The Super Human Effect Blog

Is It True?

2011-04-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

What is true?

If you are anything like me, you believe that what is true is what you believe. What you experience as real and important. Try this one on for size:

Yesterday I had the most unusual day of my life. Nothing was different on the outside; same family, same house, same friends. No life changing event. No newfound opportunities, no crisis moment. Just normal life.

Oh yes, American Idol is on and Piers Morgan had Simon Cowell! I was more unmotivated than I have ever been. I did not want to talk to my wife, play with my children, or watch TV. I did not want to read or write, pray or meditate. I did not want to call anyone, or work on my website. Nothing. I had no desires. Is that good? I did not know. I was confused.

My wife reminded me: You have birthed a child- your book. “When I gave birth I felt the same way. Don’t make mountains out of mole hills. It’s okay.”

So I sat with the feeling of unmotivated emptiness. Until today.

I woke up feeling exactly the opposite: I wanted to love, give, share, play and live. Where did it come from? Did it matter? Here is the lesson: We are not defined by our experience but by who or what is behind it.

We believe we should believe the days that we feel stressed, unmotivated, resistant, small and struggling as an indication of what we are capable of. We are capable of so much more but it is not through effort, but through opening up to a greater source of our motivation.

What if the only reason for your inertia is the untangling of your ego? Would you then say "yes" to it?

It is a glorious thing to not take ourselves (and our experience) so seriously. Give “it” a try. No matter what “it” is.

Who You Are

2011-03-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

Who are you when you strip away all that you think you are?

I recently read a book given to me by a good friend titled "Who You Are" by Jeffrey Kloss. The first thing I did was the read the back cover. Not much there. Well, let's take a look at the "About the Author" section. No "About the Author" section? That's odd. The book was calling me just to read it and in doing so, gave me a glimpse of my soul where I found deep rest.

This experience is in stark contrast to the expert marketing approach I have been learning and trying to live by. I do have an "About the Author" section in my book. Every day I feel like I am not "doing" enough to get my message "out there"; to show my audience that I know what I am talking about, to get them to see me as having answers.

But the world around me is crying out for a brother not a savior. We are in this together. We are witnessing the profound struggles of brave men and women attempting to avert an even greater catastrophe in Japan, in Lybia, in Syria, Yemen- the list goes on and on. Can we look suffering straight in the eye and keep our hearts open to each other? Can I see life with all its uncertainties as the gift that it is? Or am I doomed to get caught up on how many comments are left on my blog, likes on Facebook, reviews on Amazon? I AM so much more than that and so are you. I AM part of all of it- Life, the gift. Not by what I do but because of who I am. I am made worthy to find certainty in the midst of uncertainty, to find peace in the presence of fear and judgment.

As I am writing these words, my seven year old daughter just showed me a note she wrote to her soul.
It reads:
"I got you a gift
when you take it
I do not want to see you
I do not want to hear you
P.S. Have a good night."

To: Sol
From: Sofia

"We started by asking what is wrong with the world and we ended up discovering what is right with it."- From Tom Shadyac, director of a new documentary- I AM.
http://iamthedoc.com/

Doreen Virtue's Super Human Effect Moment

2011-02-17T19:15:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from Blog.Beliefnet.com
http://blog.beliefnet.com/angelsonyourshoulder/2010/07/interview-with-doreen-virtue-part-1.html

Susan: What was your most profound experience with angels?

Doreen Virtue: Well, it has got to be when my life was saved, and that was on July 15th, 1995. I was driving to an appointment and before I got in the car I heard this male voice outside my right ear, so not in my head but outside, as if someone was talking to me, and he said, "Doreen, you'd better put the top up on your car or it will be stolen."

I had a car that was a convertible but the motor that controlled the top was broken at the time so there was just no way to put the top up. And so for some reason, instead of questioning that there was this voice, I argued with it and said, "Well, I can't put the top up" and it just simply repeated this same message over and over again. And then finally, it said, "Well, have Grant do it."

Grant is my youngest son who was home at that time. At the time, he was kind of, maybe eleven or twelve, so it was not his voice; this was a full grown man's voice, and he was the only other person in their house, and he was in another room. And this voice just continued to warn me and I just couldn't put the top up.

So instead, as I was driving to the appointment, I was praying for protection and when I got to my appointment I was jumped by two armed man and they were demanding my purse and my car keys. I was being car jacked. And what was remarkable to me was that even though I had argued with this voice and hadn't listened with putting the top up, which would've prevented the whole thing, because the top of my car was just very ugly and no one would've wanted to car jack an ugly car. So with the top down it was white upholstery, white car, and so it was very flashy.

Even though I had kind of, ignored their warning the voice was still there to protect me and the voice said, this time, "Scream with all your might, Doreen" really clear in my right ear and I just didn't even hesitate. I just screamed from my gut and the man's eyes, even though he had a gun, got really big. I was taller than him and I was wearing high heels, so I think, partly, my height and my screams were like a cave woman's scream. I didn't even realize we had a cave woman in us until this experience.

He backed away but he was still pointing this gun at me and he was motioning for me to give him my car keys and my purse. I just wasn't; partly, because I didn't have theft insurance on my car.

I'm thinking really fast during this. "God, if he takes this car I don't have the money to get a new car." So when the angels told me to scream that is what I did and the screams attracted the attention of a woman who... and I always just say, "she just happened to be" because it was no coincidence. She was sitting in her car in the parking lot, eating her lunch and she looked up, saw what was happening and she leaned on her car horn to help.

The car horn attracted people inside this who came out and just the presence of all these people the man just got in their car and ran away. I just fell to my knees because it was it was so shocking on all these levels: I had almost lost my life... my car, at the very least. And the other shocking thing was that this voice had known my future an hour before it happened and that the voice got me out of it.

It was just so big. I just started praying again. I just said, "God, thank you for saving my life. And what can I do?"

I was already an author. I was writing about eating disorders. In fact, I was scheduled to fly to Las Vegas the next day, to go talk at some sort of healthy food convention about food cravings, about a book called "Constant Cravings" that had just come out and I was just told to teach about angels.

I came straight out of the closet. The next day, when I flew to Las Vegas, I was wearing a goddess gown, my crystals, I talked about angels publicly for the first time, and because I had almost died the day before I was still in shock. I just quit caring what people think and then I've just been doing it ever since; ever since July 16th, 1995.

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/angelsonyourshoulder/2010/07/interview-with-doreen-virtue-part-1.html#ixzz1EHCVukHw

The Power of Grace

2011-02-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

The Super Human Effect: Stories of the Moment When Everything Changes

by Grace J Power

The moment that everything changed for me happened when I was listening to a sermon at church, and the message was about seeing grace in every moment and in every circumstance. I listened intently and found myself wondering, “What is grace, really?” This question stuck with me. I started to look for grace in every circumstance of my life and since I wasn’t particularly clear on what grace was, I found it difficult to see. That week as I was journaling, I decided to delve into discovering what grace really meant. I started by looking up the definition in the dictionary. There was quite a long definition. I read:

grace (gr s)

NOUN:

Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.

A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.

A sense of fitness or propriety.

A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.

Mercy; clemency.

A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.

A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.

Graces Greek & Roman MythologyThree sister goddesses, known in Greek mythology as Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty.

gra·cious (gr sh s)

ADJECTIVE:

Characterized by kindness and warm courtesy.

Characterized by tact and propriety:responded to the insult with gracious humor.

Of a merciful or compassionate nature.

Condescendingly courteous; indulgent.

Characterized by charm or beauty; graceful.

Characterized by elegance and good taste: gracious living.

Archaic Enjoying favor or grace; acceptable or pleasing.

As I was reading about these qualities of ‘grace’ I heard my thoughts say, “I love this word! I want this to be my name!” Then it was like I heard the sound of a bell ‘ding’! That was it! I am going to have Grace as my name. As I thought about this further, I decided it would be my middle name, since I never had a middle name. “MaryAnn Grace Probert. That sounds great!” I thought.

The next day, I called my good friend, Ben and told him that I was so amazed by the word grace that I was going to make it my name. He said, “That’s great! Do you want me to call you Grace?” I quickly thought about this and exclaimed, “Yes!”

Since I changed my mind to using Grace as my first name, I considered, ‘Why not change my whole entire name?’ And that is what I did.

A couple years previous to this, I had been through a divorce and changing my name from MaryAnn Benavides back to MaryAnn Probert felt rather awkward to me. I had been MaryAnn Benavides for four years and considered that it would be my name for the rest of my life. I also liked the name. Benavides means ‘the good life’ and I had considered keeping it. Although, when filling out the divorce documents I decided to go back to my maiden name, MaryAnn Probert which felt foreign to me as well as most of the people in my life. My English teacher in High School always pronounced my last name like the French Canadians, and I decided to pronounce my name with that accent since it gave it a different twist than what I grew up with. Still, I honestly felt a bit awkward about this. It just didn’t seem like ‘me’.

Now that I was inventing a new name for myself, I wanted to have a strong last name and it came to me at church one Sunday. The pastor was recognizing a group of new members to the church, and as he was reading off the names, it occurred to me that I should listen to the last names and see if any of them would fit for my new last name. Immediately after I thought about this, he announced a woman with the last name Powers. I liked it right away, and remember thinking, “That’s it!”

Again, I discussed this with my friend Ben over the phone wondering if I should use Powers or Power. He said, “I like Power best. Like One Power instead of mystical powers.” I trusted my friend’s advice. Then it was onto deciding, middle name?...no middle name?

I had a session with an Intuitive Reader and I asked her about the name change. She suggested looking at the numerology of the amount of letters used in the name.

A couple weeks went by as I pondered about choosing a middle name or not. My boyfriend had a book of gods in his library and I decided to skim through it for name ideas. As I read about various gods, I flipped to the page about Janus. This god intrigued me as I read that he represented the present moment. He had two heads, one facing forward and one facing backward, representing past and future. January is named after Janus since it represents the end of one year and beginning of the next. Since I was practicing living in the present moment, I decided this was the perfect name for me. I also had heard that the number 5 represents change. And each word (Grace Janus Power) has five letters.

With this new name declared, I have felt more like ‘me’ and each day I am living into this new name and seeing grace in every moment.

The State of My Union

2011-02-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been following my journey, you are aware that a year ago I began writing about a defining moment. A moment when everything changes and we gain clarity of our life's purpose. It comes without warning. It feels right and we have no choice but to set fear aside and act. It is a super human moment that awakens in us a new perception known as unconditional love. I have had my eyes and ears opened to this moment in the lives of so many. Brendon Burchard speaks of the moment when during a near fatal car accident, he asked the questions for the first time: Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter? Brendon committed his life to earning the right to live? Doreen Virtue writes about the moment when during a car-jacking, she felt the presence of an angel. Everything changed and if you have read any of her books since the car-jacking, you know by how much.

When this “moment” arrived for me, I was beside myself with joy at the prospects of starting a new life as an author. I was filled with a spiritual connection and an inspiration to write, for 80-days straight, what would become The Super Human Effect book. I was communicating with spirits from other realms daily and intuitively connecting to the soul’s desires of many. The healing experiences were also extraordinarily common. I felt like I had entered heaven while on earth.

Then everything changed… Again!

About six months ago, I lost my ability to connect to spirit. Darkness set in and inspiration could not be accessed. No mystical experiences. No desire to pray. No words. Nothing. Had I given up my 9-5 job to become a spiritual author only to have all of my “gifts” be taken away. Had I replaced having a job with being Job? The struggles were endless. My ego wanted so badly to hold on to the idea of the new spiritual leader emerging. The new messenger whose message is simple: Fear will not win. There was only one problem:

I was afraid that fear was winning.

Instead of giving in to the “shoulds” of an author’s life, I chose to have this fear be my curriculum for change. Can I be present and know that God is- regardless of what I experience? Awakening to the moment is when the work begins. For the past six months, I have lived the life of a poor struggling artist who is staring at an empty canvas.

Why am I telling you this instead of shaping your perceptions of me as an expert? Because as you grow more and more into who you really are and follow your dreams, I don't want you to give up even if everything that fueled your desires is temporarily taken away. I have found a deeper connection through letting go of all my roles including the role of a writer. My message is more important than a career. Fear will not win. No matter what your circumstances look like, your union with all that is can never be severed. It is found in an awareness of present moment, not in ideas of what you think makes you valuable. You are valuable because you are.

I am writing this while coverage of the fate of Mubarak’s reign plays out in the background. Fear will not win. The protesters will not walk away from their dream. In our perceived weakness the state of our union is strong.

Dennis Rodriguez

Feel What You Want

2011-01-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

Is it possible that these four words hold the key to fulfilling all our dreams and aspirations? Feel what you want.

A year ago, I resigned from an eight-year old management position at a university when most around me hunkered down and rode out the worst recession since the Great Depression. I did so to write a book called The Super Human Effect: My Quest for the Moment When Everything Changes. If my actions seemed irrational, it is because they were. My actions were not guided by a thorough risk assessment or a bullet-proof business plan. My actions were guided by my spiritual heart’s desire. The map to its fulfillment does not reveal an inter-state highway to a large bank account or a stellar book rating on Amazon. The map reveals winding roads of what I am feeling in the present moment. If my map has been hard to read, convoluted and smudgy, it is because it is. My map includes feelings of what I don’t want as much as what I do. My map includes feelings of fear. Fear of losing my house, of losing inspiration and motivation. Fear of simply losing. My map also includes trust in a supportive source that planted my heart's desire, without which I cannot breathe. It includes a joyful awareness of surprising twists and turns that have led to synchronistic encounters, reminding me of perfection in divine timing.

Thankfully feeling what I want is winning out and my book is set to be in stores March 2011.

What is it that you really want? Can you hold the vision in such vivid detail that it actually creates the feelings of what you want right now? What if you consciously chose to feel what you really want in every moment? And what if (and this is the fun part), your external circumstances are waiting for you to choose to feel what you want before showing you the evidence?

"[We] must learn to lay all judgments aside, and ask only what we really want in every circumstance."- A Course in Miracles, Manual for Teachers

Where Is Your Light Source?

2011-01-01T21:21:00.000-08:00

When I was in acting school, I had a teacher who would have us create a multi-sensory space using nothing but our voiceless imagination and then see whether the rest of the class can interpret correctly what we created. I would get up on stage and mentally place the position of doors, tables, and other characters in the room. I would imagine distant sounds, pleasant fragrances or unpleasant odors. Once I believed all my senses had been activated and the space brought to life for others to experience, I would end the exercise, like countless actors before me, with a resounding- “Scene”. All eyes would be on my teacher for his anticipated pronouncement.

“Where is your light source?”

“Uh, my what?”

“Where is your light source? How can we see you if you don’t know what makes you be seen? Is it the sunlight? Where is the window? Do you feel the warmth on your back or is it right in front of you slamming you in the face? Come on man, Where is your light source?

“I don’t know”

“Well then you better find out! (he lets out his signature laugh) Next.”

I sat down but I have never stopped trying to find out. Sometimes my light source can be found in the eyes of my children impatiently waiting for me to finish a responsible adult task before commencing tickle time. Sometimes my light source seems light-years away when life’s challenges get too heavy and the drama too thick. And sometimes my light source- what brings me to the present moment and to what’s really important, comes from hearing of the loss of a beloved friend.

I just found out that my teacher James Spruill- The best teacher I ever had (and I have had many), passed away of pancreatic cancer on December 31, 2010.

Jim, I promise to continue to look for my light source. I know you have found yours.

Ramana Maharshi's Super Human Effect Moment

2010-12-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

"It was in 1896, about 6 weeks before I left Madurai for good (to go to Tiruvannamalai - Arunachala) that this great change in my life took place. I was sitting alone in a room on the first floor of my uncle's house. I seldom had any sickness and on that day there was nothing wrong with my health, but a sudden violent fear of death overtook me. There was nothing in my state of health to account for it nor was there any urge in me to find out whether there was any account for the fear. I just felt I was going to die and began thinking what to do about it. It did not occur to me to consult a doctor or any elders or friends. I felt I had to solve the problem myself then and there. The shock of the fear of death drove my mind inwards and I said to myself mentally, without actually framing the words: 'Now death has come; what does it mean? What is it that is dying? This body dies.' And at once I dramatised the occurrence of death. I lay with my limbs stretched out still as though rigor mortis has set in, and imitated a corpse so as to give greater reality to the enquiry. I held my breath and kept my lips tightly closed so that no sound could escape, and that neither the word 'I' nor any word could be uttered. 'Well then,' I said to myself, 'this body is dead. It will be carried stiff to the burning ground and there burn and reduced to ashes. But with the death of the body, am I dead? Is the body I? It is silent and inert, but I feel the full force of my personality and even the voice of I within me, apart from it. So I am the Spirit transcending the body. The body dies but the spirit transcending it cannot be touched by death. That means I am the deathless Spirit.' All this was not dull thought; it flashed through me vividly as living truths which I perceived directly almost without thought process. I was something real, the only real thing about my present state, and all the conscious activity connected with the body was centered on that I. From that moment onwards, the I or Self focused attention on itself by a powerful fascination. Fear of death vanished once and for all. The ego was lost in the flood of Self-awareness. Absorption in the Self continued unbroken from that time. Other thought might come and go like the various notes of music, but the I continued like the fundamental sruti [that which is heard] note which underlies and blends with all other notes.

-Sri Ramana Maharshi's Life- http://bhagavan-ramana.org/sriramanaslife.html

Choose Again

2010-11-29T18:02:00.000-08:00

Three weeks ago I found out that DC Comics and Warner Brothers both denied my request to use “Superman” in the title of my book or to use any quotes from the movie. For those of you that have read some of my manuscript, you know the importance I have placed on the Superman Motif. Is it a deal breaker? Heaven’s no. It was for a few weeks however. I was devastated by the news that The Superman Effect would not be a reality. I would be lying to you if I said that I just got back up and created a new reality. Manifestation is hard work and sometimes we are thrown a left hook that knocks us down for the count. Getting back up means I have faith that there is a purpose for everything that happens and that even if every sign points to a dream as an illusion, I choose to trust that the dream seed is the only reality. I decided to get back up and call my book The Super Human Effect: My Quest for the Moment When Everything Changes. I see my book as a testament to connecting to who we are by fully honoring our humanity instead of seeing it as a tragic mistake. My book is not about a man but about a human being who chooses to follow his heart no matter what reality looks like.

In March, you will have the opportunity to read a book about your life too. One of the greatest obstacles to living our life’s calling is the belief that we are alone in the world. That our experiences are unique and that no one can relate to our depth of confusion and despair. We doubt whether there really is a supportive universe that “gets us”. We ask the ultimate question at the heart of our sense of separation: “What is wrong with me?” Our work begins when a specific answer is revealed: “Nothing is wrong with you.” A flood of judgments come our way and every moment becomes an opportunity to deliberately choose acceptance or resistance. The Super Human Effect is about the power of free will to reveal our destiny. When the moment arrives where you become aware that “nothing is wrong with you”, what follows is a shift in perception from doubt to certainty. What is born is the free will to make one choice: join the rest of creation in becoming an instrument of divine grace. What is left behind is the struggle perpetuated by a state of resistance to what we think, feel, do and are.

If you are not enjoying the present moment, ask yourself: “What am I resisting?” In the answer lies your unique path to freedom.

So The Superman Effect will not be. That’s okay. I’ll choose again.

Is There Another Way?

2010-11-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

Are we on earth to earn our right to be on earth? Can our value be increased by what we learn, what we believe, how we behave, how many degrees we have, how much money we make or how many people hold us in esteem?

Answering these questions lie at the heart of my confusion and struggle. I find every moment as an opportunity to accept or reject what is.

Is it possible to accept ourselves as being enough just as we are?

So often I hear from people in my practice who are not okay with their lack of motivation. “Dennis, I really want to make this happen but I don’t have a strong enough “why””. “Dennis, I don’t know what is wrong with me. Why can’t I push myself to follow through?”

At a time when our net worth determines our self-worth, it is understandable that any sign we may not have what it takes to do more and be more is amplified with superhuman strength. It takes a great deal of energy to confirm the “little man” inside us. Is it any wonder we feel unmotivated and exhausted?

What if there is another way? What if we fully believed that our value is set at its highest level the moment we are born and there is nothing we can do to diminish or increase it in the eyes of the ultimate reality? What if chasing desires outside of the present moment is an illusion and what we awaken to is the realization that not just is the moment perfect but so are we?

I hold a vision of a life that is not influenced by the vacillations of opinions and judgments, rather only sees the light behind the mask. The light of pure love is in all of us. We were born with this light. We are this light and all that stands between us and who we truly are is acceptance.

Here is an excerpt from the preface of A Course in Miracles. I see it as a moment that was unexpected, divinely inspired and that changed everything. I see it as The Super Human Effect.

"Psychologist, educator, conservative in theory and atheistic in belief. I was working in a prestigious and highly academic setting. And then something happened that triggered a chain of events I could never have predicted. The head of my department unexpectedly announced that he was tired of the angry and aggressive feelings our attitudes reflected, and concluded that there must be another way. As if on cue, I agreed to help him find it. Apparently this Course is the other way."- A Course in Miracles

A Helping Hand by Dennis Rodriguez

2010-10-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I had an experience of pure unmitigated joy. A friend was coming over to my house first thing in the morning to discuss heart intelligence. As I opened the door, I noticed he was looking at something outside my living room window.

“Hey Dennis, take a look. It looks like this pigeon is dying.”

A pigeon laid on its back on my porch and it looked to me like it was gasping for its last breath. I didn’t know what to do. I know nothing about birds and had no idea how to help. No answers, no intuition, nothing. We went inside my house and just five seconds later I said:

“I have to do something. Can you give me a minute?”

I went back outside and fully took in the sorrowful scene. The pigeon was barely moving and all I could see was suffering. My mind had no healing answers but I knew I had to touch the pigeon. So I placed my finger tips on the bird’s left wing.

In an instant, the bird came to life and flew away. My whole being went into a state of bliss. My thoughts were completely halted and I relished in this momentary piercing of the veil. I had witnessed one of God’s creatures through the perception of death and defeat. The pigeon laying on its back, helpless, with every visible sign of death’s door approaching. All it needed was a helping hand, to help it not just come back to life but to feel fully alive and to soar.

It may have just been my perception. A bird aficionado out there might inform me that birds get stuck on their backs all the time. No matter. What I know is that I thought the bird was dying and in a moment, everything changed.

Perhaps this was an example of a shamanic experience. One in which nature’s creatures teach us to view life differently. Is there a deeper message in this story for me? For us all? When all seems hopeless and we feel like our dream is coming to an end, a helping hand comes our way that maybe, just maybe might be all we need to soar.

A visit to the planet Kairos by Dennis Rodriguez

2010-09-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

There are two words in the Greek language for time. One is chronos- the time of linearity and cool clocks and the other is kairos- the ever-present now, which is observed outside of space-time.

This year, our summer trip to British Columbia was especially beautiful. For the first time in the 15 years my wife and I had been vacationing in Canada, we were to spend a full week on Hornby Island, a piece of hippy paradise between Vancouver Island and the mainland.

On the last day of our Hornby stay, I made a decision. “This time I’m going to make it happen!” I’m going to get up before the crack of dawn, walk 20 minutes with flashlight in hand to Heliwell Provincial Park and snap a picture of the rising Sun over the coastal mountains. I had no idea exactly when the sun would rise. No internet connection or newspaper to fill me in on the handy detail so I set the alarm for 4:30am, noticed that it was still pretty dark out and trotted down the road. It was close to five when I arrived at the Heliwell cliffs. It looked really bright out by then and I couldn’t find the sun. I started getting worried. “Did I miss the sunrise? Why didn’t I prepare more? I don’t get it. The sun rises in the east. The mountains are to the east. Where is the sun?” I sat down on a boulder, dejected, feeling ignorant of my direction.

I then made another decision. “Forget about the sunrise, it was not meant to happen. Just sit and meditate, look out at the ocean and give the mind a break.” I didn’t have a watch except for the one on my camera so I did not time my meditation session. I just sat until I got up and started walking again. I was at peace with missing the execution of my plan. What choice did I have? Heliwell is a loop so instead of walking back, I kept walking through the cliffs in the direction of the forest. I stopped to catch a picture of a lone deer chowing down on early morning grub. I slowed down so as to not scare the five campers in sleeping bags still lying down contemplating God’s celestial creation. About five feet from entering the forest, I am stopped dead in my tracks by a burning heat and blinding light on the right side of my face. I turned to the source and that is when I saw it. The sun had begun to shine its face over the mountains. I took out my camera and with a delectable experience of suspended thought, I snapped the picture.

I had caught up with the kairos moment. It was not lost after all. The lack of diligent preparation did not matter. The meditation was neither a consolation prize nor a diversion. My wanderings were part of the plan; the deer slowed me down and the native campers were in on it. Even though everything was telling me I missed my moment, that my desire would not be met, it all proved to be a necessary part of the planned moment and I ended up at the right place at the right time.

Incidentally, the time on the camera when I snapped the picture was 5:55.

Gandhi's Moment- The Train Ride

2010-09-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

Nervous Lawyer to Peaceful Refuser

“The turning point in the lives of those who succeed, usually comes at the moment of some crisis through which they are introduced to their “other selves’.” – Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

(Excerpts from The Essential Gandhi- An Anthology Edited by Louis Fischer Random House, NY 1962)

[When Gandhi landed at Durban, Natal, in May, 1893 his mission was simply to win a lawsuit, earn some money and perhaps, at long last start his career. The lawsuit required Gandhi’s presence in Pretoria, the capital of Transvaal. First-class accommodations were purchased for him at Durban, where he boarded the train for the overnight journey.]

The train reached Maritzburg, the capital of Natal, at about 9 P.M. [A white man entered the compartment] and looked me up and down. He saw that I was a “colored” man. This disturbed him. Out he went and came in with one or two officials. They all kept quiet, when another official came to me and said, “Come along, you must go to the van [third class] compartment.”

“But I have a first-class ticket, said I.

“That doesn’t matter,” rejoined the other. “I tell you, you must go to the van compartment.”

“I tell you, I was permitted to travel in this compartment at Durban and I insist on going on in it.”

“No you won’t, said the official.” You must leave the compartment or else I shall have to call a police constable to push you out.”

“Yes you may. I refuse to get out voluntarily.”

The constable came. He took me by the hand and pushed me out. My luggage also was taken out… and the train steamed away. I went and sat in the waiting room…

It was winter, and winter in the higher regions of South Africa is severely cold. Maritzburg being at a high altitude, the cold was extremely bitter. My overcoat was in my luggage but I did not dare to ask for it lest I might be insulted and assaulted once again. [So] I sat and shivered. There was no light in the room… Sleep was out of the question.

I began to think of my duty. Should I fight for my rights or go back to India or should I go on to Pretoria without minding the insults and return to India after finishing the case? It would be cowardice to run back to India without fulfilling my obligation. The hardship to which I was subjected was superficial- only a symptom of the deep disease of color prejudice. I should try, if possible, to root out the disease and suffer hardships in the process. Redress for wrongs I should seek only to the extent that would be necessary for the removal of the color prejudice.

…This resolution somewhat pacified and strengthened me but I did not get any sleep.

…I suffered further insults and received more beatings on my way to Pretoria. But all this only confirmed me in my determination.

Thus…I obtained full experience of the condition of Indians in South Africa. [Many years later in India, Dr. John R. Mott, a Christian missionary, asked Gandhi, “What have been the most creative experiences in your life?” In reply, Gandhi told the story of the night in Maritzburg Station.]"

A “creative experience”. Did Gandhi create at the Maritzburg Station or did he awaken to an inner knowing; a determination and courage that it was time to make a decision that would forever alter the course of his life? Is this type of insight part of the creative process unfolding in our lives? Can we do anything to speed it along?

I am looking for moments of transformation all the time. This search is a double-edge sword. On the one hand, the search keeps me curious and captivated by inspiring stories such as this one, looking for magic in everyday life. Sometimes with a massive telescope scouring the heavens and everything under the sun for a glimpse of reality, other times with a high-powered microscope dissecting moments into infinitesimal units of meaning that jives with my worldview, never satisfied with a moment that feels stagnant and juiceless.

On the other hand, the search itself keeps me from experiencing and appreciating what is right in front of me. Noticing the cheeky sparkle in my children’s eyes when I drop them off at school, or the sweet music I hear when I tap on the keyboard with my two index fingers as I write these words. There is a constant undulation between wanting more and being in a state of gratitude for what I have. Is this okay? When I surrender to the movement of these two forces in my life, whichever one shows up, everything feels easier. Did Gandhi muster up the courage to forge ahead or did he just say "yes" to the force that said it’s time to move?

The Superman Effect continues to be an experiment, an exploration into life’s mysteries. The journey of remembering who we really are has no end. I don’t have answers today. Besides, questions are much more fun!

Charles Darwin and The Origin of Superman

2010-09-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

Charles Darwin- The Beagle Expedition- 1831-1836. Henslow wrote: Don’t put on any doubts or fears about your disqualifications, for I assure you that I think you are the very man they are in search of; so conceive yourself to be tapped on the shoulder by your bum-bailiff and affectionate friend…”

Charles Darwin’s study of South American fossils and of the unique bird life of the Galapagos Islands, together with the realization that all living things were interdependent turned his thoughts to evolution. The moment for Charles Darwin lasted 5 years. But hey, with an evolutionary process spanning billions of years, Charles Darwin is entitled to a 5-year moment!

From The Autobiography of Charles Darwin- Collins, St. James Place, London 1858

“I need not here refer to the events of the voyage—where we went and what we did—as I have given a sufficiently full account in my published Journal. The glories of the vegetation of the Tropics rise before my mind at the present time more vividly than anything else. Though the sense of sublimity, which the great deserts of Patagonia and the forest-clad mountains of Tierra del Fuego excited in me, has left an indelible impression on my mind. The sight of a naked savage in his native land is an event which can never be forgotten. Many of my excursions on horseback through wild countries, or in the boats, some of which lasted several weeks, were deeply interesting; their discomfort and some degree of danger were at that time hardly a drawback and none at all afterwards. I also reflect with high satisfaction on some of my scientific work, such as solving the problem of coral-islands, and making out the geological structure of certain islands, for instance, St. Helena. Nor must I pass over the discovery of the singular relations of the animals and plants inhabiting the several islands of the Galapagos archipelago, and of all of them to the inhabitants of South America."

“The voyage of the Beagle has been by far the most important event in my life, and has determined my whole career. I have always felt that I owe to the voyage the first real training or education of my mind; I was led to attend closely to several branches of natural history, and thus my powers of observation were improved, though they were always fairly developed. As far as I can judge of myself I worked to the utmost during the voyage from the mere pleasure of investigation, and from my strong desire to add a few facts to the great mass of facts in natural science. But I was also ambitious to take a fair place among scientific men,—whether more ambitious or less so than most of my fellow-workers I can form no opinion.”

Go Up Moses by Dennis Rodriguez

2010-08-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

Did Moses have a Superman Effect moment?

Moses is revered as a great Hebrew prophet and deliverer of the Jews from Egyptian bondage. The most commonly known moment that literally had fireworks (in the form of a burning bush!) is not, in my opinion the moment that changed everything for Moses. The moment that I see as the beginning of Moses’ transformation is his decision, while an adopted grandson of Pharoah, to kill an Egyptian that was beating a Hebrew slave. Moses knew his true nature as a Hebrew and simply could not stand idly by and allow this injustice to go unpunished. I believe this is Moses’ acceptance of his destiny and there was no turning back.

Exodus 2: 11-15- New International Version

11 "One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?"

14 The man said, "Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and thought, "What I did must have become known."

15 When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well."

Where was Moses’ first stop after the moment everything changed? Metropolis? Heaven? The Promised Land? Moses first stop was instead to flee in fear to the WILDERNESS.

He would spend most of the rest of his life in the Wilderness, dry desert land with unquenchable doubts, fears, insecurities and just a mustard seed of faith to bring him home.

Moses questioned his own abilities. To paraphrase:

“Me? Are you kidding? LORD, do you NOT hear my stuttering problem? How am I supposed to inspire anyone? You got the wrong guy. The right guy I AM not.”

“Trust me. I’ll give you the words. You can always get into a Joint Venture with your brother. My resources are all around you!”

And then, after the moment everything changed for Israel came and the sea was parted, more WILDERNESS. This time for 40 years.

The complaints came fast and furious:

“You got us out of Egypt to have us die here in the desert? We would have been better off staying where we were. Sure we were captives, prisoners with no control over our lives, but at least we knew what we had!” What do we do now Moses? What do we do NOW?”

“I don’t know!”

This scene played itself over and over again for the rest of Moses’ life. Did he give up? Did the Israelites make it to the Promised Land? Was the impossible made possible?

We revere figures like Moses as great leaders that overcame insurmountable external odds and mythologize their ability to fearlessly press on. Yet, a closer look gives us examples, time and time again of internal doubt, uncertainty, spiritual dryness, impatience, lack of faith and endless hikes up a mountain to find a solitary place to cry for help.

Like the Israelites, I have countless times complained to my Source. “You led me to this new life only to lose inspiration, to lack motivation to press on. It would have been better had I stayed in my old ways. Keeping my thoughts and feelings to myself, controlling how much love I give and receive. At least I knew what I had!”

Still, I hear an inner voice that keeps me going. “Trust me. I’ll give you the words. My resources are all around you!”

Oprah Describes Her Superman Effect Moment

2010-08-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

The Magic IF

2010-08-26T21:36:00.001-07:00

In the early 1900’s, playwright, actor, director and administrator at the Moscow Art Theatre, Constantin Stanislavski wrote the trilogy that would become the basis for actor training programs and for the development of techniques used by Dustin Hoffman, Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, Marlon Brando and millions of “method” actors for the next 100 years. His three volumes were aptly titled An Actor Prepares, Building a Character and Creating a Role. Stanislavski’s goal was to develop a system that would consciously harness the powers that were thought to be uncontrollable- Mainly that of emotional states and inspiration.

Prepare, Build and Create. Was Stanislavski a precursor to the new thought manifesters of today?

The Magic IF

Stanisalvski would tell his fellow actors “Believe in the possibility of events.”

Stanislavski had a name for the process of imagining what an actor would do in a character’s position- The Magic IF.

The “magic If” transforms the character’s [soul’s] objectives into yours. You determine what someone in that expansive situation might feel, and you present that to your spectators. You embrace a supposition and in that embrace, you start to spontaneously feel the motivations of the character. You start to think the character’s [soul’s] thoughts and when the curtain comes down, you call this process inspired acting.

In Conversations with God it is said that the fastest way to manifest a new way of being is to reverse the process of thought, word, and action. Act as if you are already the person you wish to become. Act as if you are certain of your destination. Act as if you are enjoying the journey every step of the way. When you act “as if” you then start to speak as if you are the epitome of your wildest dreams. The mind then has to grapple with a new reality driven by your actions and new thoughts follow suit.

Is this the same as “fake it till you make it”?

Yes, but there is nothing fake about your imagination coming alive with the wonderment and awe of possibilities. What’s fake is the story that limits the imagination to the moments that have been instead of the moments that can be.

When I act as if I am a successful author and spiritual life coach, I prepare by taking classes to hone my skills, I create by diving into new technologies from audio podcasts and membership websites, to social networking and downloadable e-Books. I build my character by showing up every day and sitting with the struggle and the flow, the disappointments and the celebrations, the ambiguity and the clarity. When I act as if, I don’t wait till someone tells me that the first page I have written of my book is good enough for me to continue, I write 200 pages without second guessing. I tweet every day and start a new blog. I post on Itunes and share my passions. When I act as if, sooner or later I am not acting, I am being.

So stay tuned in. This story has an ending you have to believe to see.

Down for the Six Day Count!

2010-07-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

I took me a total of six days to get back to writing. What a week. I don’t think I did too shabby. Considering how much pain I went through once I found out that I was not to be in the top 25 of The Next Top Spiritual Author competition. So why did it hurt so much? Well, I went for it full throttle. I did not shrink into an acceptable and safe size when dreaming of the possibilities. I saw the day that I would accept the award, looking out into the audience at my gleaming children, weeping wife, friends who had traveled hundreds of miles to applaud my efforts and surprisingly enough Ram Dass, Wayne Dyer, Marrianne Williamson and a host of spiritual old-timers prepared to pass on the mantle over to me. I saw my teachers and mentors: Christian Pankhurst, Karen Coffey, Lee Cook and Trevor Hart. I gave a speech that would have made Obama shout out- Damn, THAT was good! The interviews were endless, but so were the inspired words released from my mouth. I was moved to tears, I did not know whether to stand in glory or kneel in humility. I saw all my dreams coming true- The new house in Washington Park, the second home in Victoria, BC, the second car, the book signings, international rendezvous, and more interviews. It all came to me. All I needed to do was allow, receive, smile and sing. The grueling work of self-marketing, of believing before seeing, of overcoming misperceptions was over. It was time to reap what I had sowed. Then came the news. I was not asked to get up on stage. I was not even mentioned. I did not exist. I was standing nowhere.

I FEEL in this Moment!

2010-07-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

In 12 hours I will finally know. How do I feel in this moment? Alive! I have not judged any feelings as good or bad. Today I have had knots in my stomach and a heart pounding with excitement. I have felt terrified about how I would feel the moment after and have jammed to tunes on my Ipod- Donna’s “I will Survive”, Frank’s “My Way” and MJ’s “Man in the Mirror”. I felt “on” with inspiration when coaching a friend of mine next to her two Labs.

So tomorrow, if my name is mentioned, I will be so happy I will feel like weeping. I will be so nervous I will feel like vomiting. This is living- The good, the bad and the ugly. I feel it all and it is all good. This is what I have desired more than anything- to feel alive before there was proof that I am. To believe before seeing, to enjoy longing for longing’s sake. For the first time in my life I feel…I feel…proud of myself.

Opening Night

2010-07-04T22:37:00.000-07:00

Opening Night is just two days away. When I was an actor, I dreaded as well as looked forward to opening night. I dreaded it because rarely did we seem ready a few days before the curtains went up. There seemed to be no such thing as a smooth dress rehearsal and there was the fear that the show would be an unmitigated disaster. Yet, there was an appointed date and time for the start of the first show. We could not postpone opening night. Patrons had bought their tickets and eagerly expected us to show up. Having taken their assigned seats, it was time for us to fully feel on demand. We had to entertain, thrill and earn our applause. What were we to think when two days before the first line was delivered in front of an audience, the lights malfunctioned, the music was mis-cued, the dresses did not all fit, the rhythm and pace was all off and lines we still being adlibbed?

I looked forward to it because time and time again, a miracle would occur. Dionysus, the god of the theatre would shine down on us at just the right time and everything would fall into place. Just when it seemed like there was no hope for a stellar opening night, inspiration makes its grand entrance. The visitation brought instant exhilaration and joy to performers and observers alike.

So in just two days, the curtains will rise and 271 authors will sit in their seats to watch 25 get up and take the stage. The 271 have been rehearsing this moment for weeks. I am one of them. Today, I feel like I have had a horrid dress rehearsal. I am afraid of not being chosen to get up and take the stage. The actor’s nightmare is well-known. The actor get’s up to start a monologue in front of the audience only to go blank, forgetting what his next line is and realizes that he is naked. Can I stand naked after the 25 are announced? If I am one of the chosen few, will I fully step into the moment, and know what to say next to my fans, to the creators of the competition, to my family? If I am not one of them, can I show up naked and exposed with my true feelings revealed to those that care? Or will I start spinning as fast as I possibly can to save face, amidst feelings of failure?

I have never experienced a disastrous opening night and I am not about to start now. All I can do is wait and trust that the old Muse of Fire, Dionysus, of which Dennis is derived, will make his appearance perfectly on cue.

“O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention,
A kingdom for a stage, princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!”
-Start of the Prologue to Henry V

The Peace of God

2010-07-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Is the tide turning away from fear or towards it? There is a wonderful line at the beginning of A Course in Miracles: “Nothing real can be threatened.” What this tells me is that the converse is also true. Anything that is threatened is not real. So when we look at our lives, my personal life for example- I see that I only have about one month left before my savings are depleted. There is not enough money coming in to pay the mortgage, the credit card debt or the babysitter. If I sit with this reality long enough then the fear becomes bone-chilling and incapacitating. And yet, I see this time as a great test of trust. CNN is telling me we are at the precipice of a double-dip recession. Scientist are warning that the level of methane gas in the Gulf is so high that if there was a seismic gas explosion, it would lead to a tsunami that could inundate the gulf states killing 40 million and sending this great country into an economic collapse. The fear I write about is affecting everyone even if it is not consciously felt. We are protecting ourselves every second of the day. We feel irritated by the slightest annoyance, we distract ourselves from feeling the death of marine life, we ignore the signs that tell us now is the time to ask, “how can I help” and we instead recoil, retreat and re-double our efforts at a busy life.

What if we took this time as an opportunity to ask a different set of questions? What if I opened up to the part of me that is afraid and uncertain? What if I acted in spite of my fear? What if I believed that I am not my body and that Mother Earth knows how to get back into balance? How can I help her? I am writing this for many reasons. They are the thoughts that I am having on the eve of Independence Day. When a group of ill-equipped men and women risked everything to act in spite of fear. I am also writing this to show you that if I win the competition, there was a time, not in the distant past where I, like you felt afraid. I just decided to ask different questions.

"Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God."- A Course in Miracles

Uncertainty

2010-07-02T15:33:00.001-07:00

I can’t help but wonder, what is my true purpose? The decision was made to postpone the announcement of who will advance in the competition until after the 4th of July holiday. The announcement will be made on July 6th at 9am PST. A dramatic conference call is the medium of choice. 271 authors will cram a crowded conference line to hear the names of the chosen 25. Is this really what I am here to do? Go public with my message or am I of more help sitting alone in a dark room praying for the healing of souls? At this moment, I honestly do not know and so am open to serving in either capacity. God knows how I am most useful. My life has had purpose all along and it will continue to do so. The trick is can I live as if I know this and enjoy the process. I have lots of questions today. These are uncertain times. I still believe that an open heart is the anti-dote to a fearful existence. So I am allowing myself to feel the ambiguity of it all without judging it as good or bad. Next week will reveal a whole new set of feelings. My purpose is clear: to feel fully whatever comes my way without judgment and experience the inherent joy of un-resisted emotions. There is no pain in a feeling that is experienced with compassion.

The Coming Shift

2010-07-01T21:29:00.001-07:00

A shift is coming. It is both internal and external. It is affecting every living thing and at its core, is the awakening of the heart. Before the heart can open, fear must be confronted. It is not just the fear of the populace who vibrate at a lower frequency, but the collective fear of the planet. This fear does not discriminate between the masses and the light workers who have been on the conscious path. Those of us who see ourselves as having learned a thing or two about the spiritual journey but have never been fully tested with an unimaginable and existential challenge. Spiritual leaders are congregating all over the world to address the crisis in the gulf. This time, the crisis it is not at the hands of a few power hungry dictators calling for the destruction of the west and a return of the Imam Mahdi. Oil is once again at the center of the coming storm, but the crisis is not thousands of miles away in a desert once home to Nebuchadnezzar. This crisis in the Gulf is in our own backyard. We are not occupiers of this Gulf. This Gulf belongs to US. The challenge is not new. The challenge is always the same. Can we keep a compassionate and open heart through the shock and awe of what is to come? We ought to all work towards this common goal, first within our immediate circle and then in every possible opportunity. The awakening heart will seal up the fear and bind it for 1000 years 30,000 feet beneath the earth.

The Bigger Lesson

2010-06-30T10:44:00.001-07:00

The bigger lesson. What if I don’t advance? Will this be a fatal blow to my dreams? I know most would tell me that it shouldn’t be. To keep on movin, don’t stop. How long can I keep myself up? I do accept whatever happens as God’s will. It is what it is. But I have to admit, I have not been focused on getting out of the competition, so I have no idea how I will feel or what I will do if I don’t advance. I will allow myself to feel. This much I know. I will look into the eyes of my children and say “Daddy went for it. He did not sit back and let an unfulfilled existence determine his emotional state.” Okay, I may not put it THAT dramatically. They will see sadness and disappointment in my eyes and I will see it in theirs. That is enough for the moment. From this present moment awareness, I will ask, what do I want now? An answer will emerge. Perhaps not right away, perhaps the next day, weeks or months later. A newly minted desire will make itself known and I will start this process all over again…as if for the very first time.

Oh NO! I Forgot to Remember!

2010-06-29T11:39:00.001-07:00

Yes, I had a meltdown yesterday. Sometimes it's important to let the reptilian shadow side take space and let you know how it feels. I have had a pattern before relief comes, of freaking out right till the very end and then judging my lack of trust when things end up working out just fine. I have gone from telling myself "Dennis, break the pattern and find joy before you see heaven." to my new approach- "Be with what is. The next moment has no relation to this one. Freak out now, enjoy now. Judge or don't judge, regret or don't regret. It's all okay. Growth is not linear. The phrase, “If I knew then what I know now.." is an illusion. You forgot and in that moment, you could not remember. You remember now and in this moment, you cannot forget." So join me in celebrating the success of this moment. You deserve to feel good all the time.