THIS IS MY LIFE
Saturday morning, 10/6/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Hi, everyone ~
I�m in Santa Fe. Now that the suspense is over, I�ll start with Friday morning.
I began having waves of feeling again as I left Farmington, headed for SF. Sadness and fear were following one after the other. I just kept honoring them, but also sticking with my mantra: so what? And I kept driving.
Part of the time I was driving through Northern NM, I didn�t recall having been on that particular highway before. Then suddenly I came to a spot that was familiar, and I knew that I had been there. It�s interesting to me how much of the road and scenery I had forgotten. It�s even more interesting how a spot that wasn�t all that remarkable brought back memories. Does anyone have an explanation for that?
I drove past Ghost Ranch (those of you who were around then may remember that I spent a night there in 1997) and through Abiquiu (also passed through there in �97). Those are 2 meaningful places to me. I�ll return. I didn�t see Georgia O�Keeffe�s home in Abiquiu and want to do that next time.
Then, again for the record, I entered Santa Fe at 2:48 pm MST. There was no celestial music, no tremendous body experiences, no voices from God validating me. It almost felt anti-climactic.
I moved right into action and got a mailing address at Mailboxes, Etc. I chose the less convenient one because I like the address better. A bank account and place to live are high priority for my next steps, though I did already look up my U.S. Senators and Congressperson and put them in my address book, which probably doesn�t sound all that important to most people.
I learned (remembered) something very quickly about high altitude weather. (Do you all know that Santa Fe is 7000 feet elevation?) During the day yesterday I was very comfortable wearing a T-shirt. Then I took a nap before dinner, and it turned dark. When I stepped outside, it was cold. I put on both a sweater and a jacket and was fine that way. The range in temperatures here is often as much as 40 degrees in a day.
I went to one of my favorite restaurants from 4 years ago for dinner. It�s called Tortilla Flats, in case any of you knows it, and it serves Southwestern food. In the menu is a statement something like �We aren�t responsible if the chiles are too hot for you.� I had forgotten that about SF, too: hot chiles. (Do you know that chili is a misspelling?) I ate the salsa anyway and ended up with my mouth burning.
On my way to the restaurant, I was thinking about how noticing and being interested in women had been such an important part of my trip in �97 and how I�d hardly noticed them this time. I wondered what that was all about. Well, I walked into the restaurant, and there were 3 women there who I was very attracted to, ranging from probably mid-20s to probably late-40s. I guess I just wasn�t paying attention.
Another interesting bit of synchronicity: 4 years ago I went to Tortilla Flats I think 4 or 5 times because I liked my waitress so much (and was attracted to her, but she was too young for me). I was really disappointed the last time I was there that she had left to go back to college. This time, same thing, different waitress. I was attracted to her, she�s probably too young for me, and I like her a lot. I appreciate waitresses that are so friendly and kind that I want to go back to the restaurant just to have them wait on me again. It reminds me of a friend of mine quite a few years ago who called her waitressing her ministry. Her job, she said, was to touch the hearts of the people she waited on, and while she was doing that she also took their orders and brought them food.
Just want to acknowledge October 5 and 7 as important birthdays. Spirit is making that stand out for me to mention. 10/7 is my niece Catherine�s birthday and also Wendy�s � she�s one of the women I�ve loved most (wildly, passionately, ecstatically � even though it was only a few-day relationship and never sexual; I still feel that way about her when I remember her). 10/5 is Catherine�s daughter Caitlin�s birthday. I have lots of family birthdays in October, come to think of it. Another niece (Ann) has hers the 12th, and one of Julie�s (she�s my 3rd niece) daughters (Emily) has hers the 17th. There could be more. I�ve lost track of all of my niece�s kids� birthdates. (Could I have them all again, Carol? That�s my sister, for those of you who don�t know.)
Got to get out looking for a place to live. Hold the intention with me, will you? My prayer is, as always, that God�s will be done in my life, whatever that may be. I have faith that however it turns out is wonderful and for the highest.
Do you know the story about the king who went hunting with his eternally optimistic court jester? Jeff tells that one on the tape I�ve been listening to as an illustration of how there�s always an advantage within every disadvantage. If I hear from anyone wanting to know the story, I�ll tell it.
Onward!
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don�t already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
[If you�d like to read the archives of my letters and/or holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife/messages.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what�s happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You�re welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don�t use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what�s going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That�s an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you�re interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes � to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Saturday, October 06, 2001
Friday, October 05, 2001
THIS IS MY LIFE
Thursday, 10/4/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Farmington, NM (in the NW corner of the state)
Hi, all of you ~
For the record, I crossed into New Mexico at 6:42 pm MST north of Shiprock, on the Navajo Reservation. The sky was totally clear. It was in the upper 70s. The sun was 7 minutes shy of setting behind a mountain. New Mexico did not seem to notice that I had arrived.
I had thought that I�d go to Durango, CO, and visit an e-mail friend on the way and not get to NM until tomorrow. But she decided to go down to Ojo Caliente for a few days. So, I shifted directions. I�ll visit Durango some other time. It isn�t that far from Santa Fe.
By the way, for those of you who caught my mistake yesterday, I will report that I realized that BYU is in Provo, not in Ogden. I knew that. I just read the Motel 6 book incorrectly and went temporarily unconscious.
It�s fascinating to me noticing how I adapt to changes. For example, when I was leaving Issaquah on Tuesday, driving 60 mph seemed fast enough to me. By Wednesday afternoon, I was cruising along the freeway at between 75 and 80 mph and occasionally finding myself slipping up to 85 when I wasn�t paying attention. The important thing is that by then, 80 mph didn�t seem any faster to me than 60 mph had seemed just the day before. Another metaphor for living. When I step up to what�s mine to do, it quickly comes to feel normal to me, even though it�s way beyond what I had been doing only a short time before. Thank God for adaptation.
While I�ve been driving I�ve been alternating between silence (or, more accurately, the natural sounds of driving), whatever radio station I can find that plays music I like, and listening to some of the tapes I brought with me. I mentioned before that I�ve been listening to Jeff Alexander and Sunday of the last Leap of Faith. I�ve also been listening to Stephen and Ondrea Levine�s tape series on Loving and Being Loved. That�s another reflection of my trip 4 years ago. I listened to that same series of tapes then. I won�t speculate about what that might signify. (I can hear someone saying, �Oh, why not now? You do it most of the time.�)
This morning, shortly after I left Ogden, just before I got to Salt Lake City, I found tears welling up in my eyes again. The thought that arose with them was that I was on my way home. For those of you who�ve had the experience of going into a church and feeling like you�ve come home (a common experience for people who attend Unity and Religious Science churches for the first time), it�s a lot like that. Santa Fe feels like home to me. That�s something above and beyond liking it. It feels like natural knowing.
Then, as I turned off I-70 and headed south toward Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, I felt it again. I had arrived in my territory. I felt alive and centered. I felt my natural, authentic power. I had wondered if it would happen this time. That was the same place I felt it 4 years ago. I especially felt a rush as I passed the entrance to Arches N.P. That is, for some reason, an important place for me. I will return to explore that meaning one day when I can do so at more length.
I�ve heard 2 songs on the radio that have been meaningful to me and that I�d like to put on my list for using in God Only Knows What. Unfortunately, I don�t know the title or artist of either of them. Can anyone help? Both are country songs. One is something about listening for instructions and then putting one foot in front of the other. (You can�t imagine why I�d have liked that one, can you?) That�s just a very vague memory of it. I didn�t write anything down. The other may be called �Angels in Waiting.� That was a line that repeated frequently, anyway. Men sang both of them. What are those songs and artists?
On the tape of Jeff, he said something that meant a lot to me. He told people to look at the stars and remember the people they�d shared the Leap with. I�m extending that. I look at the stars, and I remember all the people who mean so much to me: my Invitation mates, all Leap grads, my Awakening group mates, my Unity family, and all the other friends back in the Seattle area or wherever they may be. I look at the stars, and I remember you. I look at the stars, and I feel supported. I look at the stars, and I feel drawn back to center, back to my natural power. I look at the stars, and I know I�m not alone.
And the good news is that there are 300 days of sunshine in Santa Fe. That means there will be lots of nights with stars visible.
I hope that all of you who have been part of my life have felt half as blessed by knowing me as I have by knowing you.
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don�t already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
[If you�d like to read the archives of my letters and/or holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife/messages.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what�s happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You�re welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don�t use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what�s going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That�s an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you�re interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes � to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thursday, 10/4/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Farmington, NM (in the NW corner of the state)
Hi, all of you ~
For the record, I crossed into New Mexico at 6:42 pm MST north of Shiprock, on the Navajo Reservation. The sky was totally clear. It was in the upper 70s. The sun was 7 minutes shy of setting behind a mountain. New Mexico did not seem to notice that I had arrived.
I had thought that I�d go to Durango, CO, and visit an e-mail friend on the way and not get to NM until tomorrow. But she decided to go down to Ojo Caliente for a few days. So, I shifted directions. I�ll visit Durango some other time. It isn�t that far from Santa Fe.
By the way, for those of you who caught my mistake yesterday, I will report that I realized that BYU is in Provo, not in Ogden. I knew that. I just read the Motel 6 book incorrectly and went temporarily unconscious.
It�s fascinating to me noticing how I adapt to changes. For example, when I was leaving Issaquah on Tuesday, driving 60 mph seemed fast enough to me. By Wednesday afternoon, I was cruising along the freeway at between 75 and 80 mph and occasionally finding myself slipping up to 85 when I wasn�t paying attention. The important thing is that by then, 80 mph didn�t seem any faster to me than 60 mph had seemed just the day before. Another metaphor for living. When I step up to what�s mine to do, it quickly comes to feel normal to me, even though it�s way beyond what I had been doing only a short time before. Thank God for adaptation.
While I�ve been driving I�ve been alternating between silence (or, more accurately, the natural sounds of driving), whatever radio station I can find that plays music I like, and listening to some of the tapes I brought with me. I mentioned before that I�ve been listening to Jeff Alexander and Sunday of the last Leap of Faith. I�ve also been listening to Stephen and Ondrea Levine�s tape series on Loving and Being Loved. That�s another reflection of my trip 4 years ago. I listened to that same series of tapes then. I won�t speculate about what that might signify. (I can hear someone saying, �Oh, why not now? You do it most of the time.�)
This morning, shortly after I left Ogden, just before I got to Salt Lake City, I found tears welling up in my eyes again. The thought that arose with them was that I was on my way home. For those of you who�ve had the experience of going into a church and feeling like you�ve come home (a common experience for people who attend Unity and Religious Science churches for the first time), it�s a lot like that. Santa Fe feels like home to me. That�s something above and beyond liking it. It feels like natural knowing.
Then, as I turned off I-70 and headed south toward Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, I felt it again. I had arrived in my territory. I felt alive and centered. I felt my natural, authentic power. I had wondered if it would happen this time. That was the same place I felt it 4 years ago. I especially felt a rush as I passed the entrance to Arches N.P. That is, for some reason, an important place for me. I will return to explore that meaning one day when I can do so at more length.
I�ve heard 2 songs on the radio that have been meaningful to me and that I�d like to put on my list for using in God Only Knows What. Unfortunately, I don�t know the title or artist of either of them. Can anyone help? Both are country songs. One is something about listening for instructions and then putting one foot in front of the other. (You can�t imagine why I�d have liked that one, can you?) That�s just a very vague memory of it. I didn�t write anything down. The other may be called �Angels in Waiting.� That was a line that repeated frequently, anyway. Men sang both of them. What are those songs and artists?
On the tape of Jeff, he said something that meant a lot to me. He told people to look at the stars and remember the people they�d shared the Leap with. I�m extending that. I look at the stars, and I remember all the people who mean so much to me: my Invitation mates, all Leap grads, my Awakening group mates, my Unity family, and all the other friends back in the Seattle area or wherever they may be. I look at the stars, and I remember you. I look at the stars, and I feel supported. I look at the stars, and I feel drawn back to center, back to my natural power. I look at the stars, and I know I�m not alone.
And the good news is that there are 300 days of sunshine in Santa Fe. That means there will be lots of nights with stars visible.
I hope that all of you who have been part of my life have felt half as blessed by knowing me as I have by knowing you.
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don�t already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
[If you�d like to read the archives of my letters and/or holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife/messages.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what�s happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You�re welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don�t use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what�s going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That�s an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you�re interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes � to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thursday, October 04, 2001
THIS IS MY LIFE
Wednesday, 10/3/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Ogden, UT (Home of Weber State University, so the sign says. What about BYU?)
Hi, all ~
I woke up this morning with an idea planted in my mind for another project to do in Northern New Mexico. It didn�t feel like �my idea� at all. If there isn�t such a thing (and I�m imagining there isn�t, or else I wouldn�t have been given the idea), I�m going to start an e-mail prayer team with participants from all the New Thought and other compatible spiritual groups between Albuquerque and Taos. It seems like something I can easily do to be of service and also like something I�ve been preparing to do for several years.
Another idea came later in the day. This one could even be an online project. I�m thinking of doing Conscientious Objector consulting for young men whose spiritual beliefs are incompatible with participation in the military. I have lots of personal experience with it from my own youth, and my own spiritual beliefs support conscientious objection. I know that having a relationship with a spiritual consultant is one of the things they (at least) used to look for in determining a young man�s seriousness.
It�s starting. As I�ve made my steps toward Santa Fe, Spirit has replied with instructions about my mission there.
Ideas for church lessons flowed through me today. I ended up with a list of them. Now I just need to get the opportunities to deliver them.
I had a few small waves of grieving and self-doubt, but mostly I was just on my way to my destiny today.
I�ve heard a rumor (that I haven�t checked out) that a black list of songs about peace has gone out to DJs with a �suggestion� that they not be played. Journalists are being fired (confirmed) for dissenting opinions (on both sides of the President�s position). Bill Maher is getting tremendous flack for an opinion that I agree with. This all concerns me deeply. Where is America�s famed freedom of speech?
What an interesting time we�re living in.
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don�t already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
[If you�d like to read the archives of my letters and/or holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife/messages.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what�s happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You�re welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don�t use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what�s going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That�s an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you�re interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes � to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wednesday, 10/3/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Ogden, UT (Home of Weber State University, so the sign says. What about BYU?)
Hi, all ~
I woke up this morning with an idea planted in my mind for another project to do in Northern New Mexico. It didn�t feel like �my idea� at all. If there isn�t such a thing (and I�m imagining there isn�t, or else I wouldn�t have been given the idea), I�m going to start an e-mail prayer team with participants from all the New Thought and other compatible spiritual groups between Albuquerque and Taos. It seems like something I can easily do to be of service and also like something I�ve been preparing to do for several years.
Another idea came later in the day. This one could even be an online project. I�m thinking of doing Conscientious Objector consulting for young men whose spiritual beliefs are incompatible with participation in the military. I have lots of personal experience with it from my own youth, and my own spiritual beliefs support conscientious objection. I know that having a relationship with a spiritual consultant is one of the things they (at least) used to look for in determining a young man�s seriousness.
It�s starting. As I�ve made my steps toward Santa Fe, Spirit has replied with instructions about my mission there.
Ideas for church lessons flowed through me today. I ended up with a list of them. Now I just need to get the opportunities to deliver them.
I had a few small waves of grieving and self-doubt, but mostly I was just on my way to my destiny today.
I�ve heard a rumor (that I haven�t checked out) that a black list of songs about peace has gone out to DJs with a �suggestion� that they not be played. Journalists are being fired (confirmed) for dissenting opinions (on both sides of the President�s position). Bill Maher is getting tremendous flack for an opinion that I agree with. This all concerns me deeply. Where is America�s famed freedom of speech?
What an interesting time we�re living in.
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don�t already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
[If you�d like to read the archives of my letters and/or holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife/messages.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what�s happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You�re welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don�t use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what�s going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That�s an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you�re interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes � to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Wednesday, October 03, 2001
THIS IS MY LIFE
Monday, 10/2/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Pendleton, OR (sounds like a place where everyone should be wearing wool shirts or wrapped in wool blankets, doesn't it? It isn't.)
Hi, you who makes a difference ~
You do, you know. Don�t you?
Today was the day. My car was packed. I just had to make a short stop at Costco and then I�d be off and driving.
Well, my short stop at Costco turned into a stop at Costco, a stop at my bank, and then another stop at Costco. Yes, I found some important things (like, for example, a hooded raincoat, which I�ve never had despite all the Seattle rain, and a case of oil for my car, which leaks a bit of it), but looking at it with a little perspective, I have to acknowledge that it took me a lot longer than it needed to. I even found myself stopping to look at digital cameras, software, and other things that I wasn�t going to buy today.
Do you suppose I was expressing some resistance (which is, of course, just another name for fear)?
Then, finally, at 12:30 I pulled out onto I-90 and headed east, off into the unknown, off into the face of whatever was to come, off into my destiny. In Leap of Faith terms, I stepped onto the mat.
And nearly immediately I was slammed with waves of sadness. I began thinking of the people I�m leaving, and I began missing them already. �What was I doing,� I thought. So, what did I do about it? I noticed the feelings, and I replied to them with my mantra: �So what?� Sadness, grieving will not run my life. I follow Spirit without hesitation, no matter what I�m feeling.
But I did begin to feel some discouragement and some doubt. So, I asked Spirit for some encouragement, for a sign of some sort. Of course, I expected a New Mexico license plate. I�ve gotten so many of them in this kind of circumstance. But, no, no New Mexico license plate appeared.
Then, somehow, the song on the radio penetrated the fog in my consciousness. There was Lee Ann Womack singing, �When the time comes to sit it out or dance, I hope you�ll dance.� Tears are coming to my eyes now remembering it. I felt Spirit speaking to me through that song. But, even more than that, I felt all the people who are my real friends, all the people who support me in my highest expression, speaking to me through that song. I could sit it out, or I could dance. I chose to dance.
Spirit apparently decided I needed some reinforcement of the point. A commercial came on the radio for Appelby�s Restaurants. They were advertising Southwest this and Southwest that. It sounded like a drum beat in my consciousness: Southwest, Southwest, Southwest. I got it.
Suddenly, shortly before I reached the pass (Snoqualmie Pass, for the information of those of you unfamiliar with the Puget Sound area), something opened up in my chest and shoulders. I could feel the energy opening me, straightening me, raising me. I knew I was in alignment with Spirit, and I was on track with my mission.
As I drove over the pass and my favorite radio station (K-Warm, FM 106.9) faded out (yes, I experienced that as a symbolic message), I put in a tape that I knew would further encourage me. I couldn�t think of anything better to listen to than Jeff Alexander and the tapes from Sunday of the last Leap of Faith. I was right. No matter what he said, I heard in my mind�s ear one resounding thing: �Will you take this leap of faith?� followed by more than a hundred voices, in unison, from the depths of their hearts, shouting, �YES!�
YES! I will take this leap of faith. So what that my ego-mind throws up all kinds of roadblocks? So what that I have all kinds of unpleasant feelings? So what that it doesn�t seem reasonable? YES! I will take this leap of faith. YES! I WILL take this leap of faith.
And so I drove on.
At the summit I noticed that Snoqualmie Pass, what here in the NW I consider a high point in the mountains, is less than � as high as the elevation of Santa Fe, let alone of the mountains around it. Further symbolism. That which I�ve done, that which I�ve seen before as the heights, that is nothing compared to that which is to come. I go to meet that which is mine to do. I am being led and supported by Spirit.
By mid-afternoon, I was just on my way. No sadness, no regrets, no holding back. I AM on my way.
It occurs to me that the best workshops for me are ones where I leave home � my familiar environment and familiar routine. And that includes not only The Invitation and that kind of retreat, but also �just� traveling.
I had planned to travel farther this evening than I did. But Spirit intervened. I was inspired to stop. It didn�t seem reasonable to my ego-mind, but I stopped. The thought that came to me was, �I�m not in a race. There�s no deadline for me to meet.�
It feels like d�j� vu to me. I�m staying in the same Motel 6 that I stayed in on the first night of my trip 4 years ago.
Well, it didn�t take long for me to learn why I�d been told to stop (at least the part of it that I know so far). I turned on the TV in my room, and there was a movie on about Martin Luther King and the Montgomery bus boycott. MLK is one of my heroes, and the story of the bus boycott is incredibly inspiring to me. I was being shown a genuine leader, someone who made a huge difference. I was being given a vision to inspire me.
A couple of sentences MLK spoke in the movie (and I�m assuming in real life) really struck a chord in me, especially in the light of current world events. The old guard in Montgomery was putting pressure on the boycotters. There had been bombings and burnings. Some of MLK�s compatriots were angry and wanting to fight back, to retaliate, to get revenge. And he stood up in church and said, �If you want to stone them, stone them with forgiveness. If you want to stone them, stone them with love.� Amen to that.
Spirit, I open myself to your guidance. I dedicate myself to your purpose. I commit myself to your way. Send me where I am to go. Show me what�s mine to do.
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don�t already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
[If you�d like to read the archives of my letters and/or holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife/messages.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what�s happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You�re welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don�t use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what�s going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That�s an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you�re interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes � to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Monday, 10/2/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Pendleton, OR (sounds like a place where everyone should be wearing wool shirts or wrapped in wool blankets, doesn't it? It isn't.)
Hi, you who makes a difference ~
You do, you know. Don�t you?
Today was the day. My car was packed. I just had to make a short stop at Costco and then I�d be off and driving.
Well, my short stop at Costco turned into a stop at Costco, a stop at my bank, and then another stop at Costco. Yes, I found some important things (like, for example, a hooded raincoat, which I�ve never had despite all the Seattle rain, and a case of oil for my car, which leaks a bit of it), but looking at it with a little perspective, I have to acknowledge that it took me a lot longer than it needed to. I even found myself stopping to look at digital cameras, software, and other things that I wasn�t going to buy today.
Do you suppose I was expressing some resistance (which is, of course, just another name for fear)?
Then, finally, at 12:30 I pulled out onto I-90 and headed east, off into the unknown, off into the face of whatever was to come, off into my destiny. In Leap of Faith terms, I stepped onto the mat.
And nearly immediately I was slammed with waves of sadness. I began thinking of the people I�m leaving, and I began missing them already. �What was I doing,� I thought. So, what did I do about it? I noticed the feelings, and I replied to them with my mantra: �So what?� Sadness, grieving will not run my life. I follow Spirit without hesitation, no matter what I�m feeling.
But I did begin to feel some discouragement and some doubt. So, I asked Spirit for some encouragement, for a sign of some sort. Of course, I expected a New Mexico license plate. I�ve gotten so many of them in this kind of circumstance. But, no, no New Mexico license plate appeared.
Then, somehow, the song on the radio penetrated the fog in my consciousness. There was Lee Ann Womack singing, �When the time comes to sit it out or dance, I hope you�ll dance.� Tears are coming to my eyes now remembering it. I felt Spirit speaking to me through that song. But, even more than that, I felt all the people who are my real friends, all the people who support me in my highest expression, speaking to me through that song. I could sit it out, or I could dance. I chose to dance.
Spirit apparently decided I needed some reinforcement of the point. A commercial came on the radio for Appelby�s Restaurants. They were advertising Southwest this and Southwest that. It sounded like a drum beat in my consciousness: Southwest, Southwest, Southwest. I got it.
Suddenly, shortly before I reached the pass (Snoqualmie Pass, for the information of those of you unfamiliar with the Puget Sound area), something opened up in my chest and shoulders. I could feel the energy opening me, straightening me, raising me. I knew I was in alignment with Spirit, and I was on track with my mission.
As I drove over the pass and my favorite radio station (K-Warm, FM 106.9) faded out (yes, I experienced that as a symbolic message), I put in a tape that I knew would further encourage me. I couldn�t think of anything better to listen to than Jeff Alexander and the tapes from Sunday of the last Leap of Faith. I was right. No matter what he said, I heard in my mind�s ear one resounding thing: �Will you take this leap of faith?� followed by more than a hundred voices, in unison, from the depths of their hearts, shouting, �YES!�
YES! I will take this leap of faith. So what that my ego-mind throws up all kinds of roadblocks? So what that I have all kinds of unpleasant feelings? So what that it doesn�t seem reasonable? YES! I will take this leap of faith. YES! I WILL take this leap of faith.
And so I drove on.
At the summit I noticed that Snoqualmie Pass, what here in the NW I consider a high point in the mountains, is less than � as high as the elevation of Santa Fe, let alone of the mountains around it. Further symbolism. That which I�ve done, that which I�ve seen before as the heights, that is nothing compared to that which is to come. I go to meet that which is mine to do. I am being led and supported by Spirit.
By mid-afternoon, I was just on my way. No sadness, no regrets, no holding back. I AM on my way.
It occurs to me that the best workshops for me are ones where I leave home � my familiar environment and familiar routine. And that includes not only The Invitation and that kind of retreat, but also �just� traveling.
I had planned to travel farther this evening than I did. But Spirit intervened. I was inspired to stop. It didn�t seem reasonable to my ego-mind, but I stopped. The thought that came to me was, �I�m not in a race. There�s no deadline for me to meet.�
It feels like d�j� vu to me. I�m staying in the same Motel 6 that I stayed in on the first night of my trip 4 years ago.
Well, it didn�t take long for me to learn why I�d been told to stop (at least the part of it that I know so far). I turned on the TV in my room, and there was a movie on about Martin Luther King and the Montgomery bus boycott. MLK is one of my heroes, and the story of the bus boycott is incredibly inspiring to me. I was being shown a genuine leader, someone who made a huge difference. I was being given a vision to inspire me.
A couple of sentences MLK spoke in the movie (and I�m assuming in real life) really struck a chord in me, especially in the light of current world events. The old guard in Montgomery was putting pressure on the boycotters. There had been bombings and burnings. Some of MLK�s compatriots were angry and wanting to fight back, to retaliate, to get revenge. And he stood up in church and said, �If you want to stone them, stone them with forgiveness. If you want to stone them, stone them with love.� Amen to that.
Spirit, I open myself to your guidance. I dedicate myself to your purpose. I commit myself to your way. Send me where I am to go. Show me what�s mine to do.
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don�t already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
[If you�d like to read the archives of my letters and/or holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife/messages.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what�s happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You�re welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don�t use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what�s going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That�s an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you�re interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes � to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunday, September 30, 2001
THIS IS MY LIFE
Sunday, 9/30/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Hi, folks ~
I feel wrung out. So much to do to get ready to leave, so many feelings emerging and demanding attention, pets to take care of, and then more feelings.
I'm having lots of those simultaneous experiences. I've been feeling pretty intense grieving off and on all day, thinking about the people and activities I'll miss here in the Seattle area. It all started with Mary Manin Morrissey's talk this morning on TV. That pulled a plug in me.
It was her first lesson after 9/11. She had been on a cruise in French Polynesia at the time and had experienced an honoring ceremony in Tahiti.
Anyway, her lesson was meaningful, but what really touched me was the end of her talk. A soloist began singing "God Bless America" and on the screen came the photos we've probably all seen of people all around the world mourning and honoring the deceased, one photo about every 10 seconds, with labels telling the country. At the end of a chorus, the singer stopped, and Mary spoke a verse of the song. Then a choir came in and sang the chorus again.
I don't know why this opened me up more than anything else has. Maybe it's because of the way they produced it. Maybe it was because I so respect Mary. Maybe it was just my time. I don't really care why.
So, there I was open, and Ginny called, wanting to see if we could get together before I leave. Then I started grieving about leaving her. Then it spread to the other people I'm leaving and to the Warrior Spirit community and activities.
So, this evening I began to wonder if I'm really supposed to go. I did a Rune draw for information, asking "What do you have to say about my move?" Here's the one I got:
-------------
Sowelu: Wholeness, Life Force, The Sun's Energy
Sowelu stands for wholeness, that which our nature requires. It embodies the impulse toward self-realization and indicates the path you must follow, not from ulterior motives but from the core of your individuality.
Seeking after wholeness is the Spiritual Warrior's quest. And yet what you are striving to become in actuality is what, by nature, you already are. Become conscious of your essence and bring it into form, express it in a creative way. A Rune of great power, making life force available to you, Sowelu marks a time for regeneration down to the cellular level.
Sowelu counsels opening yourself up, letting the light into a part of your life that has been secret, shut away. To accomplish this may call for a profound recognition, for admitting to yourself something that you have long denied.
There is a caution, however, not to give yourself airs. Even in a time of bountiful energy you are required to face and vanquish your refusal to let right action flow through you. Nourish this capacity, for it is a mark of true humility.
Practice the art of doing without doing: Aim yourself truly and then maintain your aim without manipulative effort. Meditate on Christ's words: "I can of mine own self do nothing" (John 5:30). For by our own power we do nothing: Even in loving, it is Love that loves through us. This way of thinking and being integrates new energies and permits us to flow into wholeness, which is the ultimate goal of the Spiritual Warrior.
-------------
Yes, it's time for me to go.
I don't think I'll have everything ready to leave tomorrow. I'm having lunch with Ginny. So I'll be off on Tuesday.
I prepare to leap.
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don't already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what's happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You're welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don't use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARCHIVES OF MY LETTERS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you would like to read the archives of my letters and/or
holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit
the This Is My Life Delphi Forum at
http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what's going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That's an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes - to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunday, 9/30/2001
Copyright (c) 2001, Michael Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or quotation is strictly prohibited without
permission.
Hi, folks ~
I feel wrung out. So much to do to get ready to leave, so many feelings emerging and demanding attention, pets to take care of, and then more feelings.
I'm having lots of those simultaneous experiences. I've been feeling pretty intense grieving off and on all day, thinking about the people and activities I'll miss here in the Seattle area. It all started with Mary Manin Morrissey's talk this morning on TV. That pulled a plug in me.
It was her first lesson after 9/11. She had been on a cruise in French Polynesia at the time and had experienced an honoring ceremony in Tahiti.
Anyway, her lesson was meaningful, but what really touched me was the end of her talk. A soloist began singing "God Bless America" and on the screen came the photos we've probably all seen of people all around the world mourning and honoring the deceased, one photo about every 10 seconds, with labels telling the country. At the end of a chorus, the singer stopped, and Mary spoke a verse of the song. Then a choir came in and sang the chorus again.
I don't know why this opened me up more than anything else has. Maybe it's because of the way they produced it. Maybe it was because I so respect Mary. Maybe it was just my time. I don't really care why.
So, there I was open, and Ginny called, wanting to see if we could get together before I leave. Then I started grieving about leaving her. Then it spread to the other people I'm leaving and to the Warrior Spirit community and activities.
So, this evening I began to wonder if I'm really supposed to go. I did a Rune draw for information, asking "What do you have to say about my move?" Here's the one I got:
-------------
Sowelu: Wholeness, Life Force, The Sun's Energy
Sowelu stands for wholeness, that which our nature requires. It embodies the impulse toward self-realization and indicates the path you must follow, not from ulterior motives but from the core of your individuality.
Seeking after wholeness is the Spiritual Warrior's quest. And yet what you are striving to become in actuality is what, by nature, you already are. Become conscious of your essence and bring it into form, express it in a creative way. A Rune of great power, making life force available to you, Sowelu marks a time for regeneration down to the cellular level.
Sowelu counsels opening yourself up, letting the light into a part of your life that has been secret, shut away. To accomplish this may call for a profound recognition, for admitting to yourself something that you have long denied.
There is a caution, however, not to give yourself airs. Even in a time of bountiful energy you are required to face and vanquish your refusal to let right action flow through you. Nourish this capacity, for it is a mark of true humility.
Practice the art of doing without doing: Aim yourself truly and then maintain your aim without manipulative effort. Meditate on Christ's words: "I can of mine own self do nothing" (John 5:30). For by our own power we do nothing: Even in loving, it is Love that loves through us. This way of thinking and being integrates new energies and permits us to flow into wholeness, which is the ultimate goal of the Spiritual Warrior.
-------------
Yes, it's time for me to go.
I don't think I'll have everything ready to leave tomorrow. I'm having lunch with Ginny. So I'll be off on Tuesday.
I prepare to leap.
Namaste,
Michael
[If you don't already and would like to receive my letters
directly via e-mail, send an e-mail (no message needed) to either
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or
ThisIsMyLife-subscribe@igc.topica.com.]
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THIS IS MY LIFE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Is My Life is my letters to my family, friends, and whoever
else may be interested about whatever is meaningful to me in
my life. I don't guarantee anything about content or frequency.
The letters will be whatever they turn out to be. If you want
the best option available for keeping up with what's happening
with me, though, this is it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COPIES AND FORWARDING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You're welcome to freely redistribute This Is My Life (my
letters) if you think someone might be interested in reading it.
Please don't use any of it for profit, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARCHIVES OF MY LETTERS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you would like to read the archives of my letters and/or
holiday letters and travel reports I've written since 1977, visit
the This Is My Life Delphi Forum at
http://www.delphi.com/ThisIsMyLife.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY COMMUNITY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another excellent way to know what's going on with me is to join
the Heart Song Community e-mail list. That's an e-mail
community that provides opportunity for discussing a variety of
topics and sharing about our personal lives. You can get more
information and join at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongCommunity.
~~~~~~~~~
MY WORK
~~~~~~~~~
If you're interested in my work, I invite you to take a look at
the Heart Song Schedule. That provides information about the
e-zines, classes, workshops, retreats, ministry, web sites, and
other programs offered by the various people and projects of
Heart Song Projects. HSP is an affiliation of people and
projects tied together by shared psychospiritual foundations
and purposes - to contribute to healing, growth, expansion, and
spiritual awakening and to serve Spirit in all life. You can see
the most recent schedules at either
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeartSongSchedule/messages
or http://igc.topica.com/lists/HSSchedule/read.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
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