Blogs

From Spark To Flame
by Monique Howat

When my now 19 year old daughter was in Grade 3, all of Mrs. Mathews' students were given a small pot with a bean seed to plant. Green string beans it seems are pretty hardy and the perfect seed to use when promoting green thumbs in young children. That same plant was also a most unexpected source of understanding and insight for me.

Once the bean plants had sprouted and flowered, their teacher allowed the kids to carefully transfer the precious cargo from school to home. Once home, Shanna scouted around for the perfect location and settled on a sunny south window sill and then proudly declared, "Soon I can feed the whole family!"

Shanna's sisters were envious and even our cat looked intrigued which should have been a warning to me because when I woke up the next morning, I saw that the bean plant had been maliciously knocked off the window sill and ripped from it's pot. It's leaves were frayed and except for a limp thread of stem that still connected the roots to the flowering top, it was quite unrecognizable from the day before. The plant, it seemed, was a goner.

I dreaded what I had to tell Shanna but as I gently began to explain that the bean plant had to be put in the compost, her reaction was not what I expected. She said, "Everything will be okay Mom, the plant will get better."

Without wasting a second in thought she secured the first aid kit from the bathroom returning with gauze, a tongue depressor, bandages and a deep belief that the pathetic looking, near-dead bean plant would live, thrive and even produce food!

I had mixed emotions knowing that she was postponing the plants inevitable trip to the compost bin but I went along with it and helped her wrap bandages. Days later, to my absolute surprise, the bean plant was standing tall and looking perky. We were able to remove the bandages and discover a protruding hump in the stem where its near-fatal stem break had been. It was also amazing to see that the one and only bean, had become plump almost completely masking the claw marks that had scarred it.

I don't know why I hadn't thought the cat might go for a second round because it surely did, and this time I ran for the first aid kit! I carefully applied a heavy blanket of everything from cotton and gauze to colored band aids with "ouch" written on them and when the medic work was done, I whispered a little something to the heavens.

Just one week later we were able to take the bandages off and again we barely found evidence of an attack and there was even a new sliver of green where a second bean was forming. I was excited and amazed while Shanna had been expecting nothing less. Back to the window sill it went but this time we built a fortress of heavy books to keep it safe until our day of bounty.

I set the table beautifully with all the fanfare of a Thanksgiving dinner. The beans were carefully divided by 5, which awarded each person 2 small pieces, claw marks and all. They turned out to be the best green beans I had ever eaten!

My daughter never quite understood my exuberance over the significance of the beans. In my work as a youth motivator I am brought together with kids and teens that all desperately need people to believe in them. Now, more than ever, no matter what I have been told about a child or a teen and their behavior, I see everyone, no exceptions, with the same eyes and heart that my daughter used on her broken, beaten up bean plant.

I wonder if it's a coincidence that later that same week, I stumbled upon a most appropriate quote by Italian Poet Dante (1265-1351): "From a little spark, may burst a mighty flame."

Especially if you believe...!

DailyOM – No Hard Edges
today@dailyom.com

June 11, 2010


No Hard Edges

Creating Space In The Body

When our minds are cluttered with too many thoughts and information, our bodies respond by trying to take action.


Our minds and bodies are interconnected, and the condition of one affects the condition of the other. This is why meditation is such a powerful tool for healing the body, as powerful as physical therapies. When our minds are cluttered with thoughts, information, and plans, our bodies respond by trying to take action. When the body has a clear directive from the mind, it knows what to do, but a cluttered, unfocused mind creates a confused, tense body. Our muscles tighten up, our breath shortens, and we find ourselves feeling constricted without necessarily knowing why.

When we sit down to meditate, we let our bodies know that it is okay to be still and rest. This is a clear directive from the mind, and the body knows exactly how to respond. Thus, at the very beginning, we have created a sense of clarity for the body and the mind. As we move deeper into meditation, the state of our mind reveals itself, and we have the opportunity to consciously decide to settle it. A meditation teacher pointed out that if you put a cow in a small pen, she acts up and pushes against the boundaries, whereas if you provide her with a large, open space, she will peacefully graze in one spot. In the same way, our thoughts settle down peacefully if we provide them with enough space, and our bodies follow suit.

When we settle down to examine and experience our consciousness, we discover that there are no hard, definable edges. It is a vast, open space in which our thoughts can come and go without making waves, as long as we let them by neither attaching to them nor repressing them. As we see our thoughts come and go, we begin to breathe deeper and more easily, finding that our body is more open to the breath as it relaxes along with the mind. In this way, the space we recognize through meditation creates space in our bodies, allowing for a feeling of lightness and rightness with the world.

Heavenletters™, bringing Earth closer to Heaven.

HEAVEN is here to reach every soul on earth to reawaken:

* Our connection to God *
* Our belief in ourselves *
* Our awareness of our shared worthiness to God *
* Peace on Earth *

God is always bringing us closer to Him.

HEAVEN #3486 Serve God Over the Past, June 11, 2010


God said:

It is essential that you let go of your past mistakes. No matter how much you regret, no matter how careless a mistake, or how deliberate, you have to let go of it. Otherwise, you lasso yourself to the past and tie yourself there. This does no good to you or any man. Flagellating yourself is non-productive. It embeds the error. Tell the error, "Begone."

If you must be punished with the realization of the error of your deed or non-deed, you have already been punished enough. Do not keep yourself in the dunce's chair. There is no point to it. You are someone who learned something. The person who made the error and the person who regrets it are not the same person now. Regret your mistake once, and then be done.

You have to let go of the past. You have to free yourself from it. For My sake, let go of the past, and its errors.
Is it not true that heretofore you have been relentless with yourself? Now, I beg of you, let the guilt go. I exonerate you. You are all atoned for. You will not make that mistake again. Is that not good enough?

Why whip the hand, beat the chest, embed a knife in your heart again and again, to what avail?

Every time you imprint an error in your heart, you make it deeper. You make a rotogravure of it. Better to erase it. Do you see the humaneness and practicality of what I am saying? Do not keep error to you. Do not sustain it. Do not feed it over and over again. Release it.

You make no excuses, but you have to let error go. Congratulate yourself for being further along than you once were. Can you not be glad for progress made?

I congratulate you. I congratulate you for having greater vision now. I congratulate you that you are done making that error. You will not step in the same puddle again. Go ahead now, and buy yourself some new shiny shoes. Reward yourself.

You have graduated from an error. Once you were ignorant, and now you are less ignorant. Now you are wiser.
In the world, you do not have to be perfect. You are here on Earth learning how to live divinely in a human world. This is not always easy, but, dear ones, do not make it hard for yourself. There is no percentage in it, not for you, not for anyone.

When you have reached a higher rung in the ladder, you have reached it. Climb up, not down. Think of the greater good and not your penitence.

How does your sitting in a corner, chewing your nails, lashing your back, feeling regret and pain - how does that serve the world? It does not. It pains the world. Why not bless the world? Say:

"I made a mistake. I'm sorry, deeply sorry. Now I erase my mistake from the face of the Earth. I would not burden the world any longer with my regrets. I cast off this burden, from myself and from the world. I have vanquished the dragon. This dragon's term is over. And now I shall go forward on Earth and slay all the dragons of my past and leave a clean playing field for myself and for others forevermore.

"Once I was a scalawag. Now I am further along. I do not keep the dragons of my past in a cage where I can see them. I am not a taxidermist. I live life, and I serve God, not my past. This is good enough."


Permanent Link: http://www.heavenletters.org/serve-god-over-the-past.html

Thank you for including this link when publishing this Heavenletter elsewhere.

Hello my beautiful friend, I wish you a wonderful weekend of love, laughter, peace and joy. Blessings & Pure Energy coming your way, Melodie

God, Wisdom and A Deeper Understanding of Life
By Dingane Dingane

What is wisdom? For one, it is something that is valued in virtually all cultures throughout the world and throughout the ages wise people lead the way to a deeper understanding of life. Wisdom is not about having mere knowledge. It's much beyond that and in many ways knowledge itself is not even necessary to have wisdom.

Wisdom is an inner understanding that often contradicts intellectual knowledge.

Wisdom is almost always beyond the obvious and the conventional. When we recognize a great wisdom it is as if we see ‘a light' inside our minds -- a special feeling inside which leads us to a greater understanding. Wisdom is not something you attain as much as it is something you grow into. For most of us wisdom is synonymous with an old man and a long flowing grey beard. Although it is true that wisdom comes with age, you don't need to be old to be wise.

For me all great wisdom is spiritual by nature. All great insights into life are insights that transcends the physical world and our mere observations. It's metaphysical (beyond the physical) and therefore it often contradicts conventional thinking. Wisdom is about seeing past the obvious appearances of things. When you do this you cannot help but to recognize something bigger and greater at work behind everything in life. This great invisible force that some call God is not confined to spiritual thinkers, but is the very force of life that flows through everything.

The true meaning of wisdom is having an intimate knowledge of God and the spiritual and metaphysical dimension that will help you see past the appearances of things to reveal a greater meaning behind it all. In Dr. Wayne Dyer's 10 Secrets For Success And Inner Peace, he offers a great insight into wisdom. One of his secrets for success and inner peace is a definition for wisdom. He says that wisdom is avoiding all thoughts that weaken you.

Every thought you have will either strengthen or weaken you. On this deeper metaphysical level of life, your thoughts create your life. Having the ability to ‘see' and to realize this is what wisdom is really about. Virtually every spiritual text refers to the power of thought and how we create our lives through our thoughts. This great law, the Law Of Attraction is a controlling law in the universe that dictates what we attract and create in our lives.

Learning to distinguish and then to avoid the thoughts that weaken you will give you a greater sense of power and authentic energy in your life. Weak thoughts like anger, hate and jealousy always weaken you because it requires a counter force. Thoughts of love, peace and joy will only strengthen you because it never takes anything from you -- it only ‘adds' to you. In this sense wisdom will allow you to enjoy a greater sense of inner peace and it will help you to move right past conflict and confrontation.

So often we focus on what's wrong in our lives in an attempt to ‘fix' it. What wisdom teaches us is to shift from what's wrong, to what's right. Carl Jung once said that "what you resist persists" -- wise words from a wise man who understood that what you think about, will only recreate itself in your life experience.

The true meaning of wisdom is to have the insight that's beyond the obvious. It's learning to see that beyond the surface level of life experiences, there is something greater and bigger at work. This invisible (yet knowable) life force is intimately connected to you and your thoughts. What you think about expands in your life and learning to avoid that which weakens you will allow you to cultivate your own authentic power and ultimately create for yourself the kind of life you really want to live.

Hello my beautiful friend, I wish you a wonderful weekend of love, laughter, peace and joy. Blessings & Pure Energy coming your way, Melodie

God, Wisdom and A Deeper Understanding of Life
By Dingane Dingane

What is wisdom? For one, it is something that is valued in virtually all cultures throughout the world and throughout the ages wise people lead the way to a deeper understanding of life. Wisdom is not about having mere knowledge. It's much beyond that and in many ways knowledge itself is not even necessary to have wisdom.

Wisdom is an inner understanding that often contradicts intellectual knowledge.

Wisdom is almost always beyond the obvious and the conventional. When we recognize a great wisdom it is as if we see ‘a light' inside our minds -- a special feeling inside which leads us to a greater understanding. Wisdom is not something you attain as much as it is something you grow into. For most of us wisdom is synonymous with an old man and a long flowing grey beard. Although it is true that wisdom comes with age, you don't need to be old to be wise.

For me all great wisdom is spiritual by nature. All great insights into life are insights that transcends the physical world and our mere observations. It's metaphysical (beyond the physical) and therefore it often contradicts conventional thinking. Wisdom is about seeing past the obvious appearances of things. When you do this you cannot help but to recognize something bigger and greater at work behind everything in life. This great invisible force that some call God is not confined to spiritual thinkers, but is the very force of life that flows through everything.

The true meaning of wisdom is having an intimate knowledge of God and the spiritual and metaphysical dimension that will help you see past the appearances of things to reveal a greater meaning behind it all. In Dr. Wayne Dyer's 10 Secrets For Success And Inner Peace, he offers a great insight into wisdom. One of his secrets for success and inner peace is a definition for wisdom. He says that wisdom is avoiding all thoughts that weaken you.

Every thought you have will either strengthen or weaken you. On this deeper metaphysical level of life, your thoughts create your life. Having the ability to ‘see' and to realize this is what wisdom is really about. Virtually every spiritual text refers to the power of thought and how we create our lives through our thoughts. This great law, the Law Of Attraction is a controlling law in the universe that dictates what we attract and create in our lives.

Learning to distinguish and then to avoid the thoughts that weaken you will give you a greater sense of power and authentic energy in your life. Weak thoughts like anger, hate and jealousy always weaken you because it requires a counter force. Thoughts of love, peace and joy will only strengthen you because it never takes anything from you -- it only ‘adds' to you. In this sense wisdom will allow you to enjoy a greater sense of inner peace and it will help you to move right past conflict and confrontation.

So often we focus on what's wrong in our lives in an attempt to ‘fix' it. What wisdom teaches us is to shift from what's wrong, to what's right. Carl Jung once said that "what you resist persists" -- wise words from a wise man who understood that what you think about, will only recreate itself in your life experience.

The true meaning of wisdom is to have the insight that's beyond the obvious. It's learning to see that beyond the surface level of life experiences, there is something greater and bigger at work. This invisible (yet knowable) life force is intimately connected to you and your thoughts. What you think about expands in your life and learning to avoid that which weakens you will allow you to cultivate your own authentic power and ultimately create for yourself the kind of life you really want to live.

Forgiveness: The Story of that Great Englishman Saint Patrick
By David Evans

We all know that Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and the ultimate symbol of all things Irish. But in fact Saint Patrick was actually British! Here is his surprising story . . .

Patrick was born in the year 389 A.D. on the West Coast of Britain. It was not yet England and was still under the weakening control of the Roman Empire. In fact, Patrick's father was a minor official for the Romans, with enough status to enable his family to lead a comfortable, privileged life. But it was a dangerous time. There was a smoldering state of warfare between the Britons and the Irish across the sea. War parties from each side crossed over to the other side and raided the villages, looting, grabbing prisoners, and torching buildings. Many people were killed.

One night when the sixteen-year-old Patrick was asleep, a band of Irish pirates swept into his village with wild war whoops. They smashed down the door of his house, jerked Patrick out of bed, knocked him to the floor, and tied his hands behind his back. Then they shoved Patrick, dazed and stumbling, back to their boat, and threw him onto the deck. Soon the boat slid into the water, and Patrick, with ropes cutting into his wrists, was on his way to the forbidding land of Ireland and the life of a slave.

In Ireland Patrick was sold to a local king who put him to work tending the livestock. He endured beatings, near-starvation, and sub-zero temperatures. In the dead of winter he was forced to tend the herds in the hill country to the far North, where he was constantly shivering from the arctic winds howling all around him.

Patrick had grown up in a Christian household, but his family's faith had meant little to him. To Patrick, Christianity meant empty Bible passages, delivered in a singsong voice. Or dinnertime prayers hurried over as quickly as possible, so the meal could begin.

But the crisis of slavery changed everything for Patrick. He began to recall fragments of bible verses and long forgotten prayers and homilies from his childhood. He remembered that some of the people in the Bible had also gone through great tribulation: Job; the Israelites in Egypt; the psalmist David, fleeing for his life first from King Saul and then from his son Absalom. He remembered that they cried out to God, who brought them deliverance. So, with his heart in great anguish, Patrick turned toward the Lord.

He constantly dreamed of running away, but for years it was impossible. He was too closely guarded. Then one day a miraculous opportunity arose and he escaped. Patrick began the long, perilous journey to the coast, where he caught a boat for the continent. After many adventures he was finally re-united with his family for a spectacular Homecoming.

But even harder than escaping the imprisonment of his captors, was the struggle to escape from the imprisonment of his own heart. Patrick was filled with rage and resentment over his suffering while he was a slave. It was only through the alchemy of prayer that he was finally able to transmute his hatred for his captors into eventual forgiveness.

Patrick's religious experiences along the way led him toward the priesthood, and he traveled to Gaul for his ecclesiastical studies. But after his ordination, he began having strange, recurrent dreams. Again and again, in the middle of the night, he heard voices. They were Irish voices. They kept calling him, beckoning him: "We beseech thee, Patrick, come and walk among us once again."

Patrick came to believe very strongly that it was God's hand that first took him to Ireland, and that God was now calling him to return. So after Patrick became a bishop, he journeyed back to Ireland, but this time by his own free will, on a mission of love and mercy.

Patrick served in Ireland for thirty years as a wandering bishop. His contributions are the stuff of legend. He established churches and monasteries all through the country. He baptized tens of thousands of the faithful, and ordained hundreds of priests. He was greatly loved and was the true patron of Ireland.

What a wonderful model Saint Patrick is for all of us! He demonstrated that it is possible to live the life that Jesus has called us to. He is a great example of that life. Patrick suffered through years of pain and mistreatment, but he learned how to love his enemies and pray for those who persecuted him. With God's help we can too.

Letting Go of Attachments

The essence of spirituality can be summed up in one term: non-clinging.

Most human problems and every stumbling block along the path to spiritual fulfillment are the result of one thing: clinging to attachments. For example, rather than seeing anger as a simple temporary feeling that will pass, we cling to it and don’t let go. It can quickly consume our entire lives, blocking the way to any type of peace or enlightenment. We consider desire to be an internal desire that must be acted upon, rather than seeing it as a simple feeling or thought that will pass if we only let it go. All of our thoughts and reactions to feelings become serious burdens, and we wrap ourselves totally up in those things, in essence making them part of ourselves. When we can’t let go of these attachments, we become them.

In order to achieve spiritual freedom, you must let go of everything that you consider to be part of yourself, especially the negative things. One of the greatest benefits of non-clinging is that even early in your path, you will recognize partial results and accomplishments. Learning not to internally identify with just a few emotions or thoughts will allow you to experience a little bit of lightness of foot, more joy and freedom walking through your life. Non-clinging will soon become its own reward, when you realize the benefits it affords.

However, be careful not to confuse non-attachment with detachment. Non-attachment is actually the opposite of detachment, because you must consciously focus on a thought or emotion in order to release the attachment you have to it. Through non-attachment you can be free to love others, to be completely engaged in your life, your friends, your family, and your career. Through non-attachment you can detach yourself from the barriers in place that separate you from others and from the things that will complete you and fulfill you. By comparison, detachment serves to strengthen the cold, unfeeling barriers that separate you from your life. Read more on about attachment.

If you feel hurt or slighted in some way, an entire army of emotions and negative thoughts may arise and persist for hours or even days. If you stop and observe your reactions to those thoughts, you will quickly see how you cling to them and how they affect your life. Through that observation you will be able to release the hold your reactions have on you by releasing your grip on them, and then they will go away all on their own. You will breathe easier, and you will feel free to respond or not respond do the situation that led to the thoughts in the first place. Your energies will be saved for more productive uses, such as seeking joy and nurturing mindfulness.

According to the Buddha, non-clinging is very valuable to all stages of achieving spiritual depth - the beginning, the middle, and the end of the path. The single price you have to pay to be fully unconditioned, open to the presence of God, is to give up all the things we are clinging to. We may actually catch a glimpse, if even for a moment, of the Divine power that can complete us - if we are able to relinquish our attachments to things that do not matter.

Everything in life eventually ends. Our bodies, and the bodies of people we love, grow older, grow ill, slowly age, and eventually die. All of our material possessions are ultimately consumed by time. By the same token, passing emotions and situations that cause them will be entirely forgotten eventually. However, equanimity opens up our minds to timelessness, where there is no death. Equanimity is created by our contact with the part of our soul that exists outside of the constraints of time. The peace that exists outside of the world of time helps us to embrace the world without the constraints of time.

Life itself can help you learn to release attachments and stop clinging. For example, when anger takes control of your mind, take the time to identify it, consider why you are angry, become aware of how much control it has over you, and simply let it go. Doing so can be extremely hard, and especially so when the anger is great, but firmly taking control and releasing your hold on the emotion is necessary if your goal is to free yourself and approach the Divine. Letting go of clinging to anger, fear, and greed is an essential part of respecting yourself. Non-clinging is a spiritual practice that allows you to relax the ties that drag you down, relax your attitude, and release your grip on the bottom in order to reach for the top.

By Buzzle Staff and Agencies

How to Find Inner Peace

Are you in a very disturbed state of mind and are longing for some inner peace? Read on to know about how to find inner peace.

Today the whole world is in a state of conflict and so are we. There are conflicts within us and outside us. External conflicts are a dime a dozen and of seemingly gigantic proportions. However, what's funny is that the ones inside our heads are really the conflicts that trouble us the most. We have forever been obsessed with materialistic desires and we think (yes, we think) that fulfilling these desires is the key to true happiness.

But is that really so? Sure, a new car, the latest state-of-the-art gadget, a swanky apartment, (for some, a new wife or a new husband falls into this category), will provide a feeling of happiness and content. However, this kind of 'happiness' is superficial and short lived. Does this happiness translate into inner peace? No, it doesn't. Well, then how to find inner peace? Read on to know the answer to this question.

What is Inner Peace?
Before you go about finding inner peace, you should know what inner peace is. Only then will you realize that you have found it, if and when you find it. Inner peace is a state of being, a state of mind. It is when you are oblivious of everything else around you and are one with the universe. When you are at peace with yourself, nothing, and no other thing around you matters any more. It is a spiritual connection between your body, your mind, your soul and the soul of the universe. Finding inner peace is an integral part of spirituality and it plays a major role in a person's spiritual growth. Nobody can give you inner peace, it is something that you must discover on your own.

How to Find Inner Peace and Happiness
There is no formula as such for finding inner peace and happiness. It is not something that you can get at the press of a button or in exchange for a hundred dollar bill. It is about managing your mind and your energies. Inner peace is a state where your mind is absolutely still, a state where your whole body and soul experiences a newfound freedom, a state of being bathed in a sea of positive energy, a state where you are cleansed of all traces of negativity. Achieving such a state is something that is rarer than the rarest of happenings. To understand what I'm talking about, here's a simple exercise for you to do.

Stop all other activities that you may be doing right now. Lean back into your chair and close your eyes. Let your breathing remain normal. Listen to the sound of your breathing. As you inhale, feel the purity of oxygen entering your lungs and spreading to each and every part of your body. As you exhale, visualize all the negativities and impurities leaving your body in the form of carbon dioxide. Now slowly, start clearing your mind of all thoughts. It's difficult and it requires a considerable amount of patience, practice and mind control.

In technical terms, just format your mind and shut down your brain. Remain still and let your body go about doing its involuntary functions. Experience the sudden stillness and the silence that you hear. I bet you have never known silence to be so loud. Experience a state of oneness with the universe. Break all the mental chains that may be holding you back. Accept yourself as being someone special in the Creator's scheme of things. The state that you now find yourself in is known as inner peace. It is known as inner peace because you are at peace with yourself.

In addition to the above exercise, keep the following things in mind. They too contribute in the pursuit of inner peace.

• Be grateful. Stop cribbing about what you don't have. Be grateful for all that you have, for all that the Almighty has blessed you with. Look around you. There are millions of people who are less fortunate than you.

Gratefulness has a special connection with peace within.

• Accept yourself the way you are. You are what you are, for a reason. Don't complain. Be comfortable with yourself, your body, your mind, your soul. It will help in lessening your internal conflicts.

• Meditate more frequently. Regular meditation as well as certain yoga meditation techniques help in getting control over the mind in a positive way. Connect with nature. If possible, take time out and visit a quiet place - it could be a park, a lake, a hilltop or somewhere in the countryside. Close your eyes, disconnect yourself from the world and connect with nature. It is an amazing way of discovering inner peace.

These were some things you should keep in mind if you wish to find inner peace. Once again, nobody can give it to you. It is something for you to discover and cherish.

By Tintin

DailyOM – A Magical Potion

today@dailyom.com

June 10, 2010


A Magical Potion


Morning Dew

The world awakens each day from its nightly slumber, transformed by a sparkling layer of morning dew on the grass.


The world awakens each day from its nightly slumber, transformed by a sparkling layer of morning dew on the grass, on flower petals and leaves, on cars and car windows.

These glistening droplets last only a little while, an integral part of what imbues the early morning with its aura of magic. If we sleep too late, we miss the magnificent display of sunlight playing upon an infinite amount of tiny crystal balls.

To step onto the dew-covered grass is to anoint our feet with a form of water that comes only once a day for a short time, a rarefied gift of the night air that will soon evaporate in the full light of the sun. If we inhale slowly and consciously enough, it is almost as if we are drinking in this magical elixir formed in the boundary between darkness and light.

In one myth, morning dew is believed to be tears from heaven, and in another, the droplets are poured from the vessel of the goddess of dawn. When we see the earth draped with these shimmering drops, it is easy to imagine fairies bathing in the water, or a sky god weeping from a longing to be closer to his beloved earth goddess. Seeing the sparkling beauty of the earth emerging from darkness, we may understand this longing in terms of our own gratitude; how blessed we are to be here.

Perhaps heaven really does long to be here on earth, and perhaps that is why we are here—as conduits between the divine and the earthbound. As we drink the morning dew in with our eyes, our skin, our breath, it is easy to imagine that it really is a magical potion, a gift from heaven, a reminder of our true purpose, and a daily opportunity to be transformed.

DailyOM - The Greatness in Others

today@dailyom.com
June 9, 2010

The Greatness in Others

Recognizing Our Own Greatness


We cannot recognize greatness in others unless we too posses that same quality in ourselves.


A person who is said to possess greatness stands apart from others in some way, usually by the size or originality of their vision and their ability to manifest that vision. And yet those who recognize that greatness, whether they display it themselves or not, also have greatness within them; otherwise, they could not see it in another. In many ways, the achievements of one person always belong to many people for we accomplish nothing alone in this world. People who display greatness rely upon others who are able to see as they do, to listen, encourage, and support. Without those people who recognize greatness and move in to support it, even the greatest ideas, works of art, and political movements would remain unborn.

We are all moved by greatness when we see it, and although the experience is to some degree subjective, we know the feeling of it. When we encounter it, it is as if something in us stirs, awakens, and comes forth to meet what was inside us all along. When we respond to someone else’s greatness, we feed our own. We may feel called to dedicate ourselves to their vision, or we may be inspired to follow a path we forge ourselves.

Either way, we cannot lose when we recognize that the greatness we see in others belongs also to us. Our recognition of this is a call to action that, if heeded, will inspire others to see in us the greatness they also possess. This creates a chain reaction of greatness unfolding itself endlessly into the future.


Ultimately, greatness is simply the best of what humanity has to offer. Greatness does what has not been done before and inspires the same courage that it requires. When we see it in others, we know it, and when we trust its presence in ourselves, we embody it.

The David Icke Newsletter

LOVE IS ...


The antidote to the madness of Mind is the knowing of heart. It is what we call 'love', though no word exists, not even a vibration, which can capture the meaning of love in its Infinite, stillness and silence.

Mind thinks it knows love, but it is blind to its true immensity, numb to its music, its poetry, it’s All Knowing.

Rumi wrote:

Those who don't feel this Love
pulling them like a river,
those who don't drink dawn
like a cup of spring water
or take in sunset like supper,
those who don't want to change,
Let them sleep.
This Love is beyond the study of theology,
that old trickery and hypocrisy.
If you want to improve your mind that way,
Sleep on.
I've given up on my brain.
I've torn the cloth to shreds
and thrown it away.
If you're not completely naked,
wrap your beautiful robe of words
around you,
And sleep.

"update@davidicke.com"

DailyOM - Exploring an Alternate Universe
today@dailyom.com

June 7, 2010

Exploring an Alternate Universe

What Makes People Tick?


All people have their own way of being in the world, what works for you may not work for everybody.


All people have their own way of being in the world. It is easiest to comprehend this basic yet profound fact when we consider that every human being on the planet occupies a distinct role in the universe. We grow up in different environments, affected by a unique range of influences. The preferences, values, and beliefs we embrace are frequently related intimately to our origins. And the need to individualize our experiences is instinctive, as doing so enables us to cope when we must face challenges on our own.

Consequently, each of us has developed a perspective that is uniquely ours. Interacting peacefully and constructively with people from all walks of life is a matter of first understanding where they are coming from. Then we can adjust our expectations so that we avoid making undue assumptions about what they are about.

In the face of emerging interpersonal conflict, it is easy to assume that others are being difficult, unreasonable, or stubborn. We are apt to grow frustrated when someone in our environment does not share our opinions or feel compelled to support us in our endeavors. It is likely that the individual or individuals before us may simply possess differing notions with regard to what is and what is not important in this life.

We can ease the tension that exists between us by reaffirming our belief in the fundamental right of all beings to determine their own destinies. To foster a harmonious relationship, we need to do our best to relate to the unique universes they inhabit. And as we discover what makes them tick, our ability to find a mode of interaction that is pleasing to both of us is enhanced.

When there are barriers keeping you from connecting with someone else, think of questions you can ask them to gain a more thorough understanding of their point of view. You may discover that in addition to the differences in perspective dividing you, they are subject to insecurities and other personal issues that influence their way of seeing the world. It is likely that you will never fully grasp the myriad complexities embodied by humanity, but you can go a long way toward encouraging mutually satisfying relations by reaching out to others in the spirit of sympathetic comprehension.

DailyOM - Translating Our Feelings
today@dailyom.com

June 8, 2010


Translating Our Feelings

Are You Excited Or Scared?

Often times when trying something new, we feel scared when in actuality we may be excited. Reframe your thoughts.


When new challenges and opportunities show up in our lives, we may diagnose ourselves as feeling scared when what we really feel is excited. Often we have not been taught how to welcome the thrill of a new opportunity, and so we opt to back off, indulging our anxiety instead of awakening our courage. One way to inspire ourselves to embrace the opportunities that come our way is to look more deeply into our feelings and see that butterflies in our stomach or a rapidly beating heart are not necessarily a sign that we are afraid. Those very same feelings can be translated as excitement, curiosity, passion, and even love.

There is nothing wrong with being afraid as long as we do not let it stop us from doing the things that excite us. Most of us assume that brave people are fearless, but the truth is that they are simply more comfortable with fear because they face it on a regular basis. The more we do this, the more we feel excitement in the face of challenges rather than anxiety. The more we cultivate our ability to move forward instead of backing off, the more we trust ourselves to be able to handle the new opportunity, whether it’s a new job, an exciting move, or a relationship. When we feel our fear, we can remind ourselves that maybe we are actually just excited. We can assure ourselves that this opportunity has come our way because we are meant to take it.

Framing things just a little differently can dramatically shift our mental state from one of resistance to one of openness. We can practice this new way of seeing things by saying aloud: I am really excited about this job interview. I am really looking forward to going on a date with this amazing person. I am excited to have the opportunity to do something I have never done before. As we do this, we will feel our energy shift from fear, which paralyzes, to excitement, which empowers us to direct all that energy in the service of moving forward, growing, and learning.

Heavenletters™, bringing Earth closer to Heaven.

HEAVEN is here to reach every soul on earth to reawaken:

* Our connection to God *
* Our belief in ourselves *
* Our awareness of our shared worthiness to God *
* Peace on Earth *

God is always bringing us closer to Him.

HEAVEN #3482 Bright Yellow like the Sun, June 7, 2010

God said:

Be a delight to your heart. Good times, hard times, they come and go. This is nothing new. To roll with the punches is a good idea. You don't have to fill your heart with sadness.

Let your heart be bright yellow like the sun. Even on a day you feel blue, the sun itself is bright. Covered by clouds, it may not be seen where you are, and, yet, it soon will be. The sun always comes out. And sadness leaves. It takes its course. It fades. The sun comes out bright.

You might as well be done with despair. If its hold on you is so strong that you can't be done with it this moment, then sit it out. Go on in life despite whatever mood you are in. A mood is only a mood. It does not have to overtake you.

There is not one person alive who has not lived with sadness or deep despair. If it is the gauntlet you run, then you run it, and you come out the other side. Do not treasure the doldrums and keep them close to you. Go off and live life without them. Dance anyway. Sing anyway. Before you know it, despair will not cling so tightly to you. Despair's job is to leave you alone. Your job is to not mind it so much.

Your despair is like a hem of your skirt that has fallen. Pin the hem up. You don't have to drag it around all day. In terms of the metaphor of sadness, the hem will fix itself. Just as rain turns to sunshine, so does your sense of decline turn around.

Despair may seem to have you in its grip, but it is on its way out. As soon as you are aware of despair, it is already on its way out. It makes a scene when it leaves. It does not quite know how to leave graciously. It gives you a few good kicks as it goes out the door.

There is an end to suffering. Let it go. Just let it go. You don't have to fight it. Let go of your grip on it. Truly, sadness is a passing fancy like any other. Do you have the idea that you must have highs and lows? Do you like batting yourself up and down?

Nor is this to suggest that you must lead an even life that stays the same. The thing is that you don't need the ups and the downs. You can be okay whatever is going on in life. You can be in a good mood even when you feel you are in a bad mood. Because you feel blue, you do not have to wear blue. You do not have to sew blue up. You can be good-natured and considerate regardless, regardless of anything. Not only can you be, what choice do you really have when all is said or done, but to be upbeat?

Do not think that you deserve to be depressed. You do not deserve it. Despair, or whatever name you have for it, is like sitting in a corner and eating bitter pie. Who says you have to eat it? Put the bitterness aside. Get up anyway. Even tragedy is not a tragedy that you must get caught up in. Get up even from tragedy. It does you no honor.

Sometimes you feel down for no reason at all. It just seems like the bottom has fallen out from under you. Or one slight gesture has hurt your heart, and you have decided to feel bereft or angry. Do you know that despair and depression are just the other side of anger? Get up from that bed, and move on.


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The "good guilt" and the "bad guilt"?

When we hear the "guilt alarm beeping " we have to deal with guilt in a way or another, however, just like every good thing God gave us, guilt can also be perverted. Guilt can become an instrument in the devil’s hand and the evil one tries to keep you trapped inside, thinking that you are the worst person ever! I’ll let you read on to show you what I mean.

Guilt – What is it?

Feeling guilty is normal after you know you’ve done something you were not supposed to, especially after a failure. The dictionary defines the word "guilt" as a "feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined."

That nagging voice inside of us that keeps beeping like a fire alarm and when it comes up too strong, we attempt to hush it up. It simply is that part of the human conscience that cries: "you have fallen from the standard, you were wrong! ". That makes us realize there is a standard inside of our being. Is it like a computer software program that automatically runs within us? Who put it there?

Anyway, guilt convicts us for actions and thoughts. It is an inborn human trait that forces us to make a distinction between right and wrong, and it shows within us that there are standards of what is good and what is worthy of guilt.

The guilt "gene" is something inside every human being. To illustrate this truth, look at people from wild tribes. They have a system within that tells them when they are wrong, even if they have never heard of such thing like "civilization".

But can the guilt feeling be perverted?

We know we are in a spiritual war that will end only when Jesus comes back again! For that reason, we have to be aware that guilt can be used by the devil and his demons too. For example, when you pray, all of a sudden, an evil thought crosses your mind and you just can’t control it! Blasphemy included! Those thoughts come over and over more intense and simply kill your prayer, as even if you hate those thoughts, you can’t stop them from coming back in your mind!

It is so painful, it has happened to me and I didn’t realize I actually was under attack. Yes, this is the spiritual war. The devil is so perverse that will make you think: "these are your thoughts, now you can’t come to God any more, He hates you, and how could you dare come close to Him with such miserable thoughts /images in your mind?"

I was so released when I came to know that Charles Spurgeon (a great evangelist) has been trough this too and he was so tortured by these thoughts that he even doubted his salvation. He relates how he just couldn’t stop this thoughts and he finally confessed this to his grandfather. His grandfather asked him:" Do you like these thoughts and take pleasure in them?" His answer was:" No! No! No! I hate them!"
Then the wise old man told Spurgeon to have nothing to do with them, as those thoughts are not his own, those are the devil’s thoughts.

Oh, if I had only known that before it happened to me! However, I saw for myself that the spiritual war is not a story…it is awfully real!

Guilt – The Remedy

There is a right and a wrong approach when dealing with guilt. Hiding it, does not work, it only comes back stronger.

Of course when we know we offended someone, the remedy is to go to that person and sincerely apologize, asking for forgiveness. This is not for the weak people! Only the strong people have the character to do this, the power to overcome their own nature. God is there to assist and will give you the strength you need, just ask for it!

On the other hand, in the spiritual war, when you come to realize the origin of your thought, simply come to Jesus, tell Him that you can’t control those thoughts and ask Him to cleanse you and free you of your burden. He will! With me, it was a process (5 months), it didn’t happened instantly but now, thank God Jesus freed me! It took a while because I simply did not take for myself what God showed me in the Bible, I said to myself it was too good to be for me. But now I see that those verses where God says He loves you are for you indeed and you have to take them as if He Himself came and saying:" I love you (your name here)"

Confessing is the first step to healing and when confessed to God, guilt is dealt with the best way! However, I saw with myself that another trap that Satan will use is that of keeping you quiet by telling you that you are the worst on Earth and there is no one else in such a hopeless situation! It is a lie! Every person has failures whether they talk about it or not! When I saw that Spurgeon himself has been trough what I have been trough, oh I was so happy he was honest enough to confess this and share it! So, find a mature Christian you can trust and confess your situation, you can pray together and God will surely heal your heart and set you free of any burden you might be carrying!

There is a good reason you have been trough this! God will use you to help others who go trough such problems as well! So keep telling God all your fears and He will surely give you a great solution! He did it with me, and so many others!

By Claudia Miclaus

Fighting with Yourself

Are we the owners of our possessions or are our material goods the ones that own ourselves? Our happiness cannot be encompassed in any amount of material belongings; the inner wealth is far more precious!

Fight Club is a good example of a film that was seen by most people before reading the book. I, for one, haven't heard of the existence of the book until quite recently. And of course, after having seen the movie over and over again.

What I enjoyed most about this film is the idea of rejecting and even trying to destroy a consumerist society, a society where everything is valued by its material aspects, by how much it costs. Advertisement fools us all. It makes us think that there are things that if we buy, they will certainly makes us feel happy and fulfilled. Things we don't really need - like pieces of furniture, designer clothes, expensive perfumes, refined, expensive beverages and foods, and so on.

One of the best quotes in the movie says that: "The things you own end up owning you." So you are no longer your very own master, you belong to the objects' world. The main character in the movie seems to suffer from schizophrenia, having a split personality. But that is not the point. The point is he manages to see beyond the ideology implemented in us by education and living in a society.

He realizes that fulfilling the desire of buying expensive things and having important positions cannot make anyone happy, though they come from deeply human feelings and needs - the longing for acceptance, for recognition, for affection. But like he says, "you are not your job", your house, your car, your expensive furniture. No matter what commercials tell you, using certain antiperspirants, perfumes, after-shaves, etc won't make a man stronger or more desirable and acceptable.

Also, for a woman, buying certain cosmetics and clothes won't make her more irresistible and self-confident, it will at least make her spend an enormous amount of money on things she doesn't really need and will not help her in any way. Yet it is indeed extremely difficult to give up this concepts, because we are so often blinded by "the riches of this world".

Too often have we heard from the lips of our parents or grandparents that they want us to live a better life than they did. And too often this better life means a better place, like somewhere in the city instead of a peaceful village, a better apartment, nicer furniture, better food, better clothes, the latest technology computers and mobile phones, washing machines, and many other. Things that, instead of making our life easier, can only complicate it. Because we further depend on electricity, heating and other resources that require artificially-generated energy.

So we strive to make money that we spend on things we do not actually need. How can we escape this? "Only when you've lost everything, we have the right to do anything." Although we probably won't take this literally, like the main character in Fight Club did by blowing up his condo and therefore everything in it - IKEA furniture, collection pieces, etc. … we might take into account the idea behind this gesture.

By "losing everything" we may understand giving up the manic desire to possess things, to be happy with having what we need to lead a simple, peaceful life. To lose in the eyes of a commercial, mercantile society, but to gain mentally and spiritually. To get inner wealth and wisdom instead of things that are considered valuable in the eyes of this world. "For where your treasure is, there your heart is also." Don't put your hope in things that fade, or can be stolen from you. In order to do that, you have to fight the greatest enemy you make encounter, and that is your very own self.

This is also suggested in the movie by the main hero's constant struggle with himself, which eventually ends in reconciliation between his two personalities. But this can be seen by us as a metaphor, as, if we want to fight the things that may enslave us mentally and spiritually, we must first of all win the fight with ourselves. It takes a lot of perseverance, and implies having a solid spiritual support. And a positive, respectful attitude towards the others, unlike the usual typical tendency of regarding ourselves as better and more important than other people.

By Claudia Miclaus

Heavenletters™, bringing Earth closer to Heaven.

HEAVEN is here to reach every soul on earth to reawaken:

* Our connection to God *
* Our belief in ourselves *
* Our awareness of our shared worthiness to God *
* Peace on Earth *

God is always bringing us closer to Him.

HEAVEN #3479 To the Very Heavens, June 4, 2010


God said:

Calmness is not an act. Calmness is your natural state. Calmness comes from a depth of silence. Silence is your natural state. From the depth of your silence comes peace. Less than peace is heretic. Less than peace is an infraction. Be that state of peace that is yours to hold and to marvel over and to circulate across land and sea.

Peace be unto you.

Peace is not far away from you. It is your natural core. If only you could believe this. If only you could believe that you are your own peace, that peace emanates from you, and that peace from you blesses the entire world.

Peace isn't difficult. It is all the hullabaloo and noise surrounding peace that are difficult. Peace is easy. Anything that is not peace is a set-up. Accept the peace I give to you. You crave it, and yet you stir the pot rather than settle it down. The soup of life has been stirred enough. Let it cool.

Sail on a calm sea. And if the sea is not calm, then quiet yourself, and the sea will copy you.

You are meant to be an instrument of peace. Let your breathing play like a sweet flute. Hear the notes of the flute bringing peace with it. Its round mellow notes soothe all in its wake. Be the flute of God. Play the flute of peace for Me.

Be the snake-charmer. Uncoil the world from the basket it has wound itself in. Peace is not coiled. Peace is flat and straight. Peace has no secrets. It is out in the open.

If you go to the top of a mountain peak, what do you see? You see peace. You do not see havoc. Seek peace and give peace. Peace is not just a sigh, and yet peace is contentment. Why not be content. Why not see the world as I do see it and bless it and spread peace on the world. Be a beacon of peace. Be a beacon of peace wherever you are. Be a marker of peace. Be an inspiration of peace. Be a herald of peace. Be a flute of peace.
Let your heart be your flute. Let the music of your heart be heard near and far. Let your heart smooth out rough terrain. Let your heart climb over the rocks and create a plateau of peace.

Be the peace you so desire. Give the peace you desire. Peace is not dull. It is not unstimulating. Peace is a comforter, and yet from peace comes exhilaration. From the peace of exhilaration comes more peace until you are peace itself. What were the Great Ones, beloveds? They spurred peace.

We could say that the Great Ones lowered the flame on hearts. They made hearts heart-temperature, not hot, not cold, but just right so that hearts could grow and embrace all other hearts. Through their hearts of peace, the Great Ones gave peace. They emanated peace. This is what peace does. Peace is calm and fun-loving and spreads itself like wildfire.

Show Me a man of peace and you will see a man who enjoys to the hilt. He builds a mountain of peace. He sculpts it out of hearts, and he raises hearts to the mountain-tops. He puts your heart like a star at the very top of the Christmas tree. The star spreads its light from one house to another. From one peak of peace to another, from one heart to another, peace shines and raises the Earth and everyone in it to the very Heavens.

Permanent Link: http://www.heavenletters.org/to-the-very-heavens.html

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DailyOM - As the Earth Allows the Rain
today@dailyom.com

June 4, 2010


As the Earth Allows the Rain


Sitting With Feelings


Sitting with our feelings is the best thing we can do for ourselves rather than stuffing them deep inside.


It can take great courage to really sit with our feelings, allowing ourselves to surrender to their powerful energies. All too often we set our feelings aside, thinking we will deal with them later. If we don’t deal with them, we end up storing them in our minds and bodies and this is when anxiety and other health issues can arise. Denying what our bodies want to feel can lead to trouble now or down the line, which is why being in the thick of our feelings, no matter how scary it seems, is really the best thing we can do for ourselves.

One of the reasons we tend to hide or push aside our feelings is that we live in a culture that has not traditionally supported emotional awareness. However, as the connection between mind and body--our emotions and our physical health-- becomes clearer, awareness of the importance of feeling our feelings has grown. There are many books, classes, workshops and retreats that can help us on our way to emotional intelligence.

We can also trust in our own ability to process what comes up when it comes up. If sadness arises, we can notice its presence and welcome it, noting where in our bodies we feel it, and allowing ourselves to express it through tears or a quiet turning inward.

When we simply allow ourselves to fully feel our feelings as they come, we tend to let them go easily. This is all we are required to do; our feelings simply want to be felt. We often complicate the situation by applying mental energy in the form of analysis, when all we really need is to allow, as the earth allows the rain to fall upon it.

As the rain falls, the earth responds in a multitude of ways, sometimes emptying out to form a great canyon, sometimes soaking it up to nourish an infinitude of plants. In the same way, the deeper purpose of our feelings is to transform the terrain of our inner world, sometimes creating space for more feelings to flow, sometimes providing sustenance for growth. All we need to do is allow the process by relaxing, opening, and receiving the bounty of our emotions.