What lies

What lies behind us
 and what lies before us 
are small matters, 

compared to what lies within us.

(Attributed variously to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau.  Source unknown) 

Time

It is within ourselves that yesterday is distinguished from tomorrow. 

~ Zen saying 

What we call yesterday and tomorrow is really the one time. Time is only the one moment, 'the absolute presence, in which all that is present or absent is as such present.' The mistake the unenlightened people make is to understand things and times and the self ... as separate. 

Reality is a whole.

~Zen Master Dogen's teachings on 'being-time' in Zen Buddhism: A History, Vol 2, by Heinrich Dumoulin.

Overcome

Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water.

However, when attacking that which is hard and strong,

nothing can surpass it and no one can equal it.

Weakness may overcome strength,

softness may overcome hardness,

everyone knows it,

but no one puts this knowledge into practice.

Lao-Tzu

Soul Purpose

What is your soul purpose?

I had a very interesting conversation with my Wise Old Sister (WOS) a while ago.  Having just spent the weekend at a core shamanism workshop, I found myself again in the place of questioning my intent, my purpose, and my sense of meaning.  What am I doing here on the planet?  What is the higher purpose of my life?

The concept of being a shamanic practitioner who may be called to share these skills with the community is a tricky one within our contemporary cultural setting.  We are weirdly hung up on having “qualifications”, when the raw truth is there is no regulatory authority on the planet who can issue a certificate when it comes to a tradition which is handed down experientially from teacher to student over period of time.  This occurs as the student becomes ready and the circumstances for learning unfold in the student’s life (prompted no doubt by Spirit).  It is the ultimate ‘learn-by-doing’ modality.

My WOS very patiently listened to me telling her that I’m not really any of the things that I used to think I was (insert whiney voice) and I don’t even know what my life purpose is anymore, and then she said:

Your soul purpose isn’t confined to an activity, or a profession, or any single calling.  It is instead the energetic vibration that you incarnate into this life with, and the number of ways that it can be expressed in is infinite.  Ok, it’s possibly limited a little based on your personality, inherent talents, and desires…but is theoretically infinite in its expression.  So a “healer” isn’t necessarily so just by virtue of hanging out the shingle, or training as a doctor or naturopath, or seeing reiki clients…the essence of “healer” will inform all their encounters.  It’s purely our egos that want to know “what is my life’s purpose?”  Our souls/spirits just get on with expressing their particular gift – hopefully with some degree of mindfulness – very simply through every act of authenticity.  Whether it be by creating something, expressing something, witnessing something, sharing something, healing something, it doesn’t matter.  

(See, I told you she is Wise).

Part of having a radical life revision (in the form of a potentially fatal disease) involves questioning everything – every construct or belief that got me this far in life – and assessing its truth and ongoing relevance.  In the past I have believed myself to be a writer, a healer, a dancer – and even though I was engaged quite heavily in those activities at the time, I now feel closer to these goals not by being “xyx label” – but rather by doing.  By walking it, not talking it.  Sure, some labels might be handy for understanding my motivation, setting goals, enunciating my intent – but really, just walking the path, really allowing myself to drop into it and be open to the unlimited possibilities is much more valuable than any title I could possibly claim or invent.  I suspect the next stage of my maturation involves dropping out of the old egoic spirituality and into just being what I am instead.  Gloriously and with utter humility.  I’m starting to catch a glimpse of Something which is far bigger, wordless in its entirety, and integrated into Everything. 

Wayne Dyer has something very pertinent to say (as usual):

Your thoughts about who you are, what excites you, and what you feel called to be and do are all Divinely inspired and come with whatever guidance and assistance you’ll need to actualize these goals.

∞