I have just re-read my last blog and the words “love softens all” leapt out at me. This led me to begin thinking about “forgiveness” and memories (past lives and present) and relationships and how all relates to change. To “forgive” anyone for anything is to really “forgive” self for judging perceived “transgressions” from others in the first place. Nothing is ever “done to us” but rather we invite the energy (event/drama/trauma) into our life to learn, and our soul is all about learning.
This brings me back to love (it makes the world go round). To intellectually “forgive” another/others is to suppress the lesson and ignore it. There is no healing in this action. I think of my early years and Mum insisting that anyone of us kids say we were sorry for “hurting” the other, usually through being inconsiderate in some way, and always reminding us that we love each other and that we were family and all in the boat together. This always made saying “sorry” easier. Love always triumphed.
When we have an understanding of why we invited the event/drama/trauma into our life, then the love that rushes through our body and mind is the softening agent. Therefore we can view all events and relationships from the internal perspective of love of learning and growing in understanding of who we are. This very same emotion flood lights our mind and cells to soften and dissolve all perceived “hurts” because ultimately our life is about us and learning and changing; other people are personally invited to play a part on our stage of life.
Other people do not dictate how we are to feel, what emotions we will use or what thoughts we choose to think, because our life is not about other people. To make it so, is to deny our own internal power; to deny who we are, and this then becomes a perfect method to thwart any internal emotional change to love. We are all in the same boat of life and it is much easier to row together …we are all connected through the energy of love.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
my head takes my body for a walk
On my walk today I was very conscious of the beauty of the day; how the hues, shapes, textures of nature all blended so seamlessly with my senses and my physical body. In a moment of appreciation my mind opened to hear my mother’s voice saying “we must have an open mind” and immediately strings of memory nodes activated and I enjoyed a kaleidoscope of sensory joy rush through me and I savoured the moment, the memories. It has been almost 6 years since my mother transitioned and I still feel her presence keenly. This sensing of her energy, of seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling her hand on my shoulder on occasions, to name a few, all comes down to communication which has help to heal my sense of loss of her physical presence. This is no different than internal communication. The pattern is in place.
So what does having an open mind mean to me? I think of it as a mind of movement, of freedom from fear beliefs which hinder and flavour perceptions and dictate emotions, attitude, actions and my life. To engage in negative emotions is to show ourselves that we have no love for self and have no value. This is pretty bad but then we insist on sharing this energy with everyone and everything else. What a prime example of self absorption this is.
I thought about the question “what is my life about?” And immediately I heard:
Learning
Changing
Healing
Teaching
I look at these words and see how they link together in a very intimate manner and it allows me to see yet again the inseparability of everything or the unity of everything. I have to change the way I am thinking in order to learn and in order to learn I have to open my mind to change. In learning and changing I expand my mind, the energy of me because my perception of who I am continues to change. My mind continues to expand as the energy of love softens all experiences through understanding of the lessons.
What a wonderful moment in movement I have just had. I feel a huge shift in my energy as I recognize the positive emotions are my emotional safety net. Life is indeed good when the mind is encouraged to open and communication is the name of the game.
So what does having an open mind mean to me? I think of it as a mind of movement, of freedom from fear beliefs which hinder and flavour perceptions and dictate emotions, attitude, actions and my life. To engage in negative emotions is to show ourselves that we have no love for self and have no value. This is pretty bad but then we insist on sharing this energy with everyone and everything else. What a prime example of self absorption this is.
I thought about the question “what is my life about?” And immediately I heard:
Learning
Changing
Healing
Teaching
I look at these words and see how they link together in a very intimate manner and it allows me to see yet again the inseparability of everything or the unity of everything. I have to change the way I am thinking in order to learn and in order to learn I have to open my mind to change. In learning and changing I expand my mind, the energy of me because my perception of who I am continues to change. My mind continues to expand as the energy of love softens all experiences through understanding of the lessons.
What a wonderful moment in movement I have just had. I feel a huge shift in my energy as I recognize the positive emotions are my emotional safety net. Life is indeed good when the mind is encouraged to open and communication is the name of the game.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
a stream of consciousness
A walk through the garden and my mind….
I have been out and about walking and puttering around in my garden. My mind has wandered and has been a wonderful companion. Here is a stream of consciousness that I will share with you.
We practice self-alienation through our negative thinking based on our fear belief structure. We then reflect this distorted energy externally and interpret it as judgment, rejection and abandonment by whatever or whomever our fertile ego mind can drum up to blame. When our lack of thinking is the norm and we are really just living from a reactive energy. This energy field is familiar, and what is familiar and known to us is fear. Fear = separation/self alienation and this fosters a very negative and chaotic mind and energy field. This very same energy feeds in on itself and the alienation from our truth and love intensifies; the more “lost” we feel and the more controlling of self and others we become. This is living in chaos and separated from divine energy. It is practicing self destruction and abuse.
While in my garden I was examining the flowers and I recognized myself in them. I mean that all of life follows a pattern…the same pattern of birth-life-death-birth-life etc. To judge myself for something done or said is to deny who I am as a soul and spirit. It is this judgement that is the self-alienating process and it becomes stultifying to growth and change. I see my plants coming up and I am excited at each new change that happens – that I get to observe. The formation of a bud is beautiful yet it “loses” it beauty to change and growth as it becomes a full bloom. The full flower that offers my senses such delight only lives because the bud continued to change and grow and the change continues its full and perennial cycle.
My garden continues to teach me and like the fluid organic nature of the plants, no part is separate. Life is about growth and change. The plant grows flowers by letting go of the bud. The flower becomes is own expression and expansion of the young bud. For me to focus only upon the bud of a rose, for example, I totally miss the entire beauty of the life cycle. This could be analogous to trying to hold onto youth and judging age as something abhorrent and to be avoided at all cost. Perhaps this is the fear of death? It is the fear of change. It does not really matter because it is still fear, control, negative energy and denial of spirit. This is refusing to change and grow and experience life in full. The more I am willing to live the spiritual patterns of the ethical values, the more comfort I find within me and the more exciting life becomes. This is our perennial movement as our cycle of Being.
I have been out and about walking and puttering around in my garden. My mind has wandered and has been a wonderful companion. Here is a stream of consciousness that I will share with you.
We practice self-alienation through our negative thinking based on our fear belief structure. We then reflect this distorted energy externally and interpret it as judgment, rejection and abandonment by whatever or whomever our fertile ego mind can drum up to blame. When our lack of thinking is the norm and we are really just living from a reactive energy. This energy field is familiar, and what is familiar and known to us is fear. Fear = separation/self alienation and this fosters a very negative and chaotic mind and energy field. This very same energy feeds in on itself and the alienation from our truth and love intensifies; the more “lost” we feel and the more controlling of self and others we become. This is living in chaos and separated from divine energy. It is practicing self destruction and abuse.
While in my garden I was examining the flowers and I recognized myself in them. I mean that all of life follows a pattern…the same pattern of birth-life-death-birth-life etc. To judge myself for something done or said is to deny who I am as a soul and spirit. It is this judgement that is the self-alienating process and it becomes stultifying to growth and change. I see my plants coming up and I am excited at each new change that happens – that I get to observe. The formation of a bud is beautiful yet it “loses” it beauty to change and growth as it becomes a full bloom. The full flower that offers my senses such delight only lives because the bud continued to change and grow and the change continues its full and perennial cycle.
My garden continues to teach me and like the fluid organic nature of the plants, no part is separate. Life is about growth and change. The plant grows flowers by letting go of the bud. The flower becomes is own expression and expansion of the young bud. For me to focus only upon the bud of a rose, for example, I totally miss the entire beauty of the life cycle. This could be analogous to trying to hold onto youth and judging age as something abhorrent and to be avoided at all cost. Perhaps this is the fear of death? It is the fear of change. It does not really matter because it is still fear, control, negative energy and denial of spirit. This is refusing to change and grow and experience life in full. The more I am willing to live the spiritual patterns of the ethical values, the more comfort I find within me and the more exciting life becomes. This is our perennial movement as our cycle of Being.
Monday, June 30, 2008
memories as colours
I woke up thinking about memories and how they define life. I “saw” colours as the energy of my life, and not just from this lifetime but all lifetimes. It was not unlike a kaleidoscope where the colours are already set and each small turn changes the pattern and colour combination and presents an entirely new picture of the energy of me. This is what each lifetime does. A fractal of each lifetime is to take each experience in this present lifetime as a miniscule turn of the kaleidoscope’s tube as symbolic of a lesson learned. With each lesson learned I move myself forward and the pattern of colours change as my energy expands with learning. This was so clear to me this morning and when I sit here to put physical words to translate energy, the words feel clumsy and confining in a way. But it is in the writing down that keeps me grounded by making my thoughts physical so really I am taking the energy of memory and making it physical by writing. It is my perception that makes the point of reference for my energy and my perception is infused with experiences of lessons learned….therefore it is my relationship to my memories that I come to my understanding of life ….meaning that my understanding is through my senses and then I can have a relationship with my memories.
What I am saying here is that my memories define me….(define all of us… and therein lies our individuality). I am the sum of my memories as energy. It is all the experiences I have had throughout “lifetimes” that offer me a tremendous depth of knowledge (memory) and I think of this as having all the wisdom of the universe available to me.
All I have to do is know who I am (as energy and matter) and to do this I have to live personal responsibility to examine self, my creations (experiences) and clear out/away all negative thinking so I can “know thyself” and open my mind to all memories to live the behaviour of all the ethical values. This is the value of studying Spiritual Philosophy (www.Kathyoddenino.com) in learning that I am eternal as energy and as I open my mind I feel the balancing effect of the loving emotions coming into play and memories begin to come in and relationships are made. It is the most comforting learning I have ever experienced. When I say “all I have to do is know who I am…” it sounds a bit glib but it is the most exciting mind traveling I have ever done and it is evolution because the change occurs in how I am thinking. This changes everything!
I create memories by physical experiences and I stimulate them through my senses. I have gone back through this life and looked at various experiences I created and have asked myself why. In asking “why” my mind opens and in my growing understanding of who I am my perceptions have changed. What was once a drama is now valued for what I learned from it. This is how the analogy of the kaleidoscope works for me. I have learned and therefore changed my perception through understanding. This shift in thinking changes my internal and external energy field. It is the movement of my mind that changes my energy. This is the changing colours of the kaleidoscope of the energy of my mind.
What I am saying here is that my memories define me….(define all of us… and therein lies our individuality). I am the sum of my memories as energy. It is all the experiences I have had throughout “lifetimes” that offer me a tremendous depth of knowledge (memory) and I think of this as having all the wisdom of the universe available to me.
All I have to do is know who I am (as energy and matter) and to do this I have to live personal responsibility to examine self, my creations (experiences) and clear out/away all negative thinking so I can “know thyself” and open my mind to all memories to live the behaviour of all the ethical values. This is the value of studying Spiritual Philosophy (www.Kathyoddenino.com) in learning that I am eternal as energy and as I open my mind I feel the balancing effect of the loving emotions coming into play and memories begin to come in and relationships are made. It is the most comforting learning I have ever experienced. When I say “all I have to do is know who I am…” it sounds a bit glib but it is the most exciting mind traveling I have ever done and it is evolution because the change occurs in how I am thinking. This changes everything!
I create memories by physical experiences and I stimulate them through my senses. I have gone back through this life and looked at various experiences I created and have asked myself why. In asking “why” my mind opens and in my growing understanding of who I am my perceptions have changed. What was once a drama is now valued for what I learned from it. This is how the analogy of the kaleidoscope works for me. I have learned and therefore changed my perception through understanding. This shift in thinking changes my internal and external energy field. It is the movement of my mind that changes my energy. This is the changing colours of the kaleidoscope of the energy of my mind.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Mr Buckley, I miss you
I was watching the Daily show the other day and Madeline Albright was Jon’s guest. I was so impressed with her that I decided I would buy her new book. Yesterday I bought Madeline Albright’s book and Tolle’s latest book as well. Tolle’s book is so I know what my clients are reading. I tried to read it last night and just could not bring myself to focus instead I got into the “President Elect” and began to read political material. I have become much more involved politically than I have in the past (in this country)…involved in my mind and emotions and seeing the larger picture…or trying to. I have always been interested in history and how the thinking of the times has shaped our world. I find it fascinating to see how we have moved ourselves as society, locally and globally, through time. Plato said something along the lines of when we ignore politics we agree to be governed by fools. We have the privilege of having our voice count through our vote in this country.
Our internal working of this country is in disarray and this energy is reflected out the rest of the world. The world is run amok! It is Ego at full throttle if you wish. The energy is negative and change has to happen before we all create major destruction on all levels. As a registered Democratic voter, I really feel that Hillary is the person to bring these changes about more so than Obama. Not because of gender or race or anything in between, but because of her foreign policy experiences. I feel we have to think globally and integrate all because none of the issues are separate. Albright’s book points out a lot of these issues and it would be just great for all people who are going to vote, read this book with an open mind.
I feel that there has been a lot of “dumbing down” of voters and I hear people voicing their support for various candidates in all parties, and not really being able to say why with any depth. Some people appear to be globbing on to the “identity” of candidates as a way of defining themselves. A lot of people appear to not want to think and stand on their own if it looks like they are out of step with the popular crowd. Why is this? Are we afraid to truly think further than what we are told? Why are we afraid to think for ourselves and speak out with thoughtful questions to the candidates well rehearsed rhetoric? Are we afraid that we will be judged as “wrong?” I am sure that any candidate worth their salt would welcome questions that allow them to define their thinking...rather than rhetoric.
I listen to moderators and interviewers and wonder if they are just rattling cages to be difficult and contrary to create a story where none really existed? So far I have not really heard any true questions of depth that would require candidates to voice their own thoughts and feelings. Hillary has done this fleetingly and has been slammed by the talking heads for doing so. I end this morning with this thought...Mr Buckly, I miss you!
Our internal working of this country is in disarray and this energy is reflected out the rest of the world. The world is run amok! It is Ego at full throttle if you wish. The energy is negative and change has to happen before we all create major destruction on all levels. As a registered Democratic voter, I really feel that Hillary is the person to bring these changes about more so than Obama. Not because of gender or race or anything in between, but because of her foreign policy experiences. I feel we have to think globally and integrate all because none of the issues are separate. Albright’s book points out a lot of these issues and it would be just great for all people who are going to vote, read this book with an open mind.
I feel that there has been a lot of “dumbing down” of voters and I hear people voicing their support for various candidates in all parties, and not really being able to say why with any depth. Some people appear to be globbing on to the “identity” of candidates as a way of defining themselves. A lot of people appear to not want to think and stand on their own if it looks like they are out of step with the popular crowd. Why is this? Are we afraid to truly think further than what we are told? Why are we afraid to think for ourselves and speak out with thoughtful questions to the candidates well rehearsed rhetoric? Are we afraid that we will be judged as “wrong?” I am sure that any candidate worth their salt would welcome questions that allow them to define their thinking...rather than rhetoric.
I listen to moderators and interviewers and wonder if they are just rattling cages to be difficult and contrary to create a story where none really existed? So far I have not really heard any true questions of depth that would require candidates to voice their own thoughts and feelings. Hillary has done this fleetingly and has been slammed by the talking heads for doing so. I end this morning with this thought...Mr Buckly, I miss you!
Monday, January 28, 2008
love is the healer
It has been said that pain is the great equalizer as it brings us all to our knees. I agree with this to a point. Pain does not recognize artificial or social inequalities, whether they be in the realm of financial, fame, and everything in between. Pain is a human condition and provides an opportunity to open our hearts and minds. It can be an opportunity for healing. When this occurs, we can then open our hearts more to others as we recognize the heart-aches they may be going through as they challenge themselves with their own lessons. This does not mean I have to charge in and attempt to fix their life for them, but it does offer me a chance to allow compassion to fill me and spill out to them through words of encouragement and acts of kindness.
The words become an acknowledgment of their life choices of lessons. This has been brought home to me over the years as family members have died. The gift the older generation offered me was the gift of compassion. The simple acknowledgement of how I was feeling and the heart ache I was experiencing was the most perfect balm to be offered and I readily accepted all. Their gift of compassion was born out of their own life experiences and they had learned the value and respect of love. It is love that heals our heart and mind, and we know this when we have had own hearts touched with pain and healed with love.
Time has to be factored in here to. I speak from my own experience of having to allow time to adjust to the rents in the fabric of my emotional life after the deaths of family members. As my mind grappled with the initial emotional shock, and then the smaller after shocks, until eventually the heart and mind found equalibrium. Love is the equalizer and the healing.
When the mind and heart are in unity then love is the equalizer because we recognize ourself in others as loving beings. This is our humanity. This does not mean that life events that impact each and every one of us suddenly stop happening. Far from it! Life in all it vagaries and vicissitudes continues. The defining element is in how we chose to deal with them. How are we engaged in the art of living? This is a perfect question to ask ourselves. And so begins my morning.
The words become an acknowledgment of their life choices of lessons. This has been brought home to me over the years as family members have died. The gift the older generation offered me was the gift of compassion. The simple acknowledgement of how I was feeling and the heart ache I was experiencing was the most perfect balm to be offered and I readily accepted all. Their gift of compassion was born out of their own life experiences and they had learned the value and respect of love. It is love that heals our heart and mind, and we know this when we have had own hearts touched with pain and healed with love.
Time has to be factored in here to. I speak from my own experience of having to allow time to adjust to the rents in the fabric of my emotional life after the deaths of family members. As my mind grappled with the initial emotional shock, and then the smaller after shocks, until eventually the heart and mind found equalibrium. Love is the equalizer and the healing.
When the mind and heart are in unity then love is the equalizer because we recognize ourself in others as loving beings. This is our humanity. This does not mean that life events that impact each and every one of us suddenly stop happening. Far from it! Life in all it vagaries and vicissitudes continues. The defining element is in how we chose to deal with them. How are we engaged in the art of living? This is a perfect question to ask ourselves. And so begins my morning.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Hillary vs Obama. Optimism and Hope.
I am thinking about the NH primary and the results. I am happy. The shift for me was to see Hillary truly connecting on all levels, physically being present, mentally and emotionally showing her depth. To do this shows the strength and courage within her. It was her moment in truth. I have listened avidly to the candidates and have concluded that Hillary will get my vote because she is optimistic and hopeful. Obama is hopeful; both are full of passion.
Let me explain my thinking here. Optimism is backed up with data and in this case it is labeled experience; and given where this country is at the moment and what the incoming president is inheriting, there is going to have to be a lot of experience backing up the optimism to make a difference. Obama is certainly electrifying and inspiring in his message of hope and he and Hillary are both galvanizing the voting population like few before them. I have no doubts that Obama could make a fine president but (yes, there is a But) my reservation is that he will have a slow start because of inexperience and I feel this country cannot afford to wait.
The passion for this fine country has to run deep and be the internal compass for change. Passion with experience gets my vote. I am so over the talking heads pontificating and projecting. It has become like white noise to me, and perhaps to others as well.
Let me explain my thinking here. Optimism is backed up with data and in this case it is labeled experience; and given where this country is at the moment and what the incoming president is inheriting, there is going to have to be a lot of experience backing up the optimism to make a difference. Obama is certainly electrifying and inspiring in his message of hope and he and Hillary are both galvanizing the voting population like few before them. I have no doubts that Obama could make a fine president but (yes, there is a But) my reservation is that he will have a slow start because of inexperience and I feel this country cannot afford to wait.
The passion for this fine country has to run deep and be the internal compass for change. Passion with experience gets my vote. I am so over the talking heads pontificating and projecting. It has become like white noise to me, and perhaps to others as well.
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