LSD 2/2011 - Exercise in Friendship
Letter of Spiritual Direction
Exercises in Friendship
Divine Absolute Eternal Home and Human Authentic Eternal Vehicle
5th Awareness: I AM the Breath of Life in and out of the channels of my throat.
I find a moment of silence between the breath in and the breath out.
I am the color of the wind.
Teachers: Friendship, Exercise and Wind
An experience of Soul Awakening to Living on the Earth Plane
This morning I awaken from a restless sleep of physical discomfort.
The first odd night since pathway left.
I feel cold and achy, bothered by the winds hitting the branches against the house all night, my night clothes twisted up with my covers and my hair wrapped around my face. Like the bird trying to find a safe place to land and unwind; I just need to find a flat place to land, odd that this is my first moment of waking.
I rise before the dawn breaks and watch as predawn illuminates the morning blue sky with golden rose billowing clouds. I wonder how the cloud people have maintained their composure for two days now with this intense wind. And yet they are there just hanging out, seemingly enjoying the cleanse from spring time wind.
I light my candle, say my prayers and return to the warmth of bed and coffee. Yup this is one of the perks of being an Earth Being, and I am grateful for this gift of the matter in humus.
My contemplation begins with the idea of Exercise. Exercise.
I think about why some people find exercise to be really simple while others find it very hard. Exercise is a part of our Rule of Life and for some it is a challenge, while for some, a comfort. I allow my thoughts to wander with my guides, I see something of relationships. I dream with the Ancestors, reflecting upon the ways of peoples old and new.
My thoughts wander to the natural state of long strides, open arms, great smiles. I think of the open space where I am gifted to live, where Wind experiences freedom to blow. Where trees are strongly rooted and enjoy the shaking out of cobwebs. Where branches dance up and down shaking off the old leaves. I take out my rugs and blanket and allow the refreshment of wind (air) to clear out winter's stagnation.
I feel happy with this wind. Wind teaches me of reaching out, carrying sounds, jumping, singing and dancing. Wind teaches me about expanding my view, as it tests my resistance and resilience. Wind teaches me how to stand strong against forces which can become complex, by teaching me, like the bird, to seek places of shelter. Wind teaches me to exercise my calmness by allowance and surrender to peace. Wind teaches me to stand, walk, run and it teaches me to fly. I learn about laughter and delight and extension and persistence .
First question: So what is it about exercise that makes some excited to go out and explore and others cringe at the thought of movement and change?
What does exercise do for us? One thing that comes to mind is, 'exercise is a helper'.
Exercise is a Helper
If this is true, that exercise is a helper, what are my 'beliefs' about 'helper' that
empower me to go out or keep me from going out, causing me to experience my life as ridged or flexible?
Second question: In what aspect of life does exercise best fit as a pathway (Jia) which helps me to experience Oneness with all life and relation?
Third question: Why is any of this important?
For me the second question comes easiest to consider.
"In what aspect of life does exercise best fit as a pathway (Jia) to Oneness with all life and relation?" The aspect of Friendship makes most sense to me as the place where I can begin to contemplate, evaluate and comprehend my understandings of human relationship and consider my own beliefs about exercise. For others and on another day we can consider the relationship of Exercise to other aspects.
What are important things in life for me? Peaceful ease, comfort, Beauty, Joy, Happiness.
Why are these things important to me? Because they help me to find a place where I can BE. When I can find peace within I share peace without (in my world and universe).
Comforting my physical form is pretty high up on the scale.
So what do exercise, friendship and helper all have in common in addressing these important things in my life?
Friendships:
Friendship has been my weakest link in this life time, and as Jia would say, 'we are only as strong as our weakest link (connection).' I have spent much time in the study and application of friendship. I have thought about what it is, what it is not, its value and its origin.
My thoughts about friendship go something like this.
In our family because it is clan, our family is 'friend' and our friend is 'family'. All friendships originate from family and all family originates from Oneness with All.
Therefore there is nothing which is not family, for we are all connected through the very matter (humus) of our beings. We are of the elements water, earth, fire, air...... our form, our DNA is of the same basic makeup of every other Being on this planet. Therefore we are of One Body. Simple. Our family is united through the inner connections of our make-up whether we know it or not.
All friendships come from family;
however the relationship has a different function.
Friendships are those relationships which offer us the opportunity to be "one with the wind".
In other words, friendships are systems of relationship which allow us to explore and experience ourselves through evolution and are based in the integrity and development of trust.
Like the wind, friendships allow us the freedom to explore ourselves.
Friendships are the outer circle of our homes. Friendships are the play ground for exploring boundaries, dressing up beauty, moving beyond preconceived ideas of limitations. Friendships extend allowance through humor and can provide clear statements in honesty. Friendships form new groups. Groups are made of common ideas through projects in common and support the evolution of boundaries. Friendships are of choice and form a united bond built through the formation of trust.
I think about the structures which most easily support friendships; Exercise comes to mind. Yoga, painting, contemplation, music, walking, sports, etc.
When we exercise we naturally move in to communion with another. The other can be of Nature People or Human Beings.
If we swim, we move into communion and friendship with the element of water.
If we are lucky there can be other beings with which we also develop friendship.
Maybe another human, maybe an otter, maybe a dog, the dirt or a plant.
Whoever the friendship is formed with, the friendship itself is a teacher of relationship.
A Hopi Grandfather recently reminded us that, 'in order for us to evolve through this time of change, we must once again become connected by our spirit to Mother Earth.'
A way in which we connect our spirit to anything is through the Aspect of Friendship in exercise. To the indigenous people, friendship is considered to be the most sacred and primal relationship. It's importance is held in highest esteem. For we know that it is only through the spirit of friendship that our cultures live. We seek to develop, explore and maintain friendship through supporting both the inner and outer part of our lives.
Considerations of Contemplations:
- What is an Exercise which helps you to become passionate about your life?
a. What physical sense helps you to become connected. Sight, touch, hearing, tasting, smell?
b. How does creativity fit into this exercise?
Art of dance
Art of cooking
Art of painting
Art of walk
Art of word
Art of song..........
Again, what exercise of creativity connects you to the passion of your life?
How can this exercise help you to discover your connection to the Spirit of Mother Earth?
Assignment:
a. For one month choose an exercise and think about friendship with yourself.
b. Ask yourself each day, "How do I practice friendship with myself?"
c. Take the lessons below of the wind and ask yourself, "How have I become a friend to myself and others through this exercise of conscious living?":
Wind
"My thoughts wander to the natural state of long strides, open arms, great smiles.
I think of the open space where I am gifted to live,
where wind experiences freedom to blow.
Where trees are strongly rooted and enjoy the shaking out of cobwebs.
Where branches dance up and down shaking off the old leaves.
I take out my rugs and blanket and allow the refreshment
of wind (air) to clear out winter's stagnation.
I feel happy with this wind.
Wind teaches me of reaching out, carrying sounds, jumping,
singing and dancing.
Wind teaches me about expanding my view,
it tests my resistance and resilience.
Wind teaches me how to stand strong against forces which can become
complex, by teaching me to seek places of shelter.
Wind teaches me to exercise my calmness by allowance and surrender to peace.
Wind teaches me to stand, walk, run and it teaches me to fly.
I learn about laughter and delight and extension and persistence.”
Example:
Exercise: Cooking
Goal: The development of friendship
Teacher: The Wind
Day one journal entry: Today I begin my day with the intention of being present in the art of cooking. Cooking is an exercise because it is a creative act which will help me to activate my passion, apply and develop skill and focus and use my energies in a way which allows for growth and inner and outer connection with my life.
So today I think about the lessons of the wind and I will use the sentence:
"My thoughts wander to the natural state of long strides, open arms, great smiles."
I bend down reaching into the cupboard. Instead of my usual rushed self, I think of myself as if the wind were blowing me. I reach and take a breath; I bend and feel sensations of heat in my spine ...as my arms, legs and spine work together as I make my way to the cupboard below. Suddenly I find that I am in conscious relation to by physical form, my physical body. I sense myself as real, I experience a smile move over my face and I feel light hearted. I laugh at myself and I pat myself on the back. Nice work in step one of friendship. I am becoming my friend. As I become a friend to myself, I can be a better friend to those who I am in relation with..........maybe tomorrow I will be like the wind and sing while I bend.
Connect with us my sisters and brothers
Sit among Us within the circle of life.
Be in communion with our relatives and ancestors
Above, below, beside, in front and behind.
Let the fire of our circle reflect the light and dark of each of us.
Let us laugh away the fears which wish take hold.
Let us drum our hearts into the harmony of one common dance and song.
Let us comfort one another in tears of joy,
Ever holding one another through each stage and step of our lives.
Let us remember that today is but a day,
And tomorrow is but a day,
And yesterday is but a day.
And each day brings its own faces of the spirit of friendship.
Let us forever be in allowance and of a generous heart-mind
That we may remember always that we are brothers and sisters
Friends of One Family.
InLoving gratitude for life,
Willow JiMi Tequillo
© JiMiTao-ABeautyWay 2024