Fireside III
It is to the Village Square that the townspeople come to exchange views and thoughts on their beloved spiritual philosophy, learning from each other in kindness and wisdom. Then when their minds have been filled, they retire to the tavern on the western side of the square where they share in social discussion, learning of each other’s events and challenges, happinesses and sometimes sadnesses, too. With a mug or glass in hand, they collect in front of the great Fireplace that dominates the long wall. Benches and chairs are often filled on market day with those who have come from farther away, bringing news of events and views the local people delight in hearing.
If you are feeling disoriented by all the philosophical talk by the fountain in the Village Square, then come sit down on the bench here with us for a while just to soothe your mind and share a mug of tea or coffee. Let’s all make sure the conversation is quiet and simple, caring and thougtful, exactly the kind of talk you might have around a warm hearth, the only light filling the room coming from the fireplace.
This is the third installment in the Fireside discussion series. After we reach 900 comments, the page takes too long to load on your computer, and so we start another fresh page. To review previous discussions, we keep the old pages (Fireside I and Fireside II) which you can find under the ‘Village’ tab on the navigation bar at the top of screen under the image of the tree.
Bernard – I saw your car turning slowly around set to music by Johann Strauss: The blue Donau – you know? silly but very enjoyable.
I had exact the same experience when i was 16 – but our car was going uphill. No body was hurt, except the car. I still remember how the mind was absolutely still and in the now.
And that time,. no cell phones – we had to walk back 3-4 miles in the winter and the night.
Still, I remember it as a very dreamlike experience.
-and about your thought about explaingin this website – I still think a welcome video, no necessary so long, is a grand idea.
Love you very much, Bernard – and always so very very grateful for being our Mayor. We could not have a better place on this earth that here. Rufus agrees too.
Like Lawrence says, lots of good stuff happening here. Re-reading all the posts again this morning, going backwards, up the page, and want to say…
Katrina – thanks for that lovely post. Really gives me a deeper understanding of you in this lifetime. You state your love so simply and with such openness… “please don’t throw us in the garbage heap”… yes, that is how it does feel to be rejected, but luckily the Mayor has assured us that is not going to happen, so I for one, (with you) am breathing a sigh of relief !
It’s interesting what this Village has come to mean for me. I never thought that I would be so addicted to any site in the world. But I am, so hey !…
Annie – you are extra special. (to me). Will that prevent you (or me) from being enlightened. I somehow doubt it (: — the end game is assured, and expressing our fears openly only make them disappear. I have played often with those thoughts you expressed in 838 above. (In the early days of the Monastery, before I “dared” to post in what seems like an exclusive club, it was *all* that I ever thought about when sitting at the Monastery portal. I remember Al giving me a warm welcome with her appreciation of what I wrote that first (?) time… it gave me confidence and courage to continue to post…)
And I’ve continued to evolve (: — I realized a year or so later, that all the thoughts of imaginary special relationships between Debbie and Anne and Jamie, and whoever else used to post the most in those days were all figments of my imagination. So I think that’s what will happen to anyone new who stumbles on this site.
At first they’ll think this is some of kind of cosy club with only the frequent posters having “special” relationships with each other, then they will feel/see that perhaps it’s not so, then they’ll write in, and get a grand welcome from whomever happens to be on the site that day/week, and then it will roll right along with another person joining our group.
Sooo…. (:
I’m not worried about this site or its future anymore (: — all is well, and will always be well.
love,
a
Bernard, Whew! So glad you and Pat and Athos were sort of with the mice in the holes of the swiss cheese. I, too, recall the slow motion of car spinning. I kept wondering afterwards if I had actually died and the life I was living was like a walk-in to a new one. Strange dreamwalking feeling for weeks, especially when I looked at the car. May your car replacement go like Michelle’s, which was kinda surreal and blessed.
And, whew! no garbage heap ahead for us!! I did feel a serge of relief when you said we were stuck with you cause you don’t get rid of family that easily. It struck me how deeply I felt the strength and warmth of that reliability. The friendships here have become family. Back when, that was the shocking loss, was how will I talk to my friends again… And then the missing of those who did not come here with us.
And I agree with you, a*, those of us who are only reading could easily think that there are just a few who know each other having personal conversations. Hopefully, Bernard will be inspired to find a door that opens to let every browser tip toe in like you did. It is wonderful that your teaching opportunities are blossoming, those lucky French, indeed.
Grateful for us all, katrina
Dear Bernard ~
Whew indeed! Your inner calm witnessing the surrealness of it all as everyone was safe and able to clamber out and be reassured all was well is such good news for us all who love you.
I picture you, Pat and Athos in that first look around of each other safe on solid ground. Your process throughout the day and your conclusion wrap up was peaceful and reassuring of your inner knowing and faith in just watching and choosing not judging any judging that arose.
My first response to your site look was wanting to support whatever changes you wanted to make, but I too really appreciated and completely agreed with Pam, Zafu and Nina’s thoughts.
Yesterday was a big day for me too and the peaceful conclusion my daughter’s father and I hoped for in the year and a half scenario/life script learning lesson we were involved with came through for us and I’m feeling very grateful for the freedom in having this resolved.
Love to all,
Michele
Bernard, I appreciate you sharing about your experience with the car mishap, and your insights about the incident. I, like everyone else, am happy that everyone is safe. You are really living the Course by being such a peaceful observer. You certainly have a gift for writing about your experiences.
As a newbie to this site, I did have the reaction at first that A and Katrina describe in 852 & 853. It seemed too “chatty” for me. But as I read further, I could tell that folks were sharing from the perspective of what they were learning and living from the Course. I could tell that these were dedicated students, willing to engage the truths and share their unfoldsments. So I am grateful to have found this village of loving aspects of the Sonship, and it is a joy to visit every day.
Ya know, there is a phrase on the site that states “New to this site?, click here”, which opens to a lovely summary of what the site is all about. I just think that if that phrase could be made more prominent, it would be helpful for other newbies to notice and follow. Video intro is a good idea also, as others have mentioned. Love and blessings to all.
Thanks, guys, for all your great thoughts and really loving support. I can’t say that I wished for this kind of thing to happen (at all) but not that it has and that we’re managing to work through it constructively, doing a lot of observing and choosing of what we really want, I can say that it has been good. Life already seems a little different, like somehow we’ve taken one more step back from the ‘action’. Somethings are more important than our car staying intact, and that something is not our health and well-being (okay that’s nice, but that’s really not the all). That special something is a pretty extraordinary place that is available right here, right now, stepping back from the meaning of all the thoughts going around in our minds. There is a place outside the experience of this world, it’s true and real.
Thanks also again for your great thoughts about this site. Nice thoughts, too, Jacalyn, about the ‘first time to this site’. I’ll work on the vid and on that reference, and on a couple of other things. Yes, if you read between the lines, you’ll finding else going on above what looks to be the simple banter between people.
Michele, so grand that your situation is finaaaaly starting to turn around. Yeah! Love to the whole family.
Running off to work this weekend, up to Limoges for a job… Hugs and kisses all round the Village and back.
Tex to you… Been meaning to tell you I’ve been using your wordpress ACIM Lesson Blog every morning now. I decided to catch up to the lesson for the day last week after I finished last years final lesson. I know we’re only supposed to read one lesson a day, but, since I wanted to catch up and have three years, two of them doing the workbook with Ken’s Journey Through..I decided to use your most lovely and exquisite site to scroll though each of the lesson titles up to lesson # 44.
Now I read the lesson from your site, then if moved and have time Ken’s commentary. I always go to Jamie’s watch Ken’s video, read the Q & A and do a quick checkin at the Village to start my day. We read and did the lesson 44 last Monday at our study group. It was just four of us that night, and our group is usually 6 or 7.
Katrina I’m so happy to see you again here. I always love your posts.
Have a great weekend everyone!
THANK YOU for your kind words!
I love that site – I love working on it… It’s Random – because I take what ever picture is uploaded, and put it with whatever phrase or lesson comes up next… AND they always prove to be “just right”! I’m very pleased that some of the pics are being shared around on FaceBook and Twitter, too!
I love the see the typewritten manuscript along with the printed version.
It’s like having a 3rd and 4th person in the room… like looking over Bill’s shoulder with Helen reading her notes- in some crowded messy little office cubicle somewhere in NYC…traffic going by outside, pigeons flying around on a window stoop, the manual typewriter going “click, click, click *bing*!”
I just love it!
And my new second job – the lady I tend to – likes to sleep. She actually WANTS me to work on the computer! So yeah! I told her I would be GLAD to oblige! More Random epic winning!
Tex,
If you don’t already know I care for you a lot! You so often touch on things that ring so very true to me. You paint a nice picture of Bill and Helen and the office etc. I am re-reading “Absense From Felicity” and you description of Bill and Helen on a work day and their surroundings put me right there.
I walk in stillness. Where my rest is set
Is Heaven. And the silence of the stare
Sings in a soundless circle. For the song
Of Heaven is past hearing, and ascends
Beyond the tiny range the ear can catch,
And soars into a spaceless magnitude
Where sound and silence meet in unity.
Holy am I, who bring my Father’s Name
With me and who abide in Him, although
I seem to walk alone. Look carefully,
And you may catch a glimpse of He Who stands
Beside me. And I lean on Him in sure
Unswerving confidence. It was not thus
Before, for I was bitterly afraid
To take the Help of Heaven for my own.
Yet Heaven never failed, and only I
Stayed comfortless, while all of Heaven’s gifts
Poured out before me. Now the arms of Christ
Are all I have and all my treasure is.
Now I have ceased to question. Now I come
From chaos to the stillness of my home.
(The Gifts of God, p. 76)
I remember your bad-ass video of you cruising in you truck, and I thought to myself, I could be friends with this lady for real. If I didn’t tell you before, what you do as a profession is way cool in so many ways. I guess being a cancer survivor, I can appreciate you that much more. I know there are family right here in the village that have lived it in one form or another.
What I find here are beautiful people, sharing. What more can one ask for!
Peace & Posters my Friends
God bless us every one
lawrence
Love ya Tex
God bless us every one
Is anyone else having problems uploading this page? It seems for some people it’s starting to take a long time. Maybe we’ll need to start a new page…
Hey, great, loving post Lawrence.
I read today my post from a few days ago and I sound so sure of myself! Today just doesn’t seem the same, the ego’s voice is that much stronger, doom and gloom, for no good reason. Why, oh why, do I listen to it at all?? It’s not like it’s whispering lovely sweet nothings in my ear. They’re nothings alright, but they feel like big bad somethings! Anyone else having a day like that?
Oh yes, big days like that – especially after sweet peace, ego rears its ugly head as ken says. He also reminds us that it is only more guilt being released – as soon as we remember not to take it personally and seriously, which I personally never almost never do, being such an advanced student. Of chocolate.
Lawrence – thanks – and everything you said – right back at ‘cha!
I have such deep caring feelings for my Village People!
Like a family.
Love you all – Salmon at the tavern – see ya’ll there!
Bernard, I imagine by now the “ego kick-back” as I call it, has passed. It seems that after a day of clarity and certainty of awareness, that the next day is the pits. My favorite trick is to address that erroneous self as outside of me, as a spoiled child, and tell it “I see that you are upset and having a temper tantrum, but that is not who I AM”. It works for me (when I remember to do it- ha!). Guess that is similar to Ken’s advice to looking at it with Jesus. I’d like to hear “What Works” for other folks in the village, since we have all had similar experiences. We know the true Bernard, and hold that awareness of you, dear Mayor. That is the support that this village can offer- it’s a healing, really. Sort of Joel Goldsmith’s Infinite Way approach. Your description of the entire event with the car was a sharing from a perspective/space of truth, and that served as a great example for me. And your concluding paragraph was indicative of your awareness of the humor in the entire situation. You certainly have a wonderful way of translating the internal process and awareness into words. Tell us more about the second book you are writing. Thanks for being so courageous to share with such honesty. There is One Life and that we share with God.
Yes, Jacalyn and Bernard, I would live to hear about the second book too! Are you self-publishing it?
{{{Pam}}} – just to tell you I love you
{{{Nina}}} love you too.
dear friends —
for those of you who like to “connect” with other people, who are as connected to a.c.i.m as we are, in a different context than the written form as we do here, there are some very nice video interviews being done by a gentleman named kenneth bok living in london.
i’ve thoroughly enjoyed every visit to his site – if you google his name, you will likely be able to navigate to his world… i’m on there listening to a very nice interview right now (:
love,
a
a, thanks for sharing about kenneth bok! I watched some of the videos, listened to the radio show, and joined his site. I think it is a great service, and will help many. Very inspiring, especially considering his young age. I will let him know about the village, I’m sure he will enjoy this site. But wow, if he spreads the word, we could be inundated with new members.
Lovely, Jacalyn –
Many thanks for writing to let me know that you found it useful. Often times I’m not sure whether I should write in something or not, and hearing from you on this topic makes me happy.
I’m on Ken’s site again right now, listening to another very helpful interview, had to pause it to write this – I foolishly thought I could do both simultaneously ! (:
Back to Pauline Edward..
Cheers.
(:
Hmmm…. let’s see if this goes through, Jacalyn. Wrote you a response to 868, but the filter is not letting it through ! (:
a, no problem. I see your response 869. 🙂
Thanks Jacalyn, such lovely thoughts from you. So nice to know that you all know the real ‘me’ underneath all that other stuff. And that’s a great idea, to see the ego as outside of us, as a spoiled child throwing a tantrum, and addressing it like that. Really great idea. I’m not sure if I ever mentioned a second book. In actual fact, Paulo and the Magician was the third book I started and the other two were almost finished. I would like to get back to them one day, but I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t do that until I had a clear indication that it was the right time. I think for the moment there are other things still to do, which I’m doing very slowly.
I’ve been thinking a lot about you, Pam, too, and sending you both a big cyber huggie. Same for LTS and Ruthie! And Bev…
Richard Bok looks like he has it all together. Some of us are old souls born in young bodies, I guess!
Lawrence, you can send in those poems aaannnyyy time you want, my man. I just love them, and that one was a real beauty. It sent me spinning off far, far away. Blessings to you.
And Annie, hope you’re well. And hi Tex and Michele, Nina, Katrina and Zafu and ‘a’… Hugs.
Hugs and Salmon to everyone –
I drive down the street, and think about you all,
and sing you all little songs in my mind!
Did you see the preview for a new show – “Awake”??
The guy is projecting two realities… each on tell him the other is false…
Very cool – like Inception.
Love to you all!
Thanks, Jacalyn, thanks, Bernard, thanks, Tex… to you !
aloha
hi
hugs all around
so happy with our gatherings
lots of this and that
thanks to each and all
thanks for stories and sharings
a gracious bow to each of you
how happy we can be
everyone looks especially beautiful today!!
mahalo mahalo
so kind
Thinking of California today… and all the people!
Hugs!
I was dreaming about fish just now… big ugly gross fish.
The kind that lurk in the bottom of the ocean. THAT is SO not right.
Not the pretty little salmon that I usually dream about… if I dream at all.
So I trained myself to stop — and ask of myself
“What is really bothering me?” aka “What is the meaning of what I behold?”
And Ken’s gentle happy voice comes to mind… with him saying
“I was frightened of Love… and my Decision-Maker chose the ego this time.”
That’s all.
Then dreams stopped and now there are about 100 birds outside my window…
at 3 am – no less! Happy loud birds – every kind!
I wish you could hear them all.
You can barely hear yourself think from the cacophony of birds!
Tex, I hear them. All the way from texas to Rykkinn.
Isnt it lovely when the outside mirrors the inside shifts.And how could it not?
Love you all so much
Nina
hmm. 100 or more birds singing in the dead of night for just outside your window Tex, lovely. Wonder if any of your neighbors awoke to hear them too. Went to Kenneth’s Boks site and have yet to view a video. Thanks a…fun to see your comments writing there. Like running into you in another part of of the world.
Great interview with Ken over at Jamie’s song site. Hugs to all xoxox
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only wanting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird fly blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
– written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Thanks, Michele !
Glad you liked your first persual of Kenneth’s site. Funny that – you’re right… it is like meeting in another world ! (:
BTW, did I ever tell you how much I loved your pointing me to Brent Haskell’s work in one of your old emails to me ? It was spectacular, because I came across Kellie Love through that, and he was/is a great inspiration to me last year (and even now, remembering him as I write this)..
And yes, terrific, terrific interview with Ken Wapnick by Susan – some really detailed stuff discussed. Love it – haven’t finished it yet – going back now – but felt like writing to you just now ! (:
love,
a
AWESOME – thanks! You know I LUV me some Beatles!
All ya need is Love!
I get the biggest chuckle to think that Helen was scribing the Course at the same time the Beatles were writing their songs. . . Sort of a symphony of thoughts.
pam … you ROCK
you are simply the best …
how do you always show up somehow knowing the most exquisite perfect way to make it happen
you’ve got the gift …
pure poetry … black bird
too cool
way good
now anne and the rest of us are blessed again by you
happy insight … love it
been humming it all day
profound and wonderful
aloha and mahalo to all
am thankful
(and hi also to a and anne and katrina and michele and nina and bernard & pat and jacalyn and annie and all others visible and invisible … love you all)
LOL’ Zafu that was triggered by Michele saying “singing in the dead of night” in her post. It is all connected and One. 😀
hi zafu !! (:
ps. bernard sure did create a lovely home for us here !
my wife has some nice music playing on her macbook itunes as I write this message. the song is called “Goddess” (: from a CD named Ambient Pipa (ps. warning it’s New Age kind of trance music (: so if you don;t like that kind, don’t Google it (:
Listening to Mozart piano concertos … (not Beethoven, aye)
And reading this – I want so much to share:
The world will end in joy, because it is a place of sorrow…
The world will end in peace, because it is a place of war…
The world will end in laughter, because it is a place of tears.
Where there is laughter, who can longer weep?
And only complete forgiveness brings all this to bless the world.
In blessing it departs, for it will not end as it began.
What an awesome path we are on. Y’all are some Mighty Companions!
T-17.VII.9. 4 Truth calls for faith, and faith makes room for truth. 5 When the Holy Spirit changed the purpose of your relationship by exchanging yours for His, the goal He placed there was extended to every situation in which you enter, or will ever enter. 6 And every situation was thus made free of the past, which would have made it purposeless.
When I read this yesterday, I felt unbounded joy. I knew it was true that all is forgiven and released, and that all i see, is a re-tape from the past that I make real.
Then I lay in bed and noticed how the clarity gradually dissolved. How scared I still must be of Love, to still choose the ego as my teacher.
And how wonderful that I choose Love as often as i do 🙂
Oh Village of mine….uplifted and fun chuckle in our associations and flights of connected thoughts. It’s funny, cause I was going to make some kind of connection to Paul in that post and then had the thought, just leave it simple Michele….you don’t need to take the ego’s hand and listen to the whisper that appeared at the end of this clean and pure response to Tex.
Now I get to enjoy Pam writing the lyrics out for us, which I wouldn’t have taken the time to do and see all the other ways we continued to respond in joy. Plus I got to look and see how, sneaky and subtle it was my ego wanted to take over, not judge it and see the freedom the space I left free of it invited.
a… way cool about Brent Haskell and Kelli Love. Did you know he died last year?
Nina…thank you so much for posting the above. A timeless clean sweep when we exchange purpose.
Love to All
Hiya Michele –
yes, did come to know that Kelli has moved on about a month after it happened – it had a deep impact on me. hearing the magnificent resonance and love in his voice on the audio show I heard, and then knowing a few months later that he was no longer in North Carolina (I think that’s where he lived).
I still have images of him in my mind, so he’s alive and well within me (:
I’m still grateful to you, even as I write out this last message before boarding another plane ! (:
love,
a
Anyone watching the series “Awake”?
Two realities…. each seems real….
Projection – parallell realities…
Lots of cross-over…
Sounds like a cool show! For Coursies.
I love today’s lesson. My only function is the one God gave me. I love seeing how our brother J is entrusting us with stepping up our commitment and offering the tools of thought, practice and remembrance to do so. In todays lesson, asking for 15 minutes practice, he asks us to look at the extraneous thoughts that come up while we reflect on the words of the lesson and recognize them as ” This thought represents a goal that is preventing me from accepting my only function”.
All his direction with today’s lesson, and the parts about “On this clean slate let my function be written for me.” and ending with “I have no other and want no other” is so helpful, a strong direction on the right course.
Hi everyone! Phew! That’s all I can say. It has been a whirlwind time over here. Just stopping in to say hello and catch up on everyone, just before hitting the sack. Then tomorrow I get a little time to work through a ton of emails. A full week of work (gotta take it when it comes in) and then yours truly was invited to do a stand at a local Well-Being Fair, which was great fun. I spent all weekend from 10 am to 7 pm talking people through ACIM one step at a time. No one here has ever heard of it, so it’s great training learning to summarize it and then share that message in the most non-confrontational way possible. Then today up and out, and a study group this afternoon. Lots and lots of learning. Loving this message and loving this work, and grateful for all of you who help me keep the message clear in my mind and heart. Blessings dear family… (slips off to the cottage down the road for a nice long snooze).
Bernard, when you have time – if – I would love to hear from your teaching the Course summarized for beginners! What a great experience that must have been for you too.
Otherwise: here’s from todays blog.
Last night, like so many nights now, there comes a tremendously strong energy/sensation in the body. It feels like it is controlled by huge forces. Body goes into cramps, it feels like crushed in a vice. I am not willing to just lie here and believe I am a victim of this any longer. I ask Jesus for help, and immediately got an impulse to roll over on my back and allow this energy to leave my body mind. I also heard “Samskara.” This is a concept my Buddhist-teacher found very meaningful – it’s like an imprint from deep unconsciousness.
My fear and resistance dissolved in a second, and there came a melting peace – at the same time as the cramps changed into something else.The pains just stopped being pain. No suffering, no fear – but the energies played themselves out as before, just now without any reaction to it.
It was a moment when I was completely fear-free. Even the fear of death was absent. All was fine as it was – even with these crazy energies/cramps. Gratitude was everything.
Later in the morning, it came back – and i did not find the same way to relate to it.
*
And this day i got a letter from the Foundation that I was allowed to use all the quotes from Ken in my book, and ” We are so glad that you found such a healing way of working through the very painful experiences you have had, and that you have been able to to experience the peace that is our natural state as children of God.”
Boy does that feel good
(This is taken from Gurumaa’s website:
Q: What is the definition of the word ‘samskara’? Is it the karma which is earned from the past life?
A: Well, the word ‘samskara’ can be translated in English as ‘deep impressions’. It does come from our past life experiences and it is also what we are gaining in this life. In our childhood and even today, when we interact with people, our indriyas or sense organs are receiving so many stimuli, the conditionings, the deeper impressions which remain as residue in our subconscious can be called ‘samskaras’.
Congratulations on being able to use Ken’s quotes. Another step forward for your book. YAY!
Congrats, Nina ! That is very good news with the nice letter from Ken and the Foundation.
Bernard, hope your snooze was deep and restful ! sounds like you’re having a lot of fun. Wonderful !
Smiles to you all… peace,
a
Pumpkins. I very happily present the last comment to the book:
Kjersti Mørkved Jåsund wrote 4 days ago [send message] [reply]
Dear Leelah,
Your book is a most precious gift to me as a reader!
What an adventure into the dark corners of us humans – and the wonderful thing is that by you seeing the needs behind your own and other peoples painful feelings and destructive behaviors – you are actually able to set yourself free – and I as a reader join the ride by melting into a very loving and forgiving place in myself! So I actually get at taste of freedom, too – that is what I call a powerful read!!! I LOVE books that touches me deeply and in a transformative way, like your book does to me. That is actually the kind of books I am searching for – and I find them quite rare!
And another thing – even though your book covers very painful issues of abuse etc – it is sprinkled with so much humor, playfulness and curiosity, that the heaviness evaporates into something light and peaceful, filled with insights and love.
I love the way you use stories from real life – either your own or case studies from your clients – it makes it so convincing. I find it so much more interesting to read about somebody that have been struggling with existential issues in life and found a way to handle them – than books only telling me in a normative way how I “should live my life”.
I actually think that your book is a wonderful answer to the so-called “problem of evil” in the world – through your story you show in a truthful, wise and loving way that there is actually no evil person, just a lot of very destructive behavior, covering up for a persons deepest fears! I love this way of seeing the world 🙂
On my iPhone, I write down quotes which inspire me – and I keep reading them again and again as a way of reminding me of what I value in life. And your book has been a wonderful source for such quotes – here are a few of them:
“All addicts are pieces of God, forgetting Who they are. Look upon them with this knowing, and you look upon you.”
“In our everyday life, we experience that what we avoid doing something with, certainly does something to us, and pursue us – until we stop, turn around and bless it.”
“We are the very arena where the primal forces of life and death meet and dance – and as the Divine sparks we are, we have the freedom to play with it.”
“What determines your experience is where you place your belief.”
“What if we see perpetrators not as being evil – but as being trapped and captured by their own denial and ignorance – which breed evil.”
“When we want to bring the characters in The Sacred Tree of Horrors out of their trappedness and their deadly blind repetition, we play with it and invite it into the clear room of nonjudgemental awareness. In Expressive Arts Therapy, there are myriads of ways to play with this. And what a relief: we don’t have to figure things out with our mind – but letting it reveal itself to us and surprise us!”
“Inner demons are demons because they are hungry for something they are not getting. […] We create them by ignoring and judging our painful feelings.”
Warmly
Kjersti
Yay Nina!! How wonderful and affirming your letter is. Thanks for including the samskaras definition.
…and this,today, made me very happy too:
Dear Leelah,
I felt quite breathless reading your book — the sense of something unique and deep and bigger than ourselves –and as I read on a lovely peace settled in and I felt I was “in the flow” of the narrative. This is the kind of book I wouldn’t even consider critiquing – it is a place to explore and meditate. I love it, and I believe you’ve written an important contribution to spiritual works. Brava. I will continue to read for inspiration. Thank you for sharing with us.
Lizzi
Nice to hear that others are benefiting from your writing. (:
yes isn’t it!