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The world is too small, our wisdom too limited, our time here too short, to waste any more of it in winning fleeting victories at other people?s expense. We have to now find a way to triumph together. --Bill Clinton Fact of the Day: Be The Change: |
In the mountainous region surrounding Grass Valley, California, is a retreat area known as Ananda Village. This quaint collection of buildings and houses is a successful ongoing community for the people who choose to live there year-round, and is a welcoming presence for those who come for the various workshops and seminars given throughout the year. It is a serene setting in the foothills of the Sierras, and I was gifted with a two-night stay in the Crystal Hermitage Guest House, which is a wonderful private A-Frame overlooking mountains, trees, and the Yuba River.
Located near the magnificent home of the community founder, guests of the Crystal Hermitage are invited to enjoy the stunning gardens on his property and the restful chapel that is modeled after an Italian counterpart. The environment is peaceful, with an adjacent area housing fish in a pool fed by a small waterfall. There is also a museum shrine nearby. The setting is one that pulls you to insight and reflection, and I found my stay in the guest house refreshingly private and cut off. There is a phone and all the modern conveniences, plus very nicely furnished decor, but no distractions and no television! It gave me a wonderful opportunity to do the quiet things I had no time for at home, and had it been available, I may have extended my stay one more night. I think in autumn and winter, retreats are a wonderful idea, and if you aren’t put off by weather, this is a well equipped and thoughtfully appointed opportunity for reflection in nature. Should you want to participate in some of the Expanding Light activities or have meals there, it is possible. As for me…I enjoyed the solitude. For information about the Crystal Hermitage Guest House write or call Expanding Light, Attention: Lila, 14618 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada City, CA 95959 Phone 530-478-7587
I brought along a cassette player so that I could listen to workshop tapes I’d not had time for, and books to read. I chose to eat little, so there was no distraction with cooking. Had I wanted to, the kitchen was well equipped. I went to the chapel three times a day and just allowed myself to revel in the stone and wood, finding communion in simplicity.
The following is from a recent letter I received. Charles "Tom" Brown is an inspiring individual who happens to be incarcerated. Given an unjust sentence for something that really involved poor judgment on his part, he has taken his time in prison to inspire and aid others in getting their GED, and in writing articles about the human journey that are uplifting and insightful. You can read more of his work on the blog I have created for his letters and articles through the years: www.Beyondthewall.blogs.com. In the meantime, enjoy the richness of his insightful letter below: "As Ralphie and I were watching the news on CNN this morning (Tom’s cartoon dog that he draws), I thought of how the situation in the Middle East seems to be never-ending. I’m glad Ralphie doesn’t start his day reading about Shiite dogs killing Sunni dogs, or Palestinian suicide hounds being mowed down by heavily armed Israeli soldier dogs. I’m glad he doesn’t listen to some dog on CNN telling him that everything that could have gone wrong yesterday did go wrong – while completely ignoring all examples of dog cooperation; dog compassion, dogs making love, not war. To love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable has to be among the greatest challenges of this lifetime, and yet, if we are to move beyond the “eye for an eye” mentality that pervades our society, we must do this. If we are to have peace, both within and without, we must do this. It’s much easier to lose sight of our oneness and to feel separated from each other if we depersonalize and dehumanize each other. Once a person is labeled as “not like us”, the rules of civilized behavior can be bent and stretched. In our attempts to label each other, we create an “other” and language itself becomes a weapon. I am not interested in weapons, whether words or guns. I want to be part of the rescue team for this warring planet. The rescuers will be those people who help other people to think clearly and to be honest and open-minded. They will be an antidote to those people who disconnect us. They will move beyond the labels and make others more understandable and sympathetic. Labels help us to hang on to what we feel are our justified feelings of unforgiveness and separation. It’s easy to erase “insurgents”, “enemy combatants”, “terrorists”, even “protesters”. Once we have a label that doesn’t fit, we can ignore the humanity of the labeled. Once the concept of otherness takes root, the unimaginable becomes possible. Then we can ignore and judge those who have committed heinous crimes, those who appear to be so different from us. In Iraq, our soldiers call the insurgents “rats”. Psychologically, humans can kill rats much more easily than they can kill hungry, tired, frightened young people much like themselves. The task that you and I have with our writings is to tell stories and eternal truths that connect readers to all the people of the earth, to show these people as the complicated human beings they really are, with histories, families, emotions, and legitimate needs. Then we can replace one-dimensional stereotypes with multi-dimensional individuals with whom our readers can identify. I’m becoming more aware that all differences, whether physical, mental, or emotional, are superficial. They are like the waves on the surface of the ocean. Deep within we share the same inner depths. Beneath the ever-changing waves, we are the same, we remain the same unchanging One. As we become more aware, so our concepts of both ourselves and the journey change, and we come to realize the deeper truth: that the traveler, the journey, and the goal are all one."
In an article by Tom Kenyan, M.A., he discussed brain physiology and learning problems. He stated that walking in a figure eight pattern while looking at a point on the wall and “crossing mid line” by touching the rising right knee with the left hand and then the rising left knee with the right hand will offer remarkable improvement in the ability to learn. Apparently crossing over the midline of the body stimulates a thick band of neural fibers in the middle of the brain that is implicated in many learning problems.
Years ago I learned of a technique that involved walking in figure eight patterns in the morning at dawn and later at dusk with hands held outstretched, palms up, to heighten spiritual receptivity. Reading this account now of brain physiology reminded me of that exercise which was quite wonderful. I had many beautiful morning and evening figure eight walking meditations outside, and encouraged many of my clients to try the process, which they did, with very good results. It is interesting to note that the first exercise reconnects us to our own ability to learn, and the other connects us to a greater resource for unfolding our true essence.
From Seasons of the Soul 1996
Renowned psychotherapist, Carl Jung, noted towards the end of his life when reviewing thousands of cases he had overseen that a particular theme recurred before healing. Prior to the onset of healing, a high percentage of permanent cures seemed to share the same fundamental dream-image. This image was the universal symbol of the Circle with a Cross inlaid. Whether it was seen as a design, a circle of friends, or flowers arranged in that pattern, the same archetypal image was evident. It was always associated with re-balance of mental and physical health, and preceded the wholeness that was to come.
One physician whose wife suffered from deep psychosis read of this finding by Jung and decided to try a wild experiment. He cut a large Circle-Cross about four feet in diameter out of plywood, painted it with shining metallic paint and set it in a shaded room with a spotlight on it. He asked his wife to sit comfortably and contemplate the symbol from time to time throughout the day. Within the course of a few months, she was completely cured.
This universal symbol holds properties that return us to our spiritual center and re-pairs the fabric of our torn or wounded psyche.
From Seasons of the Soul 1996
An interesting fact is that a caterpillar on its way to becoming a butterfly eats voraciously. It devours everything in its path by using powerful jaws and teeth, and is very destructive to certain types of crops. However, once it goes through the metamorphosis to become a butterfly, it is unable to cause harm to anything because it has no apparatus for chewing. It can only sip. The butterfly becomes a model citizen, helping in the pollinating process. Pollen from one tree sticks to its underbelly while the butterfly drinks the nectar from its blossoms, and is then deposited on the next tree as it stops to sip. Farmers depend on butterflies for this cross pollinating of fruit trees, and the once crop devouring caterpillar, which is a financial nightmare to farmers, becomes an equally beneficial ally as the socially conscious butterfly.
No wonder butterflies are used as a symbol for spiritual transformation. How often we see a similar process in people we know and even ourselves—the movement from unconsciousness and unkindness to becoming aware of our real opportunity to contribute and make a meaningful difference by being of service.
From Seasons of the Soul 2002
Autumn is here. Leaves turn brilliant shades and hues and by season’s end fall to the ground. Warm colors of rust and orange and brown replace the bright green of summer. In autumn, the growing cycle has been accomplished. Now it is time to bring in the sheaves—to gather the resources, and clear out and clean up the excess.
Autumn gives us a marvelous opportunity to reflect upon the works of the year, go through our closets, and eliminate what takes up extra space. Soon the inward months come. But for now, it’s time to rake up leaves, stock our shelves, and enjoy the brisk weather and opportunities this season provides. Internally, we can distil, digest, and bring aspects we’ve been pondering throughout the year to fruition. It’s time for us to harvest our good—to embrace the season with gratitude and thanksgiving, and enjoy it in all its autumnal splendor.
There was once a wise woman traveling in the mountains who found a
precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler
who was hungry, and she opened her bag to share her food. The
hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked if she might give
it to him. She did so without hesitation.
The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But only a few days later he came back to return the stone to the woman who had given it to him. "I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, ~Author unknown
but I'm giving it back in the hope that you can give me something
even more precious. I want you to give me what you have within you
that enabled you to give me the stone."
I recently divested myself of old clothes. They were friends from years of wear, and it was hard to let some of them go—not because they looked good on me anymore, but because of the memories attached to them. They hung in my closet unworn for years, but they were familiar.
I realized I have the same need in going through the house and garage – to clear the clutter of past that intrudes on the space of today and possibility of tomorrow. Everything has a life cycle, and when we hold on to things we don’t use, we create a barrier to the harmonious flow of energy. Life is meant to be vital. Our belongings are meant to be used and enjoyed, and when the time comes that we no longer need or appreciate them, it’s time to give them an opportunity for a new life with others who will find them useful. That way, we clear a space and make room for a fresh approach, a new outlook, or opportunity that corresponds to who we are now. In this season. it’s time to let the old fall away so that the new can be born when spring comes again. It’s a grand time for clearing out the clutter—the dead leaves of a season now past. And from that, our load is lightened and we are ready for the renewal that is surely yet to come! From Seasons of the Soul 2006
