Magnificat

I want to make my mark on the world in broad brush-strokes. Gloriam Slow and sensational. Laudam In one keen observation, not a flurry of struggles or endless projects. Magnificam In one moment of compassion, I'll never forget the face. Jubilatum Hail to the stranger that pushed me past the crest of the hill. Ave His work will continue to be done. And a blessing will be upon his house. Adoram I will walk in his shadow.

Anger Research - NPR

Anger research NPR news 9:50am 3/26/09 Langley/Blakely/Lavely found herself yearning to continue destroying her exes belongings. So she started Sarah's Smash Shack in San Diego. The point: cleanse and diffuse anger. Freud was a fan of catharsis. John Lennon did primal scream therapy. Expression of neg. feelings was v. popular in 60's + 70's. Studies show that a big release of anger in physical activity does nothing but increase future expressions of anger. Increased arousal fosters more arousal. Saying "that makes me angry" in a non furious way is the best way. The sense of immediate improvement/release is just a sense. Breathing deeply for 2 minutes releases arousal.

What is Enlightenment?

Citing other Integralists like Cohen and Wilber, I take it to mean, loosely, the PROCESS of evolution of human consciousness (conscious life). --Notes from the January 31st EnlightenNext Salon in DC: Topic: Evolution of Consciousness and the Creation of Culture. -"Evolution is a moving target." -from the EnlightenNext article featuring Wiber and Cohen: Absolute Consciousness (Wilber's term) = Ground of Being (Cohen's term) is in an ongoing dialectic with the (state of living in the) Creative Impulse. The Creative Impulse is the world of action and creation, the same force of the expanding universe. A person is not barred from the Ground of Being until they reach "enlightenment." "I'm still the same Ego/Narcissist even though I profoundly experience the Ground of Being." ~Sam R. When we get in touch with seubject/object dialectic and we do this as a group, we speed development of society as a whole. On both individual and group levels we can re-frame (create a new context) the "collective unconsciousness"/ intersubjective. We come to question ourselves: Is it my ego-drive to gain the badge of being "better" (or "Integral" or "enlightened" or "evolved") or am I spiritually animated by evolution? The fact that we're aware of this inquiry indicates that we have one foot placed firmly in the Ground of Being (Abs. Consc.). This is the conversation wherein we recognize the presence of the ego. And in that moment, we have already transcended.

Statue on 20th St NW, Golden Triangle, DC

Once Ineffable Now Conceived & Spoken

My once best friend ~ changed. It happened not gradually, but it happened without notice. Because it's not something that I'd wish to notice; rather it's something that I'd want to deny. What's the missing quality that once was? Sweetness. It's not even just compassion, with which she has an admitted problem. She has an awful listening of it since her evidence against sweetness and compassion was displayed for her in her father. Her mother, on the other hand, is the avatar of a steeled, sometimes steamrolling will. She is not totally devoid of that tender quality. She conserves it quite specially. I suppose she figured out that she can't achieve her big goals with sweetness. Like having her friends be successful or powerful. Of course tough love is far more effective than joyful encouragement alone. I'm torn between wanting my own toughness and wanting everyone to be tender, along with its derivatives: compassion, trust, vulnerability. Sweetness: a humble, joyful simplicity of spirit.

Trying On Greatness

Marianne Williamson is the author of A Return to Love. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles",