The Joy of “Joy”

I would rather be Joyful, Happy, and Playful than serious. I take my Joy, seriously. I am serious about Happiness and Playfulness. If you have to stop and think about this or are angered by this admission then, YOU, need to take a Very Serious Look At YOUR Joyfulness… If you take your life too (toooooo…..) serious AND You take “Yourself” too seriously, then wake up from your anxiety and your fearful side, find your way into the “Present Moment,” and start dancing in the light of the miracle you are and the world you live within. Perhaps you can benefit from starting out by learning to laugh at yourself. You and your life are filled with drama, but if you look at it from a higher perspective, it is pretty entertaining. Have you ever lost yourself in a movie, TV show, or well written book and feel the angst of the characters to the point of distraction. This is the entertainment you sought out. And, when done well, feels real and perhaps “close to home.”

Laughter is a Great medicine. It cures what ails you. When you laugh at yourself, your foibles, and your own self-created drama, you are much healthier. In my own life, I often say (and know) that “everything I eat looks good on me,” because almost daily, what I eat ends up on my clothes. This is true because I do not have a reliable dinner table to eat at because the dinner table is often covered with harvested rocks waiting to be painted with a heart which will be placed out into the world to bring smiles to the finders as a service my girlfriend offers. My food on my clothes is a small, but entertaining, side effect to attempting to bring smiles to our world. And, standard clean clothes are so boring, anyways… Joy and laughter are an important part of my world AND these would benefit most of the people I come in contact with as I stumble around in my life.

I have made a choice, whether conscious or unconscious, to leave a legacy of laughter and joy. I want to be remembered as a man who was silly, playful, and joy filled with a focused serious side to draw upon when needed. (I am pretty functional in a crisis when the situation seems called for…) But, hearing the funny side of a life experience is something I actively look forward to celebrating and sharing. Yes, this can be distracting when people want to be “taken seriously,” but this “need” to be taken seriously is part of the drama we find in our roles of living as a human…

“Beginner’s Mind” and living in childlike wonderment is a goal to strive for. When applying this behavior, you are more apt to seek and find joy in the Miracles of life. Yes, the unexplainable Miracles which surround us in our miraculous world. If you over look miracles because you have a “jaded” attitude about the amazing things in your life, you are destined to dig an emotional and spiritual hole for yourself which may not lead to life happiness and satisfaction in your relationships. Yes, your partners in your relationships are imperfect BUT they are amazing and perfect in their own special imperfect ways. Sharing smiles, laughter, Joy, and hugs are some of most useful activities you can do in your human, drama filled, lives. And, if you are either too serious (and self-important) or too detached from simple values in life, you may be the butt of jokes from the people you interact with and perhaps to be ridiculed as the entertainment your role seems to have lead you to be. Sorry, to offend you if you are sensitive to these words but from a higher perspective these thoughts may be held true.

And, I Love You! You have chosen to find human form in my human life. I am here to learn from you and our interaction. If possible, I will find laughter and joy, if only at my own self-created drama. Thanks you for pointing this out to me. You may not even realize how valuable you are in my life and my learning. Crying and sadness are not the enemy or even opposite Joy and Happiness. These are other human reactions which we experience and can learn from.

Self disclosure: I am impatient and quick to judgement. I quite often swear “like a drunken sailor” but, no rationalization intended, it entertains me and I am here to learn from this clearly imperfect Divine Soul trapped in a swearing, judgmental human life. If you can still like me with self-disclosure, then let’s have a laugh and as imperfect humans together. If you can not accept my imperfectness, then stumble off in another life direction and we will meet up again on the other side of the vail. We are different pieces of the same whole. And, remember that I Love YOU, no matter what…

Welcome to Spring 2022

The date on the calendar tells me that we just had our Vernal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring is starting… Well, it does not really feel like Spring to me… Sure the days are getting longer. Day light savings time went into effect. It is not so cool and Wintery these days. But, and there is a Big But, it does not quite feel like Spring to me. The birds are nesting. The trees are blooming as well as my allergies. This year we seem to have a new outbreak of man made conflict and this takes some of the Spring optimism out of the air I breathe. We have been allowed to take our Covid masks off but plenty of fear and anxiety are still available. People still look at each other a bit fearful or at least questioning whether you can trust that you will not contract a disease. Our politicians are still ranting about a long since decided presidential election with threats of impending chaos in the next elections. The economy is booming along but inflation is soaring. And, unlike most years, I am not considering breeding as I have often considered in past years… Yup, having more children in my 72nd year seems less “a thing” this year. Perhaps I am just getting old.

I am excited to begin to return to my face to face social lifestyle but, as I have said, I am in a Covid habit of questioning the safety of hugging all my friends and family. Hey, I still hug but there is a question in the corners of my mind. My hearing is not getting better so social conversations can be a bit more frustrating for me. That is not the fault of 2022 yet it adds to the frustration and isolation of 2022 life. On a positive note, I am spending more time and money on my newish hobby of woodworking. Time considering my projects at 3:00 AM where every thing I try comes out perfect, is wonderful… Until, I actually touch my projects. Woodworking, for me, is creative and full of problem solving and, of course, YouTube video watching. It is time alone but it is a new challenge for me. Though this Spring, I have yet to drop a table seed into the ground, water it, and see a new table sprouting up from the meticulously tilled soil. I do get to walk around and visit my wood table’s relatives and ancestors as I hike through my local forests in meditation and contemplation. I covet those 100 foot downed trees and want to take them back to my garage workshop and mill these into lovely projects but I do not have the strength or room for my wooden friends of the forest. They will have to remain out in the cool, damp Spring a bit longer.

Germinating deep within me are the seeds of gratitude, unconditional love and acceptance, and the excited and questioning Beginners Mind. At this stage of this life, it is easier for me to feel, if not see, the perfection of the souls I pass and the deepest unknown connections to the Divine which we all share. My lessons are still obvious in maintaining Equanimity. As I age I am finding the nature and truth of Impermanence a “knowing” that seems to be getting stronger. My lack of patience can get in my way of being most fully present, but at least I have Awareness and can laugh at my impatience. No matter what happens in this human drama in the Spring of 2022, I will follow the path of service and attempt to offer unconditional Love, as my resources allow. So, let me remind you that YOU are Loved! You are a Blessing! You are are a unique and important Miracle and you fill your role Perfectly in the Divine Universe. Thank you for being YOU! Celebrate the new births of our Spring and dance in Gratitude for all the blessing we have, even the difficult challenges that test and teach us.

Let the Love and Light within your soul and Spirit brighten the path for the pilgrims you encounter on your path. And, remember to share your wisdom and your stories…

Life is a Sh-t Show and…

Pretty dramatic to get your attention. And, Yes, you can put lipstick on a pig… but, it is still a pig… Personally, I do not have anything against pigs and I think that they may have a less desirable view in some people’s minds. In fact, pigs are perfect. A creation of the Divine Spirit who serve a purpose in the greater scheme of things but in my culture, they seem to be dirty bottom feeders. Hey, that could be said for many humans who walk the planet Earth with an inflated belief that somehow they are “better” than a pig… But, that is not what this posting is about.

You can strive to make life seem joy filled and fun. I believe that one of our main purposes in living as humans is to be aware and to look for the Joy in EVERY situation we encounter. There is Joy to be found in even the darkest of challenges and under the largest rocks which may seem to block your path through life. The most painful life experiences can teach the most important lessons and, if we are most fully conscious, we can find ways to share the wisdom we learn from these possibly troubling times, even if what we can share is what NOT to do. Many people walk around with the “life is wonderful” filter on the way they look at life’s travails. Bless them! Some people use the “life is a pain filled shit show” filter as they move through even the most lovely events. Bless Them!

There are peaceful souls who constantly look for Peace in our world. Bless them! There are anxious, angry, depressed people who manage to only consider the limitations in their lives. Bless Them! Every way you view the people and situations you encounter, attempt to remember that we are ALL Perfect and children of the Divine Spirit. We came to our lives with the agreement that we would mix it up in the Adventure Travel experience call human life in a limited 3 dimensional world. Why? Because this is where our experiences lie. We come to test our Divine Wisdom and to assist the people we come into contact with to move through their lessons and challenges. Even if we disagree with another person (or worse…,) they are here to challenge us and we are here to serve them and their learning. (Wow, I am using the word “challenges” a lot…)

Life is NOT easy or always fun. If you seek constant Joy then this may be an unattainable expectation if you hold this belief. (Unless, you are fully ascended master walking the Earth in mortal form. If so, then this posting will make “perfect” sense to you and you will accept it fully.) Think about your life. It has been a series of challenges. Some people would think you are a hero or saint for just surviving the life you have lived. And, some of us do not survive our life’s experiences for one reason or another and everyone who has known these shorter lived folks has lessons to learn about being fragile in human form. Even the most joyful days like getting married or giving birth or even graduating from school has difficult lessons to experience over the horizon. As an example, there are only two ways to get out of a marriage and we do not often fully consider these on our wedding days. Yes, you guessed it. Getting out of a marriage takes the form of either death or divorce and most people find these transitions to be challenging as learning experiences. If you have ever had children, or know people who have had children, or were a child at some point of your life, you recognize that only in the movies or on TV do you ever escape with the experience of families in the “living happily ever after” fictional account of human lives. There is always “DRAMA!” No exceptions… Even if you pretend to not care or to not notice.

I am not trying to discourage you from living your life and seeking fun and Joy. Go for it! And, consider that we have come here into our current lives for the “test” of being human. (Perhaps, I should say that we are living in human form to “test” out the wisdom we have acquired.) Honestly, Life is a Shit Show and we would do best to Bless it. Life is filled with “Miracles” and amazing adventures. Life in the Heavenly higher Dimensions is wonderful but “boring” without the tests and the limitations we experience in human form.

You are Amazing! Thank you for being you and for choosing to come into human life to be challenged. (There again, using the word “challenged” yet again…) Please remember to be aware and conscious so you can share your learned wisdom with other pilgrims. Your guides, your ancestors, and all Divine Beings are rooting for you and supporting you as you follow your life’s path. And, no matter how “bad” a life experience appears to be judged, there is much to learn and to take away from this experience.

P.S. Life is a Shit Show is a very dramatic, attention getting series of words. Many people live lives that are much more secure and settled than the people who are suffering in this world. It is perspective and opinion which would define the real depth of what a “shit show” would look like. Your perspective and your opinion is the only one which matters. You are the one living in your life. And, many of us do not acknowledge the truly good or the absolutely difficult occurrences in our lives. Denial is useful. Over statement of our happinesses and successes is not uncommon. As you strive for the highest levels of consciousness, you can find balance and equanimity in either extreme and then live the life which offers you the very best path. You have a choice on how YOU respond to every interaction and experience. No matter what seems to happen in this life YOU are perfect and you are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing. And, you have a choice so if you are not satisfied then change things up.

Do you like seeing horror movies? Many people find these escapes from their realities as entertaining. Many people like riding on roller coasters which are exciting and seemingly dangerous. Like skiing off the top of an icy mountain, these “thrill rides” are enjoyable partially because you have to be focused on the present moment to survive. In our daily lives, our minds can wonder off into the complexities while dealing with past and future concerns. Our human brains do not often enjoy staying in the “present.” In “real life,” you may consider the human challenges as a “shit show” or you may find the challenges exciting and the “test” of your wisdom that they are, from a conscious perspective. Please, strive for increasing consciousness in yourself and those you interact with.

You have read this far. Thank you for hanging in there. Though life can be difficult and a real challenge, take some time and energy to consider that life is a Miracle. Living is amazing! And, when your consciousness allows, know that you are Perfect. The Divine Spirit is manifested in every cell of your incredible body. No matter where you choose to tread, look for the Joy and all the Miracles which surround you. And, thank you for being you.
You are Loved!

Looking at Clouds

Have you ever looked at clouds? Of course you have. This morning, shortly after the rising of the sun, I looked to the East and found a mostly blue sky with wispy clouds gently drifting… It made me pause and find gratitude for the gift of the gorgeous miracle of this new day. No one could paint these delicate clouds and do them justice. My eyes behold the subtle beauty playing out high in the atmosphere.

How is this possible? These clouds are so light and delicate. The smile these clouds bring to my face elicits Joy. A great way to start my new day. What other gifts of nature’s beauty will I cross paths with today… Everyday…???

As I stop to think about it, though the act of thinking pulls me out of the “present” as an observer, I want to share this moment with you. So, if you are reading this post I hope a delightful memory dances across your consciousness reminding you of a visual treat laid before you which brings you Joy! Or, better still, go out and find today’s miracle which presents itself for your appreciation and to remind you that each moment in nature is a gift. Embrace it. Meditate upon it. Love it. And then, Share it!

Life is a beautiful Mystery and here for us to find ways to discover ourselves.
As Joni Mitchell wrote in her song “Both Sides Now”:
“I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all”

You are a Miracle! Thank you for being you.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Yes, you have heard this before. It is only a day on the calendar and it seems to happen about this time every year. But, this time it is different! Every turn of the year offers a fresh start. Setting optimistic goals and the New Year’s Resolutions is a tradition and after you set these goals, we wait to see how long it will take to stray away from the desired new behavior or life change. This year it will be different. Not because you will not set and then break your “resolutions” but because this New Year’s is different.

It is not just a change of the calendar year from 2019 to 2020. It is the change of a new decade. This Blog has never posted a consciousness developing blog at the change of a decade. This year and this decade are different. The turmoil of the past few years is coming to a “resolution” and we are entering into a new phase. The “clean up” phase of spiritual energies is transitioning into the dawning of a new age which includes the return of “magic.” I am told that our guides are supporting our new consciousness and as we come out of the time of conflict and struggle, we will experience of the reawakening of our inner child. We can choose a more Joyful path.

This is difficult to believe with the media’s headlines shouting out fear and anger. I challenge you to look deep within and find, and then live, your authentic self. Yes, it is there and has never left you. Be the beacon of light which leads with love and joy. Be the model so others will join in and regain the confidence to be the perfect spiritual beings they are! Look around for the best ways to support your fellow pilgrims and open your heart to new possibilities. The “Magic” will gradually brighten in the coming months.

2020 beckons as a turning point! The New Year and the New Decade allow for the re-engagement of the magic and the return of the spiritual insights which are counter to the anger and fear we have struggled through. You have an opportunity to live in a more positive and loving world. This grows from the inside out. Get in touch with the pure love and magic that has always dwelt within you. Celebrate every interaction and know that your consciousness will be raised for the benefit of you and all the other souls in our Universe.

So, in the back of your mind, set this new resolution to live most fully in Love and Magic. Be the Light and allow others to resonate with your Joy and glowing Spirit! Find a way to develop your confidence in knowing that YOU are a Master. You are Perfect! You are the miracle and manifestation of the Holy Spirit! Have fun! Dance in the Light so your inner child laughs with the Joy we have all come into this Life to celebrate. (Even the Joy which comes from the difficult challenges and the amazing lessons we are tested by for our development.)

You have the opportunity to step into the Light of the Divine and all the Magic which surrounds you! Trust it. Look for the good in every interaction. YOU are a Miracle! You have a choice to Live in the Light!

So, continue on your path and please do NOT miss any opportunity to raise your consciousness, remember the Divine within you, and find ways to connect & serve your fellow travelers. YOU are a bright beacon of light. Thanks for being YOU!

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Is It Time to “Push the River?”

Long ago, I ran across the philosophy, “You can not Push the River!” Which at the time, meant I should just go with the “flow” and appreciate the present moment. I was assuming that you can not force what does not want to be forced. Since I have rarely been thought of as mellow, by those who know me, or “patient,” the concept of when is it time to push the river has resurfaced for me. Sure, I have learned much by quietly observing but when is it time to “act.” When is it time to “play it Big?” When your heart tells you to jump into river and NOT play it safe, do you ever Jump In?

Life can reward the risk takers. Life can challenge those who step into something new and push out their own self-limitations. Life is made more satisfying when there are risks taken and the “path less traveled” is followed. The adventure in life is attempting new activities, visiting new places, meeting new people, and pushing to have experiences which expand your consciousness. Sure it is safer not to rock the boat but… All of your life’s best adventures started by the quickening of your heart beat as you considered a less known option. When your gut told you to try something new, and you did, you have another story to tell.

Consider the bigger risks you have taken. Consider the bigger desires you have wished for but avoided. Do you want to die with regrets for not having challenged yourself? Of course not. We all have regrets but the “not doing” a cherished dream is a sorry bit of unfinished business and a regret that might haunt you. The “what if’s” can come to mind. Our egoic fear and insecurity often keeps us from doing what we would love to do. It is ourselves stopping us. The unknown is a challenge and the adventure we seek. What is the worst that can happen??? Will we regret not attempting the “Playing it Big” activity?

Can we come out of the darkness and fear into the celebration of the attempt to do new and different things? Yes, we can! We sometimes need support from within. The support that comes from remembering how great we really are. We are the miracle who has survived all the difficulties we have faced in this life. No one else could fully believe what we have been through, survived, and then thrived. No one else can fully comprehend the trials by fire we have faced. All of these have been the tests which we have passed to get us to where we are now, even with the scars our life can show. The River is there in front of us. It is waiting for us to jump in and then through our willful energy to push it forward.

When you think that you can not do something you really want to do, it is time find the courage within and make your attempt. You will learn from either your success, and even more, from a seeming failure. The “not doing” is the source for regret.

You are not alone. There are many adventurers riding and pushing this river. Acknowledge, love and support them. Is it time to push the river? There is NO time like the present! Sure, you can go with the flow, but you can also press forward into another life adventure. All travels expand you and your consciousness. Be open to the new experiences you were meant to have. Along the way, know that you are a Miracle. You are a perfect piece of the Divine Spirit. You are Loved! You are Blessed!

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.

You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

It’s the Journey

It’s the Journey not the Destination. Google and “Quote Investigator” seem to credit Ralph Waldo Emerson for saying, “Life is a Journey, not a Destination.” Whoever and where ever this comes from, today I was triggered by the thought that accomplishing a “Goal” and possibly feeling success is NOT the point of the “exercise.” The point of living your life is experiencing the lessons, the challenges, the people, and the “stretching by doing something new” along the way. Success or failure are NOT the end judgements which offer the most energy. The “energy” comes from the “doing” and the Journey. The adventure is Living life and not simply talking about it. Acting in service or enlightenment instead of just wishing for this highest form of living in our 3 dimensional world.

The Masters of the Journey community was built from Guidance and the appreciation that each of us has much to share. Though spiritually connected, we have lived our unique lives in our unique ways and learned our unique lessons in the process. By sharing YOUR stories you offer the “witness” (the person who listens to your story) a chance to learn from you and your gained wisdom. It offers a unique perspective which can be supportive, perhaps even, life changing. SO, YOUR Journey has value. Not just to you but to the people you “touch.” The real Joy in Life is sharing your story with the wisdom you have gained as a Service to the people you come into contact with and then, “touch.”

An expected or planned success is GREAT but in my life I have learned much more from my failures and painful challenges when things did not go as planned. I am not saying that “whining” about mistakes or hard times is always a beautiful way of sharing. Taking responsibility and acknowledging the role you have played as you expanded your knowledge, wisdom and perspective is the deeper value, for me. You pushed yourself to try something new. You stretched to get out o your comfort zone. You tested new limits and found you have fewer boundaries and self-imposed limitations. This seems to me to be the true journey through the new learnings in this life.

And, the Journey through life IS the main show. Pay attention! You never know what miraculous learning can come from the smallest step or seemingly less important interaction. Besides, appreciation each moment and finding Joy in every amazing connection is so very important. It requires you to be fully present and available to look for and to find the miracles. And, along the way, listen to and learn to trust the small voice of “Guidance” (or your intuition.) It may lead you into important learning experiences. It also helps to keep your head up and your eyes toward the horizon, unless you are very uneven ground. Tread more slowly if your road seems too rocky…

No matter what, consider how amazing and miraculous life is! Feel the Joy even if you find yourself walking on the “dark side of the road.” My mentor, Paula Forget, reminds me that every moment, walking in this current incarnation, is spectacular and offers learnings to celebrate. Attempt to not get caught in the quagmire of the “Drama” in your life and to know that each experience is amazing, even if it can feel challenging or painful. You are here to be challenged, to learn and to grow… You are a Blessing! Nobody can do YOU better than YOU! The Universe needs you and your interpretation of the Divine Spirit manifest!

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Re- Enchantment of the Cosmos: Returning to Our Ancient Roots

To our ancestors the Universe was filled with Enchantment and magic! For the past several hundred years “Rational Thought” has buried our connection to the wonderment of the miracles we now take for granted. Human consciousness, in the Modern world, has begun to come full circle getting back to our “roots” of consciousness. Re- Enchantment to the magic and mysteries of the Divine Spirit’s manifestations in our Universe grows stronger! The unexplained or the Rationally unexplainable miracles of life and consciousness are regaining our attention. Science and mathematics have explained visible natural processes until these reach an unexplainable point.

As an example worth researching are the interviews with people who have returned from Near Death Experiences (NDE.) As more people are interviewed, there are common threads between the accounts of this diverse group of people. Though it is difficult to “Re-integrate” after returning from a NDE, universally, certain parts of the experience are commonly a part of the account. Among these are: a “Knowing” that there is a Divine Source which connects everything in our Universe (and beyond,) a sense of “Unconditional Love and Acceptance,” a feeling of “Oneness” knowing that we are all in this together and a part of something greater than ourselves (and so breaking the barriers of individual egos and separation,) and a lack of fear of Death due to the knowing that we as spirit continue (just like physicists tells us that energy is neither created nor destroyed it just changes form.) Many people have a sense, or a strong knowing, that they have lived “past lives” (or that time does not exist and we are living many current lives in differing realities???…)

For example, what is consciousness? How do we feel? How do we “Know” what we Know? How did Life start and then develop into consciousness? Even the simplest structures hold unanswered questions like what hold atoms together and how can these atoms be physical material and also show that they have properties of non-material waves of energy? Physics has taken our awareness back to the “Source” and to the unexplainable realms of the Divine Spirit.

Our ancestors walked around our world in a state of enchantment and feelings of connections with all other objects in our Universe. They worshipped the spirit energy of the planets, the stars, the air, the water, the fire, and, of course, the Earth. Every rock and tree had a soul. Walking gently on the Earth was their way of worshipping the miracles which surrounded them. Reverence for all things was built into their culture and in their consciousness. We, in the “modern” world, are reawakening to the miracles and find renewed enchantment with the Cosmos in which we temporarily exist. We are an essential part of the living Universe. Modern cultures are even beginning to remember the ancient wisdom and ceremonies to remind us of the magic of the Universe we are a piece of. We are NOT separate though we are incorrectly taught to be individuals and separated from each other.

When YOU walk in nature, perhaps on a beach by the water, do you feel peacefulness and connection with the sand between your toes or the breezes which gently blow against your skin? Do you breathe in the air and find a peace not as common in your experience of congested cities? Does your mind wander to the miracle of the life forms you encounter and the unexplainable diversity of these life forms? Do you celebrate and honor these few moments as you drift through this natural environment? These might come from your primordial wisdom. Many of us yearn for those moments of contemplation in more primitive places because we desire to return to our roots. AND, to learn or relearn to love the natural environment. It is worth being “present” and remembering that we are sharing atoms with many of the lifeforms and even the inanimate objects we discover… Celebrate our Universe and share your story!

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Struggles of Life: Coming Into This World

Being born and thriving in the world is full of struggles and challenges. It is this challenge that is our purpose for incarnating. Struggles come with the territory of manifesting in Human Form. We have enough consciousness to make physical and emotional survival an interesting process. Born helpless, we rely on parents or adults to feed us and to teach us how to survive. As babies, we offer these caretakers the opportunity to give unconditionally to a tiny human with the hope that this child will survive long enough to enter their own period of adulthood. (Though, sadly the unconditional love piece is often missing… And, surviving to adulthood is NOT guaranteed.) This set of struggles to be born, to be raised, and to participate in our life’s lessons is what life, as a human incarnation, is about. We are often conscious enough to know the challenges and lessons as we are caught up in them. Young parents adapt their lives to accommodate their babies (hopefully.) The parents are tired and emotionally tested. Sometimes they wonder why they chose to have children enter their lives and to distract them from other life issues. Most parents will eventually love and appreciate the struggles of their babies and perhaps all of the other souls who participate in this challenge called life (on Earth.) It is never without drama. It is never done error free. It is a learning and balancing act. The bond of the relationships in families is often forged as one of the strongest emotional bonds we humans can experience and we can pay the emotional price when a family member transitions from life (dies.) Coming into the world always ends with a transition out of the current worldly existence. This is a certainty we can not elude or change…
Love and appreciate all days and moments, and the souls you bump into.

The miracle of birth and of the growth of the physical and emotional being is always surprising. The joyful good times are fun and the pain of life traumas are scars which all concerned bear and must learn from. We all have our scars and life’s travails are so very important. We are all born unique and as our lives develop we have our individualized lessons. The goal is to be as conscious as possible and to share the wisdom we develop from life’s experiences. We are here to learn and to share. We are here to Love and to support the fellow pilgrims we meet. If you “circle the wagons” and keep from sharing your story, you may miss some golden opportunities to grow by teaching what you have learned from your struggles.

Life as a human is not supposed to be easy as in a fairy tale. Yet, when we come closer to enlightenment, we might find joy in even the most difficult challenges we confront. A wise friend of mine reminds me often of the great honor it is to live and to work through the struggles we negotiate along the way. Every moment is a blessing, if we allow ourselves to view the event from a spiritual perspective… AND, that is a Big If…

Find Joy! Live in Joy! You are a perfect manifestation of the Divine Spirit! YOU, like all life on this Earth, are a MIRACLE!

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Healing Secret

Do you believe that someone else “Heals” you? Or, do you believe that you heal yourself? When you get a small cut or scratch how does your body repair itself? When you get exposed to a cold virus how does your body fight off the virus infection? These are mysteries that are just being explored. A doctor in an emergency room can set a bone, or put stitches in a wound, or restart your heart, or prescribe a medication like an antibiotic which can save your life. This demonstrates the mastery of medical arts, but does this heal you?

The power to heal is within you. People with faith may believe that the holy spirit can help the healing process or is it the “belief” in the holy spirit that actually supports the healing? The magic of the body hunting for an infection, building anti-bodies, and then destroying a bacteria or virus or even a cancer cell is still not well understood by medical professionals. There are many who believe that healing can be enhanced by the power of the focused mind.

I bought my wife a crystal that has healing properties, as told to me by the shop keeper. Perhaps the crystal focuses a healing energy that can not be measured by current scientific monitors or perhaps a person’s belief in the healing properties of the crystal are what rallies the patient to enhance their own healing mechanisms. In many ways, it does not matter whether the crystal does the healing or the faith in the crystal provides the healing, but…

From past experience in coaching clients, I have witnessed the power of the positive suggestions offered to enhance the healing process. The positive focus and concentration upon the positive end results and a soothing or calming environment can help promote the healing process. Many clients have responded well, physically and emotionally, to positive visualizations and suggestions, but I can not claim to know why this happens. I do know that the safe way I practice this use of suggestions does not hurt them and it is meant as an adjunctive process to traditional medical protocols.

I have seen “miracles” (or unexplained benefits) occur. As an example, I had a woman in her mid-twenties come in to my private practice with a diagnosis of a hyper-active thyroid and the symptoms that go along with this diagnosis. She said that she had been treated by an endocrinologist for 4 years with little positive result. Her symptoms included: hyperactive behavior, skin breakouts, bulging (protruding) eyes and high levels of thyroid hormone in her blood tests. I told her that I had not worked with this diagnosis (this was early in my career) but as we discussed her life she seemed to respond to information about biofeedback and stress management. We discussed a process that involved relaxation with Autogenic Training and a targeted visualization of blue light and coolness surrounding her thyroid gland to reduce blood supply to her overactive thyroid. It seemed to make sense to her and she went home to practice these techniques. 4 weeks later her skin was better. Her eyes were not bulging. Her energy levels seemed better under control. AND, her doctor found no trace of excessive thyroid hormone in her blood test. She felt that her success was due to her relaxation and visualization of a positive result. She used the power of her mind to heal herself in a measurable way. I loved this experience but I can not really explain the positive result.

I believe that we have the power to help keep ourselves healthy and we can be a big part of the healing process. I recommend that we get diagnosis and support from our medical professionals especially with our personal physicians but we should not always assume that they will heal us… We have a big part of this responsibility and we need to do our part.

I do not know whether a crystal helped my wife but I like to think that she may found emotional support in the belief that a positive environment helped her invest her own healing energies in appropriate ways. I also know that other people’s prayers, healing thoughts, love and positive energy can give great comfort and support. This may assist the healing process by having positive effects on the mind, emotion, and spirit of the person receiving this support.

Heal yourself. Share love and support with people who need healing. Allow them to bask in the healing, spiritual golden-white light of your unconditional, loving thoughts and prayers.

Contact me through the Stress Education Center’s website at www.dstress.com for more healing examples or coaching on how this might benefit your healing process. Please take good care of yourself.