Life Lessons

AA said: Well said, this…"too much desire and rejection…" I’ve never seen these words paired in such a way! 

Life Lessons 

The Master's power is like this.
He lets all things come and go
effortlessly, without desire.
He never expects results;
thus he is never disappointed.
He is never disappointed;
thus his spirit never grows old.

                                 Laozi: Tao Te Ching

The old Taoist master Laozi so poetically puts into words what’s most essential in life:

• Relax, and let Life take its course.
• Accept what happens, without desiring one thing or resisting another.
• Don’t expect results. Just do what has to be done, the best way you can.

      Living in such a way you will not constantly be disappointed, and you will stay open and fresh.  Growing old inside comes from always being tense, from too much desire and rejection, and from wanting something else than what Life has to offer. 

Never Stop Developing

Never Stop Developing

"If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?"

                                  Rabbi Nachman of Breslov 

Human existence is not just about proceeding in life and seeing what’s up next, but about developing. We are born with certain qualities, and our education and environment have added other traits and habits. Once we’ve reached adulthood it’s easy to believe that we are “done”: this is how we are, and we cannot change. Quite the contrary, it’s now that our work begins. 

Introspection is necessary to know yourself. From time to time we have to look inwards to see if we are who we really want to be. You might realize that you’re always holding back - work on your courage! - or all too often pushing others - work on your patience! 

We need to assess ourselves with honesty to see what inner qualities we should develop, or as Plotinus puts it:  

“Withdraw into yourself and look. And if you do not find yourself beautiful as yet, do as the creator of a statue that is to be made beautiful; the sculptor cuts away here, smoothes there, makes this line lighter, this other purer, until he or she has shown a beautiful face upon the statue.”

Time to Bloom

Time to Bloom

Springtime is at hand. When will you ever bloom, if not here and now?

Angelus Silesius

After a long and snowy winter, springtime is finally at hand! Who doesn’t feel a boost of energy when nature is exploding all around? What shall we do with all that energy?

Well, we can work in our garden, start jogging again or fall in love, but we can also bloom ourselves. How…?

Take a walk in Nature. See all the budding plants, all the little flowers in their delicate beauty. Inhale the smells of the trees’ mounting sap and fresh leaves.  Taste the sour wood sorrel or any other edible plant. Enjoy the fresh, still a bit chilly, breeze and simply feel alive! It is true that this aliveness can be felt at any moment, but in spring it is stronger than ever. 

Simply being aware of and deeply feeling alive makes you bloom: whether you want it or not you open up to the world and smile!

Mythic Friendship

AA wrote: I thank the Universe for your presence in my life , thank you for being the true sister from the heart , that loving understanding wise sibling I always longed for. Sending you all my love and gratitude 😘🙏🏼💕Your little sis

BB wrote: Sweet message! We all need more flowers! 🌸🌹🌺🌷🌼

Mythic Friendship

Beneath every friendship is the mythic image of the role that you fulfil for one another, a portrait of the real, healing meaning of your friendship.

Through this image you discover that a friend is a brother or a sister in spirit, the father you never had, the mother who will never leave you, the magician who has the answer or the image of yourself that you have been looking for for years. 

To see our friends in this light is to extend the meaning of our relationship with them, to know that, beyond the simple sweet pleasures and interactions we share, something far more complex is going on.

Today we take a look at the mythic portraits of your friends. Who are they really? What role do they play? What is the hidden history that you are healing through them?

                                                         Daphne Rose Kingma: “A Garland of Love”

This is such a beautiful text, and so important. Today let’s think of our Friends, of all of those people who support and strengthen, inspire, mirror, and enlighten us. Let’s think of them, of how important they are in our lives, and send them our thanks.

Thank you, dear Friends, from the bottom of my heart!

Spring Renewal

Spring Renewal 

We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.

                                Joseph Campbell

In many parts of the world, Christians are celebrating Easter. Originally this was a pagan celebration, and the Christian resurrection is symbolic for renewal and rebirth.

During winter, Mother Nature sheds her old skin, and in spring new life emerges everywhere. Trees are budding and tender, green leaves make their way out. Little flowers spread colourful dots of yellow, purple and white in parks and gardens, and on warm and sunny days you may even spot the first butterflies. 

Let the budding/regrowth of life inspire you! Review and refresh your habits, and become a renewed You. As Laozi said: “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be”.