I know many caring people. I have some reservation with the idea of who is MOST caring. My Buddhist Monk Friend ChiSing comes to mind, the mother of my child, my own mother, as well as a whole host of conscious healers and body workers all embody compassion and caring. Coming from the perspective that they are all manifestations of the ONE I will settle that the ONE is the most compassionate being-ness that I know which I see expressed everywhere.  

I feel most self confident when I can rest assured that I am following my own internal wisdom. This means that I am engaging in the practices and behaviors that I know to serve me best.  When I ignore what I know to be my own deepest wisdom, I go against myself. Going against myself is the root of "sin" aka missing the mark, missing the target.  So, when I consistently hit the mark or target I build my personal power and self esteem. When I miss the mark I take a step back in my personal power and self esteem. This practice of journaling is one of the practices I know to help build my personal power and self confidence.  

Personal Freedom to me is the ability to act from a place of choice around any and every circumstance in my experience. It is to be unencumbered by the expectations in my environment and act from the deepest place in my heart. It is knowing that everything in my experience has been placed there for me to learn and grow. Ram Dass has a great quote, ”Everything that life is presenting me with now is the vehicle through which I can become free.” Freedom is also knowing this… “We hardly ever realize that we can cut anything out of our lives, anytime, in the blink of an eye.”, Carlos Castaneda. Personal freedom requires courage to see and act from these places. I often think about the media and the public’s cry about certain “rights”: health care, etc… I see that we don’t have rights or freedoms until we embody the personal responsibilities which, by natural law, bring us into alignment with the rights or freedoms. For example, we don’t have a right to health care until we become personally responsible for our health.     

All of IT. Everything in physical and non physical reality. There is nothing that is not God. I am still working on a hang up from my youth around the word God. Being raised LDS I was encouraged to see God as a father figure with the beard, whilte robe, etc... I never connected with that image of God. It seemed so limited. We were creating God in our image. It took me reading Conversations with God to let go of that and create a new relationship with the word God and connecting God to all that is aka The Creator, Universal Spirit, Awareness, Consciousness.  

This morning I was in awe of the nature of relationship and how the Universe is working FOR me to create the optimum circumstances to go through what is necessary for my evolution. It really is WILD.

I was proud of my ability to draw / sketch. I excelled here. I received much attention and praise for my talent. I since have let go the consistent practice of mastering my skills. About 8 years ago I turned my talent into graphic art. I do still dabble and enjoy myself when I do. This is something for me to take a look at. It is something I enjoy but don't do.  

Today. This morning did not meditate outside or at my studio. I practiced sitting meditation in my home, in the living room. Usually I tone the seed song very deeply to feel it resonate in my energy centers. today, since there were people still sleeping I just whispered hummed the tones, Lam, Vam, Ram, Yam, Ham, Om. Even with a whisper I could feel the energy vibrating in each energy center... some more so than others.

Damanhur Italy. This place and its temples fascinate me. I must go.

http://www.damanhur.org/

Damanhur, is an eco-society based on ethical and spiritual values, awarded by an agency of the United Nations as a model for a sustainable future.

Founded in 1975, the Federation has about 1,000 citizens and extends over 500 hectares of territory throughout Valchiusella and the Alto Canavese area, at the foothills of the Piedmont Alps.

Damanhur offers courses and events all year round, and it is possible to visit for short periods as well as longer stays for study, vacation or regeneration.

Breath and Sex .

I am reading Happiness by Thich Nhat Hanh. One of the chapters suggested celebrating every day and every breath. This resonates with me.

I think it would be great to celebrate sex too. As important as sex is to our existence we might want to consider celebrating it vs. hiding it and demonizing it.

I am inclined to study physics / quantum physics, the universal laws governing our physical experience; metaphysics, the universal laws governing the unseen universe and the process of creation; transpersonal psychology and cosmology. I feel they are all part of and pointing to each other.

A farmer / philosopher.

Empathy and compassion grows when I allow myself to feel what another may be feeling and authentically respond from that place. Recognition that in a realm beyond the physical plain of illusion I am One with all that is. From this place I recognize that I am actually on some level ALSO the One going through the experience that I am witnessing in another. Removing myself from the illusion of separateness cultivates great compassion.  

I see health as defining the biological functions of an organism. I see wellness as speaking to the overall well-being of the body, mind and soul. Or, physical health, mental health, and spiritual health equals wellness.

I was watching a couple argue about each-other today. It is clear they are both looking for their prince or princess to full-fill their relationship dreams. It reminded me that once we start treating the ones we are with like a prince or princess... that is exactly what they will become.

In honoring the daily practices of meditation, reading, journaling, and honoring my body through activity and nutrition. These are magical tools to calm the waves of reactivity and illusion.

Growing up to me is to become an ever wisening source emitting an ever higher vibration. Age assists through the variety of experiences that lend themselves to this effort; however, age has with it no guarantee of bringing with it a higher vibration.     

I was noticing the tv on at the gym while on the tread mill. An afternoon soap was on. The volume was off and yet the message from the images was so loud. Faces wrought with anxiety, despair and heaviness. I thought to myself, "Content and happy people would make for very boring afternoon soaps and tv in general." In witnessing contentedness there is nothing for to the ego to grab on to... no pain, misery, anxiety, jealousy or betrayal to feed our feelings of indequacey, lack and fear.

I am reminded of Henry Rollins story of "depresso guy". He has a great monologue about this very idea of crap selling and contentment bombing in the market place. I am going to see if I can find the clip.

Ok, could not find the clip; however, I did find this awesome clip on Rollins affirming Life. "Live Long and Strong".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhvlAoUCVso

   

I dont pay attention to the news. I trust if there is something I need to know... I will know soon enough one way or another.   

Luxury is something I placed much value on only a short time ago. I enjoyed it and disliked it at the same time. I enjoyed the comfort and disliked the wastefulness. I am learning now how to have the luxury feeling without the wastefulness. I really resonate with the idea of living simply so that others can simply live. I no longer need the McMansion by which to derive my value.

The luxury that I experienced before was a borrowed luxury, leveraged against future potential equity that never came to pass. Perhaps, if my experience was derrived within my means, I would have a different perspective of luxury today. I see that I am building a new relationship to luxury presently. I'll let you know who that goes.