The Storyteller

In this time of short days and long evenings and nights — this time when the weather turns cold — it is a good time to come together around the fire…

It is something that, especially at this point in time, has become a bit less important. After all, we can light pretty much every room. The time when we had to carry that one lantern or candle to see where we are going has long since passed. And we have heating systems that keep our houses comfortably warm, no matter how cold it is outside.

On top of that the COVID-19 pandemic makes the it is not a good idea at all to get together with all of our friends and get as close to the fire and each other as we can…

That being said, throughout time this has been the time to turn inward — to get together and tell stories. Stories about traditions. Stories on how our ancestors lived (or survived…). Stories with an underlying, deeper meaning. And also stories about the best way to get about doing something, to choose your direction, or even how to plan your next great adventure…

All stories that pass on knowledge from one generation to the next…

Nowadays we have the internet that can supply us with all the answers as long as we are asking the correct questions. And yet, that is not the same as the stories that were told by the wise women and men of the “tribe”…

I would like to ask you to imagine that you are the storyteller…

What is the story you would be telling?

Is it a story that passes on knowledge or wisdom, or rather a story about exciting adventures you experienced on a trip you have made the past? Is it an account of something you actually experienced in your life? Or a story that is coming from your imagination, or even your phantasy? Does your story follow the ancient tradition in which the “good” conquers “evil” — a story in which people find each other in peaceful respect — a story in which love overcomes all hardship?

What is the story you are telling?

When you set about imagining your story — the story you would be telling — chances are it will have an important message for you as well. Even if you know exactly what story you would tell and how you would tell it, the moment you put the story together — be it in your mind or by writing it down — you will find that it is a story you are not just telling others. Your story will have a deeper meaning, a message even, that will help you move forward on your personal path…

Cleaning up, clearing out, and getting ready for new things…

As opposed to the proverbial spring-cleaning ~~~ the cleaning house after - or at the end of - the energy of winter; the clearing of the house of all the cobwebs, all the last little bits of old energy… so that we can truly get new things moving in the energy of the spring ~~~ it seems that this fall is motivating a lot of us to clean up and clear out all that is unneeded in our lives right now.

In part, this may have been brought on by the fact that we are not comfortable keeping our social calendars going to the same extend as before the Covid-19 pandemic. In other words, we are more at home than we would have envisioned ourselves to be. And that in and of itself may give rise to (re)organizing our space into something that is suiting us better at this time.

But then again, there is always more than one reason for doing something - and as such, more than one reason for a certain energy to come into our lives at any given point in time.

And from that perspective, it raises the question why so many of us feel the need to clean up, and clear out all that is old… What are we creating the space for in our lives?

These new things are not apparent. After all, if we could envision - or even imagine - them already, in all likelihood we would be attempting to get them going already.

So clearly there is a certain (Universal) timing associated with whatever it is that is waiting for us just beyond the horizon…

And that makes it so important for us to expand our view.

To stop looking at something new as something that can never happen, because… To stop making excuses for not manifesting our innermost desires. To stop cutting off our own imagination as to how wonderful our life can become, once the newness is supported by the Universal energies…

To place ourselves in a position in which we can embrace the new things life has in store for us… whether we can envision them already, or whether they are still hiding just beyond the horizon.

In doing so, chances are that when the new things are revealed to us, we will actually recognize they are there. With an expanded view, it will be easier for us to allow these new things to unfold into our lives - even when we never even dared dream of them before…

The Flow of Life Itself

Perhaps the biggest change we are encountering in this point in time, is the change from a structured life into a flowing life. A life in which we move with the events that are happening in our lives.

A life in which we choose our direction, and adjust if necessary, and so a life in which we let go of the concept that we can only reach our goals through adhering to a plan that is set in concrete.

When we start flowing with Life itself, we may find that we need to adapt our thinking patterns. That we may have to find a new way of setting our goals and going about reaching them…

If we would look at the Flow of Life as if it were a river, then we would flow with its stream. This may seem like we would not have the same range of choices that we have always had anymore — or even like we might lose (a part of) our identity. Because isn’t all the water in the river the same?

No. Not all the water in the river is the same.

As Rumi has said long ago: “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.” And this means that — while all aspects of the ocean are within us — we choose which aspects of the ocean we express in our lives…

In the river this means small vortexes can form, and the water can stream faster in some parts, while in other parts the water’s surface is seemingly an unmoving mirror.

All in the same river…

In our lives this means that some things may not work for us anymore. For instance, something like “keeping things under control” has become a lot harder for us to do. At the same time, taking responsibility for ourselves in all aspects of our lives has become a lot more important.

Following the concrete steps in our plan may take an extreme amount of focus and energy — while setting our goals as intentions can give us energy. Of course the intention in itself is not enough. Yet where we used to have defined steps planned out to reach our goals, in this new energy we focus on our intended goal and take a step in its direction. If the Flow of Life starts to bring us closer to reaching our goal, then we take another step in that direction — if not, we change directions. Yet our goal (almost always) stays the same…

Another “side effect” of living in the Flow of Life is that as we are learning to choose our directions and reach our goals, it becomes harder to “swim against the current”. It becomes more and more difficult to split the stream, to canalize it, and ultimately have both streams work against each other…

Life itself flows in a manner and direction that is good, and therefore it has no reason to fight itself.

And of course the Flow of Life is not just one big stream. There will always be smaller rivers, creeks, and brooks. And while the ocean is always there, there will also be the lakes, the lochs, the inlets and the fjords…

The Flow of Life is diverse.

The Flow of Life ultimately finds its way toward wholeness, toward oneness.

Childhood Convictions

Did you have any strongly held convictions when you were a child? Something like what life should look like, or “what you were going to do when you grew up”?

If I did, I cannot succinctly say what they were, except for the fact that I always turned to nature. If I was looking for something to do, I wanted to be out in nature. If I encountered a problem, I wanted to get out in nature. If I was totally happy, how best to celebrate it than doing so in nature?

It still took me years to realize how important nature truly is to me. Yet now, when life’s twists and turns show up unexpectedly, I find that I start listening to nature…

And the question that seems to come up time after time is: What is this situation that I am finding myself in telling me about my nature? 

When a woodpecker across the road is widening the opening of a nesting block for much smaller birds, I ask myself if there are any ‘doorways’ in my life that are too small to get through? Opportunities that I am not examining for whatever the reason. Only to find that not checking what is hiding behind that doorway that is only just ajar, makes me miss out. Missing out by choice, I might add…

In this way, the convictions we held as a child can be hints as to what is important in our lives.

Now, if you - as a child - were convinced you were going to be a fireman and as life progressed you didn’t become that fireman, it  doesn’t mean that you should change careers all of a sudden. However, asking yourself why you wanted to become a fireman may give you information on things that are truly important to you. Was it the “putting out fires”? In that case perhaps you now find yourself helping others solve problems of a different kind. Or was it “being the hero”? In which case you may find yourself being a hero in your chosen field of work…

In other words, our childhood convictions can become the pathway to our core believes. Or even the core knowing of what we are here for. Of what our place is in the grand skein of things. Of how we can make a difference in the world…

That childhood conviction was not just something silly, or just something that everybody says at that age - it was something that we would remember throughout our lives, and that could give us hints which direction to go when life would be chaotic. When we might come to a point of feeling powerless.

So in a chaotic time like we are living in today, we may want to ask ourselves, what was my childhood conviction, and what does it have to tell me at this point in time?

Being and Doing

In an ideal world we are our Selves. We are the “I am” — accepting without judgement all that we are at that exact point in time. The good, as well as the things we would like to change about ourselves. 

And in an ideal world we express the person we are without reservation. In other words, what we do is a perfect reflection of who we are. And in this way, being and doing are the inner and the outer “I am” at that point in time.

Needless to say that we are not living in an ideal world. We are living in a chaotic world in which we are juggling obligations, friends, family, and social distancing… A world where in many cases our home base — which always was a place of rest and relaxation; a place where we could be ourselves without having to bother about what other people are thinking — has become our work space. A world where face masks hide our smiles, and in which we need to either have our groceries delivered to our doorstep, or exercise extreme care when going to the supermarket.

All in all, we are living in a world that is demanding us to change. Doing the things we have always done in a certain way, is not working for us anymore. Meeting friends and family now requires different settings, or even new, digital ways of getting together.

To be fair, it is not like we haven’t noticed this need for change over the past five or six years or so… Looking back, almost everybody can see where we have received those little pushes to start doing things differently — or even to start doing different things altogether. 

But it seems like we are now at a point where we cannot push this need for changes in our lives away from ourselves any longer. And this brings up a couple of questions…

• What are the things in our lives that we would like to change?
• How do we change them?

Chances are that the changes that will work best for us in the long run, are changes that allow us to express who we truly are to a greater extend. To express the “I am” in any — hopefully creative — way that we feel will bring the most joy and fulfillment into our lives.

And pretty soon we will find that this will create a new space around us. A space that fits our energy, our “being”, and a space that allows us to breathe more easily.

Ultimately, the closer we can bring what we do — how we present ourselves, where we spend our time and energy, and yes, how we are handling our jobs etc. — to “being ourselves”, or the “I am”, the more (breathing) space we are giving ourselves.

And with that is becomes possible for a calm ease of living to return to to our lives…

Fall

To me, the most dramatic change in the seasons is when summer turns to fall. And this doesn’t always happen right on the equinox — it usually happens as the weather changes... And suddenly it is time to close the windows that were open all summer long. The front door, opened every morning from Spring, all through the Summer to let in some fresh, cool air — stays closed. Outside the wind and rain spell it out: fall has arrived!

And with the cold fall weather, the rapidly shortening of the days — the trees are losing their leaves and are preparing for winter.

Inside, I have turned the heater back on, and I comfortably settle in for the colder days to come through fall and winter

But what really brings it home to me that the weather indeed has turned, and that fall is here to stay — is to find my cats indoors — having hardly any desire at all to go outside. Even the big black cat who usually prefers the freedom of the outdoors is curled up on the couch — softly snoring...

Summer most definitely is over.

This doesn’t mean that there aren’t any beautiful days left. Quite the opposite is true! Going out on a beautiful fall day, the temperatures can be comfortable, warm even. We may find that in nature the air is filled with all kinds of scents — and the leaves turning their colors are a sight to behold.

Fall — traditionally the season of the harvest — is also the season of ‘letting go’.

The same way the trees are letting go of their leaves in a final rush of awesome beauty, the dry summer weather lets go to make place for a colder, more moist environment — although there are also places where the opposite happens and the summer rains disappear in order for the cooler, dryer fall weather to emerge.

Yet, any way you look at it — it is a time to let go of the things that have been going on throughout the summer. To see the results in one final splash of color ~ and then to release it such that a space is created where something new can come into.

A new idea; a new project — or even just a new sense of something that, at least at this point in time cannot quite be defined. A whisper in the back of your mind, as yet too softly to be heard — but definitely there...

This makes this time of the year I would like to invite you to ask yourself two questions:

• What are the things in my life I can now let go of?
• What new things would I desire to have in my life?

And don’t forget to go and enjoy this new season with all of its colors, the more earthy scents, and the soft light as it filters through the trees…

First published in 2011

Who are you?

In a meditation I found myself walking through nature… As I came to an opening in the forest, I was met by a Being, radiant in light. At first the light seemed to be brilliantly white, yet in the light where all the colors of the rainbow… This Being and I looked each other in the eyes, and I could see and feel its wisdom… Then this Being asked me: “Who are you?”

That question immediately brought me back into my day-to-day reality…

Who am I?

Am I that part of me that I present when I am working? Or rather that part of me that my family knows so well? Am I totally and truly myself when I am in my own environment? Am I the person others are expecting me to be?

And if I would meet my Self, would I recognize myself?

Apparently not (…)

In this point in time, the question: “Who are you?” is becoming more and more important.

It seems perhaps even more important than ever before, to truly know ourselves. To know the reality of who we are. Not just of that part of ourselves that we show the world around us, but especially our authentic selves…

Yet, it seems that this question: “Who are you?” is not as easily answered as it may have seemed. Often it gives rise to more questions than answers. Questions like:

• Am I living my life according to my personal truth, or rather according the ‘family truth’ or even ‘cultural truth’ that I grew up with?
• Are my wishes and desires truly for those things that will enrich every aspect of my life, or are they a reflection of the wishes and desires my parents had?
• Am I living my life according to what others are expecting of me, or do I walk my own, personal path? Do I perhaps feel guilty when I choose to walk my own path, and if so, why would I feel that way?
• Do I feel empowered, or does it seem like everything in my life is ‘happening to me’?
• Do I trust myself and my energy to such extend that I have a rock solid inner knowing that I will choose the right path every step of the way?

As our clarity grows as to how we would answer these questions, we will find that we start knowing ourselves better. We are more likely to create a life for ourselves where we are truly walking our own personal path without carrying the burdens from ‘the past’ — independent of what ‘the past’ means to us, or how we would define ‘the past’ in this context — and the easier it becomes to express ourselves. As we get to know ourselves better, making the right decisions and choices becomes more effortless.

As a result, knowing ourselves will make us more productive in our endeavors, while chances are we will experience less stress as we are living our lives…

Especially at this point in time it is becoming ever more important to answer that one simple question…

“Who are you?”

Standing up for what you believe in…

Standing up for what we believe in sounds a lot simpler than is usually turns out to be, because in order to do so, we need to have a clear and succinct idea on where we stand on any issue before us. It is easy to protest something we don’t agree with, yet it is a lot harder to define what we believe in where the particular issue is concerned.

In other words, an attitude that says: “No-one is going to tell me what to do…” signals that we can take care of ourselves, and we don’t need any help from others, no matter how well intended that help is.

When this attitude leads to actively protesting guidelines or even laws because they would “tell us what to do”, it also shows a certain amount of self centeredness. 

It suggests a belief system that says that our right to make our own choices — whatever the cost — is more important than the health and prosperity, or perhaps just the “peace of mind” within the community that we are part of.

When we find ourselves in a situation that we are feeling so strongly about, one way or the other, that we are ready to protest the situation, it could be a good time to step back and ask ourselves the question why we are feeling this way… And to take a little time to look at the things we truly believe in.

Do we believe we are that the only person that matters? That our perspectives, our personal truth is so important that it should be imposed on everybody else?

Or do we believe in a sense of community where we — within the bounds of everyone’s autonomy — look out for one another? Where we are willing to follow the guidelines — even when we are not totally agreeing with them — for the greater good of the community?

Either perspective requires that we start defining what we believe in, and how we are going to live our lives accordingly. Either perspective requires thought, and even foresight as to the consequences our subsequent lifestyle would have. For ourselves as well as for those around us.

In this point in time where everything we know and hold dear seems to be in flux, where more and more changes are totally out of our control because of their nature — for instance them being instigated by nature — it seems like all that is left for us to do is to loudly protest that which we disagree with. To make ourselves heard.

And in a lot of ways, this is a good thing.

As long as we don’t loose sight of the things we truly believe in. As long as we still live our lives according to those perspectives that are truly important to us…

If ever there has been a time to stand up for what we believe in, it is now…

The Elements

When we are thinking about the elements as far as the weather is concerned, we may think of cold weather, with rain and high winds. And with that, we mainly think of the element water… And the wind or stormy weather that permits that element to move.

When we look at the energy of water as an element, it has to do with cleansing and with emotions — and the wind then that brings these energies into motion. It makes that taking a walk in stormy weather can truly help us to clear our heads…

On the other side, right now it is summer. Lots of sunshine, high temperatures, and hardly any breeze at all. For many the perfect summer weather, although for some the temperatures may be a bit on the high side…

Right now, what we are experiencing is the element of fire. And fire has a lot to do with cleansing as well. On top of that the elemental energy of fire is about gathering the things we need in our lives, and allowing them to start moving around.

Summer then, has its own energy which has to do with details and wonderment. It is an energy that invites us to look with an open mind at what is happening in our lives, specifically the details that are at play.

The interesting thing is that this energy is coming up at the same moment we need to start paying more attention to the Corona virus again. Perhaps it is as important to keep social distancing while new rules and regulations may be implemented in busy areas in order to again contain the virus.

This combination of the summer weather with lots of sunshine and high temperatures requires us to again — and with an open mind — look at what is necessary to safely live a healthy, happy life. To observe what is important in our lives. To truly see the details in our lives…

Which details are so important to us that we will keep giving them our time, focus and energy, and which details are just the “small stuff” we will, bit by bit, forget about?

The thing is, because this is all about the details, it may seem not quite that important to spend our time looking at them. And therein lies the challenge! Because especially these details, when we start adding them up, can make a huge difference in our lives!

Looking at it from the perspective of the energy of the elements, what we are dealing with now is a cleansing — looking at what we really desire in our lives and what we can release — and then observing with an open mind how we can bring that that is important to us into movement in such a manner that we can shape it into a (new) whole.

From a practical viewpoint this could mean that we are looking at new eating habits, or a new way to take better care of ourselves. Or perhaps giving our innate, natural rhythm the space it needs so that we can finally be that morning- or evening person that we truly are…

Chances are that when we look at the elemental energy of fire we are experiencing in the summer weather in this manner, the changes that bit by bit are “sneaking into our lives” are going to be positive and beneficial — making our lives more beautiful!

Count Your Blessings

Every once in a while it is a good idea to take stock of where we stand in life. Where we want to go, and perhaps most importantly, what we are focussing on. The situation we are living in on a global scale makes this an excellent time to do so.

I think I can safely say that for pretty much all of us this year is unfolding differently than we had envisioned at its start. We may have had ambitious New Year’s resolutions, only to find that we are held back from reaching them because of what is happening in the world — or at least we need to go about it in a totally different way…

Arguably, the most important question we are faced with as a result is where — or what — we are focusing on.

Are we continuing to focus on the things that are not possible, the things we cannot do, or the goals that we cannot accomplish?

Or do we shift our focus to all the things that we have in our lives that are good? Making the most of each day as it happens, and using the “extra” time for reflection? Taking better care of ourselves, and becoming more aware of what we truly need in life?

As long as we are putting our focus on what we cannot do / accomplish / make happen, chances are we will find ourselves in a situation where our world gets smaller and smaller, where we are getting more and more unhappy — even depressed.

On the other hand, if we purposely look for the good in this difficult situation that awe are finding ourselves in, we may find that new and innovative ways to cope with it are opening up for us. And perhaps we even find that our path takes a slightly different direction, which, when we truly look at it with an open mind, becomes so much more fulfilling than we ever thought it could be.

When we count our blessings and are open to the new ways the Universe provides for us, little — and sometimes not so little — miracles tend to happen. When you decide to start traveling in mind, making journeys in your imagination, suddenly that trip abroad may be possible after all. Or when you decide to at home, you may find the weather opens up providing for you the perfect environment for a wonderful vacation.

In other words, at the very least our perception of our lives gets better when we start counting our blessings. Yet with an open mind, we may find that our lives actually do get better when we — purposefully — start counting our blessings…

We are not the storm

There are many things happening in the world right now that are challenging our existing world view. From the things we cannot do, and could do, to things we shouldn’t do and may need to change in our lives. And whichever way we look at it, every single one of those pushes us to change. From changing our behavior, to changing our perspectives. And even changing our belief systems.

It seems like we have come at a point where we can either change while kicking and screaming  about how all of this should never have happened, or we can take stock and see which direction this changing flow is bringing us…

As the age old saying goes “As above, so below — as within, so without”  says it all.

Whenever we find ourselves in a situation where we experience changes to such extend that we feel pushed around by something that is totally outside of our own control — let alone influence — chances are that there are things in our own personal lives that are no longer beneficial to us. Things we may not have looked at for a while, because “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, yet now we can suddenly see that there may be another way to go about it that is more productive on our personal path.

With the storm raging around us, it is a good thing to remember that we are not the storm… 

So, arguably the best thing to do is to find the calm in the storm and observe. See what the wind is taking away, and notice how the waters are washing and cleaning the path right in front of your feet.

With clear sight, we may suddenly see that what we were doing was not as productive as we thought it would be. Perhaps not even beneficial to us.

And from that point of calm clarity, we may find that the things we do, the situations we are involved in, the actions we take — all those things we set out to make happen in our lives and environments are not who we are. They are not our identity.

We are not the storm, we are that point of calm essence of self in the center. We are the eye of the storm. We can experience the storm, and learn from that experience. We can reach out when we are asked to help.

From that point of calm, we can express ourselves in a way that is beneficial and productive, not only to ourselves but to all those around us — even humanity in general.

The expression of who we are meant to be — innately peaceful, wise, and compassionate — is what is needed in the world today…

Walking on the Wild Side

Every animal has its own unique quality by which it is known. For an animal that is our totem animal, this unique quality can then help us bridge our day-to-day world with the — unseen —spiritual world.

Then there are “power animals” that lend us their unique strengths or qualities for a specific task. For instance, if we find ourselves in a situation that requires a lot of physical strength, we may call on Bear to lend us a hand with its strength.

Another perspective on this is to look at what quality we would like to have strengthened within ourselves. And if that quality was also found in an animal — which animal would represent it best?

In all likelihood this would be a different animal than our totem animal. And it would not necessarily be the animal that would help us, but rather the unique quality of that animal is a quality that we have deep inside us and it would be beneficial to us to start using this quality more often, or more openly. The animal then, would be more of a witness to that quality in ourselves.

One could say that when we are using all of our talents, strengths and energies to the fullest, we are whole…

And it is nice to have an animal be the witness to that specific, innate quality of ourselves that we somehow have shelved up to now, yet it does bring up the fact how we have adapted to fit in. 

Looking back there are any number of things that I knew to be true as a small child. But — certainly as a youngster — one should not talk about these things. One should be polite, logical, and if at all possible the picture perfect manifestation of our parents imagination.

And pretty soon we started behaving a certain way, speaking a certain way, and acting a certain way — all to fit in.

So what would happen if we would revert back to the person we knew we were when you came into this world? 

We probably would still be polite and well behaved. We even might still fit in…

On the other hand, we may also move into a new direction, more guided by our senses, our gut-feel, our intuition… We could find that we would be less bothered by what other people think of us. And we are very likely to discover that we would stop making our choices based on the expectations of people around us.

If we would take this new direction, we could discover potentials and talents that had been there all along, dormant, somewhere hidden in the depths of ourselves… We could find that we have qualities we had never been aware of…

And we may find that being accompanied by an animal witness to bring those qualities and talents to the surface is a beneficial and fun thing to experience!

Perhaps it is time to start walking the wild side…

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Uncommon Sense

Especially in changing - or even chaotic - times, it is a good idea to keep using our common sense. To keep an eye on the cause and effect of our actions, and to take responsibility when things turn our different than we had imagined…

That just makes good sense, doesn’t it?

But then there is a point when common sense becomes limiting, conceivably even tying us down. Because for all its value, common sense does seem to go for the tried and true, safe and secure outcome of whatever situation we are facing at that moment.

Yet when the situation requires a truly new solution - maybe even a totally different manner of looking at it and handling it - it perhaps calls for “uncommon sense”…

The “uncommon sense” that finds its roots in our imagination. In an open way of looking at the world in general and the situation in particular. Possibly a bit more detached and factual, yet filled with wonder at how it looks and how it has come about.

Our “uncommon sense” tends to have a way to see the beauty, the value, and even new opportunities in pretty much any situation - independent from our judgement of whether it is a good or a bad one.

Our “uncommon sense” definitely has an independent, wild side to it. An adventurous side.

Using our “uncommon sense” we are willing to stand up for the things we feel are right, and the outcomes we can clearly imagine to be beneficial - without letting ourselves being bogged down by our regular common sense that says “Well, that’s not going to work, after all, it has never worked before / never been done before / tried before…”

And that is exactly the point!

In changing times, we need new solutions. New perspectives. New ideas. And yes, a new way to perceive ourselves.

So in changing times, it is a good thing to reconnect with the wild side of our being. With those aspects of ourselves that we may have “unlearned” when we were youngsters. We may gain a lot from letting go of all the ways in which we have adapted ourselves to the expectations of others, or even the expectations of the world around us.

And we may be very surprised at the new and wonderful solutions we come up with for whatever situation we find ourselves in, if we apply “uncommon sense” to it. If we let our imagination of where we want to go with it run free - and only then look at what can be possible given the actual environment of that particular situation, the others involved and so on.

In this time when common sense is needed (and sometimes seems in short supply), I would ask you to - every once in a while - set yourself free and use “uncommon sense”!

Common Sense

We all have it; the ability to use good sense and sound judgement in practical matters. Whether we use it or not is a free will choice.

To actually use our common sense requires us to think. To give some thought to what is happening; to the situation we are finding ourselves in. It would ask from us that we ponder the facts and come up with a practical, levelheaded solution. A solution that works for us, that makes sense to us.

As such, there are always multiple solutions to any one situation, depending on how those involved in the situation perceive it. And while one solution may work better than another ~ common sense is always about the best solution for that person, in that situation, from their perspective.

So why don’t we use it more often?

Part of the answer may lie in the fact that in our world today we have rules for pretty much anything. We stop when the traffic lights are red, and move on as soon as they turn green again. Independent from other traffic being present or not. As it turns out, we are no longer looking whether there is traffic coming from other directions ~ all we are looking at is that red light ~ often with a good dose of impatience ~ almost willing it to turn green. And as soon as it does we start moving.

And it is not just in traffic that our ‘dos and don’ts’ are regulated. Almost every aspect of our lives has its rules about the things that are ‘done’; and often more importantly the things that are ‘not done’. As long as we are following these rules, we are safe. We are doing okay.

Another thing is that we can insure ourselves for those instances when the rules and regulations fail to protect us. We son’t have to look at our part in the situation… After all the rules and regulations are there for a reason ~ so if we are following them it cannot be our fault when something bad happens to us. And someone has to pay for that. Somehow we want ~ or even need ~ to be reimbursed for a situation turning sour ~ especially when it wasn’t our fault!

So it seems like we have replaced our own common sense with a set of rules and regulations ~ and then covered the risk with a package of insurances.

We have started to follow rules, rather than to think things through…

In all fairness, following traffic regulations absolutely makes good (common) sense.

However, it seems that when we start to ‘blindly follow the rules’; when we stop thinking about what is happening ~ we are no longer aware of the ramifications of our actions.

It is time to observe the ‘rules and regulations’ with a good bit of common sense…

Being Aware in Chaotic Times

Now that bit by bit the “shelter in place” ordinances are opening up, it seems that the tension we may have felt over the past months is searching for a way to express itself. It is almost as if we have held our breath all this time, and now, finally, we are able to breathe again..

And taking a few deep, relaxing breaths will help us claim our personal space again, if not our very own energy. And even while we are still not allowed to come any closer than about 6 feet, on average we seem a bit more relaxed about it.

We are discovering that it is all about Being Aware.

About our awareness of our direct environment, the people around us, and an awareness of all the things that have changed. Perhaps being most aware of the changes inside ourselves…

Therefore this is a good point in time to truly become aware of ourselves, our lives. To become aware of the things we have done differently over the past couple of months. To become aware of the things we wish would be back in our lives again, and those things that we may have found we can do without quite easily. And maybe even become aware of a couple of things that we — secretly — have enjoyed during this time…

The more we are asking ourselves these kind of questions, the more we are placing ourselves in a position in which we are Being Aware, the greater our sense of balans with the situation will be — often extending itself into a sense of confidence toward the future.

Of course there are also places and situations in which the built up tension seems to explode. Where things are happening that should not be happening, things that every once in a while are just plain wrong. This can happen on a small scale, like in families where suddenly old tensions have come to the surface. But it can also be a situation where cultural differences that may have been tense for a very long time are coming out in the open for everyone to see in a big way…

Suddenly we are becoming aware that underneath our day to day lives a certain tension had been hiding. And now that we are aware of this, we may be able to help bring this to a peaceful solution. Perhaps just by holding the situation in Light. Or by being there for someone in need.

Just by Being Aware, we can help bring balance into our lives, our direct environment, and yes, into the world as a whole. By staying in this balanced point in which we are Being Aware, rather than getting involved with sometimes extreme polarities, we can help change the world.