mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Meditation and Childhood
May 22, 2014
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We may not have had formal training in meditation as children, but we probably had profound spiritual experiences as a natural part of childhood. Contemplation is a normal activity. When life is undisturbed we contemplate our surroundings, our connection to the universe, and more. If you scan your past for times during which you felt connected, in a state of grace, or full of bliss you will find them. By bringing back the feeling of spontaneous enlightening experiences we might be able to recreate that magic today. Our conscious minds often cling to our problems, our challenges, and our individual specialty suffering, keeping these wounds close to the surface. Through practice we can train the mind to hold on to the positive, unexplained flashes of light and insight, treating them as our natural state. Bringing contemplation and spacious states of mind into our practice is liberating. The long term benefits can be compared to physical strength or agility in the body. We don’t know what demands the future will put on that preparation. We can only learn when an event challenges that strength. We know we will encounter stressful situations and loss in our lives. A meditative state of mind is the very best investment/tool to cope with adversity that can be acquired.
There are many forms of meditation. A qualified teacher is not always available, but can show the student how to create the transition into mindfulness. If you believe that you have never meditated, let your memory go over the special times of youth that stand out in your memory today. You will probably be able to identify a few enchanted, enlightened times that brought you a glimpse into eternity. That lightness is a state that is available to you always. What is required is a steady practice. Walking, chanting, sitting….the style does not matter as long as it suits the user. The pure state of bliss meditation brings the practitioner is the armor that protects the mind from stress and worry. It is the true fountain of youth.
Wisdom springs from meditation;
without meditation wisdom wanes.
Having known these two paths of progress and decline,
let one so conduct oneself that one’s wisdom may increase.
Dhammapada 20.282
The Buddha
Materialism and Inheritance
May 1, 2014
— 6 Comments
Do you have enough stuff? What kind of stuff do you lack? Do you have goals that do not involve material stuff? My parents were heavily into possessions, and at the end of their lives it seemed that those things they loved so much robbed them of any kind of peace. They struggled to keep objects and wealth long after they even knew what any of the objects were. They wanted to keep an image of themselves in society, and other transitory status rather than seeking truth. There was nothing I could do to help them with that.
I am doing a meditative practice about abundance now. I have special feelings about one of the biblical phrases used in this practice. “All things that the Father hath are mine.” John 16:15. This is talking about the Father with a big F, not my dad. If I have all that my dad had I would be filled with greed, alcoholism, and relative anger at all times. If I concentrate on the Father, as in spirit, I can feel the difference. We inherit objects as well as traits from our parents. The kingdom of heaven is ours if we tune into it. How about you, gentle reader? Do you stand to inherit the earth?
Institutional Racism in 2014
April 28, 2014
— 1 Comment
Sports fans and all Americans need to be ashamed that this much institutionalized racism can exist in professional sports. When I was a child I was a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, with special emphasis on my love for Roberto Clemente. I went in person to many games at Forbes Field, and listed to the others on my transistor radio. I hold a big grudge against my dad for an incident that took place when I was about 10. We went to lunch at The University Club before games, then walked to the field. One such day Roberto himself was eating in the dining room at the University Club before a game. I wanted to get his autograph, naturally. My dad was very strict and gave a lecture about treating everyone with respect. Of course this was the first black person I had seen eating in that dining room, and it may have been many years before there was another. Richard Arden Morse was a bit of a racist in some ways, but he was firm about not disturbing Roberto to indulge me. I was angry (and still am, if truth be told), but I will always remember the point. It had to do with dignity, and making sure his visit to our snooty club was treated as a natural event. I loved Roberto for his athleticism, and was unaware until later in life of his fight to attain equality as a black baseball player. He is still me favorite athlete of all time.
This rings in my mind when I see this Sterling guy still living some horrible stereotype lifestyle that belongs in the distant past. The nasty truth about this story must be exposed. In no uncertain terms we must reject his behavior. Each of us has some part to play in this, if only by voicing an opinion. I am with Magic in thinking he needs to say he does not want to own a team now. What do you think, gentle reader? Does this freak you out?
Self Indulgence, Choose Well
March 6, 2014
— 4 Comments
Most luxury goods from ice cream to cars are marketed as being self-indulgent. The idea that we deserve some luxury is a tried and true method used to sell overpriced goods. Obviously luxury has to mean different things to each one of us, and our fortunes limit what we include in our worldly possessions. We do have to choose and over time our choices change. We move into a new phase or environment or hobby and find that what was a big treat in the past is not even interesting now. We may own something we thought we needed and wanted that now we no longer like. This is natural.
I am in favor of self-indulgence if it is done in a true spirit of enhancing the self. Self care and self-awareness are valid and necessary for a healthy balanced personality. To make good long-term investments in self ask yourself:
- Are there unhealthy consequences I am ignoring?
- Will this be likely to make me as happy next week as it does now?
- Do I have sufficient extra money for this indulgence at this time?
- Is there a way to try, rent, or take lessons before committing to buy?
- Am I responding to peer pressure or marketing?
- Might I enjoy this indulgence more if I saved for it or split the expense with others?
- Is there a possibility this indulgence may appreciate in value?
- How great is the possibility of buyer’s remorse?
There may be another element to consider when finding a reward for yourself that will reap future dividends. Would I enjoy this time/money/thing more if I gave it away or shared it with others in some other way? I personally can think of at least a million things I would rather own than the yacht A, and a million people who could make good use of a more reasonable boat. Everything is relative. To each her own. Choose wisely, gentle reader.
His Holiness on Instagram
February 20, 2014
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The coolest monk on earth has opened an instagram account. His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet is now updating his travels with photos. This is so much more exciting that Pope Francis’ twitter streams, although I do applaud @Pontifex for multi-lingual tweeting to anyone who wants to stay in touch with him. If you have been in the presence of His Holiness (I have had the very good fortune of doing so in 3 different teachings) you never forget the way he laughs and smiles. He is infectious and inspires this adoration instantly by giggling. I have seen him teach in Tibetan, and even in the middle of serious rituals he jokes and giggles with his students. By the time we had our translations in our earbuds the Tibetans were laughing at his jokes. He connects on all levels with all people. Those who understand and practice the fine points of Buddhism learn deeply and some probably glimpse enlightenment in his presence. Those of us who come in relative ignorance to his teachings may come away with less refined ideas, but we are also subject to instant enlightenment in his presence. The ancient texts he uses for study require lifetimes of study and meditation to do them justice. When he flashes a smile from that cute baby monk face he touches everyone in exactly the same way. Now we can all follow his smile around the world as he keeps us updated.
He enjoys a hobby in horology, and since his youth has taken watches apart to rebuild them. I believe he is a geeky monk who appreciates technology and wants to understand and use it to the max. What ever his reason may be, I am following him, and suggest that the gentle readers might want to check out his account. He is changing the world with his smile.
Metanoia and Spirit
January 2, 2014
— 1 Comment
We are influenced daily, and there are people claiming to representing us daily, but we are unaware of most of it. As we forge our futures we find obstacles to happiness of both physical and spiritual natures. Our quest is never a solo, even if we think we act alone. We are slaves to certain beliefs and we ensalve others to our beliefs as much as we can. If we do not transform the way we look at our habits and our regrettable past behavior we are likely to be stuck in repeating, regretting, and then repeating the same patterns.
Metanoia is the concept of repentance that has been badly used and understood. Confession can be way to act temporarily sorry to absolve oneself of responsibility for past transgressions. As a practice it may teach that we are out of control, will repeat, and then feel very guilty about our behavior ad infinitum. This constant cycle of guilt and repeated undesirable action has little hope of creating liberation or happiness. The guilt is an almost certain sign that the action will be repeated. It is the currency of pain. Repentance of the depressing kind is a revolving door or shame leading to more guilt.
My favorite author, Thomas Moore, has written a new book, A Religion of One’s Own, which will be zapped into my Kindle in a few days. To warm up for this book he translated the Gospels from the original Greek language. To warm up for reading the new book I am reading Writing in the Sand, a book Thomas Moore wrote about the meaning of the Gospels. Chapter 2 of Writing in the Sand is about Metanoia, but not of the shameful kind. This word refers to a change of mind so profound as to cause a shift in vision. Thomas breaks down the literal meaning to bring a completely different sense to the word and what it represents. His knowledge of the original language brings back the meaning of the Gospels. I agree that we all need a spiritual and a soulful context for living. Thomas Moore is an ethical voice with a powerful message. I hope you will have a chance to read his work. It constantly inspires me.
Fear, Blame, Revenge, Repeat
October 16, 2013
— 1 Comment
skull and crossbones
The human condition known as revenge is ancient and well documented. The Greek goddess Nemesis represents retribution. She lives in the underworld with Hecate. She feels no remorse and hesitates at nothing to deal out vengeance when it is required. She is a neutral spirit with a balanced approach. She has the task of taking happiness from the undeserving while bringing more joy to those who earn it. She is pictured with a balance scale, doing calculations. She is concerned with issues of money. Her name is related to the word number, and the word economy. She is not vengeful, but is an accountant from the underworld.
The collective as well as your personal consciousness about wealth, money and right livelihood are the province of Nemesis. She keeps the accounts in balance. Abundance and prosperity follow the laws of nature. Knowledge as well as belief influence the outcome of all your earthly investments. Spiritual integrity in work and business ethics are measured against one’s degree of avarice and destructive behavior. Can you find ways that your beliefs about receiving limit you now? Can you think of ways to budget a more secure financial future for yourself through awareness? Some Americans call her “Death and Taxes”, to say she is hard to avoid. She is impossible to avoid, and she is counting all the time. She will deliver what is due from the wheel of karma because that is her job.
Wellness Budget
October 7, 2013
— 2 Comments
psyche
psyche
Your health is like a bank account. You deposit and withdraw from your inherited constitution. If you need a loan, there is no place to apply. Your account, like the number of days you will live, is subject to your habits and practices. Diminishing returns are built into the model. Some of us are genetically lucky, while many start life with disadvantages. Accidents and disasters cause permanent damage, mental and physical. There is no way to know how much one will need to withdraw due to illness.
Prehabilitation is more cost effective than rehabilitation because once a system is depleted it may never fully recover. There are ways to make deposits over time that will earn interest. These reserves affect your immune system and your ability to remain calm under pressure. Health is your only real wealth, in the words of Dr. Bronner. Changing lifestyle habits results in changing wellbeing. We need not aim for perfection, since that in itself is cause for stress. Logical, simple additions can be made to daily routine that add up to better health in the long run.
- Rest and sleep adequately
- Exercise the entire body as much as possible
- Eat the most natural fresh foods you can find
- Develop a meditative practice
- Dance, sing, draw, take photos, or otherwise express your creativity
- Spend time enjoying friends and family
- Learn stress reduction techniques to add to your arsenal of tools
- Discover the power of bodywork and other healing modalities
Investments made today will accrue interest as long as you live.
Eternal Child Archetype
October 3, 2013
— 4 Comments
Each of us has a child archetype within our psyche. Carolyn Myss outlines six kinds of archetypal children. They are:
- Eternal child
- Divine child
- Magical child
- Orphan child
- Nature child
- Wounded Child
The eternal child has an attachment to youth and immaturity. The positive eternal child is the stuff that ads are made of, enthusiastic, fresh and free. The shadow eternal child has a resistance to responsibility and rejection of the aging process. The need to stay youthful may lead to extreme dependence on others for security. The puer aeternus is a man who never accepts responsibility. He is frequently a character in fiction, and sadly appears often in real life. Peter Pan is a modern eternal youth story with Tinkerbell playing the puella aeterna. Clinging to youth can prevent one from reaching the full range of emotions and insights. Youthful enthusiasm and a willingness to make fresh starts are the positive aspects of this child persona. Adults who are consistently unreliable or dependent on others reflect the worst aspects of the eternal child.
Peter PanFall Equinox
September 22, 2013
— 5 Comments
Does the fall equinox have special meaning to you? Native people around the world have marked and celebrated the night that is equal in northern and southern hemispheres in spring and fall for centuries. The balance of darkness and light, the nature of shadow, the harvest of what has been sown are celebrated at this powerful change of seasons. To enter winter with excess overhead or an insufficient supply has been a recipe for disaster since the first fairy tale was created. In both short and long terms fall is a time for risk assessment. The harvest is in, or soon will be, and it must last until new crops can be grown and harvested. Failure can mean starvation. Useless baggage must be jettisoned now to keep the boat afloat.
Today our supplies come from abroad and we don’t even know when and how harvests are made. Coal, natural gas, and petroleum are harvested to process, transport and refrigerate our food. The cost of the supply chain far outweighs the cost of the food itself. Our electronic devices are similar. They are harvested elsewhere and imported to us. Globalization demands that goods and services be produced at the lowest price and sold for the highest possible price. International business must take advantage of the lowest wages and least demanding labor forces. I believe that these imperialistic practices have caused a spiritual equinox. Forces that seem to be out of our control darken the skies and freeze out those with the fewest resources. Persephone returns to her husband Hades in the underworld every year as winter approaches. Her symbolic return in the spring celebrates light over darkness. As the days grow shorter and nights grow longer what seeds will you purposely germinate? Do you believe the violence and darkness being proliferated will be reversed?
fall color
change of season
Autumn
