Reflections

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  1. P
    Puneet
    1 hour ago

    Here, sitting in train on my way to my work and reading the beautiful reflections here and then looking outside the window, the moving trees and birds , make me feel alive. Really

  2. Robin Ann
    Robin Ann
    2 hours ago

    I think I mentioned before that I sailed to Cuttyhunk Island around Labor day. It is a small Island off the Elizabeth Island’s near Martha’s Vineyard MA. We have been trying to go there for several years by sailboat but the weather never cooperated. There was the most gorgeous Sunset – bright red. When we got there it was overcast and then the sun came out slightly before it started to set. It was amazing across the horizon!! It was truly such a gift and I felt so alive!!

  3. Cathie
    Cathie
    8 hours ago

    Most recently, in the silence of the early AM, I was sitting in my outdoor rocking chair, sipping my tea and watching the sky change color as the sun rose-there was a deep sense of belonging-of gratitude for being alive.
    Not sure if that is the same as sense of aliveness, but it was a moment of connection to everything.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      5 hours ago

      That most certainly
      is a deep sense of Aliveness,
      dear Cathie . . . ♄

  4. Carol Ann Conner
    Carol Ann Conner
    9 hours ago

    I share a morning med that for me addresses my need to be willing as the key for attaining a deep sense of aliveness.

    Morning Med June 17 2019 Transformation
    Only letting God [LIFE] send those who can comfort and guide,
    Only letting {LIFE/WHAT IS} peel off one layer at a time will constitute real change.
    Evolutionary transformation is the business of my LIFE.
    Willingness is my life-giving commitment.
    Carol Ann Conner

    Good Morning, The meditation shared below is so profound and the best explanation for the difference between living and just existing.

    Service of Transformation

    Cynthia Bourgeault, an Episcopal priest and one of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s core faculty members, calls Jesus’ teaching and way of life ā€œthe path of conscious love.ā€ She writes:
    ā€œConscious loveā€ . . . emphasizes the life-affirming and implicitly relational nature of the path, and the word ā€œconsciousā€ makes clear that the touchstone here is transformation, not simply romance. Conscious love is ā€œlove in the service of inner transformationā€ā€”or if you prefer, ā€œinner transformation in the service of love.ā€ Either way, this is exactly what Jesus was about. [1]

    The words ā€œconscious loveā€ ring true for me (Richard) as a definition for our life’s purpose and the goal of all spirituality. When we’re conscious, we will always do the loving thing, the connecting thing, the intimate thing, the communion thing, the aware thing. To do the unloving thing is always to somehow be unconscious at that moment. Cynthia describes what this means:

    The first requirement of conscious love is, of course, that it has to be conscious—or in other words, anchored in a quality of our presence deeper than simply egoic selfhood. Nowadays we would identify this quality of consciousness as unitive, or nondual, awareness. . . .
    For Jesus as for all teachers of conscious transformation . . . the work with a partner is in service of this goal. It is not intended simply to fulfill physical or emotional needs, but to accelerate the process of awakening. [2]

    The Buddhist psychologist John Welwood (1943–2019) wrote: “Instead of looking to a relationship for shelter, we could welcome its power to wake us up in areas of life where we are asleep and where we avoid naked, direct contact with life. This approach puts us on a path. It commits us to movement and change, providing forward direction by showing us exactly where we most need to grow. Embracing relationship as a path also gives us a practice: learning to use each difficulty along the way as an opportunity to go further, to connect more deeply, not just with our partner, but with our own aliveness as well…By contrast, dreaming that love will save us, solve all our problems or provide a steady state of bliss or security only keeps us stuck in wishful fantasy, undermining the real power of love—which is to transform us. For our relationships to flourish, we need to see them in a new way—as a series of opportunities for developing greater awareness, discovering deeper truth, and becoming more fully human. [3]
    That’s whyĀ I believe deep friendships, family, sexual intimacy, marriage, and even celibacy are not given to us to solve our problem, but actually to reveal the problem.Ā All of these life stances show us that we still don’t know how to love. At the same time, if we are conscious and aware, they give us the daily practice and opportunity to try one more time! [4]
    In summary, Welwood wrote: A conscious relationship is one that calls forth who you really are. . . . Regarding relationship as a vehicle or path that can help two people access the powerful qualities of their true nature provides the new vision our age so urgently needs. [5]

    Ā [1] Cynthia Bourgeault, The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity (Shambhala: 2010), 112.
    [2] Ibid., 118.
    [3] John Welwood, Journey of the Heart: The Path of Conscious Love (HarperPerennial: 1990), 13.
    [4] Richard Rohr, God as Us: The Sacred Feminine and the Sacred Masculine, disc 2 (Center for Action and Contemplation: 2011), CD, DVD, MP3 download.
    [5] John Welwood, Love and Awakening: Discovering the Sacred Path of Intimate Relationship (HarperPerennial: 1996), 8.

  5. Barb C
    Barb C
    10 hours ago

    A couple of times in recent days come to mind. One was riding my bike fast down a hill, feeling strong and free and happy that I was on my way to improv class. Another was pruning my tomatoes so more light could get to the fruits that had been shaded by the vines, simply being in the garden hearing birds and insects and smelling the bitter green scent of the tomato plants. I talk to my plants when I prune them, apologizing for the small pain and explaining it’s to help them fulfill their purpose of producing their fruits.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      5 hours ago

      You know I do that too,
      dear Barb. šŸ™‚

  6. D
    Drea
    11 hours ago

    Walking on the shore of a lake the other day, watching the dogs play and tumble into the water.

  7. Christina Rossi75270
    Christina
    12 hours ago

    The last time I was in contact with my nieces, nephews or great nieces.

  8. Yram
    Yram
    12 hours ago

    Just now. I got a text from my friend’s daughter that she had to take her mother to ER. It made me say “thank you” that I feel pretty good this a.m.

    1. D
      Drea
      11 hours ago

      I hope your friend is OK, Yram.

  9. Antoinette88615
    Antoinette
    12 hours ago

    Right now ! I’m about to guide meditation! What a gift ! Like the quote says today !

  10. L
    Loc Tran
    12 hours ago

    There’s a thunderstorm this morning. It’s been hot the last few days in the Twin Cities. It was 90 degrees yesterday. Finally, a cool down on the way.

    1. Antoinette88615
      Antoinette
      12 hours ago

      Wow so hot there still ? Don’t worry on Halloween it may snow ā›„ļø! I recall that all too well!

      1. L
        Loc Tran
        12 hours ago

        Antoinette, it’s that Halloween Blizzard of 1991 just before I was born.

        1. Antoinette88615
          Antoinette
          11 hours ago

          Yes could be ! You’re younger than me!

  11. pkr29022
    pkr
    12 hours ago

    Early this morning watching the sunrise, glorious. šŸŒ…
    Early, early this morning seeing the crescent moon & Venus rising in the night sky. šŸŒ™
    In this Now moment having my 1st sips of coffee & bites of toast. ā˜•ļøšŸž
    Loving kindness to All.
    šŸ•Šļøā™„ļø

    1. Cathie
      Cathie
      8 hours ago

      We had similar momentsā˜ŗļø

  12. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    12 hours ago

    The other morning, laying in bed, listening in, on the conversation between two owls.
    Or the other night, coming home late, and stopping on my way from the car to the front door and looking up at the night sky.
    Or yesterday after band practice. I felt spent. In a good way.

    1. Cathie
      Cathie
      8 hours ago

      We have families of screech owls here and I love to hear them trilling to each other at night ! That must have been a neat way to wake up!

  13. Patti
    sunnypatti
    13 hours ago

    Hmm… right now? I appreciate being alive, but I do get the gist of this question šŸ™‚
    Yesterday when I went and taught gentle yoga to my retired students and made them laugh when we were doing tree pose.
    Sunday afternoon when we were watching football. I love the game and can get pretty amped up!
    Sunday morning when I went to teach at the studio and my one sign-up was a no show – I practiced in the studio by myself, something I’ve never done before, and it felt really nice. I was present with myself and just flowed.
    Last Thursday morning when I paddled out into the ocean for a surf, and probably especially when I caught the first wave that morning. Mama Ocean will always remind you how alive you are!
    May we all feel the blessing of being alive today and every day!

  14. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    13 hours ago

    Two days ago, when I escaped from a bad dream, I woke up feeling happy that everything was still the same; where I was and who I was with. Happy Wednesday, everyone!

    1. Mary
      Mary
      18 minutes ago

      I’m glad you are here, Ngoc.
      I always enjoy reading your posts. ā˜€ļø

    2. L
      Loc Tran
      12 hours ago

      I certainly felt a deep sense of aliveness with you.

  15. EJP
    EJP
    14 hours ago

    A deep sense of aliveness always comes from spending time with my grandchildren….great energy, high spirits and unconditional love.

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