It is interesting how the desire to be liked and loved can cause us to compromise our values. Of course, others can never "do" anything we don't allow or invite in some way, and this is important when we attempt to understand what happened in a situation.
I remember when I would be in the middle of my morning routine of getting dressed for work, and I would say things to myself such as, "Today is a great day," and "I am going to go in here and be nice." This was a ritualistic thought pattern because I had recognized that I was being met with resistance at work, and I wanted to do my part to become a better person. My position was director and instructor of a massage program. The work was rewarding, and I enjoyed being part of the journey of others becoming massage therapists and business-minded professionals. However, I soon found that people were not as interested in the development as I was, and eventually this caused a lot of sore spots among staff as well as students. During the course of any given day, one of my main duties would be to observe classes, either by coming by the class and simply capturing that moment in time, or it could be more formal, where I would sit in the class and simply watch and report for a period of time. This was also done to me as a teacher.
I love teaching, and I do well at it because I love it, so I always felt like, "Bring it on." Observation periods were my time to shine. My staff and many students did not feel as enthusiastic about being observed or being managed by me at all. The students and staff would feel like I was picking on them because I would be consistent in demanding excellence. The school had a dress code that was enforced because so many students looked far from professional; and it is a funny thing: no one cares to be professional until they themselves are being served by someone unprofessional. Then they lament that "people need to be more professional." For me, dress code tells me everything about your temperament and personality. Whatever the job, there are particular ways to present yourself, and if you do not dress the part, you simply cannot play it. That is true in theater and in business. There are a select and wonderful few that can do everything wrong in business, and people will still love them. In cases like this, there is a deeper energetic mastery at hand; and so, if it is not broke, don't fix it. In the case of the students in my department, they were in their own way eager and ready, but needed help. And while many understood where I was coming from, there were those who had no clue, and would have preferred that I left them alone; this included some staff. I knew that my approach was rubbing people the wrong way, so I would consistently reach out in person, e-mail, and text to request feedback, to reinforce that we were all on the same team, or just to say hello. There was not much response; people chose to grin and bear it. Each day, I would work with the ending goal in mind because we only had nine months to prepare each student, and for me that was no time at all.
There was to be no cell phone use in class because a cell phone ringing would bring a client out of deep relaxation. No food was allowed because it is unsanitary to touch people's bodies and then reach over and eat something; also, OSHA standards prohibited food and drink in our labs. Nails needed to be short and clean, and hair needed to be pulled back off of the face neatly. So when I would enter a room to observe, and students would be eating Cheetos, for example, in the work space, while the instructor received a massage and was half asleep, my attention to this activity would usually be interpreted as my fault for being hard on everyone. There were plenty of mishaps because, in reality, most students were not ready for this level of commitment; and most teachers wanted to do what they felt comfortable doing, which, in many cases meant taking the path of least resistance. For one hour each day, all the other department managers and I would attend a meeting that focused on the business aspects of the departments, and we were suffering. The plan of action was to examine the department protocols with a fine-toothed comb to determine where our flaws were, and fix them. That was an uncomfortable process for all of us, and ultimately I became aware that I do not ever want to manage people again. I will hire someone for this work should I need it. In the midst of trying to make changes, the fallout was spectacular, and one teacher in particular acted so much like a child in our interactions that I was dumbfounded. She was even observed behaving outlandishly (by other supervisors) and they dealt with her with kid gloves, almost like they were afraid to act accordingly. She should have been fired, but instead, they let me deal with it.
Meanwhile, I dealt with passive-aggressive attitudes from other staff members. During monthly staff meetings, I would ask, "How can I serve the team better?" or "What do you think needs to be done?" I would get minimal response in person, but the rumor mill delivered plenty of ideas. What I learned is that shit indeed rolls downhill. And while I was being told to implement processes that would yield results, in the department I was named the she-devil on the scene.
After an arduous experience and one instructor taking a stress leave because she refused to comply to a higher standard than her own, I eventually went to teach at another location for another year. During that time, I was encouraged to lead and to create a better outcome through detailed focus and consistency. This time, even the "knuckleheads" of my class understood it was a new day, and they tried to show up as professionals. The same issues of resistance showed themselves, and I dealt with them accordingly; but this time it was as if everyone understood what we were there for, and the fight against being better as therapists was almost nonexistent.
A wonderful friend told me to stop being a martyr, self-righteous and sanctimonious. LOL! I cracked up. I knew exactly what he was talking about. It's about the truth. I would always consider that my perceptions could be off, so I would never boldly say "this is this" or "that is that" because, after all, it's only my perception. However, there is absolutely a time to declare the facts about a situation and act from that point of truth. Most of the time it will be uncomfortable. The bad habits that I saw in class among students and staff were real, factual, public, and apparent. The biggest mistake I made was walking in "trying to be nice." Problem is, I already am nice, and was nice then, so while "trying to be nice" I consistently second-guessed my assessments, which led to compromise, thereby creating a personal hell for myself. Well, not that deep, but you get what I mean.
Recently, I needed to hire a group of therapists to work with me at an event. Although I know many massage therapists, most could not be considered because of their consistent unprofessional attitudes and behaviors. It was at this point that I took a moment to finally back myself up and support all of my decisions as a teacher, director, and professional. Here it was game time, and the proof was in the pudding. I couldn't hire them because they were not ready; they had not prepared, and therefore were not the caliber of therapists I could have represent me and my company. I taught from that perspective: being the best of the best. Not the greatest in the world, but better than most. I also led my team from that perspective. It was their own choice whether or not to follow. I did my part.
Living by the principles you know to be true in the face of uncertainty is powerful. When you know what it is, call it. Then continue. Let those who are not ready for the commitment of being and doing their best fall away from you. It only makes more room for those who are as serious as you.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Monday, August 8, 2011
Ok ... Why Did I Write That?
Your life is written, produced, and directed by you via the thoughts and emotions you keep.
Have you ever had something so wild and outlandish occur that you find yourself truly pondering, "Why? Why did this happen to me? Why am I in this situation?" I think we have all been there.
Generally, after we ask the question and begin the process of fixing whatever was broken, we end up moving on in life. When the pain (physical or otherwise) subsides, we simply move on. In the moment of crisis, we truly wanted resolution, and we are extremely open to input from the inner and outer world. During crisis, we become conscious in many ways, like being present during mundane tasks such as washing dishes, realizing how that process is therapeutic, or cleaning what was dirty and restoring serenity. Or we may find ourselves listening intently to someone’s story, connected like never before.
We also know (during crisis) that an answer can come from any source. And we are right with that thinking.
I heard many years ago that there is "Christ" in crisis. I like that idea because to me it means our Christ self, or higher self, is ready and on post because something has gone wrong. This is true...but it is always true. Your higher self, or whatever you want to call it, is always "on"; usually, it is your “common-mortal self,” the part of you that may not always be in tune with your highest self, that is fast asleep. Keep this in mind: You do not need a crisis to be aware of and guided and comforted by your inner Christ. The Christ in you also has nothing to do with the man and master teacher Jesus Christ unless you say it does. Also, you do not need a "crisis" at all, and you can prevent major breakdowns by paying close attention to small issues. Listen deep within your heart. Whatever is not working for you, start working on it. You can begin by assessing your overall attitude/perception/outlook on the situation, and being as honest as you can about it. Once you see where your paradigm is off track (remember, if it were on track, the situation would be working for you), you can begin to shift it; and then you will naturally be led to aligning your actions with your improved way of thinking. All you ever need is desire; and a persistent desire is an indication that what you want is yours. All problems have solutions. Really, there are no “problems.” There are daily “occurrences,” and the constant aligning with our higher self is all that is needed to transform what doesn’t work into what does.
Earlier in this post you read about how a crisis can open you up to greater awareness of life. When we are in trouble, we summons all of our wherewithal to get the job done...whatever the job is. Think about poor families who have the very daunting job of finding a way to pay for the burial of a family member. If you notice, it ALWAYS gets done. How so? The people who have found themselves in such a dilemma find a way because they know there is no other choice. The idea of there being no other option but to succeed in a venture is a very powerful one. When we make up our minds on a thing, it is done; and a crisis will definitely give you some incentive. Here's a huge issue with making it through hard times. In many cases, people are asleep to the fact that when we "save" ourselves, it is an emergency-based process, and there is even more work after the day has been saved. When I say work, I don't necessarily mean physical work, but that may be necessary as well. What I mean by this is, there is usually a reason we find ourselves in certain predicaments. For example, you were reprimanded or fired for not being on time for work. This sort of incident happens all of the time. Interestingly enough, I often hear people with a level of arrogance say things like, "They set me up," or "They didn't like me anyway," or even those with some spiritual understanding will employ some "spiritual pride" and say things like, "I needed to move on anyway." All of those may be valid points of view, but the issue truly was found in the idea that you continuously broke the boundary of time, which helped create more challenge in your life. So in this scenario, "the work" would be loving yourself enough to look at the issue. Remember how everything unfolded. Did you consider the other people involved? If it was a business issue, were you doing what was asked of you as a team member? Really? And this investigation process or "work" is done with the utmost love for self...releasing ALL need to be right and looking instead to be clear. Looking lovingly close at yourself to be sure that what created this issue is not created again.
The experiences in our lives belong to us. Nothing just happens to us randomly (though it seems that way). That is a tough pill to swallow for many; I have been told that many times. For me, that is one of the greatest ideas in life: to know that although I don't "control" the world I experience, I definitely have a hand in what I experience and how. What a wonderful truth!
When I stumble on my path, I always reflect on what exactly could have been the basis of the issue. As a metaphysician (the practice of metaphysics), I look directly at how things unfold to find what the underlying problem could be. For example, when we dream, there are many images that appear—strange, funny, loving, horrible, etc.; and when we wake up, we say to ourselves, "I wonder what that means."
There is always meaning in the unfolding of events in your day, and that is how you can find out what type of “e-motion” (energy in motion) is about you, and in and about your world, by paying close, detailed attention to what you experience in a day. What type of day do you have regularly? Are you tired? Do people get on your nerves? Do people love, respect, and acknowledge you? Whatever the case, whether or not you believe this way of thinking, this is how it would be best to look at your world if you care to truly understand it.
Details about the way you experience life tell your story in totality. Study every moment of your day to find the answers regarding your life's movie. You are the only person that has the perfect view of your life. Others may help you on your way, but help from outside of ourselves is but a crumb on the kitchen floor compared to the bountiful buffet that you can and will bring forth for yourself (that would include this blog). The "crumbs" of knowledge from others is a wonderful indication that you are on the way and close to the feast...but it truly comes from within. And as for spiritual food, there is nothing more delicious than your very own recipes. Get quiet often. When things don't work out as planned, don't get mad, get quiet and get clear. To pay close attention to yourself is truly your job as a human being. Mastering your life or “be-ing” is a glorious experience that continuously rewards you for loving yourself enough to pay attention to yourself. That's a wonderful system.
Have you ever had something so wild and outlandish occur that you find yourself truly pondering, "Why? Why did this happen to me? Why am I in this situation?" I think we have all been there.
Generally, after we ask the question and begin the process of fixing whatever was broken, we end up moving on in life. When the pain (physical or otherwise) subsides, we simply move on. In the moment of crisis, we truly wanted resolution, and we are extremely open to input from the inner and outer world. During crisis, we become conscious in many ways, like being present during mundane tasks such as washing dishes, realizing how that process is therapeutic, or cleaning what was dirty and restoring serenity. Or we may find ourselves listening intently to someone’s story, connected like never before.
We also know (during crisis) that an answer can come from any source. And we are right with that thinking.
I heard many years ago that there is "Christ" in crisis. I like that idea because to me it means our Christ self, or higher self, is ready and on post because something has gone wrong. This is true...but it is always true. Your higher self, or whatever you want to call it, is always "on"; usually, it is your “common-mortal self,” the part of you that may not always be in tune with your highest self, that is fast asleep. Keep this in mind: You do not need a crisis to be aware of and guided and comforted by your inner Christ. The Christ in you also has nothing to do with the man and master teacher Jesus Christ unless you say it does. Also, you do not need a "crisis" at all, and you can prevent major breakdowns by paying close attention to small issues. Listen deep within your heart. Whatever is not working for you, start working on it. You can begin by assessing your overall attitude/perception/outlook on the situation, and being as honest as you can about it. Once you see where your paradigm is off track (remember, if it were on track, the situation would be working for you), you can begin to shift it; and then you will naturally be led to aligning your actions with your improved way of thinking. All you ever need is desire; and a persistent desire is an indication that what you want is yours. All problems have solutions. Really, there are no “problems.” There are daily “occurrences,” and the constant aligning with our higher self is all that is needed to transform what doesn’t work into what does.
Earlier in this post you read about how a crisis can open you up to greater awareness of life. When we are in trouble, we summons all of our wherewithal to get the job done...whatever the job is. Think about poor families who have the very daunting job of finding a way to pay for the burial of a family member. If you notice, it ALWAYS gets done. How so? The people who have found themselves in such a dilemma find a way because they know there is no other choice. The idea of there being no other option but to succeed in a venture is a very powerful one. When we make up our minds on a thing, it is done; and a crisis will definitely give you some incentive. Here's a huge issue with making it through hard times. In many cases, people are asleep to the fact that when we "save" ourselves, it is an emergency-based process, and there is even more work after the day has been saved. When I say work, I don't necessarily mean physical work, but that may be necessary as well. What I mean by this is, there is usually a reason we find ourselves in certain predicaments. For example, you were reprimanded or fired for not being on time for work. This sort of incident happens all of the time. Interestingly enough, I often hear people with a level of arrogance say things like, "They set me up," or "They didn't like me anyway," or even those with some spiritual understanding will employ some "spiritual pride" and say things like, "I needed to move on anyway." All of those may be valid points of view, but the issue truly was found in the idea that you continuously broke the boundary of time, which helped create more challenge in your life. So in this scenario, "the work" would be loving yourself enough to look at the issue. Remember how everything unfolded. Did you consider the other people involved? If it was a business issue, were you doing what was asked of you as a team member? Really? And this investigation process or "work" is done with the utmost love for self...releasing ALL need to be right and looking instead to be clear. Looking lovingly close at yourself to be sure that what created this issue is not created again.
The experiences in our lives belong to us. Nothing just happens to us randomly (though it seems that way). That is a tough pill to swallow for many; I have been told that many times. For me, that is one of the greatest ideas in life: to know that although I don't "control" the world I experience, I definitely have a hand in what I experience and how. What a wonderful truth!
When I stumble on my path, I always reflect on what exactly could have been the basis of the issue. As a metaphysician (the practice of metaphysics), I look directly at how things unfold to find what the underlying problem could be. For example, when we dream, there are many images that appear—strange, funny, loving, horrible, etc.; and when we wake up, we say to ourselves, "I wonder what that means."
There is always meaning in the unfolding of events in your day, and that is how you can find out what type of “e-motion” (energy in motion) is about you, and in and about your world, by paying close, detailed attention to what you experience in a day. What type of day do you have regularly? Are you tired? Do people get on your nerves? Do people love, respect, and acknowledge you? Whatever the case, whether or not you believe this way of thinking, this is how it would be best to look at your world if you care to truly understand it.
Details about the way you experience life tell your story in totality. Study every moment of your day to find the answers regarding your life's movie. You are the only person that has the perfect view of your life. Others may help you on your way, but help from outside of ourselves is but a crumb on the kitchen floor compared to the bountiful buffet that you can and will bring forth for yourself (that would include this blog). The "crumbs" of knowledge from others is a wonderful indication that you are on the way and close to the feast...but it truly comes from within. And as for spiritual food, there is nothing more delicious than your very own recipes. Get quiet often. When things don't work out as planned, don't get mad, get quiet and get clear. To pay close attention to yourself is truly your job as a human being. Mastering your life or “be-ing” is a glorious experience that continuously rewards you for loving yourself enough to pay attention to yourself. That's a wonderful system.
Friday, July 22, 2011
A Responsibility for Being Alive.
Let's explore being responsible for ourselves as we live, embracing the idea that we are SO important that everything we do, say, and feel will impact all of existence. When we do anything, it matters, everywhere. Every thought, emotion (feeling), movement, word, and intention makes a difference to the entire Universe.
There is a story of a woman who cleaned homes for a living, and she was highly recommended through word of mouth. One day (through referral), the cleaning woman started work at a residence for the first time. The woman who lived there remembered a phrase that was repeated again and again about the cleaning woman's work. The phrase was: "I don't know what she does." As this phrase echoed through her mind again and again, the homeowner became curious and actually asked the professional cleaning woman what it was that she did that made her work SO special. She made it clear that she was talking about every aspect of the work the housekeeper did, not just the routine cleaning.
The woman replied something like this: "Oh, it's silly; but I like to draw a cross or an infinity sign in the air after I do my cleaning. It's just my way of cleaning everything."
I love that story because it is an example of the tremendous influence our thoughts or behaviors have on the rest of the world and beyond. It is important that we grow vigorously and wonderfully here. We would benefit from maintaining within ourselves that all actions for Self will affect the "all," no matter the case. The conscious intention to represent the Oneness of humanity in thought and deed starts to strengthen your ideas about what powers you have, and what is possible on a universal level through you. "Seeking" to be charitable is nice but far-reaching. Meanwhile, the manicuring of one's own life and affairs on a massive scale produces condensed well being that pushes up on the minds of those in need of help, as inspiration and creativity to "be-come" what is needed—better yet, to expand light in areas where there isn't enough getting through. This is the true meaning of charity.
So you see, people do need each other for love, companionship, and all things wonderful...but we do not do "saving." When we feel that saving is needed, something is imbalanced on the part of every person involved (saver and savee). What is needed, however, is for each person to do their own part in their own lives. When life doesn't work for you, something has to change, to transform. On a spiritual level, something needs to be born or die...usually both. We don't "have" to do anything; but not doing certain things in life will, of course, produce certain results that usually involve our being "made" to do exactly what we didn't want to do in the first place, and then some. It is here that we create reasons to look away, and with anger or resentment; and we dare our personal issues to remain. We may even invite others to share the misery by subconsciously or consciously placing blame on others for our mishaps. Inevitably, your responsibility for Self produces the very energy that makes others come "a-runnin'" to support your cause. Isn't that wonderful? The moment you hold that nothing is needed from outside of yourself, you have entered the kingdom of heaven. By embracing what is presented to you in life, doing your own work and your own part for your Self, you will be taking the active roles in your own life to "responsibly be in existence," thereby creating the universal atmosphere where people can naturally become responsible for themselves. Take care, good care, of YOU.
True charity, as we know, begins at home.
There is a story of a woman who cleaned homes for a living, and she was highly recommended through word of mouth. One day (through referral), the cleaning woman started work at a residence for the first time. The woman who lived there remembered a phrase that was repeated again and again about the cleaning woman's work. The phrase was: "I don't know what she does." As this phrase echoed through her mind again and again, the homeowner became curious and actually asked the professional cleaning woman what it was that she did that made her work SO special. She made it clear that she was talking about every aspect of the work the housekeeper did, not just the routine cleaning.
The woman replied something like this: "Oh, it's silly; but I like to draw a cross or an infinity sign in the air after I do my cleaning. It's just my way of cleaning everything."
I love that story because it is an example of the tremendous influence our thoughts or behaviors have on the rest of the world and beyond. It is important that we grow vigorously and wonderfully here. We would benefit from maintaining within ourselves that all actions for Self will affect the "all," no matter the case. The conscious intention to represent the Oneness of humanity in thought and deed starts to strengthen your ideas about what powers you have, and what is possible on a universal level through you. "Seeking" to be charitable is nice but far-reaching. Meanwhile, the manicuring of one's own life and affairs on a massive scale produces condensed well being that pushes up on the minds of those in need of help, as inspiration and creativity to "be-come" what is needed—better yet, to expand light in areas where there isn't enough getting through. This is the true meaning of charity.
So you see, people do need each other for love, companionship, and all things wonderful...but we do not do "saving." When we feel that saving is needed, something is imbalanced on the part of every person involved (saver and savee). What is needed, however, is for each person to do their own part in their own lives. When life doesn't work for you, something has to change, to transform. On a spiritual level, something needs to be born or die...usually both. We don't "have" to do anything; but not doing certain things in life will, of course, produce certain results that usually involve our being "made" to do exactly what we didn't want to do in the first place, and then some. It is here that we create reasons to look away, and with anger or resentment; and we dare our personal issues to remain. We may even invite others to share the misery by subconsciously or consciously placing blame on others for our mishaps. Inevitably, your responsibility for Self produces the very energy that makes others come "a-runnin'" to support your cause. Isn't that wonderful? The moment you hold that nothing is needed from outside of yourself, you have entered the kingdom of heaven. By embracing what is presented to you in life, doing your own work and your own part for your Self, you will be taking the active roles in your own life to "responsibly be in existence," thereby creating the universal atmosphere where people can naturally become responsible for themselves. Take care, good care, of YOU.
True charity, as we know, begins at home.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Casey Anthony Was Found Not Guilty
If you spend all your time asking why a thing is or isn't, without conducting a full investigation, you will remain on the side of the question instead of arriving at an answer.
When someone finds him/herself in trouble legally, unfortunately, there is an automatic implication of guilt in the minds of many who are aware of the story...those who are associated and those who are not. This is not an appropriate action, according to the law. American law states a person is innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, that does not always occur. People make up their minds and they believe what they believe.
But let's take a look at the believer in this scenario, someone that is not associated with the person or the case. Why would such a person feel overwhelmed, moved to tears, or even feel compelled to share harsh thoughts on the matter if it doesn't concern them? It was on T.V. and the Internet, right? We all read or watched and listened. We were all saddened by the reality of the case...a little girl died. So why do we spend time talking about it and have deep, visceral emotion about it?
Everybody is a "good" person. We have all come from the same Source. Some express Source more fully than others...and that is all.
People die every day, all day and night long, in every corner of the globe. For children, I believe the statistic is one child every 5 seconds somewhere in the world. If we are really earnest, we could dedicate some time to prayer, meditation or activism in this regard, and really use our energies and ideas to assist in the matters that concern us. What makes one death more important than another? The answer is that we choose to assign it a status. Many times, for our personal reasons, it gives us relief from issues in our own lives; it gives us someone to be upset with, and a thing to be upset about.
From a Spiritual and metaphysical perspective, children/people die in the many different manners that best reflect the life they lived; and murder/accidental or unexplained deaths occur so that the family and the community can awaken.
There is a horrible case in the news. A small child was missing and then was found dead. It's horrible. Repeating that phrase "it is horrible" is bad (as in low, non-creative energy); and then we add our opinion about the story and we begin to bind the element of this to ourselves. We begin to align ourselves with theories and rumor, and fact and truth as well. Soon we are bathing in sea of "out there," the world that we will never control. We cannot get mad enough to change the circumstances. Anger and venomous thoughts do not serve us.
Keeping our minds focused on what we really want is of the utmost importance. Thinking about or discussing the ills of the world is a most perfect way to bring forth those types of ills in our own lives, for an opportunity to really experience them.
In this case, the outcome of not guilty is closer to the essence of life than a guilty verdict. The verdict is clearly outrageous to many, but outrage is a result of some level hate and revenge. This is how we harm ourselves with ill thoughts of others. We never need to desire revenge. When we are well, it's not of us.
I don't know what happened in this case. I know that it does not concern me; but if love is desired, I wish to send some for places it seems to absent.
This post is to remind us to continuously look and speak upon beauty and everything like it. There are times when we need to be assertive, have an opinion, and speak on an issue. Let it be gentle, and let it be our own issues.
When a "spell" of hurt, anger, or frustration in your midst motivates you to speak down on something, repeating nastiness, gossip, or sadness, a peaceful solution is to listen to soft music or write or dance, or in any way release yourself from the desire to bring your own Spirits down.
Whenever we witness the impossible, it's usually grace. If you can't perceive grace, you may want to shift your view.
When someone finds him/herself in trouble legally, unfortunately, there is an automatic implication of guilt in the minds of many who are aware of the story...those who are associated and those who are not. This is not an appropriate action, according to the law. American law states a person is innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, that does not always occur. People make up their minds and they believe what they believe.
But let's take a look at the believer in this scenario, someone that is not associated with the person or the case. Why would such a person feel overwhelmed, moved to tears, or even feel compelled to share harsh thoughts on the matter if it doesn't concern them? It was on T.V. and the Internet, right? We all read or watched and listened. We were all saddened by the reality of the case...a little girl died. So why do we spend time talking about it and have deep, visceral emotion about it?
Everybody is a "good" person. We have all come from the same Source. Some express Source more fully than others...and that is all.
People die every day, all day and night long, in every corner of the globe. For children, I believe the statistic is one child every 5 seconds somewhere in the world. If we are really earnest, we could dedicate some time to prayer, meditation or activism in this regard, and really use our energies and ideas to assist in the matters that concern us. What makes one death more important than another? The answer is that we choose to assign it a status. Many times, for our personal reasons, it gives us relief from issues in our own lives; it gives us someone to be upset with, and a thing to be upset about.
From a Spiritual and metaphysical perspective, children/people die in the many different manners that best reflect the life they lived; and murder/accidental or unexplained deaths occur so that the family and the community can awaken.
There is a horrible case in the news. A small child was missing and then was found dead. It's horrible. Repeating that phrase "it is horrible" is bad (as in low, non-creative energy); and then we add our opinion about the story and we begin to bind the element of this to ourselves. We begin to align ourselves with theories and rumor, and fact and truth as well. Soon we are bathing in sea of "out there," the world that we will never control. We cannot get mad enough to change the circumstances. Anger and venomous thoughts do not serve us.
Keeping our minds focused on what we really want is of the utmost importance. Thinking about or discussing the ills of the world is a most perfect way to bring forth those types of ills in our own lives, for an opportunity to really experience them.
In this case, the outcome of not guilty is closer to the essence of life than a guilty verdict. The verdict is clearly outrageous to many, but outrage is a result of some level hate and revenge. This is how we harm ourselves with ill thoughts of others. We never need to desire revenge. When we are well, it's not of us.
I don't know what happened in this case. I know that it does not concern me; but if love is desired, I wish to send some for places it seems to absent.
This post is to remind us to continuously look and speak upon beauty and everything like it. There are times when we need to be assertive, have an opinion, and speak on an issue. Let it be gentle, and let it be our own issues.
When a "spell" of hurt, anger, or frustration in your midst motivates you to speak down on something, repeating nastiness, gossip, or sadness, a peaceful solution is to listen to soft music or write or dance, or in any way release yourself from the desire to bring your own Spirits down.
Whenever we witness the impossible, it's usually grace. If you can't perceive grace, you may want to shift your view.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Marriage Is Great! But Sex May Occur Spontaneously AND at Any Time ... (Redundancy Intended)
So, let me get this straight (please be patient with my intended sarcasm):
That which created me is concerned with my genitalia? Concerned and ready to attack me if I don't use it "right"? If I have a child without being married, it's not a fully blessed child? And I might expect a scorching hell fire in my afterlife because I had sex out of wedlock in the first place?
C'mon, son...
We have no choice but to accept people's opinions or long-held beliefs, but why is it that we humans put religion or even non-religious spirituality on such a pedestal, higher than anything else we do in life, when everything we do is sacred—especially the sexual act? Are we afraid of what might happen if we dare explore higher levels of thinking and pondering, and even experiencing life?
The idea that we are dirty sinners is a disgusting one; and I am uncomfortable with even pretending I feel that way. It literally does not feel good. We all know that. I invested in those types of painful and limited beliefs for years; many of us have. I didn't know what it was to truly love myself, or to summon power through my solar plexus to propel me to freedom and purpose in my life, until I truly let these kinds of ideas go forever.
If having children within a structured relationship was required by "God's law for us," why does it not always occur? Why does anything that is outside our current realm of understanding occur? The answer is because it should. When you visit the market for food, you never buy every single item; you buy what you need. You buy what suits you, and you leave the rest on the shelf for those who want it. You don't stop by the customer-service desk, ask to see the manager, and tell him or her that there are items that you don't use, that your mom, dad, or grandparents never used and so they need to be removed from the shelf so that no one else will discover said items. In other words, you get yours and push on. Sometimes you may even try new items that your family never used, and you love them! And now they're staples of yours. Hmmm...
We all can agree that when children are born into families with two parents that are committed, the children will most likely be off to a good start in life. It will be easier in some aspects, but mostly the married-versus-unmarried-with-children issue is highly cultural. Our society dictates what we are supposed to do. Our families do a certain thing in a certain way, and this is how it should be done, so we follow. But does that always work for us?
Nobody really talks about how important it is to play, have fun flirting, and look forward to growing as two people, as individuals. It's usually more about the "worthiness dance" surrounding how the groom asked for his wife's hand in marriage, and showing off the ring. "Bridezillas" behave as if they will never matter again in life after the ceremony. Well, I was born acceptable. And I had the pleasure of seeing beyond all of these points of contention. I was married on a Monday morning, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. My father gave me away (which was lovely and fed a little of my desire to have some tradition involved). My dress was from Sears (Grandma would have been proud). And our children were in charge of the music. It was absolutely wonderful. No hooplah, no "should sh**," and we nailed it. And I am glad that neither of us were virgins, because like a comedian said, "You don't want to save yourself for the right guy; you want to practice for him."
Theses ideas are not for everybody, and that is cool. However, people are starting to understand that they can do whatever they want. That's beautiful. Sex would be a lot more beautiful if we would allow it to be the natural art, beauty, and sacred ritual that it is. Granted, I would not be happy to know that my husband was desiring the hot young thing at work or across town, and wanted my permission and blessing on him "hitting that" for a while. Yeah, I'm not that evolved. But many people are, and to them, sincerely, more power. I think it's hot. Not for my life ... but hot indeed.
I think that is the point. You find out what you need out of this life and do that. And that idea goes double for the process of dating, mating, and partnerships—gay, straight, or in between. I always find it interesting that the people who claim they really want loving companions don't have them. It may be because they are in love with a worn-out and stale idea of love and togetherness. Usually, it stems from some sort of fear-based religious context, which, if thoroughly researched historically, scientifically, and even intuitively, they would find that the ideologies they are following were created to control the masses, instilling and producing people who are afraid to truly lead their own lives. Indeed, dating, or whatever we call it, can get messy, and it has nothing to do with a sadistic overlord monitoring your junk. It is at this point that we examine our consciousness about the situation. Remember that you cannot attract anything unlike yourself, so if your mate cheated, that is more of a reflection of your belief in loss at the hands of another. STDs may be due to the deep, hidden hatred of the self or of the mate, which of course comes back to hatred of the self. It's preposterous to think that the very act (sex) that brings forth bliss, closeness, and new life is wrong, dirty, or can be sanctioned. We create structures like rules, laws, and time itself to help us make sense in a day, organizing the life process. For example, we know that time does not actually exists. I mean, it does—we all use it—but it doesn't. We also know that the greatest unfolding of events occurs when we are not keeping track, score, or time.
Think about it. Maybe it is different than what you thought. Maybe it is more expanded than your current view.
That which created me is concerned with my genitalia? Concerned and ready to attack me if I don't use it "right"? If I have a child without being married, it's not a fully blessed child? And I might expect a scorching hell fire in my afterlife because I had sex out of wedlock in the first place?
C'mon, son...
We have no choice but to accept people's opinions or long-held beliefs, but why is it that we humans put religion or even non-religious spirituality on such a pedestal, higher than anything else we do in life, when everything we do is sacred—especially the sexual act? Are we afraid of what might happen if we dare explore higher levels of thinking and pondering, and even experiencing life?
The idea that we are dirty sinners is a disgusting one; and I am uncomfortable with even pretending I feel that way. It literally does not feel good. We all know that. I invested in those types of painful and limited beliefs for years; many of us have. I didn't know what it was to truly love myself, or to summon power through my solar plexus to propel me to freedom and purpose in my life, until I truly let these kinds of ideas go forever.
If having children within a structured relationship was required by "God's law for us," why does it not always occur? Why does anything that is outside our current realm of understanding occur? The answer is because it should. When you visit the market for food, you never buy every single item; you buy what you need. You buy what suits you, and you leave the rest on the shelf for those who want it. You don't stop by the customer-service desk, ask to see the manager, and tell him or her that there are items that you don't use, that your mom, dad, or grandparents never used and so they need to be removed from the shelf so that no one else will discover said items. In other words, you get yours and push on. Sometimes you may even try new items that your family never used, and you love them! And now they're staples of yours. Hmmm...
We all can agree that when children are born into families with two parents that are committed, the children will most likely be off to a good start in life. It will be easier in some aspects, but mostly the married-versus-unmarried-with-children issue is highly cultural. Our society dictates what we are supposed to do. Our families do a certain thing in a certain way, and this is how it should be done, so we follow. But does that always work for us?
Nobody really talks about how important it is to play, have fun flirting, and look forward to growing as two people, as individuals. It's usually more about the "worthiness dance" surrounding how the groom asked for his wife's hand in marriage, and showing off the ring. "Bridezillas" behave as if they will never matter again in life after the ceremony. Well, I was born acceptable. And I had the pleasure of seeing beyond all of these points of contention. I was married on a Monday morning, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. My father gave me away (which was lovely and fed a little of my desire to have some tradition involved). My dress was from Sears (Grandma would have been proud). And our children were in charge of the music. It was absolutely wonderful. No hooplah, no "should sh**," and we nailed it. And I am glad that neither of us were virgins, because like a comedian said, "You don't want to save yourself for the right guy; you want to practice for him."
Theses ideas are not for everybody, and that is cool. However, people are starting to understand that they can do whatever they want. That's beautiful. Sex would be a lot more beautiful if we would allow it to be the natural art, beauty, and sacred ritual that it is. Granted, I would not be happy to know that my husband was desiring the hot young thing at work or across town, and wanted my permission and blessing on him "hitting that" for a while. Yeah, I'm not that evolved. But many people are, and to them, sincerely, more power. I think it's hot. Not for my life ... but hot indeed.
I think that is the point. You find out what you need out of this life and do that. And that idea goes double for the process of dating, mating, and partnerships—gay, straight, or in between. I always find it interesting that the people who claim they really want loving companions don't have them. It may be because they are in love with a worn-out and stale idea of love and togetherness. Usually, it stems from some sort of fear-based religious context, which, if thoroughly researched historically, scientifically, and even intuitively, they would find that the ideologies they are following were created to control the masses, instilling and producing people who are afraid to truly lead their own lives. Indeed, dating, or whatever we call it, can get messy, and it has nothing to do with a sadistic overlord monitoring your junk. It is at this point that we examine our consciousness about the situation. Remember that you cannot attract anything unlike yourself, so if your mate cheated, that is more of a reflection of your belief in loss at the hands of another. STDs may be due to the deep, hidden hatred of the self or of the mate, which of course comes back to hatred of the self. It's preposterous to think that the very act (sex) that brings forth bliss, closeness, and new life is wrong, dirty, or can be sanctioned. We create structures like rules, laws, and time itself to help us make sense in a day, organizing the life process. For example, we know that time does not actually exists. I mean, it does—we all use it—but it doesn't. We also know that the greatest unfolding of events occurs when we are not keeping track, score, or time.
Think about it. Maybe it is different than what you thought. Maybe it is more expanded than your current view.
Love the First Time
One day, I was on the 10 East freeway, transitioning to the 110 South. As we merged, I heard a horn but I was doing everything right: falling into formation, going an appropriate speed, etc.; so I felt that the person could not be blowing at me. A few seconds go by, and I notice a tattered bucket of a car to my left, and I could not believe that the driver was not honoring the "you go, I go" system. More than that, I was in front of her already, and apparently she was going to change that. She edged up, edged up some more, and I quickly got her message. So I looked to really see the face of the person who was asserting his/her will in such a way, and I found a female driver with absolute conviction on her face, gaining her position and not looking at me at all in the process. I realized that, um...she was going to "strongarm" her way into the formation. I also knew I could try to resist, but why?
Once she was in front of me, and I was in the midst of asking the "appropriate" questions, "Really?! Seriously?!" ... I realized that one tire on her car was going flat; the car sat way too low on one side; and the driver's side mirror was hanging on for dear life. There may have even been some smoke coming from the car. I immediately felt like an ass. I started thinking that I could have been more patient. I started thinking that merging on to the freeway was not a big deal; and since we were all going to get to our destinations eventually, what was I upset about?
Although all of those sort of nice things after the fact are valid, how come I didn't apply that level of reasoning, that love, to the situation in the first place? Did I really need to see all of the needed repairs...the flaws...before I could deem her worthy of a pass? I notice that many times people are rude, sometimes even mean and vicious to others in the heat of a moment; but then when one shows vulnerability, we then gain some level of understanding. The tears start "a-flowin'," and then we are ready to open our hearts and minds. How come? Why do we need to see a level of weakness to allow ourselves to study war no more?
When we are in full balance, living as the light bearers we are, we have no other way of be-ing than to love the first time. I used the word reasoning a few lines ago, but even reasoning is on a lower level than be-ing. We can train ourselves to only focus on what is good, and what our goal is in any given moment; and they all might change in any given moment. The idea is that as long as your goals are clear, you will find yourself at your destination. Everything that occurs in a moment is perfect, based on the previous moments that built it. There is only reason to love. That is the only reason to do anything. Let's do that first. Everything seems to fall in place after that.
Once she was in front of me, and I was in the midst of asking the "appropriate" questions, "Really?! Seriously?!" ... I realized that one tire on her car was going flat; the car sat way too low on one side; and the driver's side mirror was hanging on for dear life. There may have even been some smoke coming from the car. I immediately felt like an ass. I started thinking that I could have been more patient. I started thinking that merging on to the freeway was not a big deal; and since we were all going to get to our destinations eventually, what was I upset about?
Although all of those sort of nice things after the fact are valid, how come I didn't apply that level of reasoning, that love, to the situation in the first place? Did I really need to see all of the needed repairs...the flaws...before I could deem her worthy of a pass? I notice that many times people are rude, sometimes even mean and vicious to others in the heat of a moment; but then when one shows vulnerability, we then gain some level of understanding. The tears start "a-flowin'," and then we are ready to open our hearts and minds. How come? Why do we need to see a level of weakness to allow ourselves to study war no more?
When we are in full balance, living as the light bearers we are, we have no other way of be-ing than to love the first time. I used the word reasoning a few lines ago, but even reasoning is on a lower level than be-ing. We can train ourselves to only focus on what is good, and what our goal is in any given moment; and they all might change in any given moment. The idea is that as long as your goals are clear, you will find yourself at your destination. Everything that occurs in a moment is perfect, based on the previous moments that built it. There is only reason to love. That is the only reason to do anything. Let's do that first. Everything seems to fall in place after that.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
People Die
Staring death in the face is horrible. Sad. And just no fun at all. What does that mean exactly, though? Because if we notice, we have known about this death situation for as long as we can remember, right? A lot of people were brought up with the "Shhh...don't talk about that" type of attitude. Still others are just plain afraid of it.
The reality of death is quite flexible, as are most things in life. Biological sciences simply say you die when all life-supporting involuntary activity cease to operate. Metaphysics says that you simply leave the vessel and resume life in another dimension, on another realm. Physics states that theoretically we may not even understand the "life process" as well as we think we do, and that theoretically we should be able to live forever with deeper understanding of the laws of physics. And last but not least, there is the promise of hell fire after you die, if you "weren't right with God."
For the record, everybody is perfect and right with their God.
Whatever the case, whatever we decide is our own brand of truth. We need to become one with it and live as such. How dare I say "need"?
I said it and meant it. We play too much. We know there are impending events that will come, but we ignore them without fail.
We don't keep our affairs in order in case the unexpected occurs. We fight over our families' belongings, because we live "numb" and can't help but be greedy. Or we fight over the principalities, material goods, etc. because we are hurt and have no real idea of how to cope. Or simply because we are assholes.
So death has occurred; it hurts like hell. Then we start blaming the person that seems likely to have caused it: the child who gave Mom a hard time, the husband who may have secretly beat her, the job he worked for years and did not get his full credit after dedicated service.
None of those things are to blame. We leave the stage of life when we are finished playing our parts—and we all play a part. Sometimes people die of illness, which usually reflects imbalanced thoughts being nurtured. Emotional pain, anger, resistance, fear, resentment, and the experiences that they produce are revisited in the quiet of a person's mind on a regular basis. Eventually, you either create more of it or you create a way to get out of it.
When people die of an "accidental" nature, it actually is much of the same, with overtones of adventure, ego, or even violence. There are no accidents.
What we experience in life is a unique blend of consistent thoughts and emotions, which all emit vibration frequencies that strongly influence our "outpictured," manifested life. The seemingly concrete experience we take part in as our life, is, for intents and purposes, created by us.
And the same is true when we die, and for the ways we die. There is a television show called 1,000 Ways to Die. I noticed that in each scenario, the people acted out of fear, jealousy, anger, or otherwise unbalanced views of life where nobody matters but themselves. If the reason a person died is not apparent, then it may be found in the deepest thoughts, which are hidden. When we really want to live, we do.
Personally, I want to grow old, live to be 102, and still be pretty (a loving and radiant temple). I'll still walk or run my few miles a day, get up early and stretch my muscles before sunrise, clean my home, and conduct my business effortlessly. And when I'm ready to die, I want to get in my big fluffy bed and go to sleep, knowing in my heart I lived my own fairy tales in real life, and have received all of the good I hold within and without, and there is absolutely nothing else I want or need to do.
I know that we don't care to talk about death, but we should. When we ponder our own mortality, it beckons us to live—to really live.
I pondered Michael Jackson's life when I was about 8. I was concerned for myself and the world if we were ever to lose him. When he died, I was walking the halls at the school where I worked and heard a woman say to someone else, "You know Michael Jackson died." The person was aware. The woman went on to say, "Shoooooot, 'cause when Jehova calls you home, it's time to go home!" She actually had a vibe like she was celebrating something she was looking forward to for herself. I continued down the hall, thinking, Wow, really? You just up and died? Why would he die? I don't mean who killed him. Why would he die?
Generally, we should be able to stay in bodies longer than 50 years. I wondered where he was energetically. He had children we know he cared about who were young. He had a career that was coming back ... right? I also know that M.J. wanted to please his audience more than anything else in life, and he did it better than anyone else ever has in history. I do not believe he would have ever reached those heights again; and personally, I remember thinking that Las Vegas is wonderful, but not for Michael. He's not the same type of artist as the rest. Everybody who gets to Vegas has done so because of their talent. But they are no Michael Jackson. I think he knew he could not bring the performance he was known for, and that being the dedication of his entire life, I think he chose to move on. The name of his last tour was "This Is It." Within the the last appearance to promote concert, he said he loved us and this was it. And then he was gone. The way he left was a reflection on some level of how he lived, as it will be for all of us. The doctor involved may have had concerns that turned into guilt or fear that were not addressed in his work with Michael, and unfortunately manifested as a moral and legal issue for him and his family to face. Whatever the case, I wish him well. More importantly, I see him as an actor in the play, only present because of his alignment with that particular energy.
I heard that the artist Nate Dogg died the other day. It immediately took me back to 1993, when I was underage and in a club where I met a really nice guy named Omar. He bought me a drink (which was soda) and made sure it stayed full. He made sure we got a place to sit and talk. He was really sweet and handsome. At the exact point where I start thinking, Do I like this dude? I glance over and see Nate Dogg. I was never a groupie, but I had the instinct that I would be good one, and I couldn't go out like that; so when I saw him, my only intentions were to dance with him, just get that in real quick, and come back hang out with Omar. What ended up happening was that Omar watched as I danced and talked and played stupid like I didn't know who he (Nate Dogg) was. I mean, I couldn't just start asking about his career, right? But what really took up time was the fact that I needed to keep looking at dude, because throughout our dance and my pretending not to know who he was, he started to not look so much like Nate Dogg ... and that really makes sense, seeing that it wasn't Nate Dogg. Oh. But I did say I had planned all along not to get caught up, 'cause I was really feelin' Omar, right? Well, Omar disappeared. :-( It was cool though; I learned my lesson. I found the man of my dreams a few years later.
So when I heard that Nate had moved on, I smiled. I thought about my hair-brained scheme and how it had crashed and burned, yet it was in his honor. I was never a serious fan of his, but of course I knew his music from the beginning, and I had respect. It was interesting how it all turned out. It was sad that his family lost him, and then there is the question of why. Whatever your view about the passing of life from this realm, remember that there are no victims and no mistakes; that theme is constant. Another constant theme is that your "afterlife" will in some way mimic your life and being that exist now. If you believe deeply that you will be punished and paid back for mistakes in life, you may very well have that continued wish or belief fulfilled. If you maintain that you must suffer because of yours sins, then suffering will be your companion.
For me, I am pretty content in the idea that we have a lot more to say about this subject, and that it is far more expanded than we ever thought possible. We may never know for sure until our time. What I am sure of is that the more I learn about any given subject, the more I evolve in my thinking about it, which changes my being in and around it, and that brings me incredible peace.
Elizabeth Taylor died today. I feel honored in this moment because it usually takes a week or two or more to complete a blog post. I had been wanting to post ideas about death for some time, and today was the day for editing and finally posting. I am honored to include her in this post because Elizabeth was a woman that represents all things good, luxurious, and glamorous ... and let's not forget beautiful. She was voted hands down one of the most beautiful women in the world. She enjoyed and gave the very best that Hollywood has to offer, and I am privileged to truly know of her work and contributions to life. I am thankful that she stood as a firm support for Michael Jackson during his life and times of need. People with H.I.V./ A.I.D.S. needed her support and friendship as well. Her life produced higher levels of thinking and understanding for millions of people, for decades; this is an extremely important achievement. Thank you, Elizabeth. You truly are a lady, American royalty. I am thankful for your presence.
I wish peace, comfort, and love to all of us for those we have lost, and for the life that death inspires us to live now in this world, and every wonder-filled world hereafter.
The reality of death is quite flexible, as are most things in life. Biological sciences simply say you die when all life-supporting involuntary activity cease to operate. Metaphysics says that you simply leave the vessel and resume life in another dimension, on another realm. Physics states that theoretically we may not even understand the "life process" as well as we think we do, and that theoretically we should be able to live forever with deeper understanding of the laws of physics. And last but not least, there is the promise of hell fire after you die, if you "weren't right with God."
For the record, everybody is perfect and right with their God.
Whatever the case, whatever we decide is our own brand of truth. We need to become one with it and live as such. How dare I say "need"?
I said it and meant it. We play too much. We know there are impending events that will come, but we ignore them without fail.
We don't keep our affairs in order in case the unexpected occurs. We fight over our families' belongings, because we live "numb" and can't help but be greedy. Or we fight over the principalities, material goods, etc. because we are hurt and have no real idea of how to cope. Or simply because we are assholes.
So death has occurred; it hurts like hell. Then we start blaming the person that seems likely to have caused it: the child who gave Mom a hard time, the husband who may have secretly beat her, the job he worked for years and did not get his full credit after dedicated service.
None of those things are to blame. We leave the stage of life when we are finished playing our parts—and we all play a part. Sometimes people die of illness, which usually reflects imbalanced thoughts being nurtured. Emotional pain, anger, resistance, fear, resentment, and the experiences that they produce are revisited in the quiet of a person's mind on a regular basis. Eventually, you either create more of it or you create a way to get out of it.
When people die of an "accidental" nature, it actually is much of the same, with overtones of adventure, ego, or even violence. There are no accidents.
What we experience in life is a unique blend of consistent thoughts and emotions, which all emit vibration frequencies that strongly influence our "outpictured," manifested life. The seemingly concrete experience we take part in as our life, is, for intents and purposes, created by us.
And the same is true when we die, and for the ways we die. There is a television show called 1,000 Ways to Die. I noticed that in each scenario, the people acted out of fear, jealousy, anger, or otherwise unbalanced views of life where nobody matters but themselves. If the reason a person died is not apparent, then it may be found in the deepest thoughts, which are hidden. When we really want to live, we do.
Personally, I want to grow old, live to be 102, and still be pretty (a loving and radiant temple). I'll still walk or run my few miles a day, get up early and stretch my muscles before sunrise, clean my home, and conduct my business effortlessly. And when I'm ready to die, I want to get in my big fluffy bed and go to sleep, knowing in my heart I lived my own fairy tales in real life, and have received all of the good I hold within and without, and there is absolutely nothing else I want or need to do.
I know that we don't care to talk about death, but we should. When we ponder our own mortality, it beckons us to live—to really live.
I pondered Michael Jackson's life when I was about 8. I was concerned for myself and the world if we were ever to lose him. When he died, I was walking the halls at the school where I worked and heard a woman say to someone else, "You know Michael Jackson died." The person was aware. The woman went on to say, "Shoooooot, 'cause when Jehova calls you home, it's time to go home!" She actually had a vibe like she was celebrating something she was looking forward to for herself. I continued down the hall, thinking, Wow, really? You just up and died? Why would he die? I don't mean who killed him. Why would he die?
Generally, we should be able to stay in bodies longer than 50 years. I wondered where he was energetically. He had children we know he cared about who were young. He had a career that was coming back ... right? I also know that M.J. wanted to please his audience more than anything else in life, and he did it better than anyone else ever has in history. I do not believe he would have ever reached those heights again; and personally, I remember thinking that Las Vegas is wonderful, but not for Michael. He's not the same type of artist as the rest. Everybody who gets to Vegas has done so because of their talent. But they are no Michael Jackson. I think he knew he could not bring the performance he was known for, and that being the dedication of his entire life, I think he chose to move on. The name of his last tour was "This Is It." Within the the last appearance to promote concert, he said he loved us and this was it. And then he was gone. The way he left was a reflection on some level of how he lived, as it will be for all of us. The doctor involved may have had concerns that turned into guilt or fear that were not addressed in his work with Michael, and unfortunately manifested as a moral and legal issue for him and his family to face. Whatever the case, I wish him well. More importantly, I see him as an actor in the play, only present because of his alignment with that particular energy.
I heard that the artist Nate Dogg died the other day. It immediately took me back to 1993, when I was underage and in a club where I met a really nice guy named Omar. He bought me a drink (which was soda) and made sure it stayed full. He made sure we got a place to sit and talk. He was really sweet and handsome. At the exact point where I start thinking, Do I like this dude? I glance over and see Nate Dogg. I was never a groupie, but I had the instinct that I would be good one, and I couldn't go out like that; so when I saw him, my only intentions were to dance with him, just get that in real quick, and come back hang out with Omar. What ended up happening was that Omar watched as I danced and talked and played stupid like I didn't know who he (Nate Dogg) was. I mean, I couldn't just start asking about his career, right? But what really took up time was the fact that I needed to keep looking at dude, because throughout our dance and my pretending not to know who he was, he started to not look so much like Nate Dogg ... and that really makes sense, seeing that it wasn't Nate Dogg. Oh. But I did say I had planned all along not to get caught up, 'cause I was really feelin' Omar, right? Well, Omar disappeared. :-( It was cool though; I learned my lesson. I found the man of my dreams a few years later.
So when I heard that Nate had moved on, I smiled. I thought about my hair-brained scheme and how it had crashed and burned, yet it was in his honor. I was never a serious fan of his, but of course I knew his music from the beginning, and I had respect. It was interesting how it all turned out. It was sad that his family lost him, and then there is the question of why. Whatever your view about the passing of life from this realm, remember that there are no victims and no mistakes; that theme is constant. Another constant theme is that your "afterlife" will in some way mimic your life and being that exist now. If you believe deeply that you will be punished and paid back for mistakes in life, you may very well have that continued wish or belief fulfilled. If you maintain that you must suffer because of yours sins, then suffering will be your companion.
For me, I am pretty content in the idea that we have a lot more to say about this subject, and that it is far more expanded than we ever thought possible. We may never know for sure until our time. What I am sure of is that the more I learn about any given subject, the more I evolve in my thinking about it, which changes my being in and around it, and that brings me incredible peace.
Elizabeth Taylor died today. I feel honored in this moment because it usually takes a week or two or more to complete a blog post. I had been wanting to post ideas about death for some time, and today was the day for editing and finally posting. I am honored to include her in this post because Elizabeth was a woman that represents all things good, luxurious, and glamorous ... and let's not forget beautiful. She was voted hands down one of the most beautiful women in the world. She enjoyed and gave the very best that Hollywood has to offer, and I am privileged to truly know of her work and contributions to life. I am thankful that she stood as a firm support for Michael Jackson during his life and times of need. People with H.I.V./ A.I.D.S. needed her support and friendship as well. Her life produced higher levels of thinking and understanding for millions of people, for decades; this is an extremely important achievement. Thank you, Elizabeth. You truly are a lady, American royalty. I am thankful for your presence.
I wish peace, comfort, and love to all of us for those we have lost, and for the life that death inspires us to live now in this world, and every wonder-filled world hereafter.
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