Seasons of the Soul

Signs of Hope

 

We’ve been bombarded by news of disaster, disease, war, and all the other ills that beset human beings. However, quietly and behind the scenes, there is something else occurring that receives little coverage. It is a movement that is taking place around the world to come to terms with our excesses and foibles. There are movements now that are seeking to address some of the questions that have been placed on the back burner for years.

 

Recently a group of scientists and Evangelical ministers traveled  to Alaska to see the results of global warming firsthand. There has been a real rift in the Evangelical movement because there are those who believe that human beings have nothing to do with global warming—and that it is just part of a natural phenomenon that must occur in the “End Times”. Yet, within the Christian community, there is also a position that we must be good stewards of our Earth. So, a group of vocal and influential Evangelical ministers joined a group of scientists to see for themselves if the rumors are hype or fact. The result was a resounding acknowledgement that we are indeed contributing to the massive earth changes that are now taking place. And the one million Evangelicals are a powerful group, whose voice is heard in Washington and beyond, so the willingness to dialogue with scientists and go to places that show how fragile our ecosystem is are all signals that something is beginning to shift.

 

On a recent edition of Extreme Makeover, Home Edition, the entire program was dedicated to ecologically friendly building. This is the first time that a show of that stature has dedicated itself to Green technology, and the fact that they have is an indication that we are going to see a movement in the mass market that shifts from denial to recognition that we can and must make a difference. To that end, we will be seeing new companies and new technologies emerge that will focus on the healing of our earth. As Americans, we have seen in the past how when we put our attention and focus in an arena, we are capable of unbelievable advances. This new focus has had a hard start, but we are now going to  see just what we are capable of doing as a result.

 

In the field of health, there are emerging systems that look at the whole body. What used to be thought of as science fiction is now suddenly coming into focus as reality. Vibrational medicine, Sound and color healing, considered “weird” before, are beginning to gain acceptance in mainstream. More and more physicians are becoming disillusioned with the drug culture pushed on them by the Pharmaceuticals—especially when they are presented with the casualties occurring as a result of drug interactions and poor drug testing. Medical schools have put limits on what drug companies can claim in their attempt to sway young doctors to use their drugs with patients.  So keep a lookout for more health care that promotes other modalities of healing as well as an upsurge in recognition of the role nutrition plays.

 

In this issue, I have brought a point of view from The Dalai Lama, and one from a remarkable woman in Russia named Anastasia that point us in a direction of taking responsibility for our inner and outer peace. To that end, Stanley Peele and Tom Brown remind us how we can make a difference, as does Maureen Moss of World Puja Network. Hers is a more metaphysical look at what is ahead—but all hold valuable clues to where we are going and the opportunities they present.

 

I hope you will enjoy this edition of Seasons of the Soul, and welcome your input as to areas where you are seeing a shift taking place in your own lives or through articles you find about hopeful changes beginning to happen on our planet.

May you have a splendid Autumn and many things for which to be thankful.  

 

 

From Seasons of the Soul print edition 2007. Articles mentioned will be appearing throughout this month.

Replacing the God of War With the God of Peace

   Crime and Punishment in America is based on the God of War concept – and it leads to the same recidivism over and over again, just as the middle east is engaged in the same eye for the eye engagement because they are wedded to the God of War.

   What does this mean, the God of War? It is the old testament judgmental deity who elevates one group over another and inflames them to war against all that defile its identity or grip of power. This is a relentless “god” who never rests until vengeance is extracted. And the problem is that this God is viewed from several different perspectives- each claiming to be the only true inheritor of its divine stamp of approval. Yet there is no pleasing this god. Its lust for revenge is legendary. All one need do is read the bible or other religious texts. A never ending fear based loyalty is demanded and extracted. The penalty for disloyalty is death – often through torture.

   When one strips away the indoctrinated level of fear, one has to ask – “how could this god have created the universe?” And the answer is…it did not. This is a subservient god to the Ego based identity of the tribal hierarchy. There can only be one king, one dominant figure, and the rest is subservient to that figure who rules by force and innuendo. Instilling fear and holding ruthless justice over one’s head can hold a tribe together – but it leads to resentment, bitterness, disregard for life, and it stifles the true potential inherent in all humans – the divine gift of creativity, love, and compassion.

   As long as we worship at the feet of the God of War, the earth will continue to go through the ravages we see of one group against another “in the name of God, Allah, Justice” As long as we allow this patriarchal view of god to lead the way, our road is filled with slings and arrows, because that is the only way this god controls.

   As we move into a new millennium, we move into a new vibration – and the possibility is to depose this warrior deity and replace it with the force of life, light, and forgiveness. This is the creator God that Jesus spoke of…the one who asks us to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies as ourselves, to forgive them - for they know not what they do.

   This God seeds life abundantly. This is the verdant green God that brings the lilies of the field and the rich forests and meadows. This is the God that clothes and feeds the earth in light and love. This is the One who holds us in the palm of hand and comforts us in times of trouble. This is a compassionate God – the only one who could forge creation into the living beauty it is. And until we claim and acclaim this Creator God, we will continue to extract an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth until the world is littered with the corpses of an insatiable war god who knows no peace.

From Seasons of the Soul print edition 2006

Falling Away

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 print edition 2006

Do's and Don'ts

   I was getting ready to scramble an egg one morning and remembered back to when I was in Junior High School in Home Economics class, and we were learning how to scramble eggs. I made comments at the time about how the egg was actually something that came from a chicken and was going to become a chicken, and in my attempt to gross out my classmates, I thoroughly nauseated myself and could not eat eggs for a long time.

   For some reason the memory returned as I looked at the egg and yolk I was ready to beat together. I commanded to myself, “Don’t think about it!”…and of course, I thought about it. And it dawned on me how the mind is attracted to what it is directed to – even when it is directed to a don’t or a not – it moves towards the thing described. I thought about how as kids, when told not to touch something, we became more curious, and often did what we were told not to do.

   So as I stood scrambling my egg, I was thinking of things to command myself not to think of – and they came popping in after the admonition. However, as I was focused on the negative thing I’d told myself not to think of, I brought in a command to “think of a waterfall,” and I immediately saw a waterfall in my mind’s eye. I replaced the negative image with a positive one in an instant, and that reminded me of new techniques in parenting that are being used. When a child is misbehaving and focused on things they should not be doing, instead of telling them NOT to do that, the child is directed to an activity or thing that is positive. By shifting focus, a new image has been provided, and the child is not engulfed in guilt or defensiveness. They simply move on to the next thing.

   I’ve watched it work with my granddaughter, and amaze myself with the ease in which we move to a positive directive when there is no tag line attached, no guilt induction or fault. Hitting or engaging in dangerous behavior is a whole different thing – but helping children and ourselves train our minds to focus on positive imagery that nourishes us is a beneficial effort.

   For those of us who spend a lot of time in self-recrimination, the idea of transplanting the “I should haves” with positive imagery of what we have done right goes a long way to making us feel whole and refreshed – ready for a new project or attempt at something we may have failed at before. Try it. See if it makes a difference for you. In place of focusing on something negative, or berating yourself, turn immediately to an image of something that is joyous or peaceful, and remember the things you HAVE done well – and then remember to appreciate yourself for them!

From Seasons of the Soul print edition 2006

In Times of Change, Wild Magic is Afoot!

An excellent article on the power of change and choice:

http://www.kripalu.org/article/564/

Layers and Layers of Paint

 

  “I think we ought to strip the cabinets.” My sweetie was looking at the thick layers of paint on kitchen cabinets that had been repeatedly painted over the years, and discussing what our options were now that it was once again time to paint.

   “Oh, no…don’t go to all that trouble,” I countered. “Let’s just make this kind of a funky kitchen and paint some interesting colors.”

   He shook his head. “Nope. I want to see what is underneath all this buildup of paint.” I sighed, knowing that once he’d made up his mind, nothing was going to stop him. “Well, go ahead if you want…but it’s going to be a lot of work.”

   He took the cabinets into the garage and put paint stripper on each of them. I heard him sanding them, and soon he was in the house with a big smile on his face. “Come look at what I found.” Surely, it was going to be marginal at best. But as I walked up to what had been heavily painted cabinet doors, there in their place were beautiful wooden doors that had intricate wood grain – absolutely gorgeous. And all this time, they had been covered over with layer upon layer of paint – hiding the natural beauty that was underneath, waiting to be freed!

   If we’d had more money, we’d probably have thrown the old cabinets out. But because we had a limited budget, and because of his tenacity, we found something that was much nicer than anything new we could have bought.

   Of course, that got me thinking about us humans. How many layers of “paint” have we got covering the exquisite natural beauty of who we really are under all the years of encrusted experiences, disappointment, and other residue that has created a buildup that dims our inherent light? And how often do we just paint more on top of what is there rather than stripping away the old and bringing ourselves back to our true essence? It seems so much easier in the moment just to cover over whatever isn’t working, but in the long run, we are left with a shadow of our real selves.

   Now that I’ve seen the miracle of stripping the cabinets, I’m looking to see where there is residue and layers of old stuff that is hiding my inner light. How about you? Is your true beauty shining through?

From Seasons of the Soul print edition 2006

Reconciliation of the Universe

In the book,  Deconstruction of the Universe, by Gary Renard, a position is taken that demonstrates the entire process of life as a field of play to bring about  realization that there is only One Self – the God that is a unified force field, and that each of us is part of an original error thought that has split into fragments and continues to play out an illusion of reality through duality.

“Let Thine Eye Be single”, “In the twinkling of an Eye” - and all biblical passages  referring to the unifying principle of oneness  -  are points of recognition within each fragment that it is truly part of a whole. When we overcome the individuated “i” that runs on free will choice and clarify our position and our true source, we become the single “I”, and that recognition can occur in a twinkling, so that we realize we are not separate, not apart from – but that we are the one “I” in which all things live and dwell and have their being. This becomes the basis of Self Realization.

There is nothing other than that, save for the projection of error consciousness playing out in the realm of Earth.

When we look at scenarios that individuals play out we can see the truth in these concepts. Each person has a different vantage point and a different story based on their own perception. Ten people can view the same incident and report it differently – based on their own perception and bias.

We look from a larger view at the squabbles of people over the “differences” in religion, race, ethnic background – the wars fought amongst the so-called righteous to promote their “one true truth”. Yet, even by biblical standards, we are all derived from one coupling – the Adam and Eve heritage. If this be so, how can we claim that any of us are superior to another? If this be so, how can we say that any other is sub-human or inferior or wrong? We being derived from One must return to One – and in the process the ego (I go) must come home.

We can see the magnetic repelling or connecting when we take two force fields and hold them in different ways. As a child, many of us who are older used to play with the magnetic Scotty dogs – one black, one white. If they were held a certain way, they would lock together as one. When they were held differently, they could not be attached because the force fields  energetically repelled the other. So with us. We are locked in a perceptual force field of repulsion, unable to come together until we turn energetically to a different field of perception and knowing. Once this occurs – we are able to re-unify, and those who were sent out as one who became two and then millions can be reabsorbed as the out-breath becomes the in-breath. From the millions to the two to the One…separate no more.

From Seasons of the Soul print edition 2005

No Age Should Be Dismissed

 

As I looked into the mirror, the unmistakable signs of aging were evident. Turning 60 was a reminder. The clock is ticking, and the direction is toward old age. As I thought of the many extreme makeover shows now so popular on television, it dawned on me that as much as my skin is sagging, my spirit is soaring. On the outside I am showing signs of wear and tear, but it is an indicator of a life lived. And I thought of our throw away culture. Women over 40 have few roles available in the movies. Most are banished from television when they are no longer cute to look at. In the Bay Area, we have one station that allows the older newscasters to have a show in the morning on weekends – when most people aren’t watching.

What is so interesting about this dichotomy of youth/age is that in our early years we are filled with curiosity about the world around us and about ourselves. We are discovering things all the time as we grow and develop. We go through the awkward stage of adolescence and then pass into the phase of nest and career building. Our efforts are directed outward and to procreating our species. It is only after the headlong rush into life that we take time as older age approaches to ask the relevant questions about life that are deepening and soul enhancing. We have to come to the point of having enough experience to strip away our own veneer – to be willing to see ourselves from a lifelong perspective.

Our American preoccupation with facelifts and body makeovers and flaunting a tinsel image of sexuality is actually laughable. It is adolescence on a rampage. We are besieged by shows filled with violence and disrespect….an homage to testosterone.

This past week I have been baby sitting my daughter’s kitten. She and her husband went to New York for five days, and we took care of her “baby”. As the week progressed, the bond between my grand-kitty and I increased. She was adorable and in to everything. I had to watch constantly to make sure no one would open a door to the outdoors without making sure she did not get out. Scooting here and there, she was inquisitive and investigative. Her moments of calm and loving were slim. Everything was action oriented. The kids came home yesterday and took their precious treasure away. It was quieter without the kitty, and we missed her amusing antics. However, in thinking about her, I was reminded of another cat years ago who came to visit the bookstore I worked in and loved.

Minerva Books was located in an old house next to a residential section, and the visiting kitty was an elder who was close to the end of its life. This very old orange cat would come to visit and sit on our porch where she could bask in the full glory of sun without the noise of cars or the rush of wind bothering her slumber. We used to look at her as she sat, seemingly so grateful for the rays of sunshine beaming down on her frail body. And there was a certain repose in her countenance – a dignity of age. This memory juxtaposed with the rampaging curiosity of the kitten brought home again the specialness of each age: None better or worse – each having its own gift. The young cat wanted to play. The old cat was grateful for a pat or a comment. The little one had no time to be still, and the old cat had all the time in the world. She was moving into the twilight of her life, filled with memories that sustained her, while the little kitten was busy making them.

And this brings me back to us. We are precious and wonderful and filled with possibility at every stage of life. To make one stage desirable and the rest dismissed is to deny the fullness of life. When we only look at surface images to determine what is acceptable and what is not, we miss the opportunity to enlarge our sphere of influence and depth because we see anything not conforming to the “image” as meaningless. Yet, in creation, there is nothing that is meaningless.

In the interweaving of life, every element is dependent and supportive of every other element. We are mistaken when we think we can interfere with one aspect of life and there will be no consequences to the rest of life – because we are intricately linked to one another. So too, with age. No age should be dismissed.

From Seasons of the Soul print edition 2003

Planting Tomatoes In the Fall

We were in the market, commenting about the great tomatoes and how hard it was for us to grow them. The man at the counter told us his secret for perfect tomatoes. He takes a ripe tomato that he likes such as Heirloom and chooses a full sun area, then drops it into a hole in the ground just as nature would. He works the ground with chicken manure  and cuts out the bottom of a gallon milk or water plastic container and positions that over the planted tomato. This protects it through the winter from frost. In the spring when the vines grow, he digs the plant out and makes a deeper hole. He puts up to half of the plant underground, including the leaves. This creates a strong stalk and then he waters and feeds it, and has the best tomatoes ever as a result. No cage, not pots, no seeds. Just your favorite tomato plopped in the soil. We live in California, so for some of you in the harsher climates, this might not work, but aside from racoons who tend to ruin the whole plan, the opportunity for great tomatoes is worth the effort!

Everything Is Impermanence

I love autumn, and we’ve had glorious days when the light is just right and makes everything look magical to my eyes—like a veil parting between worlds. It’s the transforming time of harvest and leaves falling, preparing for the next stage to come.

 

I was raking leaves the other day, tidying the front of my house, and was aware of the futile exercise it appears to be. One good wind and there are that many more leaves to sweep, but for the moment after I’ve finished, everything looks “just right.” It dawned on me that those “just right” moments are ephemeral. They cannot be grasped or clutched, because within a few moments they are gone. Change is the only permanence—paradoxical in definition—but true.

 

I was reminded of the Zen teacher whose early training showed her this example in action. She was a fine crafts person and wanted to build a beautiful altar for the monastery where she studied, as they had none. Her teacher told her it was not necessary, but she insisted. Smiling, the head monk consented to her plan, and so she built a stunning altar with love and care. On the day of presentation when she gave her gift to the monastery, all smiled, bowed, and thanked her. Then the head monk tapped her on the shoulder and told her to tear it down. She was shocked, but he smiled again. “Everything is impermanence”. She had insisted on doing what was not necessary, and in the act of doing, she derived joy. When done, it was time to let go of her offering. It had been viewed, appreciated, and released because an altar was not needed.

 

The monks of Tibet create beautiful Mandalas from colored sand. They are intricate and wondrous to view. Years ago, they came to San Francisco and created one over a series of weeks at the local museum. One day a woman who was mentally imbalanced jumped on the mandala and ruined it. People gasped in horror as she did this, but the monks merely smiled as she proved once again that nothing is permanent.

 

We cannot do for the sake of permanence, but rather through our joy in creating or delight in an activity.

 

I cannot rake leaves with an expectation that once done, always done. It is a process that I engage in over and over again. My delight is in the raking and sweeping and in the momentary illusion of neatness. Then the winds come, the leaves fall, and my garden is once again changed. Chaos and order. From one the other follows, just as the seasons go round and round.

Change is the only permanence."