Jen – Page 3 – KISS Principle

Care of the Soul

Care of the soul…

I have been reading “Care of the Soul” by Thomas Moore for about one year now. The book has me wrestle with ideas, chew my cud you might say, until I can fully digest the philosophy and religious ideas presented beautifully in the book: digest meaning understand, not necessarily agreeing.

My current foray into the pages was felt as a surreal experience. Listening to rain on the roof, soft music playing so as not to interfere with the sounds of nature. I tackled Part IV titled “Care of the World’s Soul”. I love this section of Moore’s book! It speaks of the soul within all things, animate or inanimate.

As I was reading the hard copy book I was aware of appreciating the old fashioned tactile enjoyment of turning the pages, appreciating the bookmark ( a gift from Nepal), and even deeply feeling the beauty of time itself . I had this wonderful time and space in that moment to revel in historical words of wisdom. I could sense it all.

A standout quote to share with you is “… objects express themselves not in language but in their remarkable individuality”. An animal reveals it’s soul in it’s striking appearance, it’s life habits, and it’s style.” He talks about, and I know this experience well, how we can be deeply affected by natural places. Perhaps you can think of some place in nature, or a beautiful creature, where you had to stop and just take in the scene, perhaps it took your breath away.

In those moments we are emotionally and energetically connected to the beauty of the place: we are fully present. According to Moore that same presence and attraction can be said of man made objects. He uses the example of fine art, music, ancient and modern architecture, and maybe even modern technology. Think about some manufactured examples that have captivated you.

Moore goes on to talk about daily living and the small moments that captivate us, inspire joy, promote curiosity. This was my experience yesterday, and in small ways, most days. For instance, there’s something amazing for me about hanging out the washing: It brings my senses alive. So much so that I couldn’t imagine not being able to do it.

I recently had to go house-hunting and toyed with the idea of getting a unit or apartment. The thought of not connecting with grass, trees, birds, weather, the smell of sunshine in the clean items,the way the clothes and linen flap in the breeze… made me reel back in horror at the thought of missing out on this simple ritual. Hanging out the washing feels like a communication of something small and natural that is beautiful and beyond words.

Moore talks about washing the dishes and how he hasn’t gotten around to using his new dishwasher that he’d had for a year at the time of writing the book. I think I can relate to his presence in washing up too. What about making the bed with clean sheets, getting into a freshly made bed at night at the end of a long day, looking at the painting your child made in school that day displayed proudly on your fridge, the furnishings you appreciated enough to buy to make your home beautiful?

I wonder, in this stressed out and time poor existence, if you take the time to just stop and see the beauty you have created in your world. Yesterday I did in a much more connected way that I usually do. I have noticed connecting to my “objects” more lately as I have been carefully packing them away in preparation for moving. In amidst the packing and appreciating, I’ve noticed my creativity and intuition reawaken, the ability to reconnect with feelings of compassion, and the feelings of stress and pressure of life soften immensely after a few very challenging months.

In Psychology there is a body of knowledge and therapeutic models that speak of mindfulness, and shifting your focus away from things that cause distress, to things that feel relaxing and calming. This is often facilitated by some form of meditation or perhaps connection to the breath. If you’ve read my website you’d realise by now that I’m a huge advocate of mindfulness meditation.

However, the times spent in presence, awareness, and appreciation of daily tasks or objects, also opens doorways to clearer minds and calmer bodies. Last night I didn’t think about the trauma and tragedies I was processing from my work, the family upsets that happen from time to time, the feeling of emptiness of dearest people absent from my world, or the work and preparation I have ahead to ensure the house move runs smoothly.

Last night I revelled in the feelings of the pages in my hands, the sound of the rain on the roof, the warm glow of the heater, the feeling of the couch as I lay on it like a child with my feet up over the back. I thoroughly enjoyed cooking my dinner, cleaning the kitchen afterwards. I snuggled consciously into my bed as I smelled the fresh crisp cotton sheets at bedtime: that always makes me smile.

And then today, loving the fact that there was more rain around resolving to go walking in the rain, after coffee of course. Walk I did… Along the water front, rain lashing into the side of my face at one point, I watched the weather, the waves, tasted the fruit from someone’s front hedge, felt the rain sneaking inside my raincoat, and appreciated the beauty of objects. I was touched by life and I felt the soul of the world. Life took my breath away today.

As I walked I wondered how I can help other people be touched by life. I recognise that I am touched by life in sad, angry, fearful ways. But I could also see beauty in those moments because I can connect with presence to life in many ways. Today I remembered people I know personally who are suffering in some way. They, and I, when stuck in a groove of suffering become closed off to diversity and beauty of the world around and within us. We lose compassion for other beings, and shut out the world. How can we open up the heart-mind to see more? Connecting to and caring for the soul of the world…

Today I listened to a Jack Kornfield podcast from Heart Wisdom titled “The Heart of Compassion” where he mentioned how an elderly person will make the effort to plant and tend to small flowers in a garden, or an impoverished child can be seen hugging a kitten to their chest, both caring for the souls of things.

During my walk I was inspired to write and share my experience here. I also wrote a piece in From the Heart titled “Today You Took My Breath Away” you can read.

There is so much beauty in the world, if we could just stop to be with it as it happens. Here is a video I took on my way home from work after night shift a few days ago. I saw the most beautiful sunrise and just had to stop and be a part of the new day. It took my breath away. After parking the car and walking towards the beauty, all my senses came alive, washing away the tensions of listening to peoples trauma (which I feel honoured to do), my tiredness, and in that moment all was right with the world. I don’t usually take my phone camera with me when I walk but as I had access I captured this to share. May it bring joy to your senses and inspire you to see the beauty and magic in every day life… after all the sun rises every day .

Dreams, Symbols, and Metaphors

Dreaming, Symbols and Metaphors- What does it all mean?

Have you ever pondered over a dream, trying to make sense of an abstract idea or experience and just can’t make sense of it?

Dreams have always fascinated me. I often remember my dreams and have done so since I was quite young. In my book Success is Simply Spiritual I described a period of two years where I made a special effort to train myself to recall dreaming on waking as often as possible, and then journal my dreams whenever I could remember them. Those two years were a rich ground of learning about my intuition, my internal language, aspects of my personality that I tried to ignore, and how to decipher the often cryptic information downloaded from my unconscious world. That’s was in the late Nineties and I’m still learning and totally fascinated with dreaming: when sleeping or awake.

I have always been inspired by reading about dreams as discussed in ancient philosophies, shamanism, different cultural perspectives, as well as my professional studies of counselling and psychotherapy including Gestalt Therapy dream work and Process Oriented Psychology. I am struck by so many different possibilities about what dreams might mean, and how the application of meaning might be different from dream to dream. Some dreams could be a simple consolidation of experiences; perhaps a precognitive experience or premonition; possibly a signal of personality aspects disowned and trying to speak out; maybe unspoken desires wanting to be acknowledged, or some other form of message needing to be expressed. The possibilities are endless.

I have noticed that often ideas about the meaning of dreams can become stifled when a particular paradigm is applied. I wonder how we can place strict boundaries of theory on something that is beyond our ability to know for certain. My experience is that there are many ways to approach dreamwork. I have found that multiple layers of meaning can most definitely be explored and validated in one dream. Simple meaning can also be elicited and deemed practical.

Over the years I have noted down dreams and found them to be incredibly helpful when interpreted by myself as I developed an understanding that only I could elicit. It is my dream, from my unconscious mind; therefore it made sense to me that I am the best person to uncover meaning for me. I will often look at universally accepted symbolism, seek feedback from friends or a therapist, and then look at my own feelings, thoughts, and psychological connections as I process a dream and its meaning. I go through periods where dreams are remembered more easily and more regularly. I imagine that’s probably true for most of us. What do you think about the times you notice dreaming (remembering dreams) is more prolific? Do you encounter recurring dreams, or dreams with obvious recurring themes, or dreams that have different themes but occur in the same place each time? Does it make you wonder why?

I recently had a dream about a strange little possum that I wrote down upon waking. I was instantly struck by some of the abstract and impossible qualities of the dream. As I wrote about my dream the seemingly random appearance of people in the dream, the specific activities and actions of the dream, all that I could remember, meaning began to unfold. Over the next couple of days I could identify themes with current life experiences, albeit presenting in abstract form. As I processed my interpretation of the dream I began to gain insight and form ideas about how to approach the real life experiences I related to the dream. The insight proved to be invaluable.

As time went on I worked consciously with the information, rather than the dream itself, allowing myself too be open to new insight. Then about 10 days later I had a really exciting and interesting day that some of you may have seen shared on Facebook. The day involved rescuing a baby possum. To capture the essence, I realised through meditation the next day after possum rescue, and through the days leading up to this moment, that the events that unfolded on possum rescue day mirrored my dream in exquisite and not so abstract detail. Since then so many pieces of information have come together in many ways. I hope to share examples in the new Dreamwork group of the many different layers of information related to noticing and exploring this original dream. Simply by working with the dream consciously I was guided in practical ways that are continuing to unfold.

One aspect that unfolded is how much I get out of the way I work with dreams. I feel compelled to share the information and teach you the possibilities of dreamwork. My hope is to share with you a plethora of ways to work with your dreams, encountered either when sleeping, meditating, or awake. Through a Dreamwork group you can be guided to see the simple, or more complex unfolding of your own wisdom to use the information in practical ways. Working in a group you’ll have the opportunity to notice how differently people perceive, dreams, symbols, and metaphors. Dreamwork can allow you the opportunity to work with your physical, emotional, intuitive and sensitive nature with awareness, kindness, and compassion.

We all dream. No matter what your spiritual, philosophical, or cultural background, Dreamwork can be an interesting way of connecting with yourself and your world more fully. If you are interested in learning more about Dreamwork and the current group offerings click here for more information, or contact Jen.

Infinity, eternally: everything is copacetic…

Infinity, eternally: a crude measurement of the immeasurable, Love.

Listening to Tara Brach- Beyond the Prison of Beliefs – today I was deeply touched by the story of a heart transplant recipient meeting the donor’s wife. As the wife of the donor placed her hand on the chest of the recipient she said “everything is copacetic”: a personal communication her and her deceased husband shared while he was alive after disturbances between them. The story of the recipient reflected many of the deceased man’s traits and habits the recipient had integrated since receiving the donated heart, including the use of the word “copacetic”. A sense of “infinity, eternally” arose within me along with a realisation of how enchanted we become with these experiences of connection after someone dies.

My heartmind explored that during life the connection is there albeit deeper and less accessible; beyond thought, suffering, behaviour, perceptions and experiences that can create an armour so difficult to penetrate. How do we sense the energy of that which is “infinity, eternally” that exists beyond our beliefs? What is the aliveness that is constantly in the background of our existence? What is the aliveness sometimes sensed more potently after death of a loved one? Beyond the prison of beliefs is infinity, eternally… love.

Tara shared this verse from Rumi…

I am water. I am the thorn

that catches someone’s clothing…

There’s nothing to believe.

Only when I quit believing in myself

did I come into this beauty…

Day and night I guarded the pearl of my soul.

Now in this ocean of pearling currents,

I’ve lost track of which was mine.

Watch Beyond the Prison of Beliefs with Tara Brach here:

Building bridges over oceans: A bridge to nowhere

A bridge is mostly thought of as a structure that facilitates or supports passage and joining between two places. This broad definition is relevant in music, dentistry, architecture, and in theoretical constructs.

As I contemplated the way forward on New Year’s Eve 2015 and reflected on the past, I was struck with a vision of trying to build a bridge over a vast ocean where there was no other side perceivable to which the bridge could join land: A bridge to no-where. I realised this is a pattern I have in relationships which is a fruitless endeavour. The nature of a bridge generally is it must lead somewhere and is often supported by a minimum of two sides to enable the bridging of a gap. Bridge building in relationships can only be supported by two sides, and often other supports, willing to be present; I see the bridge as being the relationship itself. If there is only one participant then there is nothing to support the relationship sitting in between.

To add another layer I realize my greatest peace and harmony in life comes not from adding something to life, but instead, letting go of something. I cannot build a bridge by myself so my realization is to let go trying until the other ocean shore comes into view; perhaps someone constructing support from the other side. In some desired relationships, perhaps with family, this is something that may never happen.

Along with this realization is a reminder of a mantra that is magic to my ears, my heart… the Serenity Prayer.

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.”

Life is filled with bridges – we are in relationship with everything we contact. These existing bridges are the structures I can care for and provide regular attention and maintenance to – The courage to change the things I can. I can be open to building new bridges when the opportunities arise. I can also notice when bridge building would be an impossible feat at the time – Accepting the things I cannot change.

So my letting go as I embark on the adventure that is 2016 is letting go of bridges to no-where, and focusing on useful constructions that safely serve all who step onto the bridge of relationship: Bridges to now-here… The wisdom to know the difference.