“The Voices” Universal Reading

We often find ourselves plagued by the myriad of voices in our heads wondering which ones are to be heeded and which ones are to be ignored or treated as passing thoughts.

With this mandala, we see three main levels of voices that also appear to correlate with levels of breathing:

1. random thoughts, usually starting with “I” – shallow breathing
2. “out of the blue” energized thoughts … like neurons firing – deep conscious breathing
3. soft gentle command-like thoughts; more intuitive – the gap between inhales/exhales

While there can be many combinations and variations on these levels, they generally fit into these three, all with valid roles to play in our lives. We just need to figure out which one to listen to in any given moment instead of just operating on auto-pilot.

Examples of random thoughts, which often come from our self-protecting ego:

• I should vacuum the living room
• what’s that noise?
• I need to finish that project
• no one likes me/my work/etc
• any thought starting with “if only I…”

Examples of “out of the blue” thoughts which often happen as a visual and while doing some mundane task (they can also appear in our dreams)…and can feel like an “aha” moment:

• a solution to a problem
• remembering someone’s name
• a new creative idea for a project
• a new way of doing something
• an action or activity triggers a hidden memory or dream

Examples of gentle command-like thoughts, which often come with a bodily reaction (goose-bumps, chills, an inner buzz, etc.):

• go to the bank
• call __________ (person’s name)
• turn right
• stop
• can also be short answers or responses to our random thoughts

Our challenge comes in three parts:

1. discerning which voice is speaking
2. choosing which voice to follow
3. following through with our choice

Sometimes it feels like one voice comes in and then another one immediately chimes in seeming to discredit the first.

For instance we may hear “finish your project” and then just as quickly another voice says “you can finish it tomorrow.” Who said what? The “finish your project” could be a level 3 voice reminding us that we need to finish the project and the “you can finish it tomorrow” could be a level 1 voice that is fearful in some way of finishing the project (fear of failure, fear of success, ‘what if I ruin it’, ‘what if people don’t like it’, etc).

On the other hand the “finish your project” could be a level 1 voice, which feels guilty or fearful that this project needs to get done as soon as possible. And the “you can finish it tomorrow” could be a level 3 voice letting you know that something else needs to be done today and that tomorrow will work out fine for finishing the project.

Regardless of which voice is speaking and which one we listen to, it serves us best to consciously choose without judging it rather than operating in default sleep mode.

Through time and practice we can know in an instant which voice is speaking. Does it feel protective, fearful, tense, guilt-driven, somewhat superficial? Does it feel like it comes from deep within as if from another place? Do we feel a bodily reaction to it?

To purposely connect with these higher level voices we just simply need to focus on our breathing or go even deeper to the gaps between our breaths. Yes, the level 1 voice will want to chime in while doing so…all we have to do is just acknowledge the level 1 voice (maybe even give it a name) and go back to focusing on our breath.

In the beginning it may seem like a lot of extra time to figure out the source of our voices and which one to follow. However, eventually we’ll be able to do this process in an instant…knowing that we are consciously choosing the voice that serves us best and is for the highest good of all.

Namaste

Universal Reading: It is what it is

The phrase “it is what it is” has become so overused, it’s become a cliche. And yet…when we really look at it, it is quite profound and a very powerful tool in our quest for inner peace.

At first it seems redundant to say it. Of course, something IS what it IS. So why even say it? Because it reminds us that we tend to over-react to things, we’ve assigned meaning to things and events that our reactions completely overlook what’s really happening.

Even this mandala is subject to a variety of meanings and interpretations. When all it really wants us to do is just experience the shapes, patterns, and colors for what they are…without meaning.

The second lesson in “A Course in Miracles” explores the phrase:

“I have given everything I see in this room [on this street, from this window, in this place]
all the meaning that it has for me.”

The lesson explains that a thing is just a thing without any meaning. We are the ones who attach meaning to it. And because we give something meaning, anything that threatens that meaning in any way, disrupts our peace.

For example, while doing this universal reading, the cap to my gold pen rolled off the desk and down onto the floor. I immediately became annoyed because it meant I had to

1. stop what I was doing
2. get out of the chair
3. look for it
4. and, then put it back on the desk.

Half way through this ‘process’, I realized my annoyance and reminded myself of today’s reading: “it is what it is.” The cap fell off the desk and needed to be picked up…nothing more nothing less. I was willing to sacrifice my peace in that moment by equating the cap falling off the table to an “annoyance.”

While a bit trivial, its simplicity shows how even the littlest things can disturb our peace and tend to be even more insidious than the more obvious reasons for upsets. And that’s where we start with this reading.

In order to create peace in our lives we must begin with being vigilant in the little things that we let disturb our peace.

I know for me, my reactions tend to be automatic. I’m usually deep into it before I realize that I’ve given up my peace. Another common occurrence is looking for something or someone outside of myself to blame for my reaction. The old “you made me do this” kind of thing.

What seems to happen:

event = reaction (blame it on the event)

What actually happens:

event + decide how I want to feel about it = reaction

We tend to forget a big piece of the equation. Our reactions happen so fast, that in a mere nano-second of something happening we’ve already decided how to react out of habit and go right into automatic reaction mode.

What we really need to do is:

1. stop
2. breathe
3. remind ourselves that “it is what it is”
4. ask ourselves “how do I want to feel about this?” (ultimately the answer is “peaceful”)
5. and “what can I do about it?”

Taking on this task is a process and it just takes practice and due diligence. Keep checking in by asking “how do I feel in this moment?” Am I at peace or am I reacting to something? As Abraham/Ester Hicks usually puts it “am I allowing or am I resisting?”

When asked what his secret is for being in a constant state of peace, Krishnamurti’s response was “I don’t mind what happens.” This is our ultimate goal…to be in total equanimity with all that is and all that is going on around us.

For now, let’s just start with the little things.

Namaste

ADDED 6/6/2013: For added reading on this same concept, I highly recommend this Huffington Post article: One simple question to move from anger to peace  by Tara Sophia Mohr

Universal Reading: Honor

Since the new moon solar eclipse on May 9, the word “honor” keeps popping into my head.  When that usually happens, I know it’s time to do a universal reading. So here we go.

Merriam-Webster’s web page for “honor” lists 10 definitions for it. For our purposes let’s focus on the first one with particular attention to the words respect and recognition.

This mandala asks us to “honor” all aspects of our lives by being aware of how this plays out in our day-to-day lives. For example, do we respect our inner spirit, our bodies, our minds? Do we recognize what our bodies/minds/spirits do for us every single day? Do we honor it with healthy habits?

On the day of the solar eclipse, it occurred to me that in order to live the joyful, peaceful life I want to live, I must honor 12 areas of my life that I often take for granted, to the point of disrespect in some cases.

In somewhat random order, they are:

1. spirit – higher self
2. body
3. home
4. talents (gifts)
5. possessions
6. business/work
7. yard/garden
8. spouse
9. friends
10. family
11. mind
12. planet/universe

Since newly awakening to this idea of honoring everything in my life, I’m beginning to see positive changes in how I see and interact with everyone and everything. For instance one of my least favorite tasks to do is washing the dishes. However when I approach the dishes from the perspective of honoring them, I find it very disrespectful to leave dirty dishes in the sink. Is this how I would want to be treated? I realize this example is somewhat trivial and yet it demonstrates in a simple way how to translate this idea into all aspects of my life.

I decided to create a new habit where every day I do one thing for each of the 12 areas, with the intention of honoring it in some way. It could be as simple as

• giving my husband an extra hug in the morning as he goes off to work (#8)
• clearing off the kitchen counter (#3)
• donating things that have outlived their purpose for me and yet could still be of benefit to someone else (#5)
• taking a conscious deep breath to bring me back to the present moment (#1)
• de-weeding a garden bed (#7)

It just needs to be some action (big or small) that recognizes and respects everything in my life. For now it’s a work in progress with some areas being easier than others.

So looking at the bigger picture of “honor” we can easily figure out how to honor the people and things that we love and appreciate already. But how do we do it for everything else?

• How do we “honor” our neighbor/friend/family member who maintains an unhealthy lifestyle or household?
• How do we “honor” those whose beliefs are completely different from our own?
• How do we “honor” those things or people we dislike, even to the point of hatred?
• How do we “honor” the person whose actions cause harm to others?
• How do we “honor” those who blatantly disregard the health and well-being of this planet?
• How do we “honor” organizations/groups/countries/etc that promote hatred in the name of their cause?
• How do we expect others to honor us, when we fail to honor ourselves?

All great questions…all have one simple answer.

We focus on honoring our own lives, by being a catalyst,
an example if you will, of what honor looks.

“How will one person honoring their life, change all the dis-honor in the world?” you may ask. You’re right…it’s a huge undertaking for one person…however if ten, one hundred, one thousand, one million, or one billion people do it, that, my friends, CHANGES EVERYTHING!

When we honor our lives and all those in it, we show others how it’s done…versus telling them how to do it. From each of our actions, this idea grows and radiates outward…for as we all know…actions speak much louder than words.

So on that note, I am honored and grateful that you took the time to read this blog post.

May your life be filled with a joyful heart and a peaceful mind.

Namaste

“The Helpers” Mandala

Within one week, the U.S. sustained two major tragedies: the Boston Marathon bombings and the West, Texas fire and explosion. It becomes more heartbreaking as stories continue to come out about the loss of life, the numbers injured, and the destruction of homes and businesses.

The U.S. experienced larger, more severe losses throughout its history (9.11, Oklahoma City bombing, destructive hurricanes/tornadoes, school shootings, etc). Sadly, other countries to this day experience bombings on a regular basis, genocide, and war, as well as major natural disasters…all with devastating consequences.

So what warrants a universal reading about what the U.S. experienced this week? It stems from the focus on “the helpers.” It’s been coming to light for a while now via a quote from Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers) that I see repeatedly on various social media:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

Lately, this concept of looking for The Helpers grew to the point where the mainstream media picked up on it when they noticed people running TOWARDS those who were in need of help rather than running away…disregarding the possibility of harm or death. While this has happened in the past with tragedies noted previously, this mandala wants to use these recent events to shed more light on this idea of The Helpers.

I know for me I often read/hear about these tragedies and ask myself “what I can do?” “what can any one person do?” This mandala reminds us that we are all The Helpers. It’s in our DNA. At the core of our being, we want to help people. Ever notice how you feel when you’ve truly helped someone? I know for me, I feel my heart grow and my whole body seems to lighten up. I experience the same feeling when others have helped me.

What this mandala wants us to do is to focus more on being the helpers we are created to be. To help both ourselves and others, to embrace compassion for ourselves and for one another. We do this all in an effort to make this world a better, peaceful, more loving place.

How can we do this?  Start by being kind. That’s all that’s required of us as The Helpers. Be kind to ourselves. Be kind to one another. Be kind in our thoughts, words and, actions. Be kind without becoming codependent which may appear to be kindness but in the end causes more harm than good.

Kindness comes in many shapes and sizes…all equally important…from smiling at a stranger to running into a burning building to save lives. When in doubt as to what to do, ask  ”what can I do right now that serves the greater good of all?”

Sometimes the most kind thing we can do is to just be quiet and smile.

joyfully, Maureen

Weekly Mandala Reading: Wake up!

Wake up! Rise & shine! Up and at ‘em! Beep-Beep! A-OOO-Ga!

This is our universal life-force wake up call. The time for holding back, playing it safe, self-sabotage, blocking our forward movement, and letting fear have control has ended! Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead! The light at the end of the tunnel is here! Stay away from that snooze alarm!

Do we have your attention?

Right now we’re in this semi-conscious state of just opening our eyes, waiting for our whole self to fulling engage. We’ve been living most of our lives in this day-to-day dream like state wondering most of the time how we got from point A to point B…like zombies.

Please note…we have the option to stay in our zombie-like states for as long as we want. It begs the question, however, “how’s that working for you?”…to quote Dr. Phil.

Being fully engaged means being fully present at all times: body, mind and spirit. A monumental task that we can easily break down into simple moments at a time. It starts by remembering to be aware as often as we can; “am I fully awake in this moment, fully aware of everything going on around me and in me?” Just asking that question brings us to the present moment.

Why do we want to be aware/awake? Because only in this moment can we make any adjustments, any changes to our current situation.

For example, quite often I catch myself walking into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and grabbing something to eat…as if sleepwalking…when in reality I wasn’t even hungry.

When I catch myself like that, I realize that I’d rather eat than take care of whatever it is that I’m really trying to avoid. Chances are what I’m avoiding has fear wrapped all around it. Looking even further, going deeper within myself, I recognize that the fear comes from some distorted illusion that I am not enough, I am not loveable, I am not worthy, or some other such nonsense.

Repeat after me…

I am enough! You are enough! We are enough!

I am loveable! You are loveable! We are loveable!

I am worthy! You are worthy! We are worthy!

Now go outside and play

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Mandala Reading #10: The Bigger Picture

Ever notice when flying in a plane how the view inside looks like a human sardine can? It’s packed with people in very uncomfortable seating arrangements with at least one poor child screaming in agony throughout the flight and another using your seat back as a kicking bag. Just getting up to use the rest room becomes a major ordeal, especially when seated in one of the inner seats.

But with one turn of our heads, the view completely changes. Looking out the window of this flying sardine can gives us a grand view, a bigger picture of where we are. Depending on the plane and how far along in the flight, the earth lays 30,000 feet below us in all its vastness as we fly amongst the clouds.

This mandala reminds us to turn our heads, look for a different perspective, see the bigger picture. What an amazing view we would miss if we stay focused on all the inner chaos of the plane. In this case we would miss beautiful clear night’s sky and the rising of the moon from behind a grand mountain range as it reflects off the large body of water below.

Today, while speedily walking towards my next errand and thinking about the next task after that, I caught a glimpse of a bright red, metallic star balloon, floating above the street. It contained just enough helium to keep it afloat without it going off into the stratosphere. I stopped to watch it as it floated up an down with the wake of the passing cars and trucks, without an apparent care in the world. It reminded me 1) to slow down and appreciate the view around me instead of being lost in my monkey mind thoughts as I scurried along, 2) to breath and be present in the moment,  and 3) to go with the flow.

Of course we can delve deeper into this idea of the bigger picture…of how we let ourselves become so wrapped up in what seems to be important in our tiny little worlds and forget to stop to take in all the wonderful and amazing things and people all around us.

What’s in your bigger picture?

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

ps…just for the heck of it, I decided to color this same mandala using the same colors but on white paper just to give you an idea of how different the mandala would look and as to why I chose (or rather was guided) to use black paper for these weekly mandala readings.

"White" version of this week's mandala

Weekly Mandala Reading #9

We continue our discussion about our paths.

Are we seated on the sidelines looking at all our options going back and forth over which one to choose? Or have we chosen one without yet being fully committed to it; as in “one foot in and one foot out.”

For the longest time I struggled with which path to take. What if it turns out to be less than what I wanted? What if I fail at it? etc. In the end I heard “just pick something…you can always choose again.” That made it so much easier to handle.

Recently it came to my attention that while it looks like I’m on my path, I have been reluctant to commit 100%. I let some fears about success and the responsibilities that come with it hold me back.

What this fear usually boils down to is the supposed lack of confidence we have in ourselves to handle success. When I seriously looked into this, I remembered how many leaps I’ve handled over the years, reminding me that I can handle it.

Where are you on your path?  Are you ready to take the leap?

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Mandala Reading #8

It’s easy to be distracted by all things big and small while moving forward along our path. In continuing with last week’s discussion of finding joy on our path, this week’s mandala reminds us to stay focused on our path.

These days, lots of things try to grab our attention…from disasters, scandals, and reality TV shows to more personal things like the laundry, emails, and all the gadgets that help us ‘make our lives easier.’

We may choose many pathways in this lifetime which is part of the joy of being here, more importantly, striving for excellence (vs perfection) in all we do while honoring our authentic self is our True Path.

Fears, doubts, ego, peer pressure and other such human foibles can lead us astray, distracting us from this Path. And that’s okay as long as we become aware of this distraction and put ourselves back on track. It becomes easier with each course correction, that the distractions eventually change into mere breezes passing by as we continue on our merry way.

The Key to Staying Focused

Be diligent and vigilant about asking ourselves: am I on the Path or am I distracted away from it.

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady

Weekly Mandala #7: The Path

Ever been on a roller coaster? Up until I received hypnotherapy for my height issues, I stayed away from them. Now, I love them!

The coolest part for me is when I relax as we quickly approach the top of a soon-to-be big drop so that as I fly over the top and drop (while still relaxed) I receive the full effects of zero gravity, weightlessness. In that tiny moment, I’m floating on air. What joy!

Having that experience requires being present in that very moment without thinking about the next hill, drop, twist or barrel roll.

We’re being asked to look at our paths and to ask questions about them…Where am I right now? Where do I want to be? What can I do now to move forward? What has to wait it bit? Is what I am about to do helping or holding me back?  What am I neglecting/avoiding? Do I even want to be on this path? How can I make it fun?

The Key to Being On Our Path:
Find the joy in where we are while moving forward, on our way to where we want to be.

On the Horizon

In the movie “Contact” young Ellie asks her dad about life on other planets. He offers a wonderful answer: “I don’t know, Sparks. But I guess I’d say if it is just us…seems like an awful waste of space.” (iMDb)

When we look up at the night sky through the ‘goggles’ of this mandala, we see waves of energy radiating outward into the vastness of space. And if we observed earth from any one of these stars or planets, we would see earth radiating an energy life force as well.

At the center of this mandala, a tunnel emerges, allowing us to delve deeper on the path into our own world where we can explore the core of earth’s life force.

We can use this example on ourselves. All around us, everything consists of some form of energy…people, animals, plants, rocks, etc. Along with experiencing this energy outside of ourselves, we can experience it within ourselves. Take a moment to feel your vibrational energy field within your own body.

Energy/Life exists everywhere.

joyfully,

Maureen, The Mandala Lady