Ever get the feeling you shouldn't take yourself too seriously?
Don't forget to SMILE!!!
Sunday, June 7, 2015
The Parable Of the Rope Maker
There was once a man who was asked by a rope maker to evaluate the rope. "Is it flexible enough to knot easily?" the rope maker asked the man. The man took the rope and began making knots--regular knots, slip knots and even a few sailing knots he was familiar with. After a lengthy inspection, the man concluded that indeed the rope was very flexible and could be used for a variety of knots.
"Does the rope seem strong and durable?" the man was asked. The man felt the rope and pulled on it. He even strung it over the branch of a nearby tree and hung onto it to see if it could hold his weight. "It seems good and solid to me," he replied.
"Now test the rope to see if it is smooth and not abrasive," the rope maker asked the man. Once again the man did his best. He touched it and ran it through his fingers. Then the rope maker said, "Before you make a final decision, the best test for smoothness is to check it with some of your more sensitive skin. See if it is abrasive on your neck." The rope maker led the man to a length of rope hanging from another branch of the tree and helped the man place the noose around his neck. Just as the man was feeling the abrasiveness, the rope maker pulled tight on the rope so the man was left swinging and died a few minutes later.
"I guess the rope was good enough to do exactly what I needed," the rope maker concluded.
Many people in society are just like the man asked to evaluate the rope. We are eager to help, and we are convinced the rope maker is trying to make a useful product. We trust, without questioning, until the very moment when the rope maker pulls hard on the rope and we are left choking to death.
How long will it take before we are willing to ask the questions that just may save our lives? How long will it take us to access the wisdom that comes with connection, where truth cannot be hidden? We are no more than the questions we are willing to ask and the information we are willing to recognize. Don't let blind faith and trust lead to our destruction.
~CSE
"Does the rope seem strong and durable?" the man was asked. The man felt the rope and pulled on it. He even strung it over the branch of a nearby tree and hung onto it to see if it could hold his weight. "It seems good and solid to me," he replied.
"Now test the rope to see if it is smooth and not abrasive," the rope maker asked the man. Once again the man did his best. He touched it and ran it through his fingers. Then the rope maker said, "Before you make a final decision, the best test for smoothness is to check it with some of your more sensitive skin. See if it is abrasive on your neck." The rope maker led the man to a length of rope hanging from another branch of the tree and helped the man place the noose around his neck. Just as the man was feeling the abrasiveness, the rope maker pulled tight on the rope so the man was left swinging and died a few minutes later.
"I guess the rope was good enough to do exactly what I needed," the rope maker concluded.
Many people in society are just like the man asked to evaluate the rope. We are eager to help, and we are convinced the rope maker is trying to make a useful product. We trust, without questioning, until the very moment when the rope maker pulls hard on the rope and we are left choking to death.
How long will it take before we are willing to ask the questions that just may save our lives? How long will it take us to access the wisdom that comes with connection, where truth cannot be hidden? We are no more than the questions we are willing to ask and the information we are willing to recognize. Don't let blind faith and trust lead to our destruction.
~CSE
Saturday, June 6, 2015
The Importance Of Sleep and Dreamtime
Did you know we are "connected" when we sleep? It seems somewhat incredible when you look at it through the mind's viewpoint, but it's true! Honestly, most of us are probably more connected when we sleep, and I'll tell you why. Sleep is that time of day when we all let go of our minds and allow our hearts to take over!
The two deepest phases of sleep, Theta and Delta, are perhaps the most important. For me, these represent the critical times in the sleep cycle when we are most connected. Theta perhaps gives us a little more connection to our bodies, but it is still a highly connected state. Delta is a state where we completely let go of ego and allow ourselves to embrace the energy of Oneness.
Do you try to make sense of your dreams, distorted though they seem? Subconsciously, we all know dreams contain awareness. There is information to be gathered when you take the time to decipher those meanings. Most of the time, dreams help you work through the everyday problems and traumas that occur.
However, sometimes dreams can be more prophetic. Most of us have had deja vu sorts of experiences where we have seen things in dreams that occur at later stages in our lives. It can even be over silly, insignificant things, but it does occur. Note these dreams can help reveal direction and purpose in our lives. Particular care should be exercised when these dreams are experienced.
For me, dreamtime is one of the most important and active parts of the whole day. People who do not sleep and do no go into regular dreamtime literally go insane. The reason is clear: sleep was designed to be one sure fire way to make sure we all connect at some level. When we find ourselves in a total state of separation (and cut off from the source of our strength), we become debilitated.
Our true power lies in our ability to connect to Oneness. Accessing this power on a regular basis is largely something bestowed on us through our sleep cycles. Take the time to make sure you are getting the sleep you need. Not only will you be physically better, but your spiritual life will be better as well!!!
~CSE
The two deepest phases of sleep, Theta and Delta, are perhaps the most important. For me, these represent the critical times in the sleep cycle when we are most connected. Theta perhaps gives us a little more connection to our bodies, but it is still a highly connected state. Delta is a state where we completely let go of ego and allow ourselves to embrace the energy of Oneness.
Do you try to make sense of your dreams, distorted though they seem? Subconsciously, we all know dreams contain awareness. There is information to be gathered when you take the time to decipher those meanings. Most of the time, dreams help you work through the everyday problems and traumas that occur.
However, sometimes dreams can be more prophetic. Most of us have had deja vu sorts of experiences where we have seen things in dreams that occur at later stages in our lives. It can even be over silly, insignificant things, but it does occur. Note these dreams can help reveal direction and purpose in our lives. Particular care should be exercised when these dreams are experienced.
For me, dreamtime is one of the most important and active parts of the whole day. People who do not sleep and do no go into regular dreamtime literally go insane. The reason is clear: sleep was designed to be one sure fire way to make sure we all connect at some level. When we find ourselves in a total state of separation (and cut off from the source of our strength), we become debilitated.
Our true power lies in our ability to connect to Oneness. Accessing this power on a regular basis is largely something bestowed on us through our sleep cycles. Take the time to make sure you are getting the sleep you need. Not only will you be physically better, but your spiritual life will be better as well!!!
~CSE
Friday, June 5, 2015
A Date With A Heron
I had a date with a heron the other day. I didn't realize it until I actually saw him, but this was indeed a divine appointment. Somehow through the haze that is everyday life, he called to me. And I came.
I knew it was important for me to connect with nature--to tune in. With my husband in tow, I drove to a specific parking area along some local walking trails we like to use. The lot was packed, except for one spot that seemed ideal. I wasn't sure how it was open when even the street beside it was lined with parked cars.
When we got out of the car, I told my husband I wanted to go this way today. (You have your choice of two directions to walk from this parking lot.) I kept thinking I wanted to go down by the creek and see if the copperhead snakes were sunning on their usual spot on the rocks that get warmed by the sunshine. I told my husband I wanted to go just past the bridge we see the snakes at, but no farther.
It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The sun was bright. Plenty of blue sky could be seen through the fluffy clouds. The vegetation in Georgia this time of year is lush and green. As I walked past wetlands and woods, I felt anxieties melt away as I absorbed all the energies in nature. My husband is the type who is also content just being out in the woods, so we walked mostly in a compatible silence.
As we approached the bridge where we see the snakes sunning themselves, I began to look through the vegetation to the running water just beyond it. There in the distance was a huge water bird. A heron. His long beak and blue/gray feathers caught my attention as they contrasted against the falling water. I have seen similar water birds, but never in this location.
It's actually something of a miracle I saw him at all. He was not easy to see. It took my husband a minute when I pointed him out. I also pointed him out to a few other fellow nature lovers who were passing by. One of them asked who had spotted it. I told him I did, and he told me I had a good eye. Ironic as I age.
I have to believe that something that morning told me I had an appointment to keep. I felt the need to hurry. Usually I am much more laid back in my nature journeys. I had a specific destination in mind, and I knew I wanted to go there, but no farther. The bird was in the spot I was looking to see some sort of wildlife.
Following your heart can bring some interesting experiences. They may not always be profound or earth-shattering, but they will always leave you content in the understanding you are part of a much larger and beautiful whole.
~CSE
I knew it was important for me to connect with nature--to tune in. With my husband in tow, I drove to a specific parking area along some local walking trails we like to use. The lot was packed, except for one spot that seemed ideal. I wasn't sure how it was open when even the street beside it was lined with parked cars.
When we got out of the car, I told my husband I wanted to go this way today. (You have your choice of two directions to walk from this parking lot.) I kept thinking I wanted to go down by the creek and see if the copperhead snakes were sunning on their usual spot on the rocks that get warmed by the sunshine. I told my husband I wanted to go just past the bridge we see the snakes at, but no farther.
It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The sun was bright. Plenty of blue sky could be seen through the fluffy clouds. The vegetation in Georgia this time of year is lush and green. As I walked past wetlands and woods, I felt anxieties melt away as I absorbed all the energies in nature. My husband is the type who is also content just being out in the woods, so we walked mostly in a compatible silence.
As we approached the bridge where we see the snakes sunning themselves, I began to look through the vegetation to the running water just beyond it. There in the distance was a huge water bird. A heron. His long beak and blue/gray feathers caught my attention as they contrasted against the falling water. I have seen similar water birds, but never in this location.
It's actually something of a miracle I saw him at all. He was not easy to see. It took my husband a minute when I pointed him out. I also pointed him out to a few other fellow nature lovers who were passing by. One of them asked who had spotted it. I told him I did, and he told me I had a good eye. Ironic as I age.
I have to believe that something that morning told me I had an appointment to keep. I felt the need to hurry. Usually I am much more laid back in my nature journeys. I had a specific destination in mind, and I knew I wanted to go there, but no farther. The bird was in the spot I was looking to see some sort of wildlife.
Following your heart can bring some interesting experiences. They may not always be profound or earth-shattering, but they will always leave you content in the understanding you are part of a much larger and beautiful whole.
~CSE
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Laughter Is Good For the Soul!!!
I love the Ellen Show, and her segments with kids are the best as she knows how to elicit great responses from them! Here's a segment with Sophia Grace and Rosie singing Adele's "Rolling In the Deep"!!!
Don't forget to SMILE!!!
Using Body Cues To Learn Discernment
Did you know your body speaks to you? It does!!! It doesn't speak to you in an all-knowing voice. How then does it "speak"? Your body speaks to you through emotions!!! Emotions
are your body’s way of trying to make you aware of new information. The
stronger the emotion, the more your body is signaling there is something you
need to pay attention to.
First
of all, you need to understand our bodies are different. How my body indicates
fear or excitement may be different from the way your body signals those things
for you. For example, my body senses fear in my stomach area. Yours might
indicate fear in your big toe. How do you know what to look for? Look back at
those experiences in your life when fear was present. Where in your body did
you feel those emotions? The answer to that question will give you some idea of
what you personally need to pay attention to.
I'll give you a very personal example of what I am talking about. Years ago when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I was involved in a cult. The leader of this particular group, Jeffrey Lundgren, talked endlessly about all the violence that occurred in the Bible and the Book of Mormon and was training the men involved in the cult how to use firearms, among other things. After my husband and I made plans to leave, Jeff and I had a conversation I will never forget. Jeff told me about his plans to take over the Kirtland Temple by force, having to kill the people who lived around the temple in order to take control. (Yes, it seems deranged, but at the time I was too far brainwashed to see it.)
The thing is, even during that conversation (where my mind had totally lost all sense) my body--my discernment--was still talking to me. When Jeff talked about killing people, my stomach felt all clenched up and tight, and I thought to myself, "Thank God I am not going to be around to see that!!!" My body was talking, my heart was listening, but at that point my mind was far from rational. This is what taught me (eventually, after Jeff really did kill people) that it is far better to listen to your heart than your mind.
Take the time to understand your body's cues. Reflect individually on various emotions. What happened to your body when you felt sadness? What happened to your body when you felt anger? What happened to your body when you felt scared? The answers to these questions and more will give you the information you need to understand what your body is telling you in those critical moments of life.
Your body is an instrument of awareness in a very complicated world. Allow yourself to access the wisdom and heart connection it contains to help you navigate the obstacles of life. It may just be key in helping you learn discernment.
~CSE
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