Seasons of the Soul

Health Tidbits for the New Year

Chocolate
Are you aware that chocolate often counteracts the symptoms of PMS? As you may know, endorphins are chemicals manufactured in the body that stimulate a sense of euphoria or well-being. When endorphin production decreases, we often experience depression. In women, the production of beta endorphins helps regulate ovulation and the reproductive cycle, dropping markedly right before menstruation. It is now thought that PMS may be a form of beta endorphin withdrawal, causing reactions similar to withdrawal from endorphin mimicking drugs such as Heroin. Enter chocolate! Chemicals found in chocolate often act as an anti-depressant and therefore decrease or alleviate symptoms of PMS…so if you are a woman who suffers from PMS and find yourself craving chocolate at “that” time of the month, you may be reaching for a natural opiate. From Optimal Health cassette series, Nightengale-Conant.­

Water
In a penetrating examination of the habits of Americans, Dr. Batmangheli, author of Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, has noted that many of us are chronically dehydrated. He suggests that we need much more water than we are getting to replenish our cells. It makes up 70% of body tissue and 80% of brain tissue, and the lack of adequate amounts causes the body to borrow from organs and other “water” areas within the body. His research shows that dehydration is partially responsible for depression, joint aches, arthritis, diabetes, raised cholesterol and other maladies. According to him, we need 8-12 glasses of purified water a day to maintain health. Instead of over-medicating ourselves, we need to practice drinking H2O.­

Vision
Our Vision is dependent on our vision...so says Jacob Lieberman, O.D., Ph.D. Author of several books, including Light, Medicine of the Future, He states that we are indoctrinated to assume that when our eyesight seems to waiver, we must immediately do something about it rather than allowing it to correct itself. Through simple exercises and mental attitude, he has found in his practice that the eyes will quite often return to 20/20 vision. He believes that emotional blocks are often a cause of vision problems, and by taking care of the problem...vision will restore itself. Now that’s food for thought!­
                   

Amazing Peace, A Christmas Poem

This inspirational poem was sent to me today by a minister friend. We are still in the "Christmas" season until the 6th of January, so it is appropriate. Truth is, it's appropriate throughout the year and all of our lives. Let us embody light and spread it throughout the land - starting with ourselves!

Editor

Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem
By Maya Angelou

Thunder rumbles in the mountain passes
And lightning rattles the eaves of our houses.
Flood waters await us in our avenues.

Snow falls upon snow, falls upon snow to avalanche
Over unprotected villages.
The sky slips low and grey and threatening.

We question ourselves.
What have we done to so affront nature?
We worry God.
Are you there? Are you there really?
Does the covenant you made with us still hold?

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,
Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope
And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.
The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,
Come the way of friendship.

It is the Glad Season.
Thunder ebbs to silence and lightning sleeps quietly in the corner.
Flood waters recede into memory.
Snow becomes a yielding cushion to aid us
As we make our way to higher ground.

Hope is born again in the faces of children
It rides on the shoulders of our aged as they walk into their sunsets.
Hope spreads around the earth. Brightening all things,
Even hate which crouches breeding in dark corridors.

In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now. It is louder.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.
It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We clap hands and welcome the Peace of Christmas.
We beckon this good season to wait a while with us.
We, Baptist and Buddhist, Methodist and Muslim, say come.
Peace.
Come and fill us and our world with your majesty.
We, the Jew and the Jainist, the Catholic and the Confucian,
Implore you, to stay a while with us.
So we may learn b y your shimmering light
How to look beyond complexion and see community.

It is Christmas time, a halting of hate time.

On this platform of peace, we can create a language
To translate ourselves to ourselves and to each other.

At this Holy Instant, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ
Into the great religions of the world.
We jubilate the precious advent of trust.
We shout with glorious tongues at the coming of hope.
All the earth's tribes loosen their voices
To celebrate the promise of Peace.

We, Angels and Mortal's, Believers and Non-Believers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at our world and speak the word aloud.
Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation.

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.

Source:  Amazing Peace:  A Celebration, Random House, NY

 
 

Sacred Geometry and Brain Physiology

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 Winter 1996 edition

New Earth Summit and the Death of the Snake

I had a profound dream early this morning, and have been searching for the meaning on the Internet and through my books on dreams. This was much more important than just for me, so I'm sharing it with you along with a site that was sent to me this morning. I believe in synchronicity, so see this all as tying in together. The old ways are passing, and we are being asked to prepare ourselves more in alignment with our true selves rather than what we've been programmed to believe we are.

The dream was that I was told the snake was dying. In it, I felt shock and dismay, and asked if I could see the snake before it died. A golden bronze snake was brought to me with a large head and short body. It was held by a man who seemed to be its keeper or a vet, and as he brought it to me, he brought it very close as though to hand it to me twice, and I said I didn't want to touch it, but to look at it. I saw wisdom in the eyes and felt a soul to soul connection and sadness at its passing. Then the man took out a syringe and gave it a shot. I asked how long the dying process would take place as I watched the snake seeming to register what had happened, and then I woke up with a deep feeling of depression and sense that something important had happened, although I didn't understand what.

If anyone has a sense of the meaning, I would appreciate your comments. In the meantime, here is the site I was sent:

New Earth Summit - Spirituality and Transformation - Awakened Community

The House of 1,000 Mirrors

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was a place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."

All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

The Mark of Advancing Civilization

One day there was a news piece about a tortoise in Australia that had lost its hind legs. The zoo keepers created an innovative solution by putting rollers on a panel and attaching it with straps to the tortoise so that it is able to navigate without difficulty using the wheels as its surrogate legs and feet.

Stories emerging where humans seek to assist animals through compassion rather than viewing them as things to be used is an indicator of an advancement in civilization. It brought me back to the whole idea of our growth as humanity.

We see that the exclusive attitude of one being mighty and the rest being less than set up original hierarchal patterns. The need for a leader often set the ground rules. Would it be might or wisdom that led? So the tolerance level first was for those who were the strongest. Any man who was not dominant in nature was considered week and inferior. The next stage was an acceptance of all men being equal. This of course only referred to the group who saw itself as being the one that counted, so it was in reference to one’s own tribe or community. Then the acceptance of others expanded to men of different rank and status in social standing. Then women were incorporated, then men and women of different color or ethnic background. Then came a thawing in religious tolerance (to a point), and to people with different opinions (to a point), and those who had been disenfranchised (the disabled, indigent, elderly).

The key to our place in historical context is the range of our inclusion of all life. The point being that we move from self and self interest to expanding our circle of intimates until we are able to embrace ALL of life and each of life’s elements as being part of us. When we are able to relate to others with compassion and empathy rather than rigid judgments and unconscious acts of exclusion, we fulfill human potential, which is what we have embedded in our DNA, waiting for our recognition and acceptance.

Life is a thread that weaves us all in manifest time through consciousness, and our task and opportunity is to widen the circle we perceive as acceptable to embrace every thing, living or not. As we do, we are immeasurably blessed because the curse of fixedness dissolves into a fluid motion of invitation whereby we can all dance together as equals, sharing the glory of contributing to the entire fabric so that the thread that binds us creates a holy tapestry that is merged in love.

A Christmas Message

May the spirit of the season fill our hearts with goodwill toward our neighbors and those who are in need, and may we all open to be more giving and sharing of the good that we have, even if it is only a smile or kind word. The world needs our generosity of spirit right now far more than presents. As we can each find ways in which to help, we are blessed in the giving. There is something very satisfying in knowing that you have done something for others that is meaningful - not just to satisfy your desire and acquisitive nature.

Watching a show on the extreme wealthy on CNN recently, it is very sad to see the ways in which they feel it is appropriate to display their acquisitions - never satisfied - always seeking more, bigger, and wanting to best one another with who makes the most money. It made me wonder if these were the ones who we bailed out with our taxpayer dollars to save Wall Street and banks.

Another show was called The Secret Millionaire, and in a different display, these wealthy individuals were sent to live for a week on welfare and go undercover in the poorest communities to find deserving individuals who are trying to make a difference in the lives of the people in their community. Each of these millionaires agreed to give at least $100,000 of their own money to assist at the end when they would reveal that they were actually wealthy and not poor people looking for work. It made a difference in their lives, often more than to those who they gave the money to, because they saw people who had little giving their all to share and aid those in need. The love that was demonstrated was palpable, and many of those who were undercover said that in their own world there was not that kind of caring for one another. Rather than a fifth house or the  new hot car for their stable of cars, imagine what could be done if some of these super rich would focus on what they might do to make a positive difference in the world rather than just acquire more stuff for themselves.

Earth is an interesting school. It is full of all kinds and all forms of justice and injustice. We have everything here, but in the words of the one whose life we celebrate today, We are our brother's keepers. Let's do our part to be noble expressions of life, not just conglomerates of self-satisfaction.

On this day of celebration for many of us from Christian traditions and for all those who celebrate the return of light with the winter solstice, may the blessings of the season be yours now and through the coming year, and may we all share what we have in meaningful ways that make a difference!

The Universal Symbol - Circle and Cross

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.

The Prairie Dog In Prayer

From “Finding Beauty In A Broken World”

by Terry Tempest Williams, (an environmentalist committed to showing man's impact on the land.)

"I watched prairie dogs every day, rise before the  sun, stand with their paws pressed together facing the rising sun in total  stillness for up to 30 minutes," says Williams. "And then I watched them  at the end of the day take that same gesture 30 minutes before the sun  goes down they would press their palms together in perfect stillness. I  don't mean to anthropomorphize, but when you look at a creature that has  survived over the millennium begin and end each day in that kind of  stance, it causes one to think about one's own life and speed and rapidity  in which we live.”

   

Nurturing Nature

One morning as I was having my breakfast and listening to the news, the statement came over the air waves that we must fight global warming, and I thought, “here we go again”. The same attitude that got us in to this mess is the same one being touted as the way out, i.e. “fighting”.

The human species, and most often those in power, are hell bent on fighting against something. Their attitude is framed in opposition rather than collaboration, and we see again and again the results of this narrow frame of reference that always sets up a good guy and bad guy scenario.

In the case of nature, we were always fighting it in the past to tame it, to show our dominion of it, etc. etc. This attitude has finally put us into a deep adversarial position with the source of sustenance that provides for our life on the planet. As we continue the attitude of fighting, there is always a loser. Yet, when we nurture nature, everyone wins, and everyone is included in a process that honors and respects our earth, oceans, and the air we breathe.

Nurture is about inclusion, and about sharing. Fighting is about weaponry and alienation and dominating. That isn’t going to work anymore. We’ve done enough dominating of people, place, and things long enough – and all we’ve done is to create hostile environments, rape the land and resources, and treat our fellow human beings with enmity because their view or beliefs differ from ours. There is no nurture in this, and there is no quality of life with this attitude. So, it’s time to take a different approach.

Let’s band together to nurture nature. We can start in our own homes and gardens. We can ask ourselves if the way we use resources is helping our planet or hurting it, and we can recognize that we are co-creators with the earth in the process of housekeeping – or planet keeping. We are not here to show how much we can devour or take away from anyone else. We are here to exchange our views and abilities and to do the best we can to uphold a vision of life that celebrates everyone and everything in its God given purpose. None is better or worse – all are equally valuable and play different parts, regardless of appearance. So…let’s start nurturing and stop fighting. And while we’re doing that regarding our planet, let’s also include ourselves in the process and begin to love who and what we are as well. Novel idea, isn’t it?!