink or green crystals like rose quartz or jade, eat pink and green food (oh yeah!) and treat yourself to warm baths in rose or geranium oil (plus candles – why not?)
And for those who have not yet found Mr Right, let go and let God. He/She knows where you are and where your next partner is. As long as you are relying on yourself for love and happiness, and you’re sharing it around generously, others will be drawn to you and before you know it – wawawa!
I wish us all a wonderful Valentine’s Day but let’s aim to be loving and kind every day. (And give your beloved a break from your expectations – if you want unconditional love, there really is only one Source!)
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Opportunity
January 1, 2008 | 2 Comments
Some tension is necessary for the soul to grow, and we can put that tension to good use. We can look for every opportunity to give and receive love, to appreciate nature, to heal our wounds and the wounds of others, to forgive, and to serve.” ~Joan Borysenko
I love this quote and it started me thinking (and feeling!), once we have decided to take the spiritual plunge, there will of course be some tension since we will probably have too high an expectation of ourselves; that we should therefore be better than others or special in God’s eyes. Of course this is not the case – God knows we’re all special, but none of us will ever be perfect!
Disappointment need not follow when we have let ourselves down in some way. Rather we could forgive ourselves and quietly get on with looking for other opportunities to love, to forgive and to serve.
Here’s an example: reflect on a situation you have experienced with a loved one where you know your ego was full throttle. Whatever the situation, you felt you were right and they were wrong and an argument ensued. Then perhaps you could reflect on what Love would have done here. Was there an opportunity to “be kind not right”? (thank you Wayne Dyer). Even if your point was valid and strong, was there an opportunity to say your piece with less anger and more love?
If you prefer a microeconomic perspective – what was the opportunity cost of sticking to your ego-driven point of view? How was the relationship damaged? How much ground then had to be made up? Where there is ego, Love cannot be = opportunity lost!
We are all given the most wonderful of opportunities: to live the rest of our lives getting to know God rather than know about Him/Her (thank you Frederick Bailes).
The Oxford Concise English dictionary defines opportunity as: “A favourable time or set of circumstances for doing something.” When will that be for you? In a year, a month, tomorrow, or right this minute?
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Celebration
December 2, 2007 | 4 Comments
For me, celebration means much more than festivities traditionally held for birthdays, religious ceremonies and anniversaries.
By all means, let’s mark those occasions with a ‘celebration’ because of the love and joy we can share with family and friends. Let’s face it though, these occasions don’t happen that frequently and it seems a shame to waste all the opportunities in between!
My thinking is that we could increase our personal happiness exponentially if we took every opportunity to celebrate lots more things, like:
- the unexpected smile of a stranger or the expected smile of a friend
- watching your flowers grow
- the smell of a baby (the good one!)
- beautiful music
- the joy of sharing a meal with friends
- the love of those near and dear
- the delightful abandon of puppies at play
- dancing
- sailing etc, etc.
This is to experience the joy of being truly alive, and to show yourself and God, that you are grateful for being a part of it all.
Oh, and since it is almost Christmas, my suggestion is to really celebrate with your family and friends this year. How many of us have experienced Christmas day being ruined by old family feuds and little annoyances escalating to major wars?!
Perhaps there are too many expectations that Christmas Day (read any other occasion) should be perfect and ‘happy families’ should be the order of the day. Unless we are prepared to do something different and let small annoyances slide, by filling that space with a loving and kind feeling towards everyone, nothing will change. Of course excess alcohol doesn’t help, so less is more!
Anyway, why not make a list of those things that you will choose to be more mindful about celebrating in future? After all, the time for resolutions is also coming up!
Love, peace and wisdom
Spiritual Friendship
November 1, 2007 | 1 Comment
I would like to explore with you a different concept of friendship on the path to spiritual bliss. I propose that the two most important friendships are the ones you have with yourself and God.
It is not easy to be friendly towards others if you are not in a friendly space already. But how do you become friends with yourself? Acceptance is the first step – warts and all! None of us is perfect; all of us have faults but also unique gifts to offer the world.
OK, let’s assume for now that the faults have been identified and we will spend the rest of our lives trying to prove we are worthy of God’s faith in us. So then, let’s tap into our gifts. The simplest way I know is suggested by Thich Nhat Hanh in “Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life”. He says “Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand new hours to live.…. We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.”
I love his next (simple and practical) suggestion! Every morning when you wake up, remember to smile. Until it becomes second nature, hang something near the bed as a reminder. Even a hint of a smile, a half smile is enough to relax all the muscles of your face. It shows others and most importantly yourself, that you are your own best friend! It shows that you are basking in God’s grace. Carry it all day. Remember, feeling follows action, so don’t wait until you feel like smiling.
I have been practising this smiling thing for some time now and I have never seen anything so simple work such a treat! It doesn’t need to be a huge grin to convey that you are in a friendly and contented space, and that all are welcome to join you there! Just a half smile will elicit a smiling response from others 99% of the time. Smile at shop assistants, colleagues and family members and notice how they respond to you. Please don’t take it personally when the 1% don’t respond in kind. This is about your own friendship with yourself. Others are more than welcome to partake of that warm feeling, but if they don’t, mentally wish them well on their path today without attaching to their outcome.
Of course, the best friend any of us will ever have is our Higher Source. We have all felt alone or unhappy at times. These are the times when it is most important to remember that we are never alone. Remember to ask God for help and guidance when you can’t quite get that little smile back.
This month give the half smile a go – every day. Use some kind of reminder or trigger so as not to forget and see what magic you can wreak!
Love, peace and wisdom
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