Summer Gratitude as Everything Shifts

[click bold for depth]

On page 19 of my book Ritual As Resource I shared my “Mary Ritual” as the book’s first example of bringing “resource” to an opposite energy (or experience). I described her then (and still do) as: “a friend I’ve known and loved for over twenty years. More pertinent is that I know and deeply feel that Mary loves me unconditionally: In her eyes, I can do absolutely nothing wrong. It’s like having the perfect protective encapsulation of love.” Since my last blog, I’ve been witnessing and experiencing Mary’s last days on the physical plane as a true Earth Mother. Equally challenging is watching my best friend John courageously show-up as her primary care-partner. Additionally, aside from the complex tragedies abounding everywhere, my dear niece and goddaughter is undergoing breast cancer treatment and a bevy of other tough life challenges. Mary, John and Deb inspire me. None of them are complaining.  In the best ways possible, they express gratitude in their words and demeanor.

 In Alberto Villoldo’s book Courageous Dreaming he defines: “Gratitude, the feeling that we are blessed, helps us to stop being enslaved to our to-do lists and remember why we came here: to love, to learn, to grow, to discover what we can do to participate in the unfolding work called creation…with boldness and originality.”  Feeling “blessed” is something I can tap into during my current personal and professional experiences and challenges. I am amazed to feel blessed in a life filled with tragic losses and serious illnesses. These perspectives continue to humble and strengthen me as I am blessed at the same time. I am also grateful to be a part and parcel of “The Seismic Shift” that is presently occurring in the human experience. 

In the June issue of Spirituality & Health Magazine Paul H. Sutherland writes: “The change that is underway is profound and will seem to most to be revolutionary. What is this shift? The historic paradigm that our self-worth comes from what we own is ending. We’re moving away from valuing multiple cars, multiple televisions, plastic surgeries and saving little. The shift will underscore the false consumption-orientation economy that we in the West think is the key to prosperity and happiness. Finally, it is sinking into our collective head that our borrow/spend behavior does not make us happy.”  We are observing that a good resonant connection with nature, art, friends, family and the world as well as our Self (in the unfolding work of creation) can make us happy. Now, if we can only create the shared intention to organically evolve and share additional methods to support this shift while also focusing on reducing suffering and supporting possibility, we would have done our part to serve humanity.

My friend Mickey Lubell visited recently and shared three simple questions he uses, he has them posted on his computer monitor as a reminder to support the shifts I’m alluding to: 1) Is what I’m saying loving or respectful? 2) Does it need to be said? 3) Is it true? Initially, this struck me as utterly simple. Yet, when I practiced it myself, it improved my phrasing and communication became more impeccable and created space for other possibilities.  Simple as it is, it is also a practice.

A quick update from last entry: The move to the new practice space went as graceful as possible due to the wonderful help I received. I’m pleased in the newly emerging vibe of my new digs as I begin to feel more settled. It’s a perfect place to comfortably evolve my practice and art. Somewhat coincidentally, the two spring 10-week Focalizing groups I ran ended in the new space in very beautiful ways.

If I can be helpful, I have available time this summer for 1-1, couples, or other facilitation and focalizing.

To a grateful summer!