A safe harbor where beliefs are respected and kindness prevails.

We Are All Connected

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Fotolia_67422249_Subscription_Monthly_MIn January an Acupuncturist friend of mine led an Introduction to Chinese Medicine workshop for the Teacher Training Program that I direct, the Yoga NH Teacher Training Program. She informed us that the seasons (spring, summer, late summer, fall and winter) are the entry point to the five elements (respectively wood, fire, earth, metal and water) of Chinese Medicine, and each element has unique phases, imbalances and virtues. The five elements are interconnected in a way that has the ability to transform us both individually and as a collective humanity. The five elements also have a connection to the cycle of life: water to wood represents birth and childhood; wood to fire represents teen to early adulthood; fire to earth is the first part of our middle years as related to family, work and community; earth to metal represents the later part of middle age to old age; and metal to water brings us to death – and then the cycle begins again. This life cycle can also be reflected in projects, performances, trips and anything that has a beginning, middle and end.

I am currently reading the book, Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth, a book of essays by spiritual and environmental leaders, edited by Llewelynn Vaughan-Lee. According to the website www.spiritualecology.org, Spiritual Ecology is an exploration of the spiritual dimension of our present ecological crisis. In particular these resources explore the interrelationship between our outer, physical ecological situation, our awareness of the sacred in creation, and our inner relationship to the symbolic world of the soul—and how this affects our own soul and the soul of the world, the anima mundi.

In the very first essay of the book, Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation and a Chief of the Onondaga Nation Council, writes:  “We were told that you could tell the extent of the degradation of the earth because there would be two very important systems to warn you. One would be the acceleration of the winds. We were told that the winds would accelerate and continue to accelerate. When you see that the accelerations of the winds are growing, then you are in dangerous times.”

An interesting fact in Chinese Medicine is that Air (one of the traditional four elements along with earth, water and fire) is not part of the Chinese five elements. However, within the Chinese tradition, the closest concept to Air is Qi or Chi (energy, life force) and in Chinese Medicine the element air is believed to be part of everything that exists.

As I reflect upon the concept of air and how that energy is related to the winds that Chief Lyons wrote about, I am concerned about how much the winds have accelerated in the past decade and how the extreme weather systems have impacted people around the world. Chinese Medicine and Native American teachings are connected in many ways. One of them is seeking balance, another is recognizing that humans are living between heaven and earth, and another is the understanding that when we observe changes in one area of our lives, or the world, it touches many other aspects of our world because … we are all connected.

In his essay, Chief Lyons went on to write: “They said the other way to tell that the earth was in degradation of how people treated their children. They said it will be very important to note how people treat their children and that will tell you how the earth is degrading. So, when you open up the newspapers today, they talk about exploitive sex and children, they talk about homeless children by the millions. To us, it’s a severe indication of the degradation.”

When I look into the eyes of my granddaughters – I see hope for the future of our world. Yet because we are all connected, I also feel sadness for this moment in time because there are so many issues with the mistreatment of our children, in the United States and around the world. And as I think about the children around the world and what Chief Lyons wrote, I believe the start of a new season is the perfect time to contemplate what is important to us and how we might serve those in need because … we are all connected.

Your Most Precious Gift This Holiday Season

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JTThe holidays can be such a delicious time of year, especially when we have happy memories to embrace.  Our happy memories can be the springboard to create even more joy during the current holiday season, continuing the pattern of all things loving, cheery and bright.

For some of us, though, the holiday blues can be an all too familiar experience.  Whether it is a result of our personal expectations being too high, missing a loved one, spending time with family members we’re not too keen about, or something else, the mere thought of the holidays can make us shudder

Whether or not you experience some things bright and others blue, the mandate for the season invites us to consider our relationships in the spirit of reconciliation where there may have been separation and misunderstanding.

What a wonderful opportunity, indeed.  When considering relationship reconciliation, it may entail some type of repair, which is defined as: To restore to sound condition after damage or injury.  I love the idea of restoring relationships to sound, solid and strong condition.  For this holiday season I invite you to give yourself the most precious gift of all, which can be a most effective bridge in repairing other relationships: repair your relationship with yourself first.

In your willingness to repair your relationship with yourself first, please consider that you are reuniting with your optimism, your sense of fun, and your secret dreams.  To reunite, in this case, is to re-pair with your innate joy and zest for life.  And when did you have it most?  When was it easiest to remember?  When you were a child.

Repair yourself by re-pairing with your child self.  Give your precious little one everything they missed while growing up.  If during the holidays you didn’t get what you wanted, whatever it may have been, use your imagination and see your little one having it … love, acceptance, toys, fun, kisses, praise, ALL OF IT!

See your little one happy and energized.  Imagine.  BIG.  Breathe in, very deeply, and acknowledge that you have everything you have always wanted.  YOU are your little one’s parent now, and it is up to you to cuddle, honor and appreciate them, taking especially good care of them at all times.

In our consensus reality, we are acknowledging the continuing existence of and, more and more, the importance of, the well-being of our child self.  We are discovering that, by incorporating esoteric and unconventional approaches to emotional healing, we can experience amazing results.

Take time for yourself.  When you use your imagination to love your younger self, thus re-writing your own history by replacing disappointment with fulfillment, it changes your energetic frequency right now.  The more your younger self is happy and content now, you will enjoy more satisfaction in your reality right now.

Be willing to open your heart and imagination to see things differently.  Here is the kicker: when you give yourself now what you needed back then, it is as if it is happening right now.  Your subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference when it comes to time; it just knows the sensations of what you are feeling now, whatever that may be.  With that awareness, your ability to heal is absolutely limitless.

The winter season is also often associated with going underground.  It can be the perfect time to reflect in order to prepare for the promise of budding again come springtime.  With your shift in mindset, you can allow this holiday season to be the foundation upon which all of your future seasons, holiday or otherwise, are built.  So, make it good.  Make it special.  Make it wonderful.  Practice, practice, practice.  Anchor in the good feelings and watch your life transform!

Remembering the Real Reasons for the Season

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RCI have a love/hate relationship with the holidays.

I love the multicolored twinkling lights that adorn homes and offices. I adore the aroma of warm cookies and sweet treats baking. I get teary-eyed at the sounds of carolers as I am taken back to pleasant childhood memories of doing the same with my friends. I cherish the tinkling of the Salvation Army bell that reminds us of those less fortunate.

I like the confused look on my little dog’s face when I snap a photo of her in reindeer antlers. I love spending a week writing holiday cards, reinforcing my connection to treasured people in my life. I appreciate the Jewish tradition of lighting the Hanukkah Menorah for the Festival of Lights and the heart-based motivation behind the Christmas tradition of God-consciousness being birthed in the form of the man Jesus.

Yes, I love the reverence for spiritual enlightenment, festivities, fun, food and gatherings for the holidays. And I hate the consumerism that is so pervasive this time of year.

It used to be well past Thanksgiving before holiday ads started to appear. Now I am still roaming around in my Halloween vampire costume when the relentless assault begins. The twinkling lights, tinkling bells, and carolers are a mere whisper among the roar of ads for the countless “things” we should wrap up for our loved ones to show that we care.

When did what we buy become more important than standing by?  When did presents become more important than presence? When did “things” become the most important things?

I had to honestly ask myself these questions because there was a time when I had forgotten the reasons for the season and had almost drowned in debt. For too many years, I gave too many presents that were too big for my budget.

From an early age, I felt as if I was molded into being a holiday purchasing machine. I was constantly bombarded by product ads promising to make me and other people happy. I spent much of my life surrounding myself and others with things. So, I got used to whipping out the credit card, without caring how I was going to pay when the bill arrived. Nor did I stop to question if giving and receiving “things” was actually the way to joy or peace. Then one holiday season I had a life-changing “aha” while reading Charles Dickens’s classic novel A Christmas Carol.

When I first encountered Ebenezer Scrooge, I thought he was a despicable individual. He was rich and stingy, angry and miserable, seemingly without heart. He cared nothing for anyone except himself. Despising the poor and hungry, he was a cruel boss who forced poor Bob Cratchit, his ever-loyal employee, to work long hours in horrible conditions, paying him almost nothing.

Scrooge was a dastardly man, yet by the end of the tale he had become my hero. His complete transformation, from mean and miserly to kind and generous, left a deep and lasting impression on me.

The old Scrooge showed me that money, things, and power over others are not the source of joy and satisfaction. The enlightened Scrooge taught me that it is the heart connection we make with our fellow human beings and all life that creates joy and contentment in our lives. Scrooge helped me realize that to “keep up with the Joneses” or blindly follow the “gift giving” standard set for me by a global sales force was a shallow and irresponsible endeavor, one that did not align with the real reasons for the season.

Yes, the holidays are a time when we give and receive. And it pays to remember that the most precious gifts are those that cannot be purchased but come from our heart.

This holiday season let’s make the conscious decision to make presence more important than presents. Let’s place greater value on standing by, rather than what we buy, those we love.  Let’s make our relationships the most important thing.

Let’s refuse to equate consumerism with love. Let’s remember that the true motivation behind the holidays is to extend kindness, patience, peace and generosity to friends, family and our fellow human beings. Let’s remember those whose need is greater than our own. These are the real reasons for the season.

Everyday Holiday

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JGDuring our holiday season, families gather and practice their traditions of giving thanks, giving gifts, and wishing one another a happy new year. When the nights are long and the days are cold in the northern hemisphere, we spend more time together. Putting up decorations and colorful lights adds luster to the home. Family gatherings are intended to be loving and fun. Being mindful of our gratitude boosts our feelings of contentment. Feasts and gift exchanges are meant to be joyful. Throughout the holiday season we remind one another to be of good cheer.

However, it is not uncommon to hear grumbling about the holidays. People who are very busy wrestle with the need to accomplish even more. Some people suffer stress around expectations connected to gift giving. Some fret over feasts and family gatherings that break down into dysfunctional episodes, or simply don’t measure up to unspoken high hopes. Some people with limited financial resources become painfully aware of lack. Some wealthy people feel guilty about being well-off while others struggle. People who are not feeling merry may notice that emotional condition more acutely in the season of joy. They may imagine others to be extremely happy while they are not. People without immediate family, or a person far from home, may feel more alone at this time of year.

Unfortunately for some, holidays for giving thanks, giving gifts, and setting goals for a happy new year are a source of stress. Some believe that this season, intended to be one of love and joy, has been distorted into a time of high expectations, guilt, disappointment, and commercial profit.

If you suffer additional stress during the holiday season, I humbly offer a few ideas to help lighten your burden. When we change our beliefs, everything changes. What if we acted as if every day is a holiday? Would we be more grateful for our bounty – for the simple gift of this breath? Would we gather the family? Would we ask the folks at the table to tell us something for which they are thankful? Could we let go of expectations that cause stress by letting any meal be a feast? When we are grateful, every day is Thanksgiving Day.

What if we gave gifts to each other every day without a reason? What if we defined gifts in a new way? What if we received the gift in a smile, a hug, a phone call? A gift could be reading, writing a poem, singing together, drawing a picture, or dancing. A gift could be inviting a friend over for dinner. The list of gifts is endless when we stop thinking gifts cost money and come from stores. What if we viewed our conversations as gifts? Will you give the gift of listening today? Love is the greatest gift we give to each other and to ourselves. Give love each day and every day is like Christmas Day.

What if we celebrate the arrival of each day as if we are beginning a new year? In this moment we have the power to make change happen. What if we make resolutions toward better habits right now? The calendar is not in control of when we begin anew. Every moment gives us a chance for a new beginning. What if we remember that now is the only moment, and we celebrate the present? Life is happening in this moment, in this singular breath. Every day is New Year’s Day—let it be fun, let it be filled with inspiration.

Perhaps you don’t celebrate these specific holidays. Do you practice other holiday traditions? What makes a holiday different from any other day? Find that answer for yourself, then do your best to practice your holiday beliefs every day. Why do we behave differently on holidays? Do we allow our seasonal traditions to be loaded with extraordinary expectations? Can we let it go? The power to change our holiday habits is within our control. What if we lived as if every day is a holiday? What if we cherished all acts of kindness and loving moments with friends and family as the most valuable gifts? Would our world transform? Would we live in peace on earth with good will toward all?

Let’s give thanks and simple gifts of love today. Let’s decorate with light from the inside out, right now. Let’s savor this day – this moment – as we remember that only now may we begin again. Today, to the best of our ability, let’s remind one another to be grateful and full of good cheer. After all, today is a holiday.

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