LETTER FROM ASCRIBE 53
React... React to provocation... React to this. HATE...
Notice what has just happened within your mind.
Try again.... React... React to provocation... React to this. LOVE...
Did you notice a change within your mind, maybe being pulled or drawn from one position to another?
If you have, this is a very powerful tool in your understanding of how your own mind functions... The mind reacts to external circumstances, and whether we consider these events to be good or bad determines our reaction. So, if we like something our mind is drawn towards it, and if we dislike something we are repelled.
Maybe time for another quick test... Think of someone you like, and then... someone you are not so keen on... You may have to shut your eyes to try this experiment to notice the subtle change within your mind. Take a moment and feel the change.
This process of observation within the mind is called 'mindfulness' and this first observational process unlocks the pathway that leads to inner peace and contentment. Once the pathway has opened within the mind, opportunities lie within very single moment to make subtle choices about our reactions, enabling a sense of balance and calm irrespective of external conditions... We can remain still, clear headed and balanced Even when confronted with challenging situations...
This can be achieved, and will be achieved.. If you wish it..
For a close-up of this process, a short meditation can highlight the internal changes...
This can be done by using the breathing practice called 'Black and White Breathing', which can be found by practicing the short meditation here, and settling down and sitting still for 20 minutes... CLICK HERE. This may take a couple of minutes to download... but it is worth the wait.... xLabels: love, meditation, organic, peace, spiritual
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Bookmark with:
del.icio.us
Digg
furl
Reddit
SPIRITUAL ORGANIC 185
I am collecting the keys for my new home next Friday.
I have a lot of packing and sorting to do over the next 10 days, but I'm looking forward to clearing out my life by letting go of many of the possessions I have accumulated over the past few years, and lightening my load.
When I moved from our 5 bedroom house in Manchester, about 11 years ago, I had a house full, and I mean stacked up, with my collections of antiques and art, in every room including cellars. And that was the result of 10 years of collecting.
This time I have a large one bedroom apartment, that is not too full, but retains part of my collection of furniture and art, but this is manageable, and when I move, into a large 2 bedroom apartment, the space will be clear and light, and I have no wish to collect and accumulate again, it was a part of my life that has gone.
But one of the aspects I am most looking forward to is the opportunity to re-invent myself. I am moving to a location where no-one knows me, I have no history, and as such I can let go of any expectations I carry due to the familiarity I have within my old social network and neighbourhood.
A chance to rebuild from scratch, not only socially, but also internally, letting go of habits and behaviours that are locked into my old home and location.
Whilst not a remote country location, I am moving to a historic house, designed by a great architect, Decimus Burton, located on the edge of an old quarry, with sea views, high on a hillside. The yellow sandstone cliffs around are deeply worn and weathered by the wind, creating an other worldly visual air, mysterious and fascinating.
The house is built partly overlooking an ancient archery field, and also close to a large stone pyramid tomb, a tomb for the architect.
Close by are a newly restored Victorian gardens where, later this month a production of 'A Midsummer's Night Dream' is planned as an open air event.
The entire area is an enclave of fascinating and unusual history, both architecturally and historically, but slightly run down and neglected, and I like this, as it will provide more opportunities for change and growth.
Change is inevitable, but growth has to be nurtured and encouraged. I will grow as I change.Labels: blog, Dharma, meditation, organic, spiritual
Monday, 18 August 2008
Bookmark with:
del.icio.us
Digg
furl
Reddit
SPIRITUAL ORGANIC 82
If I forgive someone, who benefits?
When I feel hurt or abused by somebody's harsh words, or malicious actions, the temptation is to harbour a grudge against them, silently wishing them ill, creating imaginings of subtle revenge, whereby the tables are completely turned, and they in turn have to apologise to me, and sweet time repays the injustice.
Not pleasant I know, but that is what happens quietly and persistantly within my mind...
But, the strange thing is that the only person suffering at that time will be me. Whilst I twist and contort the possibilities to imagine a perfect outcome, my mind becomes gross and warped bringing me mental (and physical) discomfort.
But, another but... the person towards whom I am having these revengeful thoughts will be blissfully unaware of my thoughts, free of all my imaginings, whilst my mental contortions shift and alter my perceptions, emotions and physical feelings, maybe even making me ill.
By not forgiving I am actually hurting myself, holding a poison within me. Blind stupidity on my part...
I heard a joke.. What did the Zen master say to the hot-dog vendor? Make me one with everything.Labels: emotion, forgiveness, organic, perception, spiritual
Monday, 26 November 2007
Bookmark with:
del.icio.us
Digg
furl
Reddit
SPIRITUAL ORGANIC 42
Growth can also be painful.
Just as getting out of clothes that are too small and tight can be uncomfortable, so too if you are experiencing growth, shedding the layers that are hindering your growth can be uncomfortable, and even painful... but, just wait until they are gone. Relief!
You will never want them back, and nor could you ever fit back into the constricting space that had been confining you. When I was a boy, we used to go ice skating every week, and I'd rent skates for the afternoon, and, I'd always rent skates that were a size too small for me, as it was such a pleasure to finally take them off... I know it is odd, but I feel like I know you and can tell you stuff like that...
It is kinda similar when you grow, or heal, from a past situation or set of circumstances that have been imprisoning your mind, health and well-being. We are so familiar with the discomfort, and it almost seems better to be in the existing painful set of circumstances than to experience the pain of growth and change.
Just think of the ice skates, and the relief of taking them off. It will come, just try and allow the growth to occur... A bit like riding a wave, better to allow its power to carry you through rather than to resist.
You are safe. xLabels: arts and crafts movement, faith, mark golding, organic, organic gardening, spiritual, the organic home
Monday, 27 August 2007
Bookmark with:
del.icio.us
Digg
furl
Reddit
SPIRITUAL ORGANIC 41
Growth can be gradual, but can also come in bursts.
I think the usual way is gradual, but if you look closely enough, even gradual growth is a series of small bursts... There is very little even paced growth.
But also there is the growth that comes and appears as a giant leap. When it occurs that sort of growth appears to have been dormant and inert, and then suddenly movement occurs, and the backlog of 'growth' rapidly manifests. A release of energy.
These moments, in the context of our lives and development can be scary, powerful and empowering. These are the rewards for consistency and faith, faith that the effort we are putting into an intangible will manifest.
A gardener thrives on such effects... they will plant seeds, after toiling, clearing and nourishing the soil, with faith that in the spring plants will appear. There is however, no guarantee the seeds will grow into plants, but an experienced gardener will teach his students that overall, if certain conditions are initiated, and certain practices followed, a harvest will occur.
The physical, emotional and spiritual growth that is possible, is also precipitated by a series of preparations, following the advice of an experienced teacher, and also, dare I say it.... faith.
I know it is a scary word, with all sorts of implications and interpretations, but in a simple way, faith is only a belief that something will happen as a result of certain actions, and we do have faith in so many things, even our alarm clocks....
Faith is in use in all our lives, nearly all the time, with the people we have learned to trust, both family and friends, and also in so many of the services provided by others.. including the internet...
Faith can be so warming and peaceful once accepted, and, it brings a smile to my face. xLabels: arts and crafts movement, faith, mark golding, organic, organic gardening, spiritual, the organic home
Friday, 24 August 2007
Bookmark with:
del.icio.us
Digg
furl
Reddit
THE LAW OF DEFLECTION 5
So, what is a deflector? How do we notice one? And how can be understand them?
I can say that a deflector is an event, an event that effects us, or we affect. In short, virtually anything that happens to us. The secret of understanding the Law of Deflection is to be able to isolate and separate the events that have significance, and to use the experience and understanding to make decisions and choices.
We experience countless phenomena and events every single day, and if we sit and observe the multitude of kaleidoscopic experiences we might be overwhelmed. Ponder for a single minute... The feelings you have in your body, the sounds you hear, the taste in your mouth, the sights you see, the scent in the air, and not forgetting the thoughts running through your mind.
Dull, boring? Nothing happening? Right, sure...! We are seemingly sat within a never ceasing series of events, appearing, disappearing, a cocophony of stimuli.
Amongst all these occurences are opportunities, chances and potentials to change. Change for the better, if you wish... or not...
So many things happening, and so how do we choose what is the right event to 'hook up with', the correct deflector? And what has this got to do with 'The Organic Home' anyway?
Change. Positive change.Labels: arts and crafts movement, mark golding, organic, the law of deflection
Friday, 2 February 2007
Bookmark with:
del.icio.us
Digg
furl
Reddit
0 Comments
Permalink