Wise Earth Teachings

Who better to understand the wisdom of our earth than indigenous people who live closest to the earth?  Native attitudes are interconnected and the sacred treatment of things, places and things.  Through keen observations and experience with natural phenomena, these indigenous being learned from letting go and allowing the process of observing the natural world.  Since our very beginning these wise teachers would share a story about earth relationships and landscapes.
 
These native teachings are about an “affiliation,” of being interrelated with all organisms, in a deep, personal and committed way. Kinship and receiving from experiences in nature are common themes.  Constantly reciprocity is a primary reoccurring virtuous them; you come from the earth you return to it. All things are done in a circle and observe how this symbol acts in all matters.  

Natives insightfully observed how all things care connected together and there was no true separation. Their outer world was aligned to their inner world. Native Americans viewed land as something to be shared communally, and respected it with that idea in mind. The concept of "owning" property was completely foreign to them, and this included land.  Europeans saw just the opposite to be true.

Two basic teachings arise from their wise earth teachings.  All things are related and connected where non-human things are recognized as being apart and not separated.  Thus all things are treated with respected. The American Indians believed that the lands were entrusted to them. They believed they had to maintain that trust by only taking what they needed.  Also the viewed the without the Western view of ownership; people are stewards of the land, thus land is usually not owned, traded, or sold.  

While there were bountiful diverse perspectives and observances Native people seem to agree upon certain values and ways of seeing and experiencing. They tend to have communal property, subsistence production, barter systems, and other practices.  Also these people operated under consensual processes, where they observed a “participatory” democracy, and laws embedded in oral traditions. From a social view point natives acted in terms of matrilineality versus patriarchy, extended versus nuclear families, and low versus high population density. Also native peoples almost universally view the earth as a feminine figure illustrating a relationship of the earth, as their Mother, is a sacred bond with the creation.

Native peoples viewed the earth by understanding the world from the natural order’s rhythms and cycles of life, and include animals and plants as well as other natural features in their conceptions of spirituality. Indians have lived communally with participatory democracy, a spiritual life based on nature as living and sacred. While this may exaggerated and idealistic, however, this appeals to many people, including most Native Americans today.  Native peoples viewed many of the products of the natural environment as gifts from the Creator. Humans, in the Native American conception of the world, were not created to “dominate” over other beings, but rather to cooperate and share the bounty of the earth with the other elements of the creation.

Various Indian leaders such as Chief Seattle and Black Elk support such views of Indian relationships with nature. This image persists as valid and meaningful to Native people even today. For instance, the famous speech by Chief Seattle is often cited. The image of nature as “Mother Earth,” has numerous positive influences with their, “a powerful respect for place, in the sense of an actual”

These wise earth teaching are all about living well.  Being in good relation to the earth, and all things in a good way is something that must be remembered and practiced once more.  The future of this planet requires a profound and compassionate realization of this sacred alignment and state of mind.  Living in close harmony with the land these stewards have the closest connection to it.  Thus native peoples cultivate the best possible relations with all things for they act in concert with not against it and show the highest respect to the source of their very well being.

Re-light My Inner Prosperity

When I visualize lighting a candle it allows me to place a match to my doubt and other harmful emotions.  In any moment I can celebrate re-creating or resisted and so re-wreck what comes up due prior negative experience. 

When I remember to bring light to whatever happens this allows me to kindly observe what new possibility may arise.

Re-lighting allow me to realize the "here and now" and not slip into future or past references so I can arrive in the present moment.  This “newness” opens the door to new creative possibility to see with a new perspective any given experience.

Re-lightening also balances me to not see things so heavy and dense yet with a weightlessness and sense of buoyancy.  

Even in my darkest moments a light shines if I am observant.  Re-lighting better aligns me with opportunities in any given crisis or conflict I come up against.  Finally such lightness reminds me that when I lessen my inner resistance I can touch greater freedom by an illuminating my beliefs.

Re-lighting celebrates my virtues and liberates self-punishment when I silence my inner self talk. Again this flame of concentration ignites any hindering thoughts.

Re-lighting is about realigning my physical and mental postures to invite a more tranquil flow that provide me alter quality of attention. This flow is a synchronized  mind/body practice.  This comes from a roundness of remembering I am the earth.  This unifying insight of no separation translates in the realization of oneness of all things.   Observing the sacred interconnection of all things brings me harmony. 

When my heart awakens this liberates me to a fearlessness beyond my deepest phobias.  Both a soft and tender expansive quality emerges within me as I gently experience a profound heartfelt shift.

Re-lighting this “hereness" reminds me of my constant journey and to ignore external outcome so to further cultivate my genuine being.    Such letting go of any personal agenda I minimize distractions cause by my lower self.

Cultivating this inner brilliance happens when I fully let go.   No clinging or grasping just radiating simple loving presence without any possessiveness. This delightful state of compassion skillfully balances any sorrow with joy. As I re-light my internal baggage and ignore my ego I truly free myself to celebrate my higher self.

Heart Laughter

When I bring humor to my life it enlightens my basic goodness and appreciation in all things including myself.   Remembering to be more comical liberates me from being so dense.  This uplifts me from the funny lessons life teaches me where I may see and accept any of my shortcomings.

Such a fluid mental attitude can transform my inadequacies into courageousness where I can balance both disaster and success.  Transmuting the negative with the positive I awaken to new possibility to deal with difficult circumstances.

There are many times I take things too personal and serious.  These situations offer me the opportunity to laugh at my adversity.  Such wisdom allows me to surrender to my circumstances and transmute any curse into a blessing. For example I can reframe what blocks me into creating greater building blocks.

Heart laughter is about realigning me to enter into a more tranquil flow with whatever happens.  Laughter brings heartfulness- observing how funny and sacred things interconnect. 

Humor awakens and liberates me to a fearlessness addressing my deepest phobias.  Both a soft and tender expansive quality emerges within me as I gently experience a profound heartfelt shift. 

Heart laughter reminds me of my awakening to go beyond my external outcome so to arrive at my genuine state of being.   Humor lightens my baggage where I let go of my personal agenda. Cultivating this inner folly happens when I fully let go while also showing up.  No clinging or grasping I can embody a lighter presence without any possessiveness. This delightful mix of compassion and mirth skillfully balance my sadness with joy. Humor helps me see a different perspective sometimes alerting me to my delusional or victimized point of view.

When I pay specific attention to this heartfelt intention I explore the mystery of contradictions reducing my stress.  Chuckling at life’s paradoxes and struggles I release my tension seeing the brilliance in any dull grey sky.  Heart laugher heavenly shifts any of my cloudy mind states with seeing its silver linings.

Heart laughter does several things for me.  I find a more humility and gentleness.  Such mirth uplifts my energy and brings vigor.  Humor dares me to be outrageous and increase my courage to explore what is true.  Finally laughter is spontaneous, uncontrived experience of fulfillment.

Heart laughter allows me greater insight into vision a more cheerful, youthful, and vibrant.  Also skillfully joking what is benefit is powerful.  Humor holds nothing back and creating new possibilities. This revelation emotionally liberates me since I can better accept whatever may bother me.  Heart laughter allows me to be grateful in whatever misfortune or negative mind state that arises.   It frees me to a greater experience of opening my heart to life’s humor. 

Rainbow After the Storm

There are many types of storms.  Physical, mental and other such difficult weather systems.  However there are rainbows after my soul endures emotional hurricanes and other such violent events.  Exploring my very being I find  pure awareness- and the radiance of that awareness is love.  Loving awareness is a profound rainbow after clouds have gone.

Buddhist teachings provides me some shelter from my storms. There a various rainbows called the divine abodes- or expressions of heart- loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.  These are also referred to as the four brahmavihara helping me find greater freedom, harmony and openness.  When I am mindfully present-- without judging, resisting or grasping then I can see clearly what has heart and meaning. 

My personal storm happens when I  become too self-absorbed, afraid, and attached.  I become identified by my smaller self since my love becomes conditional, covered over- I am no longer free to love in an openhearted way.  My storm strengthens with my fear based solidity of self. This is caused by my self-judgment, anger, despair and other behavior when I numb my heart.

When I can remember that my storm will pass proliferation of reactivity disappears   Instead of being driven by wanting, anxiety, restlessness, I find a rainbow. These four beautiful rays of light are loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.  Yes there are many weather systems I can experience whether I observe or judge them. However, when I  remember the divine abodes, these rainbows, get me through any emotional storm I encounter.

Mind/Heart Exercise

Advancements in brain science documents amazing discoveries.  Our brains are plastic; meaning they can be reformed both with positive and negative results.  For example while walking looking at the ground results in negative neural plasticity since this unskillful act increases our senses of imbalance and increase our chances to fall.  Our mind is like is like a dirt path where we create grooves into it and deepen them as we use it more.  

For example physical exercise and other activities can strengthen our neuro networks.   Specific forms of exercises can improve the neuron gain and synaptic connection thus strengthening cognitive function where the brain was once damaged or unused.   Challenging activities creating positive plasticity increases our brain fitness.   Intensive therapy has proven to correct traumatic neural damage.   Key is being motivated to more fully use our mind instead of lose mental ability due to lack of use.  Having courage to expand our heart-fullness becomes essential for our growth. 

Neural plasticity provides us the possibility to teach ourselves to change certain mental activities. Thinking about our thoughts differently can shed our burdens and problems.  

Mindful attention can refine our thinking and behavior.  Working on our attention thus changing what we are regulating and what we are paying exact attention on.   A conscious perception can make or heighten our attention to what thing we are focused on.   Intensive training or intentional control can help our brains to prosper.  

Just as we re-refine our golf or tennis swing so can we modify our mind.  As we greater explore our neuro-modulators refine increasing our sense of well being.  Also brain fitness stimulates our natural chemistry improving our well being.    Keeping our minds to function better has been show to enhance a brighter more cheerful life.

Our ability to affect change is our belief to leave our comfort zones.  We become users instead acquiring ability or new skills.  As we venture into new fields or new task or challenging ourselves in focus into new ways of expanding our heart.

The Brain Fitness Program (http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/) cites there are seven keys for us to mentally advance;

Tenet 1- Change can only occur when we are in the mood.  If I am alert on the ball and the chemicals of the brain become released become on. 
Tenet 2- Change happens when I can increase my brain activity. 
Tenet 3-  When my brain fires together the mental activity becomes wired or stays together.  We become more integrated when we use it.  We become more integrated.  Simply either you use it or lose it. 
Tenet 4- Initial changes are just temporary.  If it really engages us or has significant meaning then we never forget it.
Tenet 5- Brain plasticity is a two way street with both positive and negative results.   Chronic pain syndrome or developing bad habits we have the ability to rewire our brain.
Tenet 6- Memory is crucial for models.   Brain has a magical way of self-correcting.
Tenet 7- Motivation is a key factor in brain plasticity.   What do we fear or hate to motivate us or what we love and cherish?  Finding heart-fullness is critical to inspire us to higher levels of being.

New skill acquisition and refined learning activity creates this new plasticity. When the brain becomes newly engaged and awakens by new, refreshed, changed activity.  Also heart and cardio exercise stimulates new brain cells and increased well being.  Mental training needs to be taxing and difficult to do.  Also it must be interesting. 

Playing a piano, chess, bridge, and a variety of mental challenges including meditation stimulates this new growth.  As we are motivate to being a better person, both our life and mental become more full.  Mental fitness requires enthusiasm to venture out and find new interests and become more engaged with our environment.  This new spark creates more joy since as we infuse spirit stimulating increased body and mind activity.  Finding what has more heart and meaning help motivates us. Bottom-line, use it or lose it depending how we exercise and how we train to become more mindful and heart-full.

Freedom with New Possibility

In any given moment we can exercise a choice if we remember to do so. Awakening or being mindful of at any time of this decision point is the determiner. Otherwise we may react or default to our usual habit or pattern of what we do. If we can become aware of our past conditioning then we may become free of mindless behavior or acts. Freedom comes only when we are present to this choice point and see we can be either mindful or mindless.

As we contemplate our past experiences, such as how we were brought up or what we have been exposed to then we can see how we do things. For example, if every night we brush our teeth we can see that without thinking we perform this ritual before we go to sleep. We have both conditioned wholesome and unwholesome behaviors. Whether we rush as we eat or whether we wash behind our ears, our life is filed with many habits that can be helpful or hurtful.

Addictions are extreme forms of unskillful behaviors that do not serve us. We may use food, sex, drugs or many other things for entertainment or escape thus imprisoning us by these desires. If we are motivated and honest about changing our addictive habits there are many avenues to help us lessen and stop these addictions. Such behavior change may not happen until some event or emergency forces us to see how this compulsion is not in our best interest. Even then our wants may override a greater need not to be trapped by addiction.

Liberation is possible only if we are motivated to change. If we invest time to reflect and observe our unwholesome daily patterns then we can become less untangled by the unskillful acts we routinely perform. For example some of us text on our cell phones as we drive. Such juggling of tasks lessens our  focus and increases our chance for an accident.

We live in a very challenging and over stimulated environment. Constantly we may be bombarded by mindless media, and other distractions hampering on sound choices. Television is a wonderful example of where we can get into a deep mindless state of mind. Today we spend countless hours surrounded by electronic activity that has numbing affect.

As we practice and reinforce awakened decision making we can lessen much useless and stressful hindrances from our lives. Also we cultivate more fully showing up we reap the fruits of a richer life. Simply paying attention and having the intention of observing our actions liberate us to our greater potential. Such inquiry is invaluable to minimize suffering, complications and things that do not benefit us.

Exploring observing instead of judging is another skillful mental activity not to get so identified or lost by negative thoughts and reactions. When we point a finger at someone or something we also are pointing an accusing finger back at ourselves.

Mentally, we create our reality. If we can deconstruct our concepts then we can see better how we create our perceptions. Such profound investigation is the pathway to our liberation. Also we experience new possibilities and perspectives that were once not there. This inquiry allows us to deeper self-acceptance. Also with this understanding we lessen our identification or judgment what is happening finding wisdom. Freedom comes from this process. We are no longer so tied to our circumstances and have greater clarity to see “cause and effect” relationships. Also we acknowledge our mindlessness we can enjoy mindful discernment.

The only real change we can fully exercise in is within ourselves. Investigating new possibility allows us to reframe our perspective to see in a new light emerging in potential or prospects. Even in the worst situations the probability of new opportunity becomes greatest. Where we once felt stuck and had no other alternative new options emerge. Since we create our perspective then we can shift from any place of despair, hopelessness and no choice into the freedom of new possibility. In all likelihood there are unlimited odds that something else may happen.

When we see what is true in the here and now we awaken our awareness to bountiful possibilities. Remembering, re-adjusting and reframing we may arrive at deciding what is of greatest benefit. We have the opportunity to lessen our stress by clear choice. Also we can better learn learn what habits we can change or not. If we can see what has greater heart and meaning we can unchain ourselves from our destructive habits. Liberation is only possible when discern what is mindful from the mindless that surrounds us. Freedom happens when we see new possibility and engage in wise and awakened choice.

Reflecting on Cycles of Rays

Within each of us a dynamic mystery is awaiting to be reborn and die at the same time. Weakness and strength, foolishness and wisdom, scarcity and abundance and other polar forces are in constant process. Beyond these dualities past time, space and other conditions resides a synthesis of pure and, luminous balance.

Years ago in a sacred way my divine imagination created the name Ray Cycle before I understood its greater meaning.

Esoteric astrologers have always marvel about the nature of cycles and certainly the stars where their refuge. For beneath this quest unfolds the experience there is no beginning or end.

A ray of light represents a period of time and/or a cycle. It also is a metaphor of an unfolding of consciousness including beholding the auspicious now. The exact time for the beginning of the Age of Aquarius has been debated amongst astrologers for years. For students of Esoteric Astrology (the Science of the Seven Rays), discrimination must be applied between zodiaccycles and ray cycles.

Zodiac cycles last for not 2,160 years, while 2,500 refers to a seventh ray cycle which unfolds 440 years longer

Students need to bear the following in mind about ray cycles:
“They enter into constructive activity; they pass through that particular cycle; they then pass out, or die to that activity, and are then "raised into heaven," until such time as their cycle again comes round.” [1]

Buddha came forth around 2,500 years ago. As The Christ is said to soon take over the responsibilities of the Buddha, their sharing a 5,000 year cycle of 2,500 years each may well be feasible.

Nevertheless, with the duration of 2,500 years, the seventh and second rays both share this time-span as part of their respective retinues of cyclic harmonics. This is a fascinating fact as the personality and soul rulers of Aquarius are Uranus and Jupiter. Jupiter has a 12 year cycle whilst Uranus is 84 years or 7x12:

“You would find it useful to make a study of the relation of the second ray to the seventh, for there is a close creative reaction or impulsive interplay between the two …” [2]

.... In summary, the reader should bear in mind that for ‘astro-ray-ologers’, accurate timing for contemporary cycles is essential; from a present point of accuracy they can then ascertain precisely when past or future cycles have started or finished; this provides a better degree of accuracy in prediction and for exploring elapsed time in history; it helps to map the enfoldment of human consciousness and how it has responded (or will respond) to the various ray and zodiac cycles 3.

1,2,3http://www.esotericastrologer.org/Newsletters/34%20Age%20of%20Aquarius%20ZodiacRayCycles.htm