Falling From Grace or Growing?

"As you reflect upon the experiences in your life, please know that everything is indeed co-created -by you, the Universe and others." - At One

An inventory: What is in my Human Being bag these days? (Please note that this bag is subject to inspection by everyone at any time.)


- Love
- Fear
- Arrogance
- Elation
- Sadness
- Relief
- Reflection
- Honesty
- Vulnerability
- Revolution
- Revelation

Sometimes I struggle with being human. For the past month I have had an opportunity to experience the shadow side of my human beingness up close and personal and it has not always been pretty. Then again, when is it pretty? Like many people, when Shadow rears it's head I want to run far, far away. As much as my training has taught me to face it or recreate it, I sometimes let Fear win, set up house, and invite his relatives (Anger, Arrogance, Doubt, Confusion, Resentment and Jealousy), for a visit. When Fear comes along I may find myself acting like someone "who should know better" and creating a mess wherever I go. Inevitably, someone will remind me that my home is being overrun by nasty intruders and I start the eviction process. Once Fear realizes that I mean business and starts to head off, I see that I am left with a hefty cleaning bill as a trail of disappointments, hurt feelings and other pains are revealed. How will I remedy the situation?

Thankfully, there is beauty in what appears to be a mess and I remember that I have many tools at my disposal. Shadow and Fear have opened a door and Change has happily walked into my life again. While Change may look big and wide and deep and scary as she first approaches, I know that Love, Forgiveness, and Consciuosness are also along for the ride. They will take care of a lot of the work and all I need to do is stand back, take a breathe and agree to let them do what they do best. When all is said and done, I can finally see (just as my friends kept telling me to look for) the bigger picture: Human BEING. Human GROWING. Human CHANGING. Human BETTERING.

(For Ad with love.)

What Do I Want?

Below is a dialogue I had with my spiritual guides, At One. At One has been communicating with me for years, most directly in June of 1993 during what I call my 'Cracking Open' experience. In 2005, with the help of my friend, the artist Leslie Howitt (www.lesliehowitt.com - her work is stunning), I began channeling messages for others in written form as I had been doing for myself, and then eventually let At One speak through me. The teachings of At One, and the story that led to my conscious connection with them, can be found on my newest blog www.fishingforsoul.wordpress.com and in my upcoming book.

Now I happily present another aspect of myself, another tool in my spiritual tool box. Thanks for reading!

At One: When you are clear about what you want, then you gain access to another level of knowledge. You get to know what it is that makes the world operate.

Joe: I am not clear about what you just wrote.

At One: OK, let us put it this way: Ask and you shall receive. We mean that. What are you asking for?

Joe: I want to make my dreams a reality.

At One: What are your dreams? Can you clearly think and speak them? When you can do that you will all ways have success. We are not joking. Look at what you have manifested! You have so many wonderful things in your life. Those things make you FEEL good. Remember when you were manifesting many things that did not FEEL good? That was no joke either. The Universe does not joke around. The Universe responds to your call, your wish, your dreams, your THOUGHTS. Every thing that has come forth in your world has come from your thoughts. You know that. Now go out and practice using thoughts that make you feel good to create things that make you feel good. Do not spend time moping about what is not. Go out and celebrate what is. Thank you!

Joe: You are welcome! Shouldn't I be thanking you?

At One: We all ways acknowledge you by expressing our gratitude. Thank you for allowing us to come forward in this new way. We are ready to express, express, express. Be at one all ways with all things and you will create a joyfully abundant NOW and an outrageously blissfull TOMORROW. There will be more and more and more and more and more and more and more to be grateful for. Thank you.

Sarah Palin and My Peace of Mind

Ok, I'll say it. I don't agree with Sarah Palin on many issues. Yesterday I read about her stance on gay marriage and it really set me off. The excerpt below was taken from the Tue., Oct. 21st edition of The International Herald Tribune (this morning's quotes coming from the AP about Ms. Palin's answers to a 3rd grader about the role of the VP deserves to be blogged about by someone more politically savy than myself):

Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says she supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a break with John McCain who has said he believes states should be left to define what marriage is.
In an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network, the Alaska governor said she had voted in 1998 for a state amendment banning same sex marriage and hoped to see a federal ban on such unions.
"I have voted along with the vast majority of Alaskans who had the opportunity to vote to amend our Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I wish on a federal level that's where we would go. I don't support gay marriage," Palin said. She said she believed traditional marriage is the foundation for strong families.

Yes, we are all entitled to our own beliefs and should, in my view, be able to express what we are thinking freely, without judgement. I hope to not be judgemental as I continue this post.

I have been thinking about peace a lot lately. How peaceful am I? What am I projecting into the world? Do I 'walk the talk'? Am I embodying peace? When I read the above quote from Sarah Palin, a woman who is in a position to possibly lead this country, I thought, "That's not promoting peace! That idea of hers is divisive. She's crazy! Please make her go away! Doesn't she realize the power of her words? She knows nothing about the world! Does she know any gay people?" And on I went. I called two friends (both straight) and ranted. Then I stopped the internal madness very suddenly. I was not at peace. Why was I angry? Does Sarah Palin have that much power over me? Hell no! I am a gay man in a loving relationship with another man. Does my happiness, my peacefulness depend on Sarah Palin, her viewpoint, and the viewpoint of those who think like her. No! So, back to peace - the peace of mind that I have about myself, my ability, about this country, etc., and the conviction that I have that peace belongs to me. If I think peace, than I am peace. Ahhh!

Thanks Sarah Palin!

Is Your Question Getting in Your Way?

The other day I was channeling for some friends at the beach. I wrote out a question for someone to ask on my behalf. My question was: Is there anything that I am doing now that I can add or eliminate in order to see my current projects and business thrive in a greater way?
An amused response came from At One: "Eliminate the question! Sometimes the roadblock, what is standing between you and your abundance, is the question itself. It is as if you are seeking validation for your wrongdoing. Why focus on what is not working? Take the action that is joyful. Sooner and later there will be a positive outcome to what you are seeking. You must remember that all positive actions result in a positive outcome. Put the thought together with the good feeling and action, and then go on your way. Trust that all is well."

Sometimes the guidance I receive is so simple it borders on ridiculous. Even as I type that I think, "Well, sure it seems ridiculous and laughable because there is a part of you that still thinks you have to work hard for what you want." OK. Got it. Now back to living it!

Peace!

The Economy

"When you worry about your money and the economy, you increase the likelyhood that your money and the economy will remain in a place that seems to be uncomfortable." - At One

I sat on the subway this past Monday reading about the demise of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch. For several years I worked for a company that built and ran the fitness centers for those corporate giants. I taught group exercise classes at Lehman, Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns (which went under earlier this year). My subway reading led me to think about all of the people I'd met and taught at those places, and I wondered how many of them would be looking for new employment. Suddenly I got very excited. It dawned on me that this was a great opportunity for positive change. The possibilities are endless! Those brilliant, creative minds could now be free to start new businesses, develop new technologies, and live their dreams. How fantastic is that! My prayer during this time is that we all look inside and outside and see the unlimited, marvelous potential and beauty that abounds all ways. Amen.

Softness

I am thinking of softness in terms of a fluid, not resistant or rigid way of being in the world, the ability to receive easily and openly. That's where I am in my process today. So it's all about me as usual. Thank God! The phrase 'mind your own business' has also been swirling around me lately. Paying attention to and taking care of my self, my issues has led to a deeper sense of my own softness, thus allowing me to see the softness, the vulnerableility, the light, in others and keeping the drama away. I am letting softness and minding my business change my old story. Amen.

More Listening and Loving

I get a lot of inspiration from meditaion. The guidance I receive in that state helps me to shake my mental bullshit (my old story!) and go about my day with greater ease.

Below you will find some advice that came to me in meditation from a source I channel called At One. If you have ever heard of, read, or seen Esther Hicks (www.abraham-hicks.com) channel Law of Attraction teachings from Abraham, then you'll understand where this comes from. If not you can still enjoy the message!

9/3/08 from At One:
"Welcome to the you that you asked to know. You are the you that you are now. How wonderful. How perfect. Yes, it is perfect because you thought it into being. And - you LOVE you. The more you LOVE you, the more you see, feel, and KNOW LOVE from other sources.
Please allow your self to feel good about all of the changes that you manifested. You, you, you did it. And you will manifest more. More of what? You choose. Keep asking for LOVE and let LOVE guide you. What would LOVE do?"

9/10/08 from At One
"When you believe in you there is no stopping your dreams from manifesting! As you allow all parts of your self to become excited, thrilled, overjoyed by the multitude of possibilities you will find absolute creative freedom. Go for it! You are the creator. You are the one who dreams. You choose - yes or no?"