Paradise Perspective

My latest issue of Venture Inward (bi-monthly publication of the ARE) arrived yesterday, and as I sat reading it this morning, I realized that every single person has experiences where they connect with their own divine spark. Although we think it is outside of us, and look to others to channel it to us, it’s not. Some of us are inclined to write these connections down, and as a seeker, I have read dozens (maybe even hundreds) of others’ accounts. While they may be a helpful facility for establishing direction, I now believe that each of us must (and WILL) eventually find our own meaning and interpretation for this life by individual connection.

What we are capable of has little to do with what we THINK we are. Suspend your limitations on yourself, give your divine spark purchase, and watch with amazement as your unique expression unfolds!! “He that is in you is greater that he that is in the world”. And while I perceive God as something different than a “he”, the concept still works. Be unlimited.

The application of the law of attraction is very technical. It is not so much the bringing of my thoughts and emotions under control as it is being mindful of them, and being able to discern whether or not they are serving (in the moment) to attract what I want. Once I become conscious of them (not on autopilot), a gentle redirecting of them can be facilitated.

Feel blessed.

One:

Here is an element of this for skeptical people who don’t think we participate in creation with each and every thought: Even if it doesn’t change the actual circumstance, being grateful adjusts my emotional presence and makes me nicer to be around. That makes everyone in close proximity happier, or at least not susceptible to the otherwise negative vibe. Well, I guess that IS changing it. Be blessed.

I’d like to try to get to the bottom of what I want this to be about. I love religions, not for practicing, but for studying. There have been and continue to be millions of ways to perceive God (or Universal Mind, Source Energy, etc.), and ways in which to connect or perceive connection. Through those processes, we have endeavored to find meaning in our lives.
Philosophies are different from religions in that they usually resist the idea of a separate divinity, and do not require meetings or rituals for their perpetuation. They are also a search for meaning.

Being able to smile while getting my ass kicked at chess is one example. I can still spout expletives occasionally, but there is a new element of “a friend’s good fortune is a blessing” present. We are connected and we both win. How far can you take this? There are no limits.

Three times in one day, yesterday, I was told by different people that I am overbearing, critical, and judgmental in the expression of my philosophies. First, I know that it might be the content of my dissertations that put people off, but finding fault with my presentation might be easier for them than engaging in the dialogue (which is my main interest). Second, I am a Leo, which makes me automatically more obnoxious. Demanding attention has always been a major part of my character (defective as it is).

However, I consider myself to be well read at this point and have finally developed a confidence in the area of expression that took many years to achieve. I remember being in discussions when I knew I had opposing views, but I was incapable at the time of clearly verbalizing them. I remember how overbearing and judgmental the other people seemed.

Since I have this blog, now, I am going to try to limit my railings to the keyboard, and try not to engage people clearly not wanting to be engaged. Husband and children notwithstanding.

If you are one of those people, please accept my sincerest apology, and please remind me when I need it. My last wish is to be a burden to anyone.

What I really wanted to talk about today is the power (“He”) that is in us. Bible says it’s greater than that in the world. I believe it is possible to open myself up completely to this power for guidance and be fed, clothed, protected, directed and sustained. I believe this universal energy (Holy Spirit) is omnipresent, and it is my attention to it that makes it real for me. It is never not there, but sometimes I’m not. Meditation helps here, if I can shut up (physically AND mentally).

I think I’ll do that right now. Bless everyone.

I was knitting yesterday, thoroughly enjoying life, and had a major revelation. Years ago, when I studied the tarot, I had purchased a wonderful book on the subject called “Wheel of Destiny”. The jist of it was a guided way to a life reading using only the major arcana. It is a long process and I spent a couple of days doing my own. When I finished, I felt considerable disappointment and believed that it was all BS because in several places it indicated that later in my life I would be significantly involved in Law.

Since the early seventies, when I dropped out and got back to the land, I have been relatively anti-establishment. Not in the sense that I condemn it or do not participate greatly. I mean we work and make money and spend it, and all my kids attended public schools. But I am quite apolitical, and would never sue anyone for anything, and have only briefly had the ‘court of law’ experience. (Would have done well without that.) So the idea of actually studying law, and practicing it in any capacity was not attractive or even intriguing to me. I felt cheated.

Now, here I am pushing 60 (turned 59 on Sat, last), and having major life changes due to my understanding and embracing of the LAW of Attraction. This is an example of how we give meaning to things, and find ourselves inside of a box. The Course in Miracles says that everything only has the meaning you assign to it. Granted, a lot of the meaning we assign comes from our conditioning and tendency to subscribe to the common accepted meaning (like Christianity, for example). Plus, with our telepathy on hold, we are depending on spoken and written language for our expression. But I digress.
The point here is that I must not dismiss any ideas due to the fact of my interpretation, especially if it’s negative. Looking deeper (between the lines, as it were), could bag me the very answer (solution, guidance) needed or sought in the moment. Or, I could just decide to assign everything a positive interp, no matter what is actually intended. This can also be applied to what someone is saying to me. (Many times I’m responding to the meaning that gives me the best excuse to bitch.)
I’m pretty sure I still have that book, and I believe I will be breaking it out. Anyone want a life reading?
Be love and be blessed.

I recently purchased Wayne Dyer’s new book. “Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life” and guess what. It reiterates, yet again, the ideas presented in “The Secret” and “The Law of Attraction”. Dyer has been communicating these same ideas in different ways for a while. His “Manifest Your Destiny” program is especially empowering.

I have read several other books dedicated to the Tao, but none as accessible. I’m aware of the fact that I am very ripe to receive these ideas, since my whole purpose is to develop the concept of discerning between our perspective bound by original sin, and the liberation of ourselves from those confines. So it makes sense that more and more ways of communicating this would be attracted to me. I have become a magnet for them, so to speak.

The Tao, loosely translated as “The Way”, has been understood as a “path” or “course” towards enlightenment. Jesus called himself the way and it made sense to me that he could be associated with the ideas of the Tao. Even a manifestation of those ideas.. But I see now that it is not a way to go as much as a way to be. And concerning ourselves with the duality of our present paradigm is in direct opposition to this way.

Being able to allow everything and everyone to be what they are, and relaxing into the way that I am, without ever feeling the need for any change at all, is the way. Think of it: the only reason for anger, frustration, resentment, defensiveness, or any negative response, is due to the idea that changing it, or having it be different in some way, would be more desirable. Thus, from my puny point of view, my anger is justified. I want to be happy, dammit, and if you change this thing here, now, I will be.

The Tao is not the way to happiness; the Tao teaches that happiness is the way. Happiness is not the result of things, circumstances and people being a certain way for me. Happiness is a decision I make. And when I decide to be happy, nothing else matters. Period. Be Love.

Luckily, Fran did take a picture.

I have spent the last two weeks interacting with my grandchildren. For the middle weekend, all six of them were here. (I didn’t take one single picture, bleah). The way I want to be with them was never very far from my mind. The way I was with them was quite different.

I am having the hardest time with knowing that change is NOT hard. I still believe that it is and, therefore, it stays that way. How I respond to undesirable behavior is just as undesirable as the behaviors themselves. The kids fight with one another, and so I fight with them. They yell at each other and I yell at them. They are mean to each other and so I am mean to them. Boo.

My intention is to set the example that responding with patience and love is so much more productive and effective. But the habitual responses serve to perpetuate the habitual behaviors. And I have not, apparently, mastered the new habit of breathing first, and then addressing the situation. All I really need to do is STOP for a couple of seconds. It’s not hard, and I WILL be able to do it next time.

I love and appreciate all my progeny, and am so grateful when we get to be together. I am disappointed with myself, but I love that I can see and understand what is happening. I also love that I can see and understand my responsibility in the whole thing. There was a time when I would just have blamed everyone else for not only how they are, but for my responses to them as well!!

I am praising and blessing them all, now, and with a little more work (not really that much), I will praise and bless them the whole time we’re together, too.