Dear Wise Women,
Thank-you for bringing your whole and beautiful hearts to our circle yesterday evening!
Deep Presence
Compassion
Open-Heartedness
Courageous Vulnerability
Time and time again, these four qualities stand out to me as some of the most important qualities to cultivate on the path towards what some may call spiritual enlightenment, but which I prefer to call freedom. I am referring to the freedom that comes from being ok with whatever happens.
As Michael Singer says, “You can learn to stay open no matter what happens in the world. At first it feels unnatural since your innate tendency is to close as a means of protection. But closing your heart does not really protect you from anything; it just cuts you off from your source of energy.”
If we can truly stay open no matter what, then we are in fact “free”. Please note that this is not the same as condoning atrocities or overlooking bad behaviour, nor does it mean we are free from experiencing pain, grief and loss. Being open simply means that, no matter what, we are not disconnecting our heart from inner energy. Only when we are able to stay open can we truly heal ourselves and others.
Over the coming weeks we are going to deeply explore Compassion and Open-Heartedness. I will be touching on the teachings of Michael Singer, Pema Chodron and others.
As I shared, when I was laying out the oracle cards yesterday morning, one of the Wild Woman cards fell off the table (actually it pretty much jumped off the table). I laughed and said to myself, “I guess I’m supposed to read that one.” It was the Compassion card. I read it and smiled at how perfect it was for today. So, I set aside the other reading I had planned to share and shared this one instead. Here it is again for you to savour…
“Come with passion to that which calls your heart no matter how big or small the pain, suffering, joy or happiness is. Do not be afraid. Compassion is not afraid to feel. It is not afraid to suffer. It is alive and beating and knows we are one...we are the Holy Divine.
Caress your wild and sacred heart for it will carry you to places of understanding beyond what your mind could ever do. Notice your feelings. Allow your heart to feel safe and open to all there is to experience as you carry it through your life. Walk gently. Embrace your hurts. Celebrate your triumphs. And, remember that you are doing the best you can do, just as others are doing their best too.
Allow yourself to feel what you feel, and it will lead you to that Wild Woman place - that authentic true nature that brings you peace of mind. This is where great ideas flow and the biggest problems have solutions you couldn’t have imagined.
It is important to uncover what moves your heart. Let go of preconceived ideas. That is your mind. Open instead from your heart. Let it lead the way in your life. Discover, “what is the feeling that moves your heart into action towards that which calls you?” Consider your awareness with mindful and heartfelt interest. Hold in your arms the deep embrace of all life’s story, no matter what it is and who you are. The story is there for your unfolding. We all have a purpose. Trust the light that shines within and let your heart bathe naked in your support. Keep it safe and warm for the journey, knowing it can trust you to hold it, feel it, know it and allow it. What can you feel to nourish this knowledge and understanding?
Let the energy behind your heart’s passion move you into the action you want, need and desire. Open your self to a world far deeper than your mind could ever know. Your heart knows something it can’t explain - but it feels in a way you understand, helping you to remember who you are. Connect up with this. Align with and support your soul. Do not stop yourself. The world needs your genuineness and your respect. Witness the expression of your wild dignity and understanding. It is a small world really, when connected, with possibilities unfolding everyday. Walk in your possibility, and allow your potential to seek compassion in yourself so that you may serve yourself and the world in the tradition of the wild and real. Every step you take is a healing step. Every step you take is a sacred step.
Take good care of your heart as you carry it through each step of your life. It’s the only one you have, and truly it is there for you in every way. It wants to feel everything and be safe in doing so. It looks to you for that safety, for that knowing, for that understanding that it is very much a part of your journey here on earth. Heal your body. Heal your soul. Heal your heart. Heal the earth and all her creatures. It is time. ”
And here are the excerpts and pointers that I have summarized from Michael Singer’s chapter on Infinite Energy…
“Consciousness is one of the great mysteries of life. Inner energy is another.
Just as everything that happens outside in the physical world requires energy, everything that happens inside requires an expenditure of energy.
Creating thoughts, holding onto thoughts, recalling thoughts, generating emotions, controlling emotions, and disciplining powerful inner drives, all require a tremendous expenditure of energy.
This energy doesn’t come from the outer energy source. It doesn’t come from food and it doesn’t come from sleep.
This flow of energy comes from the depth of your being. All the great spiritual traditions give it different names (Chi, Shakti, Spirit). This is a source of energy you can draw upon from inside. It is what you feel when love rushes up into your heart.
This spiritual energy is yours. It’s your birthright, it’s unlimited and it’s equally available to everybody. True spiritual teachings are about this energy and how to open to it.
The sun does not shine differently on different people. It’s’ the same with inner energy. The only difference is that with the inner energy, you have the ability to close up inside and block it. When you close, the energy stops flowing.
The only reason you don’t feel this energy all the time is because you block it. You block it by closing your heart, by closing your mind, and by pulling yourself into a restrictive space inside.
There are centers within that channel your energy flow. When you close them, there is no energy. That is what it means to be “blocked”.
The energy center you intuitively know the most is your heart. The heart is an energy center, and it can open or close.
When you are open, you feel the wellspring of beautiful energy inside of you. When you are closed, you don’t.
There is a very simple method for staying open. You stay open by never closing. It’s really that simple.
Closing is a habit, and just like any other habit, it can be broken.
We are programmed based upon our past experiences such that all kinds of things cause us to open and close. If you pay attention, you will see it happen regularly throughout each day.
Any time you start to close, ask yourself whether you really want to cut off the energy flow.
Because if you want, you can learn to stay open no matter what happens in the world. At first it feels unnatural since your innate tendency is to close as a means of protection. But closing your heart does not really protect you from anything; it just cuts you off from your source of energy.
Do not let anything in your life be important enough that you are willing to close your heart over it. When your heart starts to close, just say “No, I’m not going to close. I’m going to relax. I’m going to let this situation take place and be there with it.” Honor and respect the situation, deal with it. Do the best you can. But deal with it with openness.
The most important thing in life is your inner energy. If you love life, nothing is worth closing over. Nothing, ever, is worth closing your heart over.
The more you stay open, the more the energy flow can build. At some point, so much energy comes into you that it starts flowing out of you. You become a source of light for all those around you.
”
I invite you to place your hands on your heart and say:
”I love you. I trust you. You are beautiful and you are wise. You beat in harmony with the greater plan of life. You are my guiding light.”
Wishing you open-hearted living this week. Remember, the very simple method for staying open is to not close. So notice when you are closed, acknowledge that you are closed and ask your heart to open, no matter what!
With love,
Patti