Sunday, July 17, 2011
Bloggus Interruptus
We interrupt this spiritual blog for a couple of weeks for the Mama with limited, precious free time to take an online photography course. Hip Hip Hooray - see you in August!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Community
In many religious traditions, devotees or monks practice solitude and aestheticism to eliminate worldly distractions and deepen faith and understanding. On a personal daily level, I find that if I have daily solitude, I'm happier, more connected, and more available and open.
This weekend I spend 24 blissed out hours with my beautiful, glowing, radiant, present dance community who are all so radically different from one another but are woven together by the common thread of dance, and before that, they are all women who seek and deeply drink the marrow of life.
If you haven't spend time with your community recently, find them, invite them, go to them, do whatever you have to do to surround yourself with the inspiring energy of your deepest community.
This weekend I spend 24 blissed out hours with my beautiful, glowing, radiant, present dance community who are all so radically different from one another but are woven together by the common thread of dance, and before that, they are all women who seek and deeply drink the marrow of life.
If you haven't spend time with your community recently, find them, invite them, go to them, do whatever you have to do to surround yourself with the inspiring energy of your deepest community.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Spiritual Diet
One huge obstacle for me (and pretty much everyone I know) is.. that extra 10/20/30 whatever... POUNDS. If I lost the baby weight, I'd be happier. If I lost the baby weight, I'd feel better. If I lost the baby weight, if I lost the baby weight...
Is it true?
Can you absolutely know that it's true?
How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
Who would you be without the thought?
Turn around the concept you are questioning, and be sure to find at least three genuine, specific examples of each turnaround.
Is that true? Byron Katie asks us to do "the work" - a short process of inquiry designed to liberate us from obstacles, beliefs, and blocks that hold us back (and doesn't she have the most peaceful website you've ever seen?) Let's try it!! Choose a belief and ask yourself:
Is it true? Can you absolutely know that it's true? How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought? Who would you be without the thought?Turn around the concept you are questioning, and be sure to find at least three genuine, specific examples of each turnaround.
I'll show you mine if you show me yours!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Obstacle Challenge
Thanks to my readers on Facebook who helped fuel my creative fire! A few weeks ago I asked for your input as to what prevents you from drinking in the fullness of each moment of each day. Some wonderful responses - and I hope to get to each - provided me with wonderful food for thought. The Marrow of Life was originally created to help me keep track of my efforts to bring spirituality to a more realistic plane. It seems that there are two camps - the totally dedicated, morning meditating, super composed, present, and esoteric folks who eat, sleep and breathe this stuff. If you ask them if they believe in God, they usually serenely say something like, "There are many names for God, consciousness, presence, grace... yes, I believe in a higher power in the universe that connects all living things.. "
And, well, the rest of us. The ones that are still kind of a train wreck, have a pretty grounded idea that we're all connected, who can Be Here Now on a daily but not consistent basis, who would rather pull out their toenails than meditate for even 5 seconds, and who just desire for more meaning in life and an ATTAIN ABLY conscious way of living. Usually if you ask us if we believe in God, we are all, "Um, well, sort of but not the bearded guy" and we leave it at that.
This blog was intended for the "I don't relate to the bearded guy" crowd. I thank my readers for their submissions about the obstacles that get in the way of feeling the deep miracle of every day. It reminded me where this blog was supposed to go - and where it was supposed to come from. It was not supposed to come from the 5 minutes I have to squeeze out of myself. It was supposed to come from contemplation of the literature and resources I have, and how they relate to daily life.
I'm afraid you guys have been treated to "JJ Lite" - the free version of the app that is supposed to lure you into the paid version with better features and interface. Someday, I imagine that life will be settled down, I'll have a little designated, inspiring writing spot from which to still-full-ly (like "Skillfully," get it?) create inspiring blog-fodder for y'all... in the meantime, thanks for your patience with "Marrow Lite".
Your challenge and mine for the week: Write down the obstacles that get in the way of peaceful living. For example, I discovered a HUGE one during this inquiry: PMS. I swear to you that I cannot bring myself back from the brink of homicidal, small-me mindedness when I have PMS. This is a new phenomenon to me, because I was on the pill for basically my entire reproductive life. Just figuring that out has helped tremendously - I know not to take my Very Serious Emotions quite so... Seriously.
Let's pay close attention to these marrow-suckers. Some of mine: On a molar level (what we call "setting events" in behavior analysis): Being deprived of time alone, on a daily basis. PMS. Lack of creative time. On a molecular level (what we call antecedents): Tantrumming toddler. Condescending tone of voice. Getting home too late. All of these precursors send me straight to the edge of the "it's all about me" cliff.
Report! And, on a little-me note, if you're reading, please let me know, even with just a "present" or "accounted for". I'd love to know you're out there!
And, well, the rest of us. The ones that are still kind of a train wreck, have a pretty grounded idea that we're all connected, who can Be Here Now on a daily but not consistent basis, who would rather pull out their toenails than meditate for even 5 seconds, and who just desire for more meaning in life and an ATTAIN ABLY conscious way of living. Usually if you ask us if we believe in God, we are all, "Um, well, sort of but not the bearded guy" and we leave it at that.
This blog was intended for the "I don't relate to the bearded guy" crowd. I thank my readers for their submissions about the obstacles that get in the way of feeling the deep miracle of every day. It reminded me where this blog was supposed to go - and where it was supposed to come from. It was not supposed to come from the 5 minutes I have to squeeze out of myself. It was supposed to come from contemplation of the literature and resources I have, and how they relate to daily life.
I'm afraid you guys have been treated to "JJ Lite" - the free version of the app that is supposed to lure you into the paid version with better features and interface. Someday, I imagine that life will be settled down, I'll have a little designated, inspiring writing spot from which to still-full-ly (like "Skillfully," get it?) create inspiring blog-fodder for y'all... in the meantime, thanks for your patience with "Marrow Lite".
Your challenge and mine for the week: Write down the obstacles that get in the way of peaceful living. For example, I discovered a HUGE one during this inquiry: PMS. I swear to you that I cannot bring myself back from the brink of homicidal, small-me mindedness when I have PMS. This is a new phenomenon to me, because I was on the pill for basically my entire reproductive life. Just figuring that out has helped tremendously - I know not to take my Very Serious Emotions quite so... Seriously.
Let's pay close attention to these marrow-suckers. Some of mine: On a molar level (what we call "setting events" in behavior analysis): Being deprived of time alone, on a daily basis. PMS. Lack of creative time. On a molecular level (what we call antecedents): Tantrumming toddler. Condescending tone of voice. Getting home too late. All of these precursors send me straight to the edge of the "it's all about me" cliff.
Report! And, on a little-me note, if you're reading, please let me know, even with just a "present" or "accounted for". I'd love to know you're out there!
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