Conscious LivingWritten by Diana Kennedy, LMT
Earlier this year, following an intention to live more consciously, I deemed it Year of Awakening. For me, I envision a lifetime of conscious living as I more fully awaken to spiritual being that I truly am. As a part of my spiritual journey, I love to look up meanings of things to gain an even deeper understanding. This is what Webster’s Dictionary had to say about word conscious: in “moment”, in waking awareness, mentally perceptive, alert, subjectively knowing, intentional, deliberate, inwardly attentive, mindful, possessing knowledge, cognizant, knowing one's self, realizing and recognizing.Wow, now that is a powerful definition! Who wouldn’t want to be conscious? Along with conscious living comes responsibility to act on our values and insights. We may experience emotional pain as we allow ourselves to feel what we’ve been stuffing down for years, but for most part, living consciously is joyful, as we see good in one another and trust presence of a loving God unfolding in our lives perfectly. In order to change old patterns and create greater consciousness in our lives it is important to make a daily practice that allows for a shift in awareness and then creation of new, improved patterns and habits can emerge. For those who know me, I am a ‘busy’ woman, yet I am learning to enjoy some downtime. I see how it is leading me to greater awareness in my life. A part of my daily practice is to spend time in stillness, in quiet of my own mind. I spend time in silence when I meditate, which I also call “basking”. It is there that I learn to have space between my thoughts. I listen to that inner voice and wherever it takes me is where I am willing go. I find more I listen to spiritual guidance that I receive, smoother my life flows! While spending time in silence, I release my prayers and go over in my mind all that I am grateful for. My heart is filled with appreciation as I review in my mind many ways that I am blessed. If there is any resentment or forgiveness work to do, I take care of this too, while my inner being is quiet and focused on goodness of God.
| | Adages for the New YearWritten by Sam Stevens
The old familiar adages just don't do it for me any more. For instance, consider "the early bird gets worm." In this age of freelancing, premature ejaculation and peaking too early in one's career (by age 24) a more appropriate adage might be "The early bird dies earlier." Another one that has been puzzling me lately is "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.' Sure it does if woman is staying up late cleaning house and taking care of kids after working a full day at office. Not only is adage sexist but it also doesn't make any sense. Most people who work these hours slave at low paying jobs with little chance at advancement. Shouldn't it read, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes corporation I slave for wealthy and wise?” "The doors of wisdom are never shut." This also should be revised to read, "The doors of a 24 hour Drug or Convenience Store are never shut." It is more truthful. Another migraine-maker is "You reap what you sow." Now whether this is supposed to apply to gardening or whatever, we know this is not true. Many individuals slave for years on projects that don't pay off, couples copulate to try and have babies with no result and people sow wheat all time only to have it destroyed by frost or rainstorms. In these hard times, doesn't a saying such as "You reap what is available" make much more sense? Also problematic is ultimate adage about being sweet -- you "attract more flies with honey." The trouble with this kind of "honey" is it also attracts other creatures such as raccoons, bears and others that would rape you of your charms. Also I am very suspicious of charming people. Often they want to borrow money from you or some other favour. I think it should be changed to "Beware those bearing gifts of honey, as they probably want bread." I also have a problem with "He who laughs last, laughs best." I think that should be changed to "He who laughs last, laughs alone." Nobody likes a joke at his or her expense.
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