A quiet evening of remembrance. Keeping all those who have been a part of my life in thought, whether they are still here or transitioned.
With so much going on in the world, don't be afraid to take some much needed time for you. Turn off the TV, radio or computer (after you finish reading this! :) ) and sit in silence for even 10 minutes. If silence isn't your thing, play some subtle music. It's not only healthy, but necessary to unclutter the mind from the distractions of the day now and then.
Meditation helps in so many ways. Some are unmentionable - not because I refuse to say or that they are secrets, but rather, it simply cannot be put into words. It's something you feel and experience in such ways that it changes you and even gifts you with knowledge, an awareness and a quiet mind. Nothing could properly describe this as it must be experienced - and every person will have a different experience.
I remember the person I was back in 2008, just as I was starting with this journey of spiritual practices. I would never consider myself to have been 'bad' or 'mean' by any stretch - not even slightly a troublemaker, but the act of meditating and moving into spiritual practice has calmed me, and a lot of the mental chatter in my head. All the pent up anger and frustrations of times gone by, some from many years prior - so far back I don't recall who, or what, I was angry at, but that accumulated negative energy was with me. For me, it was many little things creating one big ball of negative energy surrounding me and it needed to be released.
Being a spiritual person doesn't stop you from experiencing emotions. We need our emotions to guide us - and it does so like a compass! Practicing spirituality allows us the awareness of those emotions so we may refrain from acting on them spontaneously and, instead, work through them with more clarity.
Becoming spiritual is not about suddenly waking up one morning, turning your life around and *BAM* - you're there - a place where nothing bothers you, no one can hurt your feelings, you don't cry or show emotions any more and so on. It is about realizing who you are. Who you really are - and the why you are who you are. Perhaps knowing the why first, so we can get back to who we really are with that information.
Initially, as we grow and mature from childhood, we are a product of family, society, the environment and the events in our experience. These people and things mold and program us making us who we become in our adult life. Through quieting of the mind we begin to see this - the why - then we see who we really are, on an energy level - without the programming. Sometimes reliving past events is necessary to clarify certain aspects of our self, to show us how we got to this point of little to no control - and in many instances it will scare the shit out of you, but do not give in! Reliving within the mind allows you to see from other angles so-to-speak. Knowledge of, and knowing yourself, is scarey but also key to regaining control.
You will constantly be tested with similar events throughout your life until you get what this lesson is all about to you. Then the tests become less and less frequent until they are gone! Truth be told, they don't 'go' anywhere. You simply stop acknowledging them due to outgrowing them. You get the tests first to learn the lessons, when it comes to life!
Monks have devoted their lives in training to obtain an enlightened state, and yet I see people recently who start their spiritual journey and show signs that they are opened-up spiritually within a few years. This is very possible at this point in time. Rarely does it happen overnight however.
The energies of this planet have sped up substantially over the past while and people are attaining levels of enlightenment at much accelerated rates, but there is no 'end' result. It is a continuous journey. You don't just 'get there' as it's not about there. It's the journey, the learning, the experiences, the lessons, the service of helping others... All of these are the adventure that takes people to wonderful places (both physical and non-physical places) and meeting different and wonderful beings (again, both of the physical and non-physical).
Being spiritual is about energies coming together, being drawn to you - putting pieces of you back together, or reconstructing what you once were in a sense. For me, spirituality is quieting my mind and raising my energy. It is also holding myself accountable for everything that occurs in my life. After all, It is my life, and I need to be the one at the controls. This aids in bringing about awareness - of my own internal energy as well as energies within my environment.
Worrying about things outside of your control is a surefire way of adding and amplifying chaos and anxiety within your life. Drop that crap as fast as you can - you don't need it and it won't do anything but bring you down! Keep the vibes high!
As I mentioned earlier, none of this happens overnight. Practice is the key! So if you choose to make the attempt at it - go for it! If you don't like it - stop!
Personally, I do burn incense, I do light candles, I do meditate, I do practice QiGong and Reiki - but none of this makes me spiritual - they all help me build a positive energy creating an inviting environment and also perpetually raising the energy, both in those surroundings and within me! Incense and candles can clear the environmental energy of negativity while the QiGong and Reiki raise my personal energy, also aiding in clearing out negativity. Done enough, people will begin to feel the positive energy if they walk through the space you constantly meditate in. Mix that higher vibe of energy with the mindfulness that meditation brings to you and watch the magic!
When I sold my home so many years ago, my real estate agent commented immediately upon entering my living room that it had a 'beautiful energy' in that space that she didn't get anywhere else in the house. That room was where I did my meditating daily for the several years that I lived there. Positive energy adds onto itself, building it up the more you practice!
Such a personal thing this spirituality. Everyone will do it differently, experience it differently, call it by different names and labels, have different results, not want to tell anyone they do it, or tell everyone, and you know what? This is all OK! Diversity is beautiful, keeps things interesting and besides, you are doing this for you, not others!
So switch off for a bit, put some music on - if you feel so inclined - and relax. Even if you don't want to call it a 'spiritual practice' - fine! Meditating and mindfulness will still help you in your day to day life.
In closing, I say this: Do as you will with the life you live, but harm none in what you choose to do with it - including yourself.
Thank you!
~ Randy
With so much going on in the world, don't be afraid to take some much needed time for you. Turn off the TV, radio or computer (after you finish reading this! :) ) and sit in silence for even 10 minutes. If silence isn't your thing, play some subtle music. It's not only healthy, but necessary to unclutter the mind from the distractions of the day now and then.
Meditation helps in so many ways. Some are unmentionable - not because I refuse to say or that they are secrets, but rather, it simply cannot be put into words. It's something you feel and experience in such ways that it changes you and even gifts you with knowledge, an awareness and a quiet mind. Nothing could properly describe this as it must be experienced - and every person will have a different experience.
I remember the person I was back in 2008, just as I was starting with this journey of spiritual practices. I would never consider myself to have been 'bad' or 'mean' by any stretch - not even slightly a troublemaker, but the act of meditating and moving into spiritual practice has calmed me, and a lot of the mental chatter in my head. All the pent up anger and frustrations of times gone by, some from many years prior - so far back I don't recall who, or what, I was angry at, but that accumulated negative energy was with me. For me, it was many little things creating one big ball of negative energy surrounding me and it needed to be released.
Being a spiritual person doesn't stop you from experiencing emotions. We need our emotions to guide us - and it does so like a compass! Practicing spirituality allows us the awareness of those emotions so we may refrain from acting on them spontaneously and, instead, work through them with more clarity.
Becoming spiritual is not about suddenly waking up one morning, turning your life around and *BAM* - you're there - a place where nothing bothers you, no one can hurt your feelings, you don't cry or show emotions any more and so on. It is about realizing who you are. Who you really are - and the why you are who you are. Perhaps knowing the why first, so we can get back to who we really are with that information.
Initially, as we grow and mature from childhood, we are a product of family, society, the environment and the events in our experience. These people and things mold and program us making us who we become in our adult life. Through quieting of the mind we begin to see this - the why - then we see who we really are, on an energy level - without the programming. Sometimes reliving past events is necessary to clarify certain aspects of our self, to show us how we got to this point of little to no control - and in many instances it will scare the shit out of you, but do not give in! Reliving within the mind allows you to see from other angles so-to-speak. Knowledge of, and knowing yourself, is scarey but also key to regaining control.
You will constantly be tested with similar events throughout your life until you get what this lesson is all about to you. Then the tests become less and less frequent until they are gone! Truth be told, they don't 'go' anywhere. You simply stop acknowledging them due to outgrowing them. You get the tests first to learn the lessons, when it comes to life!
Monks have devoted their lives in training to obtain an enlightened state, and yet I see people recently who start their spiritual journey and show signs that they are opened-up spiritually within a few years. This is very possible at this point in time. Rarely does it happen overnight however.
The energies of this planet have sped up substantially over the past while and people are attaining levels of enlightenment at much accelerated rates, but there is no 'end' result. It is a continuous journey. You don't just 'get there' as it's not about there. It's the journey, the learning, the experiences, the lessons, the service of helping others... All of these are the adventure that takes people to wonderful places (both physical and non-physical places) and meeting different and wonderful beings (again, both of the physical and non-physical).
Being spiritual is about energies coming together, being drawn to you - putting pieces of you back together, or reconstructing what you once were in a sense. For me, spirituality is quieting my mind and raising my energy. It is also holding myself accountable for everything that occurs in my life. After all, It is my life, and I need to be the one at the controls. This aids in bringing about awareness - of my own internal energy as well as energies within my environment.
Worrying about things outside of your control is a surefire way of adding and amplifying chaos and anxiety within your life. Drop that crap as fast as you can - you don't need it and it won't do anything but bring you down! Keep the vibes high!
As I mentioned earlier, none of this happens overnight. Practice is the key! So if you choose to make the attempt at it - go for it! If you don't like it - stop!
Personally, I do burn incense, I do light candles, I do meditate, I do practice QiGong and Reiki - but none of this makes me spiritual - they all help me build a positive energy creating an inviting environment and also perpetually raising the energy, both in those surroundings and within me! Incense and candles can clear the environmental energy of negativity while the QiGong and Reiki raise my personal energy, also aiding in clearing out negativity. Done enough, people will begin to feel the positive energy if they walk through the space you constantly meditate in. Mix that higher vibe of energy with the mindfulness that meditation brings to you and watch the magic!
When I sold my home so many years ago, my real estate agent commented immediately upon entering my living room that it had a 'beautiful energy' in that space that she didn't get anywhere else in the house. That room was where I did my meditating daily for the several years that I lived there. Positive energy adds onto itself, building it up the more you practice!
Such a personal thing this spirituality. Everyone will do it differently, experience it differently, call it by different names and labels, have different results, not want to tell anyone they do it, or tell everyone, and you know what? This is all OK! Diversity is beautiful, keeps things interesting and besides, you are doing this for you, not others!
So switch off for a bit, put some music on - if you feel so inclined - and relax. Even if you don't want to call it a 'spiritual practice' - fine! Meditating and mindfulness will still help you in your day to day life.
In closing, I say this: Do as you will with the life you live, but harm none in what you choose to do with it - including yourself.
Thank you!
~ Randy