March Forth!

      I originally published this blog to support my novel, The Gemini Bond, several years ago.  It morphed into a place where I could share new quotes, new books, interesting points of view, and occasional rants.  It has been a pleasure over the years sharing with you.

     But my life has become increasingly complex with continuing issues that are taking more and more of my time, energy, and focus.  They are not things that can be fixed, really, but dealt with on a daily basis.

     So, I have come to the point where I need to simplify my life and cut out some duties and obligations.  This blog, sadly, is one of them.

     That does not mean that I will never post again, but I need to give up the weekly deadline that I set up for myself years ago.  

     So, yes, I will revisit from time to time.  There are always wonderful books and pithy quotes to share.  I may need to rant now and then.  But the weekly post is coming to an end.

     So, I offer my blessing to you:

May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you work for peace and justice.
May you remain curious.

May you be wise and discerning.
May you strive, every day, to be the best version of yourself.
Peace.

(image courtesy of pixabay.com)

Let's Heal Ourselves. Let's Heal Our World.

 Some quotes to ponder:

Heal the world, make it a better place.  For you and me, and the entire universe. (Sung by Michael Jackson)

 The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to healing the world.  (Marianne Williamson)

The inner self of every human waits patiently until we are ready to discover it; then it extends an invitation to enter the luminous mystery of existence in which all things are created, nurtured, and renewed.  In the presence of this mystery, we not only heal ourselves, we heal the world.  (Deepak Chopra)

As Above, So Below . . . Part 2

      In the interview that was featured in the video I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Michelle Lee described a process in which one can heal oneself from traumas and hurts.  My belief is that when we heal ourselves, we heal the world.  "As within, so without," as the quote goes.

     She also alluded to an additional step after her trauma healing process, which is to rid the meridians of the body of the energy of trauma through EFT.

     What is EFT, you ask?  It stands for Emotional Freedom Technique, and involves tapping on certain meridian points (think Chinese acupuncture or acupressure points) while saying something along the lines of, "Even though I feel ___________ (angry, hurt, betrayed, sad, etc.) about _________ (situation or person), I still deeply and completely love, accept and forgive myself."   You continue to say that statement while tapping the various meridian points.  It takes maybe 2-3 minutes, and it really brings a big sense of relief, from my own experience.

     You can access one video as an explanation here, but there are many, many videos and books available for you to explore if you wish.  Happy tapping!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 To Lovers and Beloveds Everywhere

(image courtesy of pixabay.com)

As Above, So Below . . .

      Perhaps you have heard the quote, "As above, so below.  As within, so without."  Well, I thought it would be good to focus on the last part of the equation -- as within, so without.

     First, what does that mean?  To me, it means that what we do inside ourselves is reflected in the All.  If we work on healing ourselves -- from traumas, hurts, disagreements, irritations, and so on -- then those healings will trickle into the whole of humanity and beyond.  

     So, the first question is:  Do you want to help heal the world?  If you do, first heal yourself.

     Easier said than done, of course.  But fear not, Dear Reader, I have some help for you.  

     I came across a very interesting video a while back and have been eager to share it with you.  It is an interview with a mother-daughter duo who work on manifestation and healing, and on it is a very beneficial healing procedure that you can do on your own.  I've tried it myself and it works wonders.  The healing procedure begins at about 26:30 into the video, but if you have the time, the whole video is worth seeing.  You can access it here.  Happy viewing!

     [One caveat:  If you have significant trauma in your background, please consult a professional.]

Another Recommended Devotional Author

      If I were to be stranded on a desert island with only a couple of books at my side, I would choose of one of them to be by my favorite poet.  Rumi.  Yes, the 13th century Sufi mystic.  And Coleman Barks is my favorite translator because he makes the words practically leap off the page.

     There are several books available, so you can go candy shopping if you'd like.  But if you want one recommendation, I would offer The Essential Rumi.  It's delicious reading.  

Some Recommended Devotional Books

      At the beginning of the year, I recommended that you practice meditation every day in an effort to keep yourself centered in a chaotic world.  How is that coming?  Are you able to devote at least a little time to your eternal self every day?  

     I also recommended that if you can, spend a little time reading spiritual material.  Here is one book that I read every day, year after year, and find new treasures each time.  It is 365 Tao: Daily Meditations by Deng Ming Dao.  He writes one-page devotions on a concept for every day of the year (except Leap Day -- I'm not sure why).  It's a bit like having an expert point out a new facet on an exquisite jewel, which in this case is the Tao.  If you are remotely interested in learning more about Taoist philosophy and practice, this is a good place to start.