Is anyone else out there mesmerized by Ducks?  I remember when Ted Andrews said, in his book Animal Speak, that “many psychologists and therapists could do no better than to have a duck as a totem to assist them in helping others move through their emotional tangles.”  Given my experience as a clinical social worker, passion for the healing arts and my own journey in healing, I couldn’t agree more.  In fact, I have called on Duck many times for protection in navigating the depth of my own emotional waters.  As such, Duck assists me in helping myself and others stay afloat in Our own apparent ocean’s abyss.  Moreover, I view Duck energy as somewhat akin to the Law of Attraction, in that they offer Us glimpses of the signs and syncronicities that bring together like-minded folks, a la “birds of a feather flock together”.

Given the Spirit of the season, I’ve been enjoying spending time with my webbed foot comrades in the elements.  I’ve swum alongside them, watched them walking along land and soaring through the air.  In paying attention to Duck’s capacity to move freely and effectively between these realms, I remember the ongoing process and importance of striking a balance and adapting to life’s changes in my daily walk.  Although this way of living can be “continuous and sometimes tenuous”, taking flight in this light is the “only path I know worth pursuing”.  If We allow for it, Duck can help us sort through the muckidy muck and more gently propel Us through the challenging emotions that accompany the surface.  In this way, Duck may guide Us as We venture into the depths of Our Inner Peace, Inner Voice and Deepest Feelings.

Speaking of balance, I would like to share a powerful Chakra balancing meditation that I learned from Wisdom of the Shamans at the Four Winds Society in the Andes.  In the Spirit of “we are the one’s we’ve been waiting for”, I have noticed the positive cumulative effect of doing this mediation as part of my daily “puree” and inner/outer reflection.  It’s a great way to start and/or end the day and you can do it pretty much anywhere . . . out in Nature is amazing and before bed makes for a relaxing way to retire.  Chakras are spinning discs that are part of our energetic bodies.  Ideally, this is where we want to address our health, starting at the energetic level.  First, relax, focus on your breath and put your hands in the prayer position and open them up like a peacock to open up Sacred Space.  Next, visualize your luminous energy field (a white mist around your spirit body in front of you).  Next, visualize your spherical Root Chakra that is Red in color and is located around the base of your spine.  Take your right hand, placing it in that area, in front of your body and slowly spin your hand around in a counter-clockwise direction 10 times to unwind your Chakra.  Release any unwanted energy to Mother Earth to be cleansed and composted.  Then spin your Chakra 10 times in a clockwise direction to re-balance it.  During this process, just watch and notice whatever comes up for you and gently let it pass without judging and/or labeling it.  Continue along in this way with the rest of your Chakras . . . your Sacral Orange is about 2 1/2 inches below your belly button, Personal Will/Self Esteem(Yellow) is at the base of your breastbone, Heart Chakra (Green) is in the middle of your chest area, Throat Chakra (light blue), Third Eye (Indigo) in the middle of your forehead just above your eyebrows and finally Crown Chakra (Violet) at the top of your head.

After You have had some time to get comfortable with the above Chakra meditation, please consider trying the next two more advanced forms.  First, visualize a Golden spinning disk like halo (like you’ve seen in renaissance art, perhaps) a couple of feet above your Crown Chakra.  This is the eighth Chakra.  Finally, the Ninth Chakra, the realm of Spirit is everywhere, but I like to think of it as “the Spirit in the Sky” where We become One with Everything.  I perceive my Eighth Chakra taking off like a disc shaped spacecraft and flying to and merging with the Ninth Chakra, Great Spirit.  Has anyone out there seen the movie Powder?  I like to picture the final scene in the film when Powder’s energy breaks out everywhere to conclude this meditation.

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

Although I enjoy carving out my solitude in the woods, the reality is  We are never really alone and having someone else to play with is always a great way to enjoy Nature.  In the Spirit of that, a surrogate brother friend and I went on a day hike recently in the White Mountains.  I just love getting out in the woods and going on a hiking adventure every now and again.  It’s such an amazing experience being with Nature and in the Elements.  Speaking of elements, being close to the Earth is a great way to stay grounded and Water is a wonderful way to dream and expand one’s consciousness.  We saw some toads, enjoyed clusters of butterflies keeping it joyful and light and witnessed a powerful life’s metaphor unravel before our eyes involving a leaf float about in the stream along the trail.  Of course, getting to the top of any Mountain is always a peak experience, though I remember the wisdom “it’s the journey, not the destination.” 

I remember that leaf floating about and circling a natural pool area in the stream.  It was as if the leaf was speaking to us about life coming full circle–with ebbs and flows and ultimately letting go and flowing with the current gently down the stream.  Although my surrogate brother friend and I both have a bit of the Howard Cosell energy given our propensity for commentary, we enjoyed telepathic moments with our little green friend’s teachings during the non-speak time as well.  Moreover, a cave across the stream caught our attention, somewhat akin to venturing down into the Underworld vis a vis a Shamanic journey process, if you will.  As clear as a Dark Crystal, We were co-existing in a non-local, alternate Dreamtime reality during our leaf in water encounter.  If One is patient and remembers trust, a callback responds to a cry out into the Great Void.

I remember what correlated nicely with the above story was that I had just come out of a  brief  “rainbow meditation”, only moments before the leaf encounter.  I do this meditation daily, usually after I balance my Chakras, but I’ll save that for another entry.  I find the rainbow meditation boosts my Auric energy field and otherwise brightens up my Air by adding color to it.  I make a circle with my middle finger and thumb with both hands and then link the circles together so that the circles form a figure 8, the sign of Infinity.  Then I start with the color red, breathe it in and visualize myself basking in a red ray of a rainbow.  Following that, I proceed along in the same fashion, with orange, yellow, blue, indigo, violet and gold.  At the end, I imagine myself basking in a rainbow blanket and typically get all warm on the inside.  This is a convenient mediation that can be done virtually anywhere, whether standing or sitting still, eyes open or shut without anyone else necessarily being wise to it.

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

While in Italy recently, I swam in the deepest gratitude for the privilege and pleasure of visiting family there.  I remember noticing many cracks–cracking myself up no less in old castles, cathedrals, ancient remnants of the Eternal City and of course ensconced in the crevasses of Our psyches.  In the spirit of Living Wabi Sabi, I am reminded that “there is a crack in everything.  That’s how the light gets in.”  Whether drinking in a fiery Tuscan sunlit moon Umbria the stars, with hoots from an owl echoing in the shadows–the entire experience, in much the way life is when you get down to it, was particularly surreal, like Dali’s melted clocks.  In fact, I noticed an owl feather, while hiking in the mountains, and wondered if it was the same Owl We heard from Nights before.  I just love owls–their mysterious darkness and relationship with omens and psychical gifts.  Like cats with wings, they are such beautiful creatures, reminding Us to tap into our own magical and psychic abilities and perceive through the veils that hide Our own Inner Tapestry.  Silent night riders somewhat akin to Perseus flying across the skies in his winged horse, We may borrow traits from Owl including clairvoyance, wisdom and precision, if only We are open to allowing for it.  I like to think of it like a marinating process, gently allowing the herbs to seep in.

Merely a Grasshopper’s jump from Owl to Butterfly, I’m not sure what was more of a buzz on my Italian adventure–sipping the local regions vino or watching the spectrum of butterflies and bees flitting about the rainbow of flowers that circled the “rustic” villas we stayed inn.  As I look back, I am inebriated by the images of Butterfly and the Yang energy of the summer season.  I know when I watch a Beetle and Butterfly pass me by, I remember to resurrect an open attitude for change to occur, letting go and welcoming the power in being in a joyful state with open arms.  The Sun is alive and feeding Us–a bit like the tendency for Italians to speak in commands while using their hands.  I really appreciated the general attitude of “forget about it”, “don’t mention it”, and “what can you do, it is what it is” that I heard in the air.  Sure, gas is more expensive, the cars are way smaller and far more energy-efficient (as is everything else), there’s a lot more McDonald’s there than the none that I saw when I was a teenager.  And they spend with the almighty Euro instead of the old Lira that made a lot less cents to me anyway–dead serious.  Oh yeah, there’s earthquakes and terrorists, but folks generally don’t seem as moved by those “faults”.

Shifting Tides, has anyone ever seen the classic film, To Kill a Mockingbird?  Remember the unforgettable last scene in the Courtroom, where Gregory Peck’s character carries the energy of a  Wise Old Indian Chief and a women shouts, “I got something to say!”  As I look back, I remember that giving and receiving feedback, especially while being in the hot seat is an uncomfortable process.  However, experience teaches that a seed only grows if We trust and water it with Love.  It’s finding the God within that recognizes the God without and in that moment, Namaste occurs.  I witness this process as  empathy in its purest sense–We are all mirrors for each other, aren’t We?  My stay with family in Italy reminded me that my own imperfections and the imperfections of others are less important and more meaningful when I embrace them with an open heart and a relaxed mind.  While a Lizard might cling to an old idea of myself, perhaps a Butterfly reveals a new, maybe unexplored aspect of myself?  I may sound nuts, but Wood You Bee Leave the Nervous Woodland Creatures agree that goin’ Straight Outta Woodland on Our Selves is just asking for an acorn to drop on top of yo head, ma’ Chuckca.

Right Tao, I remember noticing an army of dragonflies doing flashy aerial feats and putting on colorful laser light shows.  Back Zen, I heard a Wise Old Tree whispering Lao Tzu’s tweetings that “Nature is the best physician.”  In the spirit of His Infinite Wisdom, Dragonfly  reminds me of mythical past connections and lore between Dragonflies and Dragons. Wood You Bee Leave that Ursula Le Guinn’s EarthSea saga might have been somewhat akin to fantastic glimpses into a magical alternate reality, where real dragons fly high in the sky and breathe fire and wisdom into the elements?  And sometimes I enjoy striking a Dragon Qigong pose that gets me all fired up inside, when the situation calls for it.  But We need to be mindful of such activities, if We don’t want to spontaneously combust, in getting all fired up like that . . .

In navigating multiple realities . . . “Dragonfly . . . Breaks illusions, Brings visions of power, No need to prove it, Now is the hour! Know it, Believe it, Great Spirit intercedes, feeding you, blessing you, filling your needs.” By staying light on our feet, Dragonfly medicine reminds Us to stay cool by learning to effectively swimming in the deep waters of emotional life, play outside and spend time by fresh water. Change, transformation, mythical connections to Nature Spirits, weaving through illusions and creative imagination are all aspects of Dragonfly’s teachings. Shedding light into this realm allows us to perceive through shadow realms . . . Is that a bird, a UFO, a UFF (unidentified flying fairy) and/or a Dragonfly I see flying before me? Has anyone out there ever seen the film “A Fairy Tale: A True Story”? I think it’s a great movie for the whole family to enjoy, big and little folks alike.  I once heard a dragonfly flitting about in the garage, as I discovered he was ensconsed in a spider web.  Subsequently, I released him to fly away freely in the backyard.  A few moments later, maybe days, I swear that same dragonfly hovered near my ear and thanked me for letting him go . . .

Finally, if only We allow Our Selves to open up to a larger worldview, these perceptual shifts offer Us glimpses into viewing Our Universe as energetic and sacred, where the unfolding mystery of Life is an ongoing welcoming surprise birthday party every moment–“every day and in every way, We are getting better and better”. Dare We focus on the silver lining and make only positive interpretations of Our experiences?  But it’s easy to do otherwise, as Deep Pockets have a well-oiled system for keeping their mechanistic mind-illusion wheel slickly greased, in their tired (pun intended) battle to control the public mind.  However, we have our Cosmic Wheel that keeps turning, in spite of the Military-Industrial Complex’s reptillian attemtps to control it’s Cog.  Remember the scene in the Star Wars saga, when Princess Lea says to the General, “don’t you understand that the more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will fall through the cracks?”

I Hopi You are well,

Ari

While sitting alone in the woods this past week, I noticed the familiar drumming of a woodpecker. As I sat and listened, I watched Woody flitting about in a nearby tree, enhanced by my late grandma’s trusted field glasses, doing a sweet fly-by–seemingly just for me to see. After more drumming, it was as if I could see a forthcoming weather report, like a forecast of what’s coming down the pike. Woodpecker’s drumming conjures up Our connection to Our Mother’s pulse.  Moreover, Woodpecker nurtures shapeshifting and assisting with loosening up the Soul for exploring different realms and dimensions, a la shamanic journey, if you will. Further, Woodpecker offers Us traits of “resourcefulness, rhythmic motion and discrimination” and teaches Us to “march to the beat of your own drum” by listening to the Inner Voice (deepest feelings).

More importantly, in the process of listening to the depth of the Inner Voice and submerged feelings within the internal ocean’s abyss, We learn discernment from the incessant chatter of the “voice in the head” and background noise in the “world of 10, 000 things”. Following the energy of the Doubting Thomas and worshiping the God of Opinion, a nice lady once assertively asked, “but if I listened to my Inner Voice, I’d be all over the place and a hot mess”. In the spirit of that energy, I couldn’t have agreed with her more, though I think I drilled home the point about discerning between the Inner Voice and the “voice in the head” without too much pecking.  Easier said than done.  But as a great Jedi Master once said, “when you learn to quiet your mind, you will know.”

Finally, as We welcome Woodpecker’s help in delineating between the voice of the ego and the Sage within, We learn trust the wisdom to know the difference between the chatter and the Guide within. This capacity increases based on our “cumulative effect” of being clear channels, acquiring and accesses strategies for staying tuned in as an authentic Selves in Relationship with others.  I can hear Father Sanchez saying in the film, “The Celestine Prophecy”, “trust your intuition, stay alert . . . something will happen.” And remember to breathe and think in moments, as it’s a fresh way to create a new day in a heartfelt way. When We stay grounded, We are then ready to take flight as We open up Our True Selves to the freedom of Woodpecker’s mantra to create and follow Our own Natural rhythms, you dig? 

I am sad to say that I inadvertently ran over a turtle crossing the street the other day. I know folks, there is an old saying that “if you meet the Buddha on the street, kill him”. However, I like to interpret the meaning behind this Infinite wisdom as killing in the sense of randomly frequent acts of kindness. Tempted as I was on going Straight Outta Woodland on myself, with my Nervous Woodland Creature (NWC) energy, I remembered to tweet to my Peeps in the Trees, begging  forgiveness from above. On the ground, I took a deep breath and allowed myself to cut back to Inner Peace by offering a silent blessing and thanking my reptilian friend for coming out of Her hard shell, gravely dangerous and crunchy reminder as it was.

More importantly, after marinating on my encounter with Turtle I remembered the potential that Turtle medicine might offer Us, as We are becoming New Humans her on Mothership Earth. Rather than getting stuck in the mud by going Rocky on Ourselves, dare We  remember to focus what Turtle represents by borrowing Her traits of Wisdom, Longevity, Patience and Perseverance . . . “Turtle . . . Great Mother, Feed my spirit, Clothe my heart, That I may serve you too” . Ah, in death there is rebirth, just as breathing in and breathing out my attachments to seductive negative energy loops between my reptilian brain and amygdala hijacks.  In staying calm and heading my Inner Voice, I am welcoming the awakening to opportunities in becoming a New Human. In this Chinese year of the Rabbit, I think it is especially wise to balance out this auspicious sign with the Turtle.  Nothing wrong with leapin’ and hoppin’ o’er MoonShadows, so long as we stay grounded and remember a slow and steady pace as well.  “The slow one now will later be last . . .”.

Finally, as I look Back To The Future and stay tuned into the here and the Tao, I remember the spirit of the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. Moreover, I Sea that striking a balance of their collective energies is what matters most, in much the same way as the Yin and the Yang always swim in relationship flow with one another. It isn’t that Feminine is superior and/or Masculine is inferior. Rather, finding a synergistic balance between the energies is where spirit resides and ego dies. And there is no cookbook for this—If we are to survive and thrive as a species, then we need to turn inward, find a healthy balance in living and develop an Inner Knowing for when to move fast, when to slow down, when to watch and when to act.   

In These Changin’ Tides, I Hopi You Come About–Or Whatever Floats Your Boat,

Ari

Recently, I have reflected on my conversations with folks regarding the provocative question in this week’s “journal entry” . . .

I remember when a name was sacred–when everything was sacred . . . and in the New Earth, everything is still sacred, isn’t it? Doesn’t a name have the potential to carry an energy and a spiritual meaning behind its name? However, in our culture, names have largely become identified with labels–fueling intellectual concepts that categorize, compartmentalized and/or diagnose.  Moreover, a collective nightmare has dreamed up a myriad of conveniently packaged labels that are “bought, sold and processed”, as coveted products that must be consumed to the max. What’s more, we have been well-trained to fleetingly look at things that catch our eye with a cursory glance, followed by an immediate position of judgement as a way to qualify and/or dismiss whatever it is we deem relevant to maintain our status quo worldview.

Fashionably enough, I appreciate the subliminally and commercially driven ego, in it’s seductive perception of itself as in control and identified with labels to prove its existence and perpetuate it’s survival. This is how I’m able to make sense out of the seemingly mind-boggling reality that mainstream America and particularly the educated business class share as the most indoctrinated “sheeple” in our consumer driven culture. Isn’t it obvious that the dark side of social science has been used to manipulate and control the masses is Big Business in the battle and desire to control the public mind? I have heard that Hitler once licked his chops, as he wished to come back to the USA, given our far greater harness on propaganda than Nazi Germany did back in the day . . . A can hear a Boss in Youngstown and other places singing, “Well my daddy come home to Ohio works, When he come home from World War II.  He said ‘Them big boys did what Hitler couldn’t do.’ These mills they built the tanks and bombs that won this country’s wars.  We sent our sons to Korea and Vietnam (etc.) Now we’re wondering what they were dying for.”

And that was Zen my friend and this is right Tao. Did anyone else other than Larry King bat an eye when he interviewed the CEO of FOX News, as he proudly asserted that most of their audience currently really believes they are recipients of “Fair and Balanced” news? Isn’t this similar to Charlie Manson’s techniques that systematically convinced folks he was Jesus and justified killing innocent people in His name for him.  What about the Corporate Media systematically “dumbing down” the masses into believing that what we see on T.V. is reality? I hardly think a Totalitarian State could achieve what the egobots in charge of the well-oiled corporate propaganda machine churns out on Any Given Sunday.  Is this a form of modern-day slavery?

Additionally, I remember being at an animal park a while back, while a Pow Pow was going on. I overheard a man proudly asserting that a particular animal he was noticing was his “totem”. I detected an attachment to the idea that his totem was the animal his was pointing out to his friend, as I observed a tattoo of the same animal on this man’s body. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with labels, totems, tattoos, spirit guides, psychics, etc. And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with judgements, labels and/or attachments. As human beings, we’re always going to have some attachments, egotistical desires, etc. However, as spiritual beings having human experiences, practicing letting go by gently warding off egotism is part of the healing process of exfoliating our old skins and becoming New Humans. As we co-create this New Earth, We gently allow our old selves to rest in peace, in the same Light as we say fairly well to a dying old world. Isn’t Our journey is a process, more than a destination? Doesn’t it make practical sense to say yes to what is, rather than resist it? I know the voice of the ego loves attachments, labels and judgments and is quite content in maintaining a “Hidden Hand” in its grip on “Manifest Destiny”.  Of course, if I want to continue to get what I say that I don’t want, then I’ll remember to resist What Is to receive more of what I say that I don’t want–forgetting about it in the process and then wonder, “how did this happen again . . . why me?’, etc.

More importantly, I am reminded that ego is really only in charge when we are identified with an idea, an object, a relationship, etc. We might all play different roles and wear different hats, but it’s when we become the role and the hat that we lose root of our True Selves. Yes, We are all One and yet, We are all diverse expressions of One Source, like snowflakes are all unique, but come from the same water source. Have you ever heard the expression, “let go and let GOD”, while the voice of the ego would prefer to edge God out (EGO)?

Finally,  whether an unidentified object is flying around in front of my field of vision or is deeply submerged within me–my experience with the object depends my relationship with the object. Am I moved by the object or do I allow myself to watch the object and gently let it pass without creating chattering egoic stories about what I see? I see this watchful place as somewhat akin to the phone ringing (i-Phone texts, i-Bot holograms, etc.)—just because I hear the phone ringing, doesn’t mean I have to pick it up in that moment. In this Inner Space, I notice the pull to pick up the phone gradually loosens its grip. Why not take three conscious breaths and re-evaluate my position, regardless of how planted it might be? Lettuce hope We don’t lose our Roots and get washed out in the process! When We say Yes to Inner Peace, We say “peace out” to the voice of the ego and “what up, G” to the voice of spirit.  “Do you hear what I hear . . . do you see what I see?”

Peace,

Ari

Lately, I’ve been meditating on Bee and Robin energy, enjoying lots of direct experiences with my Nature friends. Has anyone out there every observed a Bee and/or Robin just being themselves? I get a buzz and naturally a high flyin’ just thinking about it–without getting stung with a hangover from eating a bloated worms! It’s good medicine to let seep in like herbs on one’s journey in healing. Bees remind us to check our activity level, bee productive and also stop and smell the roses (ah, even if it means sneezing a bit folks). What good is hard work if we don’t enjoy the fruits of our labor? Moreover, Robin also hints at birthing something new in one’s journey, symbolizes creativity and helps us tap into being daring, developing sound communication skills and an ear for musical appreciation. Ever ponder why Joker accused Batman of being too serious and Robin was nicknamed “Boy Wonder”?

Did anyone see the Full Moon recently? Although the Moon was cloaked behind the clouds in my neck of the woods, it was still there lurking behind the shadows, illuminated by the Sun, in much the same way as the Sun has been hiding behind the rain and clouds these days. I look at this form of chiaroscuro as a powerful metaphorical juxtaposition of light and dark and lens to look through the prism of life. In every breath we take, there is both a death and re-birth, in much the same way as our internal and external dying old worlds collide with a budding New Earth. The more we resist the old ways, the more toxic, maladaptive and deeply engrained behavioral patterns repeat themselves. However, the more we focus on saying yes to what is, let go of what was and embrace come what May, then the more in alignment we stick in the shifting gears of Nature. I understand how seductive it is to operate on an unconscious automatic pilot, recognizing the “better the devil you know” gods that many folks still worship. But why not surf with the waves and ride the tides of change, rather than fight the forthcoming changing weather patterns? Besides, I’d rather not feed the internal nukes, angry wolf and/or rabid nervous woodland creature (NWC), if you will. Rather, I’d like to cut back to Inner Peace on a dime, in much the same way as Barry Sanders cut back to the open field during his professional football career. In this process, we all help co-create the critical mass that will come about as we hoist our sails and stay buoyant in the waters of life. Just imagine. . . “I hope someday, you’ll join us . . . and the world will be as One.”

In the spirit of dark clouds and allowing the light to illuminate the shadows, I recently had the honor and privilege of participating in the NAMI walk to raise awareness about mental illness. Although it’s been almost 20 years since my mom died of suicide, I felt her living spirit with me on that walk. Moreover, I felt God’s hand gently guiding me along that walk, connecting with just the right people, hearing and saying just the right words at just the right time. I even witnessed my garage band friend running to catch up to me. Seeing my long-haired band mate was particularly a treat, given both his natural Turtle energy and my being surprised that he was there in the first place! Given his natural talent for drumming and percussion, he’s a good reminder for me to slow down and pay attention to my own internal beats, given one of my totems is the Hare and my propensity to be trigger happy. In my gift of gab and bald head, we make a nice yin and yang, as his presence in my life has been a good reminder to trust telepathic and other non-verbal mediums of communication, rather than relying exclusively on language and intellect. How many folks do you know that speak eloquently and are well versed in social graces, but you get a gut feeling they’re full of it? How many folks have you met that say little or nothing, but they carry a presence that makes you want to yield to their energy in a respectful way–and when they do say something, even a word or a sentence speaks volumes?  Who knows, observing Seagulls in their natural environment might speak volumes about non-verbal forms of communication, as a way to connect with others without talking.

More importantly, one of the folks I met on that walk was a women whom was walking in memory of her friend’s teenaged son whom sadly suicided last year, leaving behind only a note that he was “curious about the other side” and of course a “trail of tears”. Although I can relate to his desire, I wish he had allowed himself the patience to explore the shamanic death without dying experiences. But that can be a difficult place for sensitive folks in this “world of 10,000 things”. However, one simple strategy to experience death without dying is meditating on Groundhog medicine to understand a deeply restful experience and perceive that re-birth that can spring from the wintery slumber. I know my mom felt shame about her dark side. Hence, she tried to hide it, rather than embrace, integrate and weave her darkness into a balanced fabric of her Inner Tapestry. Striking a balance, learning moderation and letting go of attachments is an ongoing process in becoming a New Human. Regarding the curiosity of the inevitable physical death, the ultimate reality is that we will all experience it at some point. While we’re still breathing, why not work toward the goal of consciously living (and enjoying) life and have a joyful exit strategy that is natural and respectful to self and others. As a survivor of a completed suicide, I know deep inside that pain is inevitable, suffering is a choice and taking one’s life not only creates more pain, it foments more suffering, not less. Everyone who knew my mom has struggled with the turmoil she left behind, which was sobering to her for a spell. While working through her provocative avoidance tactic on “the other side”, she was asked to complete her “homework assignment” in helping other Souls work through their confusion. Besides, there are plenty of dead men (and women) walking out there . . . “you got to be a spirit Bullworth . . . don’t be no ghost.”

Additionally, on a more upbeat note, staying alive, walking in meditation and the realm of spirit is merely a fresh step and breath away, if only we allow ourselves to slow down, keep our tongue on the tip of our mouth, remember to breathe, let our breath sink in our gut and just watch our thoughts and emotions like a movie and/or listening to an i-Pod, CD, etc. Perhaps when the i-Bots come down the pike, they’ll be able to thermo-image this for us, but I’d rather learn to perceive my own auric-energy field. Besides, the inside-out perspective buys me time and saves me money. In this way, we become more tuned in to a “Theta” brain state, as measured and labeled by Western Science. This is the same sublime experience the Sages and Avatars on our planet and Jedi’s from the Stars Wars saga intimately understood. And you can “be the change you want to see in the world” by accessing your own Sage within. True, the voices of the God of Opinion, the God of Judgement, Doubting Thomas and the Cynic probably have dismissive attitudes and clever excuses why this is impossible, not worthwhile, irrelevant, not practical, etc. However, if I can do it, anyone can do it and I am living proof it is possible and worthwhile! I came into this “world of 10, 000 things” wound for sound, chock full of high octane impulses, sensory integration issues, a propensity to have my head in the clouds and extreme sensitivity to the myriad distractions around me. I remember when I was on the NAMI walk, I accessed this coping strategy, while walking behind folks moving much slower than my natural pace, as I acutely felt the vibrations of the construction drilling, planes flying overhead and sensing other people’s “Chi”.

Finally, regardless of what’s going on “externally” around me–cutting back to Inner Peace is merely a moment away if I remember to turn inward and watch my “inner space” first and foremost. In this way, a New Earth is built one step, one breath and one moment at a time. If not me, who . . . if not now, when . . . as within, so without . . . as above, so below . . . you dig?

Peace,

Ari

I remember stories about the Christ walking on water (without skating on thin ice) and myths about Taoist Masters levitating above ground.  Back Zen, wasn’t it a Rat that was the first one to come out of the woodwork and listen to the Buddha preach in a Deer park? And though I may be no Vincent or Beethoven, I’ve kept my ear to the ground and heard the classical melodies of many canaries tweeting “We The People” are “One Nation Under God”.  In fact, I have a bumper sticker on my guitar case that asks, “Who Would Jesus Bomb?”  Isn’t “America the Beautiful” supposed to be a peaceful nation, where folks are “innocent until proven guilty”, rather than a place where the criminally insane run the show and “bombs burst in air”?  Does the Old Guard really want us to “give peace a chance”?  Why is there so much resistance to cutting back to Inner Peace?  What will happen when folks are allowed to freely Bee their True Selves in relationship with community?  Would it taste too much like honey and look less like money?  I get a buzz just meandering about the possibilities . . . 

How is it that “We The People” of this so called “One Nation Under God” justify and applaud the killing of anyone, regardless of how off their “Axis” and “Evil” they are portrayed by the Corporate Media?  In the last episode of the Star Wars saga, I am reminded of Senator Padme’s keen observation of the dying Galactic Republic as she noted, “so this is how liberty dies . . . with thunderous applause”.  As Dark as those Times were, I remember the Emperor’s reign was short lived and his own prized apprentice redeemed himself by seeing through his “Master of War’s” manipulative and controlling abuses of Power.  When was the last time the Military Industrial Complex had to have a bake sale to raise money for a Weapon of Mass Destruction that was used to eradicate a mobster with Weapons of Mass Destruction–that we sold to the gang banger in the first place?  I get a Cold Big Chill just thinking about it. 

Additionally, given my own propensity to have my head in the clouds, I can dig on how challenging it is to stay grounded in this “world of 10,000 things”, in much the same way a rabid Nervous Woodland Creature (NWC) does, Straight Outta Woodland.  And while I typically pass for White Privilege and didn’t grow up in Compton, I was born with an attitude and have experienced a garden variety of Socioeconomic travels in my daily walk, from Neurons to Neighborhoods.

Ah, the democratic process might be messy, in much the same way as the Monster of Fear’s seductive energy is used to sell obedience to authority.  I remember the “sheeple” that I went to school with that conformed more out of fear and faked it in a way that I could not. And while many nice folks unconsciously follow along the Operant Conditioning of the Master Illusionists behind the curtain to “shut up and shop”, We Witness the rising tides of the Peace Movement, Civil Disobedience and also the questioning of Corporate Power and it’s well oiled US Propaganda machine.  Make jobs, not war!

Finally, dreaming a new dream might look like another distraction in this “world of 10,000 things”, given all the chatter and bling, bling.  However, if we are to survive as a species, we really can’t afford to ignore spirit anymore and yet we need to simultaneously stay grounded.  We must learn to “walk the razor’s edge” without getting too swayed into the spiritual realm or the material realm.  One way to do this is to get out in Nature, remember to breathe and imagine a Heavenly umbilical chord feeding directly into the top of your head, flowing down your spinal chord and down through your feet into the Earth.  Then imagine the process the other way around and see how you feel after a silent walking meditation doing this exercise.  But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself, if you want.

Take care,

Ari