Does anyone out there remember the bitter taste that accompanies being taken out of inner peace? While sitting in the hot seat recently, I reflected on my own tendency to get distracted from the distractions, while yielding at taking a closer look at the cumulative effect of what has taken root. Haven’t I already been there, done that? Didn’t I already deal with this old wound and can’t I just get on with it? Did I mention getting really pissed off about it? But it is the journey, not the destination. Meditation reminds us that within the process of taking a closer look, we wake up to the deeper layers of our souls–while carrying an accompanying gift bag to make friends with that. If you are anything like my dying old self, perhaps you have allowed your ego to play spirited tricks on yourself to keep you asleep. One popular technique is cleverly bypassing the deep hurt of traumas, such as abuse and abandonment issues. Have you observed the voice in the head that asserts a convincing argument that you have successfully bypassed a putrid stench that you would rather avoid smelling? However, from a position of empathy, how can I expect to truly blossom into a new flower and sow the seeds of Love, if I do not allow myself the shitty job of composting? When working Dog medicine in the positive, Dog is a good reminder to heed their message to delve deeply into our soul’s sense of service to others. The spirit of dog helps us remember our human shortcomings, both in self and in relation with others.
Descendants of coyotes and wolves, I can’t help but appreciate Dog’s presence during the past 10,000 years of our human story. When I was a child, sometimes I felt myself transform into a greyhound as soon as my feet hit the playground during recess. I would impatiently stare at the clock and fantasize about the bell signaling to us that it was time to get outside and play. In fact, it was a magical experience that I shared with constitutionally similar alpha male types that featured behaviors labeled today as AD/HD in clinical speak. While at a holiday brunch with friends recently, this memory inundated me when a woman commented that she thought a greyhound would be a good fit in our home, should we ever add a dog to the litter. And then I shared a heartfelt connection with a similar canine breed while tracking in the woods. I don’t know how our cat with queen bee and feral tendencies would feel about it, but I don’t think the guinea pigs would feel threatened. And our child is getting older and could help out with the care-taking responsibilities, so I want to be open to the possibility. In the meanwhile, you don’t have to be a dog lover to feel inspired to be more good-natured, affectionate, friendly, travel in packs and see the good in folks without being judgemental. Dog is a good remedy to become more devoted in our relationships and nurturing and protective as parents. Dog also helps us remember to be more discriminate with our personal boundaries and remember to not give our power away to others when looking for direction. There’s nothing wrong with seeking consultation or guidance through friends, therapists, coaches, etc. But when it comes to our own souls, we need to explore the depths of information available there. Ingesting Dog’s energy teaches us how to be more affectionate and faithful companions. As adults, we teach our children how to become healthy humans by having fun, playing and enjoying life. Remember that modeling is the most powerful form of teaching. The old world of “do as I say, not as I do” or “children should be seen but not heard” is dying, as is too permissive, negligent and rigid parenting styles. Discipline comes from the Latin word disciplina, which means to teach. Lecturing my own child and students about being a spiritual being having a human experiences is not as powerful or meaningful as working together to prepare a family style meal and hugging good-bye after breaking bread with folks from the office. It doesn’t matter if you are a union member or not, we all need to tend to our core. How do you like them apples?
When we take an authentic look within ourselves and the world around us, we feel the deep anger and hurt from real gut-wrenching atrocities and inequities that abound our Planet today. The other night, I had a clear dream of a dirty nuclear explosion, juxtaposed with an elaborate, composting mechanism that produced green energy, leaving a crystal-clear Carbon Footprint. Even gated communities and executive neighborhoods in leafy suburban communities have a darkness on the edge of town. Whether we target greedy wealthy individuals that throw temper tantrums about so-called fiscal cliffs, blame secularism, gay folks for raising kids or Jeremy speaking in class today–we need to dive deeper to find the pearl within. There will be no peace in our world until we find it within ourselves. Riding with Dog as your co-pilot will help you effectively navigate through your journey. On December 21, we said good-bye to our last Winter Solstice on an old Mayan Calendar. On December 28, we welcome our last Full Moon of 2012. Did anyone else feel a shift in our collective consciousness? In a community of men, we stood around a fire and expressed our deep feelings of gratitude, letting go and hopes for a better world, while coaxing back the light. Further, we reflected that all it takes is a perceptual shift to dissolve our violent and aggressive tendencies to let go and let God when Life’s happenings feel out of control. At the end of the day, Great Spirit created us in a Blueprint of Love. Now if the predator in me remembers that at the scent of a de-cleater during our next Sunday morning football game, we’ll all breathe cleaner air, while here on the ground.
Stay True,
Ari