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ROSEMARY’S INSPIRATION: The Echo of Truth
Rosemary’s “Two-Minute” video for the week: The Echo of Truth
Note: this clip was taken from our October gathering for Satsang.
PS: Are you waiting to hear from The Other Side? Maybe your next step will be revealed. Are you looking for advice from beyond the usual, even the future? Join Rosemary for a Conversation with The Other Side at 7:00 PM Eastern, November 1 – All Saints Day. If you are in Maryland, join us in person. Or, join us by televideo conference or simply by phone. Learn more here.
MONDAY’S POEM: Hamsa
A while ago I offered a poem on the breath. It was inline with my approach to Qigong breathing. I got good feedback on that poem and even published a bookmark for use in my Qigong classes. That poem is here.
Last week I wrote about the happy discovery of Hamsa as both a way to breathe and a mantra meditation rolled together. My practice of Hamsa and my Qigong breath poem inspired today’s offering:
Hamsa
Inhale
Expand
Belly out
Ribs out
Spine straight
Head up
Ham…
Sa
Exhale
Neck free
Shoulders down
Chest in
Belly in
Contract
Pause
Be…
Ham
Sa
I Am
That!
©2013 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
Everybody’s Talking at Me – Richard’s Commentary
My first reaction to this statement about the voices in my head is, yeah, everybody’s talking at me, especially me! I don’t know about you but my voice is constantly chattering at me, like that “Monkey Mind” spoken of by meditators. And often that voice seems so critical. As Rosemary states:
We all have those ‘old tapes’ playing in our mind and sometimes it is difficult to figure out that we don’t have to listen to them anymore. The first step in personal growth is to decide on YOUR TRUTH in this present moment.
Those old tapes may be from another time and other people’s words are spoken, but the sound is of my own voice. And it is not always easy to shut me up!
I have been a seeker all my life. Maybe the “truth” I have sought after is the means to quiet my mind-talk, to shut down the litany so I can listen for a deeper Truth.
What does your inner voice tell you? Mine is often reminding me of all the things I have to do; it runs through lists and sorts through them endlessly for priorities, shifting items, ordering them. At other times the voice is reviewing reactions to events; examining my actions, reactions, judging, analyzing, finding the fault.
I’m working on this constantly, taming the voice, searching for the lessons. I do follow Rosemary’s prescription:
Ask yourself, ‘Is this thought, belief, rule true for me?’
And often it no longer holds true, if it ever did. I remain vigilant to detect the old voice, to listen instead for what is true for me now. I practice many methods of doing this from physical yoga and qigong, to emotional and mental writing and creating poetry, to spiritual meditation, ritual work and touching Higher Mind. These practices work well; the Monkey Mind subsides, the critical voice quiets, the list builder recedes to his corner.
—–
The best part of moving (and the worst) is handling all the books! Both Rosemary and I are book collectors (and we even read a lot of them!). Moving them is an incredible chore and we have committed to slimming our collection down to lessen the load. But during our recent move books have jumped out at me insisting that I read them. I accumulated quite a stack as I opened boxes and stuffed shelves.
One book rose to number 2 on the list and I just finished it: I am That by Swami Muktananda. The subtitle is: The Science of HAMSA from the VIJNANA BHAIRAVA.And this book, this time, just might change my life!
I don’t remember if I read this book before. We’ve had it for years; one of Rosemary’s earliest business cards as a newly ordained reverend was in it as a bookmark. Reading it now struck a significant chord in me and I may have stumbled on that Truth I’ve been seeking all these years.
And it is so simple! Hamsa is a mantra of the breath. As we inhale we make the sound of Ham and as we exhale we make the sound of Sa. The Sanskrit meaning ofHamsa is I am That. As I read this little book I was immediately drawn into the practice. Every breath I take is repeating this mantra. This mantra is reminding me of who I am. And as Rosemary points out in her post yesterday:
Let’s set the record straight right here, right now. You ARE good enough, smart enough, pretty enough. You ARE enough!
Now when my inner voice grows loud with lists and shoulds and judgments, I remember to breathe; remembering to breathe I hear Hamsa, hearing Hamsa I am called back to who I truly am. I am That!
Do you have good practices to quiet that voice in your head, that Monkey Mind?
ROSEMARY’S EXPLORATION: Everybody’s Talking At Me
Remember that song? Who is talking at you? Whose voice do you here in your head? What are you hearing and believing without processing it to discern if this is true for you today?
We all have those ‘old tapes’ playing in our mind and sometimes it is difficult to figure out that we don’t have to listen to them anymore. The first step in personal growth is to decide on YOUR TRUTH in this present moment.
Ask yourself, ‘Is this thought, belief, rule true for me?’
For example, children are often taught family rules that no longer apply as they get older. In our house, there was a rule that ‘you go home when the street lights come on.’ We could play in the neighborhood with our friends but when it was dark enough for the lights to come on, we had to head for home. Obviously, when we got older that rule no longer applied.
But what about rules like ‘you must go to church every week’ or ‘every one in our family goes to college’ or ‘success is measured by how much money you make’? These ideas live in our unconscious mind as if they are Truth with a capital T. Have you hauled out these so-called ‘Truths’ and examined them for their relevance in your life today?
Here’s an insidious one. ‘I can only stay in bed if I’m really sick.’ What if you’re tired, overworked, starting to get sick but able to fight it off if you rest today? Can you give yourself permission to go to bed even if you’re not very sick? Or do you wait until you’re truly unwell before you allow yourself to slow down?
The beliefs that do the most harm come from thoughts we might have had as a kid or that someone said to us like, ‘you’re stupid’ or ‘you’re not good enough’ or ‘you’ll never make anything of yourself.’ Maybe you even said ‘I’m stupid’ or ‘I’m not good enough.’
Let’s set the record straight right here, right now. You ARE good enough, smart enough, pretty enough. You ARE enough!
Your soul chose this lifetime to be on Planet Earth with the family that you have, the circumstances you are in, the location where you were born and the place where you now live. All of this is to help you learn the lessons of this lifetime.
You came into this world with all the resources that you need to learn those lessons. All the people and circumstances are around you to help you learn. And sometimes the lesson is to learn how to ignore what you are hearing or to move away from a place or people who no longer serve your personal growth.
Anybody who is ‘talking at’ you is learning their own lessons. They might be projecting those lessons onto you but you have a choice about whether or not to accept what they are saying. You are always at choice.
Today, give away those old tapes. Send back the thoughts and beliefs that do not apply anymore. Choose what you will believe about yourself.
You are enough! Create healthy self-talk so that you drown out the voices of those who are ‘talking at’ you!
PS: Are you waiting to hear from The Other Side? Maybe an old belief will be revealed. Are you looking for advice from beyond the usual, through a gifted Medium? Join Rosemary for a Conversation with The Other Side at 7:00 PM Eastern, November 1 – All Saints Day. If you are in Maryland, join us in person. Or, join us by televideo conference or simply by phone. Learn more here.
ROSEMARY’S INSPIRATION: It’s Time to Release the Blocks
Rosemary’s “Two-Minute” video for the week: It’s Time to Release the Blocks
PS: Are you waiting to hear from The Other Side? Maybe your next step will be revealed. Are you looking for advice from beyond the usual? Join Rosemary for a Conversation with The Other Side at 7:00 PM Eastern, November 1 – All Saints Day. If you are in Maryland, join us in person. Or, join us by televideo conference or simply by phone. Learn more here.
MONDAY’S POEM: Molting by the Light of the Moon
On Friday evening, here on the East Coast, we experienced a very powerful full moon in Aries and a Lunar Eclipse. As I wrote here that Friday morning the effects on me were substantial. I came through the experience renewed; today’s poem reflects the experience and results.
Molting by the Light of the Moon
The Great Moon swells
To her fullest magnificence.
She takes on all we have to give her
Stripping us of the surplus, refuse.
It can be a painful time
Of loss and grief and letting go.
Like snakes their skin and crabs their shells,
We twist and scratch to transform.
In the midst of the molt
We are left wounded and vulnerable;
This is a rough and dangerous time
To release the old and trust the new.
And then we crawl
Into the light of the Full Moon,
Hardening shells, thickening skins
Armoring once again a New Self.
The shadows recede
Hiding no longer the threats once held.
The night sky bright light encouraging,
We stand taller in New Minds.
©2013 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
Use the Good China – Richard’s Commentary
True confession time: I am an inveterate procrastinator. I have been all my life. Maybe it’s my Leonine nature; with a birthday in August I definitely have some cat-like tendencies toward an independence from all those things waiting to be done.
And here’s another confession: when we unpacked the “good China” during our most recent move-in we tucked it away in a cupboard over the refrigerator – a rather difficult to get to area – because we don’t use the good China!
So, what’s this post of Rosemary’s about; and what do I take away that it might be good to consider?
The key paragraph that speaks to me is this one:
When you are connected to your inner wisdom and your spirit guides, you can check in to see what your next step is. Sometimes the message might be to capture the idea and then schedule it, even if it is not to be acted upon today. But often we challenge or question the energy of the guidance and step back to analyze until we have moved away from pursuing the action.
Yes, there are certainly times when I do “step back to analyze” and then the opportunity slips away and the guidance for the “next step” is ignored. This is the downside of procrastination. But here’s the thing: I do receive and hear a lot of guidance. And yes, often what I do with that guidance is put a task on my to-do list. In a sense this is putting it off; however, I do use my task list to get things done.
Lists really work for me. I learned yeas ago that if I can get a task listed and scheduled it will get done. It may not even get done on the day I first schedule it (the procrastination habit is tenacious!); but it does get done. This is my solution to my “Leonine procrastination” trait.
So, then I look at Rosemary’s comment on “Universal Flow” – When you follow the energy of the idea you receive then you are staying in the flow of the creative energy that comes to you from your connection to Universal Flow. She actually implies that when we are in this flow perhaps we are not procrastinating at all! She also implies that it’s OK to put off, even ignore the “shoulds” our egos present to us!
I often do have the sense that I am in a kind of flow, a rhythm in my life. And when the list of tasks obtained from guidance is used to channel the flow of my days I feel good, accomplished and content. And I have long since given up the idea that my task list for any given day will be exhausted. I have accepted that it’s OK to slide a task to another day; and sometimes tasks even drop off the list when they are overtaken by other tasks or they lose their importance within the flow. Perhaps those dropped tasks were in the “shoulds” category!
When I am in flow, in the rhythm of life I tend to feel productive; tasks get checked off, others get moved, some even dropped. An “old tape” may start up in my head accusing me of procrastination. But, if I really examine my life and accomplishments, maybe I’m not such a bad procrastinator after all!
What drives your life? Do you let your ego over-schedule you with shoulds then beat yourself up with labels like “procrastination”? Go inside for guidance. Listen for direction and list the tasks you can undertake to move in that direction. This moves you into flow and purpose!
Meanwhile, maybe I’ll get that good China out this weekend—for just the two of us!
EXPLORATION BY ROSEMARY: Use the Good China!
Don’t put off until tomorrow what the Universe wants done today!
Pay attention to the signals you receive that something is calling to you to be examined today. You might feel it as a flash of insight, a thought about a person you might contact, a picture of something, or a nagging feeling about something on your to-do list.
When you are connected to your inner wisdom and your spirit guides, you can check in to see what your next step is. Sometimes the message might be to capture the idea and then schedule it, even if it is not to be acted upon today. But often we challenge or question the energy of the guidance and step back to analyze until we have moved away from pursuing the action.
What ideas have you had for something to do that you have analyzed yourself away from doing?
There is a difference between paying attention to the signals from the Universe and procrastination. When you follow the energy of the idea you receive then you are staying in the flow of the creative energy that comes to you from your connection to Universal Flow. Learn to discern this energy from ‘shoulds’ that your ego presents to you from old tapes that are playing in your unconscious mind!
Procrastination is fighting against the feeling that the Universe wants you to pay attention to something and you are choosing to ignore that signal. Did you know that procrastination could take a lot more energy than following the flow?
I’ve learned that lesson! Sometimes it’s important to delay a project until the time is right, but it is very easy to put off tackling something because we feel afraid to face ourselves in that situation. Many of my clients are working from a space where there is an unexamined belief that holds them back from displaying their magnificence. It might be an ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘who am I to think I can do this?’ or ‘what if I fail?’ belief that is stopping the flow, holding up the action.
YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!!! Let me state that unequivocally. The Universe is very wise and doesn’t give you a task that you are not ready to accomplish. The creativity that brings you flashes of insight is a force that is presenting solutions, even if you are not sure of the problems yet.
All you are being asked to do is to pay attention. In every moment you are being shown signs that reveal the Universe to you. When you are paying attention to the signs, your next step is to take action on those that require it of you.
If you are unsure about the action to take, if the road doesn’t seem clear to you yet, then ask for help and guidance from someone who can see the road ahead for you. This is why it is so important to learn to get in touch with guidance, whether through a counselor or your own inner guidance. Invite the angels to reveal to you what you are to do. Talk to your guides.
And if you feel the urge to use the good china for hot dogs and beans, then do so! Take the action that you feel led to take!
PS: Are you waiting to hear Guidance from The Other Side? Are you looking for advice from beyond the usual? Join Rosemary for Satsang, this Saturday, October 19 at 7:00 PM Eastern. If you are in Maryland, join us in person. Or, join us by televideo conference or simply by phone. Learn more and Register Here.
INSPIRATION FROM ROSEMARY: Are You Holding Yourself Back?
Rosemary’s “Two-Minute” video for the week: Are You Holding Yourself Back?
PS: Are you waiting to hear from The Other Side? Are you looking for advice from beyond the usual? Join Rosemary for Satsang, this Saturday, October 19 at 7:00 PM Eastern. If you are in Maryland, join us in person. Or, join us by televideo conference or simply by phone. Learn more and Register Here.
MONDAY’S POEM: The Divine Feminine Speak
Last week I wrote of balance. I think it must be the Sun in Libra that has influenced my rumination since the New Moon in Libra last Tuesday. Here’s more on this subject:
The Divine Feminine Speak
Libra, the pivot point
Leads the way toward balance.
Liberation of purpose,
Leaning away from power,
The way forward is toward both.
The Divine Feminine restore purpose
Lifting to light, facing the Sun,
They do not see the shadow.
Evolution is a directed tale;
Progress is an upward spiral.
The Divine Masculine control power.
Offering the Moon, reflecting the Sun
They cast no harsh shadow.
Evolution requires strong force
To lift consciousness higher.
Balance is the key to all:
Not a static status quo,
And not a raucous mountain ride;
A gentle spiral toward the light,
A resting spirit through the night.
©2013 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
Men and The Goddess 