The Call of the Mermaid

 The Call of the Mermaid

"It is very important to go out alone, to sit under a tree, not with a book, not with a companion, but by yourself and observe the falling of a leaf, hear the lapping of the water, the fishermen’s song, watch the flight of a bird, and of your own thoughts as they chase each other across the space of your mind. If you are able to be alone and watch these things, then you will discover extraordinary riches which can never be destroyed." ~Jiddu Krishnamurti

Legends say sailors heard haunting singing from mermaids echoing across the seas, calling them to the unknown. Some say it was a seductive force that meant danger, uncharted waters that could swallow them into the vast seas. It touched a longing deep in their souls.

The mermaid's call symbolizes a longing impossible to ignore; we often define it as our wish for happiness. Could it really be something much deeper and more profound, like a call to go deep within our inner self to find the mystic, our connection to the divine?

Are our fears like the sailors of being swallowed up by a vast sea of the unknow? The mermaid is a metaphor for the longing of something we don’t fully understand and something dangerously mystical. It is the call to explore something beyond the ordinary, dangerous and yet very enticing. 

In psychology, water represents the subconscious mind. It is a place of nightmares and fantasies. A place we store hidden thoughts, intuition, and instinctual knowledge. It is the scary part hidden from awareness. Where mermaids live can be very dangerous and frightening.  We experience a magnetic force pulling us toward the possibilities of what is beyond our everyday ordinary routines. A path into the darkness.

Some describe life as being born like a block of marble with layers of defenses we accumulate to survive. Inside the marble is a beautiful soul hidden. Spending time alone in meditation, in the forest, or by the river, begins the process of removing all the excess rock, piece by piece. The world of cultural expectations, rules, and borrowed beliefs is stripped as we go deeper into self. Sometimes we meet scary memories, nightmares, past mistakes, and the truth about our delusions. Thankfully, these things are revealed when we are ready to see them in the light of self-love. The Universe uses gentle nods and subtle whispers to light our path. Love never judges and we learn to do the same.

Sometimes truth cannot be measured and logically explained, it must be experienced. Magic doesn’t come from our rational mind. A great example is an experience psychology calls a peak experience. It happens when you are completely overpowered by your senses. Maslow defined it as, “unusual moments of heightened joy, serenity, beauty, or wonder.” He reports that these experiences have happened across time, culture, religion, and are indescribable. Sometimes they can change a person’s perspective on life. If you have had one, you know it and you know when somebody else starts to describe theirs. During a peak experience, you feel an overwhelming sense of being one with the world. There is a heightened sense of wonder, awe, and ecstasy. There is a sense of losing track of time. It is difficult to describe. It can lead to significant changes and serve as a turning point to living a deeper or more meaningful life. It is usually a fleeting experience. You can’t make it happen again even though you wish you could. It creates a yearning for a feeling of oneness and love like you experienced. 

How do we find the mystic within? How do you satisfy longing?

    Begin with self-love 

    The path to our soul is through our senses.

    The mystical path. The truth of our hearts reflected in our eyes.

Self-love

"Remember self-love is also revolutionary and world-changing. We cannot fight for others when we are fighting a war inside ourselves. Compassion is reflexive, a power that we first bestow on ourselves and then give away through our actions-to people, to pour planet. When we recognize that truth, that is when we let love become our legacy." -Amanda Gorman

The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. Loving ourselves is the opening to loving the world and feeling connected to all living things. It is one of the most powerful tools we give to ourselves. Self-love makes it easier to be honest and to trust our intuition. We strive for a healthy mind, body, and spirit. We understand pain is not a punishment. We feel joyful and have confident thoughts. In essence, we become our highest self, free to go beyond our logical mind into the vast universe of our imagination. In our imagination all things are possible. We can be friends with trees, butterflies, spiders, and Bluebirds. We can share stories with crows and dragonflies. 

Connect to your true essence by developing self-love. 

Trust your inner guidance system, intuition. 

Embrace pain as a path to growth and wisdom.  Resting in unknowing and uncomfortable. 

When we love ourselves and feel connected to all, we realize that pain is not a punishment. It can be a message telling us something is out of balance. Our bodies speak to us through pain; too much exercise or not enough, not enough sleep, too many desserts. Our hearts feel the pain of loss, telling us how much we love. The pain of compassion is a reminder of our oneness and connection

And yet that emptiness, that waiting, that liminal space is sacred. It’s what distinguishes a prophet-mystic from a self-righteous activist or a spiritual narcissist. It is in the interior desert, where the landscape appears barren, that patience reveals the miracle of life teeming just below the surface. The more we mindfully observe what is, the more beauty comes into focus. There is nothing broken here, nothing to fix. Rather, the prophet-mystic practices sitting with reality as it is. From that space of quiet listening, we may perceive what is ours to do and tap into the vitality we need to do it. We take up our birthright of belonging and, in the spirit of the mystical Jewish teaching of tikkun olam, we mend the broken world and restore wholeness to the web of interbeing.  

Ideas:

Savoring:

Defined by the psychologists Fred Bryant and Joseph Veroff as “the capacity to attend to, appreciate, and enhance the positive experiences in one’s life.” This can mean focusing on a current, future, or past experience with particular attention to the positive parts: being fully present and attentive to a gorgeous sunset or a fascinating conversation.

Activity: 

    1. Before starting an experience such as a hike into the forest, think of two events you expect to experience. 

    2. Imagine each event vividly with all five senses. 

    3. When an event occurs, be fully present and aware with senses, not thinking.

    4. Remember your experience with gratitude and express it to somebody. 

 Researchers point us toward making a habit of savoring. You can repeat the following activity daily with experiences like your morning routine of making and drinking coffee, or your routine trip to the grocery store.

Waking up through our senses:

Sight:

People rarely actually look carefully at anything; they glance at it and then rely on their brain to fill in the details.

Patience Visted Me

 Patience visited me

And it reminded me

That good things take time to come to fruition

And grow slowly with stability

Peace visited me

And it reminded me

That I may remain calm through the storms of life

Regardless of the chaos surrounding me

Hope visited me

And it reminded me

That better times lay ahead

And it would always be there to guide and uplift me

Humility visited me

And it reminded me

That I may achieve it

Not by trying to shrink myself and make myself less

But by focusing on serving the world and uplifting those around me

Kindness visited me

And it reminded me

To be more gentle, forgiving and compassionate toward myself

And those surrounding meConfidence visited me

And it reminded me

To not conceal or suppress my gifts and talents

In order to make others feel more comfortable

But to embrace what makes me me

Focus visited me

And it reminded me

That other people’s insecurities and judgments about me

Are not my problem

And I should redirect my attention

From others back to me

Freedom visited me

And it reminded me

That no one has control over my mindset, thoughts, and wellbeing

But me

And love visited me

And it reminded me

That I need not search for it in others

As it lies within me.

Words by Tahlia Hunter

The true value of a human being is determined primarily by the measure and the sense in which he has attained liberation from the self. —ALBERT EINSTEIN (1879–1955)

This could also be explained as ego-self. Love self comes from a different place when it is doing good in the world.

Fruits of wintering:

1.    Yesterday's readings helped me to not judge myself or others for coming from ego good. It is a stage we go through to get to heart good. Wintering has helped me gain this insight. It helps me to let go of all judgment. The judgment I feel when I observe ego good deeds of my past and ones observed by others. I understand what I picked up as elitism, is really ego good deeds which is a stepping stone to heart good deeds done without or without others noticing.

2.    

Mindfulness Listening Circle 2

What Makes a Mindfulness Listening Circle Different?

A Mindfulness Listening Circle is a Mindfulness practice meant to rewire the brain for more awareness and less judgment. The practice itself will last one hour and be available for an hour a week. Listen to your heart and body when deciding to attend. The facilitator will be available each week.

Mindfulness is awareness without judgment.

·         The awareness comes from our bodies. Our body never lies to us.

o   We get goosebumps when we are cold or when we experience awe.

o   When we are hurt, the body produces tears. However, we can also cry when we feel overwhelming joy.

o   When there is danger or perceived danger, our stomach gets hard and blocks and protects the heart center.

·         The judgment comes from the chattering inner voice that lies all the time.

o   It tells you that you are not important.

o   It tells you that you don’t belong.

o   It tells you that you can’t trust others so you judge them so they can't hurt you.

o   It comes from the ego that likes to think you are special and different.

The gift of Mindfulness is silence and space.

·         The silence between notes makes the melody.

·         The silent space in the seed planted in the darkness gives new life.

·         The space between stars causes them to shine brighter. 

·         The space in a room creates a feeling of peacefulness.

·         The space between plants in rows gives them room to grow.

·         The space in our day for a mindful walk, mindful meditation, mindful listening brings peace.

It is not a support group or a 12-step group.

·         There will be no check-in each week.

·         While it is not a grief group, currently, there is a great deal of loss to share, and if that is what is in your heart, do share it.

·         There is no feedback.

·         There is no cross-talk.

·         We allow space and silence. It is okay if silence creates discomfort at first.

·         Everybody has the answers they need in the silence of their heart and body. Giving each other the space to find them is a gift.

·         In silence, we focus on the energy we are experiencing in our bodies and the circle.

·         We listen to our bodies for cues, not our minds.

·         We take our turn to speak when we feel a cue to do so. And, we stop sharing when we feel we have said all we wish to say.

·         You are not obligated to come each week. However, the circle will be there for whoever is meant to be there.

After the practice is over, the video call circles can decide to continue chatting. However, when listening circles meet in person, they can continue to share in conversation. You will notice that with the rewiring of the brain, you will become better listeners and conversationalists. Researchers say it takes eight weeks for new neural pathways to show up in the brain scans. So in time, your brain will adjust and be more aware with less judgment. 

I See You

"I see you is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and powerful phrases of the movie Avatar.

I see you being deep inside you where your soul dwells.

I see you without judging you, without accusing you of welcoming everything.

I see you without expecting anything from you because my expectations and projections could damage you and mask your deep identity.

I see you in all your dimensions and rich in all your experiences.

I see you because I already know that you are a complete and perfect being.

I see you, it's my way of welcoming you unconditionally, and that's how I allow you to see yourself and welcome you just the way you are.

I see you!"---Geraldine Amelin

QiQong Breath

 Breath QiQong (energy qi and work qong)

We will start each class after the first one with Breathing of the Universe. Breath is our superpower and this will help us remember to focus on our breath and use it.

Spring Forest Qigong: 

Breathing of the Universe

“This exercise heals the lungs and skin and balances the energy inside and outside of the body. During this exercise, the movement of your hands combined with the breathing technique helps to open blockages in the whole body especially the lungs.” –Master Chunyi Lin

As you practice:

Try to feel the energy as it expands in the space between your hands as you open them and then compress when you close them.

•    Your hands do not touch

•    Always keep a space between the body, hands, and between the hands.

•    Always keep your fingers open.

•    Gently rest your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

Wear a smile.

·         Begin with both hands facing each other in front of your body waist high.

·         Inhale and as you inhale move your hands open to the sides.

·         Exhale as you close your hands.

·         While you inhale visualize the pure energy flowing into your body.

·         While you exhale visualize any sickness or pain turning into smoke and shooting out of your body to the end of the universe.

Reference: Master Chunyi Lin. SFQ—LEVEL ONE For Health.  www.springforestqigong.com

Using Qigong energy activities:

“Even if you’ve never heard the word ‘Qigong’ before, you have been doing it all your life, you may have just not realized it.”

Qigong means “working with energy.” It does not mean “doing your qigong exercises and meditations.”

That’s a limited view of Qigong. You can do Qigong anywhere, anytime, all day long. you can bring your qigong practice into every moment, not just by doing movements and meditations.

How about this?

When you go grocery shopping, try to smile with love every time someone makes eye contact with you.

Smiling opens your heart, and it helps to open the heart of the other person.

The love you share this way is the most powerful healing energy, and smiling releases endorphins in your own body – which help you heal. What do you think happens when you keep doing that?

When you are standing in line, sitting in traffic, or sitting at home, practice energy breathing.

That means visualizing healing energy entering every pore of your skin, running between all your cells, and gathering deep behind your navel when you breathe in, then visualizing any pain or sickness leaving the body as smoke – out through the pores, going to the ends of the sky.

This breathing is a foundation of Spring Forest Qigong, and you can do it anytime, anywhere, with no physical effort.

Before you leave the house every morning or go to bed every night, take a few seconds to close your eyes and give thanks for ten things in your life.

They can be as simple as, “I am thankful I have food today” or “I am thankful for a chance to have a better day today.”

Gratitude helps the kidney's energy, which is the body’s vitality.

The more you can support the kidney energy, the faster you can heal, and the more energy you will have to do everything you like.

Mindful Eating Exercise

 Mindful Eating Exercise

“In this food I see clearly the presence of the entire universe supporting my existence.” Thich Nhat Hanh

When we look at the vegetables, we see the sunshine, rain, earth, and a lot of hard-loving work. Mindfully eating means eating with attention and awareness (attending and befriending food). Mindful eating is being present, moment by moment, for each sensation that happens during eating, such as smelling, seeing, chewing, tasting, and swallowing. When we try to practice mindfulness our minds easily wander off into the chattering mind. The same happens when we eat mindfully. It is important to remember not to judge yourself when you notice your mind drifting off. Instead, just keep returning to the awareness of smell, color, texture, taste, chew, bite or swallow. 

You will need one small piece of food—chocolate, grapes, a slice of apple, orange section etc.

1. Take one bite of an apple slice and then close your eyes. Wait to begin chewing.

2. Notice all the body sensations, taste, texture, temperature, and sensation
   that is going on in your mouth.

3.  Begin chewing now. Chew slowly, just noticing all the sensations of chewing.

4.  It's normal that your mind will want to wander off. When your mind starts to wander off, do not judge yourself or focus on it, just come back to the body sensations of chewing.

5. In these moments you may find yourself wanting to swallow the apple. See if you can
   stay present to that sensation without needing to change it, deny it, or even swallow. Just stay with the chewing and the awareness of body sensations.

6. Now swallow the apple, and try to follow the body sensations of the apple moving toward the back of your tongue and into your throat. 

7. Swallow the apple, following it until you can no longer feel any sensation of the food remaining.

8. Become aware of any body sensations or thoughts about wanting to eat another slice. 

9. Eat another slice of the apple following the same steps.

10. Continue using the same mindfulness of eating until the apple is gone. 

Creating a Meaningful Life in Retirement

Retirement presents the opportunity for a reset on how we wish to spend our time. Aging with mindfulness is a way to make the most of the upcoming years through awareness and focus on what matters most to us. We need to know our interests and values to avoid spending this precious time in life in extended boredom or distracted by participating in activities just to stay busy. This is an exercise to help you find activities that align with what matters most to you.

When we know what matters to us, we can use it as a filter for deciding activities and how we want to spend our time. We can find what we love. We find what inspires and builds passion. We can make the most of this time as an opportunity to reset our rhythm and routine for living the rest of our lives.  

Remember there is no right way or wrong purpose. Be free to pick what truly matters most to you.

How do you want to spend your time? What aligns with what matters most to you?

1.      Adventure: Activities that are exciting and stimulating like traveling to faraway places or trying something wildly new.

2.      Activism: Working for political and social change.

a.       Service in the form of giving time, or money to make a difference.

b.      Inclusiveness as a way to challenge inequality and discrimination.

c.       Promoting justice through fair and equitable treatment for all.

d.      Sharing love with all living creatures with warmth, affection, and emotional closeness.

3.      Beauty and magic: Magic is to renew a sense of wonder at the miracles and paradoxes of evolution and the ever-changing diversity of life. Seek environments where you can observe beauty and awe.

4.      Education: Working to acquire information and skills through education.

a.       Value experiences that promote growth and improving self.

b.      Spirituality retreats and events to deepen your soul.

5.      Environment: Activities reflecting your desire to protect and care for all living things.

6.      Family: Promote the happiness, health, and wellbeing of all your family members.

7.      Fun: Engage in activities that bring more joy.

8.      Health: Engage in learning and living in ways that promote overall wellbeing.

9.      Simplicity: Engage in ways to simplify life.

10.  Social Connections: Prioritize close and ongoing relationships with others.

11.  Solitude: Prioritize time to be alone with activities you do alone. 

Zoom Agenda July 26, 2023

 Zoom Agenda July 26, 2023

The River Grows Wider Some old people are oppressed by the fear of death.… The best way to overcome it is to make your interests gradually wider and more impersonal, until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede, and your life becomes increasingly merged in the universal life. An individual human existence should be like a river: small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past rocks and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being. [Those] who can see life in this way will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things [they care] for will continue. —BERTRAND RUSSELL

Check-in:

1.      Share your three “power” words.

2.      Share a synchronicity experience.

3.      Share gratitude.

Sections

1.      Sit Spot

2.      Preparing for death

Sit Spot

1.      Tell us about your sit spot.

2.      Share any experiences of connecting with other creatures in your sit spot.

3.      Is this something useful?

Preparing for death

            1. Read: The River Grows Wider

            2. Is this an interesting exercise to review your life with this reading?

                        a. What was your life like when the river was narrow?

                        b. When did your river rush passionately?

                        c. When did your banks recede and the waters began to flow more quietly?

            3.  What would be helpful in our lives to begin the process of merging our individual being so we can flow more quietly into the sea? (What can we do to prepare for our dying?)

            4. What age would be a good age to begin?