Adventures on the Journey

Blessing Others as a Spiritual Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:58:00 +0000

“In a realm beyond what the eyes can see, events are conspiring to bring forth Good. Be a willing conduit through which it can flow.” (Marianne Williamson)

I was up early racing to a hair appointment and found myself at 5:30am stopped at the light at the entrance of my subdivision. I looked to my right and was surprised to see a young man waiting on the corner. I wondered what he was doing there at this hour as I imagine he was wondering the same thing about me. Before a series of fearful thoughts had me making an illegal turn onto the main road I wished him well re: whatever circumstances brought him to be standing alone in the dark of morning on the street corner.

Leaving the salon feel rather accomplished at 8:15am I saw another young gentleman walking down the street in an ill-fitting coat, with the gait of someone trying hard to convince anyone watching that he had a place to be going. I sent him a blessing hoping that he would be encountering a warm place to stay or a hot breakfast at some point during the day.

Later on pulling into the gas station I turned to my right where a truck was idling with a delicate young woman at the wheel. She turned when I pulled in and I was startled by how "loud" her facial expression was. It was as if in no uncertain terms it was saying "Get.Me.Out.Of.Here." A young man was approaching the passenger side and I remember thinking, "I hope he is treating her right." He entered the truck and she slowly pulled away- dutifully even- and I sent her blessings to harmonize whatever may have been afoot before, during and after that interaction.

Clearly I did not know any of these people prior to my brief energetic exchange with them. But it has become a spiritual practice for me that whenever something about a person strikes me- even for a moment- to send them some energy so whatever may need to come forth- a healing, an acknowledgment, a brief kiss from the Divine or any number of things- does so in a way that is for their highest and best good.

I am fortunate to have a rather vocal and interesting group of Facebook friends that have come across my path. One of the more memorable discussions initiated was that of a FB friend who was curious about if or when people prayed for others during a given day. It was as if the floodgates opened- a torrent of touching stories filled the screen. Those who sent blessings to any physically-challenged people they saw, another who heard a co-worker crying in the company bathroom and surprised herself by breaking into an impromptu prayer when requested to do so, blessings sent out to anyone who looked like they were having a hard time, and a great deal of folks who simply made it a point to say a quick prayer each and any time they saw a funeral procession or an ambulance.

When we focus amplified vibrational energy- in whatever form it may take- we are being of service. In giving of ourselves we are blessed with a reciprocal expression of what we have offered. Healing personified makes it way to the person/situation in question and ultimately to us. If we think for any length of time of the blessings in our own lives and of how much we have been given, sharing our energy with others confirms and solidifies our awareness of them; and we thank the Universe once again about having more than enough.

How to Let Go of Your Story

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:31:00 +0000

Always ask yourself, in every situation, whether you're just repeating an old pattern ... or stepping up your game. (Marianne Williamson)

Do you have an intricate, well-choreographed explanation for an issue in your life that you can recite in your sleep? Do you ever get tired of hearing yourself complain? Is there anyone bold enough in your experience to inform you that they're tired of hearing your explanations or complaints? :) In a subtle, but insidious way, we create and strengthen an energetic loop with each telling of the "woe is me" scenario du jour where nothing new is produced. If you have any remote interest in changing your circumstances to your liking, this energetic momentum is in complete opposition to your objective. So when it becomes obvious that this pattern is well underway in your experience you have two choices to consider:

1.)Proceed on your present path (i.e.- Operation-Welcome-More-of-the-Same) OR
2.)Drop the matching set of luggage :)

If you are heading towards door #2 even more questions and choices await you- some more self-evident than others.

How does dancing your way out of oppression sound to you? Writing? Drawing? I would confidently hazard a guess that there is some activity out there that resonates with you that can re-direct the orbit of this energetic loop of more of the same- doing its part to re-wire the conditioned response of priming the pump of your own sob story or to otherwise distract your being from this current way of being.

It is the pause between the thought of the story as told and the actual telling that provides a unique opportunity to choose again. To jump in the getaway car and leave your story in the dust so it may ultimately wither on the vine for lack of attention. Hop in. Find your thing and let it go. It's time.

Don't Worship Others Well (Being Your Own Best Advocate)

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:48:00 +0000

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps he hears a different drummer (Thoreau)

It is close to midnight and I am attempting to nurse an irritated throat and soul. A work-related series of snafus exploded one after the other and the initial solution of the table looked like it would involve me twisting into a pretzel to save the sinking ship- again. And when offered this tantalizing offer to resume my traditional and familiar role I said "no thanks" and I feel terrible.

"What's the big deal?" I asked myself. You sure are a wimp for needing a full night's sleep. Here, all you have to is move the start of your workday to 2:00AM/prepare a briefing paper/research the teleconference topic/prepare some mockups/drive the speed of light to conduct your afternoon lecture on Contract Law and swing through your faculty office hours on a wing and a prayer- are you lazy or something? Ungrateful for this professional opportunity?

This anguished loop of thinking went on for several rounds in my mind. The grace of God intervened in the form of a phone call from my sister who in a matter-of-fact tone suggested that as uncomfortable as it may have felt to stand my ground, it boiled down to being my own advocate- a task that no one but me could assume. I was grateful for the listening ear. I still feel somewhat uncomfortable. I even semi-reached back to my colleagues to provide a bit of life raft to help them proceed in my absence (as if the proverbial building would burn down if I didn't keep watch). This hot mug of tea is soothing my throat and warming me to up to the idea of seeing my needs as important. I do hope this process will get easier over time- either by the cranking up of the amp for the drums of my heartbeat or my voice getting louder on my behalf.

Bearing Witness

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:32:00 +0000

When I was in my teens I remember an article in the Atlanta Magazine about wealthy parents bestowing luxury cars on their high school age sons and daughters. It ignited a firestorm of discussion about the propriety of such gifts at such a young age. I remember scanning through the accompanying pictures and noted the bored, almost blase expressions on many of their faces. I don't where the impetus came from, but I vowed that I never wanted to live a life where I did not (or could not) appreciate the gifts in my experience.

The other day I was driving along and I spotted a hawk way high above the trees in the sky- wings outstretched, circling and gliding with ease and grace. Hawks have always been a positive omen for me; symbolizing, among other things, a freedom and a lightness of being I wish to realize in my own earthly experience. I was definitely happy to see it and began to return my gaze and focus to lower level concerns (i.e.- keeping my car firmly on the road) when three more appeared shortly thereafter in quick succession! I was truly astonished-I have never seen such a sight in my life. I tried to articulate how amazing of a sight this actually was. I wasn't quite successful :) My elation then morphed into a mix of frustration and sadness that I couldn't immediately name someone who a.) might care about this observation b.) give additional insight as to what the message was behind this occurrence c.) or see the beauty displayed by these creatures. I mentioned my feelings to a friend of mine a few days later who asked me matter of factly, "Why do you think these hawks flew into your line of vision? They knew you would notice them!"

Was this an example of my continued personal commitment to notice the gifts that come into my awareness? I couldn't be sure. I saw something in those hawks, seemingly deprived by material standards, who demonstrated a priceless value that I hoped to realize in my experience. There was a vitality there that blessed an otherwise normal drive down the road. Was this the gift (or enough of one)?

As 2011 winds down we may or may not feel regret about what did or did not happen in our lives. We are often lured into the thinking that bigger is better or that only that which could be documented through our five senses were the only developments worth valuing. Life is made of millions of moments-divinely ordered and thus inherently valuable- regardless of how they are packaged. Let us savor the gifts as they appeared and value the lessons that came across our paths for they were uniquely customized for the end user- US! 2012 can be your year to choose to gently awaken to the wonderful joys that are right under your nose- and to watch the new year unfold more gloriously than you dreamed possible. Blessings!

December Depths

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:10:00 +0000

"Winter: There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself." (Ruth Stout)

To sleep so hard
to gain a passing introduction,
to what lies on the other side

To burrow so deeply
into a self-imposed hibernation,
when the world wishes for you to speed up.

The "country" of our consciousness beckons-
stark,
cold;

but possessing truths
that patiently for wait for us
to discover.

© 2011 Idara E. Bassey

Care, Grace & Ease

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:22:00 +0000

"...base each choice you make, from this moment onward, on whether it's something that brings you closer to being able to live with yourself." (Carolyn Hax)

Care, grace & ease- not three words one would normally associate with the holiday season. However, the hustle and bustle that characterizes this time of year makes it more important than ever to make a conscious decision about how we wish to be in the world and to remember those things that contribute or take away from this state of being.

This process begins with remembering the simple principle that we have a choice in determining how we wish to be in the world- regardless of any and all external stimuli. Fluctuations in temperature, presence of crowds and our list of obligations will continue to do what they do. If you do not wish to be taken along a similar roller coaster ride you can affirm a steadiness of purpose as we attend to what is meant for us to do-hour by hour, day by day until we emerge on the other side of the holiday season intact.

We can then re-connect with the part of ourselves that ever nurturing, constant and unscathed- it's our connection to the Divine that will fit the bill here. We all have an inner core that sits waiting for us to rediscover its presence. Often it does take chaos for us to do so, but why wait 'til we are running on fumes to reacquaint ourselves with the best and highest version of who we are? Find some way to remind yourself, early and often that there is something more sacred to the holidays than what we can see, taste and/or pay for.

By now, we all have some passing familiarity with those situations, people or circumstances that bring out the best in us and those who- well, do the opposite :) Guess which set of inputs would do us more good at this time of year (or any time for that matter)? Fill as many corners and crevices of your day-to-day existence with those things that bring a smile to your face, that soothe your soul and assist you in keeping your heart open. It could be as simple as stopping where you are and taking a deep breath on the inhale and exhaling anything unlike you wish to be experiencing at the present moment. An honest to goodness chat with a good friend (not a text message folks) does wonders as far as grounding ourselves and reviving our spirits. I find that burning my favorite Japanese incense and mug of hot herbal tea go a long way in being in the world in the way I wish to be. When we are in the world in the manner we wish to be then we can be that much more of a healing force wherever we are situated and whatever is happening around us.

Deciding who is in charge of our well-being can be the very gift another may need in their quest to decide this for themselves.

The Places to Look

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:35:00 +0000

"Be with those who help your being."(Rumi)

When you find yourself in need of support are your efforts to find it informed by the disaster du jour? The place that is the loudest? Most densely populated? Or that which is furthest from wherever you went last time? It's a fair enough question- by the time you are cruising the streets looking for someone/something upright to lean on you are not so inclined to experiment and pontificate on what to do. You want answers- preferably yesterday.

I am learning a lot about the concept of support as of late- mainly by navigating the space of its absence. Often we back our ways into the lives we desire by running like hell from the ones we don't. So I sit in this space, looking around and conferring with potential solution holders that hopefully will nudge me that much closer to finding my own. I bumped into a well-intentioned individual who in their discomfort/fatigue/inability to hear me offered what she considered to be a viable alternative: options to "fix" my distress. Again, this person meant well and perhaps being on the receiving end on what I had to say was not her cup of tea, but being fixed and being listened to are two entirely different propositions. If you are expecting one and receiving the other the original distress you walked in with could very well be multiplied.

The easiest response to this disconnect between individuals would be to withdraw from the interaction in question and decide that the search for appropriate forms of support is not worth it. However, if a shred of hope still exists at this juncture the mind may consider the idea that disconnection is not a permanent life condition. That perhaps instances of such may lead us that much closer to those infused in the warmth of commonality and mutual celebration of energy. Like the proverbial backing up into happiness we find ourselves engaged in from time to time, finding it is often a matter of continued seeking.

The Job I Am Meant to Do

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:08:00 +0000

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it." (Buddha)

I inhale the unambiguously antiseptic smell of the tea tree oil extract- I love its sharpness. I meticulously apply it to my dental floss and get to work. I will have healthy teeth and gums in this incarnation. My aloe gel, coconut oil and Vitamin E oil are all lined up with a seriousness of purpose along the vanity area of my bathroom sink- I select each in turn and lovingly apply them. There is a comfort in my daily rituals of holistic self-care. I am making myself a priority more than ever and it feels good. If nothing else goes right I would have at least tried my best to be my best.

It is in the same spirit that I write. It is a self-honoring tool to witness my heart and mind come together on the page- to deem them and my overall being as important and worthy of the time and space to bring that much more clarity to my corner of the Universe.

I feel like I've had much more to say as of late, but the correlation between the inner intensity and the presence of a receptive audience has not been as direct. Far from it being a necessary component of my writing practice, it has been the speed that the world operates at that has been off putting to my desire to communicate. On a good day I gamely try to keep up and tell myself that operating at this pace comes with the territory. At other times I quietly despair about the disconnect- being very aware that until life is found elsewhere in our present understanding of the galaxy there is really no other place to go.

So while oscillating between these two ends of the continuum I try to infuse my life as many heartening, comforting rituals as possible. My books have become my quiet well-behaved children. Meditation- a lifeline. My spirit guides offer the reassuring dialogue that has yet to manifest in this dimension.

I realize that no one can tell me how an attorney becomes an energy healer and writer. I am also fairly certain that five years of graduate school did not address this conundrum either. Granted perhaps this inquiry really flows from a niche that is way too narrow for mainstream, broad based consumption. However, considering it is my life that is currently superimposed with a question mark I am not moved, nor comforted by this explanation. I want answers and it appears it is my job to find them. I am told the heart wants what it wants and if this is the case why can't my dreams come true as well?

I can feel myself getting a bit teary as I write this as I don't know whether these musings provide an answer or raise more questions. However, something in me wished to be expressed and I have long learned to get myself out of the way and let the words assemble as they wish. And I imagine as they accumulate into phrases, sentences and paragraphs they do the job they are meant to do- and until the next time when I am seized with the desire to let them come through me- so will I- in whatever form and for however long it takes.

Back by Popular Demand! "Authentic Living Teleclass Series"

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:32:00 +0000

"Authenticity means to be the author of your own life. I think many of us are telling stories that have been given to us rather than our own story." (Tom Shadyac, Director of the documentary, I AM)

OneLightMessenger™ presents:

Authentic Living: A Personal Empowerment Teleclass-Nov 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th , 2010 (6:30-7:30 pm EST)

At OneLightMessenger™ we believe it is great to be you! We all have a personal mandate to be our best selves wherever our life path takes us- to infuse what is meant for us to do with our distinctive stamp in our private and professional lives. To assist you on your personal journey, this teleclass, consisting of 4, 1-hour sessions will help you:

* Jump-start your efforts to live authentically
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Based on the award-winning book Reflections of a Mystical Sistah: On Traveling the Road to Self-Definition (iUniverse) by Dr. Idara E. Bassey, this teleclass will interweave interactive exercises with group processing to empower all participants to bring their unique way of doing and being to the forefront of their lives-with confidence! Enrollment is open on a first-come first-served basis and it limited to 8 participants. The personal investment for the program will be $150.00 per participant (excluding cost of book) and payment via certified check and PayPal accepted. E-mail us at lifecoachbassey@aol.com today to reserve your spot!

Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:29:00 +0000

"Let life happen to you. Life is in the right, always." (Rilke)

I am walking on a landscape that has changed as of late but without clear knowledge of what exactly has shifted. I just KNOW it's different and I can't put my finger on what's needed (or not needed) to grasp this slippery new reality in my hands (if this is even a helpful step to take). Many of us are feeling this way- in our own analytical way seeking to determine just where the world seemingly got off track or searching for the magic course of action to somehow backtrack to "how it used to be," which if it was not a time when things were actually better, at least it was understandable :) So that leaves me with more questions rather than answers at this juncture and some go like this:

-If linear assumptions of past thinking- the Point A to Point B trajectory we all hold so dear- no longer hold as true like they used to, what value does relentlessly pushing ourselves forward still have?

-If a knowing that flows from beyond our five senses yields true treasure and innovation, why do we continue to accumulate more knowledge like there is no tomorrow?

-If past sources of stimulation and interest no longer provide such stimulation and interest where do we go for new inputs?

-What if the things you value are not valued by anyone else around you- like the proverbial tree that falls in the forest with no one in sight- does your stance have any weight or worth?

OR IS IT SIMPLY ALL A MATTER OF ADJUSTING TO THE NEW LANDSCAPE AS IS?

Clarity Always Comes

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:20:00 +0000

A relentless focus on the present moment,
Sets the stage for pleasant tomorrows.
Fully engaging the plate before us
With a thoughtful gaze,
Provides a beautiful springboard
To actually spring from.

A simple nap,
Can refresh one's perspective like nothing else can.
It's not so much the closing of one's eyes,
But the intentional handing over
Of life's grab bag of concerns
to the One With Broader Shoulders.

It is a winning proposition,
To stay in the knowing,
On a perpetual basis
That divine order is not a part-time phenomenon,
Limited to premium subscribers,
With rarefied access.

Feel the prospect of greater probable futures,
A cool breeze;
A reassuring confirmation,
That all is well,
And will continue to be well,
And So It Is.

© 2011 Idara E. Bassey

A Wonderful New Program Offering for our Atlanta-area Readers!

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:12:00 +0000

"We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." (Albert Einstein)

"Practical Intuition:
Developing Your Sixth Sense for Personal
Fulfillment & Professional Success"

Saturday, October 15, 2011
10:30am- 12:00 noonEST
@ Trinity Center for Spiritual Living
1095 Zonolite Road, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30306

Intuition is clearly a very valuable life tool. When consciously developed and cultivated it can assist us in successfully navigating the rapidly changing world around us and enrich our personal and professional lives. Regardless of our external circumstances, we all have the ability to leverage our connection to our inner wisdom to create solutions to personal challenges that speak to our truth and resonate deeply with us. To assist you with your personal process, this introductory workshop will:

• Jump-start your receptivity to intuitive guidance
• Discuss how intuition can be used in personal and work situations
• Introduce the top five ways to take your intuition to the next level
• Provide an opportunity to try on an intuitive seeing technique for size

Based on the writings, research and spiritual journey of yours truly, this workshop will incorporate energy work, interactive exercises along with group processing to empower participants to sharpen their ability to integrate their intuitive abilities into their everyday interactions-with confidence! The personal investment for this workshop is $30.00 per participant (includes the cost of participant handouts). Cash and PayPal payments are accepted (lifecoachbassey@aol.com). Reserve your spot today and spread the word!

Thank you Madame Vespa

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:02:00 +0000

I was moving through my morning today
Much in the same way,
But then somewhat differently
When a memory of you surfaced
I recall how you zipped up to the Starbucks
As if it were completely normal to
Zip as such
In heels no less
And a trailing scarf
I watched you approach a table outside
Or to be more accurate
Claim a table
And deliberately unpack your sleek laptop
No bigger than a notepad
And go about the business of being
Your distinctive self
As far as I could tell
Your twenties, thirties and forties were well behind you
But I stared fascinated
At how clearly
And comfortably
You resided in your skin
And there was a wave of recognition
That informed me in that moment
That I want to be just like you.

© 2011 Idara E. Bassey

What Do You Do When You Don't Know What to Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:21:00 +0000

"The spiritual journey is a control freak's nightmare." (Lorraine Roe)

Maybe one of the unintended benefits of spending the bulk of my life in school was the sense of structure that came along with it. It was abundantly clear for a number of years where I would be Monday through Friday, what my Saturdays and Sundays would be spent doing, and there were a number of authoritative figures that reinforced this understanding by letting me know in no uncertain terms the consequences of ignoring said structure. While there is still some residual structure (and some clear obligations) that attach to life as it unfolds post-formal education, a part of me misses the clarity that came along for the ride during my school years, even if it was the byproduct of a fair amount of coercion and self-flagellation :)

So it is not with a hint of snarkiness that I ask myself what should I be doing next- and for one of the first times in a very long time I don't know- or to be more accurate, I don't feel moved to pretend that I do which I imagine is disconcerting to some. So other promising courses of action float in my awareness; with an eager gaze hoping to be the "one." The magic answer to the question that is half-articulated in my mind. The perhaps key out of the low-level malaise- and the list runs a bit like this:

1.) Surfing the web
2.) Rifling through Facebook for wisdom or at least for interesting pictures of
everyone else who has life figured out
3.) Enthusiastic efforts to replenish my Omega-3's by consuming large amounts of
nuts (alternating with chocolate)
4.) Walking down a musical memory lane thinking that this was when I really knew
what was going on
5.) Wishing it was simple as a session of retail therapy

A profound list I realize- but when you don't know what to do you can only expect so much...check back in a couple of days- and yes, prayers are welcome.

Sing Your Song

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:01:00 +0000

Being Seen By God

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:32:00 +0000

"If you don't see God in all, you don't see God at all." (Yogi Bhajan)

I haven't been "seen" for a long time. To others I show up in designated places at the correct time (if not early), creditors see a check of payment like clockwork at the designated payment date with an otherwise viable signature and various clients see a work product with my name on it presuming it has issued from my hands- as laudable as these benchmarks may be I don't think they are equivalent to being fully seen.

It isn't clear if some people are predisposed to being invisible; of if their life circumstances guided them to develop skills sets that uniquely qualify them for occupying this life container. Historically I have come into the world quite introverted, now I am less so, with continued empath tendencies which I am learning to manage...ever, ever the observer and doing my best to shake off the feeling that life as I know it is proceeding around me while I am taking notes and speculating what it would be like to participate or to fully grasp what this means.

This has bothered me intermittently over the years. I wonder how this became my predominant life perspective- why I could not be unquestioningly swept along with the crowed into societally-approved and culturally-appropriate benchmarks and life milestones and consequently be "seen,"- deemed okay, acceptable and comfortable to be around if for no other reason that I do not cause them to question the socially-approved benchmarks and culturally- appropriate milestones that they so easily and willingly partake of. I even try to be generous with my time and energy as I nurse my friends through the aftereffects of their said participation and watch them return to the safety of their chosen havens as I wonder why my benchmarks and milestones are quieter, or less likely to be acknowledged by the Hallmark gods...

In one of my favorite songs by Stevie Wonder ("As") he sings the following with delicious fervor,

"We all know sometimes life's hates and troubles
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space
But you can bet your life times that and twice its double
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed."

So the designation of my role as I understand it at this time did not incarnate in error. Nor have I. Following this thread of reasoning the dream of being seen warrants some adjustment or recalibration. We are all already being seen. God sees us all, as we are and there are no special greeting cards, titles or minimum bank balances required. The confirmation that we deeply desire that we are okay cannot originate from the ever-shifting, evolving array of forces playing out in the world of effect. The core competency of sitting comfortably in our skin- aware of the present blessing we are is independent of our personal fortunes at a given time. Defining ourselves only from this vantage point produces a beautification of self that transcends an attachment to human approval; and we are all that much lighter in the absence of this need.

Explosion

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:39:00 +0000

To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying 'Amen' to what the world tells you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive. (Robert Louis Stevenson)

The planks that surfaced looked incongruous against the ordered pattern of the roof shingles. Someone or something wanted to be free. Waiting for proper protocol was apparently not a viable option. Explosions are not polite, ordered or sanctioned by the neighbors. Asking for forgiveness may occur; but much later, if at all. Bless the well-intentioned and the misguided who seek to insert their intellect into the equation.

Uptight

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 02:22:00 +0000

Everything will line up perfectly when knowing and living the truth becomes more important than proving anything to anyone. (Alan Cohen)

She hovered
Just above the massage table
Not quite believing the opportunity
to lay down burdens
that had accumulated
over many, many lifetimes.
"Really?" she asked herself,
"Can this table hold me [and it] all up?
So very tired of asking,
wondering,
being on guard-
eyes darting,
neck taut-
a professional flight risk
in her own life...
searching for a place
where her energy was tolerated,
and perhaps welcomed.

© 2011 by Idara E. Bassey

Hurry Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:25:00 +0000

At the speed that many of our lives are going it is easy to believe one of the following: 1.) that things have always been this way 2.) this pace is desirable 3.) this pace is "normal." When we latch to any one of these rationales and attempt to apply to all areas of our lives we do create some interesting trains of thought.

Relationships can morph into "add water and stir" propositions (perhaps followed by the equally troubling "this isn't working for me" implosions that morph into divorce decrees that cite the catch-all phrase "irreconcilable differences" as cause for the split). Or you can have folks starting their careers in the company mailroom who become genuinely mystified when an offer to occupy the CEO's corner office and to assume stock options does not follow in short order...in short, the concept of delayed gratification becomes a quaint and fading concept relegated to do-it-yourself needlework pillows on parlor loveseats protected by plastic slipcovers...

So the challenge becomes one of extracting oneself from the merry-go-round- or even better- backtracking to realizing that we have this choice to begin with. The pace that I allude to here may not be one born of sustained, individual, private consultation with our soul selves. It is the personification of groupspeak- not inherently harmful until it gradually seeps unexamined into our hearts and minds to become the basis by which we assess what's in our hearts and minds. These are the same peeps who wish you would hurry up and be more understandable/less weird/more presentable/less questioning (and heaven knows what else). We are much too complex and joyfully individualized to subject our beings to the will of the majority and its well-worn expectations bringing up the rear.

So if it "appears" that the 2.0 version of your life has yet to make it to the store shelves for all to see and admire (or there is someone in your life who is heavily invested in you speeding up the process of reaching this milestone), take a deep breath to ground yourself in the present moment and to make peace with the questions that swirl in your mind. Wait for instructions. Repeat as necessary.

Determining your life pace is a decision that only you are best equipped to make. Outsourcing your freedom is never wholly free of consequences.

The True Nature of Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:52:00 +0000

Your particular brand of happiness
May not presently be in sight
It may be rainy,
sunny,
or a lonely Friday night.
However, and blessedly so,
When we think about what's in our sight
The Universal brand of joy
Is always showing its might.

The news may be crackling,
With tales of war and tears-
who's up,
who's down,
or a sermon of both over the years.
But thankfully our well-being
Is so much stronger and enduring,
Than what the world is selling, and what it may or may not be doing.

Spirit Divine, or whatever you call the Big Kahuna,
Never's been limited by cycles of yin & ying or the lunar,
It always offers us
Despite appearances or fuss
A different vantage point,
A perpetually healing joint.

So be that joy that bubbles up in all phases
Available at all times, places and stages,
Let transcending the muck be your job to be done,
It's the true nature of joy that provides the real sun.

Copyright © 2011 by Idara E. Bassey

Expanding Past Fear

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:09:00 +0000

"Never let what you fear intrude on what you know" (Sun Rain)

Sometimes you might be going along, not necessarily happy, but not mopping the floor with your tears either- things are fine, neutral and perhaps rut-like; but fine. Then life presents interesting opportunities, nudges if you will, that are geared towards sharing a glimpse of what life could be post-rut and what do we do? We become avid advocates for our ruts. We dig deep for reasons why "just fine" is well, just fine. Word on the street is that with folks of this mindset Jesus Christ could be presented to them as an alternative to consider and they would find some scrap of a scam in the air...just sayin'...

Change is not the easiest thing for many of us and membership in the "Devil You Know is Better than the Devil You Don't" club is robust and growing. But those who have inclined an ear to any of the news reports lately- storms, tornados and uncharted territory for so many on so many levels- the Universe appears to be favoring a more direct approach to letting us know that change is upon us and some re-ordering is in order and FAST.

In this context we have two choices: we can cling to the tree that is about to be ripped from its proverbial roots, or we can accept the reality of the shifts that are occurring and seek shelter elsewhere. Out attachment to the trees of life regardless of how well they have served us in the past or on our insistence that they continue to serve us beyond its reasonable shelf life is not doing us any favors. We remain constricted when we attempt to marshal the way the world shows up in this fashion. Perhaps the world is presenting more challenges to us to encourage us to step up to the plate and expand beyond what we have originally thought we were capable of. While fears will not disappear somewhere overnight, our intention to proceed in spite of them is a recipe for growth, expansion and the creation of new things in our lives.

Your Personal Power: Cultivating and Sustaining It

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:29:00 +0000

“Power is learning from what is inside you.” (Harriet Rubin)

Keeping up with the Joneses. A seemingly “harmless” remark from a loved one. The workday that makes us wonder if we are still gainfully employed- all aspects of our daily lives that can send our personal power haywire- assuming it has already been developed and nurtured. A solid “inner armor” is an important tool to have in our life arsenal so the challenges we face on a day-to-day basis do not do us in. Harriet Rubin’s quote suggests an approach that make the cultivation of personal power within everyone’s grasp- let look more closely here at what steps we can take to realize this goal:

Look within yourself- Becoming self-referencing is one of the most important skills we can ever develop in life and it is a key aspect of developing personal power. It is perfectly fine to have friends, spouses, partners and the like, but at the end of the day we have look within ourselves and become the authority of our own experience. As the saying goes, “we came into this world alone and we will leave alone.” Only we can determine our values and priorities; and this task is too important be outsourced. This “baseline” foundation of inner knowledge moves us along in the process of developing our personal power and serves as the springboard for the next step in this process.

Learn from yourself- Thinking about what we have learned about ourselves as a result of our inner assessment leads us to deeper realizations. For example, it is not enough to notice that you get annoyed every time a particular friend is late every time we plan an outing. At some point it should dawn on you that being on time is important to you, and perhaps in your mind, a demonstration of respect for others. So taking note of an experience or an insight that has dawned on us is a good first step. However, by not digging any deeper, such insights are little more than interesting ruminations that cannot propel us forward.

Live the learning- This is often the point where people stumble in their efforts to cultivate and strengthen their personal power. It is so tempting to be “wowed” by the intensity (or cleverness) of the insights we discover that we never go beyond this point in our thinking; thus ensuring our lives do not change in response to these insights. Back to our perpetually late friend scenario- let’s say she calls to meet for lunch. Inwardly you are still seething from her less than timely arrival the last time you all got together. However, you say nothing and agree to meet her as you have before and hope she will be on time. With an interaction as simple as this you may not be aware that your personal power has taken a direct hit, but it actually has. The lesson learned from your past experience (i.e.- that you get annoyed and feel disrespected when your friend is perpetually late for social outings) that flowed from what you have identified as a priority in your personal value system (being on time communicates respect for others) has not yet been integrated into your decision-making.

Resolving this situation may simply warrant bringing your friend’s perpetual tardiness to her attention and explaining how it makes you feel. However, do not wail in frustration if your friend is still late. The victory here does not lie in changing your friend’s behavior, but in standing up for yourself and your standards of what you consider to be acceptable behavior. This is all you have control over anyway. Ultimately, you can decide when and whether it is time to kick chica to the curb. But until then you have just broadened your options beyond pacing back and forth with smoke coming out of your ears, and this is an empowering development.

Even if pacing back and forth is the only response you can muster, join the crowd in heading back to square one. We’ve all been there- repeatedly even. It takes time to develop our personal power. Reaching for the chocolate cake rather than probing the source of our upset is not necessarily a failure; neither is reluctantly culling the lessons learned from past experiences when we would much rather be swimming in denial. However, each time we take a step away from our conditioned responses and look to ourselves as the source of insight about what matters to us, we have an opportunity to create a new set of results in our lives and increased inner power to boot. We live more and more in our personal power when the truth of our being is reflected in our daily experience. We can then encounter the world from a position of strength that bodes well for creating a satisfying life experience can resist the “winds” of what we encounter every day. Why not let you be in charge of you?!

I Salute Thee

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:38:00 +0000

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." (Albert Camus)

It's been a long winter,
A nap that progressed way past the alarm
Your spirit is uncoiling; slowly, but surely
In the frontier where others fear to tread,
I salute thee.

It is not entirely clear
A destination whose arrival is beyond reasoning,
Your spirit questions-once, and then repeatedly,
In the intervening gap between the old and the new
I salute thee.

The glimmers of light are not imagined.
The sadness has receded, step by step.
Your spirit now soars; onward and upward,
In the glorious triumph of celebration,
I salute thee.

© Idara E. Bassey 2011

Life Lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:01:00 +0000

"I am not what happened to me...I am what I choose to become" (Carl Jung)

Yesterday morning I was literally seized by the memory of a person I met some ten years ago when I retreated to San Diego for some soul searching. I don't remember her name but I can see her face with the perpetual spaced out expression she wore. I also recall when we met she had recently disposed of most of her earthly possessions, left her family of origin and was traveling around with her peeps in a dilapidated van. I was simultaneously impressed and horrified with her intended plans (or lack thereof) given that I wasn't too far removed from the life in Washington, DC I had just left where I was practicing law with increasing desperation. However, it was also becoming clear that that my prospects of "succeeding" at being a full-time bohemian weren't too bright either.

I didn't want to go back in time in my mind or actuality to re-live this part of my life, but since the beginning of April I have been "gifted" with no less than seven remarkable reminders of people from my past; ranging from unusually vivid dreams to coincidental grocery store appearances.

Repeated patterns of any kind are often the Universe's way of getting our attention so with this thought in mind I put my Higher Self to work to get to the bottom of what was going on here. Astrology's semi-infamous mercury retrograde? Generally known to be a good time to review what's been done instead of charging full steam ahead which is definitely my preferred modus operandi. The traditional yearly energetic turbulence right before one's birthday? Well, this seemed plausible as well since a new birth year is best approached with the clarity borne of thinking things through what went on before. However, it was only when I started to map out where I was in consciousness back when I encountered each of these seven people that all pistons started firing.

Mind you, it wasn't a pretty nor an easy process. I had my fair share of moments where the question "What were you thinking?" would have been more than appropriate followed by multiple "Thank you God" prayers for saving me from what was really a train wreck in the making that I could not see at the time. While I may not have always liked (or even recognized) the person I was at these different points in my life, all these experiences contributed to who I am today. Clarity, peace of mind and self-respect are developed and strengthened each and every time we experience the opposite and live to tell about it. I believe these events have taught me to cherish these gifts all that much more.

In the big picture the underlying theme of the Easter season is about the resurrection and triumph of the forces of higher thinking symbolized in the Christian faith by Jesus Christ. What better platform can you ask for to kick off your Easter holiday, the Spring season or even the springtime of your life but with an embrace of your own victories over the lower times of your own experience? If you are still standing and learning then celebration is definitely in order- cheers!

Hand it Over (A Meditation)™

noreply@blogger.com (Idara) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 03:43:00 +0000

“How things look on the outside of us depends on how things are on the inside of us.” (Park Cousins)

Often when we are in the midst of a challenging or stressful time our peace of mind flies out the window. It becomes easy to forget that we are connected to and supported by forces larger than what happens to be on our plate at that particular moment. One technique that I have used over the years and shared with my clients involves consciously releasing your concerns to these forces so you can regain your center once again. The process goes like this:

1.Relocate yourself to a space where you will not be disturbed and distractions are at a minimum
2. Sit comfortably and slow your breathing to a calming pace- this is your sacred time
3. Take in three deep breaths- taking in peace and clarity on the in breath and releasing anything unlike it on the exhale
4. Tune in to the issue of concern and locate it in your body
5. Imagine said concern as a ball of energy and assign it a color
6. In your mind's eye take this ball of energy and deposit it a large paper bag and secure the open ends shut
7. Imagine two large outstretched arms orginating from sky representing Source, Universal Energy, God's love or any concept of Higher Power that you presently embrace
8. Transfer the bag in your possession to the outstretched arms
9. Resume your deep rhythmic breathing and steep in your newly-lightened sense of being for a few minutes
10. Repeat as needed