Words, Intentions and Transitive Verbs

All the World's a Stage. You write the text. You pick your transitive verbs.

Words are powerful. We talk about that all the time. The Intention behind our words is just as powerful, maybe more so.

At the Center for Spiritual Living we talk a lot about “Tools for Transformation.” In fact this month is dedicated to Meditation, a primary tool for transformation.

Many moons ago I studied Method Acting both in Seattle and Los Angeles. These were small studios which were experimental in nature and very ‘craft driven.” We were expected to describe and share our techniques.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the use of “transitive verbs.” I think if used properly Transitive Verbs could qualify as a Tool for Transformation.

A Transitive Verb is

“is an action verb that has an object to receive that action.

An example will make this more clear.

Transitive verbs could be:

• to share good news
• to correct a mistake
• to teach a lesson

Now remember we were using these to create drama and conflict. Even comedy is about conflict. I am a bit out of practice now but we used to really have fun crafting especially meaty phrases that appealed to us emotionally.

• to expose the lie
• to shame an inferior
• to incite jealousy [in the other player]

It has to be "doable" and there has to be a direct object, something or someone (usually the other player in the scene) to receive the action. The actor "doing" the action "to" the other character also is looking to see if their action has been fulfilled. The actor is taking on the actions of the character but his "reaction" is an authentic emtional response to fulfilling or not fulfilling an emotionally charged intention.

The goal with this technique is to create an authentic emotional experience.

All of these actions or transitive verbs could be put behind almost any text. Just think about the simple exchange of “thank you” and your imagination will start to think of all that could be put into those words.

The words you choose are not the end all of your communication.
You choose what you do with your words.

Transitive Verbs could be a Tool for Transformation

• to speak my truth with joy
• to gently caress a heart that's hurting
• to share a friend's joy

You can uplift, you can inspire, you can challenge, you can shame, you can celebrate, you can do all these things.

Set your intention? Speak with Care.

"Spiritual Technology" to Practicing Presence Everyday

I was watching Thich Nhat Hanh on Oprah's "Super Soul Sunday.  He is a Buddhist Monk who has spent his life dedicated to bringing peace to the world through compassion, mindfulness and love.

It was certainly a compelling interview, but he shared one thing that truly caught my attention.

With books like, Eckhart Tolle's, "The Power of Now, " or the initial teaching of any Spiritual philosophy, that there is nothing more important than the present moment.

Even a moment that may be challenging; the present moment is the only place for our mind to be.

How are we, then, to create peace in the present moment when the grocery lists, kids' schedules, the hair appointment we made to cover our roots constantly run through our minds?

It almost seems impossible, yet, with spiritual "technology," we are able to do just that.

Here is a tangible piece of "spiritual technology" to keep us present....even if we've got a meter clipped to our hip that counts our daily steps:

Mindful Walking

We walk a lot in our day.

Back and forth down the hallway to get the kids ready for school.

What seems like MILES in Costco going from one end to the other.

Taking the dog for a walk....you catch my drift....there's A LOT of steps in our day.

What if we were to change these daily activities into a walking meditation?

For those who read this and say, "I don't have time to meditate!"  Here's a solution.

For those who read this and have a daily meditation practice, you'll love this walking meditation and it's very easy.  Here's how to do it:

1.  Take two steps and repeat the mantra, "I have arrived."

2.  Take two steps and repeat the mantra, "I am home."

That's it!

Repeat each mantra every two steps, and my friend, think of the transformation your life will quickly take by gaining the awareness, peace, and struggle-free living brought on, simply, by being present in your daily activities!

There have been over 600 medical studies done on meditation...all of which have scientific data supporting the physical, mental and emotional benefits of meditation.  There is no reason why everyone should not be meditating....this tool gives you all the benefits in something you are already doing everyday.

Give it a try for a day and be sure to leave your comments below!  Share your wins and even your challenges!

Transformation can be challenging, however, challenges bring on new lessons....we want to hear them!

Manifesting at 4am in San Clemente

It was something I used to do and while it was truly profound it somehow made its way to the backburner. I was religious about it. It was my favorite part of the day.

My "4am Hour of Manifesting" was replaced with childcare and sleep deprivation, a brief seasonal imbalance.

But that time has passed. The baby is a toddler and a nice solid sleeper at that. Keep her up one more hour at night and I have my precious morning time back.

I feel like the kryptonite has been removed from my immediate vicinity.

That magic early morning time to have a cup of coffee, journal, stare off into space, reveiw goals. It always centers me for the day.

Some pretty amazing manifesting happened at 4 am. It was a really creative time. I can see the cause and effect looking back.

• I really wanted to see my brothers together, in the same room. I actually crossed it off my wish list because it was truly in the "snowball in hell" category. But it happened.
• I wished to make an addition to our family. After 5 years of "infertility" Kate happened.

And its strange because it doesn't seem like much and yet it can move mountains. You feel like you aren't doing anything but then you look back and see the path.

Taking time to get quiet and listen whether that means meditation or listing to music, taking a walk in nature or spacing out to a cup of coffee.

It's that time to plug into the infinite of it all.

Enjoy this capture of the full moon setting over the ocean down by the San Clemente Pier. It was taken on one of my "Manifesting Mornings."

Light and Life: A lesson in Abundance

Even a little light is more than enough to make a beautiful photograph

I have a confession to make. My reoccurring life lessons, up until most recently, involved prosperity and abundance. Over and over, I would experience times of financial struggle followed by prosperity followed by more struggle. "I'm done with this," I would tell myself when the dollars in my bank account dwindled.

But, we bring about what we think about, right? And my reoccurring self talk centered on "we can't afford this" or "we don't have enough money for that." And my thinking focused on the core belief that the material things I had weren't really good enough. Flipping through magazines, I saw beautiful creative interiors that looked spacious and tidy. As I scanned my own home, all I saw was mess, mismatched furniture and dated appliances. Then I got a surprising lesson on abundance from an unexpected place.

I signed up for a photography class about light and life.

In the first lesson, the instructor asked us to look for light around our homes, not outside, at all different times of the day and in all the rooms of the house. She encouraged us to trust that even a small sliver of light was enough to make a beautiful photograph. 

Notice the light. Focus on the light. The light inside.

When I put my attention on the light, I began to see beautiful and abundant light throughout my home. At some time during the day, each room had enough light. And I found that less light, highlights in just the right places, was even more beautiful.

What you put your attention on grows.

Toys and laundry still littered the floor. I still found dirty dishes in the sink. But, my perspective changed. Instead of thinking about what wasn't there, I noticed what was...abundant light.

The second part of the lesson encouraged us to view a photo documentary by Darcy Padilla called The Julie Project, a 17-year story of an HIV positive, drug addicted woman. Our instructor encouraged us to look at the creative use of light and how it was used to make the viewer feel deep emotions. I clicked on the link and was changed forever.

Look for the light. There is always enough light.

It was so difficult to look at the images yet I couldn't stop myself. It was sad, hopeful then heart wrenching. Things got bad, better, then worse. But throughout the entire project, there was light, even in the darkest places.

As a whole, the lesson offered me perspective, a balance to the shiny and perfect life portrayed daily in the media. Every ounce of entitlement drained out of me. I felt nothing but gratitude for everything around me and I mean everything. I honestly felt to the core of my being that I had everything I needed and I was beyond blessed.

I am abundant and wealthy, so very, very wealthy. 

My thinking changed. Now I give thanks often throughout the day for my car that works and the food in my fridge. I say thank you God for a computer and a high speed Internet connection! I mean seriously, if that's not rich what is? I have a home with people I love and who love me. I've got it good and now I can see it more clearly than ever before. And from that clarity, I experience great peace and simply enjoy the light.

If you are feeling brave today, ready for a life-changing moment or just want to see how even a little light is enough, experience The Julie Project for yourself and then come back and share your thoughts with me!

The Julie Project

Have You Ever Tried a Writing Meditation?

Insight Timer is an iPhone app to
time and track your meditation time.

I had never tried a writing meditation. A couple Sunday's ago Dr. Rev. Heather spoke of this "writing meditation," another tool for transformation, especially suited for tapping into your inner guidance system. 

The idea intrigued me. Sitting quietly in a lotus position is how I have defined meditation in the past. I didn't know you could write while meditating! I guess I should have taken the meditation class.

It was recommended that you write for 30 minutes. Giving yourself that long gives a chance for all the resistance to drain out.

I used my iPhone's "Insight Timer" to do my first writing meditation. As you can see from my settings in the picture I chose to meditate for 30 minutes. I decided to just quiet my mind for the first 10 minutes and then write for the remaining 20.

 What a great technique! Write down some questions and just keep writing. Try it for yourself. It only takes 30 minutes.

Vitality is the Presence of God

Vitality is an energy which SHINES.

Every month at #CSLCV, Church of Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley, we have a theme which all the Sunday services revolved around.

Vitality has been the theme for August and I have found it a more potent idea than I had previously considered. In fact Vitality has given me food for thought.

"The natural vitality is the presence of God and it flows through us."

"That feeling, that is the presence of God. That is who you truly are. That shining presence in you is the presence of God."

Vitality to me has meant energy, a natural healthy energy, a fueling energy which helps me accomplish, a sustaining energy which gives me strength.

But to think of Vitality literally as the presence of God within oneself led me to think about our responsibility to nurture that Vitality, that God source which we experience and that we have the responsibility to share.

Those of us who come from the Christian tradition have certainly heard some version of Matthew 5:15 which in the King James Bible says, "Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, but on a lamp stand; and it gives light unto all that are in the house."

And so to nurture ourselves in a healthy way, eating life sustaining food, participating in healthy activities, following our creative passions, letting our best self shine forth is expressing God or Universal Consciousness or whatever you feel comfortable calling it.

To shine is our natural calling.

Isolation Is Not Freedom

Stick figures participating in the "Releasing Prayer." More tools for transformation.

In this month of July Freedom has been the theme. Last week we heard from Reverend Heather on the topic "Partaking of Your Perfection." So when Dr. Heather shared this tidbit in her Sunday address I immediately tweeted it out as it resonated with me.

"When we try to be perfect we put up shields, perfection is different from perfectionism."

I thought of how in my desire to shield myself from criticism I have often chose to isolate myself. This form of "shielding" has taken many forms but none have given me the freedom I desired.

Because what I am learning is that Freedom is in forgiveness and we need to practice it every day.

Forgiving yourself being the most important forgiveness of all.

Cause I'm free to do what I want any old time ...