In Sync with Shifting Seasons

While the calendar sets a date on the arrival of "Spring" on March 20, those in the Flow, simple know a time of new growth is upon us.  We are leaving what indigenous people refer to as the time of Rest and Cleansing Moon, ( obviously so named before there were cars and streets to dig out of the snow. ;)

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On March 21, we are moving into what is known as the Budding Trees Moon.  The small buds some of us have already ogled will move into full bloom during this time as gray clouds that have blanketed us will part to let through the light while the earth opens to let through more sprouts.  Water as rain will soak into the ground and help feed the new growth, and the wind will circulate seed and pollens to further the process. 

It is a time for opening and as is usual with my art and writing (and ancient systems of knowing), these four elements are all symbols for the opportunities we have to open ourselves in the Universal Flow of life.  Each of us possesses and demonstrates qualities of all four elements at various times.  Sometimes we are the earth, solid yet opening to support growth, other times we are radiating light, warming, encouraging growth.  We each also can bring the qualities of water softening the earth like rain, bringing nourishment and deeply drenching life to the roots, and like air we circulating life and connecting it from place to place throughout our world. 

Like birds building nests, flowers breaking forth, and fawns stumbling into life for the first time, Spring represents an opportunity to be open, adventurous, courageous, enthusiastic, imaginative, and expressive. This is not a season for micro-managing our lives to make sure we don't miss this opportunity. 

The turning of the seasons is a macrocosm of what can happen for any of us in a single day, or even a moment. Recognizing the transition between the seasons and the elements as they symbolize our gifts and challenges can be helpful in releasing, receiving, and more.  Just as the magnolia will surely carry the blossoms appropriate to its type, we don't need to worry, we will be, have, and express what works in the moment when we are in sync with the Universe.

A Natural Process is the topic for the Universal OS Wisdom Group.  More here.

Peacefully,
Pic;)

To Thine Own Self Be True

The masks we wear are determined by why we think we wear them. We may have different masks at home, school, work, only when we see certain people, or under certain circumstances. Masks, as collections of agreements that condition and limit self-expression, seem to be a pretty handy tool for getting around in the world and some would say masks are an unavoidable necessity. Then again, if we search through this process we will see that masks are based on what, how, why and when we think. The "self" that is conditioned and limited is not the personal "I", but that from which the personal "I" is shaped. My "I" is an artist, a daughter, sister, friend, co-worker, ex, in a relationship, a teacher, and more. "I" is lost, won, accomplished, failed, inventive, worried, forgetful and remembering. "I" is not and "I" is, but if any of these were true, they would not change and they always do. "To thine own self be true", is to detach from the limits and conditions we have enabled. Rather than seek to replace old masks with something we think is better, we can just be and see through the eyes of the limitlessly, unconditional, omnipotent, omnipresent self. That, we truly are.

Photo courtesy of exfordy at flickr.com

The Synthesis of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science

Sometimes we think we know, we think things never change, sometimes we think we don't know, everything is changing. That could be one thought, or it could be viewed as two or four and even more depending on how the phrases are fractured with punctuation. Maybe that's a little much for a Monday, so I'll be brief and you can follow the links when you're ready to enjoy. Such fractals are the organizing principle underlaying a great deal of perceived chaos, in which case you can see the role of perception as punctuation in the determination of what we think we experience.

Pictured here, the Sri Yantra, a design which is thousands of years old and traditionally represents not only abundance on all levels, but also the beauty of the three worlds, as well as the wisdom of non-duality. It is pictured with the most popular image used to represent the Mandelbrot theory of Fractal Geometry which basically connotes the same meaning as the Sri Yantra. Which came first doesn't matter, in truth the idea that they both support the notion of an underlying unified principle through which everything else seems to emerge yet remains the same, doesn't really matter either. Yet on a Monday and at other times when life might seem chaotic or broken, we might take a deeper look at where our thoughts lead and see that there is abundant beauty in its fractured state.

zoom in on this cool 4 minute youtube

(I like the song)

fractal image posted by Wolfgangbeyer at Wikipedia

sri yantra posted by SharkD at Wikipedia

Facebook Friends

If you don't know the fun and laughs Facebook quizzes can offer you might want to give them a try. Most quizzes ask a few questions to ascertain one's beliefs about a particular subject and then assign a symbol or series of symbols which are explained as to how they represent the person who took the quiz. My Facebook profile is filled everyday with news from friends who took one quiz or another. I now know the favorite bottled beverages, leading men, most disliked foods, and 25 random things about several dozen Facebook friends. It seems Facebook was just made for seekers.

If self-inquiry isn't the organic alternative to Facebook, maybe Facebook is the digital alternative to self-inquiry. After all, it's filled with the lists, likes and dislikes, and daily thoughts for each person who shows up. Maybe the ancient gurus and masters who coined the phrase never dreamed of Facebook. If they did, they might have thought it would lead to bondage more than liberation and enlightenment. But maybe the kid in the cartoon has a point.

Where Facebook quizes might seem like fun, and self-inquiry might seem like serious business, maybe they're actually very similar. No matter which course of action you take, the more you know the less you believe you are the things you thought you were. You find you're not your thoughts, nor even what thinks, and yet you include these in your friends list. If you don't know the fun and laughs of self-inquiry then maybe you might want to give it a try. It's not as serious as you might think.