Saturday, January 30, 2010

Coincidental Currents

I like to refer to coincidence as synchronicity. For years, I thought I had first learned this concept from the book, "The Celestine Prophecy". Shortly after researching the subject, I remembered where I had actually first heard it. In psychology we studied Carl Jung. The Swiss psychiatrist, first published his theory of 'acausal connecting principal', or synchronicity, in 1951. His theory refers to coinciding experiences that were thought or dreamed about in advance. Receiving a call from a person you have been thinking about, but have not seen in years is an example. It can also refer to a random experience that seems to occur by chance, but also satisfies a need that exists simultaneously. A man was running late to an interview for a sales position. He needed the job even though the available hours were not ideal for him. On his way, he got lost. Frustrated, he saw a competitors store and stopped to ask for directions. He saw a sign for a sales position available for the shift he was wanting. Instead of going to the original interview, he gets hired on the spot. Getting 'lost' seemed inconvenient, but turned out to be a synchronicity.
Jung proposed that these events did not occur by chance alone. He believed that all things are connected. If we can be conscious of our connection to our environment, we notice these events more frequently. They are responses from the universe to scenarios we have consciously or subconsciously created in our minds. Our minds relay these messages to our higher self and it is passed on to the universal network to which all things are connected. Synchronicity is a sign that we are on the right track.
This connection between all things that was introduced in psychology has been studied greatly in quantum physics. Physicists are discovering that the separation of objects is illusionary. For example, when photons are separated, no matter how great a distance, a change in one, creates a simultaneous change in the other. Science is starting to understand that all things truly are connected on a very deep and very real level.



Riding the Coincidental Currents

By dark of night,
or bright daylight,
I thrill to harness life's natural motions
and capture it's devotions.
I ride the flow of my emotions
to carry me to shore;
like a tidal wave which could crush my bones,
or the joy of love which mends my wounds.
They call themselves coincidence,
but we know there is no such thing
as an accidental incidence.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

The Quest Begins

As our hierarchy of needs is fulfilled, we develop self awareness and choice of who we are. Instead of finding blame and excuses for our situation, we can look for the best response to better ourselves. Life is full of choices. We can choose happiness. Accepting and understanding this concept is crucial before moving on with our growth as a person. This is where the journey begins.

Embarking on the quest for enlightenment is a conscious choice. The path is riddled with obstacles. Changing obstacles into opportunities is a matter of perspective. Our perception creates our reality. Greater perspective is one reward for choosing to elevate our existence. As we elevate ourselves and gain perspective, we are better able to create opportunity from obstacles. Our reality becomes an escalating spiral circle of ever improving circumstances. This cycle begins with choice.

Once we choose this journey, it makes sense to take inventory of our available resources to assist us. Sailors have always relied on many tools for a successful voyage. Engineering vessels is an ancient craft. Long before physics were understood, heavy ships were built to stay afloat in treacherous waters. Sails and oars were used for propulsion. They harnessed the wind, a powerful force of nature, to move them. They would navigate using sextants to determine their coordinates from celestial bodies. They used the stars themselves as mile markers. They had almanacs and maps recorded from previous travels. They had ships full of men they counted on for support. They learned from experience to follow their own instincts.

For the voyage of life we are provided all the tools needed to be self actualized. People come into our lives to guide and support us through different legs of our trip. Free will, the power of choice, engages the laws of attraction to draw into our lives that which we create in our mind and our higher consciousness. Synchronicity opens doors to new revelations. We are all born with instincts to protect us. Intuition is not learned. It is our natural connection to the world around us. As we develop our physical senses, we lose our connection to this powerful gift. The source connects us to all things and fulfills all our needs. Mastering the use of these tools enriches our experience and accelerates our trek.

Knowing that I am indeed a spirit in a human shell, and that I have free will to go in any direction I wish, where do I go from here? What is my ultimate destination? I want to elevate myself. I want to be closer to God, whatever God may be. All That Is, The Universal Power; the name we give it is irrelevant. This is not a religious concept. To me, it is philosophical. I want to be as close to The Source as I can, while still in my human shell. How do I get there? So many religions and philosophies offer different routes. Many contradict each other. Which path sould I take?


Detours

When cruising down life's highway,
No matter where you want to go,
There are many routes to get there,
Some you may not know.

In choosing a path to follow,
Many factors will help you to decide,
Whether you are in a hurry
Or just going for the ride.

Many maps will be shown to you
Of different routes to choose.
Once on the road, you must decide
Which ones you will use.

Plot your course ahead of time
But do not fear a change of mind.
Maps are simply guides
Of routes others have chosen to find.

Much of lifes greatest scenery
Is off the beaten path.
Often roads are missed
When driven by too fast.

The path to your destiny,
just perhaps,
may be on a detour
and not on any maps.

Body, mind and spirit

This painting depicts an eye on the side of a pyramid, surrounded by an electrically charged sphere. It represents the three aspects of man; body, mind and spirit.

The gold pyramid is physical and solid. It represents the body. Gold symbolizes material value and worth. Pyramids are considered one of the most durable structures on Earth. It is seven levels high, one for each of the seven major chakras. Chakras are energy centers of the body.
Chi energy travels through these chakras. Each chakra is associated with its own color and purpose. The seventh is the base or root chakra. Located near the sacrum, it keeps us grounded. It is red. The sixth is the spleen chakra. Located near the naval, it is the power chakra of the lower body; the physical/emotional self. It is orange. The fifth is the solar plexis chakra. Located near the base of the breast bone, it is responsible for human emotion and ego. It is yellow. The fourth is the heart chakra. Located at the heart, it is the love chakra. It is green. Separating the upper and lower body, it brings balance. It is also the three fold flame, Love, Wisdom and Power. This chakra can be used for healing. The third is the throat chakra. Located near the Adam's apple, it is the communication chakra. It is blue. It is the power chakra for the upper body, the mental/spiritual self. The second, is the third eye chakra. Located in the center of the forehead, it is associated with wisdom. It is indigo or dark purple. The first is the crown chakra. Located at the top of the head, it is our connection to the higher self. It is violet.

The eye represents the mind. It is the door between body and soul. Like the eye, the mind works best when open. In the mind's eye, all thoughts and emotions are created. Our mind, just as our other senses, allows us to observe others and our selves. It also controls the body. Imagining our body as a vehicle, our mind is the driver. It determines the condition of our body and in which direction it will travel. It is in our mind where all work toward enlightenment or spiritual development begins. Until we understand this concept, no further improvement can be made of body or mind.

The sphere represents the spirit that powers the body and mind. It is the Higher Self. It is pure energy. The soul has consciously manifest itself in the mind and body for the purpose of the human experience. Understanding and developing our connection to our higher self is a vital process in discovering and fulfilling our purpose.

Each of our three parts depends on the other two. It is a symbiotic relationship. When all three forms of self are in tune, each will perform optimally. Self improvement requires work on all three levels.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Self Discovery

Finding purpose begins with self discovery. To discover why we are here, first we need to better understand what we are. We are many things. We are a species, a race, a nationality and an individual. We are also more than things. Things are made of matter. We too are made of matter. Because we have consciousness, awareness of self, we believe we are more than matter. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies a volume. Albert Einstein's 'theory of relativity' led to many amazing discoveries, including the relationship between mass and energy. He explained that mass and energy are transmutable. We are familiar with the equation E=mc2. In physics, mass-energy equivalence is the concept that mass of a body is a measure of its energy content. All things are made of energy. Therefore, we are made of energy. Our physical bodies are made of energy. This is science. It is considered a scientific truth.

We are more than our physical bodies. Each individual is composed of three very unique components. We are body,mind and spirit. Not only is our flesh made of energy, in eastern philosophy, the human body as a whole is a system of energy known as chi. Chi energy plays a major role in our human existence. Everything from our physical health to our emotional well being is related to this energy. The cycle of giving and receiving energy is a part of everyday life. Sometimes this energy can be expressed as attention. When we give attention to someone, we are giving them energy. Depending on the type of attention we are giving, the energy can be positive or negative. Our physical bodies need energy from food, water and oxygen. Our spirit bodies also need energy. Most people struggle to obtain energy from others.

Receiving attention from others can be accomplished in many ways. From childhood, we learn to attract attention through trial and error. When a child learns to use the toilet, he is praised. This positive energy feels good. When he associates the joy of being praised with the act of using the toilet, the act is reinforced. If he is not praised for using the toilet, there is no motivation to do so. If the only attention he receives is the disappointment or punishment of not using the toilet, than that energy is what he learns to attract. Positive energy is preferred. In its absence, negative energy is accepted. As long as there is a source of positive energy available, the negative source will be avoided. If the negative energy is the only energy available, behavioral patterns are developed to receive this energy instead. The method used to receive energy as a child becomes the primary way of satisfying our need throughout life.

As we develop, we find other ways of getting energy. The universe is filled with limitless energy that we can tap into. By learning to connect with this energy, we can become self sufficient and do not need to compete with others for their energy. When we do not depend on energy from others, we can become a source to share. This sharing can bring great joy.

What ways can you think of that people use to get energy/attention from others?

Finding Purpose

Ever since man has been aware of his own existance, he has asked, "Why am I here"? Since I was a young child, I have asked the same question. In search of an answer, I have studied many religions, philosophies and cultures. Some suggest that we are merely toys of a supreme being, being played out like a game of chess. Others say we are here by chance. Many believe we exist in an organized universe, while others believe our universe is chaotic and grows unpredictably. Some live day to day believing the purpose of life is not meant to be known until the body dies. Some just accept a meaningless existence, believing that when the body dies, there is simply nothing left.

Although we have learned what we know from others, we each have the ability to accept or deny the information we receive. No one can convince us of a truth we do not wish to believe. I have chosen to share my thoughts and feelings with you, not to persuade or convince you to adopt my beliefs, but to offer them as possibilities. You might choose to do as I have done with the books I have read; incorporate what feels right to you to develop your own spiritual truth.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Human Experience

The Human Experience is based on a qoute from Pierre Teilhard-Dechardin.

"We are not human beings having spiritual experiences. We are spiritual beings having human experiences."

That inspired me to write the following poem:

We have created many vehicles
to transport us from one place to another.
However, there is one vehicle
greater than any other.

A gift we were each born into,
Each is unique,
as the spirit which lives inside.
We each experience differently
from the variety of opportunities
our bodies provide.

A gift received without a warranty,
no one knows how long
they will wear their shell,
but time is not important,
as long as it's worn well.

To make the most of the time we have,
each in our own way,
is all that we can do.
Nothing physical will ever see eternity.
This we know is true.

The time we share with others,
and even the lessons we learn alone,
enrich our spirits with wisdom
that without our bodies
never could be known.

First blog

Visions are like objects in the distance. The closer we move toward them, the more clear they become. -- Author unknown

Today I took another step toward creating my dream of being a professional writer. I took my fathers advice and started this blog. This is a forum where I can openly express my thoughts. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you. I will be posting segments from the manuscript I am currently writing. I would love to hear feedback and suggestions.
Thank you for checking it out.