Integration
Coming together
Still place where everything slows down
In this place, I hear my soul, speaking to me
Quiet yet certain
Soft but clear
There is no need for other
Only an awareness
And a knowing
That it lives inside me
That the divine is alive and well
And true desire
Can be met
By true desire
Free of false illusion
And tainted perception
The birth of wholeness
Invites wholeness
Whole freedom
Whole joy
Whole intimacy
Whole fulfillment
As the soul, the desire, and the divine
Are reunited
In flesh
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Transforming Fear, Embodying Aliveness
Last week, I had the honor of facilitating an experiential evening for men on the subject of liberating sexuality and spirituality. Seventeen men attended; men of different ages, races, and sexual orientations, all interested in becoming more free, alive, and empowered.
In our culture, we often hear of men being emotionally guarded and distant, wearing the "look strong and in control" mask, and competing for status and power, among plenty of other strategies and stereotypes. However, this evening, the men who attended decided to step out of the game and show up authentically, vulnerably, and powerfully. Men shared their fears, their shame, their desires, their stories, and their doubts. They revealed intimate details around their sexuality and spirituality in a real and courageous way. I left that night feeling a deep sense of hope and possibility, tasting a glimpse of the kind of world that we can create when we choose to embrace our humanness, reveal ourselves, and take action towards who and how we want to be.
One part of the evening focused on how we make the essential shift from fear to fullness, from our doubts, insecurities, denial, and shame to power, play, passion, aliveness, and desire. I believe that we make that shift through embodied practice and integration, as opposed to through theories, philosophies, and mental concepts. Rather than talk about what to do and how to it, or emphasizing techniques, it is vital to have the energy, movement, and essence presenced in the emotional, physical, and spiritual. We're not simply thinking ourselves to a new way of being; we're being ourselves to a new way of being.
We can do this in different ways: through breath, sound, movement, energy, touch, sensory engagement, invocation, prayer, and physical practice. Using these forms, we invoke the outcome in the present moment. We use the breath to open and free the body. We use movement to shift habits and stuck energy. We use sound to express and call in our desire. We use energy to give us more vitality and power.
As we do these practices, we shift and transform. Sometimes we come up against the kinks that have stood in our way, and the process feels difficult. Sometimes we experience greater ecstasy and aliveness.
Witnessing the men doing some of these practices, the energy shift in the room was palpable. The air became thicker and electrified, emotions became stronger, the men became more present and connected. In a short time, the room became more alive, and the transformation began. Always, in the long run, we free ourselves, become more open and alive, and connected to source and essence.
In our culture, we often hear of men being emotionally guarded and distant, wearing the "look strong and in control" mask, and competing for status and power, among plenty of other strategies and stereotypes. However, this evening, the men who attended decided to step out of the game and show up authentically, vulnerably, and powerfully. Men shared their fears, their shame, their desires, their stories, and their doubts. They revealed intimate details around their sexuality and spirituality in a real and courageous way. I left that night feeling a deep sense of hope and possibility, tasting a glimpse of the kind of world that we can create when we choose to embrace our humanness, reveal ourselves, and take action towards who and how we want to be.
One part of the evening focused on how we make the essential shift from fear to fullness, from our doubts, insecurities, denial, and shame to power, play, passion, aliveness, and desire. I believe that we make that shift through embodied practice and integration, as opposed to through theories, philosophies, and mental concepts. Rather than talk about what to do and how to it, or emphasizing techniques, it is vital to have the energy, movement, and essence presenced in the emotional, physical, and spiritual. We're not simply thinking ourselves to a new way of being; we're being ourselves to a new way of being.
We can do this in different ways: through breath, sound, movement, energy, touch, sensory engagement, invocation, prayer, and physical practice. Using these forms, we invoke the outcome in the present moment. We use the breath to open and free the body. We use movement to shift habits and stuck energy. We use sound to express and call in our desire. We use energy to give us more vitality and power.
As we do these practices, we shift and transform. Sometimes we come up against the kinks that have stood in our way, and the process feels difficult. Sometimes we experience greater ecstasy and aliveness.
Witnessing the men doing some of these practices, the energy shift in the room was palpable. The air became thicker and electrified, emotions became stronger, the men became more present and connected. In a short time, the room became more alive, and the transformation began. Always, in the long run, we free ourselves, become more open and alive, and connected to source and essence.
Monday, April 7, 2008
To write or not to write . . .
Well, I suppose the fact that there are words here answers that question, but I've felt somewhat ambivalent about putting some words down tonight. Lately, I've been content to simply be in the experience of the now, rather than needing to write or even talk about it. In this space, there isn't all that much to say, and it feels good to be more in the silence. However, something in my being appears to be wanting to be expressed, so here goes . . .
I suppose what's been on my mind lately is my connection to nature. Most people in my life now don't know this, but my bachelor's degree is actually in Natural History from an Indigenous Perspective. Translated, that means that I studied nature from the perspective of someone who was living off the land 500+ years ago, as opposed to a scientist sitting in a lab looking at a plant under a microscope. My studies included things like ethnobotany (including edible and medicinal plants), animal tracking, understanding and interpreting bird language, basic survival skills such as starting fires with sticks and making shelters from scratch, predicting weather, and so on. It involved a direct relationship with nature, one that required opening and using the senses, slowing down, listening, and communing. Rather than simply being an observer, I wanted to relate with the natural world. This path was an essential part of my life and my spirituality, and yet it somehow became diminished over time.
As my connection now to sexuality, spirituality, and eroticism is expanding and deepening, and as I continue to work with men, I am reminded of and drawn to re-establish that connection and relationship. The natural world is so inherently sensual and erotic, and in it I find it impossible to deny the existence of God. Whether it's in a plant or flower, the sun, water, or a bird, there is so much beauty and mystery to witness and behold. It is so much a part of us as humans, and yet most of us have lost and forgotten this essential connection.
Nature has so much to teach us: slowing down, and moving at a more easy, intuitive pace; using the senses and being sensual; listening to and following the organic order of things; being in stillness and silence; being free of judgment; paying attention; relationship,interconnectedness, and interdependence; gratitude; respect; patience; presence; connection to life and aliveness; and so much more . . .
As I've been taking more time lately to get outside and walk in the woods, I find myself becoming more human. I feel God most strongly in nature - in the air, in the smells, in the trees, in the sound of the birds. With each step, I find myself slowing down. My mind begins to relax. My senses awaken. My body opens. My intuition and inner voice becomes easier to hear. I remember who I am, and where I've come from.
If we are on any kind of spiritual path, it is important to include the natural world as part of our practice. It is the root, the foundation of our existence. It is where we meet life at its most raw, simple, essential, and vulnerable. It is where all seekers have gone for answers and inspiration. It is where we can remember who we are; free of the distractions of society and artificial culture, we are faced with ourselves and the divine. Try living solely off the land for even a couple of days and you'll get a real sense of what life is about, what is essential; there is no greater teacher.
Tonight, I give thanks for the natural world; for the fibers used to produce my clothes, for the food I've eaten today, for the wood from the trees that give me shelter, for the flowers and birds that inspire me, and so much more. I am grateful for this relationship and connection, and excited to reintegrate it into my life.
I suppose what's been on my mind lately is my connection to nature. Most people in my life now don't know this, but my bachelor's degree is actually in Natural History from an Indigenous Perspective. Translated, that means that I studied nature from the perspective of someone who was living off the land 500+ years ago, as opposed to a scientist sitting in a lab looking at a plant under a microscope. My studies included things like ethnobotany (including edible and medicinal plants), animal tracking, understanding and interpreting bird language, basic survival skills such as starting fires with sticks and making shelters from scratch, predicting weather, and so on. It involved a direct relationship with nature, one that required opening and using the senses, slowing down, listening, and communing. Rather than simply being an observer, I wanted to relate with the natural world. This path was an essential part of my life and my spirituality, and yet it somehow became diminished over time.
As my connection now to sexuality, spirituality, and eroticism is expanding and deepening, and as I continue to work with men, I am reminded of and drawn to re-establish that connection and relationship. The natural world is so inherently sensual and erotic, and in it I find it impossible to deny the existence of God. Whether it's in a plant or flower, the sun, water, or a bird, there is so much beauty and mystery to witness and behold. It is so much a part of us as humans, and yet most of us have lost and forgotten this essential connection.
Nature has so much to teach us: slowing down, and moving at a more easy, intuitive pace; using the senses and being sensual; listening to and following the organic order of things; being in stillness and silence; being free of judgment; paying attention; relationship,interconnectedness, and interdependence; gratitude; respect; patience; presence; connection to life and aliveness; and so much more . . .
As I've been taking more time lately to get outside and walk in the woods, I find myself becoming more human. I feel God most strongly in nature - in the air, in the smells, in the trees, in the sound of the birds. With each step, I find myself slowing down. My mind begins to relax. My senses awaken. My body opens. My intuition and inner voice becomes easier to hear. I remember who I am, and where I've come from.
If we are on any kind of spiritual path, it is important to include the natural world as part of our practice. It is the root, the foundation of our existence. It is where we meet life at its most raw, simple, essential, and vulnerable. It is where all seekers have gone for answers and inspiration. It is where we can remember who we are; free of the distractions of society and artificial culture, we are faced with ourselves and the divine. Try living solely off the land for even a couple of days and you'll get a real sense of what life is about, what is essential; there is no greater teacher.
Tonight, I give thanks for the natural world; for the fibers used to produce my clothes, for the food I've eaten today, for the wood from the trees that give me shelter, for the flowers and birds that inspire me, and so much more. I am grateful for this relationship and connection, and excited to reintegrate it into my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
