The power of two, three or more . . .

"The human mind is a form of energy, a part of it being spiritual in nature. When the minds of two people are coordinated in a SPIRIT OF HARMONY, the spiritual units of energy of each mind form an affinity . . . " Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich)

When I was growing up, I remember reading and hearing the following words from the bible: "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I will be . . . " or something like that. I remember being fascinated by that possibility. It was one of the few things in the bible that I found interesting. In all honesty, I'm not a fan of the book and most of what's written in it. Maybe it's the way it gets interpreted, but any book that blatantly calls for the discrimination of people, isn't at the top of my Book Club Selection list. But, that's for another blog entry at a later date. Returning our attention to those words, I do remember being intrigued by them, especially as a little kid. I remember asking my mom to really explain them to me. What exactly did they mean? Who was present? Jesus? Jehovah? Who!??

I think she said that it was Jesus and maybe a few of the angels or something. Well, I was even more interested in the whole thing. I kept on waving my hands through the air trying to see if I could feel anything. Much to the horror mixed with amusement of my mother. There was something that rang true to me about the statement. I actually felt deep down inside that this was something possible and true. I was too young to really understand it, but most likely, what I felt was the energy that Mr. Napoleon Hill talks about. Whether I agreed with what my mother and the other Jehovah's Witnesses were doing or worshiping, just the fact that they were together and united in one room with the same purpose, this was creating an energy force. In this case, we were dealing with Communist Cuba where my parents and other JWs weren't really allowed to practice their religion in freedom. Therefore, these clandestine gatherings were all they had. It was their only way of communicating and sharing their hopes and beliefs and love for their god. So, yeah, there was definitely an energy in the room and I was definitely tuned in to something going on.

As the years passed and we left Cuba and I became less and less willing to deal with the JWs, I forgot all about this. It wasn't until recently when I read Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich that I remembered those words from the bible. I also remembered that Eckhart Tolle had briefly spoken similar words during the Oprah webinar for A New Earth last year. I think he mentioned that due to the technological advances with the web and Skype, etc., we were all united in sharing the same energy. I'm not sure of his actual words but it was basically this concept of two or more people coming together for the same purpose and what an amazing energy and force it created. I was again extremely intrigued and fascinated by the whole thing.

Can two or more people gathered together for the same purpose or with the same objective in mind, really have some power? Are they generating some energy that only those people at that moment can produce? Hmmmm I've seen what can happen when a mob gets together with the intent to destroy. It does seem like there is an energy that goes from person to person and builds in that kind of situation. But, in a more controlled setting, can healing, supportive, caring, peaceful and loving energy be produced? Is that energy a powerful energy, able to soothe, calm, support or inspire?

I know it is! It's not only possible but in many ways, it's necessary. The need for our coming together as humans has never been greater. I've had many amazing experiences lately when I've been involved in groups of like-minded, beautiful people. I'll share some of these this week. Until then, be aware of what kind of energy you are conjuring the next time you interact with another person. Is it loving, kind, caring, for the greater good?



Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

A tree . . . really isn't a "tree" . . .

"When you don't cover up the world with words and labels, a sense of the miraculous returns to your life." ~ Eckhart Tolle from A New Earth

As most of you know, I'm a big fan of Eckhart Tolle's work, especially A New Earth. I've read that book twice now and took part in his Webinar with Oprah last year. The entire book had a huge impact on my life and there are passages from the book and moments from the webinar that are still with me. One of those messages has to do with the subject of labels and words in general. There was a point in the webinar in which Eckhart took a call from a mom in, I believe, Sweden. She was wondering how she could start teaching her son to start understanding about ego and not be become attached to material things and possessions, etc. Eckhart advised her to start getting him in contact with nature and while she was pointing things out to him, such as trees or birds, etc., to say to him, "We call this a tree or we call this a bird." He explained that a tree, really isn't a tree. We don't know what it is. Tree is the word we've assigned to it but in actuality, nobody know what it is. He went on to say the same thing about us. We're not "humans." Human is just a word assigned to our species to be able to identify ourselves.

I swear to you my mouth dropped when I heard this discussion. Up until that point, I had never realized how true this was. Of course a tree isn't a "tree." We are not "humans." We do not know what a tree really is or a bird or a dog for that matter. Our dogs and cats probably look at us and wonder why we keep calling them these words. This really opened up my mind to new ways of thinking and viewing the world around me.

This new way of thinking made one of Eckhart's exercises even easier to do, which was to go out in nature and just . . . be. I remember spending a Sunday afternoon in Central Park with Jhon and attempting to do the exercise. At first it wasn't easy. We are so accustomed to noticing something and immediately knowing what it is. But, the more I spent time not thinking about what I was looking at but instead conjuring up a feeling of wonder and awe, the easier it became. I particularly remember this tall tree that had all these different markings and colors. I walked up to it and just placed my hand upon it and walked around it. I made it a point to not even bring up the word "tree" to mind. This was just some thing that I had stumbled upon. I pretended that I had never seen anything like it before. This experience was nothing short of magic. There was an energy and vibrancy in that moment that I find hard to explain. In fact, this was over a year ago and right now, as I sit here in front of my laptop, if I close my eyes, I can see every single detail of that tree trunk and the surrounding area. By being as present as is conceivable and really placing my attention without judgement or preconceived notions on the object in front of me, everything about that moment just popped. There was energy and life!

Ever since then I make it a point to do that exercise as many times as possible. I've written before about how on my way to catch the bus, I look up at the sky and take in the clouds, etc. I do this exercise and every single day I am in awe because it's always a little different and I'm never sure what I will see. This practice also opens your eyes and mind to the beauty that is always around us. A beauty that we sometimes take for granted because we're so used to it just being there. How many times do you pass by a tree or a garden and not even notice it? Next time, make it a point to stop and just observe the miracle that is before you. Without immediately acknowledging what kind of tree or flower you are looking at, just take it all in. View it as if you are seeing whatever it is for the very first time. Notice how the miraculous and the ethereal in a flower becomes evident. I promise, if you approach this exercise with an open mind and with the sense of wonder of a child, you will reap amazing benefits.

My Flowers (22) by Llima Orosa

You see, there is an even more important reason to do this exercise. Eckhart advises to start in nature because it's so much easier to look at trees or birds or animals and not immediately label them or put them in a specific category. The ultimate goal of this exercise is to then do the same to people. How many times do we encounter others and immediately place them in a certain box in our mind? How does this affect our interactions with each other? How does this affect our relationships with ourselves?

I'll go into this next time. There are valuable lessons to be learned from viewing our fellow human beings as just that, humans . . . being. Everything changes when you can truly understand how we are all ONE. Until next time, go out there and be as present as you can. Be as open and full of wonder and excitement as you can. Look at the world around you as if you were seeing it all for the very first time. Get rid of the names and definitions for things and just observe them. You'll notice how even that annoying fly that sneaked into your apartment can be a mysterious and fascinating thing.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

Inspired Action (1)

One of my most important experiences with Inspired Action happened in the summer of 2008.  I had been looking for a way to meditate and bring some peace into my life. Fresh from reading Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth, I had started the practice of taking a few minutes every day or so to be as still as possible. I also started asking the Universe to help me find some answers. Mainly, I was asking for help. "What am I meant to do here on earth?" "Why am I here?" "What am I DOING HERE?"

Nothing much seemed to happen. Although, I did start to notice I was calmer and peaceful.  But in terms of actual answers, I did not see or get any. Until, one afternoon in July, I clearly received a message, a small nudge. It was in the form of that inner voice that can be heard with such clarity once you learn to block all the noise from the outside world.

In letting in those moments of stillness, I had opened the way for Inspired Action to flow. What was the message? My inner voice told me to go to my nearest arts supply store and buy markers and paper. That was it.

This thought was so clear and made so much sense to me that I didn't question it. It was like "of course I have to go and get supplies! There is nothing strange about that at all?  I have always needed to do this?"

As I walked to the nearest Utrecht, I had no idea what was about to happen to me. How Inspired Action and not questioning but "acting" on it, would change my life.

More to come.