What We Plan & What Happens

 I had intended to begin June with guest blogs - an eclectic mix of various links & such - but,  here it is June 1st & I find myself somewhat unprepared...circumstances which amuse me. In appreciation of the power of unintended circumstances, I offer this teaching about intention:

"Most people think of intention as if it were about the future, as in the sense of something we plan to do or accomplish, a goal we intend to achieve, for example. When we use the term in this way, we perceive intention as a means for arriving at a future destination. By another definition, intention is more like a course of action we plan to execute to some future end. When we speak about intention as a spiritual principle, these interpretations of the word have the potential to cause a great deal of confusion.
It may surprise you to learn that, until recently, the word intention signified the importance of a thing, or that which gave a thing its meaning. We must keep this in mind when we think about intention. Intention as a spiritual principle, you see, is not about what we plan to do, or what we hope to get as a result of executing that plan. Intention is, instead, a measure of why such a plan might be important to us. When we view the concept from this perspective, we can begin to understand that intention has an indivisible relationship to essence, or the feeling experience we desire. In this relationship, the essence we hope to receive from achieving or having something, is fundamental to any intention. If we think of the spiritual principle of intention as a goal or a plan to have a certain thing manifest in a certain way at a certain time, then we have missed the point entirely." - Spotted Eagle

~  From the Spotted Eagle chat 'Intention' channeled by Jennie Marlow in February 2006

If you are interested in listening to the full one hour recording of this chat, let me know & I will arrange a downloadable link for you. The price is $10.00.

For My Young Friends Who Are Afraid by William Stafford

For My Young Friends Who Are Afraid

There is a country to cross you will
find in the corner of your eye, in
the quick slip of your foot--air far
down, a snap that might have caught.
And maybe for you, for me, a high, passing
voice that finds its way by being
afraid. That country is there, for us,
carried as it is crossed. What you fear
will not go away: it will take you into
yourself and bless you and keep you.
That's the world, and we all live there.

- William Stafford

So, Wavy Gravy and Shakespeare walk into a bar...

We're all bozos on the bus,

so we might as well sit back

and enjoy the ride.

- Wavy Gravy

In her terrific book 'Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow' author Elizabeth Lesser shares this quote from self-proclaimed clown-activist Wavy Gravy as she addresses the in-progress quality of being human and how important it is to maintain a sense of perspective and humor as we navigate the journeys of our lives.

Lesser writes: "It is wonderful to take your place on the bus with the other bozos. It may be the first step to enlightenment to understand with all of your brain cells that the other bus - that sleek bus with the cool people who know where they are going - is also filled with bozos: bozos in drag, bozos with secrets. When we see clearly that every single human being, regardless of fame or fortune or age or brains or beauty, shares the same ordinary foibles, a strange thing happens. We begin to cheer up, to loosen up, and we become as buoyant as those people we imagined on the other bus. As we rumble along the potholed road, lost as ever, through the valleys and over the hills, we find ourselves among friends. We sit back, and enjoy the ride."

A fool thinks himself to be wise, 

but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.

- William Shakespeare

Regardless of whether our temperaments tend to align more with Wavy Gravy or Shakespeare, each of these quotes relates to the common choice life offers us: do we dance with uncertainty and risk appearing foolish and vulnerable? or, do we pursue security and grant the mind and reason our ultimate authority? How do we sort out what so often appears to be an unresolvable situation? In the work I study and share, my teacher Spotted Eagle boils down our existential fears into three basic components or 'types', one of which serves as the primary incarnational focus for our life. These types are: Rejected / Emotional Security, Plane / Abandonment, and Body / Power. Each type is comprised of certain themes, the expression of which create both a context of resistance and an opportunity for resolution.

To slightly expand, the Rejected type tends to view life through a lens which states, “I must sacrifice for others so they will care about me when I am no longer able to take care of myself.” Their primary fears are about not having emotional security, and their resolution is through self-acceptance, learning to disengage with who and what does not serve them, and choosing close relationships with great care.

For the Plane type, “I must secure protection and resources in case the tribe wants to abandon me and leave me without support.” Their primary fears are of being without protection, and their resolution is through detachment, accepting that pain and loss are part of life, and learning to have a 'cosmic' perspective on life, death and change.

And for the Body type, “I must dominate the tribe and its resources in case they will not share with me.” Their primary fears are about domination, and their resolution is through humility, seeking a balance of power, seeking to be a part of something larger/higher, and contributing to the greater good for all.

Without any obligation whatsoever to 'do' anything at all about them, these three core fears and their complimentary fantasies form our starting points as we make our ways in life. As Wavy Gravy might reframe this: we either fear the other bozos on our bus might kick us off the bus / or we fantasize that we would be more valued with other, different traveling companions; we fear that our bus will break down along some lonely stretch of the road and we will succumb to the dangers of the environment / or we fantasize that life would be safer on another bus; or we fear that we are on a somehow structurally defective or sub-par bus / or we fantasize that we would be more powerful if we were on a more attractive bus or a newer model.

After such a light-hearted beginning to this post, are you now more angst-ridden than ever?

If so, may I suggest adding this accessory to your repertoire. No home (or bus) should be without one. 

At least one.

The Transformation of Tribe

“Rarely has humanity faced such a convergence of challenges to its survival and its spiritual integrity. The changes that are upon us will demand an unprecedented degree of emotional maturity and spiritual commitment. Those who choose to be in the vanguard, leading humanity through these changes, will shoulder an enormous responsibility for the way in which they support others in their search for wholeness during this great transformation." — Spotted Eagle

I recently participated in a workshop facilitated by my teacher Jennie Marlow on spiritual leadership which has inspired many inquiries into just what leadership and service means to me. One of the points made early on is how our common default perspectives on tribe and leadership tend to get filtered through the lens of our Stone Age based constructs around power, safety, and value. We see this show up often in the media (e.g. Dances With Wolves) and in many modern spiritual models (any number of contemporary intentional communities) which romanticize the notion of 'tribal' life. We imagine it as a simpler way of life, in tune with nature, and without the pressing financial, environmental, and political pressures with which we are currently dealing. If we accept this paradigm as our benchmark, we may take action to create our lives and communities based on a model that is, in my view, neither sustainable nor practical.

My teacher Spotted Eagle speaks to the evolution of consciousness at play in modern times in transitional terms when he observes that humanity is in a collective grieving process as we experience the loss of the illusion of material security. We are, generally speaking, not well-equipped culturally or emotionally to grieve in a healthy manner. We tip out of power when we interpret the essentially impermanent nature of life as an indicator that our security is under constant threat, and then we feel justified in acting out our existential issues - often with destructive consequences. Our minds eagerly coalesce around efforts to recreate the perception that our lives are under control; thus reinforcing the Stone Age model of dominance and subservience that is the foundation of this model. In living this way nothing can move forward for us because this approach is fundamentally a closed circuit.

So then, how can we evolve our behaviors and choices to reflect a healthier, more balanced, point of view? Spotted Eagle suggests that we can begin by shaking up our notion of what a tribe is and, in so doing, offer our minds a tribal model that is not about disempowering ourselves or one another. In order to accomplish this rather daunting proposal, it serves us to turn our attention toward creating communities which support the authenticity of its members. Our challenge is to evolve our awareness and the use of our energy in service of embracing uncertainty every step of the way. As I see it, only then can we experience fulfillment - both as individuals and as communities. Regardless of the context of our experience, our personal responsibility remains the same; to become aware of our issues and the patterns through which we act them out - and then to use our tools to shift those patterns into alignment with our spiritual values...our desire to experience essence.

What comes to mind when you think about tribes, about leadership? 

To get your inquiry going, or to perhaps expand on what you've already been pondering, I offer this interview with one of my heroes, Seth Godin. Seth's work is highly visible on line and in print, so if this inspires you, I encourage to you explore more at the bookstore &/or on the web. I happen to be partial to this one because of its relative informal, conversational quality. I hope you like it:

Seth Godin on Why We Need a Tribe

Minding the Mind

One thing I've noticed about myself is how ready I am to dismiss my mind as having anything at all to do with my quality of life. And yet, it is the mind that holds the ability to process data, perceive inspiration, retrieve and conceptualize information, to analyze options, and so forth. Mind can only do what it is designed to do - and that's all right. Depending upon how we're wired, our thinking is, generally speaking, more of a fixed or a fluid process - neither of which is any better or worse than the other. The trouble comes when we use our mental energy, in the form of its conditioning, as our authority for making important decisions. This point brings up a host of weighty questions, among which may include: How do we balance and integrate the basic functions of our mind's mental energy with the cultivation of spiritual awareness?; If some information is good, wouldn't more information be better?; Are there different kinds of intelligence?; What about learning?; Is 'mind' held exclusively in the brain or is it more diversified?, and so on. One of my favorite inquiries is, 'What is the difference between 'mind' and 'mindfulness'?

My teacher Spotted Eagle often speaks to the qualities of mind in terms of its biological nature, how its function is influenced by our emotional system, and then how it is expressed in our existential issues. He likes to say, "Never let the Mind go unsupervised!" What does he mean by this? One way to approach this concept is to notice that when we are employing mindfulness we direct our attention to the experience of essence as opposed to tethering it to a narrow craving for form and its illusion of security. A good place to begin a personal inquiry on these sometimes confusing matters is to recall something in the past that made you either excited or worried about the future. 

"What was the picture that Mind painted about the future that made you feel excited or worried? What fantasy did this picture promise to deliver? What fear did this picture hope to resolve?

Which of the following qualities played a part in the story you imagined? 

1. Money
2. Security
3. Prowess (or health)
4. Reputation
5. Sexual attractiveness
6. Power over others
 

What action did you take to make this future happen? What truths did you ignore in order to maintain your belief in this future? How did the excitement, and whatever action it prompted you to take medicate your fear? or fuel your fantasy?

This inquiry illustrates an important point: Mind puts its faith in the illusion of a future that can be avoided, made to happen, or forced into being. Mind prays for certain outcomes for itself and others. Mind puts its faith in action and in inaction; it puts its faith in the illusion of control. It seeks outcomes that medicate our fears and/or support our fantasies.

There is an oft-repeated Buddhist proverb about a man who came repeatedly to his teacher, asking for advice on all sorts of matters, especially about the difference between how his teacher experienced his life before enlightenment compared to after. The master’s answer was always the same: "Before enlightenment, 'Chop wood. Carry water.' After enlightenment, 'Chop wood. Carry water.'" 

From this simple yet profound story we can notice that it is in the act of mindfulness; the observation of the self - what it thinks, what it perceives, how it behaves, and what it chooses - all of these things, especially when we are under pressure - that this is where the information we need is located and waiting for us to retrieve it." ~ Spotted Eagle

I would not call myself a Buddhist, although at times I do find its teachings can bring me wisdom that evolves my life and opens my heart. In the spirit of this then, I offer the following piece by Susan Piver on the hidden treasures of being which are held both within the natural world and within the human mind:

You are brilliant. I have proof. 

"Happiness is Love. Full Stop." - Dr. George Vaillant

At 56 the subject of aging is on my mind as never before. There's the personal and the transpersonal experience at play for me as it is for most of my peers. I was introduced* to a terrific video of an interview with Dr. George Vaillant who offers an inside look at an unprecedented seven-decade study of a group of Harvard men which suggests that one thing, above all, truly makes a difference.

If this sparks your curiosity and you have seven minutes:

Click HERE to Watch

* thank you Marilyn Berman

A Message to My Fellow Citizens of Stockholm

The other day I saw a reference to the 'Stockholm Syndrome,' a somewhat archaic term used in psychology and the media which describes a seemingly contradictory phenomenon wherein hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors as an act of kindness. I first became aware of this back in 1974 when the young heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army, spent two months in captivity, and then actively took part in a bank robbery they were choreographing. This lead to her arrest and subsequent trial, with part of her legal defense strategy (which ultimately proved unsuccessful) being the argument that she had been at the affect of this syndrome and was therefore not responsible for her actions. 

It set me wondering about how our minds so often function as the arbiters of our choices and behaviors in ways that, to put it ever so mildly, don't particularly serve us in a constructive manner. When we see ourselves as victims of our circumstances, life gets messy rather quickly, and most of us opt for acting out in one way or another in a misguided effort to set things straight. Doesn't it feel sometimes that our minds have taken our common sense, our clarity, our very curiosity hostage? And then, don't we often simply let that be - unquestioned, basking in the glow of our infatuation with our mental energy? The siren call of certainty can bring us into a trance state at the blink of an eye and before we know it our mental conditioning is running the show. So, I'm wondering, what part does curiosity play in the human spiritual experience?

Here's what my teacher Spotted Eagle has to say about it:

"What we can see about human animal nature is that, beyond physical survival, the mind needs to feel safe, valued, and powerful enough to resist domination. Until we overcome existential fear, we cannot move into self-actualization where our spiritual gifts can be fully employed to create what brings us essence. If the only tools you have are fear-based, then you will tend to perceive every problem as a control issue and your thinking will follow one of two tracks: either you will feel that there is nothing you can do to solve your problems and sink into despair. Or you will think there is something you must do to avoid what you fear and then start pushing energy. In either case, access to the creative principle of curiosity and its energies will be closed to you.

We must cultivate the humility to admit that we do not know the truth of any now until it emerges for us in that now. We cannot be in the now when we are burdened with either the hubris or the self‐deprecation of our decisions about reality. When we employ our curiosity, the first thing we must do is surrender control. We undecide what was once decided. We open ourselves to learning what may be emerging in the now that is outside the scope of our previous experience and perceptions.
Curiosity comes to us from two Latin roots, curiosus meaning “inquisitive” and cura meaning “careful.” What we possess when we are curious is the ability to inquire, and to do so with care and consideration. We learn, and then we let go of what we think we know so that we can remain open, undecided, and allowing our curiosity to continue leading our way. We are open to one very simple truth: that the Universe is vast, and what we think we know about it is actually a limitation for us both personally and creatively."

What happens, we might wonder, if we turn away from the opportunity to remain open? Again, from Spotted Eagle:

"Over the course of a lifetime of preventing what he fears, hiding from what threatens him, or chasing his excitement wave, the individual’s ability to create essence grinds gradually to a standstill. The will to create becomes exhausted, and the mind can see no way forward because what it has used as creative fuel— the emotional reaction—has drained the individual of his will to keep pushing energy. The mind can see clearly that there is no more will to create, and its fear of the uncertain future then becomes magnified. Because the fearful mind that has exhausted its will can see no way forward, it will then come to believe in the futility of its efforts, and this is when we begin to despair."

And, as counter-intuitive as that may sound, this can be good news because, for most of us, it's not until we are on our knees - often up to our necks in our stuff and despair - that it occurs to us to try something else...to reconnect with our curiosity and the willingness to undecide.