Experience Your Life as a Playground

Apr 212013
 

Life is your playground!This really is the most important thing I could possibly say.

But bear with me, as it’s a whole different paradigm than most people live by.

When you know who and what you truly are, in your essence, you will realize that you are not at stake here in this life.

That frees you to simply enjoy it, challenges and all.

I know. I’ve been through some major challenges, the most recent being a major financial loss. It could have been devastating but for this new way of BEing that I picked up along the way.

Presence, or the Open State

It’s about living in Presence, one experience of what I call the Open State.

If you’ve followed Eckhart Tolle, you may have an idea what Presence is.

But I also think that many of us (because I did it in the beginning, too) have a shallow understanding of what Presence actually is.

It’s NOT simply being in the moment in the sense of experiencing what’s in front of you right then, although that’s a helpful way to finally get to it.

It’s not even just about practicing mindfulness – that’s more a way to enjoy and “play” (which I’ll talk more about below).

It’s about going a level deeper than that.

It’s about BEing in that moment fully and to such a degree that you are aware of your immortal nature.

You become aware of the space or silence or stillness that Eckhart refers to.

You become aware of the still field that is omnipresent, existing throughout all things.

The field that you ARE.

The awareness that you ARE.

Once you’ve experienced this, you just know that you are not threatened by anything happening “out there” (more on “out there” later ;-) ). You are not helped by it, nor are you harmed by it.

And then, as you experience it more and more, this knowing becomes a part of who you are as a personality, and you begin to live much more in peace.

In joy, ease, and lightness.

Fear begins to melt away.

The love that you are in essence begins to express, naturally, as compassion for everything and everyone, for you know that it is all YOU.

And you don’t just know or believe it intellectually. You know it through and through.

Then you’ll begin to see that this you, this essence that exists prior to manifestation, is what unfolds or emerges AS as your life, including you as a thinking, acting human being. (This is the level at which we work and play during a Holographic Emergence™ session. This you, and these subtle layers that are the blueprint for what manifests.)

But still, YOU are not affected by it in any way. Not really.

And you know this.

Which frees you to play with it, no matter how your mind might judge it.

You get to fully experience lila, or Divine play. (For you are Divine! :-) )

And you experience your life as one giant playground, full of all kinds of new experiences!

Help Along the Way: Amazing Resources

I’ve come to this over time primarily with the remarkable guidance of 2 enlightened beings.

1) Eckhart Tolle. I can’t recommend his work enough. I’ve read his books several times, each time getting something deeper and richer. I listen to his audios over and over, again hearing or absorbing exactly what’s needed to keep me moving each day toward this state of BEing.

2) John Sherman. His work at River Ganga is extraordinary. Without him, I don’t think I’d have really gotten even what Eckhart offers. His teaching is one-pointed, i.e. Look at Yourself. It’s through this extremely simple practice that I have really grokked who/what I am. I mean really, really got it, to the core. I no longer simply experienced the stillness. It became clear that that is what I AM, and that stillness is ultra-aware. It’s pure consciousness. It’s awareness. It’s me.

Both Eckhart and John illuminate in a new and accessible way what the Eastern Masters have been saying for millennia. I spent quite a long time immersed in Eastern philosophy. The world they so beautifully describe is nothing short of heaven on earth. (Have you ever read the Upanishads? They’re breathtakingly beautiful!) I’ve meditated for decades and meditation is, of course, helpful.

But it wasn’t until I became aware of these two and dove deeply into their teachings that I was able to actually access it; to benefit in a meaningful and profound way, and to really begin to become more consciously this Light that we all are.

A Path, not a Destination

I’m still growing. I don’t consider myself an enlightened master – yet. ;-)

The good news is you don’t have to be at the summit to experience extraordinary benefits.

Little by little we become more and more conscious of who and what we are.

And little by little, we emerge as our true, authentic, essence. And this unfolding is rich and satisfying.

No matter what.

Namasté,

Patti

What are your thoughts about Presence? Or better yet, what’s your experience of it? Please let us know in the comments!

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A Blog Walk: 5 Ways to Be Your Whole You

Feb 212012
 

So often I find some time to visit a few of my favorite blogs, and I come away astounded at how exactly their topics match with what I’m experiencing or what I needed to hear.

Integration

This time, the theme was our own integration with ourselves, within and without.

Integration has been my focus lately and as a critical part of multidimensional living, it’s essential to living a truly empowered life.

Often I want to share the posts and my resultant thoughts with you, but by the time I find the time to do it, they’re old and stale. (That means they’re a few days old, LOL! Things move too fast for me here in the blogosphere!)

But this time, I’m going to share them anyway.

It’s a perfect example of integration, after all.

Here I’m integrating my personal activity of visiting some of my favorite blogs, of being inspired, of sharing my thoughts (along with some awesome blogs), and ultimately with writing about the topic of my blog, i.e. taking advantage of and integrating all our dimensions to be our whole, awesome selves!

These are bloggers whom I love to read.

Do yourself a favor and check out these posts (and the blogs, too, while you’re at it).

Walk With Me …

Just before visiting these blogs this past Sunday, I had just done some Matrix Energetics (ME) during a holographic Emergence Session on myself. I sometimes meander into a somewhat stuck space lately, and my intention with the session was to get a little movement and clarity going.

I think that’s why I was prompted to visit these blogs. These posts definitely gave me a nudge and I found myself all inspired-like. :-)

Stop #1: A Clear Sign

I went to Julie’s always thought-provoking blog A Clear Sign and came upon her recent post The End of an Era.

I thought it was funny and perfect that she references super-heroes and Richard Bartlett, the founder of ME, often plays around with super-heroes.

I was clearly right where I was supposed to be!

And wow wow WOW.

Her post is very much about surrender, and she talks about crying “Uncle”. Just the other day I uttered that same word, literally, for similar reasons! I’ve been writing about and living in surrender for almost a month now.

She also uses the phrase that we are “falling into ourselves”. I love that. What a great way to put it. It’s like we can no longer live NOT as wholly integrated beings.

Anything not “of us” must fall away.

Stop #2: Powered by Intuition

Next I popped over to my friend (oh, I’m so honored to be able to say that) Angela’s always substantial blog Powered by Intuition.

Again, the topic of her recent post was related to living in integrity with ourselves, and sometimes switching careers mid-stream if that’s what it takes to do that. (It’s also about using our intuition to know whether that’s what it takes.)

I feel I’ve always been guided by my intuition, even when working predominantly with my analytical abilities. I walked away from a 15+ yr. long career as an engineer (software development) and although I loved it, it was time for a change.

Now, I’m examining again what it is I’m doing. Which direction to go. More of a fine-tuning than a major change of direction, but it’s still a very relevant and interesting article!

Stop #3: Intuitive Journal

Then I found myself at Laura’s Intuitive Journal, reading a great article about our purpose. Such a popular and important topic! I found her perspecive on it quite refreshing and a great reminder to me.

I suppose my Matrix Energetics (ME) session was still on my mind because her post reminded me that Richard (Bartlett, founder of ME) often would say that the less we do, the more powerful our sessions are.

That we are doors, not do-ers. I often remind myself of that especially before a ME session.

Stop #4: Danielle La Porte

And all of this reminded me, then, of a recent post by someone whose self-expression I love so much she almost makes me giddy.

It’s by Danielle La Porte and is a post about her recent sitename change. Again, very much about an integrated life.

In it, she quotes an email by Amy Oscar. I’m so glad she shared the content with us. It’s great and I bet you’d love it too.

The whole post reminded me of the powerful quote by Marianne Williamson in her book A Return to Love which I’ll post here for you:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves: “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Stop #5: Amy Oscar

And that took me to Amy’s site; one I’ve visited often.

I didn’t have time to get into her articles this time, but I love her new-ish header! She/it says:

You are already intuitive, already connected to the source of light and love that animates all things. You don’t need more training, more study, more stuff. No more penance. Nothing to fix. No points to earn.You are here. You have always been here. Here. Now. This. Let it in.

Back Home Again

So, to come full circle on the topic of integration, Amy’s header is a perfect reminder that we are all that we want to be already.

All we have to do is acknowledge that. Honor it. BE it.

The tricky part (in my experience) is letting what is NOT us fall away.

Here’s to you — your whole, integrated self. :-)

Namasté.

http://amyoscar.com/

Dare to Bop Fear in the NO’s and Enjoy the Euphoria of YES

Jan 052011
 

“We’re here to live this storm of wild wonder that is the unfolding of phenomena within our minds, within our consciousness. And when the fear of it goes, then our reception of it is wondrous beyond belief.”

John Sherman, at a Worldwide Online Meeting, Dec. 18, 2010

A few nights ago, I was kneeling on the living room floor with our two dogs as they vied for and got my full attention. The little old slobbery boxer nuzzled under one arm while the goofy, angora-soft lab pushed his way under the other. Multi-colored Christmas lights sparkled around the window, and the hauntingly beautiful, other-worldly music of Cirque du Soleil’s Saltimbanco filled the room.

Suddenly I found myself having an experience of rapture. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I felt that movement around my heart. You know the feeling –  that humming like there’s an earthquake starting in there? I could barely contain myself.

I was simply and excruciatingly thrilled to be alive. Intensely and unreservedly alive. And every cell in my body was bursting with the wonder of it.

Don’t you just love it when you feel such appreciation for the gift of being alive?

Embrace the Storm of Wild Wonder

It’s not that I was happy because I have my precious dogs, am in a warm & cozy house, am married to the love of my life, or any/all of the obviously positive gifts that have been bestowed upon me.

I was happy even though I don’t have a fancy house, I lost my life saving a few years ago, I’m a basket case when it comes to being productive, and despite all the apparently difficult or challenging situations that have presented themselves.

As far as I could tell, I was happy because I was saying yes to it — to all of it — fully and completely. I was momentarily allowing myself to fully embrace life without the fear that is so often lurking around in the nooks and crannies. I was without the often-present sense that I am somehow at stake here. I wasn’t keeping life at arm’s length for fear that I would be hurt. I wasn’t judging some things as good and others as bad.

This means saying yes to the adventure. For me right now that’s to the launching of a brand new career at the ripe old age of 56. For you, of course, it’s whatever comprises your adventure; those things that excite you and challenge you at the same time.

But at an even deeper level, we say yes to trusting enough in the now to let go of control (as if we ever had control anyway).

We say yes to being alive in a world where everything changes every minute and every second. Where nothing is ever the same from one blink of the eye to the next. Where the unknown looms hugely in front of us, and there are no guarantees.

We say yes to allowing the living, breathing being that we are to be fully alive and to shine its light gloriously in each and every moment.

Dissolve the Fear

Of course this exhilarating fearlessness occurs in our lives from time to time. But isn’t it always rather fleeting? Lately, it’s becoming much less so for me, and more and more a part of who I am.

I’m sure that’s in large part because just over a year ago I discovered a simple – dirt simple – process that has been slowly but surely dissolving the fear, just as promised.

This fear-dissolving process consists of a simple act of looking. Looking at yourself. And I don’t mean psychologically or emotionally. I don’t even mean spiritually. I mean looking at who or what you are at your core. The simple nature of you.

And you don’t even have to see who or what you are, or understand it. You just have to look. And if you do this periodically, then over time the fear melts away.

Is that amazing or what?

I’ll continue to share on this blog what it feels like to have the existential fear of life gradually disappear, and the significant impact it’s had on my experience of life.

I’ll also share more about how you can do it even though I’ve already said it all (yes, it really is that simple).

For now though, if you’re interested in learning more, you can hear it from the proverbial horse’s mouth at River Ganga Foundation. John and Carla Sherman offer a bounty of information in the form of transcripts, audios, videos, and their book Look at Yourself.

I’ve been a spiritual aspirant all my life yet this is a whole new paradigm from anything I’ve ever come into contact with. I highly recommend you check it out.

What are you saying yes to, or what might you want to say yes to that you’ve not? Please share!

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Have You Had Your “Sacred Toilet Moment” Today?

Oct 142010
 

Whatever could toilets and sacred moments possibly have in common, you ask?

A lot, actually, and your day will be all the better for knowing what. I promise!

Have you been appreciating how profoundly precious life is lately? If you’re like me, you forget every now and then.

Well, here’s a beautiful story that might jog your memory periodically, at least for awhile while it’s fresh in your mind. And maybe, like me, for long afterward.

Today I read a post by Kara of Conduit of Joy! that I found very touching. It in turn reminded me of something I’d read by Denise Linn that I still think of often, even though I first read it 8 months ago.

Essentially Denise shares what transpired between her and a friend who had just received the devastating news that she only had about 5 more days to live. (And I think I have problems?!)

I would not be able to do the story justice by piece-mealing it here… I think you would love reading the whole thing yourself (it’s short and quick, and don’t miss her p.s.) But I will share two potent quotes that I’ve taken away from it that enhance my life whenever I am fortunate enough to remember them.

In speaking of her friend:

“She said that she has realized that her entire life she’s been more afraid of living than of dying…”

WOW. Well. I can identify with that one. Can you? But it doesn’t really make sense to live that way, does it?!

And her friend said of knowing she only had a few more days to live:

“It makes every moment precious. When I go to the toilet, I know that there is only a limited number of times that I will be able to do that . . . and it makes it a ’sacred toilet moment’. When I go to sleep, this makes it a ’sacred sleeping moment’. Every bit of food, every conversation, and every moment . . . no matter how seemingly mundane, is precious. I’m cherishing it all. Really we should always be doing this.”

I absolutely, unequivocally loved this! It’s just perfect. Did you know a toilet discussion could be so, well, poignant? Holy? You may beg to differ, but anything that can make such a mundane thing so inspirational is good, grounded spirituality in my book! Gotta love it.

It also makes me aware of how blessed I am to be able to live fairly simply and to have the space and time to experience and appreciate without being overwhelmed. It’s common for me to be in awe of even simple things — which I quickly see are not simple at all, but totally miraculous!

And thanks in part to gentle reminders like these two posts, I get to appreciate yet again just how precious life is.

What is it that prompts you to do that?

Thank you for reading and sharing this virtual space. I guess I can enjoy the sound of one hand clapping, but two is so much more fun. Blessings to you!

[Photo: Egor Gribanov]