Guiding Thought
Do we know how beautiful we are? Do we have any idea what Beauty created us, what Beauty adorns us, what Beauty permeates and surrounds us? Do we know all Beauty is a gift of Love, leading us to Itself?
Reflection / Contemplation
Today it is all about “Staying Big”. I had lots of things to say, and even wrote a bit before heading off to an all-day continuing education class (annual, as required by my licensing body). Now, all that has changed.
A couple of years ago I participated in a 6-week program on Contemplative Dialogue, hosted by a local church, and offered through a local Peace and Justice institute. The idea was to practice deep listening, especially with those whom you had strong philosophical, political, or theological differences. Even though most of us were all coming from the same ideological place, the experience was profound nonetheless.
Even more profound was the voice I heard during a group meditation (we began each session with 5 minutes of silence). It was my dad’s voice telling me to “Stay Big”. At that time he had been dead for over 35 years and my conversations with him had been rather one sided – me doing the talking. And here he was loud and clear, reminding me to stay on the edge of pushing boundaries, as I often describe myself.
My comfort zone in “Staying Big” is in the mental realm, ideas and such. Today I got the opportunity to practice “Staying Big” in the realm of the unconscious as it is revealed through body work. Right off the bat, I was an exchange partner with the primary facilitator of the training. No opportunity to hide behind my mental gymnastics; no fooling as to what my heart and body was holding on to. No opportunity to hide under wise and kind hands. As the facilitator said, “Tension in the body is fear”. And I was holding on to a lot of tension in both shoulders. Oh, shit! I am found out.
But the lovely thing was that all throughout the day, this facilitator made frequent use of the words, Beauty and Love (kind of timely or synchronistic, wouldn’t you say), not only in regards to the process of the work, but in the bodies themselves, we come in contact through the work. He reminded us that before we even engage another’s body, we have to engage our own with as much kindness, love and relaxation as possible, so that we can be a conduit and container for the Beautiful work to follow. Self-kindness is as essential as showing it.
What a doorway to experience Unconditional Love and an opportunity to Stay Big on all levels!
Guest Contributor Lita Artis
Journey of Beauty is now available as a free book.
You no longer need to wait for the Guiding Thoughts to be posted here daily–you may move at your own pace. This link will take you to the document in Dropbox; you may download it from there.
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Here is the schedule:
Apr 18 Preliminary day Introduction: Why A Journey of Beauty (02.10.0)
Apr 19 Preliminary day Commitment and Dedication (02.10.00)
Apr 20 – 29 Days 01-10 Round One (02.10.01-10)
Apr 30 – May 9 Days 11-20 Round Two (02.10.11-20)
May 10 – 19 Days 21-30 Round Three (02.10.21-30)
May 20 – 29 Days 31-40 Round Four (02.10.31-40)
May 30 – June 8 Reflection days Gently care, de-fuse, and write one day of reflection on the Journey (02.10.41)
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