To be in Tao one must have patience anchored in calmness that extends from within to without and from without to within, a line of pure energy connecting the self to all that is and all that is to the self. Let yourself be in Tao, in the flow of all that is, in nature in its greatest sense, formless and flowing; sound, movement, breath all one. Let yourself be in the flow today and all will be well. You really can’t do better than that!
-From the Soul Sisters, Jan & Jeanne
There will be no audio channeling this week. Enjoy the Soulbytes, which will be posted as usual each morning. Next audio channeling next Monday!
How about a little more love and compassion? – Photo by Jan Ketchel
Our world has many separate parts that interact to maintain our wholeness. The reigning principle that holds us together is homeostasis, a tendency toward balance and stability. When one part of our world becomes extreme other parts of our world become extreme in the opposite direction in a compensatory effort to restore balance.
Currently, our world has devolved into such an extremist state of tenuous balance, with volatile groups expressing deep opposition to one another. The ability to appreciate the needs and perspectives of others in an effort to restore peaceful equilibrium is lost to our current circumstance.
Suspend judgment. In such time of extremism, all cling to the one-sidedness of their individual or group positions. The truth appears radically self-evident; the “other’s” view is clearly distorted and wrong. Emotion intensifies to convince, defend, and attack. Reason is stretched beyond reason. In fact, reason is one side of a pair of opposites, deeply suspect to many.
Realize that all the opposition outside ourselves courses equally through our inner selves. Here we can contribute to our own inner balance, as well as the greater world’s, by inwardly facing the one-sidedness of our own ego positions. Even the most contentious positions encapsulate some grain of truth. Our ego is charged to use its analytic and feeling capacities to find the value and necessary place for all parts of the self and the world.
Outwardly, we do well to not fall prey to blame and hate, as these reactions simply further and intensify the divide. Though we must stand firm to who we truly are, upholding our beliefs and values, we are equally free to feel compassion for all. Compassion is directed love energy, where all are acknowledged as legitimate parts of the whole.
Compassion can be expressed through civility. Regardless of the intensity of our beliefs or feelings we can treat each other with respect. This is an enormous task in these times of extremism where many say and do things that evoke strong visceral reactions within the self. Nonetheless, we can all take up the challenge to resist getting taken over and acting out our rageful impulses, verbally or otherwise. This act of containment keeps ego control above water, not causing further damage. Being civil may not result in a kind response, but it will at least not further inflame.
Next, the responsibility is to care for the self and the intense emotion suppressed within. Allow the self release in total private. A brisk walk, deep breathing and, yes, even throwing stones may be warranted. Once the emotional charge has diminished, reflect deeply on the source of inner activation. Something important is being revealed to the self in the emotional reaction. Know thyself, love thyself.
Love the part of the self that feels victimized, betrayed, or disempowered. Although you may choose to have no relationship or engagement with the triggering “other,” find compassion for them within the self, perhaps simply seeing them as a fellow human being struggling with human life. At that level we are all one.
Upholding civility is the bridge we have now, in these times of raging rivers that threaten to flood our civilization. Join in supporting this bridge, through action with civility.
Worry, worry, worry! It gets you nowhere except sends you down the drain into the worry pit and then you are stuck in the worry whirlpool where you could stay worrying forever. Far better to toss your worries into the river and let them float away while you stroll calmly beside the river worry free, knowing that the river of life will naturally take care of all your worries for you because that’s what it does. It knows how to handle them in the flow of life, your life or that of others. It knows how to incorporate them into its depths if that is necessary. And most certainly, the river knows how draining worries are and how damaging to your health. Save your energy and start healing. Let the river show you how to flow continually no matter what worries pop up. You can’t really solve all the problems of life so let your worries go with the flow and set yourself in alignment with the flow of life too. Let life naturally unfold, gathering your energy for something useful, productive, and energetically positive and growth oriented. Get centered in yourself today, more firmly assured that the river of life will take care of everything else. Go with the flow and flow with what goes!
How do you know if you are getting it right? If you are really on the right track? Sometimes you just have to trust yourself and put yourself in the hands of the universe and let it guide you to your next destination, even if you are not aware of where that is or why you are going there. The universe—spirit in its wholeness—has a knack for getting things right and sometimes you just have to let it lead the way. Soon enough you will discover why. But for now, go with the flow!
Change is constant. Prepare yourself well for this changing day. You are already in the flow of it so don’t worry about that, just get right within yourself. Get in alignment with the fact that change is happening all the time, within and without, and be okay with that. Embrace your changing self and be at ease as you walk your path more certain every day that this is what you have been working and waiting for, this day. Change is life in action and you are life. Life is change in action and you are change too!
