Hello again. One of the elders of my spiritual community has posted a New Year’s greeting, and it’s worth reading so I’m including it here. Hope you enjoy reading it. Here’s what she says:
Dear Friends,
On the threshold of 2012 we are uncertain about what time may hold for us. Ours is a time in which there are two energies at work: an ascending energy and a descending energy.
We are reminded constantly of the descending energy and its destabilizing effects on the world, increasing feelings of fear, anxiety and hopelessness.
Perhaps less visible, but assuredly more powerful, is the ascending energy. Like new growth below the ground in late winter, ascending energy is working quietly in the hearts and minds of people everywhere, shaping a new story. We see it in the surge of those seeking spiritual truth and in the hundreds of thousands of civil society organizations requesting transparency, authenticity, and a return to values.
We have a choice about which energy we affiliate with, about where we put our support. We make this choice at the level of thought. When we allow anger, greed, or fear into our thoughts, we strengthen the descending energy, and we lose our capacity for generosity and mercy.
When we meet situations with peace, love, and persistent happiness, when we are careful not to say or think anything that would hurt another’s heart, we amplify the energy of ascent.
We find these qualities inside of ourselves, as they have always been our true nature. But to find them ready in moments of need, we have to nurture them daily. To make the greatest contribution to the world at this time, keep the fire of goodness alive in your heart and mind. Fill yourself with the energies of peace, love and happiness and let them infuse your every action.
With love
BK Janki
Did anyone see the moon just after the new year began?
Last night (and this morning) I spent a glorious time with my dear friends. We sat in a beautiful room lit by candles and Morrocan lamps, and listened to each other tell the story of our 2011, and what we had learnt from the year. On hearing the boom of distant fireworks we walked across the road to the beach to catch a glimpse of sky magic. Well we certainly saw some sky magic. We could hardly see the fireworks, they were so far away, but the moon … oh what a moon. A golden crescent moon hung in the sky, just above the ocean. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Then a cloud slowly edged in front of the moon, and somehow made the moon change shape. We all saw it as a sinking ship, then an exquisite golden sparrow, then it split into 3 chunks of golden rock hanging in the sky. None of us had ever seen such a show by the moon before, and we all felt how special this moment was to share together – our first magic moment of 2012. We all made a wish.
I think 2012 is going to be a great year. Enjoy every moment.
To celebrate the moon, here’s an excerpt from my book “Who Am I?”
It’s about the physical moon and sun and earth, and also a metaphor exploring the balance between spirituality and the material world.
Till next we chat, peace and blessings to you.
I am the moon
I run playful circles around the Earth, but I have a love-affair with the Sun. The Earth is the world with which I interact, for it is where my light falls, but the Sun is the source of my light. I play a game with the sun, orbiting the playing field of Earth, while keeping my face to the Sun.
The dance of life takes we three into many configurations. Sometimes the Earth stands between me and my beloved Sun and I fall into darkness. Sometimes I am completely bathed in sunlight and the Earth enjoys my radiant fullness. What a dance! What a game of waxing and waning light. What bliss when I am fully facing the Sun.
I am the Moon - illustration by Linda Franklin from our book "Who Am I?"
Good heavens, where did July go?
Inner Peace has taken on a whole new image in my mind now. Recently 3 of my friends, all adults, took me to see Kung Fu Panda 2 – in 3D – and I haven’t laughed out loud so much in ages! But now when I think of inner peace, I see a beautiful chubby Panda, with a wisecracking attitude and a heart of gold, concentrating on a drop of water, and dancing it round his paws.
Inner peace is my goal in life. I know how to find it – many years of navel-gazing in meditation has definitely given me the road map to where peace lives. It’s just that sometimes I get more interested in the detours. Instead of acting from the place of peace, I act from a place of force, mistakenly thinking that force will get the job done … but all force does is exhaust me and makes me crush the little flowers growing along the roadside. Knowing where to find inner peace is one thing, and I do feel lucky, because some people don’t know where to find it – yet. But just knowing where peace lives is not enough. To keep wanting to be in the place where peace is … that’s my goal. Inner peace, inner peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeace.
After our Uluru trip, I was inspired to put together a video using film and stills photos along with one of the meditations from our CD “Worry-free: meditations to reduce anxiety and tension”
Here’s a link to the youtube video – I hope you enjoy it.
It’s important to keep revisiting my beliefs, knowing that I attract events, experiences, relationships, everything, according to my beliefs and attitudes. Every day I am reminded of this, one way or another. Sometimes beliefs are so deeply entrenched that I can’t identify them. And then life kindly offers me an opportunity to question myself and see what is driving me.
Here’s another page from my book “Who Am I?” and it’s called “I am a Magnet”
I am a Magnet - illustration by Linda Franklin
I am a magnet
Who I believe I am has a more powerful influence over me than who I am. Each belief I hold carries a magnetic field that draws a similar energy towards me. The more conviction I have that a belief is true, the more powerful is its magnetic pull.
If I believe I am lucky, good fortune is attracted to me. If I believe I deserve to be treated badly, I attract abusive relationships. If I believe I am nothing special, I attract experiences in which I become invisible. My worst fears and my greatest hopes are magnetically attracting experiences to me. It is time to review the beliefs I hold about myself.
One of the things I appreciate about going to Uluru is the complete rest for my brain. There is almost nothing to read in the landscape – only an occasional signpost to direct you to sunrise viewing point or car parking areas. For me, living in the city, working at a computer every day, my brain sometimes feels like it’s sizzling, with far too much information in the form of human-electricity jumping back and forth across synapses. Just being in the desert for a couple of days gave my brain the holiday it needed. At the wonderful Uluru Cultural Centre, we are guided to appreciate the country the way the local Anangu people do – to listen to the land, the wind, the birds, the insects, and to feel the land. Beautiful. May I suggest you find a few minutes today to experience “information underload” … go outside, and for a few moments listen to some birds, or maybe the wind rustling in the leaves, or look at the sky, watch some clouds, or find the moon tonight.
The birds love the nectar from these beautiful yellow flowers, currently in abundance at Uluru, June 2011
Still thinking about those amazing rocks at the centre of Australia, Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Had a little bit of a challenging day today, and I could feel myself becoming unsettled when someone criticised me during a phonecall. So I’ve been remembering the stability of the great rocks at the heart of our land, and drawing upon that strength and stability, instead of feeling shaken and wobbly. I am a rock.
Sun setting over Kata Tjuta
Here’s another extract from my book “Who Am I?” The book contains beautiful line illustrations by Linda Franklin, but I’m sure she won’t mind if today I use this photo instead to illustrate the following text.
I am a rock
I am solid rock. My nature is enduring; I stay true to myself no matter what changes occur around me. I protect the way things are. I am not seduced by novelty. I respect the past and won’t abandon it without good reason.
I am strong and resistant, but not stubborn. I can be moulded. Over time I can be shaped by water. Patience is my great virtue, the secret to my inner peace.
First morning back home after Uluru, I picked up my book “Who Am I?” and randomly opened it, to the page “I am a Sunrise.” Seems to reflect how I am feeling after the refreshment of the desert, so I am including the text below. I’ve included a photo of the sun touching the top of Uluru, igniting the golden tones that give me so much energy.
Sun rising over Uluru, June 2011, turning the tip to gold
I am a sunrise
The dark night— the domain of dreams and inertia—is over. I herald the new day, where dreams are fulfilled. I offer unlimited opportunities for experiencing love, peace and happiness. A new day is dawning, and it’s going to be wonderful. Nothing need ever be the same again. My rosy pink optimism dispels the darkness and my golden enthusiasm invites the sky to display its vast spaciousness where anything is possible. With such a spectacular start it’s going to be a beautiful day.
We’ve just landed in rainy Sydney.
The desert was …
aaaaaaaaah
spacious
simple
uncluttered
grounding
quiet
still
aaaaaaaaaah
Seeing the city of Sydney through the plane window was a little unsettling.
That’s all I have to say right now … I will allow myself to adjust before sharing more of the desert experience with you.
