Speak Your Truth - A Good Practice

A recent family dispute brought about some fairly dramatic and necessary changes in the interpersonal relationships between multiple family members.  I was thinking about the series of events that lead up to this climax and came up with this thought:  As we continuously sweep the 'little things' under the rug, eventually we trip over the mountain below. 

Everyone deals with conflict in different ways.  Some people react with violence, definitely an extreme.  Some people react with ignorance, a different kind of extreme.  Let's not look at the negative connotations that the word ignorance has and let's strictly look at how the word is constructed for a moment.  'Ignore' is at the base and means "to deny the existence of what is".  So ignorance is the denial of the existence of Truth.  One can be fully aware of what the Truth is but through actions and words deny its very existence.  Uninformed is oft mistaken for ignorant.  The necessity for the self-preservation mechanism behind this method of managing stress is very real.  As we discussed before in Yin and Yang, there can be manifestation becoming what is necessary...a dual reality, if you will.  Because of conditions that exist, individuals create necessary adaptations to deal with those conditions or, in most cases, NOT deal with those conditions.  A choice is made to avoid or ignore the condition thus creating a new habit or relationship in order to facilitate the ignorance of the condition.  As we have all found out at some point or another in our lives, ignoring something does not make it go away.  What happens, though, is that we build a false front (hey there's that straw dog thing again) and create not only an alternate reality for ourselves but also for the other person or people in the relationship. 

Speaking your Truth is very easy.  The more you practice it, the easier it becomes.  Identifying the Truth to be spoken can be a challenge.  Experience is our guide to this identification.  We know what is right and wrong.  Whether we choose to do what is right versus what is wrong is another story and can depend greatly on the existing conditions.  It is our courage that determines which we will choose.  Do we cast aside the feelings of others in our pursuit of Truth?  Do we choose to live in the alternate reality because we are too afraid to do so?  Thinking about the feelings of others, do we realize that only with the Truth are we able to fully consider them?  How many people live through lies and deceit leaving a trail of broken hearts and torn lives behind?

Let us speak our Truth throughout our lives so that we can be who we are.  It is far easier to remember the Truth.  Truth is what is.  It is not clouded by our own agendas.  When we fail to recognize the Truth, we fail to recognize who we are.  Truth will never fail us, but will we fail Truth?

The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition, nor to insult or demean anyone or any being. Please respect this boundary. Otherwise, anything goes.

Introduction To Five Element Theory

The Five Elements, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood.  Fire promotes Earth; Earth promotes Metal; Metal promotes Water; Water promotes Wood.  We see these interactions in the natural world.  After a fire, many nutrients are returned to the earth thus making it very fertile again and ready to support abundant life once more and so we say that Fire promotes Earth.  Metal is formed within the Earth, thusly we say that Earth promotes Metal.  As water courses through the veins of the earth, it picks up minerals along the way which become part of the water.  These minerals are metals.  Most of the minerals picked up are required by living things in order to promote good growth.  Because of this we say that Metal promotes Water.  Water, being a fundamental requirement for life, supports all that grows and lives.  Plant life takes the water and grows into a food source for animals.  Water, then, promotes Wood.  When plant material has reached its pinnacle of existence, conditions make for excessive fuel which, when sparked, becomes an inferno.  Wood, in turn, promotes Fire and so the cycle continues.  We call this the cycle of generation.

The elements have more than one job though.  The cycle of generation is referred to as the "parenting" cycle because of the nurturing that is present while the cycle of control is referred to as the "grandparenting" cycle because of the disciplinary relationship.  In this relationship, Fire controls Metal; Metal controls Wood; Wood controls Earth; Earth controls Water; Water controls Fire.  Metal is not easily molded and shaped unless it has been heated by fire.  Once forged into tools, metal is used to cut wood and shape wood.  Roots of plants serve not only the plant that they are connected to but they also help to hold onto soil.  In this regard, roots act as erosion control and thus control the earth.  River banks are comprised of earth and prevent the water from going wherever it wants to.  The earthen banks guide the flowing waters and so Earth controls Water.  Fires that rage out of hand are controlled by water.  Water extinguishes fire by cooling it and by depleting it of oxygen. 

Each element is represented by many different characteristics and each element contains Yin and Yang.  Emotions, flavors, smells, organs, body parts and foods are some of the many associations that can be made to the Elements.  In future posts, I will describe each individual element and discuss its relationship to the other elements.  I will discuss how Fire allows us joy while Earth brings worry.  I will show you how Metal keeps us alive while Water gives us life.  Wood will not be left out because without it, you would not be able to see this post.

The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition, nor to insult or demean anyone or any being. Please respect this boundary. Otherwise, anything goes.

Yin & Yang

The concepts of Yin & Yang (pron. yawng) are simple yet complex.  On one hand it is easy to define them as essence and force, respectively.  But, on the other hand, describing and understanding them becomes so complex and mind-expanding, that volumes of literature have been written about each.

We find this duality throughout every aspect of Yin and Yang.  Within everything that is, there is an element of Yin and an element of Yang.  And within each of those, the other resides.  This is why the Taoist (pron. Dowist) symbol contains the white fish, Yang, with a black eye, Yin, and a black fish, Yin, with a white eye, Yang.  The fish swim together, constantly transforming into each other, consuming each other and yet remaining balanced with each other so that each exists. 

Balance is the existential goal of Yin and Yang.  The balance between what is necessary for what is manifesting, and what is manifesting because of what is necessary.  In order for us to live, we need certain basics.  Water and air are at the top of that list.  Water, containing hydrogen and oxygen, and air, also containing hydrogen and oxygen, are the two most fundamental requirements for life.  One from above and one from below.  Water contains elements of air and air contains elements of water.  Yin and Yang.  Food, of course, is another life basic.  All living beings need food.  Without food, there is no living.  One becomes unable to feed the force of life.  Without the force of life, one is unable to gather food.  The quality of that fuel defines the quality of our body.  In other words, you are what you eat.  In our constant pursuit of health and happiness, we have lost sight of what is necessary and what is manifesting.

I know that I do not need a $4 cup of coffee for many reasons.  Coffee is a diuretic and, therefore, depletes my body of the fluids it needs.  Coffee also brings excessive heat to the digestive organs of the body (even if drunk cold) causing even more fluid depletion through evaporation by the body to cool down.  Coffee withdrawals (yes, like drug withdrawals) include migraine headaches, irritability, restlessness, fatigue and more.  These facts alone are enough to stay away, but then you go and put a high price tag on it and...well, the facts speak clearly.  With this knowledge, I am still shocked to see how many different ways we poison our bodies because the poisons have become socially acceptable and readily available.  Propagandous marketing has blinded humans to reality.  Do you drink coffee for breakfast?  Is that all you take for breakfast?  Is that really the best part of waking up?  How about all those prescription drug commercials out there?  Take a pill for heartburn, but expect you may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or, in some cases, severe liver damage.  And then there are those that because of existing health conditions cannot take the pill at all less they risk certain death.  WHAT?!  A tablespoon of red wine or apple cider vinegar not only takes care of the immediate effects of heartburn but it is also beneficial to the rest of the body as it promotes blood circulation...and it won't kill you.

During the course of this blog, I will explore the balance of Yin and Yang:  The external balance we see in nature; the internal balance we see within ourselves; the balance of our outer with our inner; and the balance of the manifestation of the necessary.  I will draw from my personal experiences, my own pursuit of knowledge, shared knowledge of family and friends and the teachings of  'a master in her own time', my doctor and teacher.

The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition, nor to insult or demean anyone or any being. Please respect this boundary. Otherwise, anything goes.

Straw Dogs?

STRAW DOGS -- "Heaven and Earth are not humane./ They regard all things as straw dogs." Lao-tzu (c. 604 - c. 531 B.C., "Tao Te Ching"

A straw dog is something that has been put up as a false front, a sacrificial item or a scapegoat.  Everyone hides behind something; an excuse, clothing, makeup, jewelry, an outward appearance.  How many false fronts do you put up?  Sacrifice requires that we give of ourselves, not just our possessions.  It is too easy for a person to write a check, drop a $20 bill or even hand someone our garbage and expect a tax credit for it.  When was the last time you made a difference by sharing yourself?  Scapegoats abound.  We see them everyday in every aspect of what is presented to us.  From psychology to the law, we are given every chance to blame someone else so we don't have to take responsibility for our thoughts or actions.  We must be prepared to accept all manifestations of our decisions.  Good decisions beget good outcomes.

My oldest son began school in a Waldorf-based educational facility a few years back.  We were blessed with a great Kindergarten teacher who possesses many, many years of experience.  She couples her experience with such love and compassion for every student that you can't help but become enriched by her presence.  It was her first year at our school and, unfortunately, her last, as family matters came up and she returned home.  Although she is not physically with us, we still hold many of her lessons dear to us. 

One of those lessons is how to take responsibility for one's actions.  It is done through a simple phrase.  Whenever you do something that is damaging to another person, being or thing, come from your heart and express out loud, "I will do better next time."  Sorry is a word that has been thrown around so much, it means nothing.  It has become a straw dog.  But to utter the phrase "I will do better next time" makes a promise...a promise that the next time you are presented with a situation in which you have the ability to choose, you will make a decision that benefits all involved.  Saying sorry has become a reflex.  It takes a conscious effort to make a promise.

The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition, nor to insult or demean anyone or any being. Please respect this boundary. Otherwise, anything goes.

Synchronicity - that's a word huh?

A newly reacquired friend introduced me to the word, SYNCHRONICITY.  From the root words syn- and chrono-, we understand this word to mean same time.  Wikipedia defines as follows:  Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events that are causally unrelated occurring together in a meaningful manner. To count as synchronicity, the events should be unlikely to occur together by chance.  A synchronicity occurs when one event is shared by two or more beings.  This event can be a non-chalant passing of time that neither benefits nor impedes either party involved beyond the companionship provided.  Or, it can be an event that is so life altering, it is impossible to think how one ever survived prior and, yet, at the same time, fill one with an eternal hope for what may be to come.

How many times in our lives do we stop and say;  How weird that you called, I was just thinking about you?  Or;  Thank God you're here.  Please help me.

Many of us roam through life feeling as if we are confined and constrained by forces beyond our control.  Most of us believe in a Supreme Being but we forget to ask Him for help when we need it most.  God, Yahweh, Allah, Jehovah, Tao, Higher Power - whatever you call Him - is always ready to help us.  We need only ask.  And sometimes, you don't even have to do that.  We call those moments, synchronicities.

Let's open our eyes to what has already been given to us and allow our hearts to begin feeling again...unconstrained and unconfined.  Start with something small, like "thanks".  See what blossoms.

The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition, nor to insult or demean anyone or any being.  Please respect this boundary.  Otherwise, anything goes.