Chapter Five: Walking in Spirit
A Work in Progress
I would be a liar to say I don’t get upset when days are altered. With daily routines, rituals, and patterns that bring peace to my being, it doesn’t take much for the human side to be thrown off course.
Recently at the local gym, the steam room goes out, causing great distress on its members. Trying to overcome the fear of not being able to meditate, clear my head, or just being in the moment…emitting toxins from my body, I recognize my angst of not being able to use the steam. I look to another gym in my angst, hoping they’ll allow me to use their facility for a week. To my surprise, their steam room is out as well. The irony here is not so much that the steam rooms are both out but that I have found anxiety in something so small.
It is very easy to get knocked off course…off our course of peace, Love, and compassion with our busy schedules. When our day is complete…work is done. We must tap into our reserves…especially when there may be young ones waiting for us at home. They do not care about the mundane schedule, busy day, or many difficulties endured…all that matters to them is you are home. Your undivided attention…that is all they seek. Dig deep, give them everything you have. Change your schedule; check the emotions at the door. They grow up so quickly! Ask any parent as they will say,” spend every moment with them…they grow up too fast!”
So instead of the steam room, I retreat to nature once again. There are many alternatives to finding peace and tranquility. Nature can play a key role in finding peace…20 minutes per day is equal to a whole week retreat.
During my self-discovery, I uncovered more growth opportunities. I discover that even though I am calm and at peace, some moments still bring angst into my day. I am okay with this as I grow forward. My wish for you today is…whatever troubles you, whatever brings angst in your day, sit with it, embrace it, and allow it to grow into something brighter.
The irony to my lesson was that as soon as I released the angst of what I thought should be my plan, the steam room miraculously was fixed. Has this ever happened to you? Chances are it has. Almost as if life was playing out in metaphor.
The Irony of Man is not a new problem but a repeating cyclical behavior passed down from generation to generation. Aristophanes referred to this as eiron, the Greek word for irony, and applied its usage to any shady or annoying characters. The irony was that Aristophanes himself was a ’jokester’ and often annoyed others within his time. Classic case of projecting shadows onto another.
Carl Jung proved the shadow effect to be that of projection of oneself onto another: In some cases, we see positive in another, wishing we could be more like them; In others, we see negative aspects of ourselves we do not care for, commenting on them as ”Ironic” or as Aristophanes called annoying. We project our negative thoughts or shadows onto another in numerous ways, judging them for their shortcomings with hopes of raising our self-worth.
We may at this moment, but it is short-lived. A deeper understanding of self-worth is knowing not one person is perfect while seeking to be perfect.
The first example is self-explanatory, as we want to be more like what we desire to become, thereby causing a natural gravitational pull towards positive people in our lives. The second is not so clear.
Our thoughts and attitudes need persistent training in a world so intent on convincing us that we are who we are not and that we are not who, in fact, we are. ~Debbie Ford
While projecting Shadows, we display judgment through bitterness and express malicious verbal accusations of another. Failing to realize we are merely looking into the mirror with our reflection projecting onto others, we find disgust with not just them but subconsciously ourselves. Those who remain in their shadows either stay in darkness or turn towards the light.
We can chase shadows of doubt, or turn our attention towards the source of light, leaving our shadows behind us forever. ~Ani Po
Our shadows can shine brightly as the source of light, through which awareness and mindfulness are achieved. Remain in the shadows, and that is where we remain. Turning attention towards source energy, we receive lessons of acceptance for all (you, me, he, she, we, they): Acceptance for all ironies of life, finding humor in the ironic behavior of man.
Isn’t it ironic that we pay for gym memberships when we could easily walk outside, getting more fresh air, vitamin D, and an overwhelming feeling of well-being? We pay for ’Coaches’ to tell us how to live when we need only sit and ponder our lives. We want to get healthier but are unwilling to change diets or lifestyles, instead paying someone to keep us on track. We have known health issues but fail to change our ways…further paying someone to aid us with our health…usually in the form of a convenient pill. Our lives are filled with ironies.
Is it a case of laziness or subscribing to a belief of doing something every moment, forgetting to reconnect with the Canvas of Life? The Canvas of Life has no rules but has consequences. We can choose to take our time while painting our canvas, or we can rush through it, splattering paint everywhere with little care in how it falls. One can yield a peaceful, tranquil moment while embracing the Canvas, and the other yields chaos, angst…often misery. Misery brought on by deadlines and timelines…always living for the clock… missing the beauty provided by the Canvas.
While our moments may not always be what we expect them to be, they can be enjoyable no matter what. The Irony of Man does not have to complete the cycle anymore. We can break the cycle of irony and begin a new cycle: a cycle that includes awareness, forgiveness, gratitude, and Love. Wait no longer…change our worldly view. Turn from the shadows of darkness and turn towards the light.
If all we have in our hearts is Love, there can be room for nothing else. ~Ani Po
While the Pilgrim subscribes to the Irony of Man, allowing the cycle to continue in his lineage, the Warrior (Ani Po) subscribes to a new irony…one of serendipity. On a personal level, it can change with a single thought. On a global level, same thought. We find in ourselves and others that not one human being is perfect. In this recognition, we find perfection in all imperfections.
Have you ever wanted to do something in your life but didn’t know where to begin? Or possibly afraid of stepping out of the comfort zone? We all have this burning desire to do something that makes an impact on our lives. Some are fortunate to live the dream early, but others will die without ever playing their music. Wayne Dyer often speaks, ”Don’t Die with your music still in you.”
It is my turn. Not knowing where I am going with this, taking the first steps. Feeling naked and vulnerable, I move forward into the unknown. Most people do their due diligence and take years to research without ever lifting a finger towards their dream. Equipped with only the basics, proceeding forward…living the dream. What about you, the reader? Is there something that your heart desires, but fear keeps it from happening?
Often we set out on task not knowing direction, but we have a result in mind…ever wonder how it got finished? When we establish results, details automatically get filled in. Our works do not necessarily fill in the details. See the end…but then trust that Universe will take care of the details…she always does. I have witnessed in awe the many miraculous and mysterious twists resulting from that which I have no idea how it happened…it just did.
I hope the words on these pages inspire many, spark a fire within others and help those lost be found once more. The messages have always been and will remain raw and unfiltered, growing into something I have not figured out. Waves of Gratitude and Love are sent to those who support me on my journey of life…and so it begins, the Canvas of Life.
With only an idea in my back pocket and intent in my heart, I set out on a journey of a lifetime…dropping seeds of Hope, Love, and Peace…for I am a work in progress. Just as I am, we are all a work in progress. May we walk together page by page, inspiring word by inspiring word…changing within, changing without.
Stepping into the canvas with a new light of serendipity. As our habits become old, we acquire habits of new. Whatever troubles you through the day, bring thanks to your being…let it go, trusting ‘all is good.’ Stepping with our angst, we begin walking in a new light. Have a glorious day, and may your day be filled with new habits of Love and Light. With every step, every thought…may it be aligned with the seven generations. With our ability to alter the cycles, we align our thoughts with that of source energy. Focusing on our shadow, we remain in darkness: focusing on light, we Shine On into another day. Shine On…we are a work in progress.
Spiritual Exercise: Walking in Spirit
1. Hearing more/ Speaking Less
Listening with great intent, we leave little room or need to speak. Extending an ear while speaking only when requesting information. Hesitate from sharing ‘you should’ statements. Instead, offer varying perspectives, allowing others to choose their path.
Avoid the pressure of ‘you should’ statements. While others mean well, they know not what is needed or what calls from with our hearts. What worked for them may not necessarily work for the next person.
Filtering what we hear, filtering what we speak…mindful we have become.
2. Seeing a New World
Removing the eyes of flesh, seeing with eyes of spirit. Walking in spirit, seeing in spirit…sharing in spirit.
While the world has its share of pain and suffering, we do not need to contribute to this. Instead, we can correct the pain and suffering on a singular level and possibility globally.
First things first, set in motion the idea that we can walk hand in hand with spirit. Removing the flesh, we are invited to soar with spirit. Changing on level of self opens the potentiality of making greater change. Whether literally or figuratively, we change our perspective on what the self needs and global needs.
3. Heart as a focal point
Earlier, we discussed that we hold the key to paradise. By now, we ought to know that it resides within our hearts. At the center of our Universe, we hold the key to a grander universe. As within, so without. That which we see within ourselves we begin to see in the outer realms of reality.
Center ourselves at the level of the heart, and the answers will appear, fear dissolved, and life of syncrosensational will unfold.