Whenever the Time is NOW

This year's retreat at the Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley was hosted by Dr James and Rev. Leslie Golden.  The retreat was titled "Whenever the time is Now" ... and, well, when you think about it, the time is always NOW.  Now is the only time it can ever actually really be.  People have written books about it.  The sages say to "be here now" but sometimes that seemingly simple idea can be difficult to experience.  Our mind has an uncanny way of keeping us in the past and the future, reflecting back, multi-tasking and planning ahead.

Spiritual practices are tools we learn and use to make it easier to experience the beauty of presence, being in the Now.  This retreat was an amazing opportunity to explore new practices, as well as remember and reinforce those we already knew, to deepen our personal spiritual understanding and awareness.

Spiritual practices can take some effort, a bit of discipline, and this weekend was about honing our skills in that area.  Dr. James and Rev Leslie used the analogy of these various spiritual practices as different types of forks, all of them used for the purpose of feeding our soul food that comes from the One Source, God.  It doesn't matter which fork you use, what matters is that you remember to feed your soul!

We learned about and were asked to practice more mindfulness during the retreat and over the entire weekend.  That means to slow down... move slower in all your actions.  Drive slower (at the speed limit perhaps), eat slower and chew your food more thoroughly.  Bring more conscious awareness into everything you do.   

All the participants took a vow of silence.  I had never attempted something like this before, leading up to the retreat I was excited and a little nervous about this part.  With an open mind and an open heart, I decided I was ready for some quiet time... to hear the voice of Spirit within me, the One who created me.  

I have to say, the mindfulness, coupled with the vow of silence, made my mind seem MUCH LOUDER at first!  I had to, as gently and non-judging as possible, quiet the mind chatter and listen for that still small voice within me.  The one that reminds me not only am I loved unconditionally, but that our essence is purely and simply Divine Love.

We also learned some Siddha Yoga practices, including singing a chant (yes! out loud!  with our voices!).  We listened to and sang together, in a call and response format, the phrase: "Om Namah Shivaya" which means "I bow to the God Self that dwells within me - as me."  Everyone received a strand of mala beads, which are sometimes referred to as Buddhist prayer beads.  They are essentially used for keeping count during mantra meditations and have an added benefit of helping to keep the mind focused.  My mala beads are a new favorite "fork" of mine, I use them every day.  :-)

This retreat was an amazing experience.  It has deepened my spiritual awareness and fortified my spiritual practices in such a complete way.  My heart is wide open, filled and over flowing with the Divine Love that God is.  

I encourage you, whatever your "fork" is, if your soul is hungry then feed it!  If you haven't found a fork you like, come visit us... No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, know that you are always welcome here.

Namaste. 

To learn more about the retreat visit...

James and Leslie Golden: www.DreamANewDream.net

Siddha Yoga: www.siddhayoga.org

Self-Love is Just the Beginning. So Let's Get Started!

Today’s entry from the book “The Joyous Living Journal” is entitled “Self-Love,” and the affirmation reminds me:

“I love myself just the way that I am.

 I know I will continue to grow and learn,

but who I am is already precious and beautiful.”

I just love the timing for this!

Tomorrow, of course, the Women’s Groups is hosting a Girls Night Out at 7pm that will feature a workshop/intuitive art class with an emphasis on self-love. (Lisa McClure gave all the details in her blog post "Art Workshop with Psychic and Local Medium Ginger Roberts", but you can email amygreenroyd at gmail dot com for details.)

I had already signed up to attend to workshop, but if I needed any confirmation, the universe gave me a gentle reminder with today’s journal entry. The messages always seem to come, don’t they? Even if we’re not particularly listening... The thing is, they keep coming when we refuse to listen - they just get much louder, until we can’t help but listen, but that is another topic...Fortunately, I am learning to listen to the gentle nudge.

Learning to love ourselves is truly the key to being able to enjoy happy, fulfilling relationships, and to having any sort of meaningful success..

Perhaps it is time to put away the tapes of negative comments that have been playing in your head ever since you were a child, and replace them the knowledge that you are a miracle of love, light, life, beauty, power, peace and joy. It all resides within you and radiates as you.

I’m looking forward to the workshop tomorrow. Not sure what the outcome will be, except that I’ll spend the evening with a group of wonderful, witty, wise and compassionate ladies who always leave me feeling better for having spent time with them. If you’ve never had a chance to hang out with the ladies from the Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley Women’s Group, I encourage you to do so – you’ll be glad you did.

Melissa

Who Have You Come Here to Be

Today in the Joyous Living Journal the title is "Live From Being" and begins by asking the question, "Who would you be if you weren't so busy doing?" What a great question!

Another way of asking the question is, "Who have you come here to be?" What is your real identity. 

Many of us have had times in our lives when we felt that we didn't fit, that we were not part of the group or family.

As a child, the second of five, I often felt like I was not a member of our family. I didn't seem like any of them. I would ask if I were adopted and who my real parents were.

This is quite ironic since I was and still am the spitting image of my mother. Biologically there is no doubt that my family is my family, but spiritually I believe I was simply homesick for heaven. I now believe the reason I felt like an alien was because I was longing for the unconditional Love and Acceptance of the Divine Presence. The place where I wasn't wrong for being different.

One of my uncles was a great tease. I had a lazy eye and he would call me cockeyed. I didn't know what it meant but I knew it wasn't good. I was being picked out for something that made me different but not special.

Here is the truth. I am different and so are you. We are unique individualizations of the One Life. Our uniqueness is God in us as us. Today, from an awareness of my spiritual wholeness, I know that I am here to be the love, harmony, power and grace of God. Whenever I remember my true identity my activities have meaning. I no longer feel hurt by others' opinions and labels.

Here is something else that is true: I don't have time NOT to do my spiritual practices.  I cannot afford to show up without meditating and praying. Time stretches when I begin with God. Celebrate your true self. You are one with the One.

Lisa & Kate McClure with me, celebrating my birthday

Science of Mind Coming Alive

The entry for today from the Joyous Living Journal asks us to come alive and share our gifts with the world, We just need to awaken to the possibilities of our divine self, of being the hands and the voice of spirit on earth, But you don't have to be Mother Teresa, Gandhi or Jesus to share your gifts, we just need to ask, what makes me come alive? You are meant to be you, so be the best you that you can be, the power of the I Am. The Power of One. Who are You? Why are You Here Now? And how will you share those gifts? These answers are different for every one of us, so please repeat after me,

I have a unique gift to give. I have a necessary and needed talent to share. I make a difference. 

And pass it on. 

May Your Light Shine So Brightly That Others May Find Their Way.
Namaste