Day 31 - December Meditations - Vision

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. ~Proverbs 29:18, Hebrew Scriptures

Affirmation: Today I keep my highest vision, my highest possibility fresh before me.  I welcome its guidance into possibilities beyond my knowing.

What is your highest vision for 2015?  What must you embrace and release to support it?  Are there any specific actions to take right now?

Explore the answer to these questions in todays meditation.  Download it here!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Keep fresh before me the moments of my high resolve.

Despite the dullness and barrenness of the days that pass, if I search with due diligence, I can always find a deposit left by some former radiance. But I had forgotten. At the time it was full-orbed, glorious, and resplendent. I was sure that I would never forget. In the moment of its fullness, I was sure that it would illumine my path for all the rest of my journey. I had forgotten how easy it is to forget.

There was no intent to betray what seemed so sure at the time. My response was whole, clean, authentic. But little by little, there crept into my life the dust and grit of the journey. Details, lower-level demands, all kinds of cross currents -- nothing momentous, nothing overwhelming, nothing flagrant -- just wear and tear. If there had been some direct challenge --a clear-cut issue -- I would have fought it to the end, and beyond.

In the quietness of this place, surrounded by the all-pervading Presence of God, my heart whispers: Keep fresh before me the moments of my High Resolve, that in fair weather or in foul, in good times or in tempests, in the days when the darkness and the foe are nameless or familiar, I may not forget that to which my life is committed.

Keep fresh before me the moments of my high resolve.
 

For The Inward Journey
by Howard Thurman 

Day 30 - December Meditations - Becoming

"Through Life Visioning, we become the living condition through which divine ideas express themselves...These ideas can be anything from solutions to problems to a new business model to direction in your spiritual development." ~ Michael Bernard Beckwith

Affirmation:  My vision pulls me into my becoming.  

I live to expand and become everyday!

Contrary to what most of society tells us, we are not here to perform and produce.  Of course it is necessary for us to perform...perform tasks, duties and skills...and often times to be a contributing member to our friends, family and work systems, we must be productive and produce and contribute to the whole.  Performing and producing can pull us away from our underlying purpose and becoming though if that is all that we focus on.  In consciousness work and spiritual practice, the question is less about "what" and more about "who".  Who are we becoming today, tomorrow and the next?  The what actually can be quite easy, the whats of our lives reveal everyday as things are needed and required, but who are we becoming in the midst of the details of our lives.  

This is what we focus on today in our meditation.  Join me in listening for the answer to the question "Who are we here to become in 2015?"

December 29 - December Meditations - Vision

"In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision." ~ Dalai Lama

This morning contemplating the end of the year and what hopes, dreams & vision I have for myself next year, I realized I need to sift through some other things to get to the heart of the matter.  There are a lot of things I think I "SHOULD" do next year, and those things aren't bad, however, "shoulds" often carry with them some baggage and condemning energy.  I am interested in what is deeper than the shoulds.  

An example, "In 2015 I should lose 30 pounds."  Losing 30 pounds would be great for me, however in stead of of bringing "shoulding" energy (which often has lots of shame attached to it), what if the phrase or vision deeper than I should lose 30 pounds was..."2015 is a year of freedom and health in my body.  I celebrate exercise, dancing and flexibility in my body."  That actually gets me excited and ignites something within me to move towards that intention.

A visioning statement or phrase, ideally excites us.  We may not know how to bring everything to pass, however, stating the statement can activate possibility.

Lets start tapping into the vision for our lives in 2015.  Join me for a few minutes of visioning.  

Download today's visioning #meditation here.

Affirmation:  The vision for my life, opens my heart, mind and choosing to new possibilities...today! 

Day 28 - December Meditations - Meaning

What shall our lives mean?

Today I am giving a talk on the meaning we give to our lives or more importantly the meaning we bring to our living.  This is not a singular one time answer, rather something we must listen for and practice on a daily basis.

Download this meditation and move into the stillness listening for the answers to the question...What shall our lives mean?

Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it. ~ Ernest Holmes

Affirmation:  I give my life meaning.  

I choose from the meaning I give my life.  

My life is a reflection of my powerful choice.

Day 27 - December Meditations - Stillness

Yesterday, I found myself simply over stimulated.  I went to see a movie, walked around in a store and just found the need to tap into some inner tranquility in the midst of my day.  This morning I welcome a simple practice of becoming still in our meditation.  

Download this morning's meditation here as we ponder the quotes below in the stillness.

As spiritual searchers we need to become freer and freer of the attachment to our own smallness in which we get occupied with me-me-me. Pondering on large ideas or standing in front of things which remind us of a vast scale can free us from acquisitiveness and competitiveness and from our likes and dislikes. If we sit with an increasing stillness of the body, and attune our mind to the sky or to the ocean or to the myriad stars at night, or any other indicators of vastness, the mind gradually stills and the heart is filled with quiet joy. ~Ravi Ravindra

"Be still.  Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity” ~Lao Tzu

“The inner is foundation of the outer

The still is master of the restless

The Sage travels all day

yet never leaves his inner treasure”  ~Lao Tzu

“Being still does not mean don't move. It means move in peace.”  E'yen A. Gardner

Affirmation:  I welcome stillness in the midst of my living.

Day 26 - December Meditations - Unity

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a celebration of community, family and culture.  Each day of Kwanzaa a different quality is celebrated. Today's quality is Umoja or Unity.

Paul Ryan once said, "Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together."

In today's meditation we honor all the circles of community we live and participate in.  Download the guided meditation here and affirm with me....

Affirmation:  Today I embrace the gift of my community.  My living contributes to the whole, and the whole contributes to me.  We are one. 

Day 25 - December Meditations - The Greatest Gift

"Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self."  

~ Francsis of Assisi

Ernest Holmes wrote the greatest gift life could have given us is our self....A bit of a paradox, but in between these two statements, I believe, dwells the greatest wisdom gift that can set us free into the fullness of life.  We have been given the great of our lives AND the ability to overcome or transcend it, to remember our Self that is greater than any situation, yet if we pause and listen we can discover in every situation.

In the Christian tradition today is the celebration of Jesus the Christ.  The physical or human embodiment of the Christ Consciousness or God Consciousness.  Let today be a celebration less of a a particular person or religion, but a celebration of the consciousness and teaching that come out of it, "I and the father are one."

Let us meditate together then on this simple yet powerful affirmation.....download a guided meditation here.

Affirmation:  I am one with all that is.

Day 24 - December Meditations - Excitement

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.  Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." ~ Gloria Steinem

I woke up this morning getting ready to go visit family and sensed a familiar yet distant energy.  It was the excitement energy of my childhood around the holidays.  This is something that feels so good and energizes me.  It gave me pause to realize that this energy doesn't need to be distant or reserved for one time a year, this excitement can be cultivated into my daily living and practice.  

So let us begin today by diving deep into a meditation of excitement!  Click here to download.

Affirmation:  Today I welcome the excitement of my inner-child to dream and wonder of the possibility that is my life.

Day 23 - December Meditations - Listening

How often do we listen to actually learn something new or discover something about ourselves or another?  Challenge yourself today to listen for something new as opposed to listening for what you want to hear or what you think will or should be said.  There IS more to our daily living than what we already know.  Are you ready to listen for it?

"I remind myself every morning:  Nothing I say this day will teach me anything.  So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening." ~Larry King

Affirmation:  Today I listen to my life and make myself available to the wisdom it seeks to speak to me.

Download today's meditation and join me in a powerful listening session.

Day 22 - December Meditations - Giving

"If you want to be unhappy think of yourself.  If you want to be happy, think of others." ~Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

Affirmation:  Today I give and think of others.  I cherish my friends and family.

As I prepare to move into celebrating Christmas with my family, I found myself a bit frustrated about the gifts I hadn't bought yet.  I was upset that I waited so late, but I still have time today and tomorrow to prepare, however, I found myself even more upset due to the fact that I want more money to spend on presents right now.  I didn't enjoy feeling so frustrated, but then was drawn to the quote above preparing to meditate and discovered I wasn't thinking of others really, I was thinking of myself with the gift giving.  As I shifted my attention to the connection I have with my friends and family, the frustration lifted.  I once again am feeling excited about shopping and know whatever I can give and afford is enough.

Join me in a meditation on giving to anchor in the love of the season instead of the pricetag.

Day 21 - December Meditations - Winter Solstice

Affirmation:  I am a new day dawning.

Today we move out of the dark and into the new dawning beauty.

Meditate with me here.

Day 20 - December Meditations - Allowing

"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are." ~Malcom S. Forbes

What if you actually allowed yourself to be you today?  Valuing and allowing more time, energy and attention to land on who you are as opposed to what you are not."

Join me today in meditating and affirming your "enoughness".  

Download the meditation here.

Affirmation:  I value who I am today and let that be enough.

Day 19 - December Meditations - Self Appreciation

"The greatest gift Life could have made to you is yourself." ~Ernest Holmes

"Lovin' you is easy 'cause your beautiful." -Minnie Ripperton & Richard Rudolph

In the mid seventies Minnie Ripperton released the song Lovin' You (if you've never heard it, you must, pure 70's gold).  Here in Chicago, the Bodhi Spiritual Center sings the chorus of this song "Lovin' you is easy 'cause your beautiful" every sunday to people that have come to service for the first time.  Can you imagine the experience of life you would have if you sang those lyrics to yourself everyday?  That would truly be appreciating the greatest gift Life ever gave you...yourself.  In the act of appreciating self, we instantly shift our awareness and attention and make ourselves more receptive to ALL of the gifts that life is giving us everyday through ourselves and others.

Join me in loving you.  It is pretty darn easy, 'cause you're so beautiful!

Affirmation: "I appreciate all that I was, am and will be.  I am a beautiful being of the universe! 

Day 18 - December Meditations - Releasing Inflammation

"After all it is those who have a deep an real inner life who are best able to deal with the irritating details of outer life." ~ Evelyn Underhill

One of the main reasons I meditate is to better "deal" or be in relationship with myself and my out world. I was reminded of this yesterday as I contemplated the idea of what thoughts and beliefs am I repeatedly saying to myself that is causing inflammation and irritation to my mind, heart, body & soul.  I quickly launched into an painful intellectual process and "figuring" out of things and remembered, I don't need to fully understand it to release the inflammation and irritation I may be experiencing.  I can simply move to practicing affirmations and welcome my breath to reduce the "swelling".  That is what I invite you to affirm today and join me in meditation here.

Affirmation: Today I release inflammatory thoughts.  I remember that I am whole.

Day 17 - December Meditations - Perfection & Imperfection

"If you look closely at a tree you'll notice it's knots and dead branches, just like our bodies.  What we learn is beauty and imperfection go together wonderfully." ~Matthew Fox

For a good chunk of my childhood into my early adult years, perfection was a killer of joy, spontaneity and creativity in my life.  In fact this is something I struggle with weekly if not daily.  There is, I dare say, a crazy notion that our world embraces and celebrates that in order for something to be "so" or really legit, it has to be perfect, and if it is not, then it is some sort of less than throw away.  This may seem a big dark or harsh, but think of a time where you have wanted to discard yourself from something, a project, relationship, a diet, a work-out plan...whatever, you either stopped or wanted to stop because something in you or your creation wasn't perfect.

Perfection is actually like heaven.  It is always available, but it is not a static state, rather it is a subjective state of mind or consciousness that is cultivated and not something that magically descends upon our living.  Perfection is something we partner with in any given moment.

Partner with me in a meditation on perfection by downloading this 12 minute meditations.

Affirmation:  I embrace the inherent perfection of my life.  It is perfectly imperfect!

Day 16 - December Meditations - Living our Intentions

I was drawn to a quote this morning that really stopped me in my tracks and made me think.

"We either live with intention or exist by default." ~ Kristin Armstrong

Download this meditation to tap into your meditation today.  Live by it and return and remember it again, and again, and again, and again, and again...and, and, and.....

Affirmation:  Today I practice the power of returning to my intentions again and again.

And so it is!

Day 15 - December Meditations - Honesty Unlocks Wisdom

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." 

~Thomas Jefferson

I often describe the work I am here to do on this planet as awakening wisdom.  However, I can't magically make anyone awaken to anything.  All I do is invite the awakening through spiritual practice and mindfulness.  To awaken to the wisdom of the universe written in our hearts and minds we must read the first chapter of honesty.  Although it may be a slow, challenging read, once we have read that chapter in our book of life, the rest of the stories and the wisdom contained within are much more accessible.  Join me in a brief 10 minute meditation of honest to unlock the wisdom within.  Download it here and anchor this affirmation with me:

Affirmation:  I open the book of my life today an see what is and isn't true.  All the wisdom I seek is already within.

Day 14 - December Meditations - The Light of Love

Love is the willingness to accept and embrace another or ourselves beyond a specific action or word even.  In the Christian tradition, today is the third Sunday of Advent, the holy time leading up to the celebration of Jesus' birth.  Every Sunday during Advent a candle is lit, remembering a specific quality of the spirit of Jesus and God, today's candle is love.

Let us be willing to embrace ourselves or another in meditation, regardless of what happened or didn't happen.  "Hate the sin an not the sinner:" Ghandi wrote in his auto-biography.  Lets put our attention on simply loving the sinner or the one who made a mistake.  Whether that person be yourself or another, simply move your attention to the light of love they  are and love that light.

Click here to download todays' brief guided meditation.

Affirmation: Today I love the light of love in all life, no strings attached.

Day 13 - December Meditations - Where shall we rest?

"Our hearts are restless until they rest in the Thee, O Lord." - St. Augustine

What shall I rest in God?  What shall I rest in Universal Truth?  What shall I rest or give over to the law of fulfillment and possibility?......EVERYTHING!  I am always amazed to find another aspect of my life or challenge that I think I have to figure out on my own.  There is a law or tendency in the universe to co-create or partner with us in everything, but it can't force us to partner with it, to rest in it.  Lets just see what it would fee like to rest all of our problems, even if just a few minutes, in the loving, nurturing support of the law of fulfillment.  Join me here for meditation.

Affirmation:  I rest today in the ever expanding possibility of life.  I know all things are possible.

Day 12 - December Meditations - Self Acceptance

I woke up this morning with a story about myself that wasn't very positive.  I quickly dove into a place of spinning self judgement.  In meditation I quickly became aware of the story I was making up.  That story was basically "I'm not a good person."  Is this true I asked myself?  No, it isn't true, I am a good person, I simply wasn't pleased with a choice I made yesterday, that is all.  Self acceptance is the practice of self love and it requires great courage, however, all we have to do is be willing to accept ourselves and the experience of loving and connecting begins.

Affirmation:  I am open to love and accept all of me today.  Regardless if I celebrate it or judge it I accept it.

Download today's loving acceptance meditation here.

"The truth is: Belonging starts with self-acceptance. Your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance, because believing that you're enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect."

Brene Brown

Day 11 - December Meditations - Remembering our loving nature

Love is so often said to be a verb and not a noun.  However, how often do we try to understand love as opposed to engaging in love or practicing love.  Today let us not attempt to understand how we can love someone who challenges us or attempt to figure out how we can love that aspect of ourselves that drives us crazy.  Rather, let us simply affirm our love for ourselves or another simply because we love as opposed to loving because of something.

Affirmation:  I am a loving being.  My nature is to love.  Today I remember my true nature.

"Tell me and I forget, teach me an I may remember, involve me an I learn." ~Benjamin Franklin

Involve yourself in loving right now, download todays meditation on love here.

Day 10 - December Meditations - I return to peace

Concern, worry, fear and anxiousness are all natural experiences for us, and happen most likely on a daily basis, however, in the midst of that concern, worry and anxiety peace may be realized.  The peace I speak of is not a transient peace we attain based on the state of conditions of our outer lives, rather this is a peace that always sits within us that we must practice returning to.

Affirmation:  Today I am willing to return to my peace within.

"A smile is the beginning of peace." ~ Mother Theresa

Return to peace with me in this brief meditation.

Day 9 - December Meditations - Awareness of ever present Universal Intelligence

"Meditation is an invitation for God to speak to us or to make Himself known to us; it is not an attempt to reach God, since God is omnipresent.  The Presence already is.  The Presence always is, in sickness or in health, in lack or in abundance, in sin or in purity; the presence of God always and already is.  We are not seeking to reach God, but rather to achieve such a state of stillness that the awareness of God's presence permeates us."  ~Joel Goldsmith, Practice the Presence

Affirmation:  Today I am open and available to hear and see something I haven't before.  The ever present voice of God, the Universe, Source & Intelligence guides me now.

Take this affirmation into mediation, download this 10 minute meditation for free!

Day 8 - December Meditations - Expecting our desires to manifest

"The one who can control his thinking is he to whom time and place makes no difference." 

~ Ernest Holmes

The outcome of our lives follow our expectancy.  We may not know all the details of how all things will come to pass, but in any given moment we can become aware of our attention.  In all moments let us commit to bringing our attention back to the expectancy and possibility of our lives regardless of the route.  Download today's meditation here and affirm today's affirmation with me.

Affirmation:  Today I affirm that the sum total of my thoughts land on my good.  I expect my desires shall tome to pass.

Day 7 - December Meditations - Shine your light!

"Each one of us is an outlet to God and an inlet to God." - E. Holmes

You are the light this world needs.  Don't ever stop remembering that!  Whatever the world may say about you or to you....heck, whatever you may say to yourself, don't ever stop remembering you are the light this world needs!

We come together in our living and today to remember this truth. 

Click here to download today's free meditation.

Affirmation:  All that I am is right for this moment.  I allow myself to be enough today and know I will be enough tomorrow.

Day 6 - December Meditations - Moving from the invisible to the visible...

Ernest Holmes wrote, "All manifestation of life is from an invisible to a visible plane, through a silent, effortless process of spiritual realization."  Embracing this statement then...Let life stir from within us.  Although life around us at work, home, in the country and world will continue to stir around us, let us connect to and welcome the invisible power within each of us to be the real cause of our good.  Let us let the world off the hook today and embrace our responsibility to make ourselves available to the loving power of life that simply seeks to move through us and out into the world.  Join me in today's meditation and practice of acknowledging the invisible power that stirs within seeking to move through you and out into the world.

Affirmation:  I am a unique space where the power of the universe becomes manifest.  Today the divine effortlessly expresses as my living.

Day 5 - December Meditations - What limits your life?

"Never limit your view of life by any experience." - Ernest Holmes

These words of Ernest Holmes really inspired me this morning.  It caused me to pause and take a sobering look at where I view my life as limited and stifled and fess up to myself.  The only reason it IS that way really, is do to my belief and acceptance that limitation in that area of my life is true.  I may not know how things will change, but if I am not willing to entertain something different in my heart, mind, body and soul, I doubt I will be ready and available whenever a path, choice or opportunity comes along to shift things.

Are we willing to risk even the thought that our life could be something different?  The biggest challenge to new possibilities and expanded living in our future, is acceptance of our past experiences as the way things are.  Take this present moment today to expand the belief in your heart, that the experience of your life can stretch beyond your present view.  Join me in a brief meditation, welcoming and blessing the possibility known as your life!  Click here for the recording.

Affirmation:  My life and my living is an access point for something fresh today.  I am living possibility!

Day 4 - December Meditations - Hope, Expectancy & Possibility

Hope, expectancy &  possibility are not waiting for anything to happen around you.  They are simply waiting for you to welcome them into you.  Into your mind, heart, soul, job, work, health, relationships and even your finances!  Let us welcome hope, expectancy & possibility into our living today.  Here is a meditation to get that started.

Affirmation:  I am a living expression of possibility.  I am the hope I seek.  Today, I expect good beyond my understanding.

"There is a power for good in the universe available to anyone and you can use this power for good in your life." ~Ernest Holmes

Day 3 - December Meditations - Our Heart's Desires

Affirmation:  I welcome into my experience right now, the expression of my heart's desire!

Choosing and saying yes to our heart's desires without condition....Putting conditions on our living is like expressing conditional love.  How willing are we to truly embrace our hearts desires in the midst of the conditions of our lives?  Download today's meditation and affirm your heart's desire now!

Day 2 - December Meditations - What do you know?

When we meditate, we are basically acknowledging to our mind, soul and most importantly our ego that we don't know everything.  This is why something so simply can be challenging for most of us.  To admit willingly to ourselves that we don't know everything is really challenging and such a humble act.

The amazing thing is, once we let go of the bruising of our ego, we make ourselves available to know beyond what we currently know.  It is a bit paradoxical, but once we sit in meditation and start "confessing" to ourselves or admitting to ourselves that we don't know it all, we make ourselves available to know everything.

Join me in a guided meditation by clicking here and affirm:

Within me now is all the possibility of life.

Day 1 - December Meditations

I decided to close out 2014 with some focused, intentional practice.  I want to really create space this last month to sit with myself and what this year has been and powerfully prep myself for what is to come in 2015.  To do so, I have committed to meditation, prayer and affirmation everyday and to post online for accountability.  I am doing roughly 10 minutes everyday.

Begin again, begin anew

It matters not where you are, simply begin.

This is what I wrote to myself this morning...and so I begin.  I hope you join me.

Click here for 10 minutes of guided practice you can download.

Returning from Retreat

Yesterday evening I returned from an almost full weeks retreat.  It was so good and necessary to get away and create some space and distance from myself and my day to day routine.  Rest, relaxation, creativity, realignment with vision and peace are a few of the words I would use to describe my time away.

I made it home for a late lunch and then had to go into to work for almost 6 hours and then when I came home had some dinner and started catching up on my personal emails...I started to notice a feeling of anxiousness thinking about starting this week and Oh its Thanksgiving, so much to prepare for, the word "how" kept looping through my mind..."How am I going to get that done this week?....How will I...?...How am I supposed to...?"  My great post retreat feeling was quickly fleeting.

Thank goodness for taking the time to meditate this morning.  The pearl of wisdom that came to me and quickly brought me back to my retreat mindset was...

You must consciously choose the experience of your life moment to moment, second to second or you will always be in reaction to what is happening around you.

I was beginning to react to my life!  Nothing has changed in my day to day upon returning from my retreat, however, something in my body and mind had changed...AND as quickly as I had changed, I found myself slipping back into a space of reaction to the conditions of my life.

I must go on retreat every morning, multiple times a day if necessary to reconnect to my heart, my love, my peace, freedom and creativity.  I can't wait for the conditions of my life to "make" me feel this way.

This is one of THE basic spiritual principles I consciously first learned, Life really moves from the inside out, however it is so easy to forget.

I am grateful for the reminder this morning in meditation...and once again, I consciously choose the experience of my life moment to moment.

And so it is...and so I shall.

Possibility, Determination & Focus, Inspiration from Science

Today, a satellite launched 10 years ago landed on a comet 300 million miles away!  Full story below.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/11/12/the-rosetta-comet-landing-is-mere-minutes-away-from-making-history/

Can you imagine launching something 10 years ago that you really wouldn't see results from for a whole decade.  It just makes me think of the power of mind and intention, focus and determination.  I am sure there was a lot of doubt and uncertainty that could have stopped the work, but there was firm determination to see this day to light.

How many things in your life have you stopped because of doubt or uncertainty?  I can name a few personally, where would those projects be in my life if I had the same focus and determination as these scientists...who knows.  I have let them go, but now today I can cultivate my focus and determination and bring forth the latest desires and hopes on the horizon of my life.

A foundational practice that helps me reconnect on a daily basis is meditation.

Check out this meditation I led earlier today inspired by this story of the Rosetta comet and the lander Philane.  Click here to download an listen.

Feast of St. Francis/Kol Nidre...This is a day to pause!

October 4th, 2014
In the Jewish faith today is Yom Kippur, at sun down this evening there is a service named Kol Nidre,  where there is a conscious practice of severing and ending those vows we have (personally with God, Life, Source, the Universe) not held up in the past year and a committing to new vows (in the Hebrew calendar this is the new year 5775).

Also today in the Catholic faith it is the feast or celebration of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals and the environment.  There is a very popular prayer known as the prayer of Assisi.

On this day, I keep fresh before me these words and my intentions.  Let us all walk forward from this point being an instrument of the highest good, serving the deepest vows of our hearts to love and be loved...Amen

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, harmony;

Where there is error, truth;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

The Power of Hello

Thanks to the guy in the park this morning who said hello as I jogged by.  He was walking his dog, I was trying to get blood moving.  He said hello, but really made eye contact with me.  I immediately felt lighter, happier, excited even.  My jog which began as a dreaded necessity for health and longevity as a 40 something male, all of a sudden fell away (even though I was still jogging).  I felt excited for my day and optimistic even!  I found myself asking the question "Was I not optimistic before he said hello to me?"  I realized it wasn't so much about being optimistic or not, my mind prior to that was just caught in a loop of the things I have to do today.  I was using this precious time by myself to process lists in my mind, but all of those things were "to dos".

In the last couple days the turn of the phrase "human doing vs. human being" has come up a few times.  This morning I realized I "do" a lot, and that is partly just who I am, but in my doingness, who do I wish to be?  I don't think I can actually be anyone else other than who I am, Darrell, light, joyful, creative, lover of loving et cetera...however, in my constant cataloguing of all my doing, I forget to focus on who I am.

Thanks guy in the park for reminding me that regardless of what I am doing (jogging, typing a blog post, sitting in a meeting or ordering coffee), I am a connector.  I love to connect with people.  Thanks for making eye contact with me and reminding me how good it feels to be seen!

My intention today is to see...really see as many people as I can today, and be seen by the wonderful world that surrounds me.

Thanks for reading.  I hope you see something you needed in my sharing.

Love, Light & Laughter! - Darrell

Soul Power!  What is your soul sharing with you?

“The science for transformation of life is called meditation. Through analysis, physical science reaches the atom and atomic power, but meditation reaches the soul and soul power.” ~Osho

The quote above gave way to a great mediation conference call tonight.  
Feel free to download it here http://t.co/mrIsubSsFp.

A scientific look at prayer!

This is one of the reasons why I pray and meditate....pretty cool eh?



Join me tonight for a free prayer conference call.  All you have to do is dial in and listen.

Here is the call in information.
Call Number: 530-881-1200
Access Code: 431735#

Thursday, June 26 8:30 - 9:00 p.m

Of course you can request prayer for something in particular at darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com.

Love, Light & Laughter,

Darrell

The latest and greatest for the community prayer call format for this Thursday, June 19th, 2014!

I am asking if you have a specific prayer request for the call to send it to me ahead of time up to 10 minutes before the call. 

Let me know:
1) Who the prayer is for, you, another person, organization et cetera.
2) What the specific prayer request is
3) What quality of God/Spirit/Source you desire to know in this prayer request.

Send me an email (darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com), Facebook message or post it on the event. If you want the request to be private let me know and I will simply pray forth the quality.

I will record the call so even if you can't make the call you can listen to it later, so you can still send in a request even if you can't make the call!


Here is the call in information.
Call Number: 530-881-1200
Access Code: 431735#

Thursdays, June 19 & 26 8:30 - 9:00 p.m

I hope you can join in, invite friends and family members, this is open to any and all!

Opportunities to practice regardless of where you live!

• Click here to download guided meditations

June
What:  Community Prayer Call
When:  Thursdays 8:30 - 9:00 p.m. June 5, 12, 19 & 26
Where:  Conference Call, Call Number: 530-881-1200 Access Code: 431735#

What:  Saturday Morning Wake Up Call
When: June 21st, 9:00 a.m.
Where: Call Number: 530-881-1200 Access Code: 431735#

July
What:  Wednesday Evening Connections
When: Wednesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Darrell's backyard weather permitting.  Rain alternative will be a conference call

August
What:  Sunrise Meditation (Save the date, details to come!)
When: Sunday, August 17th, 5:45 a.m.
Where: Foster Street Beach


Speaking Engagments

• June 15th, Triangle Center for Spiritual Living, Raleigh, NC

Finding Heaven Within...AKA Meditation

I am continuously humbled by the practice of meditation, how easy it is really to do, yet how hard I make it for myself.  I am grateful for conference call numbers.  I have started offering meditation conference calls and it is so wonderful once a week to meditate with others.  It holds me accountable to my practice and allows me to experience these words of Joel S. Goldsmith from Practicing the Presence .

"God is not found up in heaven--not in pilgrimages, places, or persons.  God is to be found within us.  The very moment that we can agree inwardly that this is true, we have accomplished half of our life's journey toward the experience of heaven on earth; the other half remains.  Now we know where the kingdom of God is, but how do we attain the realization of it?....Hundreds of books have been written on this subject, but those that have been written out of the depths of experience all agree that the presence of God can only be realized when the senses are stilled, when we have settled down into an atmosphere of expectancy, of hope, and faith.  In this state of relaxation and peace, we wait.  That is all we can do, just wait.  We cannot bring God to us for God is already here, in the inner stillness, in the quietness of confidence."

I hope you take a moment to sit and still your senses this week and listen and experience, the kingdom of God, heaven, the inner sanctuary of peace, hope and expectancy.

Love, Light & Laughter ~ Darrell

Here is the link to meditation call if you are interested in downloading it. (Click this sentence)

Spiritual But Not Religious….

…I have checked this box on surveys for years.  I am now a minister, but there is still a part of me that identifies with this "classification".

A colleague sent me this article, I pass it on to you, good read.

How do you identify yourself, your spirituality or religion?

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/22/good-news-about-the-spiritual-but-not-religious/

Don't Worry About A Thing...

Is worrying good or bad for us?  In psychology it is said worrying is healthy when it causes us to take action or make decisions that promote our well-being, however, when worrying turns into an obsessive, paralyzing habit that is when it is toxic.

I am preparing for a talk in a few weeks titled "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing", taken from the title of the Stevie Wonder classic.  Worrying is an age old pattern in our human experience, it  has been expressing for millennia.  As long as we can dream, wonder and create we can worry.  However as with most things I continue to explore in this life, everything is about relationship and communication.  To think we may end worrying in our lives we set ourselves up for failure, however, to admit that we have a worrying mind could set us free.  The challenge is in the next step, just because we worry about something doesn't make it so, however, if we worry about something long enough, we CAN definitely make it so.The creative tendency and faculty of this universe follows and creates in the direction of our attention, so where is your attention?  Worrying is giving attention, and powerful emotional attention to areas in our life.  Is worrying channeling your attention, focus and energy into action or immobilization?

I look forward to expand on this question in a few weeks and hope you can join me if you are in the Chicagoland area @ Abundant Life Spiritual Center on Sunday March 23rd 10:30 a.m. 375 Elm St, Deerfield, IL 60015

Two beautiful writings can inspire us in times of worry.  One from our brother Bob Marley "Don't worry, 'bout a thing, 'cause every little thing's gonna be alright" the other from Matthew 6 verses 25 - 34 in the Christian Bible, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear....can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin...So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own."It goes on to basically say, focus on today, today is more than enough living for right now.  I invite you to focus on today, where you actually are, take a moment to close your eyes a few times today and breath in and out slowly and become aware of where your attention is on your life.  Is your attention on what is before today or worrying about what may or may not happen tomorrow, or the next day.  Affirm to yourself, tomorrow will meet me then, right now I embrace today and live in this moment!I hope to see or hear from you soon!Love, Light & Laughter ~ Darrell 

Social Media and Spirituality......

Sitting at a conference on Social Media and Websiste at the #cslwow convention in Florida...getting my mind blown about the vision of spiritual community that lives in me.  I really want to have an online and offline community, but they don't need to be separate.  We are all one.

I would love any and all feedback on what you would like from an online community....digital spiritual practice, classes, counseling et cetera.  Can't wait to hear from you!

Love, Light & Laughter ~ Darrell

'Tis the Season of Love!

So I had a great realization today,  I like Valentine's Day.  I really do, yes it can be a little hokey, awkward and forced, but once you get through all that (admittedly sometimes we can't) the essence of the day is pretty great.  It is a day a good percentage of our culture agrees to talk about love, share love and receive love.  How amazing is that!

I am presenting at two events honoring love this weekend and next.  The first is Love Fest at the Bodhi Spiritual Center on February 8th, here's the link for tickets and info http://lovefest2014.eventbrite.com/?aff=LoveFest&afu=46123468943

Love Fest is an all day event from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., the first keynote speaker is Rev. Mark Anthony Lord (9 a.m.), one of my dearest friends and teachers, he's the one that helped awaken the counselor and minister in me!  The next keynote is Byron Katie (11 a.m.).  If you aren't familiar here is her website http://www.thework.com/index.php.  You must check her out.  Her simple yet powerful teaching aims to free us from anything that isn't love.

After her presentation my beloved partner Cari Jacobson and I will be presenting on Gary Chapman's book the 5 Love Languages (1:30 - 3:00p.m.).  We will be offering an introduction to his work and teaching and share how it has deepened our ability to give and receive love.  And we will support all of the attendees in practicing the philosophy of the 5 Love Languages in their lives.

The next event is The Love Summit 2014:  Igniting Passion, Connection & Fun
http://lovesummit2014.com/
This is a 4 day Tele-summit that I will be a part of a panel discussion and there will be over 15 people presenting on how to activate greater love for yourself and the life you live!

Celebrate Love this season, I hope you join me at one of the events above, but if nothing else, take these words of Marianne Williamson into your heart as she summarizes teachings from the book A Course in Miracles.
"...everything that someone does, says the Course is either love or a call for love.  If someone treats us with love, then of course love is the appropriate response.  If they treat us with fear, we are to see their behavior as a call for love."

There is only Love or a call for Love!

Much Love to you! ~ Darrell