Posts Tagged ‘Journey’
Walking Through Illusion
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
I was recently given the book, Walking Through Illusion, written by Betsy Otter Thompson. The book features a series of short stories about biblical people who either knew Jesus or knew of him. The author believes that we don’t take our beliefs with us when we leave here. Rather, we take the love we found from having them.
Each chapter focuses on a specific theme through a conversation with a biblical person. The end of each chapter has a worksheet with questions, which is designed to deepen the conversation and engage the reader in their own personal journey.
This is a book for those of us who have questions about their own faith and beliefs and how beliefs play a part in our faith and life. As Thompson says:
Faith Can’t Be Bought, Bartered, or Begotten.
It Is the Knowledge of Who You Are,
Why You Are Here,
And How to Enjoy That Search.
In the end, the book is about deepening our relationship with ourselves and stepping beyond the illusion of seeking approval. “The greatest achievement you’ll ever reach is to love and accept yourself.”
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to bring more love & insight into their life and heart. Enjoy!
Mary Anne
Breaking Ourselves Open
Monday, August 30th, 2010
After visiting Omega Institute for the weekend, I felt myself break open a little more. I became so mindful of the earth I was walking on, the food I was placing in my mouth, and the thoughts flowing in and out. I “thought” I was going to Omega for a yoga weekend, but found myself exploring organic foods. I walked away with a whole new relationship with my meals—eating slowly, consciously choosing what I put on my plate, and noticing how foods from the earth tasted in my mouth. My relationship with food is breaking open.
Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of Omega Institute, writes about the journey of breaking open in order to blossom into who we really are. In her book, Broken Open, she writes:
“Over and over, we are broken on the shore of life. Our stubborn egos are knocked around, and are broken open—not once, and not in predictable patterns, but in surprising ways and for as long as we live. The promise of being broken and the possibility of being open are written into the contract of human life. Certainly this tumultuous journey on the waves can be tiresome. When the sea is rough, and when we are suffering, we may want to give up hope and give in to despair. But brave pilgrims have gone before us. They tell us to venture forth with faith and vision.
May you listen to the voice within the beat when you are tired. When you feel yourself breaking down, may you break open instead. May every experience in life be a door that opens your heart, expands your understanding, and leads you to freedom.”
Here is to breaking open over and over and over again.
Mary Anne
This is dedicated to Elizabeth Lesser, all the amazing staff at Omega Institute, and Sri Dharma Mittra for breaking open my relationship with food.
“Lost” Taught Me About Remembering
Monday, May 24th, 2010
The final episode of “Lost” aired this weekend and for anyone who has been watching the show for six years it was a typical ending in that it left viewers asking more questions. I think what the show did best over the last six years was allow for amazing discussion around time, faith, redemption, light, darkness, and interconnectedness. For me, I became deeply invested in the relationships of the characters, and of course, wanted a happy ending.
The show’s brilliance was its ability to move us through time and connect the past, present, and future. It felt very shamanic as people called forth their emerging self while releasing their past. Characters were often asked to “let go.” I felt like the show asked us to remember our original selves. It gave us the big questions: Who am I? Who am I now? And who was/am I to you? And as Charlie asked on the last episode of the first season, “Guys, where are we?”
The highlight of the last episode was watching the characters in the flash side-ways remember who they were on ‘the Island’ in relation to one another. Our ability to remember is often what connects us. Even small glimpses, like remembering a smile, can keep people alive in our hearts. After my mom passed away, I told my spiritual teacher, “I’m not afraid I will forget her. I am afraid I will not remember.”
If the show did nothing else, it reminded us that we are all related and connected. It’s about finding one another and remembering one another. It’s about the journey of life (and death). It’s about choice and acceptance. It’s heaven on earth and earth on heaven and everything in between. Each character’s transformation through the multi-universes showed us a journey through self-awareness and ultimately personal enlightenment.
What is our state of remembering? What allows each of us to remember that light within that is always there?
To remembering,
Mary Anne
Lessons Learned in 2009
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
I spent this week rereading all the blogs I posted this year. Each one felt like a personal recipe for living, learning, & loving. Each blog held a nugget of hope, a spark of light, & moments of absolute love. I have put together some of the best quotes from my blogs of 2009. May they give you the hope, light, & love that is already awakening in every way.
“Starting over means we can release the past without judgment and move forward without baggage.”
“Forgiveness is not an act; it’s a process. In order to forgive, there must be a journey of going to the place of healing. It’s coming to a place and resting – just resting.”
“The question then becomes, are we willing to practice and share peace with one another? It starts with each person being peace. We can then see peace in each other. Each of us can be the peace story.”
“Do it afraid. Whatever the ‘it’ is, do it, live it, breathe it…Do it anyway. Do it despite yourself.”
“The phrase “Truth Be Told, I Choose You” represented the grandest invitation to life. This is the experience of totality – the gift of fully inviting another person on your life’s journey.”
“When I am open, the world is open, when I am grateful, the world is grateful.”
“I am the one I have been waiting for. The teacher I have been waiting for is me.”
“How are we prisoners to our own minds and project it out to the world? Freedom starts with each one of us. Step forward for yourself and for another.”
“Here was an opportunity to live in harmony with the way things were. Now was my chance to ask myself how I am unconscious in the world.”
“How much is mind chatter costing you? Stillness is free.”
“Imagine taking a planned break to clear yourself of all distractions. Perhaps we are not ready or able to take a year off, but what if we could actually plan in our calendar a sabbatical to generate new ideas, listen to our inner creative voice, and appreciate our work as a calling.”
“As we prepare for a season of “Peace on Earth”, may each exchange this season be one of love and presence. It’s the economy of the heart that I am looking to build this coming year. It’s increasing our capacity to love that I am hoping to stimulate.”
Happy New Year! Here’s to learning more lessons ~ Mary Anne
Ever-Changing Light
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
There are some places you can visit and there is no need to return. There are other places you visit and you can go over and over and over again. This type of place offers respite and beauty – where you can hear the whisper of the wind, the wings of a bird as it flies above your head, and watch as the earth rises up to meet the sky and back again. It’s where you can rest in the place of crashing waves, pine tree trails, and ocean buoys singing. This is the type of journey where day blends into night and the night stars guide you home. Maine is one of those places for me.
Since 1996, I have traveled to Maine because I love the beauty of the mountains and the ocean. I love seeing the sea and standing at tree level. About every three years, I go to Maine for vacation. It’s the type of vacation where I usually end up hiking many trails, climb up hills and rocks, meditate, read lots of books, and walk for hours. I often find myself drawn back to Maine. There are so many parts of being there that draw me back – the hiking trails, ocean waves, eating lobster on the rocks, the canopy of pine trees, watching sunrises from Cadillac Mountain, bald eagles, and popovers at Jordan’s Pond. But after two full weeks in Maine this summer, one thing really stood out – the light. I realized what draws me back to Maine is the ever-changing light. The glow of the light from sunrise to sunset awakens me.
It’s the light that gives me energy. It’s the light that wakes me up and helps me sleep as dusk and dark arrive. The ever-changing light reminds me that anything is possible. I am drawn towards the light in all ways.
What places call you back home to yourself? What light are you drawn towards?
Welcome home.
This is dedicated to Lorene and all my friends who spent vacation time in Maine enjoying the beauty of the Earth
“Truth Be Told – I Choose You”
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Truth Be Told - I Choose You
I opened up my email from a friend, and read the first line, “Truth be told – I choose you.” Seeing the words on the screen, a flood of tears came. I took a breath and read it again. More tears came rolling down my cheeks. Suddenly, I felt overcome with emotion. I turned the computer off and just repeated the words. I felt a huge release come over my body. I began to shake and I could feel an old protective rusty cage around my heart snap open. My heart felt softer and expansive at the same time. Years of caution and mistrust just melted away with that one powerful line.
My heart felt open and ready to receive love. I wiped the tears from my face and sat quietly. I repeated the line, truth be told – I choose you, over and over again. Voicing the phrase aloud, I felt an enormous power inside that revealed a pure essence that has always been there, but one I had not accepted. Each word in that line was a transformative vibration – truth, be, told, I, choose, you. This phrase represented the grandest invitation to life. This is the experience of totality – the gift of fully inviting another person on your life’s journey. It’s the power of invitation.
When we invite others to join us on our journey, we open ourselves up to a vulnerable place that can reveal incredible gifts. If we really allow others into our hearts, we can experience the fullness of life. One invitation can be the difference in how we experience the world. Inviting others into our world can be a life changing event. Truth be told – I chose you was a spiritual awakening.
I so deeply experienced the intimacy of allowing a friend to connect with my essence – it wasn’t about what I do or who I know – it was about inviting me because of who I AM. I felt like an apostle when Jesus said, “Come, Follow Me.” This is the greatest of faiths. The invitation is about dropping everything to be present with another.
I turned the computer back on, read the line, and smiled. I felt so much gratitude to have such a wonderful friend and hoped she knew just how powerful that opening line was in her message. There was so much relief after so many years of carrying such a protective cage around my heart. Now, my heart feels open to receive more love in every form.
How do you invite more love into your life? Byron Katie says, “Love is action.” Choose to invite someone into your heart. Give the gift of invitation.
Truth Be Told – I Choose You, Too!
Special thanks to my friend for sending me this powerful message of invitation and love. I am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for opening my heart and feeding my soul.
More Love!
Mary Anne