Trusting Life (Or a substance?)

People who have faith in life are like
swimmers who entrust themselves to a
rushing river. They neither abandon
themselves to its current nor try to resist it.
Rather, they adjust their every movement
to the watercourse, use it with purpose and skill,
and enjoy the adventure.
David Steindl-Rast (Gratefulness.org)

So much better (to me) than the allegory about jumping in the river and letting go - what if there is a waterfall or rapids not far ahead. I like the balance of "not abandoning yourself to the current or resisting it."
Mary Beijerinck: learning to trust Oneself & Trust Life.. I actually bought a stone for my Garden yesterday , upon it is etched 'Trust' .. learning that surrender is essential .. resistance is futile. Allowing & Accepting & trusting .. having the inner faith & belief that the Universe's tides will safely bring us ashore. I am a Gemini ... and know full well the incredible beauty found in many of life's paradoxes. Trust has been a difficult lesson for me to learn. I am still learning it. ..



Add: This describes kayaker, canoer, a rower,
or of sailor an engineless boat. Ron

Similar to the quote about "sailboats are not meant to stay in the harbor", Jonathan Goldsmith ("the most interesting man..." says ‎"Most people are safe in their own world and don't experience the total spectrum of life. Life is like a parade most people are watching."

Ra Divakar: ‎"Watching the parade" by the Inner Observer is vital to understanding life also!
Mary Beijerinck: Ron & ra .. absolutely agree ... being both introspective & exospective (if that translates .. or put another way .. being both the swimmer & being able to observe oneself swimming at the same time.
Ron Alexander: Thanks so much Mary & Ra, being a Libra, balance is very important to me, and I AGREE both are "vital" to trusting life!

The habit of being happy
enables one to be freed,
or largely freed,
from
domination of
outside conditions.
Robert Louis Stevenson

Ra Divakar: Are not habits that create happiness, habits that create love?

Bob Sampron: Isn't this a fascinating statement from the man who wrote "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?" LOL. I came to the same conclusion in about 1996. Fascinating. It makes one wonder if this is a lesson/message imprinted on the soul.

Bob Sampron: Now that I think about it, that may be the whole point of the Dr. Jekyll story. He seeks his happiness from the outside, by taking the potion (something from outside) to make himself happy. Instead, it's the cause of all the troubles that ensue. Hmm.

Bob Sampron: He tries to internalize the external, with dire consequences.
Ron Alexander: Like an addict????

Could this be titled "Trust in Life (or in a substance?)

Wisely Extend to Yourself an Unconditional Love

From Peter Makena – Crossroads (In Love)

When you adopt the viewpoint
That all that exists within your circle of life
Is nothing but another part of you.
...
When you come to the conclusion
That there is no one who exists, who is not a part of you,

You will wisely extend to yourself
An unconditional love that will be
The light of your day, the light of your night
The light that lightens up this world of ours.

When you come to the crossroad
Where you can choose which road to take
For the highest good of all

When you stand at the seashore
And your boat is ready to take off and sail,
To follow an inner call.

You will wisely extend to yourself
An unconditional love that will be
The light of your day, the light of your night
The light that lightens up this world of ours.

Look for that which does not come or go …
An all pervading light


This may be my fav. lyrics of all time. I listened to and got to spend some time with Peter and his wife, when they were opening for a teacher of mine - Byron Katy (Turn around work)!

"...Where you can choose which road to take
For the highest good of all

When you stand at the seashore
And your boat is ready to take off and sail,
To follow an inner call..."

"A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not what ships are built for." Another author? - not Peter)

another Peter - Peter Max's Cosmic Runner - with sailboat in background though!

A "Holyween"' Message - Treat Everybody as If...

Treat Everyone As If they will be dead by Midnight

Treat everyone you meet as if he or she were going to be dead by midnight.
Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster,
and do so with no thought of reward. Your life will never be the same....
Og Mandino "The Greatest Salesman in the World"
Ron Alexander's Add - Start with yourself as we are part of everyOne!
Definitely a TREAT! not a trick. Happy Treating everyone!
Nancy Odle: I have edited my news feed to see only the most inspiring and uplifting...this is great. I suggest everyone do this. Our thoughts, our lives are made up of what we think and how we treat others. There is no room in my life for any of the negative other stuff. Even reading the news once a week upsets me...:(Lisa Porter Ravenscraft: ♥ for you, Ron and appreciative of your words....
Jeanne Porter Ashley: wonder -- full wisdom!
Ron Alexander: kinda goes along with Halloween - "Holyween"? Thanks for your comments everyone! All is Well!
Nancy Odle: Holy evening...that is exactly what it means in Old English?

An Awakened Always Gives True Smiles

Always Gives:

Gratitude to gratitude always gives birth.

attributed to Sophocles (gratefulness.org)

The source of a true smile is an awakened mind.
Smiling helps you approach the day with
gentleness and understanding.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Peace Is Every Step


I think that (Thich Nhat Hanh) is "Peace IN Every Step" - what ever it is an inspirational little book, as are all of his and especially Thich (thanks) alive in a workshop which I was blessed to experience.

Giving? How Much?

Guest: How can I uplift my friends by sharing Spirit?

Uplifting others is really a very good way to spend your time that will reward you very well for your efforts. You cannot give something that you don't have, and you cannot have something that you don't believe you have. So in order to give something you must first believe that you have it, and you must believe that you have it in abundance. You must believe that your personal supply of what you are giving will be undiminished by your giving of it.

We are pretty sure that most of you have had the experience of going to cheer up a friend who's down in the dumps, and finding yourself dragged down by your efforts. You cannot match your vibration to the vibration of the one you wish to help and be of effectiveness. When you assist them, you should get in and out of there as quickly as need be. The longer you stay the more likely you are to be pulled in, just to be agreeable. And you can't help them by agreeing with them.

Remember, they too are powerful creators calling forth the Source Energy of the Universe into the forms they hold in imagination. Always acknowledge their power first before you enter. This will serve to protect you, and to empower them. They created it, they can uncreate it by building something else, something new, something better.

Your vibration has to be stronger than all the other vibrations in the room, and if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Our point is don't ever sacrifice your vibration to raise that of another.

Namaste,
Twelve

www.TwelveSpirit.net
‎"Your vibration has to be stronger than all the other vibrations in the room, and if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Our point is don't ever sacrifice your vibration to raise that of another."
Jeanne Porter Ashley: There is no limitation in vibrations, all is oneness and if we are not here to share and lift each other up -- one day A is up and B is down, next day B is up and A is down -- to form a loving balance of tribe and family -- then why are we here?
To me it speaks if dependence/co-dependence issues - dragging each other down with neediness! Wholeness/independence leads to a healthy inter-dependent relationship - helping without sacrificing one's integrity!

Give without needing anything in return. Neediness is a relationship-killer!
Jeanne Porter Ashley: A loving balance does not keep score of giving and receiving -- it is all love. And, makes for a beautiful limitless existence.
Ron Alexander: Right Jeanne, BALANCE is the key! Me being a Libra accentuates that - two independent Beings feeling whole and well together without dependence!
Relationships that are out of balance, means that the one who feels they are giving more and receiving less, needs to look at their own issues sometimes of being able to give and not to receive and/or may need to operate with stronger boundaries and tougher love!
Rob Jackson: From what I read I see it thus: Think of it in the same context as donating blood. You can only give so much without hurting yourself. You can give again another day; but there again, only so much. You can give a kidney, but on...ly one. Or a person who devotes all their time and effort into their work/job; after a while it consumes them and the rest of their life suffers. You leave work and drive straight through to Washington to see a friend. When you arrive you are exhausted and you "crash." You have to sleep and replenish yourself. Same thing with your personal energies/vibrations, you can only give so much without draining yourself.

Carol Boyles: It is telling you to be yourself. Do not be afraid to walk to the beat of a different drum. Being sure of yourself and not needing anyones approval to be yourself. What every bullied child needs to know

Rob Jackson: As far as relationships; there is an old saying that the one who loves the least, controls the relationship. This disgusts me. A relationship, in the big picture, must be a balance, a 50/50 proposition. You can not love and support a healthy, lasting relationship with out being able to love yourself first. When you don't, these are the times when (I believe) issues of dependency/codependency come into

Perfectly Free & One with the Universe

The Sufi Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul


Stunningly beautiful Sufi Meditation - the way they become One with the Universe!

Dance, when you are broken open.
Dance, if you have torn the bandage off.
Dance, in the middle of fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you are perfectly free.
Rumi (Sufi Whirling)

The Mevlevi Lodge of Dervishes in Istanbul performing the whirling meditation.
The music, the colors, the dance, the trance - captivating! I will share this magnificent meditation.
The Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul - said to have started with Rumi? Could you call this the Mystical Branch of the Muslim Faith?

Freedom & Joy are my Divine Birthrights

Spirit is forever Free!


FREEDOM & Joy are my Divine Birthright!
Just as joy, nobody can give you freedom of Spirit,
and no one can take away your freedom of Spirit.
FREEDOM!
As I continue to celebrate my birthday, I realize my Divine
birthright is "freedom, joy & good.
In the awareness that Spirit indwells my life. I know that my
Spirit is released from all lack & limitation. I understand and
accept the truth about myself. My physical body and my
objective affairs reflect the perfection that I feel, the wholeness
of which I am certain, and the glorious freedom that rightfully
belongs to me. I rejoice that my Spirit is forever Free."
Ernest Holmes - "Daily Wisdom" Oct.14!

Dance, when you are broken open.
Dance, if you have torn the bandage off.
Dance, in the middle of fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you are perfectly free.
Rumi (Sufi Whirling)