A World of Consciousness, Compassion and Connection

I choose to believe in a better future then what fear can create. The movie I recommended yesterday is scary in what it says about the past and the prospects for the future. I choose to take the future pictures I got from the film and re-vision them to represent the kind of world I want to be part of now. I choose to see a world filled with consciousness, compassion and connection.

A world filled with consciousness is a world full of bright and awake people who are fully aware of what is going on. This is a world where people ask questions and question authority. This conscious world keeps our elected officials on their task of representing the needs of the people. This conscious world is one where understanding and wisdom is the guide, not ego and greed. This conscious world is filled with creativity and solutions to all of our challenges. Those that have awakened bring their light to everything they do and the world becomes enlightened.

A world of compassion is living by the higher law of love. Love is the guiding force and caring and kindness are the ways people are with each other. A compassionate world is accepting of difference and appreciates all viewpoints. A compassionate world is open to loving everyone just as they are. Even those that are misguided are overwhelmed by the compassion of others and return to the family of human love. Love is the answer to all problems, all we have to do is be wise enough to see and understand that. A compassionate world is full of joy and peace.

A world of connection is about the realization that we all share many more dreams, hopes and desires than there are differences. The connected world understands, that what we do affects everyone on the planet. Our connections on the heart and spirits levels are infinite. The realization of our connection to each other, will open us to find ways to help each other have what we need and want. That helping each other is the powerful solution on a global level too. This connection also includes all living things on the planet and Earth itself. As we take care of all species and the planet we care for ourselves. The highest wisdom of connection is “We are all one.”

The ways of consciousness, compassion and connection will create the world we all want to live in and a future where all generations can thrive. I choose to dream and vision this world. I choose to love this world. I choose to hold this world in the light of the highest human possibilities. Would you like to join me?

A Peak Into The Future With Much Concern

The Boulder Community visioning process I participated in yesterday was exceptional. The quality of the people, their ideas, their intuitiveness, their compassion was extraordinary. The world is in a time of significant shifting of priorities and focus. The movement to buy local, to support the local economies, and to reduce dependency on oil and the environmental impact of what we do, were all major themes. Each one of these themes is worth your time and energy to explore if you care about the future of water, air, food and energy.

The day was broken into smaller groups and the one I was in focus on the wisdom culture, the community and other concerns. There was a big emphasis on the future for the children. There is much to be concerned about to assure the children have a quality life on a healthy planet. The way most people feel that will happen is to make sure the community takes care of itself.

The intuitive sense for most in my group of 8 was that there was some kind of crisis or natural phenomena that will take place before 2020 that will cause everyone to reprioritize and that is what sets everyone on a course to get things right. I was in agreement and the crisis I sense is one of a government that eventually needs to be reclaimed by the people or the freedom you and I enjoy will be taken away in the name of protection and security.

As I was saying the other day in my blog, there is both optimism for the long run and trust in the higher wisdom of us all but also a disturbing unrest about the government and their taking away of our rights by keeping us afraid. This group I spent the day with, all sense trouble ahead before the greater human consciousness prevails. What is your sense about the future? Do you pay attention to what you know deep inside?

So if you want to through a huge bunch of questions into the mix, I have just the movie for you to see. It is available on your computer at www.zeitgeistmovie.com. I saw if last night on my brother John’s recommendation. This movie will stir you up enough to put you on full alert to be a more conscious human being if you care about our future. There is so much questioned and frankly I am even hesitant to suggest you see it because its questions shake the foundation of what most people believe.

I will say I left the visioning process very hopeful of our innate wisdom and the movie made me even clearer that I need to continue my work of spreading consciousness, compassion and connection now even more. I feel good that there are others wanting to do the same here where I live.

Keep an eye out for those who might be in touch with their higher consciousness in your community. Get to know others you can talk with, share ideas and expand your hearts. Let me know what stirs you and what concerns you?

Boulder’s Cultural Creatives Visioning For The Future

Looking toward the future is the goal of the 2020 Vision for Boulder. I was invited to participate in an experience of planning for the future for the Boulder community. The visioning process will be led by Paul Ray, the author of the book Cultural Creatives. His talk Friday night was full of interesting and thought provoking ideas. His premise is that at this time there is an emerging wisdom culture that will assist the changes necessary in the important times ahead. The times now are highly transitional with what he calls, Better and Better, Worse and Worse and Faster and Faster. The culture creatives which are expanding in numbers to fit the needs of the times are always part of the leading edge of thinking and innovation.

He talked about when there are big and complex issues, individuals are not the best solution finders. What works best is to get a group of diverse people together and then all the pieces to the solutions can rise out of their collective work. Multiple perspectives offer more possibilities. I feel fortunate that I get to be part of this process. I will be spending my day today doing that and I look forward to sharing with you what I learn and what we create together.

If this sounds interesting to you, do some web exploration into:
• Cultural Creatives
• Deliberative Democracy
• Citizen Wisdom Panels

I will share more after the day with my fellow Boulder cultural creatives.

This President Makes Bill Clinton Look Like A Saint In Comparison

I thought the title might get your attention. First the writing is flowing as far as the novel goes. I now have over 6000 words 17 pages from day one’s effort for National Novel Writing Month. I feel so energized when I write that I can’t help but feel like I am onto something with this novel. The novel is about a sports writer and blogger who all of a sudden finds that there are messages coming through his fingers that are from the Source of the universe also known as God. This Source has decided to speak through the sport writer to set the record straight about who he is and what the real truths are. This force from Source is full of love and also has had enough of what is falsely said in his/her name. So through the sports blog he/she will share with the world what is the truth and how we can live by it.

The writing project feels like it is being written by forces guiding my fingers as to what to say. I try to stay out of the way of the flow. I have been writing about flow a lot lately and I know that is because of the flow I long to create in my own life and on the planet.

It feels like a very interesting time in life for me. I am filled with inspiration and excitement for living and at the same time I have this inner disquiet about the political insanity of our national leadership and the course of the country and the world. I want to live fully in the inspiration but also feel like I must pay attention to what is going on in Washington DC and in Iraq. I am both a person of consciousness, compassion and creativity and an involved citizen feeling this country is on a precipice and about to fall into even more of a mess then this President has already created. I have little doubt that before he is out of office he will attack Iran and by executive order subverted even more of the laws of the land. This guy and his arrogance is wreaking havoc on the constitution and most of the people in the country are not even paying attention.

The small turnout of the people at the peace march last weekend spoke loudly about the lack of involvement. In some parts of the country there were large turn outs but the whole nation needs to show up. Or frankly we as a country will be in serious trouble. We must show up as citizens to stop the rush to war in Iran and the subversion of the law by the executive branch. If we do not then we are to blame.

Congress is not doing their job providing the oversight. They just basically let this president and his VP do what ever they want. When they do attempt to stand up to what is going on, the president gets upset and then writes his little amendments to negate any laws that gets passed that he doesn’t like. His actions in doing this are unprecedented and should be of huge concern to every citizen. This is the end of democracy in the making. The subversion of the constitution by this mad president makes Bill Clinton look like a saint in comparison.

Are you aware of all that is going on to ignore the laws of this great country? The attorney general nominee can’t even rule out torture of any form if he is appointed to the office. Why has torture been used and become ok with this president? That has never before happened in the modern history of our country. Why has it been ok that we were lied into the War in Iraq? That too has never happened in the modern history. What about the spying on Americans? I know two peaceful fellow citizens that get harassed at airports because the USA is spying on them. The President said something about WWIII the other day as if he would be part of creating such a monstrous insanity. I read in the Washington Post that the president is upset that he isn’t get his way all the time so he is writing administrative orders that make up his own laws. This right of administrative orders have rarely been used by other presidents but this president has used them hundreds and maybe even thousands of times???

Ok if that doesn’t move you to concern then I suspect you are trying to not get involved because you don’t like politics. Well you may not like it but it is affecting your life every day and that is a reality of living in this world. I hope you will join me and get involved in whatever way you can.

In The Flow and Knowing Where To Go

Yesterday’s Blog Mystery School will be continued next week. The concepts are worth exploring because they can set you free by being more aware of how you unconsciously run your own life.

Last night after midnight I began my novel writing for National Novel Writing Month. I wrote for an hour and completed four pages. The goal is to write about 1666 words, which is about 4 pages and will add up to 50,000 words and about 120 pages by the end of November. I am so excited about this project and my plot and story line have me very motivated. This novel is about ideas and thoughts that have meaning to me and hopefully to all who read it. My plan is to share some ideas as I go along this month.

I am writing this novel without attachment to results. I don’t want it to be something I work hard at. My goal is to make it as effortless as possible. Like I do with the blog. I let my intuition, creativity and heart take over and let my fingers do the dance over the keys. That way my ego plays a minor role and my higher self does the creation. It is so much easier this way. My goal in life is similar. I want to be free of ego’s need to look good and be right and instead live my life in connection with the higher and wiser part of me.

That goes with the flow of prosperity and abundance also. I am open to the flow, have dissolved all my limiting beliefs and any other resistances and now ready to enjoy the richness of the universe. There is no having to make it happen. There is no job that is the source of my supply. There is no need to fear. Instead there is trust in the Source of all of creation and in my higher self, which is one with that Source. Anything less then my complete acceptance of this Oneness is the work of social conditioning and the ego. That is faulty thinking and limited beliefs.

Would you like to join me and set yourself free? We can explore and expand as we go. I did want to say this process is a learning one and I sense I am still growing into the possibilities in me.

The more insight you and I gain as we go the more we will open to the greater knowing and flow within us. Here are three things I suggest you do in the next few days to get yourself heading in the right direction as all levels of your being.

1. Take some time to listen inward and decide what you want your life to be like; get a good feel for that life. Sense that life as if you were already living in it. Invite your higher self to be part of the process. Create an inner vision of that life and become very tuned into how living that life would enrich you and those you care about.
2. Make a commitment to live this life by being open to the guidance and flow of the Source of the universe. Listen to your higher knowing each day when you first wake up. Do your best to follow the guidance given by this higher knowing and by the wisdom of your heart. Make this morning meditative listening and visioning something you do each day.
3. As you plan your day to reflect your higher knowing be aware of the parts of you, the thoughts in you that want to get in the way. Thank them for their concern and then move past them into what you feel is right being and right action. Always do your best to act from your highest knowing. Be kind and of service to others along the way and all will begin to come into the light of the vision you hold.

Free to be the highest and best expression of who you are. That is living an amazing life.

Blog Mystery School Part Four (A)

Today is the Blog Mystery School Day and this is where unique practices to expand consciousness our shared.  Today I want to share with you the importance of understanding what is running you.  This tool is called the Self Finder.  Each of us is made up of a collection of selves that when they take over we cannot see the world from any other perspective than of the self in charge.  This is going to be a little complicated to share so I want to see if I can describing this in a way you can understand.  

Imagine a large circle (that being you) and in the large circle is a number of different size circles kind of like a pizza with different size slices of pepperoni.  Each smaller sized circle represents a self in you.  So here are some of the selves that could be part of you:
Parental                 Playful                  Responsible Employee
Fearful                  Complainer            Friendly
Meal Maker            Stay up late           Exercise Avoider
Happy Eater           Church Goer          Music Enjoyer
TV Watcher            Good Neighbor      Avoider
Excuse Maker          Creative               Money Saver
Free Thinker           Rule Follower       Approval Seeker
Impartial                Self-Judging         Morning Routine
    
Just to name a few of the hundreds or more selves that make us up.  Each self when you are in that self runs your show.  So if the Rule Follower is the self in charge in the moment it will do what is right according to the rules it thinks are there.  The Approval Seeker always tries to get people to like him or her.  The Fear of Failure self may shrink away from opportunities because of the unknown.  The habit driven Morning Routine self may totally miss what is going on around them because they are so caught up in their routine.  The Meal Maker self may make the same dishes over and over out of habit and fear of failure.

Those are some examples of how the selves work.  As I was saying these selves are powerful and all inclusive.  When you or I are in one of the selves they can be blind to other points of view.  In that self, you are sure it’s perspective is the only reality.  A Political Opinion self may not be able to see past its biases.  These selves come and go throughout the day.  The Morning Routine is usually only there in the morning.  The Responsible Employee may show up before work getting worried about being late or it might show up during the work day always trying to do everything right.  You define each self.  The self is driven by its understanding of what needs it meets for you.  The ego is the creator of selves as a way to adapt to the environment.

As you can see there is much to explain about this.  This is Part Four A and it will take at least one or two others Mystery School Blogs to further clarify.  

So your goal if you choose to play along with this exploration is to spend the next week seeing if you can notice selves in you and how they run you.  Fear selves are usually big and can be caught in action if you are watchful.  Speaking of watchful, the big goal here is to develop enough impartiality (Impartial Self) so that you can see when a self takes over and you can choose to not have it run your life in the moment.  When a self is running you; you simple are not in the moment.  Impartiality gives you the power you need to take back your life from your habit driven, trance like, self-programming.  Freedom is a very good thing if you want a spontaneous, loving, joyous and peaceful life.

So find the selves, notice how they work, avoid self-criticism, you can even appreciate how the self has served you and then make other choices.  Be playful and enjoy this exploration for it will set you free to enjoy a more liberated and creative life.

If you have questions leave a comment and I will respond or email me at ExploreLifeBlog@inbox.com.  This exploration of self can be a very enlightening experience.

Open the Flow and Then the Door

I want to share a couple of images/ideas with you today. The first one is that all that we want is available to us if we allow the energy to flow. I was thinking what would help the energy flow for me. If I sat comfortable and just imagined myself opening and letting energy flow through every particle of my being, would that work. So I decided to give it a try.

I did that by going to a quiet place and deepening my breath. My goal was to breathe more fully which would naturally cause me to relax and be in a more open state. In this relaxed and open state I visualized energy in the color of a golden white flowing through my body, mind, emotions and spirit and any energetic layers around me, In my minds eyes I saw this energy passing through all my bones and muscles, though my organs, through all the cells I am made of and all the particles that make up the cells. This energy flow now fully opens me to the richness of Source Energy and aligns me perfectly with the Stream of Well-Being. Now anything that I desire can be manifested.

The second image/idea is one of a doorway. I am standing on one side of the door and all that I have ever asked for is on the other side of the door. All I have to do open the door and all of it will become available to me. That door represents any resistance I have ever had to having what I want.

To open the door I need to be clear that I can have what I want, what I desire. I take some time to clear up my doubts and step forward to grab the door handle. What would get in my way from turning the handle and opening the door? The only thing I can imagine is some faulty thoughts that need to be replace. I reach for the door knob and as I turn the handle I feel so full of positive expectation that I am filled with excitement for what I will now receive. Is having what I want that close? Could it be that close for you?

I will let you know because in the next few days I will fully explore opening myself to the full flow of energy from Source. Then I will go to the door and open it. Stay tuned to hear about my wonderful outcome. Are you ready to do the same? Ask, open to the flow of energy and then open the door to all you desire. Be willing to receive, to have all you want, to enjoy the most incredible life. Then you will be free and you can join me in living and celebrating life as fully as we can. Thank you Abraham and Ester Hicks for your inspirational book Ask and It Is Given

Let me know how it goes and will you be joining me for dinner at the banquet of life?

Just a quick reminder: November is National Novel Writing Month all over the globe and you can join this creative adventure at Nanowrimo.org

You Can Be As Happy As You Choose To Be

Yesterday I wrote about happiness as a natural state that we sometimes/oftentimes lose touch with. I don’t know about you, but I get caught up so much in the doing of my life that I sometimes forget about the being. I write about doing and being often because they are almost like moment-to-moment choices that are made throughout the day. I wanted to share with you these ideas as Part Two on Happiness.

Let me explain the part being and doing have in our happiness. As you and I go about our day we have all these decision points as to how we are going to experience the moment. The primary decision I am talking about is whether we are going to “be” in the moment or “do” in the moment. Being in the moment is flowing with your desires, expressing your uniqueness, having an open heart and mind, and co-creating with what is in the now. Doing is more habit driven, obligation focused, and past or future oriented. Both doing and being are part of the experience of life but being is much closer to the source of happiness, full passion, and aliveness of life.

Why is "being" closer to happiness and aliveness you might wonder? When I am being than I am in the presences of the moment, I am open to the creation of my experience. Doing is much more of the “have to” habits and actions we take without most of the time being aware. Yes there are many moments like that each day. If happiness is a way you like to be in the world then the goal is to have less time unaware and in the trance of life and more time in the now where there is infinite possibilities for joy, happiness and love.

Now I feel like I am kind of complicating this being and doing. I want to say, most important of all, there is nothing wrong with doing and as a matter of fact sometimes it is exactly what needs to happen. If however you bring awareness or consciousness to your doing then you can transform it into being in the moment. So as you are aware, you then change your doing into being. Happiness then becomes possible because you are present to what is in the moment.

Let me give you an example. Let’s say you get up in the morning and you have a routine. You comb or brush your hair, brush your teeth, have a cup of coffee, read the paper and eat some toast and then go off to work. Now that can be done unconsciously and in the pure mode of doing. In that mode there is very little chance for happiness because it is all done more in the trance of habit.

There is another way you can “be” in that routine. So you begin by brushing your hair and looking in the mirror and instead of having some harsh self-assessment, you appreciate and love yourself as you are. You decide to brush your teeth after coffee and toast and again with mirror time you can acknowledge yourself in a positive way. You might even rethink the coffee and plan for a more nutritious breakfast? Instead of filling your mind with thoughts from the newspaper, you decide to sit back, think, and visualize a wonderful day. Then as you head off to work you might play a CD in the car that uplifts you with music or ideas. Wouldn’t that very much shift your experience of your morning routine and open you to the joy of the moment?

So in the moments of each day their can be doing or being?  You can be as happy as you choose to be. What will your choice be?

How Do You Find Happiness?

After 8 hours on the road it feels like I am still traveling I-80 as I sit here attempting to compose by Sunday blog. The trip back was smooth but long and I am, like always glad to be home. The Peace Event in Salt Lake City was worth the drive. I am however now feeling grateful for my home, my life and my wife. Life is good and it continues to get better.
I was reading an article yesterday by this self-appointed guru and he was saying that being happy is hard work and I thought if that is your belief then you are right. If you have a belief system that says happiness takes work and it is hard to make happen then that will be your experience.

My view is different. Happiness to me seems like our natural state. It is the state of energy and aliveness that flows through us if we are open to the flow. Happiness comes from being who I am and from being who you are. I don’t experience happiness as something I have to make an effort to have in my life. Yes sometimes I have to change my thinking or do something different then what is not working but that doesn’t seem like effort to me. It seems more like an acknowledgement of being off and a course correction to get back to my natural state of happiness and aliveness.

Here are 5 Points to remember when you have lost your innate sense of happiness:

1. Check out to see if the ego is running you and you are trying to prove you are right? That is a sure fire way to loose your happiness. Replace the ego with self-love by caring for yourself in a positive way.
2. Have you forgotten to pay attention to your inner dialogue and has the inner critic taken over again? The inner critic is a part of you that never ever feels ok. Shut it down ASAP.
3. Have you lost contact with your heart? The heart is the doorway to the happiness inside of you. Find the heart and reopen it immediately.
4. What has happened to your sense of who you are? If you think you are your body, thoughts, feeling or personality, you have forgotten your spirit, which is unlimited, eternal and full of the joy of the universe.
5. You have left the moment and are focused on yesterday or tomorrow. This moment is waiting with an abundance of happiness for you to partake in. Come home to the moment.

Is happiness a chore, effort, luck or does it come easily for you? How do you let happiness into your life?

Peace March and Having Real Conversations

Today I am in Salt Lake City and the Peace March is over and we are tired after a very long walking tour this evening of the city. The peace march had around 500 participants and more were at the end waiting. The mayor of Salt Lake City gave a rousing talk and the crowd seemed to appreciate his “I am feed up” speech. Lots of people seem feed up too but not that many are willing to show up and march. The ones here today were very enthusiastic and the energy for change was strong. We met many good people and enjoyed talking and sharing ideas. It has been a successful trip and rewarding to converse with other concerned citizens.

The city, although in a very church dominated state, seems to have a variety of people with a variety of lifestyles which seemed refreshing. The Vatican of the Mormon religion does have a very strong presence in the city making it feel prosperous, caring and visually attractive. We ate at a Slow Food place called One World and it was good food and a neat experience. Check out the new Slow Food movement to change your eating out experience.

What I did notice was this peace event did seem to bring out characters and there were a number of people who seemed hungry to talk with like-minded people. I do have a preference in these kind of conversations. I prefer a dialogue kind of interaction. Several people my wife and I talked with were more into monologues. They like to talk at you but did not leave space for interaction. The world needs lot of dialogues with people carrying on real conversations. Monologues turn the listener off because they are not involved in the conversation. Monologues eventually burn out the listener. People who monologue cannot create successful relationships because all relationships need healthy exchanges.

Dialogues encourage the kind of sharing of ideas that enrich all involved. In a dialogue we can discover our connections to each other; our share hopes, dreams and desires. Dialogues have the potential to transform the world.

This has been a good day but I am running quickly out of gas. I will return home tomorrow and blog when I get home in the evening. Have a good rest of the weekend.

October 27 National Mobilization and Time to Get Involved

Today is a day on the road. We are leaving shortly for Salt Lake City to participate in a large peace action that is happening all across the country. It is called the October 27 National Mobilization to End the War in Iraq. This event is put on by United for Peace and Justice and it is to get people all over the country to make it clear to our elected officials that we the citizens want this war to end. Each month about 100 service personnel are killed and about $12 Billion dollars of our tax dollars are spent to fund this war that never needed to happen. To find out more, go to October 27th http://www2.oct27.org/

Why are my wife and I going to drive almost eight hours to a city we don’t know to participate in this mobilizations? We are pro-peace in our viewpoint not antiwar but this is important enough for us to take the time and make the trip. We feel all Americans should join these demonstrations. The reason are clear to us:

1. The war is a huge mistake and needs to be ended now
2. The war is not about democracy but about power in the Middle East
3. The war is causing a huge debt for future generations
4. The American people are the deciders not the President or Congress
5. There has been no checks and balances provided by Congress on the Executive Branch so the people must do that.
6. There are many innocent people dying because of the war.
7. Due to the war the Executive Branch we have gone astray in this country, it now condones torture, spying on Americans, ignoring the laws of the country, and creating a culture of lies and misinformation.
8. Most important is the loss of compassion and true caring for the many losses suffered by the soldiers, their families and Iraqis due to this unnecessary war.

Join us in heart and spirit wherever you are. Make October 27th one of the turning points, where the people course correct a government gone off track. Where the people stand up together and say this is wrong and it is time to leave our occupation of Iraq. The politicians represent us and it is time they listen to what we are saying.

It is always positive to live by your values; to have an open mind and heart; to stand up for what you believe in; and to make a difference when you can. Whether it is the ending the war, or removing the money influence from elections, or to reduce corporate power, or to help bring back New Orleans, or to feed the hungry, or to build homes for the homeless, or whatever your heart calls you to do; it is time to do it now. This country and the world needs you to be as big and empowered as you can be.

Now is the time, are you ready to sign up and make America great again? Are you ready to turn off talk radio and those sad judgmental people who spread hate, fear and anger? Are you ready to listen inward and do what you know is right for the good of all? Are you ready to reclaim the land of the free and the home of the brave? Free enough to be caring and concerned and brave enough to speak up and live by the higher laws of love, compassion and understanding.

I will let you know how things go in Salt Lake City. Please do what you can as soon as you can.

What Book In You Is Waiting To Be Written?

Last night I heard a talk that was both inspirational and full of hope. Frances Moore Lappe the author of the important book Diet for a Small Planet has written 15 books since then. She is out promoting her latest book Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity and Courage in a World Gone Mad. You can get more information about Frances and her book at www.gettingagrip.org. Her book is full of ideas that will get you thinking as it challenges some of present paradigm of what democracy is and more.

Speaking of writing books there is a very interesting project in November happening all over the world. It is national novel writing month. If you have ever wanted to write a novel, here is a fun way to do it with all the support you could use. The goal is to write 4 pages each day and over 50,000 words by the end of the month. There will be many local support groups and lots of articles to explore to encourage you. If you have the least bit of interest check out http://www.nanowrimo.org/.I have signed up and am excited to get started. I have a mindmap, (http://www.mind-mapping.org/ if you haven’t done mind mapping, here is a great resource for this wonderful way to organize your thoughts) lots of ideas and inspiration, and a title. Next Wednesday after midnight I will be lighting up the keys of my computer with my first 4 pages. Why don’t you join us?

I figure 4 pages will take about and 60 to 90 minutes at about the pace I write. So in 30 to 45 hours you could have your novel’s first draft completed. Is that exciting to you, if so have a look at the site and sign up. Then my suggestion is to take some time to imagine what the story is you would like to write. Imagine it, feel it, see it and then write out the story line and you will be ready to go.

By the way while you are imagining, why don’t you see yourself getting an agent and selling the book to a publishing house and then see it on the New York Times bestseller list. Are you having fun yet thinking about this creative and energizing project? If your juices are flowing, and you feel energized. I suggest that this novel writing may be just what you need to really put a bunch of pizzazz in your life.

Then if you really are excited about what you have written at the end of the month, take December to edit and by the first of the year you can go looking for an agent. Or you can publish the book on your own and if you google self-publishing you will find lots of resources to assist you. Then you can call yourself a writer or even a novelist and enjoy seeing yourself in new and exciting ways. Life can be so much fun.

Francis in her talk last night made a enlightening statement. She said, “You don’t have to believe to do it.” When she wrote her first book, Diet for a Small Planet she had no idea that she could do it but she wrote one page at a time and then one day she got a call from Betty Ballantine at Ballantine Books and she was a published author.

Yes you can do anything you want to do, even if you are unsure you can do it. Take some time to explore what you want to do with the next segment of your life. It could be: writing a novel; standing up for democracy; giving time to an organization doing work you think is important; spending more time with those you love; start painting or playing music; learn a new language; travel to place you have always wanted to see; or anything else you have always wanted to do. This is as good a time as there ever will be to enjoy life even more fully.

Lastly, I wanted to say, I feel deeply for all those suffering in Southern California with the fires. My heart is open to them and I hope they all find their own stream of well-being to assist their full recovery.

Blog Mystery School, Part Four

Welcome to the Blog Mystery School’s fourth lesson. The past three have been techniques that have never before been shared on the web or in written form. Each was very unique and if you tried them out, you also discovered their power. Today’s technique is a very unique meditation that is passed on from over 3000 years of tradition. The Inner Sound Meditation is different than most other types of meditation. I share this method cautiously because learning it directly from a teacher would be more beneficial.

The Inner Sound Meditation is practiced best with some type of earplugs and where it is very quiet. The goal here is to tune into your own inner sound vibration. This sound is very subtle and most likely will take some time to hear it. The sound is a barely audible hum and it is difficult to hear unless there is real quiet in the room or space you practice in.

The power of the Sound Meditation is it takes you on your own inner vibrations along a pathway to a higher consciousness. This vibrational sound is the sound of all of life and resonates with the whole planet and universe. If you can hear it and ride its vibrations, you can make contact with the Divine Source in you and in everyone.

Sit in a quiet space; earplugs help to deepen the inner listening. Then explore until you find your inner vibrational sound. Once you have heard and felt it, let yourself go exploring to see where it takes you. When thoughts or feeling come up while following the sound, just set them aside and return to being with the sound.

There is no goal here except to be with the sound. If the sound takes you to unity with all of life that is simply you being with the sound. At some point you may even come in touch with the over 3000 years of tradition this meditation has and the long line of meditators who have explored it.

As with all the other techniques I share here, I have extensive experience with this meditation and I can tell you it is worth exploring and you will appreciate the benefits. I have shared this meditation in this blog but finding a meditation teacher can be very beneficial.

Please as always, let me know how it goes. I welcome your comments and questions.

A Radically Empowering Perspective

I have been listening in on my self-talk lately. The reason I am paying particular attention to my self-talk is because what goes on in my head has a large influence on what happens in my life. My thinking and your thinking shape our experiences of life. So I thought I better make sure my inner dialogue was what I needed to continue to create the life I want. How is your inner dialogue? Is it supportive or a hindrance?

As I have shared lately I have been listening to Ask and It Is Given on CD by Abraham/Hicks and have found it to be a radical change from most of the training and conditioning I received growing up. I find these lessons radical because it puts into question most of the limiting beliefs I was taught in my family, my Catholic schooling and by society. There is so much here I find refreshing and liberating. This perspective represents the highest and most conscious human viewpoints. Whoever Abraham is makes little difference because the wisdom makes sense and feels in the heart to be true. . I want to share some of what I have benefited from in this CD series.

First for me is the idea that our desires are the driving force to our evolution. I have written about that below in another blog titled The Transformation Gene: Desire. Desire is not a sin, or wrong, or selfish or a cause of our suffering. Desire is the call for us to be more and do more with our life.

Second, I don’t know about you but I was taught over and over again about not being selfish. Those lessons seem so stifling to me. The viewpoint here in these CD’s honors the fully exploration of who we are and what we want. If we don’t take care of our own needs and wants than how could we possibly be good at caring for others? Self-care opens our hearts to loving others.

Another idea is that there is plenty of all we need to go around. This is much different than the scarcity viewpoint I was taught. It comes from the viewpoint that we can create all we need and so can everyone else. I am not talking about, “the one with the most things wins” point of view. I talking about the abundance of the world and if we all got together in a caring way, all needs would be provided for richly. Hoarding and greed comes from the scarcity viewpoint which is simply faulty thinking.

A Fourth idea I find worth exploring is that of deserving. I don’t know about you, but I received a lot of messages growing up about not deserving or not being enough. Those lessons were taught to us by people that were taught the same limiting ideas. You are enough and you do deserve so please stop those thoughts in your head. They are incorrect and so limiting.

A fifth idea is the stream of well being image which I like so much. I wrote about that too in a previous blog. I love this image of a flowing energy field you and I can tap into that will enable us to create the life we want. Of course that energy field exists because that is the flow of particles existing in everything including you and I. For it to be a stream of well-being sounds so nurturing to me.

A sixth perspective worth examining is that struggle isn’t necessary. Minds filled with struggle are minds that have not found their true source within. This source is you and your connection to Source Energy. You are always one with the source of all creation. Any other belief is false. Free yourself to be who you are effortlessly and easily.

The 22 exercises at the end of this book is an incredible treasure of useful and inspirational strategies for you to create an amazing life for yourself and those you care about.

I am very grateful to this inspirational book and CD’s for they have truly and will continue to enriched my life.

Is It Time To Shift From Complaining To Response Ability?

I have been ranting too much lately about what is going on in Washington DC. That means I have been asking questions and exploring what is going on. It also means that I have slipped more into blaming and complaining. Blaming and complaining is not the place I want to be because it is a powerless state of mind. If there is something wrong I need to take responsibility for it. In other words I have to claim my response ability.

I write partly to claim my response ability and to encourage readers to be aware of what is going on and get involved. I can also move into action and call or write my elected officials. I can join with others and participate in joint action. I can give money and support to organizations that represent directions in government I support. My thoughts that are blaming and complaining are disempowering to me; but my action steps are empowering.

Response ability is taking back my own power. Blaming and complaining brings more blaming and complaining. So the challenge for me at times is to read what is going on and then to think what can I do to move things in a positive direction? This means that I take responsibility for my own reactions and transform them into actions that can make a difference.

I see our government as a reflection of us. If the government is acting aggressive and controlling then it reflects the needs of the people that must be also aggressive and controlling. I see the whole terror campaign as a way to create fear and keep people under control. If the government fears its own people, spying on them, suppressing opposition, and denying rights then it is because the people allow that to happen because they are afraid. Does that make sense to you?

What this all means on a personal level is that our thoughts and reactions, emotions and fears all shape not only our world but the large community, state and nation. All of us have an affect on the each other. The best you and I can do is to keep our mind focused on a healthy, empowered responses. Do something that feels right rather then complaining.

That is what started Peace Together. We decided we needed to get up off the couch, stop complaining and move into positive action. We are both creative people so we came up with positive messages for peace t-shirts. We chose positive messages because we felt anti-war messages are complaining and blaming. Anger at a peace rally seems to us in contradiction to creating peace. Now we are growing Peace Together with an advisory board and new project ideas. So it has gone past just the two of us. We have a newsletter if you want to get involved.

The important thing to remember is that if you want to see positive change in the world, be that positive change and feel how good it feels to claim your response ability.

We All Must Question What Is Going On

Today it is cold and snowing, yesterday it was 84 degrees and sunny. I have to admit to having a challenge adapting to this cold turn of events. That is only one of my challenges today. I find myself so challenged by how heartless and murderous the leadership of this country is. We have devastated Iraq and its millions of innocent people, sure there are some murderous and heartless people there too, but like here in America, they are a small minority. I cannot understand starting a war; by any standards of human decency that is wrong and to me it is simply committing murder for political reasons.

When are we as human going to evolve past that? When are we going to be wise enough to step past our egos? The President made some ignorant remark about Russia and World War III the other day. Are they mad enough to make Armageddon happen? Unfortunately, I think He and Cheney and the rest of the ego and greed driven crew are that mad. And WE let this insanity continue. Here is what I think everyone needs to question:

• Make no mistake about it, Iraq is a political war about power not about Democracy. Should we allow this administration to continue to bankrupt us financially and morally in the name of power and greed?

• Terrorism is used by those who want us to be in fear. Should we really let fear run us? And should we let our government slide toward Fascism to supposedly protect us? Should the whole planet live in fear of a few radical groups?

• How come a supposed Christian Coalition backs the murder of Iraqis for political purposes? Is that really moral leadership and by whose jaded standards. Should we really follow anyone who thinks that way?

• How come Congress is not doing anything to stop this insanity? How come the polls all say America wants out of Iraq and no one stops this murdering President from continuing his ego driven insanity?

• Who is benefiting from this war? Is it the people of Iraq? NO! Is it our soldiers and military? NO! Is it the American taxpayer? NO! How about Blackwater and the other private security forces, Halliburton, the weapons making industry and the oil companies? YES!

There are so many more questions to ask. Please start asking them. Ask your elected representatives how come they are not doing their jobs? I suggest we fill their phone lines, the email boxes, their mail boxes and their offices with our questions, our demands that they do their jobs and stop the war in Iraq.

Leadership gets respect when it acts respectfully. This leadership is a disgrace to higher human values. Heartless ego driven stupidity is not the way to deal with the world problems. It has never worked and never will; we have proved that over and over again in history.

I know, I am upset and I will work on not being so much so. I am pro-peace but today more anti-war and that is because I cannot imagine how we have allowed this insanity to continue. I am fed up with the rhetoric and the political games. It is all a bunch of BS that is disgusting waste of the human capacity to think with vision, to resolve problems with wisdom, and to have true compassion for life. I will try to be less pissed off and more peaceful but I must admit that I may need to stop reading what is going on because I find myself upset regularly.

We need some conscious, creative and compassionate solutions. What are your ideas?

Night Noise and Mind Noise

I live in a quiet almost rural part of Boulder surrounded by green space and the houses in our neighborhood. Last night around 3:15 I heard the slamming of the metal gate that goes out to a trail and along the stream. Then I heard someone yell “put your hands up” and something else. Then I heard what turned out to be police officer yell several more times. The police car then pulled down the gravel pathway and turned on all its lights as he searched. I guess the person got away. Another officer joined the search and after awhile they left. There is lots of space to disappear out in the woods and fields around here. It was like we were watching a Cops show from the haze of a deep sleep. I do appreciate the work of those that keep us safe. This was a reminder even as safe as this place is that it is always smart to pay attention and be alert to our surroundings. Then I went back to sleep.

Speaking of paying attention. Yesterday I was hiking in the nearby mountains a little before sunset. For quite a long time I hiked without seeing anyone and I enjoyed that space to be alone in nature. Then my mind starting thinking about the mountain lions and bears that also wander about this area at this time of day and I thought how important it is to be aware of what is going on around me. It was interesting to watch my mind work and how after awhile I felt uneasy about the unknown.

The mind is a very powerful tool. It can keep you alert. It can align with your instincts and tune into all that is going on around you. It can take you down the road to fear or lead you up the road to joy and your highest expression. The mind can set you free or tie you up. You can live in the past with your thoughts or the future and totally miss the present. Here are 5 ideas to keep the mind as a positive and powerful asset to creating the life you want:

1. Keep the mind in the present moment. The best way to do this is to do practices that manage your mind. Meditation and the tools from my Blog Mystery School would work well.
2. Shrink the “inner critic.” There is a part of you that is a learned critic. This critic only makes you feel bad. Train your mind to be supportive, encouraging and inspired.
3. Let your mind relax more and allow your heart to be the guide. The heart is the source of love, compassion and deeper understanding.
4. Do things the mind enjoys. Activities like creativity, nature, exploring new ideas, reading, appreciating beauty, and being uplifted by the works and expression of others.
5. Do things with purpose in mind. A clear, focused and positive mind can create amazing results. A mind on a mission and filled with passion is unlimited in possibilities.

When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.

Whatever the mind of a person can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
W. Clement Stone

Enjoy the weekend.

A Day To Let Your Light Shine

I wanted to share with you today some inspiration. First is, you are an amazing human being who has the inner resources to make a wonderfully positive difference for those around you and the world. Sit with this compliment for a moment and enjoy your amazingness. . . . . . . . . Now if by some odd chance you had a challenge being with this compliment, then you have some self-limiting beliefs. Explore those all the way back to where they came from and then root them out. There are just thought and they are Not reality. The reality is that you have within you an incredible source of wisdom and energy that is filled with light, love and joy and you can be that anytime you want to make that choice. Choose the light and watch your world align with the stream of well-being.

Another inspiration I want to share with you is a video that is about someone standing fully in who they are and expressing themselves to the delight of everyone. This cell phone salesman will make your eyes tear up with his bold and angelic performance. This is the voice of an angel if I have ever heard one.
http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd. html

The third inspiration is some words of Marianne Williamson a very inspirational teacher and leader. I think you will find that these word have meaning for you.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.
As we let our light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.
Marianne Williamson

Have a great day and let your light shine.

Cheney’s Law: Kingmaker and the Misleading of America

I am deeply concerned about the unchecked executive branch of our government and after watch the Frontline's program called “Cheney’s Law” Tuesday evening, I feel restless and disturbed. Dick Cheney is a danger to democracy and the balance of powers in government. He and his sadly delusional staff have done everything possible to steal power from Congress and to make the presidency unaccountable to the people. Catch the show online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/. I found it so disturbing that I can’t seem to get the program out of my mind.

The most upsetting thing about this is the arrogance of Cheney and his thinking that he is above the law and that the president should also be above the law. This is the kind of thinking our founding fathers were very concerned about. That is why impeachment was mentioned so often in the founding documents of this country. No man or woman is above the law; especially not an arrogant, deceitful and power hungry man like the vice president.

Cheney is the power in the White House and Bush is just a sad figure who views himself as above the people and guided by some mistaken thinking of his warped mind. Both lied us into the war in Iraq, which they started. Both ran up a huge debt when there was none. Neither have been the least bit concerned for our security only the profits of his friend. They have broken the laws of the Geneva Convention with their uncalled for torture. They have spied on Americans illegally and refused to be investigated. They have acted outside the law over and over again and still they sit in office without being held accountable. Congress has not shown up to do its job, instead it chose to just plays politics and lets this all go on.

OK if that isn’t a rant I don’t know what is. I guess the next step is up to us. What should we do? I want to get angry and shout from the top of a mountain that we are the deciders; we are the ones that this government was founded for not those hungry for power and control. I will instead remain peaceful and I invite you to not be in anger but with compassion for all beings. If together with focus we all join together in peace, we can take back this government. The fact is the United States of America is for the people not for Exxon, Blackwater, Halliburton, General Electric, Countrywide, the insurance and banking industry, and so many other companies that have gotten richer during this national disaster and world disgrace called Cheney and Bush.

If you don’t think it is a disaster ot disgrace then you need to turn off Fox News and start doing your own investigation. The approval rating of the president is at 24% and Congress is at 11%. Who is representing the people? Those numbers would say neither branch of government is coming even close.

Ok so I need to have at least one positive note. I am a fan of John Lennon because he spoke up for what he believed in. Yoko Ono and the country of Iceland have created a huge tower of light called the Imagine Peace Tower along the coast in Iceland. Have a look at this beautiful creation of human kind as a reminder to peace. If we can imagine it, we can make it happen.

http://imaginepeace.com/towerphotos.html

Imagine peace and imagine the impeachment of Cheney and Bush.

Blog Mystery School, Part Three

I hope you found the first two tools useful. I got a number or responses after Part One but only a few responses after Part Two. Both of these tools can change your life as can tool number three. As I have said in the previous two Blog Mystery Schools, the techniques I share here have never appeared on the web or even in print before as far as I can tell.

The third tool is called The Observer. The Observer is a tool that will help you develop impartiality and become much more aware of who you are as you interact with the world. This tool is a part of you that you realize and utilize.

I want you to imagine that there is an observing extension of you that is 3 feet above watching and being fully aware. Take a few minutes right now, extend the observer and look down at yourself. What do you see? What can you sense? This may take some practice to grow this observer self. It is best to think of The Observer as innate potential waiting to be discovered.

(Excuse the digression but I had a flash of an image of the old Flip Wilson Show with the Devil and the Angel, one on each shoulder trying to get him to do what they tell him to do. This technique did not come from Swami Flip and it is truly a powerful tool for enriching your life.)

This observer is like a camera that is objectively recording how you are without judgment. The Observer sees, feels and senses what is going on and feed backs to you information about who you are. This information gives your valuable feedback so that you can be a more conscious and aware person and at the same time it is a useful tool to better create the life you want.

The Observer sees what works for you and what doesn’t. It sees when your heart is open or closed. It sees when you are living your truth and when you are in discontent. It sees you on purpose or without direction. It sees how you respond to others and how you take care of yourself. It sees your thoughts and emotions.

This tool offers a way for you to witness your own life free of judgment and the information will inspire the fullest realization of your potential and possibilities.

I encourage you to take the time to practice The Observer. The more you do the more positive benefits you will receive. Let me know how it goes. Leave me a comment or email me at ExploreLifeBlog@inbox.com.