Archive
Brain Science, Storytelling, and YOU! – Richard’s Commentary
I have a recent story to tell and I hope I only have to tell it once! As always it is a question of learning the lessons. Here’s the story:
About a week ago I started running a fever. I had no real symptoms other than the severe body aches and pains that often accompany a fever. As this one developed not only did the aches and pains get worse but the fever turned into significant shakes and sweats over a three-day and night period. I had not experienced this kind of illness since I came down with malaria in Africa more than 40 years ago – it was that bad!
The fever was at its worst right at the New Moon/Solar eclipse last Thursday evening. I went to the doc Friday afternoon about the time I started to feel just a bit better. Lots of causes, thankfully, have been eliminated. And now I am much better, finishing a course of antibiotics even though I suspect it was viral. But much more important than the medical report or even my symptoms and treatment are the lessons and symbols represented by this fever and my experience of it.
I have been processing this experience, this story since I was well enough to meditate and write about it. And my old friends, QRS (remember my “floating heads”?) have helped me with some interpretation. Here’s the real story of my serious fever:
What is the message from my unconscious mind via my body?
QRS: Your body heated up to burn out some impurities. The shakes were because you are not using the “shaking technique” from Jeff Primack (this is a Qi-generating approach by shaking the whole body for a period of time; we did it for 12 minutes at the Qi-Revolution weekend!). Do it for five minutes every day. It will help. The sweats were to purge impurities through your largest organ – your skin. Shower to cleanse away the toxins. Heat, fire is from the heart. You are heart-broken for multiple reasons. The fever was a reminder of the fire and passion of your heart and that you need to attend and mend the brokenness before you can do any real work of consequence. The fire was a tempering and a mending process. You will emerge from this stronger if you take these words “to heart”! The weakness was to get you to rest. You have to be quiet to mend. Your quiet time has helped. The aches and pains were your body knocking at your door to let you know it needs your care. Yes, Qigong has been good. But keep it up. Don’t let your body turn to brittle old bones!
Your mind has been in a fog. This was a reminder to not slip away into a fog like your dad did! Awaken! And stay awake.
You think you have been working hard on yourself. Don’t mistake effort for accomplishment. Working hard is only part of it. Achieving is necessary. Awaken! It is time to break out. Move beyond the chrysalis stage and emerge, fly. You have so much to do, but time is not infinite. Deaths of your friends are to remind you of this. Their time ran out; mission accomplished. Yes, you have your purpose, your mission, but you only have the rest of your life to fulfill it. Don’t let us down. Wake up!
This explanation of my story has helped me realize the fever had its purpose. And I have my lesson to take to heart. As I wrote this I also recalled the Buddhist prayer, or Evening Gatha, we recited at Zen Mountain Monastery when I spent some time there:
Let me respectfully remind you,
Life and death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive to awaken. . .
. . . awaken,
Take heed. Do not squander your life.
Do not squander your life…
ROSEMARY’S EXPLORATION: Brain Science, Storytelling, and YOU!
Recent studies of the science of the brain are showing us that we can create new neural pathways by thinking new thoughts. And the more we think those new thoughts, the stronger those pathways grow. By the same token, old pathways can break down with misuse or get rewired.
Wow! That means you can give yourself a new brain by thinking new thoughts! As The Scientific Mystic, I think this is cool science!
Of course, if you reinforce old thoughts, old patterns, you strengthen those pathways. Hmmmmm… That means that if we keep telling the same old stories, thinking the same old thoughts, we dig ourselves into deeper trenches in our brain that make coming out of those trenches more difficult than they need to be.
This is bad enough when we keep retelling our own stories. Do you know some people who seem to be stuck in their victimhood because they keep re-telling their story and they never change the ending to claim their power now? It’s as if they are magically drawn to the past and they somehow get stuck there. We do that to ourselves unconsciously, too. We hold onto grudges because we keep reliving that past hurt or anger or upset and we reinforce the patterns of old.
We don’t need to keep doing that, however. Many survivors of horrendous abuse can tell you that, although it is extremely difficult work, therapy has helped them to move on from their victimhood. In my coaching practice I can see amazing progress in the clients who work to shift their stories into being the empowered hero of their own lives. As a matter of fact, I don’t work with clients who are unwilling to write a new story because we have so many tools to facilitate the shift that there’s no need to stay stuck.
The most insidious stories are those that come down the family tree, or from a parent or authority figure from our childhood. These we accepted, as children, as absolute truth and haven’t brought them up to be re-examined in light of our adult understanding. They run the program of ‘Me’ at the unconscious level and we don’t even know whose story is creating our life.
The first step in becoming the hero of your life is to look at your stories. What are they? Are they true? Or do you keep re-deciding to believe something that might not be true in the present moment? You are always at choice about what to believe. This is an active process. But first you must bring your beliefs into the open so that you can decide with consciousness whether or not you want to keep believing that way.
What you thought about the world when you were 7 years old just might not be true for you at 37 or 57 or 77. Maybe it’s time to re-decide?
How exciting that brain science in the 21st Century is helping us to shift! We have amazing techniques available to shift our neurology by thinking new thoughts, writing new stories. We can live a conscious life by examining the thoughts we have, the stories we tell ourselves and others, the beliefs that underlie the choices we make.
I recently heard Candace Pert, PhD, a molecular biologist, speak about science and spirituality. She wrote the book, Molecules of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine. I love what she said about the Brain: “The Brain works by making up stories. People sometimes rent out space in their brains to people who have been dead for years by telling and clinging to old stories.”
Make sure YOU are the one who decides which stories to tell and which ones to evict!
PS: Here is a fun way to find out who might be renting space in your brain: join Rosemary for a Conversation with The Other Side. Next Monday, May 20, at 7:00 pm she is offering an online Conversation where you can talk to anyone from your past who has crossed over whose story you may be holding on to. Get more information and registration details at TheScientificMystic.com
INSPIRATION FROM ROSEMARY: Whose Story Are You Telling?
My video for the week: Whose Story Are You Telling?
PS: Here is a fun way to find out who might be renting space in your brain: join Rosemary for a Conversation with The Other Side. Next Monday, May 20, at 7:00 pm she is offering an online Conversation where you can talk to anyone from your past who has crossed over whose story you may be holding on to. Get more information and registration details at TheScientificMystic.com
I Ching Cast for the New Moon in Taurus; May 9, 2013
Yes, it’s Monday, but since I published a “Sunday Poem” for Mothers’ Day yesterday, I am publishing my “moonthly” I Ching reading for the Taurus New Moon (and solar eclipse) that occurred last Thursday evening (8:29 pm EDT).
As I enjoy doing on, or shortly after the New Moon, I cast a Gua, a hexagram, for the I Ching to see what the yarrow stalks had to tell me about the energies for the up-coming moonth. For me this helps put me in a frame of anticipation as I calmly manipulate the yarrow stalks to generate the 6 Yao, or lines, of the Gua. And, after the power of this New Moon, which included a solar eclipse, I really needed both calming and anticipation!
The hexagram I cast was Fu which means “Turning Back” in The Complete I Ching translated by Taoist Master Alfred Huang.
Note that the third line is a six, a greater yin line which means it’s a moving line. The energy of the moonth may begin with Fu, but the moving line generates a new Gua when the third line moves to a yang line. The new Gua and therefore the new energy coming in during the moonth is symbolized by the hexagram Ming Yi which means “Brilliance Injured.”
“Turning Back” is about the cycles of life. Everything turns and returns. Dawn follows the night. The Decision for this Gua is positive and ends with “Favorable to have somewhere to go.”
As I look at this in the greater context of the New Moon/Solar Eclipse I can see positive change coming as the result; the expected transformation is in its early stages of unfolding. The “turning back” is part of a cycle that may be repeating but the cycle is more like a spiral that rises with each dawn. There is a direction to the cycle: favorable to have somewhere to go!
There is a concern expressed here in the third yao, the changing line: the Yao Text for the third six (greater yin) is “Repeatedly turning back. Adversity. No fault. This “turning back” feels like spinning wheels. No progress can be made this way. And while this sense of being stuck may be excusable (no fault) I am glad to receive this warning that there could be some “wheel-spinning” energy the early part of this moonth.
There is a Chinese saying that helps with my understanding of “Brilliance Injured”: “tao guang yang hui” which means “hide one’s light and abide one’s time.” Here too is a message about the energy of the moonth: it might be wise to keep one’s head down and exercise patience. Yes, change is coming; the lower trigram is Li or Fire. But fire is under the upper trigram, Kun or Earth. This is like sunset; the light is hidden under the darkness, below the earth’s horizon. There may be some darkness, some shadow energy hidden in the change energy this moonth.
The advice I have taken from this divination is “don’t let the darkness extinguish the light; just turn your light down a notch and remain steadfast and upright. Remember the “turning back” – the sun will rise again.
There is one more piece of good news in this accomplished gua, Ming Yi: its mutual gua is Jie, Relief. Biding one’s time does lead to relief!
Have a good moonth and keep your head down!
Sunday’s Poem: Mothers
In honor of all Mothers everywhere; where would we be without you?
Mothers
Where would we be without them?
The Universe is mostly “dark” matter.
Mother.
The Taoists have it right:
The dark is the womb;
The dark is the source
Of all the Suns!
Where would we be without Earth?
She is mostly feminine water.
Mother.
The Evolutionists have it right:
The Water is the womb;
The Water is the source
Of all Sons!
Where would we be without Eve?
She is mostly womanly love.
Mother.
The Biblists have it wrong:
Her love is the womb;
Her love is the source
Of All – not the fall!
©2013 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
New Moon/Solar Eclipse and more…
I was all set to cast my I Ching Gua for the New Moon/Solar Eclipse and more…. But this isn’t going to happen until later. These Heavenly events are really hitting me hard. I have been alternating shaking with sweating for a couple of days now. Could this be the massive New Moon/Eclipse energy?
So, I am taking the easy way out and using valuable information from dear friends and expert astrologers:
From Gloria Hesseloff:
“MAGNETIC MOON” NEWSLETTER
Gloria Hesseloff, LLC
Weaving together the power of Astrology
with The Law of Attraction, Neuroscience and Quantum Physics
NEW MOON and SOLAR ECLIPSE IN TAURUS
PRACTICE “VARJA PRIDE” (the essential dignity of being alive!)
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A HUGE INFLUX OF LIGHT FROM
THREE ECLIPSES IN ONE MONTH!
Scorpio Lunar Eclipse on April 25
TAURUS SOLAR ECLIPSE ON MAY 9
Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse on May 24
This informs us that magnificent waves of light are heading our way. These are believed to be the first waves of energy coming from the Great Shift of December 21, 2012…….you can say we have shifted in to
The Age of Light.
Are you open to receiving that Light?
Are you willing to allow this Sacred Light to heal the Taurus shadow of low self-worth?
I recently learned that while low self-esteem is practically epidemic in the USA, it is effectively unknown in some other cultures. The concept even had to be explained to the Dalai Lama because a sense of low self-worth does not even exist in his culture! This Solar Eclipse in Taurus challenges us to have a deep re-evaluation and recognition of our inherent self-worth.
During this Taurus Solar Eclipse/New Moon where we are challenged to release any sense of low self-esteem , it seems valuable to understand and accept the concept of VAJRA PRIDE.
Here is a profound quote from Spiritual teacher Svasti that can be so helpful during this eclipse which supports us in releasing old patterns and imprinting a life enhancing new pattern:
“I honour every person out there in the world coming to terms with their wild and wacky monkey mind, the mind that wounds our Selves as well as others. The mind that makes us believe we are not enough, we are not okay and we are not who or what we should be. I also honour those that haven’t had that battle yet because at some point in our lives, it seems to me that we all come face to face with our inner demons. I honour everyone who lives and breathes and I sincerely hope that one day we all find for ourselves what is called “Vajra pride or the essential dignity of being alive”
Here is yet another quote from Lama Gursam on this Taurus subject.
Vajra pride is seeing yourself as inseparable from the deity. The two most important things in tantric practice are vajra pride and pure vision, seeing yourself and others as deities.
Taurus energy has a stubborn streak. While we all know the negative side of stubbornness, why not harness a more positive aspect of this Taurus stubbornness and use it as “stick-to-it tiveness”…dliligently practicing Vajra Pride, our essential dignity and value; acknowledging and owning ourselves and others as deities. Our loving cosmos is abundantly supporting us as part of our Hero’s Journey with these 3 transforming eclipses.
Energies of the New Moon in Taurus:
- Self-Worth
- Money
- Loves Nature, the Earth
- Serenity
- Sensuousness
- Creates Security
- Aversion to Drama
- Practicality
- Pleasure from the senses
Archetypes: Diva of the Earth:
Goddess of Pleasure
Shadow Energies:
- Stubbornness used to limit us
- Fearful of Change
- Need for Security stifles growth
- Laziness
- Overvalues Material Security
Deep material, Gloria; thank you!
And here is a snippet from friend and esoteric astrologer, Chris Larget:
This moment in history highlights communication between dimensions (Neptune back in Pisces after roughly 165 years). This means more contact with persons and animals who now reside in another dimension.
How do you feel with all this energy banging around? I hope you stay well and grounded!
Are You Ready? – Richard’s Commentary
Rosemary’s opening to her MuseLetter article this week was certainly provocative:
Did you think you could relax because you made it through December 21, 2012? Think again!
The Shift has begun. Time has been speeding up for years and we’re moving ahead at an amazing pace. It’s time to grow, to transform, to evolve. Hold onto your hat!
Yes, the time is now. And I can certainly feel the urgency of the moment. I have been impacted a lot this week as we are in this very old moon energy in Taurus. My body hurts, my mind isn’t functioning at peak performance and my emotions tend to rule my tongue more often than I’d like! Is it just this old moon, impending new moon and solar eclipse coming our way that has me in such a state? And what can I do to “be ready”?
Then we came across this from one of our astrologer friends; we have trusted Steve Nelson’s readings for us and his deep writing for years! Here’s what Steve says about this time in May:
Karma is fate, dharma is destiny. Karma is in the body as chronic muscle tension that holds encoded past emotional memory. Dharma is our divine purpose to be revealed and realized as karma is let go. Past world patterning or karma can be released through exercise (especially yoga), deep breathing and ritual celebration. Collective karma, the shadow of the age, is up for clearing now. As we clear personal karma we clear world karma. Karma is cleared cosmically by New Moons and by eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
…
A solar eclipse is Mother Nature’s most powerful instrument for transformation. When an eclipse occurs above, things get eclipsed and are transformed here below. Whatever needs eclipsing comes up in the days/weeks before a solar eclipse. An eclipse is an opportunity to eliminate patterns of thought and behavior that trouble our world. This is an ideal time to clear away what stands in the way of dreams being realized. The May 9/10 solar eclipse is the subject of another prophecy by Nostradamus in Century 9 Quatrain 83: ”Sun twentieth of Taurus, the Earth will tremble mightily; It will ruin the great theater filled: And so darken and trouble air, sky and land, the unbeliever will call upon God and the saints.”
The May 9/10 solar eclipse in the 20th degree of Taurus may bring a great earthquake as Nostradamus predicted. We’re advised to stay away from crowded theaters on this day. Our old world patterns are broken one way or another; we can hope and pray for the kinder gentler way.
It sounds to me that all the energy I’m feeling is definitely part of this New Moon/Solar Eclipse energy. It may be a doozy. I’ll definitely “hold on to my hat”!
But what does this mean; how do we prepare and “be ready” for major events that may occur? Steve Nelson recommends ritual work. Ritual is a wonderful way to heighten our awareness and bring consciousness and intention to our plans and actions.
And Steve mentions yoga and deep breathing – no surprise here! As you know from my previous posts I am all about yoga, qigong and breath-work!
I am doing everything in my power to be ready for this New Moon/Eclipse this evening (it occurs here on the east coast at 8:29 pm). Here’s what Rosemary has said about it:
This Solar Eclipse ends a cycle and begins a new one. Look back at what was happening in your life on May 10, 1994 for some clues about your personal evolution. We are being invited to release the past, clear negative thought patterns and whatever else might be holding us back from expanded consciousness and evolution. According to The Mountain Astrologer magazine, Eclipses also affect cellular memory, facilitating our awakening and remembrance of our soul’s blueprint.
Karma and dharma: release the past and awaken to your soul’s blueprint!
With Steve I wish you a “kinder and gentler” experience of this powerful energy. May you use it for growth!
ROSEMARY’S EXPLORATION: Are You Ready?
Did you think you could relax because you made it through December 21, 2012? Think again!
The Shift has begun. Time has been speeding up for years and we’re moving ahead at an amazing pace. It’s time to grow, to transform, to evolve. Hold onto your hat!
Sometimes we think about ‘readiness’ as preparing for all the disasters that are possible in the days ahead. My little sister works for the Red Cross and has a masters degree in Disaster Management. She knows about preparing for and dealing with disasters. But are we really preparing for disasters or for greater, more abundant and spectacular Life? Let’s get ready for that and leave the disasters to the Red Cross.
Get ready for the Doors of Opportunity to be opened to you, for they are present in every moment if you just look for them. Your work is to be ready to walk through that open door. Here’s how to get ready.
First, learn to focus your attention in this Present Moment NOW. Are you worried about something that might happen in the future? That possible disaster? Or even that fantasy of something out there at ‘someday’? Bring your attention and, thus, your energy, into this Present Moment, for this is where you live and from whence comes all manifestation.
Next, live your Purpose. Have you learned what your Life Purpose is? Do you know why your Soul chose to incarnate in your particular body with your particular history at this particular moment? Discover your Purpose and live it with Passion. There’s no time now to waste waiting for ‘someday’ to arrive so you can finally live your Purpose. Someday has arrived and you are looking at it now – today.
The third step is to assess your Present Reality. What thoughts are winning your attention and are they negative or supportive of your growth? Are there limiting beliefs at work in your life that are blocking you from happiness and growth? Have you done the personal development work that clears the blocks from your path and are you sure that you are not living out someone else’s expectations for you? Do you have some old tapes playing in your unconscious mind that belong in the past or to someone else? Are you being honest with yourself about who you really are? Have you disowned your power?
The Doors of Opportunity are opening for you. You can see them when you look around you in wonder and awe at the magnificent, abundant Universe that gives to you in ways that are much grander than anything you can imagine. When you search for the lesson in whatever is your present reality you receive the gift that is available to you. Walk through the Doorway and into the Light.
Our friend was in a serious car accident shortly after the actor, Christopher Reeve, had his accident that left him paralyzed. Her injury was similar to Reeve’s but she recovered fully. As she claimed, she was ‘ready for anything and all prayed up!’ She didn’t rail against the Universe for putting her in that situation and she can use that story to help others in their personal development because she looked for the lesson and walked through a Doorway of Opportunity.
Do you know anyone who says that some event in their life that we might judge to be ‘tragic,’ like illness or job loss or financial problems or natural disaster, turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to them? Not everyone can say that about everything that happens, but when you view the event as a gift that holds a Doorway of Opportunity, you want to be ready to walk through that door!
Remember:
- Present Moment
- Purpose & Passion
- Present Reality
Get ready! Do the personal work. And when you see the open door, walk through it!
PS: Do you feel ready for the coming transformations? Are you in the flow and ready for that next opportunity coming your way? If you need answers for questions like “what is my next step?” Rosemary can help. Schedule a FREE Discovery Session with her to be sure you are ready! Schedule Here
INSPIRATION FROM ROSEMARY: Are You Ready?
My video for the week: Are You Ready?
PS: Do you feel ready for the coming transformations? Are you in the flow and ready for that next opportunity coming your way? If you need answers for questions like “what is my next step?” Rosemary can help. Schedule a FREE Discovery Session with her to be sure you are ready! Schedule Here
Monday’s Poem: Infinite Breath
I led a Qigong demonstration during our ACT (A Community of Transformation) meeting today. I began with a breathing exercise using a poem I posted here three weeks ago, Breathe. Breathing is always good, and a good spiritual practice to help both lift and ground us. Everything breathes in one way or another; which is to say everything is in some state of vibration. Here’s another poem about breath to start your week. Happy Monday!
Infinite Breath
We are all in mid-breath,
That infinite sigh that
Began long ago and
Blew us all into existence.
We tumble in the remnant
Turbulence of that long sigh,
No more than fluff of milkweed
Spiraling at the edge of the pool.
The exhalation continues for now
Expelling more flotsam
On each breeze generated
By whirling currents of emptiness.
And, at the end of this long breath?
Every vibration has a frequency
Measured by the return from the
Infinitesimal steady state.
There must be an inhalation, right?
The contraction is only preparation
For that next breath, a sneeze perhaps,
To blow something new this way again!
©2013 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
Men and The Goddess 