Monthly Archives: November 2012

Jan's Blog

A Day in a Life: A Leaf Falls

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Yesterday, election day in the USA, I sat and meditated in the early morning.

The inevitable fall…

Outside the window the last few leaves of the catalpa tree slowly made their way to the ground. One leaf fell and gently hit the ground with a little bounce. Then another fell, and hit the ground with the same little bounce. And then another and another.

I noticed that the leaves could not stop this process. There was nothing they could do but acquiesce, let go, and tumble through the air. One after another, leaves fell. As each leaf fell it embraced this next phase in its lifecycle, change and disintegration inevitable, nature on course. And then I knew that the outcome of the election would be right, just as it was right that each leaf fall and that the earth absorb the impact and accept it into its bosom.

I ponder my own life. Do I acquiesce to life’s unfolding, to nature’s course?

I study the way my mind works, how it instructs, prompts, and pushes me along in life, asking me to do the right things, be what is expected, uphold certain rules. I acquiesce to the things of this world because I must—I live in this world. But at the same time, I must acknowledge my spirit, the other great force inside me, which instructs quite differently. It asks me to slow down, to simply be. And so I seek balance between these two forces that push, guide, and teach me as I take my journey through life.

I return my gaze to the trees often throughout the day, watching how they handle this cold time of year, the wind and rain of fall, the first frosts, and early snow soon to come. I watch as they prepare in their own ways, shedding that which cannot withstand the impact of this next season. I intuit their shutting down of energy as they pull inward, their outer bark steeled against the impact of weather, while their inner core still holds warmth, along with countless memories of this time of year, of death now and resurrection soon to come.

And so I learn from the trees as I meditate, as I turn inward and let that which is outside of me go the way it goes, taking the natural course. For I know that new life awaits us all, both in death and in this life each day, as we allow ourselves to let go of that which is no longer viable, and as we face the fall that is inevitable.

I’m very happy that President Obama has won reelection, but I also know that had he lost it would have been the next step on this journey, in this time. As I continue to face the changes that I must in my lifetime, I must stay balanced, tending my outer life and my inner life equally. I must do what I think and intuit is right; paying attention to the needs of both of these lives I live so earnestly.

This morning’s sun…

Thoughts turn now to inner warmth, to providing sustenance and life-giving nurturance within, even while I observe the cold shutting down of that which until recently has provided such outer sustenance and nurturance. In inward turning there is much to be garnered, and so I embrace this time of change—a good time for recapitulation and inner work!

In this time of energy consolidation, may you all be well and safe,
Jan

News and Notes

It’s Voting Day in America

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Here are some inspirational words from Sixto Rodriguez that once inspired the youth of South Africa. May they inspire all of us as well. From the song “This Is Not A Song, Its An Outburst: Or, The Establishment Blues” on the Cold Fact album.

The mayor hides the crime rate
Council woman hesitates
Public gets irate but forget the vote date
Weatherman complaining, predicted sun, it’s raining
Everyone’s protesting, boyfriend keeps suggesting
You’re not like all of the rest.
Garbage ain’t collected, women ain’t protected
Politicians using people, they’ve been abusing
The mafia’s getting bigger, like pollution in the river
And you tell me that this is where it’s at.
Woke up this moming with an ache in my head
Splashed on my clothes as I spilled out of bed
Opened the window to listen to the news
But all I heard was the Establishment’s Blues.
Gun sales are soaring, housewives find life boring
Divorce the only answer smoking causes cancer
This system’s gonna fall soon, to an angry young tune
And that’s a concrete cold fact.
The pope digs population, freedom from taxation
Teeny Bops are up tight, drinking at a stoplight
Miniskirt is flirting I can’t stop so I’m hurting
Spinster sells her hopeless chest.
Adultery plays the kitchen, bigot cops non-fiction
The little man gets shafted, sons and monies drafted
Living by a time piece, new war in the far east.
Can you pass the Rorschach test?
It’s a hassle is an educated guess.
Well, frankly I couldn’t care less.

Here’s a youtube version from the album:

Messages from Jeanne

Readers of Infinity: Impeccability

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I asked Jeanne and all of our guides in infinity for a message of guidance today. Here is what I received.

Now is a time of change…

In order to change and evolve, a concerted effort must be made to constantly remain aware of the actions of the self in the world. In addition, perfection is required in all you do if you are to move the mountains that now stand in your way. Perfection requires a certain amount of attentiveness combined with a desire to succeed in making lasting changes. If one is to do deep inner work, commitment, impeccability, and diligence are needed partners in the process.

Look to the self for what all of this means, for only in working with the raw materials of the self will the necessary issues arise. What do you personally need to work on?

It is so easy to see the problems of others. Take what you see in them and apply it to yourself, for that is how to begin a deepening of your inner process. The imperfections you note in others are the signs pointing to your personal inner work. That which you cannot abide in others must be brought home to the self. This is the first step, to turn your frustrations and worries upon the self and use them to change the self. Change of the self must come first if one is to expect change in the world, so continue to ask the self to confront the issues that remain as burdensome blockages to change.

There is much fear and hatred in the world. When projected outwardly, onto others, no solution is offered. Such projection merely perpetuates an intolerable dilemma. In order for real change to occur you must all be daring now. You must all request impeccability of the inner self, diligence, and hard work.

Prepare the self for difficulties as you would prepare for life itself: work hard, take care of that which requires attention, and guard your energy. Do not be wasteful, greedy, or ignorant of the truth of the self. Do not hide what you know must be attended to. There is no time to waste. The truth must guide you now, on an individual level, as well as on a worldly level.

Impeccability requires acceptance of what is; then work with that. Facing the truths of self leads to honing the ability to change. When you are ready, you will change yourself and your life, but do not wait much longer, for now is the time to enact change. With daring, push the self to change. You will not be disappointed.

Most humbly channeled.

News and Notes

Searching For Sugar Man

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See A Living Buddha!

America, see this movie, especially as we approach the eve of election. This is what life is really all about: no self-importance, truth, equality, no attachment, impeccability, no holding back, no circumstance more important than any other, no resentment, all in the spirit of love. This movie is an absolute must see. See how the winds of change blow a seed across the sea and blow it back decades later to where it is now truly needed.

For those who are local it is currently playing at Upstate. And after the movie, go home, download his two albums from iTunes and treat yourself to an altered state.

Chuck's Blog

Chuck’s Place: Breathe!

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Drum life’s breath…

The mind and the breath are inseparable. Control the breath; control the mind.

Slow, full breath creates calm. The fullness of deep, calm breathing releases the staleness and constriction of anger and fear. Racing thoughts dissolve as attention shifts to the breath.

Breathe! Breathe with awareness. Begin by simply directing consciousness to the breath. Notice the breath. No pressure, no expectation, no judgment, just awareness placed on breathing naturally, as it happens.

Next, decide to accompany the breath on drums—that is, count out the beats of an in-breath, as well as its accompanying out-breath. Bring the beats into equality; same count in as out. Always count along.

Ask the breath to deepen into the abdomen. If the body isn’t ready to go there that’s fine. However far it goes is enough. After some time the body may invite a deeper breath, naturally, as it relaxes and opens to more.

Perhaps as the breath goes even deeper, filling and fully relaxing the abdominal region, it moves higher into the chest and upper chest, filling the body to a count of eight. Holding the breath for a few counts before slowly releasing to exhalation, from the abdomen up to the chest on a count of eight beats, allows for deepening relaxation and calm. Perhaps the breath might repeat this process several times, always with awareness of inhaling and counting and exhaling and counting slowly, maintaining a sense of the filling and emptying of the belly and lungs. Notice the calming of the mind as it is led by the calmness of the breath flowing in the body.

Frequent repetitions of conscious breathing sink into the unconscious, creating a reformulated program for deeper breathing, uprooting old habits of vigilance, fear, or anger, habituated in the body in younger years under other circumstances.

Conscious breathing, accompanied by counting of each beat, sinks into the subconscious as a new habit of calm, naturally canceling out unsolicited thoughts that reactively register unwanted feeling states in the body.

Breathe in life!

Conscious breathing changes the mind and the body by grounding us in the present in calm. From calm we are strengthened in our ability to weather the true storms from within and without. From calm we dispel the illusions that have held our body and mind in check. From calm we resume our interrupted journey, returning back to nature, flowing in the calm river of infinity.

Just breathing,
Chuck