Reflection 2013 and Transformation 2014

"When we know who we truly are, we know that life is infinite. It never had a beginning and will never have an end. Life continues in infinite cycles. We have intuitively known this from the beginning of human times. The symbol of life in all cultures from the Celtic to the Tibetan, is infinity in various forms, all amazingly depicting no beginning and no end. Such symbols emanate from that infinite space that is the real us. Life will continue. It may express itself in various forms or non-forms, but it will always find a way to endure. Try pulling out weeds and they continue to grow, kill germs with antibiotics and they mutate. Life transforms but cannot end." 
Excerpt from Ch17,  Awaken Our Spirit Within by Patsie Smith

                                                    

                                                       Dreamstime stock photos


Dear everyone,

The end of another year brings with it a time of reflection on what has come, is going and will be gone. And new beginnings and possibilities as we embark onto 2014. Linear time is a concept created by human beings, our true reality is simply continuous infinite cycles. Ask any other life form e.g. a dog or a tree "How old are you?" "What year is it?" and it is irrelevant to them. At the end of 2012, there were fears and anxiety among the general masses, spurred on by mainstream media, of the end of the world - catastrophic end for humanity. The awakened and conscious beings of the world however, were far from fearful. They celebrated the turning point into the start of a new era, of awakened consciousness. So now we have come to the end of 2013, one year on, and we're all still here. The world has not ended!

However, 2013 has been year of major shifts, both on an individual and a global level. As we review all the events that have occurred in our personal lives and the world around us this year, I would like to invite you to come on a journey of reflection with a heart of wisdom and love. To do this let us view this year from the angle of gratitude, be it just quietly in yourself or physically writing them down on a gratitude journal. As you reflect on all the events and experiences in your personal life this year, some might have been very obvious ones to be thankful for, e.g. got the dream job you wanted, fell in love and in a happy relationship, gave birth to your beautiful baby, recovered from an illness, went on an amazing holiday trip abroad, etc. etc. List down all those obvious wonderful events, for they are indeed blessings to be grateful for. Then comes the other side of the coin, the events and experiences that were sad, stressful, traumatic or tragic. Reflecting on them with wisdom through the eyes of gratitude means viewing what lessons resulted from them, what events and people those 'negative' events/experiences led you to, which contributed to something 'good' after, or which has brought you to where you are today, or to the growth of your inner strength and spirit. Similarly, view what transformation and growth these life events have contributed to the inner spirit of those you love and who are close to you. You will realize that there is so much to be grateful for, beneath all those 'unfavorable' events. For that is our true purpose in this life journey -for our soul to evolve, create and experience. 

In reflecting on the bigger picture in line with our oneness with all of life, our world has undoubtedly been experiencing some major shifts this year. Our natural environment appears to be at crisis point with about 80% of the world's forests having been degraded or destroyed, and we are experiencing the worst rate of species extinction (of plants and animals) since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. While the natural rate of plant and animal extinction rate is about 1 to 5 species per year, we are now witnessing the loss of species at 1000-10,000 times the natural rate, and the major cause is human impact. Our current world population at 7 billion continues to grow at the rate of 1.14% p.a. leading to increased food demands and consumerism. This leads to further pillaging of our limited natural resources. Deforestation in the Amazon (Brazil) had risen by 28% over the last year and continues to be on the agenda in every other part of the world from the British Columbia forests in Canada to the South East Asian rainforests. Corporations are choosing to drill for oil in the pristine Arctic instead of investing in clean sustainable energy. Planet earth consists of 70% ocean but only 1% is protected. Everyday unwise politicians and corporations are continuously making short-sighted and ignorant decisions by signing up bigger and more profitable fossil fuel projects, contributing further toward depletion and degradation.

Our plant-based food sources are threatened by power and money controlling corporations with more widespread use of pesticides, genetically modifying our foods and controlling our seeds. The conventional medical system is being shaken, as they are unable to cure people as they continue to get sicker with chronic degenerative and inflammatory illnesses from younger ages than ever before. Chronic stressful living from continuous striving toward endless material wants, the high consumption of processed foods, sedentary and anti-social lifestyles of technology-driven cultures have all led to the decline and loss of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Conspiracies and corruption are rife in all traditional areas of power and trust - political leaderships, financial and banking, media, medical and pharmaceuticals, food and water. Meanwhile wars, crimes, violence, social and family dysfunctions, and homelessness continue to climb, the impoverished continue to starve, and humans continue to spiral into despair. This absolute global disarray and disharmony is a reflection of the individual's dysfunction. The illusion and hypnosis of 'separation' is the underlying root cause of our current state, as humans in general have become disconnected from their spirit, their source, essence, God. Those who worship a 'God' but only know it as a separate belief, concept or entity is still caught in the 'separation' disorder. Separation from our source entails separation from each other, which breeds fear, rivalry, greed, anger, hatred and destruction. Only a reality shift within each one of us through oneness with our source will result in unity and harmony with everything around us. We may wonder, "how then do we feel gratitude?" 

The current state of our world and lives, though tragic, are major shifts. Let us view again from the other side of the coin. This physical life and our physical world consist of polarities. We can't have one without the other, and for every action and choice, there is a consequence. Without night there would not be a day, without light there will be no darkness, without up no down. This period is distinct in that the polarity seems to have somewhat reached its crisis point. As with any crisis point, what follows naturally is a total overhaul, or a break down of the existing and the emergence of a new, for cycles to continue.

We have gratitude for despite the apparent despair, this year has seen the culmination into the peak of spiritual growth and awakening in humankind. Spirituality is growing as an inner reality and not just an outer and separate belief system. Awareness is as astute on one pole as the imbalance of ignorance is on the other pole. The rising vibrations of love and compassion by all awakened and conscious souls are as powerful as the fear and destruction on the other pole. Although technology may be misused for fear, control and false propaganda, nevertheless it is also the mean that is accessible for freedom of knowledge, information and research when used with conscious and wise discretion. Hence, corruption, exploitation, injustice and potential devastation can and have been exposed. We have gratitude, for in a paradoxical way, this crisis point brings with it a major re-education and revolution in human rights, medical, foods, environmental, pharmaceutical, chemical, political, financial, and religious systems. All the old systems are breaking down. Increasingly, we are waking up to truths and getting ourselves objectively informed, educated and united toward transforming ourselves, hence, our world. By reclaiming our own spirit, using our intelligence and individual discretion, and making our own conscious choices - we are healing ourselves and others, and helping to protect, rejuvenate and heal our planet and all species that live upon it.

Armed troops are putting down weapons and marching with the population in solidarity against political corruption. People from all walks of life are voicing out, taking actions, educating and uniting others, and working toward change. The organic and bio-dynamic food industries are sweeping across the globe, people around the world are voicing out and taking a stand against GMO foods, growing foods in their own backyards, returning to simple lifestyles and working together as communities toward sustainable living. People are taking responsibility for their own health by making wise food choices, cooking wholesome foods and taking time to exercise, connect with family, friends, local  and global communities and with their natural environment. Natural health and medicines are the preferred choices to chemicals and drugs for health and healing.

Environmental protection organizations are at the fore front with the work for our nature conservation. This year The WWF has successfully stopped oil exploration in Virunga National Park in Africa, worked with African And US leaders in stronger enforcements for wild life crimes, curbed the sharks fin trade, increased Nepal's tiger population by 63% since their protection in 2009. Earth Hour 2013 has seen the Russian government making amendments to forest legislation and the Argentine Senate to the creation of a 3.4 million hectare marine protection area. Wetlands in Peru were rehabilitated and wildlife returned after the pollution caused by oil drilling was cleaned up. The Sumatran tigers and rhinos of Borneo have been saved through sustainable palm oil programs. For these and more, we are thankful.

The world communities rallied together and donated millions to help victims of  natural disasters from floods to earthquakes.. Various organizations like Make Poverty History, Oxfam, Unicef, and the Red Cross continue to get food and water to those in need through every penny that is donated by all generous souls. Every day there are countless souls working tirelessly and unconditionally out there in Medecins Sans Frontiers, Mother Theresa Hospital in Calcutta, various orphanages and refuges in Burma, Laos, Africa, the Middle East. Even here in our own backyard, the many many souls who quietly contribute their time and care in soup patrols, youth centres, animal shelters, etc. or simply helping the lonely neighbor in need. Our spirit and essence is pure, unconditional love and compassion. And we are grateful for the evidence of that all around us.

Spirituality is evolving from institutions and rituals into a personal reality deep within each heart. A return to this stillness is the shift that transforms the individual which then ripples into the collective. Every single one of us is a drop that causes a ripple in the ocean. Every day people are awakening and enlightening. Many highly evolved souls live among us from all walks of life, from scientists, doctors, musicians to 'average' man or woman down the street. All bringing forth with them wisdom, new creations, ideas and innovations to take us into a new era where we will not just survive and live, but thrive - in unity, harmony and oneness.

We have gratitude for this and so much more. For while humanity and our planet appears to be at a crisis point, it is also a turning point, 2013. Turning points may entail an unnerving sense of stepping into the unknown, such is the nature of shifts and transformation. If we stay fully anchored in the source of our being, we have the courage, trust and wisdom to embark into 2014 embracing conscious transformation. Let us move from fear-based to love-based consciousness. Let us not get engaged and caught up in sensationalism and fear-based mainstream media hype. Humanity is always faced with all sorts of challenges and our world is constantly changing and evolving. If we keep our spirit centered and our minds intelligently informed, our higher and pure intentions will guide us in making conscious choices everyday. The bigger picture is never simply 'black vs white', 'right vs wrong' or 'good vs bad'. Our best intentions will allow the bigger picture to take care of itself and spin its own cycle. May we continue to grow and foster our already awakened spirit on its journey of infinite possibilities - to create, experience and evolve, in facilitating transformation. May we continue to integrate our inner reality of truth into our outer world. Once the collective higher vibration reaches critical mass, transformation will ripple through into waves, and this is already starting to happen. Remember, it has been said, "There is no darkness. Darkness is simply the absence of light." Humankind may have consciously and unconsciously chosen the absence of light for far too long. The key to transformation is for each and every soul to awaken into their spirit and essence, their light.

I would like to share this beautiful video as we carry this beautiful mantra/prayer into 2014....please read the words in the video, enjoy !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeLzR7ufuUA

With Light, Love and Blessings for 2014,
Patsie

Patsie Smith is a spiritual author, remedial massage therapist, energetic kinesiologist, meditation and yoga teacher.
She lives in Perth, Australia.
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

 

The true spirit of this festive season

Dear everyone,

It's that time of the year again, when I shudder to go out on the streets, let alone walk into a major shopping complex. And I live in what is known as "the most isolated city in the world"! Imagine what it would be like in the big cities of the world. Stressful and frantic energies seem to surface at this time of the year for the average and affluent population of the western world. We get ourselves caught in a frenzy of spending and over-consumption. People rush around, pushing and shoving, buying up endless consumable goods to partake in this commercialism of Christmas.

As any true Christian will tell you, Christmas is sacred, as the real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ (though the exact date of his birth is very unlikely not the 25th Dec). Christ along with many great spiritual  masters of our times, lived, taught and espoused unconditional love, oneness, giving, forgiveness and peace.

So while we can embrace and celebrate this time of the year as a joyous and happy event, let us not lose our perspective and get too caught up in the materialism and commercialism of the festivities. It is a wonderful opportunity where good friends and family may gather together to connect, share and catchup. Some some may return home from long trips far and wide, others may find time to partake in foods, laughter and play together - and share joy and fun in giving each other gifts.

In amongst all this joyous activities that we are fortunate to partake in, let us always try and remember, be conscious, aware and practice - the true spirit of Christmas. The spirit of oneness and unconditional love extends not just to our immediate family and friends that we are celebrating with. It includes all of life on planet earth, all other humans, animals, plants and our natural environment. When we purchase gifts galore, and foods that spill out of our refrigerators, let us learn to be modest and somewhat frugal - do we really need more than too much? Before we reach out to purchase the third expensive present for our beloved offspring, let us stop and reconsider - does he/she really need that too? In purchasing material gifts and foods, let us make conscious choices based on how the goods and foods are sourced and obtained. Are they 'fair trade' where products were sourced and manufactured through ethical means? where other humans were not exploited and harmed in their making. Better still, buy from and support your local crafts maker and organic farmer's markets. Are they cruelty free? where countless animals have not been tortured, tested and killed. Are they environmental and sustainable? Nature is limited and diminishing even as we celebrate, if we do not remain conscious in our choices of spending. The amount of increased spending on consumables, packaging and discarded wastes triples and quadruples over the festive season in the affluent west, so our choices have effects on our environment. Are we giving others a gift of health? with natural ingredients or are we giving hidden toxins and synthetic substances in foods and products?

In celebrating, before we fill ourselves up excessively with foods and wine (to the point of bursting), let us remember those who never ever had a Christmas, those who have hunger in their stomachs, not just on Christmas day but every day. To restrain ourselves from over indulging does not curb our joy but is a small honor for those less fortunate. Instead of material consumable gifts, perhaps gifts of services, education and awareness are a better choice. For many that we often find "have everything and too much" perhaps gifts in the form of a donation or voucher to an aid abroad or nature conservation foundation is a wise option. Many organizations such as Oxfam, Unicef, World Vision, Rotary, WWF, etc. have vouchers where we can buy a 'goat', 'seed' or a rehabilitation program for a rescued turtle - all nicely gift certificated.
The spirit of giving and unconditional love does not have to take the form 'purchasing'. Giving time, love and sharing joy and happiness may extend to giving a little something to or lending a hand at a Christmas event for the homeless, the women's refuge, the orphaned and injured animals shelters, planting some seeds and tress etc.- all are true forms of unconditional giving. Giving more time, attention and presence to each other, hugs, laughter and connection, being forgiving, open and accepting, are all in line with the peaceful spirit of Christmas.

Finally, let us remember that while is it a ritual and a celebration, the true spirit of Christmas is that it is our true innate nature that should shine every day, not just on a particular assigned day. Every day should be a celebration within our hearts for the beauty and gift of life. Every day let us bear gratitude in our hearts for all that we are and have. Every day let us connect and consciously work to make this world a better place for all that live upon it. Every day let us also continue to give back to Mother Earth and all the elements, that provide and sustain life on earth. Every day let this peace be the core of our being.

May you have a conscious, joyous and peaceful holiday season :-)

With Love, Light and Blessings,
Patsie

 Patsie Smith is a spiritual author, remedial massage therapist, energetic kinesiologist, yoga and meditation teacher.
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

Healing Emotional Wounds

                       
                                                 "May I hold myself with compassion,
                                                            As I forgive and let go.
                               May I meet the ignorance and suffering of others with compassion,
                                                            As I trust and let go.
                                                                  - Patsie Smith

Dear all,

As you journey on this wondrous path of human living, it is inevitable that you may become the casualty of emotional wounds at one time or another. For you are an emotional being - part of the joys and gift of being alive. The emotional brain is your limbic system, a primitive part of the brain that has evolved for survival and growth. When you feel emotions, whether mild or intense, rapid or prolonged - all physiological effects occur in your body. Hormones and chemicals are produced into your bloodstream, blood pressure rises, breathing rates increase, muscles contract, vital energies are shunted away from your internal organs toward peripheral limbs ready for fight or flight. If emotions are intense, the physiological effects are intense. If emotions are prolonged, the physiological effects kick into chronic overdrive. Except in cases of rapid emergencies, where thoughts are by-passed initially, almost all emotions include a simultaneous cycle of thoughts. If you entertain and allow the thoughts to be of negativity, disempowerment, fear or destruction - this will continue to feed into the vicious cycles of emotions. This creates an endless loop of emotions - thoughts - more emotions - more thoughts - ........until they become uncontrollable, embedded into your subconscious, or until they spiral out of control, to total break down, or total explosion!

Emotions are carried and stored in every part of your body from rigidity, postural misalignment, blockages to energy flows, to memories in every single cell of your body. This coupled with the simultaneous subconscious planting of a thought or belief system in your brain creates an auto pilot response in both mind and body that continues to drive you through out your life, if you are unconscious to break out of it. For example, if when you were a child, you were constantly beaten and punished for petty misbehaviours and then told "You are a bad child, good for nothing" - that program gets locked into your subconscious and cellular memories. For some it might not be as obvious a dysfunction, perhaps as a child you perceived yourself as being loved less than your siblings, or felt and believed you were unwanted and abandoned when one of your parents left home and never returned. You can spend endless time analyzing, discussing, blaming and trying and find the answers to all your emotional pains - but that will just drain your energies, use up precious present time and keep fueling that busy, already patterned brain that keeps believing the same chatter.

True healing from emotional wounds involves transcendence. This involves a few processes:

1) Self-realization - this might sound irrelevant if you are stuck in a pattern of disempowerment, for your perception is that the other persons, the situation, or life itself is to blame. You are merely the victim. You fail to see that it is your very own destructive subconscious and energetic patterns that have attracted and continued this pattern throughout your life. Self-realization involves an awakening within you to the reality of who you truly are i.e. a spiritual being having a human experience. It becomes profoundly clear to you that as much as your wounds are painful, they are your reason for being here, and your true journey in life is to learn and evolve into your ultimate spiritual self.

2) Having realized your own empowerment and lesson to learn in this lifetime, you make the conscious and courageous choice to step out of the pattern that imprisons you by:

Releasing safely all relevant emotions i.e. feeling it and experiencing it physiologically through every single cell of your body viz. crying, aches & pains, nausea, headaches, memories. Being conscious and aware, you process these turbulence with strength and compassion while staying anchored in the reality which you have realized in Step 1).
   
Along with Step 1) also comes the innate wisdom and knowledge that helps you to see profoundly the lessons of growth beneath each wound, hence the opportunity to reprogram your body and mind on a new slate.You feed your brain every day, hour or minute with empowering affirmations to rewire new neural pathways.

Finally, after the turbulence or the emotional release storm is over, and the 'dust settles' you will find yourself drained, but profoundly at peace. For you have emerged out of the storm with a lighter body and a new thought pattern. You no longer carry that baggage in your mind and body. You are ready to move forward, recreate and enjoy!

Step 1) is crucial as without your inner shift in spiritual awakening, you will only have the capability and strength of a limited human, which is insufficient for transcendence. But the awakening of your inner spirit beyond this limited mind and body is the key to going beyond human strength and wisdom.
When you cut yourself, you naturally wash the dirt and blood off the wound, then dress it with antiseptic etc. to allow it to heal. If you leave your wound unattended it may fester, grow, get infected filled with pus, possibly poison your blood through septicemia. Likewise to leave emotional wounds unattended will eat you up on the inside despite sabotaging your outer lives from happiness and peace. You need to wash all that 'blood and dirt' off your emotional wounds by releasing and purging. Then dressing it with new thought patterns and wisdom that are already innate within your higher Self.

Healing is a gift, for it is through such that you have the opportunity to grow stronger and wiser and open up the doors to new frontiers that you have the power to create, as a spiritual being on a human journey.

Thanks for connecting.
Love and Blessings to you all,
Patsie Smith
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

Health & Wellness

"When we awaken to our spirit, we naturally care for our bodies, and as spiritual writings contend, our bodies become temples of the holy spirit. Not far from the truth at all, this becomes our reality. It is a gift to have a healthy body and a productive life and a privilege to manifest in physical form to experience and enjoy life. We must play our role in maintaining this vessel."  (Excerpt from Chp 13 Awaken Our Spirit Within by Patsie Smith)

Love =  Growing in health
Fear = Compromised health
(Bruce Lipton M.D. Biology of Belief)


Dear all,

If the question is presented to you, "would you like to own all the money and gold in the world?" or "would you like to have optimum health?" which would you choose? Earlier this year I was told about a man who was a wealthy billionaire, who also had terminal cancer. He'd sent his men all over the world, to try and find the best oncologist money could buy, but to no avail. Sadly, he passed away with extreme distress, fear and anguish.

Most of us go about our lives without too much concern about 'health' until something starts to go awry, like we start to get sick or diagnosed with some kind of condition. Many don't think twice about grabbing fast-food takeaway dinners 3-4 times a week, loading up a shopping trolley with frozen dinners, snacking every day on cola soft drinks, chips and sweet cakes, drinking 4-5 cups of coffee per day, 3-4 glasses of wine every night, getting 3-4 hours sleep per night, working 10-12 hours a day at a computer screen, then lounging around afterwards in front of the television, and repeating those cycles again every day. On top of that, we have lists deadlines to meet, road rage when stuck in the traffic, grab and gobble our foods on the run, watch violent movies and news on the television and internet, have a  mind that doesn't stop thinking, analyzing and worrying even when we sleep, harbor anger and hatred toward that ex, neighbor or abusive parent, stuck in unhappy relationships, live with fear of the world and its events, and so on. As well, we live in an environment surrounded by electromagnetic waves, pesticides and chemicals from what we inhale to what we eat. Then amazingly, one day when we get told we have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, an auto-immune condition, athritis, some kind of cancer, or, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety..... we somehow feel upset, despaired and angry that we have been randomly attacked and victimized by this supposedly evil and overpowering 'Disease'. We start to wage war or battle against this 'disease'.

Everything in life operates on a system of minute balance and interdependence. Our physical bodies is a reflection not just of our lifestyle and choices, but also a reflection of our minds, emotions and inner connection. We know all the rules for healthy living, from primary school we have been taught:

To be healthy - 1) eat healthy foods 2) daily exercise 3) 6-10 hrs sleep/night
But is it as simple as that?

The human body is not just an automated machine. It is a living, thinking, feeling, sensing being with a life force surging through it and a level of consciousness that can experience, create, imagine and has awareness. When something is not right on the physical level, it may indicate an imbalance in one, a few, or all levels of our being. The physical level is simply the final level of manifestation of any imbalance. The human body is also an ingenious system that has the ability to heal itself and create new life. Given the opportunity to return to or maintain balance, every single cell and strand of DNA in our system naturally tends to gravitate toward health, healing, vitality and life.

The diagnosis of a 'disease' or imbalance is important as it is a sign and message, a cry for help from our body, to take heed, evaluate, and make changes or choices. We have to be careful however, not to fall into the trap of identifying with the disease. It is not a separate entity with a life of its own, it is a part of us that is out of balance, and we have the power to make choices and changes to help bring it back to balance. This may be employed with the aid of allopathic medicine or natural medicine, or both. To identify with a disease will disempower us and almost keep us stuck in a cycle of sickness. Well known medical intuitive Carolyn Myss talks extensively about this aspect as 'woundology', how many people consciously or unconsciously may tend to 'enjoy' their disease by playing the role of the powerless victim. This continues to feed the disease for the mind continues to believe that it is stuck in the powerless state.

On the other hand, many who have hit rock-bottom, left with nothing else but the flicker of  their own pure inner spirit, have miraculously found the courage to reclaim their own innate healing power and consequently, healed themselves. This constitutes the hard work of healing our pent up hurts and pains (emotional level), restructuring our thought patterns to empowering and positive ones (mental level), changing lifestyle and diet (behavioral level) and uncovering our true essence (spiritual level) toward a healed mind, body and soul. If we lack the courage, we may choose the easier though disempowering way of popping down tonne loads of drugs and chemicals with the hope of a quick-and-mask-fix. People like Louise Hay healed herself from breast cancer, Jessica Ainscough from a rare form of cancer, Andreas Moritz from severe childhood arthritis and gallstone attacks, Dr Sherrill Sellman from Hashimoto thyroid auto-immune condition and rheumatoid arthritis, Lisa Rankin M.D from depression, Dr Mark Cockrane from debilitating arthritis. And myself, from depression, suicide and alcohol dependency. The number of people who have journeyed down the paths of self healing are countless. This path is not easy for it means confronting our pains, fears, masks and having the courage to trust, learn, let go and change. But what emerges is true healing as our spirit awakens and we have genuine peace, freedom and health on every level of our being.

So when you next feel unwell or get handed a diagnosis of some sort by your doctor, the choice is yours. Do you wish to claim your own innate power or do you choose to hand over your power to this disease with a fancy name? Claiming your own power means having the courage to look at yourself and hear what messages of imbalance your body is trying to convey to you. It means having the courage to heal, reveal your true self, make changes and learn.We all have it in us.

Finally, please add  a few more to the above list of 3 common rules for good health that we should obviously know:

4) drink lots of water  5) eat plenty of greens  6) find something to laugh at everyday  7) do something nice for someone else without expectation of anything in return, at least once a day
8) get a hug at least once a day (if not possible, get a massage once a week)  9) try at least something new every week  10) meditate/pray  11) eat slowly  12) breathe slower and deeper  13) forgive and let go, and last but most certainly not least - 14) reconnect with nature every day, even if its just looking up at the sky or walking bare feet on the grass.

Thank you dear all, for connecting. Blessings to you and your good health, on every level.
Patsie
www.patsiesmith.com
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

Nature our greatest teacher

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need but not every man's greed...What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another." - Mahatma Gandhi

Dear all,

I recall a talk presented by Dr Deepak Chopra awhile ago which made me smile -  in which he mentioned the story about a dog and a man. The story went something like this,"a man hits and kicks a dog, until the dog was evoked to bite the man's leg. The man takes off and manages to get away. Two years later the same man meets up with the same dog, he kicks the dog again, and in defense the dog takes a chomp off the man's leg. But the dog does not spend two years thinking about how to bite the man." Humans on the other hand, would be thinking, scheming and festering about it for the last two years! How we can learn from the nature of animals - they are simply in-the-moment :-)

Years ago, when I was a very lost soul, stuck in my own hole and spiral of despair, I could not connect with nature, let alone go outside and breathe in the fresh air - that would almost burn my internal cells with life energy. Whenever I came home from the garden nursery with a pot plant, it would inevitably die within a few weeks or so. Apart from not being caring enough to tend to their basic needs like food and water, being around me was for them like being enveloped in 'dead energy'. This realization came after I have awakened to my living, internal spirit. As my spirit grew and expanded into my true nature, now all plants flourish around me. I love gardening, growing herbs and vegetables, I sit next to bees as they hover around me, my dog stares me in the eyes connecting with my soul, I love bush walking, mountain trekking, paddling, walking in the rain, lying on the grass under my tree and watching the leaves and clouds, and my phobia for reptiles have magically disappeared. Plants, trees and herbs have helped me heal, restore and reveal my true spirit again.

A lost and unawakened soul are stuck in their confined field of stagnation. Within that soul itself their spirit energy is not awake or alive, hence it can't connect with other living things. It gets drawn to dead inanimate objects for they are in the same field. The lost soul unconsciously moves from one material and inanimate object to another, possessing and sometimes hoarding them all, attaching and desperately hoping to suck and draw some measure of power. But nothing which is devoid of life can spurt another's spirit to awaken or be sustained.

When we awaken, we can't help but connect. We don't need to proclaim ourselves a conservationist, animal rights activist, environmentalist, humanitarian - although they are noble causes and if a particular area is our passion, then perhaps we have a part in pursuing it, to make a difference. However, within the heart and mind of every awakened soul we already have a profound relationship with every element that make up our living world, including all living beings, from the tiniest bacteria to the giant mountains. This becomes our experience, not just a belief system , identity or concept we wish to adopt. 

Sit amongst the plants and trees, be still, watch and hear. Watch the stillness of the tree trunk. It does not move yet it is full of life beneath. It has texture, shape and form that is a work of art reaching upwards. Watch the leaves of various shapes, sizes and colors, they move gracefully in sync with the wind, dancing without rigidity or restriction. Look at the roots near the ground, they are the silent channel of nutrients and information that is sourced by their caress with mother earth. Listen and hear the sound of their whispers but also the gaps of silence between their whispers. Just sitting and infusing in amongst the bush and forest will allow the essence and energy of the trees to permeate into our soul with peace, strength, stillness and a quiet wisdom - all which further feeds our own internal living spirit. Whenever I end up with a headache from the city hustle bustle, a gentle bush walk always cleanses and dispels the headache leaving me renewed. So then what do I give in return to these friends who unconditionally love, heal and nurture me? I try and protect them, as one would protect any dear friend and family. I want to ensure they continue to have clean air for their life and growth, sufficient water for their moisture, healthy earth so they continue to be sustained and nourished. I also share with them love and compassion, as they do with all other animals and plants that they coexist with e.g. the birds that nest on their branches and feed on their blossoms, the bugs that climb up and down their trunks, the fungi and lichen that blanket over their roots. And most of all, I will continue to protect them from being felled - the end of their existence. I want them preserved and protected for they are a part of me, and all other beings.

This is just my relationship with the trees. I also have a profound and intimate relationship with every animal, insect, flower, mountain, star, cloud,.....What is your relationship with the world around you? Do you have a relationship with your living world? If not, you are not alive, half the time you probably feel like a robot, or if you are anything like I used to be in the past, simply a walking corpse. If your spirit is already awakened and alive, then choose to allow yourself to experience and connect with all of life. It is already innate within us. Our spirit seeks to awaken, grow, expand and connect. Nature's beauty and magic is astounding. They will teach and heal you. Get outside, off your computers, TV, out of your box of four walls, and soak in nature, breathe in pure life. Separation is not our natural state.

Take care all, thank you for connecting, till next time...continue to send love to your trees, animals, flowers......

With luv, light & peace,
Patsie :-)
 www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

Oneness our true reality

"There is one earth but millions and millions of different worlds" - Mooji

Dear all,

Why is it that all enlightened spiritual sages who teach widely and normal enlightened beings who live quietly, continue to utter the words, "Realize who you really are, your true self." Why do many human beings around the world seek for answers to who and what we are, and the purpose of our existence? Because that is our innate evolutionary process and purpose.

When I am asked, "so what should I do with this issue and problem of mine?" I like to reply with, "please...go find out who you really are first. When you truly know, you will have all the answers, for you will find you do not need to ask :-)"
Some want short term answers, "tell me how to solve this problem", "teach me how to meditate so I can feel peace and bliss", "give me an answer that satisfies my need now so I feel better", "show me an organization that I can belong to and feel good", "what is the best ideology or belief system I can adopt?" "what's the healthiest food and lifestyle I should have so I can live forever?" Positive teachings, affirmations and techniques are valuable, and might satisfy and solve your issue for a short while, but if you seek and can only see the limited picture, you will be shaken again and again. Aim for the ultimate realization of your true self, for that is the profound transcendence and then seeking ceases. For the big picture is simply clear and obvious. You just are and do not have to strive to be anymore. Everything falls into place and everything is as it is. You become the unfolding and the process itself.

When individuals are stuck in their "I" ego self as a separate entity, everything is viewed from this limited perspective of  "what I want", "what I like", "what I don't like","what I think","what I believe", "what I insist", "what I have", "what I don't have","what I need", "what I am"....and so on. These consequently project onto others in their environment as "what I like and don't like in others", "what I agree and disagree with in others", "what I want and hate in others", "what others do to me", "what others should and shouldn't be or do", "what I can get from others", "what others can give me"...and so on. Separation, division, differentiation are the inevitable result. Short sightedness that benefits only the "self" at the expense of others become the priority conscious and subconscious agenda in the minds of every separate ego "self".
This disunity and disharmony result from differences in perceptions based on the views by this separate ego "self". The world's human population is now closing in at nearly 7 billion and predicted to get to an alarming 9 billion by 2050. So these billions of separate ego "self" each has their own unique perceptions of reality and how their world should be, based on their own upbringing, life experiences, belief systems and choices.

For example, some individuals choose to criticize, ill treat and persecute another of a different race, culture, religion or belief system because they look different, smell different, talk different, live different, eat different foods, speak a different language, simply because the former may not have been exposed or personally connected with the latter in life thus far. Or they may hate another because their own belief system/culture/religion stipulates the differences between them. In every day life you may find yourself distressed, hurt, angered or even vengeful toward another because they do not meet your expectations or behave they way "you" think they should. Some may torture, hurt or ill treat an animal and feel no empathy or remorse because to them, animals look different, have more legs, fur, scales, no intellect, can't talk, laugh or cry; so their limited perceptions separate and disconnect from the other living being. Chopping down vast expanse of forest might be satisfying for others because it brings in vast profits they can now purchase bigger houses, bigger cars and demand more power. But they are ignorant, that like them , trees are living beings too, and forests support immense network of other life forms. The short term massive destruction of nature will inevitably backfire as nature, and humans being a part of that, is a cycle that is interconnected.

Disharmony stem from individual desires and attachments to perceptions from the separate ego "self" but lived out to the full by every single separate being, hence causing ripples of disunity from an individual level into the global and universal level. It is a sad state, a crippling dysfunction, a blindness that will only lead to chaos, then its own readjustment, culling, correction and perhaps a new order. Those who are enlightened can see and feel the whole and complete picture with utmost compassion, but understand too, that the big picture will take its own course and take care of itself.

We each have our roles to play, enlightened or not enlightened, to keep the big picture in mind. To let go of our separate "self", discard our fixations with our limited perceptions, be open and honor our wholeness. To focus on our universality, similarities and shared existence, and be tolerant and understanding of our apparent differences. To know and live as connected compassionate beings with and toward all forms of life and Life itself. The course of the ripples will then naturally change to flow toward a higher, more evolved, unified, harmonious, peaceful and joyful reality; for you as a  functional individual, a part of your world as a dynamic whole.

Stay conscious and tuned in to your true and higher reality.

The great Persian mystic poet Rumi said, "There is a force within you that gives you life - seek that."
I will add, "There is a force within you that gives all life - know that."

Blessings & light to all,
Patsie :-)
www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin

What is spirituality?

 

photo: Dan Tataru Dreamstime 

Spirituality is not a religion, belief system, doctrine, dogma or ritual. 
Spirituality is knowing who you really are as your own personal reality.
And then living and integrating that true and higher reality into every present moment of this life journey.
- P Smith

Sunday is my only day of complete rest and I value and guard it religiously, as it is the only day of the week that I can simply allow myself to just 'be'. Not to be dictated by the number on the clock but to just flow with the tide of the day. In this fast-paced age of immediacy and material bombardment, this practice is sacred to my body and soul, in addition to my daily yoga and meditation. This one particular Sunday morning as I was lying on the grass under my jacaranda tree, blissful after my yoga and meditation, I remembered being told about a certain Tibetan Buddhist temple near my home. "The meeting starts at 10am", I was told. Having always had a deep spiritual connection with the Himalayas I naturally had a strong desire to go and check out this temple. But this morning the tide did not feel like it was quite flowing that way. As I turned my head while lying on the warm grass, a 'willy wagtail' bird next to me was busily foraging for bugs and worms. Turned my head the other way, and my dog Charlie was snoring in utter contentment. I observed the detailed velvety like patterns etched on his moist black nose that moves gently with each breath. Turned my head again, looked up and I beheld the vast clear blue skies with soft billowy clouds, soft jacaranda leaves on the tree dancing in the breeze, and the bees and insects circling above me full of buzz and life. I was left with nothing but awe. The message was profoundly clear to me in the midst of such joy and peace that morning, "Ha! Why this is my temple! Nature and this connection for today is my temple, thank you." I still got myself to the Tibetan Buddhist temple one day, just not that morning.

What is spirituality and why do we need a spiritual practice? For some, this means the ritual of going to a particular place of worship or gathering, and adopting or practicing particular rituals and beliefs. This is noble, helpful and gives us an identity, a sense of well being and belonging. Belief systems evolved through the times with mankind's creativity and adaptation. However the true essence beneath and before all the beliefs, rituals, teachings and dogmas is simple, universal, pure and unclouded. So keep a check on your spiritual practice to make sure you always stay true to the elements of your core and essence.
True spirituality anchors in the core of your higher reality. It does not judge, blame, differentiate, destroy or place yourself above any other. It simply exudes peace and love.


Your pure and true essence is

1. unconditional love - hence your true reality inevitably flows and translates into unity, oneness connectedness, respect and compassion. With that comes sharing, giving and loving.
2. infinite and unbounded - hence it transmutes into joy, freedom and creativity.
3. silent, still, undefinable - hence you naturally connect and are at peace when you simply just be.
4. whole, no beginning and no end - hence you do not live with fear or lack, but with trust and faith.

A spiritual practice is part of your spirituality, it is sacred for it maintains your connection to your core being, your true reality. It feeds your soul and nourish your spirit, so you stay anchored in the sea of this ever changing life. Without your anchor, you easily get swept here, there and everywhere, sometimes you may drown.
So what is your spiritual practice? Perhaps it is meditating or daily prayers? Or perhaps it is spending time in nature, creating a piece of art, playing and creating music, giving time and help to the needy unconditionally.
Spiritual practice is also being fully present in the moment. For in being totally and fully here and now in mind, body and soul - you are essence itself. And life manifests all around and through you in all magical wonders.

Have an awesome week !

Blessings and Light,
Patsie
Connect with me on www.facebook.com/AwakenOurSpiritWithin