Pondering Purpose

Post-retreat contemplation in Thailand revealed something "off" around my personal sense of purpose. Who am I to know what life wants of me? Is it mine to know? Did you notice "I, "me" and "mine in the last three lines? The elephant in this room is Ego. Ego, that circular pattern of thinking that endlessly tries to define me, says "Your purpose is to love, be loved, to help others connect to love." Ever quick to judge, ego adds "how noble!" Rather than buy into self-affirming judgment, I notice good ol' Ego spinning an autobiographical story, as she does. How sweet! It becomes clear that the sticky feeling of 'something off' holds a cautionary message: A sense of purpose, formulated by "me", is embellished by the limited ego. There might be something more here. With Ego's narrative acknowledged, I drop the question of purpose into not knowing; into feeling. Sitting with the question of purpose without trying to answer it, attention descends from my head and joins my gut and heart. The feeling might be described as 'connection'. It feels authentic, familiar, and at the same time, fresh. It is the place of potentiality and possibility. We might say that purpose expresses from the depth of the impersonal. Aligned with this depth, feels like a ship cutting through the ocean surface; the feeling is steadfast, empowered, and present. In pure presence, just being is purpose enough. Ego might weave a tapestry of stories that we can understand and that inspire us in daily life. If we don't know our purpose in words, we can still know we matter. We don't need to be able to explain why we are on this earth. My offerings this year will underscore a connection to purpose. Consider a private retreat or private session if you'd like to take a deep dive into the pearl of purpose or into any "stickiness" showing up for you. Contemplative questions: What does connection feel like to you? What if you become familiar with this feeling showing up in your life, as if it were your inner GPS, giving you direction and sense of purpose? How would your actions and choices be affected?

The Great Myth

There's something about the field (in the photo below) near Calgary. (Can you find my pup Pika in the photo?)

On one level, it is a "nothing special" sort of place. Yet, it is here that a glimpse of what I can only describe as Stillness - even as winds gusted - that woke me momentarily from the slumber of perceived separation. No matter our ideas about reality, spontaneous moments like these bust the biggest myth of all, and we never look at the world quite the same again.

This great myth spanning humanity, regardless of location or language,

tells us we are separate from all else.

Understand "self" as separate from "other", is the seed behind feeling inferior, superior, alone, anxious or that we don't belong.

The human potential to dismiss, diminish or harm others or our planet, feeds on this illusion of separation.

In the immediate sense, our bodies are separate, our personalities are unique, individuality is real. You can feel that, yes?

This sense of distinction (hello ego!) is a natural function with a purpose; to divide and experience the world as we do. It's not something we have to transcend or obliterate.

Ultimately, nothing is separate or outside of Interconnectivity, Essence or what we might call the Dynamic Stillness of Pure Consciousness. We are it.

Interconnection is a central core of many world views. First Nations, Inuit and Metis refer to this as “All my relations”.

From yoga, Sri Swami Satchidananda: “We are interdependent, cells of one universal body.”

Albert Einstein, “A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and his feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.

Physicist Nick Herbert, author of Quantum Reality; When we don't look at it, the world exists in some strange state that is indescribable. Then when we look at it, it becomes absolutely ordinary, as though someone was trying to pull something over our eyes. The world is an illusion.

These statements pique curiosity, but it is only through direct experience that we come to know them as our Truth.

Everything I offer; from a private session to reduce pain, group yoga classes, intimate retreats, or one-on-one co-meditation, is intended to bring forward wisdom from pure consciousness (that you already are), inclining your life to more ease. Here, the illusion of separateness can move to the background. A clarity exuding love and a deep sense of well-being, no matter the situation around us, moves to the foreground of your life.

I'm willing to bet you glimpse Reality often. If you don't know that yet, it is likely that they come and go unrecognized.

Here's the thing, to bust through the Great Myth of separation and recognize Wholeness:

- You don't have to subscribe to any system of beliefs.

-You don't have to be anyone other than who you are right now

-You can't "do" it, you are it

I'd love to support your recognition of this Essence. If you'd like that too, Join me online or in person, or pop me an email.

Living a Heart-Led Life

Do you ever wonder why you do what you do?

Sometimes the reasons are obvious.

And sometimes it just feels right.

When we follow our heart, the best answer to 'Why?' might be “I don’t know, it just feels right.”

When we follow our head we may justify our choices. This comes with a price.

Justification is a form of thinking. Thinking is limited by past experience and beliefs.

When we connect to our hearts, we break free from limiting thoughts and are open to possibility and potentiality. Our actions take on quality of ease, even when the output requires effort.

Here's an example from my life, that may help you connect more deeply to yours.

I’ve decided to host a retreat close to my home in March. Why?

Because it feels darn good. When I imagine a group gathering in cozy log cabins for transformational inquiry, curiosity and reconnection -individually, in community, and with all life -my heart sings and zings!

And then there are doubts; the amount of detailed planning required, financial risk, and the fear of nobody showing up. The doubts are essentially thoughts; helpful to a point but outshone by the YES of my heart that says do it!

What does your heart say YES to? Reconnect to the ever-present guidance of your heart with support from my meditation, yoga and breathing classes and courses. Each is offered heart-to-heart.

Love yourself into doing what authentically wants to shine through you.