It’s no surprise that with the New Year comes the tradition of setting resolutions. It gives us the “get out of jail free” card we all like to use during the holiday season. We’ve all done it. That internal dialogue that says, “I’m going to eat this, drink that, and sleep until then because come January 1st it’s all over. I’m going to get back on track. No more sweets, no more booze, more exercise and less stress.” We all have the best intentions when the year begins, but how many of us even remember last year’s resolutions? How many of us accomplished what we set out to do last January and are building upon it this year?
The simple fact is most people are setting themselves up for failure not success. Following these few steps to building S.M.A.R.T resolutions will remedy that. Give yourself a better start, and reap the benefits all year long.
Be Specific: Don’t say, “I want to lose weight.” Instead say, “I want to lose weight by exercising three days a week for an hour and eliminate caffeine and sugar from my diet.”
Make it Measureable: Instead of saying, “I want to lose weight.” Say, “I want to lose 5 lbs. by exercising three days a week for an hour and eliminate caffeine and sugar from my diet.”
Make it Achievable but not too easy: Instead of saying, “I want to lose 20 lbs. in two months.” Stick with the 5. It should be achievable but also a challenging.
Be Realistic: If you work 80 hours a week, is it realistic for you to exercise for an hour during the day? Maybe it would make more sense to exercise for 30 minutes while being consistent.
Give yourself a Timeline: Make sure your resolution has a deadline. Sub out long deadlines for short term ones. This will help you track your progress and recognize setbacks.
Once you have built out your SMART resolutions, take a moment and review them. Ask yourself these most important questions. Are these inspirational to me? Do they have significant meaning? If not, go back and revise. Prevent the return of an uninspired resolution next year.
Happy New Year
Tags: goal setting, MOSAIC, New Years, Ryan Glidden, SMART, Yoga
The holiday season is upon us once again. With Thanksgiving past, people are in full swing with their preparations. Christmas songs fill the radio waves and lights begin to cover the nighttime landscapes. It’s around this time of year we take a little extra time to share some holiday cheer.
It is also a time for travel, for visiting in laws, for long lines and traffic at the mall. And while there may be a break from school and work for a little while things can still be quite busy. So how do we maintain our balance through the season? How do we build upon our own happiness so we can share it to the fullest capacity with others?
Yoga’s Patañjāli left us with quite a gift for this holiday season. In the yoga sutras there is the mention of Chitta Viksepa or Distractions and Obstacles of the mind. In order to overcome these distractions there is the four-fold path to happiness.
1. Maitri: Friendliness. This is not just the concept of smiling at the person who cut in front of you at line for the last iPad 2, but finding a way to feel one with this person. If you can recognize yourself in another then it becomes much easier to offer a friendly gesture. One who understands Maitri bears malice towards none, even perceived enemies.
2. Karuna: Compassion. This path is one of action. It is offering one’s own resources to alleviate the pain and suffering of others. Of the four, this is probably the most commonly displayed this time of year. Holding a door for another to enter ahead of you. Helping change a tire, or donating a gift or time to help another in need.
3. Muditā: Delight in the success of others. In order for one to feel true happiness we must be able to delight in the successes of others, even perceived enemies. How much different would you feel if you were completely happy for the person who got that big bonus or promotion over you this year. Again we recognize ourselves in another and are happy for their success. This is a strength that gives you great power and stability in your own happiness.
4. Upeksā: Understanding. One who embodies Upeksā recognizes the faults in others, but only after studying and understanding them within themselves. How many times have you criticized another for an action you yourself have done? We’ve all has seen the person at the company holiday party that has too much to drink and embarrasses themselves? Take a moment and reflect, have you ever been in that situation?
As we navigate through this holiday lets take a moment to reflect on this ancient wisdom and how we can apply the principles of friendliness, compassion, delight, and understanding to all those we come in contact with. B.K.S Iyengar says in his book Light on Yoga, “Happy is the man who recognizes the real from unreal. Twice blessed is he who knows true love and can love all Gods creatures. Thrice blessed is he who works selflessly for the welfare of others.“ Bless yourself this season, maybe even twice or thrice.
Tags: Happiness, Holiday, MOSAIC, Ryan Glidden, Yoga, Yoga Sutras
For the scientific, analytical mind, Reiki can pose quite a challenge when trying to intellectualize exactly what it is. I could spend the next several paragraphs engaging your intellect, highlighting how and why Reiki is both a scientifically measurable system and a form of energy medicine as defined by the National Institute of Health. I could, but I don’t want to. I prefer to recognize the simplicity of the practice instead.
The essence of Reiki is spiritual healing energy that is available to help return the body to balance on every level – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. A trained Reiki practitioner (who can be anyone interested in Reiki, requiring no special set of skills or prerequisites) uses light touch and a system of hand placements, typically starting at the head and working down to the feet. The Reiki energy engages the biofield; the subtle vibrational body said to surround and permeate the human body.
In addition to the hands on practice, Reiki is also a set of values, or precepts, to guide your on your path as you navigate through day to day life. There are five Reiki precepts that a Level One Reiki Practitioner commits to honoring and practicing. Daily. They are:
For today only:
Do not anger
Do not worry
Be humble
Be honest in your work
Be compassionate to yourself and others
Reiki does not require a belief system or religious practice. Reiki is not magic. Reiki is not a “special healing gift” given to only a select few gurus or monks or other “spiritual leaders”. Reiki is comprised of the energy that gives each of us life, vitality and consciousness. Reiki is energetic intelligence, guided by spiritual influence, aimed at restoring health and vitality to the body, mind and soul.
In addition to being recognized by the National Institute of Health as an effective form of complimentary energy medicine, Reiki is used in some of the nation’s most prestigious hospitals (Yale New Haven & New York Presbyterian Hospital) to aid in the recovery from major surgery, to lessen the harmful side effects of aggressive cancer treatments and to reduce the rate of recurring heart attacks in patients with heart disease.
Other proven effective uses of Reiki include:
Treatment of digestive issues
Treatment of Insomnia
Treatment of Hormonal Imbalances
Treatment of Depression
In summary, Reiki access a consciousness and energy beyond our limited human minds and bodies. Reiki values and honors a life force energy that yearns to restore balance and harmony to all living energies, with love, honor and respect.
If you are interested in becoming a Reiki practitioner, Melissa hosts monthly weekend trainings at MOSAIC. The next Level One training is June 18&19. Level One focuses on attuning to the Reiki energy and learning self treatment for self healing. You can sign up at www.mosaicyoga.com under the “Workshops” tab on the home page. Feel free to stop Melissa before or after class with any questions.
Those who train with me, or frequent my classes, hear me suggesting that to stay well hydrated you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day (a 120 pound person would drink 60 oz. of water). I also suggest that you add some salt to your water.
This suggestion often beckons a confused reaction in people as many believe that salt is “bad” for you. When considering the efficiency and effectiveness of any habit, or practice, including salt intake, we need to take a close look at the variables of quantity and quality.
While high salt consumption has been associated with high blood pressure, fluid retention and heart and kidney disease, all salts are not created equal. In fact, avoiding salt altogether can be dangerous for the body. Our bodies are full of salt. It is found in our blood, sweat, tears and even our urine. It is important that we replace the salt in our bodies with the correct kind (quality) and in the correct amounts (quantity). Proper salt consumption can actually have the reverse effect of what everyone fears. It helps maintain a proper fluid balance, normalize blood pressure, enhance digestion and nourish the adrenal glands.[1]
I would not recommend adding the common table salt to your water, or anything you drink or eat. Most common table salt, sodium chloride, has been processed at high temperatures, changing its molecular structure, removing vital minerals and has been subjected to additives and anti-caking agents. 1
I recommend that people add a pinch of organic unrefined Celtic sea salt to their water. Dr. Batmanghelidj, M.D. suggests in his book, Your Body’s Many Cries for WATER, that for every 2 quarts (approximately 10 cups) of water you should have half a teaspoon of salt (approximately 3 grams). To keep it simple I’ve always suggested “a pinch” of salt in your water, if it tastes salty it is too much. If you notice a decrease in urine production, it is too much.
Naturally the most common question made after the suggestion for adding salt is, why? Some of the many reasons offered by Dr. Batmanghelidj are:
- Salt is vital for sleep regulation
- Salt is vital for the generation of hydroelectric energy in all the cells in the body
- Salt is vital for the prevention of gout and gouty arthritis
- Salt is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps
- Salt is absolutely vital to making the structure of bones firm
- Salt is good for helping reduce or eliminating asthmatic conditions
- Salt is a strong natural antihistamine
- Salt is vital for the kidneys to clear excess acidity and to pass the acidity into the urine
- Salt is essential for preserving the serotonin and melatonin levels in the brain
Sea salt contains up to 80 different mineral substances useful to our bodies. It is vital to our survival for the regulation and maintenance of numerous functions as mentioned above. 2
As with almost anything, too much can be a bad thing. You must consider quantity and quality. If you want to add salt to your diet find a good organic unrefined sea salt and use the guidelines provided by Dr. Batmanghelidj. If you want to learn more about the effects of water and salt on your health I would recommend reading his book.
[1] Lipinski Lori, “The Kitchen Transition,” <http://www.westonaprice.org/component/content/article/15 making-it-practical/258-kitchen-transition>, December 2003.
2 F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water,” 1992-2008, (United States of America: GHS Inc., 2008), 154-159.
Tags: Salt
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) the percentage of Americans who are either overweight or obese is around 68% (34% obese and 34% overweight but not obese). This does not include the 20% of 6-11 year olds who are also considered obese. What is obesity? Obesity is defined as having a BMI (Body Mass Index) score greater then 30. A score that falls between 25 and 30 is considered overweight and a score that is under
image taken from medicineworld.org
25 is considered low risk or “healthy”. Your BMI score is calculated using a formula that draws upon the relationship between your height and weight. If these numbers are accurate, which I believe they are, they are astounding and scary, especially when compared with the fact they are more then double what they were 30 years ago. We are talking about 104 million of the estimated 307 million US citizens are obese. So what’s the problem?
Many, including the World Health Organization, consider obesity to be a disease. It is a major contributor to: Heart disease; hypertension; diabetes; stroke and some types of cancer. Not as easy to record but also just as detrimental are the emotional and psychological effects obesity can play on one’s self-confidence, self-esteem and self-love. On top of all that, a Congressional subcommittee estimated that obesity contributes to health costs of $140 billion per year that could be avoided.[1]
Fat facts
Fat is probably the most misunderstood macronutrient needed by the body. The mass media has done a pretty good job over the past decade to convince the general public that fat is BAD, that we should eliminate it from our diet and our bodies. The simple fact is this could be quite dangerous. Fat is an essential micronutrient and is used for insulation, stored in different areas of the body: under the skin (subcutaneous), on top of the kidneys and in small amounts in the liver and muscles. Fat is needed for maintenance of cell walls, is essential for proper brain development in infancy and youth and is used in the creation of essential hormones like cholesterol, DHA, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. Fat is also the greatest supplier of energy for our body through adulthood. For every 1 gram of fat there are 9 calories. Compared to protein (4), and carbohydrates (4), fat has more then twice the amount of energy per gram. Fats are composed of building blocks called fatty acids, which consist of a chain of carbon atoms linked together like a snake with an acid structure at the tail.
All fats are not created equal. Some fats are required for health while others are detrimental. In the words of Udo Erasmus Ph.D., “Some fats heal, and others kill.” Whether a fat heals or kills depends on many different factors including: What kind is it? Is it consumed in balance with other fats? Is it fresh? How has it been treated– has it been exposed to light, oxygen, heat, hydrogen, acid, metals?[2] Fats fall into two main classifications: saturated and unsaturated. Unsaturated fats are then further classified as polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated. Sources of saturated fats are found in animal products including milk, cheese, cream, beef, veal, lamb, pork and ham; as well as some vegetable products including coconut oil, palm kernel oil and vegetable shortenings. Saturated fats are also used by the liver to produce Cholesterol. Polyunsaturated fat is found in greatest abundance in corn, soybean, safflower, and sunflower oils as well as certain fish oils. Monounsaturated fats are found in mostly vegetables and nut oils like olive, peanut and canola.[3]
The absorption and storage process
As food is being digested, the gall bladder secretes bile salts that begin to break down the large fat molecules into smaller pieces called micelles. This process is known as emulsification. The pancreas then secretes Lipases enzymes, which attack the surface of the micelles and break them down into the compounds of glycerol and fatty acids. At this point, they are small enough to be absorbed through the cell walls of the intestine. Once in the cell wall, the fatty acid and glycerol are then rebuilt using a protein coating called chylomicrons to create triglycerides where they are moved to the lymphatic system and eventually meet with the veins, being released into the blood stream. Because the fat molecules are too large to begin with, they need to be broken down first to pass through the cell wall and then rebuilt. Once rebuilt they are still too large to enter the smaller capillaries into the blood stream so they are transported there using the lymphatic system.
Within about eight minutes of entering the blood stream, Lipoprotein Lipases (found in heart tissue, muscle tissue and blood vessels) is triggered by insulin, produced in the pancreas, to release and break down the triglycerides back to glycerol and fatty acids. The pancreas’s release of insulin tells the cells to absorb glucose, fatty acids and amino acids and to start building glycogen (sugar stored by the liver for energy), proteins (from amino acids) and fats (triglycerides). At this point the fats are then absorbed by the cells and stored as fat droplets. It is interesting to note that after puberty the body does not create any new fat cells, they only get bigger. In extreme cases of weight gain however this may not be true.
The breakdown and usage
The body is constantly in need of energy, even when you’re sleeping. This energy comes from the food we eat. The body’s first “go to” energy is converting glycogen stored in the liver to glucose (glycogenolysis). The body burns this glucose (sugar) as energy. Glucose is the sole supplier of energy for the brain. If more energy is required then the body can begin to break down the fat stored in it’s cells, to glycerol and fatty acids (lipolysis). These elements, glycerol and fatty acids, can be further broken down and used as energy directly or they can travel to liver to be changed to glucose (gluconeogenesis).[4]
One of the problems for many when it comes to weight loss is that our body is incredibly efficient at using energy. Let’s use the analogy of a car and gas. One gallon of gas is roughly equal to 31,000 calories. If we could drink gasoline, our human engine would get approximately 300 miles to a gallon.[5] Compare this to the modern day SUV 15-30 miles a gallon and you are the greatest, most eco-friendly machine ever created. It takes time, and sometimes professional help, to shift our body composition back to balance. There are many factors that contribute to a person’s weight gain, loss, and maintenance. A few of these factors would be; the quantity and quality of, stress, lifestyle, food sources, water intake and exercise. Weight loss, especially for those who are considered obese, is most likely going to be a change in lifestyle not just a diet. The traditional approach of counting calories can be effective for weight loss but dangerous to one’s health. This strategy for dieting is often times fleeting, once the diet ends, the weight comes right back. Using critical thinking when approaching your weight loss and management is an essential tool to your overall health. The general guidelines for nutrition provided by the Weston A. Price Foundation can be a good start to changing the way you eat / fuel your body.
1. The diets of healthy primitive and non-industrialized peoples contain no refined or denatured foods such as refined sugar or corn syrup; white flour; canned foods; pasteurized, homogenized, skim or low-fat milk; refined or hydrogenated vegetable oils; protein powders; artificial vitamins or toxic additives and colorings.
2. All traditional cultures consume some sort of animal protein and fat from fish and other seafood; water and land fowl; land animals; eggs; milk and milk products; reptiles; and insects.
3. Primitive diets contain at least four times the calcium and other minerals and TEN times the fat soluble vitamins from animal fats (vitamin A, vitamin D and the Price Factor–now believed to be vitamin K2) as the average American diet.
4. In all traditional cultures, some animal products are eaten raw.
5. Primitive and traditional diets have a high food-enzyme content from raw dairy products, raw meat and fish; raw honey; tropical fruits; cold-pressed oils; wine and unpasteurized beer; and naturally preserved, lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, beverages, meats and condiments.
6. Seeds, grains and nuts are soaked, sprouted, fermented or naturally leavened in order to neutralize naturally occuring antinutrients in these foods, such as phytic acid, enzyme inhibitors, tannins and complex carbohydrates.
7. Total fat content of traditional diets varies from 30% to 80% but only about 4% of calories come from polyunsaturated oils naturally occurring in grains, pulses, nuts, fish, animal fats and vegetables. The balance of fat calories is in the form of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.
8. Traditional diets contain nearly equal amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
9. All primitive diets contain some salt.
10. Traditional cultures consume animal bones, usually in the form of gelatin-rich bone broths.
Traditional cultures make provisions for the health of future generations by providing special nutrient-rich foods for parents-to-be, pregnant women and growing children; by proper spacing of children; and by teaching the principles of right diet to the young.[6]
It is my personal opinion that it can be very helpful to learn your specific Metabolic Type and eat according to it. If you wish to learn more about Metabolic Typing or would like to speak to a holistic weight loss specialist contact Ryan Glidden, Certified Metabolic Typing Advisor and Certified Holistic Life Style Coach, at info@mosaicyoga.com or (619) 453-2291.
[1] Health risks of obesity Rosencrans, K OBESITY. Vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 45-47. 1992.
[2] Erasmus, Udo. Fats that Heal Fats that Kill. Summertown, TN: Alive Books, pg. 4. 1986, 1993.
[3] Balch, Philis A. Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing. Penguin Group, 2008
[4] Freudenrich, Ph.D., Craig. “How Fat Cells Work” 27 October 2000. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/cells-tissues/fat-cell.htm> 22 March 2011.
[5] “Is there a way to compare a human being to an engine in terms of efficiency” 05 December 2000. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question527.htm> 23 March 2011.
[6] “Characteristics of Traditional Diets” 01 January 2000. Westonaprice.org. <http://www.westonaprice.org/abcs-of-nutrition/161-characteristics-of-traditional-diets), 22 March 2011.
Tags: BMI, fat in the human body, Fat myths, how fat works, Obesity, understanding fat
Approximately 70% of Americans suffer from lower back pain. Those who work extended periods at a desk or computer also have increased risk of developing RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury). This routine is designed to release tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulders and back, as well as clear and calm the mind. It can be practiced in any office or desk chair and only takes about 5 minutes to perform. You can pick and choose one or two or perform the entire series. While a sustained regular yoga practice cultivates major benefits for the body, mind and spirit, this simple routine is a great alternative when time is limited and stress is high.
Metabolic Typing – Why One Diet Does NOT Fit All
In the early 1900’s, a dentist named Weston Price, traveled around the globe studying the teeth of indigenous cultures. Through his travels he began to notice a direct correlation between the culture’s native diets, their dental health and their total body health. Mr. Price began to see that a majority of cultures eating a local native diet did not suffer from many of the modern day chronic disease we have in our modernized society. Things like obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, colitis, hypertension, arthritis, and others were virtually unknown to these indigenous cultures. Eskimos of the north ate high fat diets composed of blubbery fish, while aborigines of Australia lived mostly off beetles, grubs, berries and meats from kangaroo and wallabies. Both vastly different diets, yet both incredibly healthy cultures. Furthermore, within as little as two generations of a changed diet, a diet that deviated from local native foods, physical degeneration began to become highly prevalent. This discovery led to the conclusion that a diet or nutrient that works well for one person may have no effect on a second person, and may make a third person worse.[1] In other words, one mans food is another mans poison.
Over the next hundred years this discovery has been studied, tested, refined and developed to the point we are at today. William Wolcott has created a comprehensive assessment designed to determine a person’s current metabolic state as it relates to their needs, in the right proportions, of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Based on the results of this assessment, a person has a baseline of their current functional metabolic type. Over time a person can return back to their genetic type. This is the genetically predisposed type you were at birth. Like all animals, we are genetically programmed to feed on specific sources of food. You don’t see a lion in the drive through at Mcdonalds or craving candy or cake because they are not subjected to marketing and advertising strategies about what’s “good” to eat.
So what is Metabolism?
Metabolism is the sum total of all the chemical and biological activities that are necessary to sustain life. Some of the metabolic activities include: nutrition, transport, respiration, synthesis, regulation, growth and reproduction.[2] In order for these activities to sustain life they need energy, i.e. the air, water, sunlight and food we receive from our environment.
What is Metabolic Typing?
Metabolic Typing looks at the Fundamental Homeostatic Controls or FHC’s that play a major role in regulating and producing energy in the body. The three biggest ones addressed are the autonomic nervous system, the oxidative system and a person’s endocrine type.
The autonomic nervous system is the master regulator of metabolism and all involuntary actions in the body like digestion, respiration, and heart beat. It also oversees and regulates energy production. The oxidative system controls the rate or speed at which nutrients are converted to energy in your cells. The oxidative process creates energy. The endocrine system exerts all kinds of influences on your metabolism through the secretion of hormones and chemical messengers that affect the activity of cells and tissues. When determining one’s metabolic type either the autonomic system or the oxidative system will be dominant. This is an important factor because it will drastically effect the way food (nutrients) react in the body.
What are the different Metabolic Types?
On the most basic level there are essentially three types: Carbo Type, Protein Type, and Mixed Type. Once you know your metabolic type you can begin eating in the correct proportion for your type. Generally a Carbo type would eat approximately 70% carbohydrates, 20% proteins, and 10% fats and oils at any given meal. A Protein type would eat about 45% protein, 35% carbohydrates, and 20% fats and oils. A mixed type would eat about 50% carbohydrates, 40% protein, and 10% fats and oils. If you were to complete an advanced program you would find that the dominance factor creates some additional options. Depending on which system (autonomic or oxidative) is dominant would affect your proportions and food selections.
An autonomic dominant person can be sympathetic, balanced or parasympathetic. Sympathetic dominance tends to be more acidic while parasympathetic more alkaline. The autonomic system also creates some manifestation of physical traits.
An oxidative dominant person can either be fast, mixed, or slow. A fast oxidizer will be more acidic while a slow oxidizer will be more alkaline. The oxidative system has no known correlation to physical traits. There are nine different combinations of metabolic types based on this system. They are: parasympathetic fast, parasympathetic mixed, parasympathetic slow, balanced fast, balanced mixed, balanced slow, sympathetic fast, sympathetic mixed or sympathetic slow.
The endocrine system is also taken into consideration but plays a more important role in addressing clients struggling with weight loss. Research has shown specific foods that should be avoided by particular endocrine types when attempting to lose weight.
What does all of this mean?
When we boil down all of this information it is really kind of simple. First and foremost there is no universal diet that is best for everyone. You are a unique individual with a unique metabolism and your nutrition needs are unique as well. Next, you should learn your metabolic type, whether it be the basic or advanced model, and begin to eat according to it. Some of the benefits to eating in accordance to your metabolic type include:
- The prevention and reversal of degenerative disease
- Strengthening your immune system
- Achieving and or maintaining your ideal weight
- Maximizing energy and mental clarity
- Minimize or overcome mood swings or depression
- Enhance athletic performance and endurance
A great rule of thumb for food selection is, if your ancestors didn’t eat it 10,000 years ago you probably shouldn’t either. Finally, a trained advisor (Ryan Glidden – rglidden@mosaicyoga.com) can help you navigate in more detail the ups and downs of this transition as well as help fine tune the smaller details. Nutrition is a huge field of study and there is a lot of information out there. An advisor can help you sort through it and decide what is best for you and your metabolic type. For further information about metabolic typing, register for MOSAIC’s Metabolic Typing Workshop on Saturday, March 12 from 1-3pm HERE. In addition, you can purchase The Metabolic Typing Diet, by William Wolcott and Trish Fahey.
[1] William Wolcott & Trish Fahey, The Metabolic Typing Diet (New York: Doubleday, 2000) Preface xix.
[2] William Wolcott & Trish Fahey, The Metabolic Typing Diet (New York: Doubleday, 2000) 17.
MOSAIC’s Chelsea K. shares how her experiences have impacted her life off the mat.
The path to truth and God is not about the absence of trials and tribulations but, instead, how we respond and grow. Life does and will continually test us. Suffering may end; the trials do not (yes, a paradox to the mind). At any moment we can fall from Grace or ascent to Grace. Our state and energy and love is never permanent; which is why the sages say every moment is a spiritual crisis…
We must nurture one another with acts of Love daily. The road to joy is an eternal commitment.
So, let’s look at this together. Let’s look at what we face together. Let’s observe the purpose of non-attachment: it is not a goal (all goals create dualities), not an end, it is a means, a practice, to empty ourselves of ill-ordered affections, cravings and desires, as to open up the space and potentiality to become unconditional loving.
When we are loving, when we become that which the saints call “Charity”, then we weather the storms with a clarity that leaves us in stillness and contentment as we not only endure challenges, but, more importantly, we are inspired and committed to continue.
So, what do we use on this journey to God to make us holy, to build ourselves into sacred vessels as we navigate the turbulent waters? We use practices of prayer, meditation, yoga, surrender acts of love to make ourselves holy, pure, and innocent. Innocence is not lost. Innocence is practiced and remembered from the process of healing and expansion within Divine Light.
How many of us day after day read but do not practice? It’s best of we look at the lineage, as expressed in the perennial philosophy, the legacy of the saints and sages, the mystics from all religions, to see what they experienced and what they recommended to arrive at the infinite, at the Divine, at the Sacred.
What we must fulfill? We must have a literal transformation of heart and spirit. Each of us must make ourselves holy. Most of us are really not that loving, not from want of love, but, because we do not practice the ways of love. Most of us are spectators… we expect the Saints and our Creator to do the loving… But, those of us who practice the ways of love, who know truth experientially from direct experience, know that freedom of peace and courage during the trials. Our faith is tested. We must endure, not with fear and judgment, but with courage and trust. It’s not what we believe, but what we become. We must embrace this call to truth. We must become aware that every human being is enough, is a miracle…. is sacred. But, each human must have the accountability to make the ascent.
So let’s map this ascent out in very general terms and then compare and contrast how we live and how the Saints live. This may aide us as we focus our purpose, energy, and activities. Then we can determine what we must do in order to arrive at Divine Bliss, Liberation, and Heaven.
Here we go: The saints from all “religions” have left the following: (the below is from Wilber’s Grace and Grit):
1. Spirit Exists
2. Spirit is found within/invited in (immanent/transcendent)
3. Most of us do not realize Spirit and this spirit within, because we are living in a world of illusion (sin), duality, that is, we are living in a fallen or illusory state
4. There is a way out of this state of illusion and sin (error/ignorance), there is a path to liberation
5. If we follow this path to its conclusion, the result is a rebirth or enlightenment, a direct experience of spirit within, a supreme liberation
6. This marks the end of suffering
7. All effort is then focused on issues of social action of mercy and compassion on behalf of all sentient beings
Now if we really looked at our state clearly, we will see how much we lie to ourselves. We seek comfort, security, wealth, power, and prestige… all of these cravings distracts us from the work to be done…
The work to be done is to make our selves, spiritual fit, if you will, for Truth.
Becoming truth requires 3 conditions of our being to be fulfilled (from Huxley’s Perennial Philosophy):
1. Make our selves unconditional loving
2. Make our selves poor in spirit (non-attached) so as to become love instead of want of love
3. Make our selves pure in heart…
This requires life long commitment and courage… it’s never ending as the ascent is infinite… it’s not about an end, it’s about the Eternal… and if you are stripped of all you love here and now, become Unconditional Love and forever leave a mark of Truth in the Consciousness of Humanity.