e-volved living

Of all the people in the world to subject to major multiple changes, I, taurus the bull (fixed earth sign who only really thrives when life is calm, consistent, and comfortable), am one of the worst. After 4 years of frequent moving, and living in temporary spaces, with only shallow or no roots in place, I am deeply longing for that solid foundation so I (we) can relax and begin focusing on other, more interesting and fun, stuff.

So, putting a plan in place for that, along with building 2 new websites, and working on several film/video projects, is why I have not been regularly writing here.  Moving forward, my writing energy will be channeled into the new sites, so see you there soon!

The messages I need to hear, in order to move forward in life, making progress and having fun, come to me from all directions.   This is from Evelyn C. Rysdy’s ‘Modern Shamanic Living’ column in Inner Tapestry magazine.

Changing one’s life is a warrior’s journey. It is a series of choices that you make each day, in every moment that will eventually reveal your desired results—often in an unexpected form. In making those choices, you are living your new vision of yourself right now! Let go of how and when the desired results will manifest. This is called “letting go of outcome.

The whole column is great, but this passage particularly resonated because it covers so many predominant themes in my life: Change; Journey; Choice; In-the-Moment; Gradual Revelation; Letting Go/Surrendering Attachment to Results.

And then:  Patience; Trust; Gratitude; and Being Outside.  Patience is a biggie for me and so worthwhile, because without it we are frequently frustrated and that’s not a happy way to be.  By trusting that life is unfolding and evolving just as it should be, we can relax and be patient.  In order to trust, we have to let go of our belief that we have it all figured out and know just what we need (ego.)  Being grateful for what we are, and have, now, shifts our focus from worrying about outcomes to fully experiencing the process.  And getting outside and moving around gets our blood and energy flowing and does great things for clarity of mind and vision.

When you feel the tugs of disappointment because something that you are focused upon hasn’t happened, this “mantra” of mine may be helpful! “I trust that (Insert your Divine desire here) is already manifesting in ways that I can’t yet see.” This is a way to move through the emotional turbulence that anger; jealousy, impatience and disappointment create. Remember with compassion that these feelings are old habits and usually reveal another layer of inner landscape work that needs to be attended to. Feel them, acknowledge what they are showing you about your perceptions, and then transmute them by attending to your gratitude practice. If possible, also get yourself outside. Practicing gratitude while outside in the natural world, we more easily “reset” ourselves to the harmonious vibrations of creation.

And these central themes: Focus; Intention; Manifestation; The Path.  Getting back to the moment/the process, and trusting it, we are able to remember that the universe works in mysterious ways.

Once you are “reset” by gratitude, refocus your intentions and make sure you are focused on the feelings that your desired outcome is already manifested. These feelings are critical as they can generate a result that provides an unexpected path toward the desired reality. Remember, the spirits of All That Is (and your own divine self) may have something in mind even more glorious than your mind can imagine, so always focus on simply feeling it in this present moment.

Yes, that mystery can be frustrating, confusing, and difficult, but it can also be magical, if we let it.

I thank Evelyn for this wisdom, and Baron Baptiste for suggesting we be warriors instead of worriers.

I’ve been reading the horoscopes of Rob Brezsny for probably 13+ years now, having first discovered them in one of the San Francisco free weekly papers. The name “Free Will Astrology” says a lot because Rob’s guidance is all about recognizing the messages the Universe is constantly presenting to us. Our freedom comes from the choices we have about what to do with the information (if we are awake enough to first recognize it.) When we align our energy with the flow and direction of the Universe, life feels good, less effort is required, stuff falls into place, and magic happens. That is how we use our personal power, and the guidance and support that’s always available to us, to create the life we want, and Rob’s horoscopes are great source of food for thought, inspiration for creation, and humor for keeping it light. And, in a world gone seemingly mad, his book full of ideas and exercises will reward you for your efforts.

So, last week the Gemini horoscope (I’m on the cusp) offered this:

“The more you do what you want,” says Santa Fe artist Erika Wanenmacher, “the more magic happens.”

Erika makes really cool, diverse, unique compositions from objects she finds while walking around and, more and more, that’s a favorite form of art for me. I spent quite a bit of time on her site, thoroughly enjoying her descriptions of how creative material comes to us. The trick is we have to be paying attention and we have to acknowledge its potential. As happens frequently, Free Will Astrology brought me to a new source of inspiration (her creative process, and the results.) And, interestingly, more talk of magic was there. This is from the Ditch Witch section:

“Magic can be defined as the art of changing consciousness at will. Will is the deliberate, organized direction of intent toward a goal. Will works in partnership with imagination. So, magic and spells work when clear intent is focused by will and imagination.”

I think that’s the best definition of magic I’ve ever heard and am going to begin thinking of my focused intent as full of magic potential!

And, this is apparently an ongoing theme. Excerpt from Taurus this week:

You Tauruses are in a phase when the hidden workings of things will be shown to you — the mysterious magic that’s always bubbling below the surface but that is usually not visible.

More revelations are coming my way, apparently, so I’d better pay attention!

And from Gemini this week:

The week ahead will be a ripe time to pull off magic reversals… I’m confident, Gemini, that you’ll be able to discover treasure hidden in the trash…

Treasure from Trash – we were just talking about that!

Hmmm…as my good friend K replied:

In hocus pocus circles, we say that something coming into your consciousness three times is a direct message…i do believe that makes three times in just today that magick has made itself known to you…listening…..?

What’s the theme for you right now? Are you listening? Are you looking?

President Obama,

I voted for you and was thrilled beyond words, like so many others, that you were elected.  I know you inherited a huge mess and expected it to get worse before better and be very difficult and time consuming to clean up.  Both my husband and I have been without steady work the entire year and I have remained patient and supportive as you began the clean up process.  But, the bailouts to the financial and auto industries just didn’t seem like good ideas, despite my trust in you.  What really kills me about the financial melt down is that your administration gave the biggest institutions billions and the thanks we the consumer got was higher interest rates, less access to credit, and a bunch of other things that make it Harder for us to break even, let alone build wealth.  And now I hear you have decided to send a lot more troops to Afghanistan.  I am starting to lose faith in your course, and that is depressing to even consider, because so many (millions) of us, put so much faith in the hope and change you represented.  What happened? I find it hard to believe, with our own country still in such rough shape, that there is any valid argument for putting more of OUR time/energy/money into fighting. Can you explain the truth to me, instead of the words the military machine seems to be putting in your mouth?

Sincerely,

Dorothy LaRue

As we hurtle towards the final month of another crazy year – for individuals, our country, and this planet – the path for team Foust/LaRue continues to be a twisty turny, sometimes bumpy ride where there are ugly patches, then beautiful vistas, then just the grind of the drive, and the challenge of not knowing when or how we’ll reach our destination, or even exactly where it will be (that’s a biggie, because our metaphoric tires are worn and our metaphoric car needs to rest and be lovingly garaged and serviced.)  I do know that this moment is where it’s at – where I may fully experience the richness of existence and create all that will be – and I know I have the power to create a beautiful life, and share all the gifts I am given.

So, that’s what I’m shooting for.

I feel like a fish out of water a lot of the time, but I acknowledge that I’m also the one who jumped out of the bowl/river/lake/ocean to flap around in discomfort while figuring out a way back into the water.

I am grateful for the knowledge that I have the power to jump out and jump back in. That power is how we create our life, if we know we have it, learn how to use it, and practice, practice, practice.

I am also grateful for the awareness that I am either swimming in the water or floundering around out of it. Being fully present in that awareness is how we experience life to the fullest, learn about our inner and outer realities, and access the infinite guidance of the universe, so that we can spend less time floundering, or swimming upstream, and more time going with the flow. Going with the flow does not mean an absence of effort; swimming is still hard work and there will inevitably be dangerous currents, snags, diversions, steep drops, and predators to deal with. That’s why it’s so great to minimize unnecessary effort and build up strength, energy, and awareness so we’re prepared to meet those challenges with the fierce grace of a mighty fish.

Exercise for evolving:

“I embrace the present”…silently, while breathing in DEEPLY. and fully, through nose

“I create the future”…silently, while continuing to breathe in and letting the breath circulate through your body

“I release the past”…silently, while breathing out DEEPLY, and fully, through widely opened mouth

Use your body to move the energy:

Sit with legs outstretched and hands resting at sides; raise hands out sideways, then above head, then reach out in front of you and stretch forward, while breathing in (EMBRACE and CREATE); lower hands to touch feet, and head towards legs, while breathing out (RELEASE); cycle through as much as desired

OR

Stand with legs slightly bent and apart but firmly planted and hands resting at sides; raise hands out sideways, then above head, stretching upwards, while breathing in (EMBRACE and CREATE); lower hands in front, then towards floor with head, neck and shoulders hanging loosely and breathing out (RELEASE); cycle through as much as desired

My body, mind, and spirit are strong, clear, and vibrant.

My energy flows freely.

I recognize and release negative energy and cultivate and share positive energy.

I am fully present and connected to the wisdom, guidance, support, and blessings of the Universe

My life flows in harmony with the Universe and I am open to its infinite abundance.

I am actively creating the life I desire through my clear thoughts and visions and my focused intentions and actions.

I am committed to learning, growing, sharing, and serving.

I am supremely confident in myself and my power to be successful  and happy.

I believe in the Universe as my source and co-creator.

I am grateful for all of it.

I like this Bill Harris’ writings and I think his message here is one of the true keys to living happily as a human being.

A couple of concepts he mentions, which are recurring themes in my life: the beauty of the rainbow is in gazing up at whatever sliver of it you are lucky enough to see, not in trying to find the pot of gold; and, as Dorothy found out, seeking and grasping for what we think is the perfect reality (Oz) is just illusion distracting us from the real reality, the only thing that really matters, the fully experiencing of the here and now of this moment.

I like that he acknowledges that on this plane of material reality it impossible to escape cause and effect and impermanence so there is no point in trying. It is also impossible to stay detached and not strive. We are human. The difference, though, is that we can do it all with AWARENESS. That’s the key that opens every door and we all have one. It’s no secret, it just requires a lifetime of learning, and trying, and practicing, and being open and present. The more I do all that, the more I get out of my own way, the more it all makes sense and the more worthwhile I realize it is.

In the process of multiple, concurrent changes to the core foundational elements of this life.  Not a lot of time to reflect and write about it.  That will happen “soon enough”, as J has been reminding me is the case with many aspects of life.

My stack of library books was too ambitious for our summer in MI.  One I had to return, but very much want to read (and just ordered) is The Widening Stream: The Seven Stages Of Creativity.

So, on the topic of sharing, I wanted to share a quote from it, which has reminded me that all I am learning is not meant to be kept to myself, but rather offered to the world around me for the greater good.  It is also worth noting, that through this giving, insights evolve and advance, as life is meant to.  I see it as a joyful opportunity to give back.

The alarming fact is that any realization of depth carries a terrible burden: Those who are allowed to see are simultaneously saddled with the obligation to communicate that vision in no uncertain terms: that is the bargain.  You were allowed to see the truth under the agreement that you would communicate it to others…And, therefore, if you have seen, you simply must speak out.  Speak with compassion, or speak out with angry wisdom, or speak out with skillful means, but speak out you must.

-Ken Wilber, One Taste