(C) 2009 Howard McQueenAs we come to realize that life itself conspiresto show us again and again what we've avoided and tried to retire,we begin to feel that we are not really helpless and drowning,we are neither victims or victors.These are but role-based sentenceswe have chosen to believe in and empower.And, meanwhile, life tirelessly sends us an endlessarray of messengersreminding us, through reflectionthat which we are most uncomfortable with and have cast out.How do we know we have received a messenger?When we are internally provoked enough to choose reactive projection.This "spills the beans" we have hidden from in our past.I say "lets make a hearty soup with all these spilled beans."Why not a community pot, which we can all take turns stirring.We can each add some of our uniquely flavored spice.We can make many pots, each with its own unique blend of content.Some vegan, some not.All deeply seasoned with fellowship and these great gifts of integratingUnity and Reunionand living in peace.May we all see through the interruption and disconnection that arrives with our intentional messengers.These open the divine pathways back to suppressed discomfort and pain.and may we see in our reflections and projections,our proclivity to suppress our emotional distress, and not continue to cap it off with self deception.Our journey is to remain inquisitive and honor our personally held discomforts.I celebrate our messengers for holding up the mirror and encouraging us to find our truthsand set ourselves free.~ ~ ~When I feel into sensing that life has been quietly and tireless provoking me to see my short-circuited energies, I welcome this deep sense of gratitude and release, more deeply, the sense that life ever tried to attack me. I am an unlimited beingness, indoctrinated into this conditioned, multi-dimensional experience. When I relax and do not take any of this experience personally, I feel the energetic tides of life ebb and flow and there is this welling-up of connection ... to everything - So much gratitude and love is felt and ripened for expression - HM
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Towards (Building) a Brighter FutureExcerpted from the above URLAll the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of a single candle.The Current SituationTogether, we can and will build a brighter future. Yet in order to give meaningful suggestions for this, we first need to speak candidly about what's happening in the world at present. It appears that there are factions within the world's power elite which desire to exert as much control as possible over the world. Their primary means for establishing control are through promoting fear, secrecy, and polarization, and through distracting people from their deeper purpose in life. When these factions gain greater power and control, our freedoms and liberties are increasingly taken away, sometimes without our even realizing it.Fear is used as a powerful tool of control by these factions of the global elite. "The terrorists want to kill us all. Your job, savings, and retirement are no longer secure. You are either for us or against us. We might be attacked at any time." All of these messages push us towards fear. And by encouraging us to focus blame on others such as terrorists and "evil" leaders, the global power brokers push us away from feeling in control of our lives and towards the role of powerless victims. The more we slip into fear and being victims, the easier it is for us to be manipulated.Secrecy leads to control through preventing the exposure of hidden agendas, and through breeding distrust, suspicion, and paranoia in the world. In the name of "national security," we have been told ever more frequently that we should not know what is happening behind closed doors in government. Yet we are encouraged to keep vigilant watch over our neighbors, over those who question the government, and over those who look or act different from us, as they could secretly be terrorists in sheep's clothing. Rampant suspicion and secrecy cause us to lose touch with the common humanity we share with all around us.Polarization leads to "us vs. them" ways of thinking. Divide and conquer is a tactic that has been used successfully by the power elite of the world for centuries. As long as people focus on blaming and attacking "the enemy," they are not likely to look for the deeper causes of their problems. Controlling factions of the power elite work to keep public and media attention focused on issues which divide us into two polarized camps, so that their greatest concerns of power and control go unnoticed. The power brokers then control both sides of the divided public by assuring that corporate ownership of the media and key candidates from all political parties support their deeper power and polarization agendas, which often involve war profiteering.A final subtle, yet powerful method of gaining control is to distract people from their purpose in life. Consider that television, radio, and movies have been filled with ever more greed, violence, and empty sex. Our educational system has increasingly prioritized passing tests over developing intelligence and creativity. Excessive corporate control of the media has limited what news we receive, and often shaped our decisions and the way we think. Our attention has been subtly diverted from our deeper purpose in life to the more superficial attractions of sex, consumerism, and money.When people succumb to fear, secrecy, and polarization, and when they lose touch with their sense of purpose in life, elements of the global elite are able to exert ever more control over our lives and world.What can we do about all this? Ultimately, it is the collective fear, secrecy, polarization, and loss of purpose within all of us that has allowed leaders to take power who would subvert democracy, and who would take away our freedoms and liberties. By each one of us making a commitment to work on these issues both inside of ourselves and out in the world—and to inspire others to do the same—we can change our collective direction and build a solid foundation for a brighter future. Several actions can help us to take firm steps in that direction.Develop purpose and intentions for your life. To live rich, full lives in today's complex world, it's vitally important to give your life clear direction by exploring what is deepest and most meaningful to you, and by developing a life purpose and life intentions based on this. Then choose to live your intentions and follow your purpose to the best of your ability every day. By choosing to live with clear direction and focus, life becomes deeper and more meaningful. This then weakens the seduction of consumerism and media hype which distract us from our purpose, and allows us to more effectively focus on building a brighter future.Choose to transform fear into acceptance and love. When we notice ourselves feeling fear, we can trace the roots of that fear, so that we are able to identify our core issues and deal more consciously with them. We can open to guidance from friends, teachers, and spiritual sources in helping us to move from fear to acceptance and understanding. We can also transform our fears through welcoming the ever-present love of God, and the love that lies always deep within our own hearts, and in the hearts of those around us. In doing this, we begin to recognize fear as an invitation to growth.Become aware of when you are playing the role of victim, and choose instead to take personal responsibility for building a brighter future. In blaming others for our problems, we often avoid taking responsibility for how much we are involved in creating these problems through the choices we make. Whenever we catch ourselves playing the role of victim by blaming others (including the power elite) for everything that's wrong in our lives, we can choose to take a look inside ourselves, and to explore and take responsibility for our role in what's happening. By focusing less on blaming others, and more on improving ourselves, every one of us can make a difference both in our lives and in our world.Avoid secrecy and encourage openness and transparency. An important way we can do this is to work together to inform friends and colleagues about the major cover-ups being hidden from the public. Then in our personal lives, when we notice ourselves keeping information from others, we can examine our motives for this secrecy. Are we withholding information out of our own self-interest, or because this is really what's best for all involved? And on a deeper level, where are we avoiding being honest with ourselves?Move beyond polarization and the focus on "good vs. evil" and "us vs. them." Consider the possibility that all of us are doing what we believe to be right based upon our beliefs, circumstances, and upbringing. Each of us has a place in our heart that wants only to love and be loved. As we focus less on blaming and judging "them" and more on supporting the highest motive in all people—including members of the power elite—we increasingly come to see that we are all one human family, and that we can choose to transform our world by working together for the good of all.And finally, come together in groups and communities to support each other in making these positive changes. In these groups and communities, we support each other in transforming fear into acceptance and love. We exchange information about all that is being hidden from us and explore ways to move beyond polarization. We also share our life purpose and intentions and encourage each other to live these as fully as we can. And we inspire each other to take responsibility for our lives and to be the best that we can be. When we gather in community to support each other in these intentions, we join in building a growing network of inspiration and empowerment around the planet.These suggestions emphasize changing the collective consciousness of the world by transforming both our own personal lives and the world around us. Let us do all that we can to stop destructive behaviors of the global power elite. Yet let us not overly focus on changing the outside world without first having a solid internal foundation, lest we fall into blaming others, and into the polarizing "us vs. them" ways which only further divide us. By reminding ourselves that the most powerful change starts inside each one of us, we can develop more balance and strength to then work towards positive change out in the world.As we change ourselves from the inside out, we send ripples of inspiration and healing out into the world. By joining together in groups and communities to support each other in this, those ripples become waves which powerfully help to build a brighter future for all of us.
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See my post THE BLAMING MACHINETHE CHEMISTRY OF BLAMEBy Gay Hendricks"Do you choose being right or being happy? I’ve had people come back months later and say, 'I hated you for asking me that question – but it changed my life.'"-- Professor and counselor Gay Hendricks on how to break the addiction to blameThere is a great fundamental issue that overrides many of the things we can do to heal ourselves and the world: the human tendency to step into feeling like a victim and blaming others, instead of taking personal responsibility.It’s not just a habit; it’s an addiction, just like a chemical addiction. When you step into the victim position by pointing the finger of blame, you short the circuitry in yourself that allows you to feel the natural organic ecstasy of fully standing in a co-creative position with the universe itself. That’s the fundamental developmental task we face at this stage of our evolution: opening up the wiring that allows us to feel organic ecstasy for longer and longer periods of time.At present, most people can’t sustain the feelings that arise with this opening, so they slip into a dangerous addiction to blame with its corresponding feeling of a gleeful gotcha! Once we’re accustomed to a certain internal chemical state, we feel comfortable with that state even if it’s attached to really dysfunctional behavior like that glee that arises from apportioning blame.When we try new behavior and our neurochemistry changes, it feels uncomfortable at first. Moving to a new emotional and biochemical state may feel foreign. Even though it may be a healthier one, it is unfamiliar.Usually in couples therapy, the first issue to be addressed is: Are you willing to make a commitment to solving the problem? One of the most typical responses is, “Well, I’d be committed if she were.” It takes about an hour and a half of discussion to work through that objection, until at some point in the process, both people bond and turn on the leader.I tell my students that those are the only moments during which you’re earning your keep as a therapist. Both members of the couple turn to you and say, “Hey, what the hell are you suggesting here? Are you suggesting that it’s not his fault?” That’s always a sweaty moment, but it’s the instant when transformation can come. Once you’re through that issue, the possibility of getting out of the field of blame and actually taking responsibility opens up.“Are you willing to stay completely away from blaming anyone, and instead make a sincere commitment to resolving all the issues we confront?” I’ve asked that question of thousands of people, many of whom had traveled great distances to visit to me, or were paying me very large sums of money.Even with stakes that high, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the person goes into the default position of blame immediately. Weaning people from that automatic behavior takes a great deal of patience and repetition, and a nimble set of therapeutic interventions.The tendency to default to blame is the huge issue confronting couples and societies today. Wherever you see it appear, that’s the area where healing is needed. There’s only one solution, and that’s to take 100% impeccable responsibility – and create a space for the other person to take 100% impeccable responsibility as well. Responsibility has a contagious effect.The initial level of responsibility is going from blame to being willing to consider what you’re getting out of – or contributing to – the problem. Senior level responsibility is being so impeccably clear that you become a space into which it’s possible for other people to step.You then have to confront a person’s despair that the problem is not solvable, which is always accompanied by about fifteen levels of justification. But when both people have made a commitment to resolving the issue, 90% of the work is done. Both people have then stepped into a co-creative role with not only the other, but with the Universe itself.A particular couple comes to mind. They came to work with my wife and me on their relationship. Both partners were Ph.D.s who had written brilliant scholarly papers, but when either of them encountered anything they perceived as a threat, their academic, intellectual understanding flew out the window, and they immediately became convinced that they knew that the other person was wrong.The first thing that we did was to repeatedly ask them if they would be willing to take responsibility for healing, and to make a commitment to solving the issues. When confronted with the question, they would spin out and become more entrenched in the position that it was the other person’s fault. They had endless justifications for this certainty, and thus continually dosed themselves with this highly addictive drug.It took all of the first day and well into the night to produce a shift, but in the middle of the night, the husband couldn’t sleep. His anxiety got worse and worse. In a state of desperation, he said, “Okay, I’m willing to commit to solving this problem.” That created a space for the wife to commit to the same thing. The next morning, they came in willing to solve the problem.In a nutshell, the problem was that she had had a sexual affair and he couldn’t forgive her. They’d gone ’round and ’round with it for the better part of a year. On the second day of therapy, the reason he couldn’t get over it became really clear.One of the questions that I commonly ask people is, “Has anything like this ever happened to you or anyone you know?” At first the husband said, “No,” but then, as we got deeper into the question, it turned out not only was the real answer, “Yes,” but his entire early life had been shaped by his mother running off with another man and leaving his dad with four little boys to raise.It was inevitable that his wife’s infidelity, or something like it, was bound to happen to him, because he had it so thoroughly sealed off this early experience.When we seal something off from our consciousness inside, it has to be brought to our attention in some way by the outside world. Suddenly, he realized that his wife was illuminating this old experience, and he said to her, “Oh, you played this role in my life for me.” At the end of the second day they were in each other’s arms.She said, “This was inevitable. I had to play this role for you.” And he responded, “Yes, this was my bad dream you wandered into.” He asked her, “Can you forgive me, for getting you involved in this nutty scheme of my unconscious?” That couple represented one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of what’s possible when both people take responsibility.There are a lot of programmed-in and even biologically-based characteristics that make human males and females different. I’m interested in what’s underneath that. The deeper you go inside, the more human beings look alike. The further you go toward the surface, the more different we look. The fear a woman feels when she’s upset about the guy not picking up his socks corresponds to the fear the man feels when he’s upset that she’s on his case. The superficial differences point to some underlying unity.To deal with these situations, we voice our fears, then look underneath them. As a therapist, I point out repeatedly, “Okay, having said that your husband is a worthless piece of shit, tune inside. Do you feel happier?” The person begins to recognize that although they feel that “glee-gotcha” feeling that comes from assigning blame, they don’t feel happier.So I help people make choices about whether something can make them feel happy, rather than just gleeful, by inviting them to make tiny choices that are actually huge choices. I say, “Do you choose being right or being happy?” I’ve had people come back months later and say, “I hated you for asking me that question – but it changed my life.“And here’s the great advantage of asking this question: we each only have to make the choice once. That choice changes the whole playing field. Afterwards, it’s simply a matter of practice. It’s similar to getting on a bicycle for the first time. You travel ten feet, then wobble and fall over. You get back on and you master going twenty feet. The first time was the moment in which everything changed.It’s the same with mastering personal responsibility. Once a person shifts out of glee and experiences the real joy of claiming responsibility, everything is changed. They’re launched into the process of learning. How do they remember that they’re in that process and trigger that experience on a regular basis in everyday life? By discovering how great they feel when they do it, and how miserable they feel when they don’t.Twenty-five years ago Kathlyn and I knew we wanted to create something different with our marriage. We looked around to find other couples to model our behavior on, but we found nobody whose relationship we would have traded for our own. We had to make up our path ourselves.It took a long time, but now it’s been the better part of a decade since my wife or I have said one critical thing to each other. It’s years since I’ve experienced blame, since I’ve had that chemistry in my body. I am past the point where I ever want that drug, because I feel good, and I don’t want to bring myself down. We are living in that clear space of impeccable responsibility that offers the possibility for other people to step into it. We choose to be happy. It’s easy now.Note: Gay Hendricks is the author or co-author of 25 books in conscious relationship, conscious business, and body-mind transformation. Included are such enduring bestsellers as Conscious Loving and Conscious Living. Before founding his own institute, Gay was a professor of counseling at the University of Colorado.Over the 24 years of their relationship, he and his wife Kathlyn have raised two children, accumulated a million frequent flyer miles and appeared on more than 500 radio and TV programs. See his empowering website at www.hendricks.com. The above is an edited excerpt from a compilation of essays in the book The Marriage of Sex & Spirit, edited by Geralyn Gendreau.And for an excellent, inspiring online lesson which dives deep into these issues, click here.****See my post THE BLAMING MACHINERead more…
I am passing through this URL and the text below, as it is so well written and us brothers and sisters will appreciate the honesty of Michael Brown's writing. Please refer to the link to the referenced web site below.WHAT IS NOT ENLIGHTENMENT?By Michael BrownALL SEEKING TO EVOLVE INTO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE CONCEPT OF "ENLIGHTENMENT". YET, FOR MOST THIS MYSTICAL STATE OF FULLY AWAKENED CONSCIOUSNESS REMAINS AN INTELLECTUAL CONCEPT; A STATE OF BEING AS UNATTAINABLE AS WINNING A NATIONAL LOTTERY. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OUR CONCEPT OF ENLIGHTENMENT IS MISGUIDED? BECAUSE IF THIS IS SO, WE MAY BE STRIVING TO ACCOMPLISH A STATE OF BEING THAT MAY NOT EVEN EXIST.I used to think enlightenment was a singular experience in which there would be an internal cosmic firework display, followed by astounding revelations of biblical proportions, ending in the complete adjustment of my perceptual relationship with everything in this world. I approached and eagerly searched for this experience as a definite point of arrival in which I would finally understand everything, and simultaneously feel deliriously wonderful forever and ever, Amen! Was I so wrong! I am still open to such an inner experience, but as I continue my journey along the corridors of this life I am discovering that "enlightenment is definitely not what I thought it was". Thank God for that!First of all, just being aware there is a state of being called "enlightenment" is in itself an experience of enlightenment. Many humans are so bound by their past, by the consequences of their thoughts, words, and deeds, that all their energy is invested into survival. They do not even look up and ask, "Why is the sky blue?" They are just grateful that it is not raining on them that particular day. For such an individual to awaken to the idea that there is more to a life experience than endless sorrow, toil, and hardship, is enlightenment.Once I was able to let go of the misconception that enlightenment was a singular, explosive experience, and that it was actually something more realistic than an internal fireworks display followed by delirious grinning 24 hours a day, I became vulnerable to a completely different perspective; that enlightenment is ongoing, and will hopefully continue to be so eternally.Funnily enough, the experience that shook me out of my illusions about enlightenment occurred through an intimate relationship. When I was about 38 I was attracted to, and became intimately involved with a wonderful woman who was much younger than I. My mind told me this was not beneficial. Fortunately, my heart overrode my conservatism. It was during this relationship that I discovered the meaning of intimacy. I now love the word "intimacy"; for me its authentic meaning is revealed within the phonetics of the word: into-me-and-see. During that intimate encounter I realized that it was not enlightenment I was looking for at all; it was intimacy.I was desperately seeking intimacy with myself, with God, with nature, with my family, with all humans I encountered, with my cats, with my writing, with plants, with the falling rain, with my pain, with my dreams and visions, and with all the minute aspects of this experience we call "living our life", like washing dishes and doing laundry.Of course, intimacy, to be authentic, demands we consciously show up and be "present" with all our experiences. Realizing this, to me, was an enlightening moment. And, I only came to this realization by entering an experience my mind totally resisted. I then also realized that up until that moment I had been using my mind as the primary tool with which to seek enlightenment; I thought I could achieve it through thinking, understanding, and analysis. Again, I was mistaken.Today I am glad I am not enlightened, as in having arrived at a cosmic destination and receiving a "Degree in Enlightenment" from the multiverse establishing me as having accomplished "the ultimate spiritual task". Today I perceive enlightenment on many levels, and one of these is the acceptance that everyday is saturated with enlightening experiences, if I just let them in. Now my life is littered with ongoing potential points for enlightenment:Realizing I am responsible for my own experiences is enlightening.Realizing my Inner Presence is a shared experience is enlightening.Being grateful to God, whatever God may be for me, for every experience that comes my way, is enlightening.Knowing that my hardships are always a disguised blessing of potential growth and wisdom is enlightening.Knowing that nothing in my life happens by accident is enlightening.Being able to enjoy simple moments, like taking a walk and appreciating the scenery, is enlightening.Being willing to take small steps each day to nurture, heal, teach, and guide myself, is enlightening.Knowing the difference between reacting and responding is enlightening.Being able to extract the Dharma from my drama is enlightening.Being able to forgive myself, and therefore others, is enlightening.Being able to sit with another as they go through hardship, without feeling compelled to fiddle with their experience, is enlightening.Laughing at my own seriousness, or silliness, until my gut aches and tears stream from my eyes is definitely massively enlightening.Trusting that what ever God is, is intimately aware of me, and so I can never really be alone, is enlightening.Now, throughout my experience, as I move from unconsciousness into added awareness, there are unlimited points for enlightenment. I also like to feel that because God is an unlimited experience, the journey into God-realization is an unlimited one. Just considering this and all the infinite possibilities it invites is enlightening.When we discover that enlightenment is not what we thought it was, then we enter a point of authentic enlightenment that opens a doorway to endless points of enlightenment.Discovering that enlightenment is "not what we thought it was" is cause for celebration! From this moment doorways within our minds and hearts open and the light of authenticity spills through the widening cracks of our dissolving misconceptions.To remain in this state of wonder requires keeping an open mind. Whenever we make our mind up about something, we simultaneously close a door to continued growth. Knowing that we make such errors along the way is enlightening. Knowing that there is always more to discover is enlightening. By approaching enlightenment in this way, as an endless journey of ongoing "Aha's!" we allow our life experiences to be an endless story that God is telling us so that we may discover and rediscover our unlimited, endless, eternal, and mysterious self.I am also open to being totally wrong about all of this. If I discover I am, this too will be enlightening.www.thepresenceportal.com
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This below quote from the Presence Process author, Michael Brown and is available through his web site, THE PRESENCE PORTAL."It’s not about feeling better – it’s about getting better at feeling."I forwarded my intent to manifest an Asheville Presence Circle to Michael Brown, and he strongly advises against any kind of support group. Below is a copy of his email to me.I'll be sitting with all this and feeling into how the planned event on February 20th can best be of service.HowardDear Howard,Thank you for your email.It is great you are following your heart in this matter.Personally, I do not do groups, nor do I supported any group forming around work intended to be self-facilitation. I am however not against others entering this experience.I have written extensively on the error we make when forming specialized groups to become more present, when our authentic group is already provided: being whomever we are with in any given moment.You may enjoy reading the article on the Writings page of the website called, "Let's Not Form Another Group". It will at least assist you to appreciate why I decline such invitations.If you feel this specialized group experience is a journey you need to take, I support you. However, I personally will not participate. I do appreciate the invite and all the heart-felt sentiment I know comes with it.I am pleased this work has been of use to you.Kindest regards,Michael.Hi Michael,Yes, any group that does not self-eliminate and point the user back into themselves is just another church, another institution that sabotages personal will and initiative and uses that consciousness to aggrandize its members.I have read your writings on "not another group" and am feeling into the entrapments and subtleties you cite.I will sit with this further.We each have to breathe for ourselves.Thanks for the clear response. It is so easy to muddy the waters, even with what would appear good intentions ;-) .Howard
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(C) 2009 Howard McQueenYour inner essence is quietly whispering"I can only be of service to theeif you surrender your controland let life be our Mystery.I will show you a lifelineout of the maelstrom of your miseryinto an every deepening acceptanceof our Mystery.You will be empowered by your authenticity,by letting us tend to the artistryreshaped from your surrendered energies.Step into yourself in this momentand let go.Only you can do this for yourselfyou needn't suffer any more.New structures of experiencewill form and coalescein this super-saturated, concentrate of love and respect"So as essence, I whisper again "open yourself to the potential and possibility.It is less than 1/8 inch awayand timeless, outside of things subject to expiry."~ ~ ~
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(c) 2009 Howard McQueenOur life experience is thisjourney into the unknowing.Feeling incapable of sustaining this experience,we fabricate destinations,reward-oriented goals and milestones:- make a lot of money- have a great orgasm- appear ultra competent- ...and we keep controlling to keep having ...and we freak when there appears to bea cessation, or not enough.All are destination-seeking,reality-manipulatingenergetic efforting experiences.The experience of being on a never ending unknowing journeyallows a natural unfolding,it does not force manipulative controlling,it invites the inner intuitive essence of usto be our guiding lightto align with our authenticity,lighting and illuminating new ways toshare and experience relationship with each other,and all things appearing in this quite mysteriousnot-knowing experience.
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(c) 2009 Howard McQueenThe belief that the physical worldis happening to us,rather than through us,creates a mountain of mischief.The perception and interpretationof what is happening outsideis all a matter for our interiorto shape and decide.Our emotional discomfort is the lens,the pain body, the active agentthat hi-jacks our awarenessand our thinking mind make-believesthe physical worldis out to get us.Hey, the evidence is like everywhere, right?Our work is to be present to whatever is arisingespecially those emotional discomforts we've hidden away.In reclaiming these hi-jacking energies,we return to ourselves the original giftsto tune into the vibration of un-filtered,unconditional Loveand be living in Grace, completely gratefulfor all of living, all encounterswith whatever life is serving up in this moment.~ ~ ~
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A transformational book, The Presence Process is both an introductory as well as an experiential lesson book in becoming present. This just may be the book to begin implementing "The Power of Now" into our being - HM.The integrative Approachby Michael Brown(excerpted from the book, The Presence Process)"The nature of being born into a conditional world means that we all had physical, mental and/or emotional experiences that were uncomfortable. Our authentic essence is that we are unconditional beings and so entering any conditional experience is on some level traumatic."AN INVITATIONI am just committing (Oct-08) to undertaking the process as defined and offered through this book. I am interested in starting up a fellowship circle (or some sort of event) to connect individuals undertaking this work. If you are interested in this, please drop me a note - howard@mcq.com.
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(c) 2009 Howard McQueenThe sacred body-mind relationshipshort-circuited and kidnappedand the crimeimmaculately covered over.The ego-mind now installed as confidantexposed as secret-agent-man,gestapo, dark SS Nazi oppressive synergy."I am the creator and sustainerof all your indispensable,external worldly creature comforts and securities"proclaims the bravado of ego.More covertly, its modus operandiis saboteur,sadistically snipping off all the green chutes of inner growth.Keep drama alive, the hyper-drive vanity bonfireswhile oxygen-deprived stunted embers does it stoke,covering over and laying down a deep toxic screen of smokefeeding and breeding caution and conformity,an all out fear-based political mutilation and mongering.Well-now, the conflict generator,caught in the bright spotlight of awareness;Watch in ultra slow motion the sleight of handthe magic of redirection,the corrupt subterfuge machinery spinning up.I for onecall upon and invokethe Holy energies of True Jihad be provoked.Practiced in deep sacred reverence forauthentic life,with my newly appointed left-tenant trinityof Grace-Compassion-Lovethis Catch-22 situation is beingrewritten, reworked and alteredwith the dynamisms of radicaltruth and authenticity.***I watched the movie Valkyrie for its message that boldness must step up and oppose the oppressor, else we are all lost.From The Presence Process, by Michael BrownThe integrative Approach"The nature of being born into a conditional world means that we all had physical, mental and/or emotional experiences that were uncomfortable. Our authentic essence is that we are unconditional beings and so entering any conditional experiences is on some level traumatic."
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c) 2009 Howard McQueenA special diet-conscious potluck lunch was enjoyed by four of us the other day.- home made chicken and vegetable soup- Caesar salad (dressing optional, romaine with a drizzling of balsamic reduction for those observing a cheese-free diet)- gluten-free baked crackersTwo of the four at lunch had returned from their their ten day shamanic cleansing rituals. A new member to the luncheon group opened up conversation around the practices of Tantric sex, as well as polyamory.The opening discussion ranged anywhere from how do we treat our body sacredly, ingesting nourishment, to healing remedies that are, on occasion, needed to flush out toxins and stuck emotional energies.We then each offered up our own personal examples of how groups of individuals can choose to participate in the nourishment of intimacy. These practices ranged from participating in puppy piles, gathering in circles and singing campfire songs, playing music together, devotional singing and chanting, line dancing and the list goes on and on and on (perhaps you care to share your example?).We then slipped into a conversation centered around sacred sex and the practices of engaging in sex for pleasure, intimacy and to even provoke healing. Tantric sex, from the male perspective, involves holding and re-circulating the heightened chi. This is accomplished by the male being aroused up to the edge of orgasm/ejaculation, and then relaxing so that ejaculation does not occur. Instead, the pent up masculine energies are flooded through the energy body to provide nourishment and healing to the entire being.Our new addition to the lunch group spoke confidently about his migration to polyamory. One of the introductory exercises he cited in a polyamory gathering deals with building muscles in boundary setting. Each person was to mingle amongst the group (upwards of 150 people) and make sure that they were able to say "No" to at least three individuals. The idea was to activate and engage the no response that might have atrophied in some participants. This was followed by talking about the experiences, then making sure that everyone was very clear that asking for and receiving permission is a critical element in building trust.I know a number of folks that admittedly adhere to serial monogamy relationship, i.e. one lover-at-a-time over their life span. This is their current comfort zone.When I imagine being engaged with several lovers at a time (and at the same time), and to bring a conscious capacity to engage each and all in conscious intimacy, uncertainty and mild anxiety arises within my body.I remember (Ha! you might exclaim) the early 1970s as a period when lots of folks were experimenting with sexuality (bi-sexuality, group sex, tantric sex). There were always a variety of drugs around then as well, so pure consciousness states were often covered over with recreational and altered experience states. This was also the time that Federico Fellini was directing a number of masterful films that explored the inner psyche of man (Jungian psychology) and the erotica of sexuality. These movies are highly recommended for anyone wanting to widen their interests relating to human sexuality. Just participating in watching the movies will stir sensations and feelings inside you.For example:Amarcord (1973)Casanova (1976)City of Women (1980)Satyricon (1969)I've just updated my Netflix Queue ;-) !In my opinion, seek the counsel of your inner self before you launch off into a radical departure from what has been your established sexual comfort zone and continue to rely upon plain old common sense. I subscribed to eHarmony several years ago and I thought the eHarmony common sense guide to first contact with another was helpful.Gaining a deeper appreciation for your inner sexuality can make you more comfortable in your skin, as well as more comfortable sharing physical contact (hugs, kissing) - so long as you continue to appreciate the boundaries of others and the longings that may be like pots boiling over on your inner stove, as well as the stoves of others. Many of us out there may be extremely “needy” for intimacy.Anyone caring to share their stories and experiences may contact me directly. As always, I will maintain confidentiality. Howard@mcq.com
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