Our Children

"Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters
of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
and though they are with you,
and yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love, but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday."

-Kahlil Gibran, 1883-1931

I’ve discovered an equinox of presence. The stillness of body and mind are so consuming time stands still. Any sense of self is washed away by the cleansing tides of universal presence. Any sense of worry is drawn back into the ocean of eternal understanding. There I stand on the shore fresh and new. Knowing I am a child of the universe, all is well, and I am safe.

No longer confined by an illusionary line which defined where I end and everything else begins. All existence merges together in total synchronistic harmony.

Love - Understanding

I recently experienced the pain of a pet's passing. We exist in a world of dualities; to enjoy a deep level of love and connection with an animal. We must one day suffer pain when their incarnation is complete. Though the pain still consumes me I try to replace it with greater understanding.

"How can I, who knows the body to be perishable and the soul to be imperishable, mourn over the separation of the body from the soul?" -Mahatma Gandhi

Resistance to change is painful, the past six years have been in close companionship. We shared morning, daily, and nightly routines involving love and interaction. A part of me still yearns to hold her in my arms again. Though I do not want to remember Sugar in pain, she deserves to be remembered in love. I take comfort in knowing the gift of her presence, the love and light she radiated will always be with me.

A section from "The Prophet" By, Kahlil Gibran:

And your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;
And you would accept the season of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.
And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.

For his hand though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the unseen,
And the cup he brings, though it burns your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with his own sacred tears.

Make Today a Great Day!

Many of us start our day by writing down our laundry list of tasks, myself included. Sometimes everything is spinning around in my head so I write a list to avoid forgetting anything. Writing a list is an effective method to clear your head then focus on one thing at a time. In addition, I suggest writing a different type of list.

Each morning write a list about how to make today a great day!

Take just a few minutes and think about ways to instill joy into your day. Write a list of simple things, which may or may not be part of your regular routine. Make a commitment to have a great day from the beginning. You are going to eat lunch anyway, commit to enjoying a delicious meal today. To having positive interactions with other people. Maybe plan ten minutes of silent meditation or to learn something new. Get creative with new ideas every morning.

After writing your list close your eyes and visualize or imagine the day unfolding. Mentally experience the feelings of contentment this day will being. Then open your eyes and go enjoy your great day!

Unity

Each one of us is a unique manifestation of the same essence. Therefore; to judge someone else, you judge yourself. To hurt someone else, you hurt yourself.

Living in harmony with this principle brings harmony to all...

By helping someone else you are helping yourself. By loving another person you are loving yourself. Because you and that person are in fact one.

live and let live
love and let love
peace will bring peace
spread harmony to all

Empathy

Empathy is an understanding that suffering hurts others in the same way it hurts us. To reflect this quality of mind Buddhist teaching uses the image of a feather held near a flame, and the way it instantly coils away from the heat. In the same way the mind understands how suffering feels, and naturally recoils from causing harm to others.

Empathy is a form of love in action. . .

As we traverse through this lifespan all the little, seemingly insignificant parts bind together to form the bulk of our existence. Every move we make creates a current. Each action has a reaction, for every cause there is an effect set in motion. As we look out at the world we have created together it reflects back to us.

If only we could dissolve the illusion of separateness we could access a force stronger than gravity. This force could empower us as we learn to recognize it. As we learn to see it reflected in the eyes of every living being, and feel it in action as it binds us all together.

Random Moments of Joy

Life is naturally happy and joyous. Yet too often clouds of stress or monateny can get in the way. Reconnecting with joy is easy.

Step One: Make a list of ten random and simple sources of joy.

Step Two: Go down the list mentally visiting and experiencing how each list item makes you feel.

Step Three: Actively incorporate at least one thing from the list into your day... Then another tomorrow. This is also an exercise for manifesting!

List Examples:
1. Walking in the woods
2. Giving or receiving a compliment
3. Taking a bubble bath
4. Seeing wildflowers
5. Star gazing

Holistic Cooking

I started another blog titled "Holistic Cooking". It is about cooking, health, and nutrition. Including the healing properties and spiritual connection to the food we eat. I will share healthy recipes, cooking tips, advice on eating sustainably and more.

Food is very important... Our bodies are made entirely from food particles, which are constantly regenerating. The food we eat today will be made into new cells. Every 7 years the body is entirely replaced! It is fascinating really, the skeletal system is rebuilt every three months. The skin regenerates every 28 days, the liver every 6 months. The body must obtain the proper building blocks for healthy regeneration.

The saying is true, "What you eat and drink today walks and talks tomorrow!"