GATHERING IN COMMUNITY! I return home from the Wake Up Festival, organized by Sounds True, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. I am inspired and moved by being in the presence of people from all over the world who are dedicated to love and being conscious.
Also, being in the company of Adyashanti, Gangaji, Carolyn Myss, Jack Kornfield, Mark Nepo, Mathew Fox, Santam Kaur, and others... was amazing, inspiring and deepening.
I will never forget Mathew Fox leading us in a greiving process for our planet and all of the species who are extinct and going extinct. A thousand people -- kneeling with our foreheads on the ground -- wailing and grieving together for our shared loss and the changes occuring on our planet that we feel powerless to stop. Many of us did not stop crying when the ritual ended.
The week felt like three weeks away of deep spiritual feasting -- and I felt emptied out and simultaneously overflowingly full.
I came home to bad news -- several people newly diagnosed with cancer, three deaths, one murder and one person on life supports -- all in my community of friends and family. And, it continues -- a surge of what I call "plucking" is happening. This is what it really feels like -- "pluckings" here, there, and again here, there, seems like everywhere. A friend said to me "I wonder if there is a Wake Up Festival happening on the other side."
So, I contemplate "After such a spiritual enriching week, and coming home to so many (what appears to be) abrupt transitions, what do I want to share with my tribe via this newsletter?"
"Do all you can with what you've been given in the place that you are with the time that you have." This is a quote from a child suffering with terminal illness.
Let's reflect on this amazingly wise advice from a child. "Do all you can..." What does this really mean to you -- "to do all that you can"? Perhaps it points to opening, nurturing, fueling and allowing that which is inside of us to be born and lived out. Similar to a seed that that falls from a tree, having everything it needs to evolve into its own tree ~~ in its own timing ~~ with the right ingredients, we have within us manifestation of creation meant to be known and expressed. But just like the seed, we need water and fertizlizer and good composting of all of our life experiences! What are the seeds within you that are wanting expression? What wants to manifest?
To know this, we must listen, truly listen. And to do this, we must let go of expectations and stories about all that we are supposed to do and be. Sometimes it is not a kingdom, nor fame, nor something obviously great and recognizable that is inside of us that wants to be birthed. It may be way quieter than that. It may be a breath that wants to breathe deeper and fuller. It may be reaching out to a person who is lonely or feeding a cat who lives in the neighborhood or a painting a color across a blank canvas or simply and powerfully, opening the heart to feel a little deeper and love a little more.
"Do all you can with what you've been given... " A seed from a sadgara cactus doe not give rise to a oak tree. We are who we are. We each have our gifts and limitations. We are each meant to be an expression of ourselves, not what we wish we are and who we envy. If we all can only say "Yes" to who we are, I believe our world would shine brighter! And if we really pause and look, we are given so much... from our senses... to the miracle of our bodies that breathe and move through the world to our hearts that know love as the core of who we are, on and on... What are you given? Really, what is given to you as you? (Please think about the question... )
Say "Yes" to what you've been given and breathe passionately into it!
"Do all you can with what you've been given in the place that you are... " Right here, yes, that's it, right here! Not there and not over there either. Not in the future, not in the past... No regrets, no day dreaming... We can only be known in connection with ourselves and with Spirit, right here, in this moment... So, This is it! Here we are... notice... this moment... that place that you are...
"Do all you can with what you've been given in the place that you are with the time that you have." Ahhh, yes, the time factor... that's a strange one, isn't it? We all know that we don't know what kind of time we have. On one hand, we, humans, race with the clock with all that we have to do and want to do... and on the other hand, we are in denial at almost all times and act as if we have ample time, when we really have no idea... and it never feels like enough... Time... time... there is This moment, and this moment, and this one... each now unfolds the tapestry of our lives and we never know when the tapastry of this incarnation is actually done... until it is. So, the time we have? Does this not lead us right beack to this moment... ? This breath, This moment, Thisexpereince is the time I have and you have... hello!
Yes, hello! Soul Star beam of light connecting us all in tribal consciousness, so that truly somewhere, deep inside, we know that we are not alone... and we are never alone... even when we feel alone. Vertical alignment so that we feel the earth and the skies and the portal of energy that we each are... and the beauty of our hands reaching for another...
I would like to tell you when to expect the next newsletter but I can not. But I can tell you that I enjoy communing with each of you in our etheric circle of kindred spirits... so we will meet again like this, for sure! Seriously, please invite others to join our circle so that we expand our Soul star Connection! Remind people to sign up on the mailing list at www.devajoy.net.
Please share on the blog what arises for you as you do this practice by clicking here Click Here to Post
Powerful statement! I'm printing it out and hanging it at my office so that I can remember each and everyday to make the most of every moment with the passion that I hold inside. Allison :)
You are such an incredible force for light! Thanks for calling others into it. In response to your question, "what is given to you as you?":
On Wed, I had tea with a friend. We hadn't seen one another for a while and she began by sharing heartache related to her father's ill health. She stopped and apologized for starting on such a heavy note. I'm grateful that I mostly feel connection and empathy when people share their difficulties. I honor that we all have our ups and downs, and all I could actually hear from my friend, through her pain, was deep love for her father. It was an honor that she felt comfortable being open and vulnerable. I'm grateful for this gift. xx
Powerful statement! I'm printing it out and hanging it at my office so that I can remember each and everyday to make the most of every moment with the passion that I hold inside. Allison :)
ReplyDeleteYou are such an incredible force for light! Thanks for calling others into it. In response to your question, "what is given to you as you?":
ReplyDeleteOn Wed, I had tea with a friend. We hadn't seen one another for a while and she began by sharing heartache related to her father's ill health. She stopped and apologized for starting on such a heavy note. I'm grateful that I mostly feel connection and empathy when people share their difficulties. I honor that we all have our ups and downs, and all I could actually hear from my friend, through her pain, was deep love for her father. It was an honor that she felt comfortable being open and vulnerable. I'm grateful for this gift. xx