On the subject of love.
Hafiz says in The Gift something like this (forgive my paraphrasing)" One cannot master love, one can only serve as a vessel (a glass of wine)"
I adore how he uses that imagery of the glass of wine. The wine; being aged to perfection, is the love that we realize has been overflowing after years of experience. The wine glass; being our vessel that love can freely flow through.
We cannot try to attain love. It is not something that you can perfect. It is just there. It is available all of the time. We must be open to love flowing through us in order to experience it though. This is a choice.
Many people have an idealized picture of how love is "supposed to be". I know I still do in some ways. We have made love into an item, versus something that is inately a part of being human. It is our nature to love. Even in those humans where love is expressed in terms of fear. We are all love. Period.
I feel so blessed to have realized that love is not something I can gain or own. It is something that is a part of me. Everything in my life has stemmed from my connection to love. My music, my energy, my joy, and even my insecurities. For in those tough times that I am filling that void of love with something else, it is still a part of love. It is only disguised and masked by this illusion.
Love is all there is, and we are an expression of love.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
As I went down in the river to pray....
This weekend was one to write about.
I followed my hearts longing, and I went to commune with nature, and a beloved friend and mentor Jo- Ellen. I found my way down the 5 freeway through the lush land of southern Oregon into an oasis located on a creek and river. This was paradise.
When I arrived at their piece of heaven on earth, I closely held my dear friend who I hadn't seen in years...knowing that true human connection heals all wounds. I found myself taken back by the serenity of this land and the wisdom of Jo Ellen. After releasing my weighted baggage by laughing through life, I found clarity and simplicity.
Jo- Ellen let me read this magnificent book called "Epiphany" by Elise Ballard, that highlights the greatest transitions in people's lives. One woman shared her story of finding her connection with God, and realizing how dramatic she had made her own life. She attracted all of these huge "problems" in her life in order to make room for the life she really wanted. She also realized she couldn't help anyone until she focused on her own peace and serenity. It was touching, and so accurate.When your mind is so pre-occupied with the chaos in life, you can't help anyone, including yourself.
Sometimes life hands you lemons, and like they say......
but what you do with those sticky situations is truly the beauty of life. They are opportunities to grow and connect to your true path.
And as I spent my weekend belly laughing, crying and being quiet and still, I realized....nothing is as big of a deal as it seems, and all you can do is strive for clarity and wisdom and let your troubles wash away with the flowing river.
Thank you Jo-Ellen, again, you have reminded me that LOVE is all there is.
I followed my hearts longing, and I went to commune with nature, and a beloved friend and mentor Jo- Ellen. I found my way down the 5 freeway through the lush land of southern Oregon into an oasis located on a creek and river. This was paradise.
When I arrived at their piece of heaven on earth, I closely held my dear friend who I hadn't seen in years...knowing that true human connection heals all wounds. I found myself taken back by the serenity of this land and the wisdom of Jo Ellen. After releasing my weighted baggage by laughing through life, I found clarity and simplicity.
Jo- Ellen let me read this magnificent book called "Epiphany" by Elise Ballard, that highlights the greatest transitions in people's lives. One woman shared her story of finding her connection with God, and realizing how dramatic she had made her own life. She attracted all of these huge "problems" in her life in order to make room for the life she really wanted. She also realized she couldn't help anyone until she focused on her own peace and serenity. It was touching, and so accurate.When your mind is so pre-occupied with the chaos in life, you can't help anyone, including yourself.
Sometimes life hands you lemons, and like they say......
but what you do with those sticky situations is truly the beauty of life. They are opportunities to grow and connect to your true path.
And as I spent my weekend belly laughing, crying and being quiet and still, I realized....nothing is as big of a deal as it seems, and all you can do is strive for clarity and wisdom and let your troubles wash away with the flowing river.
Thank you Jo-Ellen, again, you have reminded me that LOVE is all there is.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Mirror, Mirror
As I stared into the reflection of my own eyes this morning during Bikram, I realized something very interesting about a human reflection.
How many times have I looked into a mirror, and yet have never really seen that it was me standing there?
How many years of judgment have I passed on the body that I live in?
Is my reflection really what the world sees?
So many questions flooded through my thoughts.
Gosh, I have spent so many years looking in to mirrors. I have seen myself get dressed up like I was royalty, and so groggy and pale faced in the mornings. I have seen the best and worst looks I have ever sported, staring back at me. And every time I looked in to my reflection has been so filled with my past and filled with either anger or approval or some sort of judgmental reaction.
I know I am not alone in this. Body image and appearance ideas flood our mental environment every day. Whether it be on the front of a gossip magazine, where celebrities are tortured for their 5 extra pounds and natural cellulite, or as simple as your good friend complementing your curves saying , "oh, that is a very flattering cut on you". Both good and bad thoughts come to mind when I think of body image.
Being an entertainer, body image has been one of the greatest challenges I have had to face. I have been scrutinized many a time for my curves, and it has been something that has always bothered me. But the truth is, I never was that dissatisfied with my figure. It was always the eye of the world telling me to be thinner and more body conscious. So, I aimed to please every one except myself in this society in order to fit into the ideal image.
But that proved to never work. I couldn't change my body because my mind and soul had proven to be content. I love my knobby knees, pink skin tone, slightly small lips, turned in pigeon-toed feet, my tiny ear lobes and carny hands. I could list a million funny things about this body that I reside in. But all of them are perfect.
Today I realized something magnificent. Every body in that yoga studio was different. Behind me, stood a strong, muscular man without an inch of body fat. Next to him, was a mousy brown haired 20- something female with a boyish figure. On the other side of the room, was a woman in her later years, sporting the scars of a well experienced mother. All of these bodies were unique. Each one of them spectacular. And that is the glorious thing about bodies. Even if we strive to look like someone else, we never will. Because we were all made as different and beautiful as each snowflake and rose petal. There is no one on this earth that is exactly the same.
I never want to feel bad about my image ever again. I only want to be healthy, and strive to eat the best fuel for this body, so that I may do yoga and ride my bike until I die.
Remember too, that all of you are richly blessed with your bodies. Never compare yourself to another human being. You are actually perfect.
How many times have I looked into a mirror, and yet have never really seen that it was me standing there?
How many years of judgment have I passed on the body that I live in?
Is my reflection really what the world sees?
So many questions flooded through my thoughts.
Gosh, I have spent so many years looking in to mirrors. I have seen myself get dressed up like I was royalty, and so groggy and pale faced in the mornings. I have seen the best and worst looks I have ever sported, staring back at me. And every time I looked in to my reflection has been so filled with my past and filled with either anger or approval or some sort of judgmental reaction.
I know I am not alone in this. Body image and appearance ideas flood our mental environment every day. Whether it be on the front of a gossip magazine, where celebrities are tortured for their 5 extra pounds and natural cellulite, or as simple as your good friend complementing your curves saying , "oh, that is a very flattering cut on you". Both good and bad thoughts come to mind when I think of body image.
Being an entertainer, body image has been one of the greatest challenges I have had to face. I have been scrutinized many a time for my curves, and it has been something that has always bothered me. But the truth is, I never was that dissatisfied with my figure. It was always the eye of the world telling me to be thinner and more body conscious. So, I aimed to please every one except myself in this society in order to fit into the ideal image.
But that proved to never work. I couldn't change my body because my mind and soul had proven to be content. I love my knobby knees, pink skin tone, slightly small lips, turned in pigeon-toed feet, my tiny ear lobes and carny hands. I could list a million funny things about this body that I reside in. But all of them are perfect.
Today I realized something magnificent. Every body in that yoga studio was different. Behind me, stood a strong, muscular man without an inch of body fat. Next to him, was a mousy brown haired 20- something female with a boyish figure. On the other side of the room, was a woman in her later years, sporting the scars of a well experienced mother. All of these bodies were unique. Each one of them spectacular. And that is the glorious thing about bodies. Even if we strive to look like someone else, we never will. Because we were all made as different and beautiful as each snowflake and rose petal. There is no one on this earth that is exactly the same.
I never want to feel bad about my image ever again. I only want to be healthy, and strive to eat the best fuel for this body, so that I may do yoga and ride my bike until I die.
Remember too, that all of you are richly blessed with your bodies. Never compare yourself to another human being. You are actually perfect.
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