Chapter Eight: Cosmic Dance

Stepping into the Extraordinary

With each new day, we choose to live as authentically as possible, ignoring old beliefs. Stepping into the new, creating a life we were meant to enjoy and accepting beliefs of a new era.

The first step towards happiness is often the most difficult, for we cannot let go of our old beliefs. Let’s go now…witness the shift towards happiness. Once the first step is taken, the taste of freedom shall be ours, and we will not go back to the way we were. The next step towards happiness is easier, the next even easier…and so on.

With a new outlook on life, everything will taste sweeter, smell better, and feel freer than ever before. Listen to the voice within…it says, “Now is the Time.” Take a step towards happiness and one day declare “Ani Po.”

(*Ani Po is Hebrew for “I Am Here”)

Stepping into the Canvas is about taking the first steps into the Canvas of Life. It is said that God is the Creator and nature is the Canvas. While remaining in darkness in a world of technologies, distractions, and light-speed evolution, Truth is laid before us, falsely, by our collective whole.

This chapter is an invitation to step out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. We are not meant to be suppressed and controlled, fearful and miserable, alone and scared, hateful and destructive. No. Instead, we are meant to be free. Free to Love unconditionally, creating the life we were meant to enjoy. Instead of dividing and conquering, we shall come together as One.

It is time to choose:

· Stay in misery or choose a path of happiness.

· Listen to the voice within or listen to the others without.

· Move towards an active side of infinity or stay on the inactive list.

· Accept positivity or remain in negative beliefs.

· Everything is merely a choice, and every choice needs action.

Imagine, for a moment, that Creator has given you a clean Canvas to paint whatever you desire. What would be on this painting? This is your opportunity to paint The Best You Now…grab the brush and start painting already. You know what you want!

If you can think of it, you can create it. If you can create it, you can paint it. If you can paint it, your dreams will come true. If you make a mistake on this Canvas, allow yourself to paint over or scrape away the excess. The only rule of painting is to apply your whole Heart and Soul when approaching the Canvas of Life. Applying this simple rule…dormant forces shall come alive.

Stepping into the Canvas as a Work in Progress, allowing colors to be misused, strokes unorthodox, and an occasional redo to take place. The Canvas of Life teaches us we are not perfect, and in our imperfections, we are. We are presented with a new opportunity to make it right with every mistake. Master the painting, master the self.

Clearing the Canvas

With each new day comes an opportunity for letting go, allowing room for a brighter future. Whatever baggage we carry shall keep us from enjoying the freedom of No Baggage. With more baggage comes more clutter in the Canvas of Life.

Letting go of baggage requires wiping our Canvas clean and beginning anew. With each new day another opportunity, so shall it be. What a great time to plan… the time is now.

The Now presents a perfect time for evaluating the mind or body and equally exercising Spirit. Along with our regular goals, it is a good time to re-evaluate the spiritual path at the start of each new day. Not meaning we become spiritual, judging more of ‘the others’ because they have not taken this same path we have chosen. No…it means we see with eyes of Spirit versus eyes of flesh; from finite to infinite, human to divine all around us. Are you still clinging on to past beliefs of anger, fear or anything related to negativity? If so, the chances are that your goals will be self-sabotaged anyways. Time to clean house!

Taking personal inventory of life:

• Forgive oneself for past behaviors.

• Ask others for forgiveness.

• Stop trying to figure things out.

• Follow gut feelings always.

• Center oneself in the heart of Compassion.

The last of these is crucial as it will aid the other four. When we center ourselves with Heart of Compassion, everything begins aligning with source energy. We vibrate naturally at levels of Love: eliminating all self-defeating beliefs; letting go of pent-up regret; following, effortlessly, our dreams; flowing peacefully as that of a river; finally seeing our Brothers and Sisters as One.

We can exercise our mind and body as much as possible, but an emptiness remains without faith. Our mind allows us to think, our body that clears the way, but it is Spirit that drives us effortlessly along the journey of life. The weaker the Spirit, the more difficult our journey; the stronger the Spirit, the gentler it becomes.

When we focus our energy towards constructing a passionate, meaningful life, we are tossing a pebble into the world, creating a beautiful ripple effect of inspiration. When one person follows a dream, tries something new or takes a daring leap, everyone nearby feels that energy, and before too long, they are making their own daring leaps and inspiring yet another circle. ~Christine Mason Miller

While the pilgrim chooses to paint over the Canvas of Life, masking His past expression of life, the Warrior wipes the Canvas clean, allowing a new perspective on life to present itself in Her painting.

We often worry about cleaning another person’s home, when our own dwelling needs attention. What good is cleaning another, when ours remains neglected? ~Muhamad Yusef

Stepping into the Canvas with a Clean Canvas, clearing thoughts of doubt, anger or fear; Centering on faith, everything returns to the way it was before ‘the beginning’…allowing us to declare, “All is Good.”

Falling into the Canvas

It is not enough to take part in the Canvas of Life, but more important to fall into the canvas with whole heart and soul. What does it mean to fall into the canvas? It means not just stepping into the canvas while actively participating in it, but being an active participant with the continuous intention of actively participating in the canvas AND creating a life most Desired while enjoying every aspect of the canvas.

From darkened clouds painted on canvas to neon fluorescent and radiating colors, we create lives as we choose, not as others choose. Whenever a painter paints, it is through personal interpretation of the Universe, but when others analyze Her work, they attach their interpretation.

If we only see one side of the painting, we miss the Creator’s intent. See the beauty of all varying colors/varying interpretations and lose yourself in the many mysteries that lay before you within the canvas.

Where does one begin? Put down the blackberry. Hang up the cellphone. Stop texting for a moment. Just sit and’ be’ for a moment, allowing True Nature to fill your soul. Can’t do it?! Then take a weekend and spend some needed time in the woods. Maybe it is time for a retreat?!

It is about taking time to enjoy the beauty of nature…returning to Mother Earth, and being One with It All. Many will oppose this idea but eventually need some necessary downtime or, as I like to call it, ‘Me Time.’ We access keys to multi-verses during’ me time, bridging gaps and finding missing pieces to unanswered questions between the Universe and us.

I like to escape to remote locations, preferably somewhere I have not been before, take only the bare necessities…often only water, paper and pen. Whenever a retreat calls my name, there is usually a whole mind and body preparation. Focusing on what enters my body: food, thought, words of another while often fasting for at least two to three days, mind, body and Spirit align…preparing my Spirit for a weekend, week or however long is necessary. As I center myself in practice, the world becomes centered within this practice. Have you ever prepared for a retreat? Or do you show up? No right or wrong answer. Some say that preparing for retreat allows us to center ourselves within the quiet time that we seek. Our mind chatter is silenced, and answers begin to flow.

Stepping into the Canvas, choosing to fall into it with whole heart and soul. Lend a hand, an ear or a friendly smile. Do what you want today, not what others say you ‘should’ do. Stay away from the trap of pleasing others, but please only yourself. Today I will not only step but will fall into the canvas.

Seeing Beyond the Canvas

Seeing beyond the canvas is about seeing life as something far greater than our conditioned lives. We were taught happiness comes from going to school, establishing a career and living the American Dream by purchasing our own home. While achieving all of this, something remains missing. What is this void we all yearn to fill? It is the void of Truth. The void of Truth is an empty feeling when we continually seek more of something, yielding a false sense of goodness.

We get a house, a couple of cars and maybe some nice little toys. We are happy for a moment but continue to battle bouts of depression, anger, fear and sadness. Something is still missing.

Walking in the flesh, Orgasms lasts a mere Second. Walking in Spirit…an Eternity! ~Joseph

The void is our lack of happiness or self-actualization of being’ On Purpose.’ We must learn to accept happiness no matter the circumstance, seeing silver linings in every cloud. Have you ever noticed some successful people and their lives painting a perfect picture? At first glance, they seem to be happy whilst having it all. As we look deeper or time unveils, we hear of a terrible breakup or separation. They were never really happy or had addictions to prescription drugs. A small population has it all but, more importantly, has found happiness and lived on the heart level. At this level…All Things are Possible.

Some have nothing to call their own, but they have everything they ever need. How can we learn from those who smile at times of tragedy or lack in every other sense? These people have nothing but have everything…and more.

Never look up to the people who have the painted-perfect lives, because try as they might, can never see beyond the canvas. ~Moira Hallsom

It is possible to have it all: the big house, loving family, and more money than we know what to do with, but meaningless without finding happiness. People try to buy happiness, but as I stated earlier, “As we walk in the flesh, the Orgasm lasts for a mere second.” Walking in the flesh focuses on meeting the lower of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Physical pleasures, while walking in Spirit focuses on higher self-actualization needs. Finding happiness, enjoying all that life has to offer. Once established, we can co-create the life we want…giving our life away.

Stepping into the Canvas, we admire the beauty Creator has painted, accepting it for what it is while co-creating a painting to our desires. Seeing Beyond the Canvas sheds light on painted pictures and their imperfections. When we see the canvas for what it truly is, we accept them as imperfectly perfect as our own but enjoy the beauty that life has to offer. Focus on our Canvas, Painting that which we most desire.

So, where do we align ourselves? Do we align with the material gains and the flesh? or do we align with the Higher Self of Spirit, obtaining all we ever dreamed of? Dare to step into the Canvas today, living the life meant to…taking an active role in creation.

Spiritual Exercise: Cosmic Dance

Try to lighten up and go with the Flow for the coming week or month. It may take throwing out those lists or agendas for the day. It may take a little practice, but assuredly it gets easier as we go. Here are three easy exercises to try:

1. Going with the Flow

Often I am in a situation where someone else has a differing idea or plan for the day. I could dig heels in and declare it to be my way or not at all, or I could look at the big picture, weighing if the present idea fits into the picture. In doing so, we are collaborating with others and allowing their input. What about those who insist all the time? Will it hurt anyone to let them take charge?

In letting others share their input, the day will go easier. However, if the bigger picture dictates the idea will prolong the day, calmly speak your insight. I used to be in charge of many things…what an illusion! Now, I just let it unfold with joy and awe. Consistently adapting and reconfiguring self-agenda to fit the greater.

2. No Agendas

One of the greatest lessons I found was letting go of expectations and agendas, allowing things to unfold. With an idea in motion, the possibilities are endless. Focus is not meant to be on achieving it but on witnessing it along the way.

We used to plan every second of vacations or trips, maximizing our time away. We found these to be tiring and cumbersome…until we stopped planning. With minimal plans, the trip turned near miraculous. Give it a try…you may think it was the best vacation ever!

We put our heart and soul into everything we do…including the agendas of the day. With expectations comes disheartening conclusions…unless we remain unattached to outcomes.

3. Without judgment

Without judgment leads to non-attachment of self and others’ beliefs or actions. Allowing things to unfold naturally, we in turn flow with the current of life. As we are not perfect, nobody else has mastered perfection. It is through our seeing the imperfections as perfectly as we can, allowing them to “just be.”

As we accept all as imperfectly perfect as it was meant to be witnessed, we attain a level of perfection (sort of).

Just for the day or week, refrain from pointing out another’s flaw or mistake… readjust the sails to the day. See not the imperfections but the perfection of the day, and it shall be made so.

The Cosmic Dance is about inspiring and being inspired. Holding judgment or doubt hinders our ability to see imperfectly perfect as we have been created. Stepping into the extraordinary, clearing the Canvas, we fall into the Canvas of Life…allowing faith to be our guide. By faith, we shall move forward. Forgetting everything we have learned thus far…we see beyond the Canvas.