Paradise Perspective

Did a fun thing over the weekend. First time in 25 years, we went to a major league baseball game. Yep, drove up to Pittsburg and watched the Pirates and the Cubbies. Love that Chicago team. At one time (back in the ‘80s) I actually carried a “die hard cub fan” club card!! Rose enjoys baseball, and my team won, so we had a great time.

P.S. I am falling so short of sharing the profoundness of what I’m learning right now. I believe the right way to communicate it will reveal itself to me in it’s own time. I just know it will be worth the wait. Meanwhile, focus on your breath (inspiration). You could get it first!!

I’m embarking on a course of study, which outlines a 24-step (one a week) program for understanding the universal laws and facilitating the application of these laws. It’s a teeny book, and would be easy for me to breeze through the text in a day or so. But I am disciplining myself to patiently follow the steps as indicated. The first exercise, after studying the lesson, is to sit perfectly still for 15 to 30 minutes. This is funny. Sitting still is what I do best—it’s getting up and moving that is a challenge!! To be fair, I don’t actually sit still, as a rule. I’m usually knitting, spinning or stroking a cat or two. But sitting nonetheless. So, not a real stretch.

Be abundantly blessed with love and gratitude.

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.

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’m really starting to be more and more aware of my thoughts and feelings and how they relate to my current reality.  Especially while I run.  (again with the running!)

When I started, it felt good.  It was in total harmony with what I was consciously attracting to myself:  Health, strength, vitality and thinness.  When I’m appreciating the fact that running will most certainly facilitate all of these conditions, I run with ease.  However, when I’m thinking about how my calves hurt, how out of breath I become, how hard it is to gain any ground, well, then it doesn’t feel good.

You see where I’m going with this.  It is truly amazing how powerful our thoughts are.  And how clearly our feelings communicate whether or not our thoughts are in harmony with where we want to go (so to speak).  When I can be mindful of how I’m feeling, and how that relates to my present thought, I can then CHANGE the thought, modify the feeling, and adjust altogether the experience.  Right now.

For three days I was moaning and groaning about agony I was experiencing with my physical inadequacies.  “My legs hurt, I can’t feel my feet, it’s hard to breathe.”  On the eighth lap yesterday, with feet tingling (again) and depression about the whole thing a cloud encasing me, I stopped to feed the sheep.  After two minutes, my feet felt better, there was a refreshing breeze and I sort of woke up.  “What was I thinking?  I have already run over two miles several times in a row, I can do this.  I AM strong.  I AM healthy.  I AM vital.  I’m getting thinner all the time!!”

 I finished the second mile, and then ran a third, feeling better than I have in days.  There is nothing you can’t do, be or have.  Nothing.  Be mindful.

While running yesterday (my third day running 2 mi plus), I was realizing how far away this blog has moved from being primarily philosophical. It was originally my intention to express my spiritual aspirations and then, sort of, journal my progress/growth. Although part of that process has included the becoming aware of the fact that the material present is a manifestation of spiritual (think subconscious) vibration of distant or recent past, I have been writing more about the actual manifestation than the process of deliberate spiritual intent.

So I’ll try to bring it together now.

Since I understand how the law of attraction works, I focus for a few minutes a day on seeing myself being, doing and having as my present ideals dictate. While visualizing my perfect self, I “put on the mind” of that self and experience as closely as possible the feeling that I believe will accompany being in that state. Now, the rest of the time I’m practicing gratitude for everything I love in my life (which is almost everything), and maintain a countenance of happiness. When I notice something undesirable, like the absence of something I want or the lack of something I think I need, I gently move my thoughts back to what I do have and how thankful I am for that. If I am responding to circumstances and feeling something other than joy, my guidance system is pointing out that I have forgotten my responsibility in all this: First, I have attracted this circumstance with past vibrational emitions. Second, I am perpetuating whatever it is by feeling the conditioned response. Again, I try to thank my system (think God), and again, gently move my thoughts back to deliberate intending.

Trusting the universe (God) to provide and respond accordingly plays a major role in the level of timely manifestation. Remember that Jesus was able to transcend time and manifest anything spontaneously.

After visualizing myself healthy and strong for about three weeks, the opportunity presented itself for me to participate in a running activity. The idea was delightful to me. In the past, I cannot remember EVER feeling anything like delight at the prospect of having to run. Ever. Then, a few days later, during a happy friendly visit, the subject and the gentle nudge to run came up again.

Here’s the point: Anyone can make a decision to improve himself and then force himself to do agonizing bodily activity to accomplish this. However, while implementing and following the principles and guidance built in to my very being (universal law), I can attract any kind of changes I choose, and have a really great time!! Be Love.

My husband has outdone himself once again. Last night he made the most amazing pesto and pasta. Since we started gardening small veggies and herbs on the deck (growing things on the mountain just feeds the goats and sheep), John reads related books and magazines insatiably regarding the use of them. He has found and tested numerable dishes that we have incorporated into our regular menu. A heavenly pasta salad: whole grain rotini, black beans, black olives, pico de gallo (onions, peppers, much garlic, tomatoes, avocado, much cilantro, jalepeno, and lime), tossed with chipotle ranch (buttermilk, mayo, chipotle chili powder). He makes this at least every couple of weeks. The pesto incorporated our fresh basil with pine nuts, garlic, parm and romano cheese, and olive oil. The rotini has lots of little spaces to trap the pesto. Yum.

This morning I am spinning while breathing a waft of fresh garlic, green peppers and cilantro as he prepares a huge garden salad for us to eat on for the next few days.

It’s funny how as I grew apart from my relationship with the kitchen, J has taken up the slack. I’d rather knit/spin/weave than cook, and I’m feeling so much gratitude that not cooking doesn’t mean having to eat spaghetti, mac and cheese, or ramen noodles every night! He rocks!

Wednesday was Rose’s birthday. We ate out and went to see “Harry Potter”*. By the time I got home it was dark, so I didn’t run. (I did 1 and a half on Tue). Then yesterday it rained all day. Someone has a treadmill they’re not using and will give to me. J and R have both said they would use it, too.

*I thought it was interesting that in one scene, where Harry is being instructed on defense against the dark arts, he is told to “control your thoughts and emotions”.

I’ve been so profoundly embroiled in the common accepted perception of this material reality that trying to monitor my thoughts and feelings has proven to be an unbelievably difficult undertaking.  While in a meditative (or, more accurately, pensive) state, I can easily see the ways in which I respond and react to my circumstances, and how I (and those around me) could benefit from positive change.  However, while in the midst of an unplanned situation my ego doesn’t want to THINK about anything.  I already know which cuss (and volume with which to deliver that cuss) feels right and will enhance my participation.  Energy, attention, vigilance and mindfulness are required.  Some days I can feel myself relaxing into what it is.  Others, autopilot just kicks in and I won’t be different.  I am aware of the difference, tho.  One step forward, two steps back.

The other day, I ran 1.1 mile(s), and walked another .2.  I couldn’t believe how proud I was even while wondering if my lower calves will ever stop screaming.  Then yesterday I ran only just a mile.  I’m feeling discouraged on several levels, here.  One step forward, two steps back.

 The project I’m working on right now is an amazing peacock feather pattern lace shawl. I’m using some mossy green American Cormo (wool breed that is extremely cottony) that I spun really fine and plied 2-ply.  I’m about three quarters through, and the last leg of it is soooo confusing.  If I finish this I will consider myself a master lace knitter.  I promise to learn how to post photos and post one!  Two steps forward.  Be blessed.

Ok, so after giving my last post some more thought, I realize that though we emerge from the same source, the very reason for being here is to establish expression from each manifested perspective. In order for me to achieve the original paradise view, it is NOT, as I thought before, necessary to eliminate diversity, but rather incorporate it with patience, certainty, and love. And all the different philosophies and religions indicate our amazing ability to advance and evolve intellectually and consciously, which is the whole point. People who are psychic with each other illustrate yet another diverse manifestation of expression and creativity.

Obviously, we are capable of deceit, but we have come a long way in expressing ever more abstract ideas in our quest to understand ourselves.

In paradise, our different expression is where all color is created.

On another front: I realized that running down the mountain is not much effort, and running up is too much for my purpose. So we measured a track that is relatively level with a few ups and downs. The first three passes, I was able to run a solid quarter mile without stopping. Then, by increasing by .1 mile increments, I am up to .7 mile (running without stopping. Right now, I walk the rest of the first mile. It is surprising, how quickly I am able to improve, considering my age and weight, but, well, there it is.