Spirals of Response vs. Circles of Reaction October 15, 2009
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Cosmic Consciousness, Stress Relief, Unity and Oneness Consciousness.add a comment
The spiral shape tends to inspire feelings of openness, freedom and adventure. It appears full of possibility. The circle on the other hand, is a closed system. Whatever you start with you finish with, so there isn’t opportunity for new adventure or imagination.
Circles are very useful, however, which is why they are pervasive in our culture. We have countless variations of the wheel serving all manner of utilitarian purposes. Our Newtonian science is based on the circle of cause and effect, action and reaction in a continuous circle. We don’t seem to have much use for spirals on the material plane of life because it is open ended.
When we use the circle of reaction method in relationships with others and nature itself, it shows itself to be inadequate in dealing with the complexities of life. This is evident in all the conflicts in the world today, which are fueled by individuals and nations in continuous circles of reaction to each other. The old Hatfield’s and McCoy’s feud lives on in different costumes.
It seems to be time to use an expanded paradigm of thinking and relating to each other and the world at large. By opening the circle into a spiral, we give ourselves the opportunity to respond instead of react. What is the difference? REACT means ‘to act in return or opposition or towards a former state’ (like a circle). RESPOND means ‘to answer’ (more open).
Reactions are mostly automatic, like a knee-jerk reaction to stimulus. It is just “a happening”; and therefore, we don’t feel we have any control over it. However, in truth, we do have control and we do have a choice; but we don’t apply it to situations in which our buttons are pushed. Someone attacks us physically or verbally and a primal reaction is triggered. Our society has always condoned reacting by striking back in like kind– no questions asked.
Responding, or answering, on the other hand implies taking time between the initial action and the answer or response. This newly created time space offers opportunity for processing information by listening to the other. It lends a feeling of open-mindedness to consider various alternatives to raw reaction. We have time and space to possibly “walk in the other’s shoes” for a few moments, which would enable one to see a different point of view. This in turn could lead to an understanding of why the other did or said what they did. With understanding comes a space for cooperation, and even compassion in some cases.
A good example of responding is found in the practice of non-violent communication. which uses the “Jack in the Box” method of communication. This is how it works. You place your order at the drive-thru speaker box. Jack responds by repeating what you ordered. Then you respond by affirming whether or not they heard you right. If not, you continue the interaction until you know that Jack in the Box fully understands your order.
If Jack simply ‘reacted’ to your order by giving it to the cook without verifying it with you, your order could possibly be wrong about half of the time. Jack’s owners learned this early on and chose to respond instead of react. They didn’t want employees assuming they understood what the customer said. Assuming is a huge problem with reaction as it is based solely on one’s individual limited perception of the situation regardless of what others are saying or doing.
Do you agree that we need to learn how to change from circles of reaction to be able to flow into spirals of response? To be able to respond we must learn to listen to others with our heart instead of reacting to words with our biased minds. Try this simple exercise. Listen with your heart to your spouse, children, co-workers, fellow students for just one day. Don’t interrupt anyone by talking over them. Just listen. Take a breath. Wait and feel if you need to respond verbally. Many times you will find there’s no need to say anything. Simply by listening with your heart, they felt heard and seen. Your spiral of response has opened up an infinite world of possibilities.
ARE YOU RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL? September 27, 2009
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Religious commentary, Spiritual Transformation, The Real Jesus.Tags: intolerance, Jesus, Letter of Law, Love Enemies, Religion, Spiritual
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RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL
We hear many people today say, “I am not religious. I am spiritual.” What is the difference? Aren’t religious people spiritual? The spiritual group perceives religion as being a rigid belief system of rules that discourages, if not forbids, acceptance or investigation of other religious faiths. That perception is based on prejudiced statements by the religious establishment down through the ages such as, “The equal tolerance of religions is the same thing as atheism.” Pope Leo XIII, 1885.
Our weary world has been suffering under the crushing weight of religious intolerance for millennia; long before Pope Leo issued his limiting edict. Whenever any ideology is taken literally, it can foster hate and division. Literally following the Law to the letter doesn’t prevent one from verbally assaulting another soul. In fact, that is what Jesus accused the priests of his day of doing. He put the Spirit of the Law above the letter of the Law.
Following the Law religiously is different than experiencing the Spirit of the Law. Spiritually we can feel a heart connection to our fellow man, even if we don’t know him or what his religious or political beliefs are. This is because we are born with inherent empathy, which is our Soul/Spirit. But when we go unconscious or get buried under stress, then it is all too easy to stay in our heads, setting ourselves apart and judging others with different beliefs as being wrong, defective or just plain evil.
If anyone stands up and says, “Wait a minute. This action we’re taking doesn’t make sense from a compassionate, loving perspective.” they are labeled a rebel, a heretic or a subversive. Our self-righteous judgmental minds definitely don’t want to hear things like “Love your enemies. Do good to those who despitefully use you. Turn the other cheek. If one takes your coat, give him your cloak also.” as Jesus taught.
Since we all have a mind, we are all guilty of falling into its divisive clutches and existing in the limited thinking box that separates us from God and each other. But we have also been gifted by our Creator with the Spirit; and It is omnipresent Love residing within our hearts. In fact, all world religions have the same Golden Rule. Where religions have failed is in hiding this magnificent Truth from the masses by teaching exclusivity and separation. They shun unity and cooperation with those of different beliefs.
Our views of religion and the spiritual could expand if we viewed all sacred scripture as poetic love letters written to each individual human soul. Scripture, like poetry, was created using symbols and metaphors to fully express the essence of its meaning. It wasn’t intended to be taken literally. Emotions and deep spiritual truths cannot be dissected and understood by the reasoning mind. They are only experienced in the Soul.
To really appreciate and benefit from religious texts one must embody them as one would take in a work of art. If just read as a linear history or a doctrine of social behavior, the transformational purpose is lost, its power made impotent. To fully experience the Spirit of scripture, one must be willing and able to understand the symbolic and metaphoric meanings of the words and pictures they paint in our mind’s eye.
Read the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament. It is written to be read on many levels of meaning. On one level, it is a poem of the wedding of King Solomon to his bride. On another level, it is about the symbolical marriage of the Creator with us, His creation. It is a lavish description of the intimate and extravagant devotion God has for the beloved, which is you and me.
This indescribable Love is the unconditional love we all long for. We continually seek it from one another, but rarely if ever find it in human form. This is because we were created to receive this deeper love from Spirit first, which enables us to love and accept ourselves. The more we are able to receive the unconditional love of Spirit and “fill our cup”, the more we are able to love and accept others because our “cup is overflowing”. It is a spiritual experience. It is not a religious doctrine.
SPIRIT OF THE GODDESS September 10, 2009
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Quantum Shifts, Spiritual Sensuality, Spiritual Transformation.Tags: America's God Talent, Compassion, Goddess, peace, Sacred Feminine, Spiritual healing
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The other night I was watching America’s Got Talent. Barbara Padilla was the last contestant to perform. I think that most people were in awe as she sang “Ave Maria” from a pedestal aglow with white light in a gown that flowed around her to the floor.
(cut and paste this into your browser to see her performance 9/8/09)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6sUaRagfDA#watch-main-area
Please watch the video of her performance through to the end as well as the judges’ comments. Notice Sharon Osborne’s comment at the end as she bows to her as a cancer survivor herself and as a woman. Piers said people would remember where they were and what they were doing on the night they heard her sing, (almost as we knew where we were on 9/11/01). It really was quite extraordinary. I felt so strongly that the essence of the Sacred Feminine, or the true personification of the Goddess was and is personified in Barara’s spirit and her voice.
She is not a virgin Mary, a holier than thou religioius saint, an evangelist for an ultruistic cause or any of that. She is a living breathing, sensuous, beautiful example of a complete woman. Her manifestation of the sacred side of femininity is actually able to bring spiritual and physical healing to others, because she is coming from the fullness of her heart.
I am always “beating the drum” about the need in the world for the return of the Sacred Feminine to offset the destructive, warrior nature of the patriarchial world we’ve endured for millenia. People generally misunderstand what I mean by that, and have flashbacks to the women’s liberation movement. That movement helped women come out of servitude, but it turned many men and women against women’s rights because it too had a warrior nature.
But now we have been blessed to experience a world performance of what the restoration of the Sacred Feminine looks like in 2009. Men and women alike acknowledge the rise of a transcendent awe and love that fills them in the presence of this beautiful energy.
Barbara inpires all of us to know that the Spirit she manifests is in each and every one of us. If each of us could go through our day with this open hearted feeling of love and compassion that we feel when hearing and seeing Barbara then world peace would not be far behind.
DON’T WORRY…BE HAPPY! July 20, 2009
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Energy Awareness, Spiritual Transformation, Stress Relief.Tags: Einstein, fear, Gratitude, Happy, Imagination, Law of Attraction, Money, Stress, Visualization, Worry
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Remember this charming song from several years ago? Our world was in a bit of mess then too, but not nearly as seriously as now. It’s a little harder today to sing this little tune and pump oneself up. However, it does convey a universal truth that will work if we work it.
We’ve had movies like The Secret that explain a Law of Attraction in our Universe, which teach us how and why people and things show up in our lives. We attract what we think about, or we attract what we love by paying attention to it. And yes, it’s true that some of us love drama and problems and chaos, even though we don’t like to admit it.
Of course, none of us is doing a jig over the financial mess. Most of us feel pretty helpless when it comes to doing anything to help correct it. But that aside, we can take responsibility for our own attitude moment to moment regardless of the outside circumstances. In fact, controlling ourselves is all we can do.
So with that in mind I would like to share a little something I stumbled upon from one of the internet sites I visit frequently called A Space of Love hosted by Heather Mcauley. Years before The Secret appeared on the scene, Heather taught her five year old daughter, Amelia, to imagine whatever she wanted to have or do as if it was already real. Then she told her to stop thinking about it and just be happy and grateful. Amelia’s been manifesting trips, horses, and all types of fun for the past several years. Now around age twelve Heather asked her what she would advise adults who are “freakin’ out” over lack of money.
She said that instead of “freakin’ out” about a lack, picture what you want and imagine it like it’s happening. Then don’t think about it. Go about doing your normal thing and be happy. If it doesn’t work it’s because it depends on what you think will work for you. (We’re back to you are and have what you believe).
Next you should empty your mind, focus on what you want and not worry at all. You can meditate to help empty your mind. Do the normal things you do, and don’t worry about it. Be happy and picture yourself with money, but not a whole house full of money. Then people may come in try to steal it!
When asked if she pictured herself with money, she said “No. I pictured myself going to Disneyland and stuff like that”.
Amelia went on to say that if you have a child, you might want to play with him or her for awhile. There is something about children. They can feel upset if their parents are preoccupied and not there for them. She concluded with these words of encouragement:
“Love is the strongest thing in the world. It makes people feel good, it makes them feel better, and it always brings happiness, no matter how sad you are, knowing that you’re loved.”
Out of the mouths of babes comes great wisdom. Speaking of wisdom, Albert Einstein is known to have said “Imagination is more important than knowledge”. He ought to know. His imagination brought us the theory of relativity that changed the world forever! He also said “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
There is another internet person who is storming the world with what he calls Mind Movies. He teaches you how to make a movie of your imagined life so you can literally watch your dreams come to life in your very own movie. You obviously are happy, excited and enthused while watching your movie; and therefore, the joyful feelings crowd out worry and fear. Then, guess what. Yep, you guessed it. Money, love, peace and joy begin to manifest in your life, just like it did for Amelia. So you can sing, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”.
You can go high tech or low tech, but do indulge yourself in your delightful imagination and partake of life’s “coming attractions” NOW.
The Present is Pre-Sent June 23, 2009
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Cosmic Consciousness, Stress Relief.Tags: being present, brain power, change life, change thinking, Presence, reality, Science of Mind
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Now that is quite a wild statement. But think about it for a moment…or two. If our present moment is pre-sent, who sent it? And why should I care? I have enough to think about without questioning where the present came from and who sent it. Good grief!
Though it feels like a silly conundrum of confusion, it is really a profound thought, which if pondered for awhile will lead to a liberating revelation.
We are living on the surface of a infinitely enormous mystery. Our bodies alone are so complex we haven’t even begun to figure them out or identify all the components. Each one of us in a magnificent universe unto ourselves. We are actually a hologram and everything we experience is a holographic image as well. As you know they can clone something from just one cell. This in itself is mind boggling.
What does this mean in your everyday life? It means that if you live your life as if this material world is all there is; you will be very confused and discouraged most of the time. Remember, the material world around us is only about 1% of reality. The remaining 99% is unseen by human eyes. Can you imagine deciding anything in your life with only 1% of the necessary information? I think not. And yet, we do it all the time.
Experts tell us that we only use about 10% of our brain power. The other 90% is just sitting there doing nothing. Why is that!? I would think that would really upset people. I would think they would want to know immediately, if not sooner, how to access that 90% so their life could be more manageable and enjoyable. However, for some unknown reason, we just go on with life as if we never even heard that incredible information.
Okay now. Back to the present. We hear a lot lately about being present, living in Presence, being here now, because NOW is all there is. But the NOW is a product of the past moment. If you were sad a moment ago, you are probably sad now. Therefore, you sent yourself a sad thought to be experienced in the future, which is now the present. So your “present” has been “pre-sent”. Get it?
We can have an incredibly rich life if we challenge ourselves to use the 90% of our minds to consciously create our future “present” moments by visioning in the current present what we want to feel and experience in the future present. This is the awesome gift of free will that distinguishes us from other species. We can co-create our future by choosing what we think about in the present!
Proverbs says that “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. It isn’t what other people think about you that determines who you are. What others think of you is none of your business! It’s their business. No one can make you think anything you don’t want or choose to think. Nor can you make anyone else think something they don’t want to think.
So why do we spend so much time and effort struggling to control others and our material world? If it is a losing game, why play it? Good question, don’t you think? Well, I believe we keep playing it because we are choosing to use the 10% of our minds to figure out the 1% of reality. Real life is going on subliminally in the 90% of our minds in the 99% of reality!
It does sound crazy doesn’t it? That’s because it is! Now that the whole world is turned inside out and everyone can see behind the curtain and they can see the emperor has no clothes, people are freaking out. “What in the world can we do?!” Nothing! We can only change our world by changing our perception using the 90%.
Ernest Holmes who wrote The Science of Mind said, “Change your thinking; change your life”. And he was right. Our thoughts are the steering wheel of our life vehicle. It’s time to wake up and enjoy the Present you Pre-sent yourself consciously.
CHECK THIS SITE OUT May 19, 2009
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Cosmic Consciousness, Spiritual Science.Tags: Aztec calendar, crop circles, ET's, Mayan 2012 prophesy, NASA, sun spots
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Here is the site: www.earthfiles.com . If we ever needed proof that crop circles are not man made this has to be it. To have them all appear in England in April 2009 is significant also.
The investigators of the symbolism of the crop circles are seeing similarities with Mayan and Aztec Calendar symbology. As we get closer and closer to 12/21/2012 we are going to see more and more phenomenon that will be quite mind blowing I’m sure. It is time to keep our eyes (third eye preferably) and ears (intuition) open, and antenae up.
Also on this site there is info on the hole(s) in the magnetosphere exposing us to deadly radiation if there are sun spots; which there are none at present…thank goodness! You can check the sun spot issue on NASA.gov site which shows up as a link on www.earthfiles.com.
The point of all this activity is not so much about the ending of the world, but more about the beginning of a new one with a much higher consciousness taking precendence over the lower materialistic consciousness (or unconsciousness). The increase in more advanced crop circles could be a signal we are maturing enough to meet our neighbors in the near future. They are, afterall, sending us engraved invitiations to the party.
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting ready to wear my “party pants”. Can you see it?
BE CHILDLIKE – NOT CHILDISH May 13, 2009
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Dreams, Spiritual Transformation.Tags: Buddha, Chaos, Child-like, Childish, Dahli Lama, Dreams, Free Spirit, Innocence, Jesus, Joyous, laughter
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Have you noticed that the most enlightened beings on the planet are and have been the most childlike? The mischievous twinkle in their eye hints at a secret no one else knows. The Dahli Lama comes to mind. Then there is the Laughing Buddha. Even Jesus was accused of being a heavy drinker of wine with questionable friends by his critics.
Most all free-spirited souls are childlike in that they are innocent, without guile, totally present all the time, laugh easily and rarely take themselves seriously. They are probably judged as being childish by the majority who take themselves quite seriously. But the serious ones are actually the most childish in the negative sense of the word.
Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. Worry and anxiety are like lead in our backpack. Very difficult to get lift off weighted down by lead. We have to be able to lighten up so we can ascend high enough to get the bigger picture. Otherwise we are like the blind guys describing an elephant based on the one part each could feel.
All stress and fear is caused by stories we tell ourselves based on what we think we see or hear from a very narrow, restricted viewpoint. We can spend our entire lives in a maze going in circles. But if we could rise above it, we could easily see how to get to the exit.
What does seeing the bigger picture have to do with being childlike? We can’t achieve the level of trust we need to surrender control of the Universe unless we become as a little child. As long as we mistakenly believe that we have control over others and circumstances, we will suffer and remain stuck in the maze. The child innately knows he only controls his own imagination. He creates his world each day the way he wants it. No one can convince him his world isn’t real. He doesn’t attempt to control the grownups and their world.
As grown up children we have forgotten how to totally trust our imagination and our innate knowing. The light of it has been almost snuffed out to the point we act like joyless robots! There is one time though that we are forced to let go of the controls and trust. You know when that is? Every night when we sleep, our imaginative mind comes out to play.
The part of us that comes alive in our dream state is our inner child self. It is the part of us that is like the Masters with the twinkle in their eyes and lightness to their step. As the little jingle “Row, Row, Row your boat” states: “Life is but a dream.” The more we can live from that reality the more wonderful, magical and enchanting our lives will be.
The reason being childlike works is because it is grounded in love and trust. Our inner child expects good and trusts it will show up. Since we get what we expect, it serves us well to be expecting the best. The childish group will criticize this stance because misery loves company. They are frustrated controllers that expect to eventually be able to control their universe if they just try harder. They don’t appreciate the childlike free spirits who enjoy life’s twists and turns and take themselves lightly. But if we are here we might as well enjoy the ride. There’s not much point in getting on otherwise.
The message of the Masters has always been to let go and trust as a little child. This is the way to peace and fulfillment. The “let go” is the most difficult part for the grownup. Especially in this chaotic time we are experiencing now, it is more difficult to let go. But unless we come to know down deep that the Universe is unfolding as it should and It is conspiring for our good, we will be driven to grab the reins. However, if we do that we most likely will drive ourselves right off the cliff.
The best choice is to let go and let your inner child soul self guide the way just as you do when you sleep. Pleasant Dreams!
HALLOWEEN – THE ULTIMATE COSTUME PARTY October 29, 2009
Posted by cosmicsandbox in Cosmic Consciousness, Energy Awareness, Religious commentary.Tags: Celts, death and dying, ghosts, good death, Halloween, persecution, Religion, spirits, witches
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Halloween is an offshoot of an ancient Celtic celebration called Samhein, meaning “summer”. Celebrated on October 31st, it marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter on November 1st which was also their New Year. The Celts populated most of Britain, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain and Asia Minor around 800 B.C. They believed that on October 31st the veil that separated the living from the dead was the thinnest; and therefore, communication with the ancestors was easiest. Spirits crossed over the veil throughout the year, but it was much easier for them to materialize and move matter during the period of Samhein.
After Christianity spread all over Europe, Samhein was changed to All Hallows Eve. November 1st became All Hallows Day and later renamed All Saints Day. Hallows Eve eventually became Halloween.
It has only been since the 19th century that people stopped believing that deceased souls could continue to communicate with souls living on the physical plane. Everyone, up until that time, whether Christian or pagan, was immersed in the sacred and the mystical aspects of nature and the cosmos. They believed everyone was an eternal soul that followed nature’s pattern in the universal ‘birth, death, re-birth’ cycle of creation. They knew that nothing really ‘died” in the sense that it ceases to exist. It just changes form. Science has proven this to be true. However, instead of naming this essence ‘life’ or ‘soul/spirit’ they call it “energy”.
No matter how pervasive scientific theory has become, the sacred, mystical beliefs and practices haven’t died, but are still very much alive. They just change form like water that can become ice and steam. So whether one is living life from the ‘Outside’ in a physical costume on loan from the Cosmic Costume Store, or they’re living souly from the ‘Inside’ without the costume, they are still a living soul.
Prior to the Age of Reason most everyone believed communication with the other dimensions was possible and mostly beneficial. For example, experiences with angelic beings were common. Encounters with nature spirits filled mythologies and fairy tales that we enjoy today. However, after science became the ultimate authority, anything not measurable in a laboratory was considered unreal or unreasonable. This included anything mystical, spiritual or sacred. The established church reigned over the mystical and science ruled everything else.
Unfortunately, the established church at the time decided to demonize any unsanctioned interaction between the living and the dead, even to the point of killing anyone suspected of those ‘unholy practices’. Pagans of all types including herbalists were prosecuted. These judgments prevail today, but souls still come out to play on Halloween. You just can’t keep a good ghost down!
Humanity has known for thousands of years that light and dark, good and evil exist side by side. But since the scientific model took over we separated and judged what we couldn’t see with our eyes and measure or understand. Light was all good and dark was all bad. This view keeps us locked into an ‘either/or’ world of separation and division. These worlds don’t have longevity; but rather, they self-destruct because of the constant conflict that mind set generates. In reality it is a both/and universe, in which the light plays off the dark and vice versa. You can’t see the light without the dark. For example: no one can see a white dot on a white board! Simply put, without the play of opposites there would be no world.
How does all this relate to Halloween? It is a celebration of the dark and non-physical as being an integral part of the light and visible world. It is meant to teach the living how precious life in a physical costume is. Certainly, it is not always a bed of roses. Nevertheless, it is a fantastic ride, a grand ball worthy of our passion to dance till we drop.
As we too approach this winter season of dying, let’s open our minds and eyes to see beyond the veil to imagine what it might be like to not have a costume to play and dance on this physical plane. Listen for the music from the other side to appreciate every single dance step at this our ultimate costume party.