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Copyright 2013 Carla Goddard
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1490900004

ISBN-13: 978-1490900001
















Tapestry Living



The Soulvolutional
Way
An Evolutionary Revolution for the Soul









Table of Contents
Spiritual Practice Peace ................................................................ 7
Practice Honesty ...................................................................... 9
Practice Positive ....................................................................... 9
Practice being Neutral .............................................................. 9
Spiritual Practice Joy .............................................................. 14
A Prayer ................................................................................. 15
5 Minute Spiritual Practices to Continue Bringing the
Ascension of Joy .................................................................... 19
5 Minute JOYful Mediation ................................................ 19
5 Meditative Exercises to Connect with Water's Energy ........ 20
Spiritual Practice Yearning ........................................................ 21
Yearning Practice ................................................................... 22
MANTRA .............................................................................. 23
Book of Meaning Practice ...................................................... 25
Spiritual Practice Unity .............................................................. 26
Unity Practice ......................................................................... 26
Spiritual Practice Faith ............................................................... 30
A Parable on Faith .................................................................. 31
Spiritual Practices Beauty ........................................................... 33
Imagery Exercise Beauty ....................................................... 34
Beauty Practice ...................................................................... 34
Beauty Journal ........................................................................ 35
Spiritual Practice Vision ............................................................. 36
Spiritual Vision Prayer to see the vision within...................... 37
Spiritual Vision Practice ......................................................... 37
Breathing Practice .................................................................. 39

Visionary Journal ................................................................... 39
Spiritual Practice Gratitude ........................................................ 40
Gratitude Practice ................................................................... 41
Gratitude In Advance Practice ............................................... 42
Spiritual Practice Hope ............................................................... 43
Hope Practice ......................................................................... 44
Spiritual Practice Being Authentic.............................................. 46
Being Authentic Practice ........................................................ 47
Authenticness Practice ........................................................... 47
Writing the Story of Authenticness ........................................ 48
Spiritual Practice Forgiveness .................................................... 49
Forgiveness Mantra ................................................................ 51
Forgiveness Practice............................................................... 51
Spiritual Practice Listening ........................................................ 52
Listening Practice ................................................................... 53
Our bodies tell a story Practice ............................................... 53
Spiritual Practice Unplugging .................................................... 54
Reconnecting Practice ............................................................ 54
UnPlugging Practice............................................................... 55
Spiritual Practice Play ................................................................ 56
Play Practice ........................................................................... 56
Silly Practice .......................................................................... 57
Play Practice Mantra .............................................................. 57
Play Practice ........................................................................... 58
Spiritual Practice Reverence....................................................... 59
Reverence Practice ................................................................. 59
Reverence Mantra .................................................................. 60
Reverence To A Tree Practice................................................ 60
Reverence Contemplation Practice......................................... 61

Spiritual Practice Enthusiasm ..................................................... 62
Enthusiasm Practice ............................................................... 62
Enthusiasm Breathing Mantra ................................................ 63
Spiritual Practice Shadows ......................................................... 64
Shadow Practice ..................................................................... 65
Spiritual Practice Connectedness ............................................... 67
Connectedness Practice .......................................................... 68
Seeing the Masterpiece Practice ............................................. 69
Mitakuye Oyasin Practice ...................................................... 71
Spiritual Practice Nurturing .................................................... 72
Nurturing Mantra ................................................................... 73
4 Houses Practice ................................................................... 73
Replenishing the Well Practice .............................................. 74
Mind Rest Practice ................................................................. 75
Spiritual Practice Presence ......................................................... 77
Presence Practice .................................................................... 79
Spiritual Practices Laughter ....................................................... 81
Laughtercise Practice ............................................................. 82
Ho-Ho, Ha-Ha Practice .......................................................... 83
Cosmic Comic Vision ............................................................ 83
Lion Laughter ........................................................................ 84
Spiritual Practice DeClutter ........................................................ 85
DeCluttering Practice ............................................................. 85
Make A Cup of Tea ................................................................ 86
A Zen story............................................................................. 86
Spiritual Practice Attention ........................................................ 88
Attention Practice ................................................................... 88
Stories Practice ....................................................................... 89
Perception Practice ................................................................. 90

Breathing Mantra ................................................................... 90
Bombardment Dispersement .................................................. 91
Spiritual Practice Habit .............................................................. 92
Habit Practice ......................................................................... 92
Fear Release Practice ............................................................. 93
Singing and Dancing Practice ................................................ 93
Prayer Practice ....................................................................... 94
Community Practice ............................................................... 94
Spiritual Practice LOVE ............................................................. 95
LOVE Practice ....................................................................... 96
FEAR of LOVE Practice ........................................................ 96
Spiritual Practice NEW .............................................................. 98
Accepting the New Practice ................................................... 99
Commitment Practice ........................................................... 100
Spiritual Practice Selfless ......................................................... 101
Selfless Practice ................................................................... 102
Welcoming Practice ............................................................. 103
Spiritual Practices Happiness ................................................... 104
Happiness Practice ............................................................... 105
Action Practice ..................................................................... 106
Values Practice ..................................................................... 107




Spiritual Practice Peace


Achieving peace of mind begins with finding an inner
peace that can be achieved at all times, not only when a
person actively participates in meditation to find it. True
peace is something that is within always.

Some simple ways to achieve the inner peace you are
looking for can come from other places, not only
meditation.

















All things pertaining to spiritual
progress in life depend upon
peace.
Hazrat Inayat Khan



Practice spiritual exercises and develop strength
and understand of adversity.

Practice gratitude for everything in your life

Even for the adversity as it is a lesson for growth.
External gratitude leads to inner peace.

Practice the positive affirmations about yourself

Look for the positive in everything and everyone
around you. When practiced, a warm glow of inner
peach will fill your insides.
















Peace cannot be kept by force;
it can only be achieved by
understanding.
Albert Einstein



Practice Honesty
The most difficult aspect of honesty is to be honest with
you. If you can't be honest with yourself, then it is
impossible to be honest with others. When you can be
true to yourself, this is one of the greatest gifts you can
give yours towards obtaining true inner peace.


You are more than your physical body
Your core is your divine essence or your spirit. It de-
serves peace, true inner peace.


Practice Positive
Practice thinking positively. Look for the good in every
situation and every person. Practice positive actions
that result in receiving positive feedback.


Practice being Neutral
In every situation, practice looking at it from an outside
observer taking neither side. This will open your
awareness up giving you more choices in life.







A Journey
Remember life is a journey, it is not a destination. A
journey that will allow you to learn and grow in self-
awareness if you allow it that will bring true inner
peace.

Practice these simple suggestions on a daily basis to
become full of greater inner peace and quiet serenity.




















Peacemakers - they love, are kind, and compassion- ate.
They show neither judgment nor intolerance.

They dismantle confrontation and rebuild it into
a beautiful structure - at times slowly in order to en- sure
the peace and beauty is revealed.







When you are proclaiming
peace with your lips, be
careful to have it even more
fully in your heart.
Francis of Assisi




Warriors - courageous, committed, strong, with a
destination upon their journey. They approach a situation,
assess it and then quickly strike to dismantle the energy
in order to dissipate the violence, judgment and hatred.

The end result may be the same but the journey to arrive
vastly different.

To be the peaceful warrior it is to breathe in the essence
of both and know when to be peaceful and when to be a
warrior.

There are gateways, experiences if you will, along the
journey we call life that will reconnect our soul to itself
merging it into a whole. While many have fragmented
pieces that have been left behind, it is not enough to
simply recollect the pieces within. They must be
merged together after collected so that a being may
experience wholeness, fullness, and completeness.

Our universe is in constant motion, her stars, and her
planets. Her innate intelligence and the completeness of
law that dictates her evolving and movement, reveals
clearly that these same laws, this same innate
intelligence is within each of us. The constant
movements of the universe, those laws that dictate
the mechanics of nature, are within every aspect of our
being, of existence itself. The way the ancients guided
their lives through the rivers of the universe by
contemplating the stars as their compass, is the same way
each of us can set the charts out for our own course. The
same mechanics apply.
















A peaceful warrior inhales deeply all of these mechanics,
all of these changes, and sets course. They know what
must be distilled and fermented and what must be set a
fire and burned to ashes. Within each of us are the
peacemaker and the warrior. Within each of us is the
mechanics of the ancients laws - such as balance
meaning to find our own way, choices to reclaim our
power, integrity to live our truth, compassion to awaken
our humanity, presence to inhale the beauty of living
the moment, cycles to learn the steps of the dance,
surrender to simply embrace all that is, and unity to
remember our connection within all.

The alchemist would say, yes deep within is the ability to
transmute the base of who we are - even with the fears
and confusion - and return it to the gold. Return to the gold
elixir of life with clarity, serenity, and peace. They are
the steps to the phoenix rising once more. They are the
laws we do not remember, yet live every day.





I call myself a Peaceful
Warrior... because the
battles we fight are on
the inside.
Socrates


The Taoist may say that yes, yes these are the ways to find
the way. The Shaman may say that these are the "rules"
discovered after learning to put the pictures together.
The pictures only share more "rules", allowing you to
learn the mechanics to make your own pieces and to
create your own puzzle.


What picture will you create? Will it be of
peace?

There are no pieces, no framework, nor instructions.
There is a rainbow palette, a star filled universe, the
wind, the Earth, the Spirit guides, the ocean, and a fire.
Those are the tools, the wisdom, and the medicine to
begin crafting new pieces for a puzzle picture yet
discovered for a truly peaceful world.

For now, for today, there is simply a white canvas
ready to be created. I hand each of you a paint brush
knowing the rainbow palette exists for each of you,
paint your path, paint your pictures, and allow all that
can be to be.



















There is no way to peace,
peace is the way.
A. J. Muste



Spiritual Practice Joy
Joy - an experience to emotional feelings of
happiness, abundance, and pleasure. It is an elation of
knowing satisfaction when we serve others. We
practice joy when we host ceremony, when we are in
deep service to others, and when we have moments of
deep connection. We also can practice joy through
dance, through community and through awareness.

We cannot experience the practice of joy unless we have
also experience sorrow. We allow tears to flow until they
once more become tears of joy for the experience. It is
not separate from sorrow, but rather a stepping stone to
joy.

As we have just celebrated the joy of the solstice in our
life, take a pause. Make a note in your journal of all of
things in your life that brings you joy. When we are in
sorrow, it can bring peace to go back and reflect upon
those things that bring us joy in our journals.

Joy comes in many forms from laughter, from ecstatic
dance, or from moments watching a hummingbird feed
upon a bloom.

Finding experiences of expressing joy is a practice to be
cultivated. When we are seeking joy, we find it in
everyday experiences from the jam on our toast to the
abundance of love felt. Seek to find experiences in joy
every day through simplicity.

































A Prayer

O Great Spirit, whose voice we hear in the winds, And
whose breath gives life to all that is, hear us.

Winds of the East, Great Grandfather Fire, the spark of
all life, we humbly seek the purification of your bold
visions that we may once more experience the
passionate joys.

Winds of the South, Great Grandmother Earth, the nurturer
of all life, we humbly seek the grace of your embrace that
we may once more experience the abundance of joyful
love.
When you express
your gratitude, you
will bring joy to
others lives. When
others know joy,
your life will be
filled with
happiness.
Arthur Dobrin




Winds of the West, Great Grandmother Ocean, the womb
of all life, we humbly seek your power to dissolve and
wash away all boundaries and limitations that we may
once more experience the blissfulness of your joy.

Winds of the North, Great Grandfather Sky, your breath
gives life, we humbly seek your clarity that it may soar
us in your joyful visions.

O Great Spirit, whose voice we hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all that is, hear our
voices.

























What was once impossible now
summons us to dismantle the
walls between ourselves and our
sisters and brothers, to dissolve the
distinctions between flesh and
spirit, to transcend the present
limits of time and matter, to find,
at last, not wealth or power but
the ecstasy (so long forgotten) of
commonplace, unconditional
being. For the atom's soul is
nothing but energy. Spirit blazes
in the dullest of clay. The life of
every woman or man-the heart of
it-is pure and holy joy.
George B. Leonard



Often, we humans must learn to adapt to the cycles of
flood and drought that are such significant aspects of our
inner landscapes. In our inner worlds, flood and
drought can be accompanied by desperation or
despair, for few of us are comfortable with the absence of,
or overabundance of, water, of emotion. We may fear
death through desiccation or drowning. We want change,
now! Yet, when we are able to wait, to have patience,
the waters return, or recede, and our inner worlds bloom
again.

As we age, we are called to accept and honor the
power of our watery emotions, and to value our journeys
through the desert. This is challenging work that teaches
us to embrace and love the world and us, in all weathers.
In doing so we are reminded we, like this Earth house in
which we live, contain all that is. We are the Medicine
Wheel, and we are, along with Pachamama, who births
us, sacred.

In this journey we all have moments that are far
removed from what we call joyful, whether it is
sorrow or deep despair, but with the ascension into soul
joy allowing a filter to shift perception, we can take those
moments and say I am not perceiving this situation as
joyful, but I know it will bring me an opportunity of
blessing. That simple affirmation to self, acknowledging
and allowing all emotion to be filtered through the joy
filter will shift your perception. It will shift your
reactions and even as you state your affirmation of joy, it
is being created for you.

Ascension to joy allows for you to bring laughter and
play into your life. So many times life wears us down
into a seriousness that does not allow for the laughter and
smiles to flow. The soul joy filter brings smiles,

laughter and play into our daily life. It opens more
doorways to moments of joy simply by being able to
enjoy whatever your journey brings to you.

















The marvelous richness
of human experience
would lose something of
rewarding joy if there
were no limitations to
overcome. The hilltop
hour would not be half so
wonderful if there were
no dark valleys to
traverse.
Helen Keller


5 Minute Spiritual Practices to
Continue Bringing the Ascension of
Joy


State your affirmation whenever situations are
bringing less than joyful experiences: I do not
perceive this situation as joyful, but I know it will
bring me an opportunity of blessing.

Make a picture collage of what brings you
that soul joy and put it on your bathroom
mirror to reflect on as you start each day.

Write yourself a joy-note and mail it to yourself.














5 Minute JOYful Mediation
Close your eyes and imagine yourself in your childlike
joyful state. Feel it at the top of your head flowing
down through your crown. Allow that experience of
joyful emotion to fill every cell of your being, floating
all the way down into your fingers and toes. Every cell of
your being is full of joy.


I do not perceive this situation as
joyful, but I know it will bring me an
opportunity of blessing.

Inhale deeply this light, playful sensation. Overflowing in
joyful experience it begins to expand out around you
touching those closest to you. Watch as the playful
smiles cross their faces. It gains in strength and intensity
as each smile crosses the face and begins to spread out to
the whole earth, further and further like a tsunami wave
you see it spread into the stars as joy fills the whole of
your universe.

Inhale deeply this immense soul joy as it fills your
universe to carry with you throughout your day.


5 Meditative Exercises to Connect with
Water's Energy

Inhale deeply while closing your eyes and hear the sound
of water trickling in the back ground. Listen to the gentle
sounds and breathe the water deeply into your being as
the water flows. Experience the gentle water flowing
deeper into your being.

Go to the beach and sit quietly closing your eyes and
hearing the waves ebb and flow. Allow the experience of
the water sounds to fill your entire being starting with
your toes and with each wave allowing it to rise higher
and higher in your being.

Take a shower and allow the water to gently flow over
your being. Visualize the water entering your crown
and washing your spirit so that all the soul is cleansed
and purified with revitalizing energy of water.







Spiritual Practice Yearning


Yearning the energy of desire. The need deep within
that can only be quenched from MORE. Many times we
see yearning as a restless soul desperate to dive into the
deep waters to escape the island prison we feel deserted
on.

The spiritual practice of yearning is drawing out the
sacredness within and finding the MORE that is
without ego and lust. It is a deeper practice that allows
for a fluid, boundless fulfillment found in the deep waters
of the ocean. It is the spark that ignites passion. To have a
yearning spiritual practice one never needs for another to
spark the fires, rather you become the spark for others.


To live the spiritual practice of yearning is to live an
ecstatic life even when in the practical it is mundane. To
live the spiritual practice of yearning is to see the moon
and experience the wings of desire that carry us there. To
live the spiritual practice of yearning is to erotically
dance with the sun. It is life itself.

Ask yourself if you feel a yearning? What direction does
it point you towards? What do you thirst for? What will
quench the thirst? Do you feel the spark? Or are you
trying to ignite a fire with no spark within?


































Yearning Practice

Give form to your yearnings. Write down what you yearn
for; draw what yearning looks like to you, or dance
youre yearnings. However you are called to express your
yearnings is perfect. Ask yourself how does this yearning
expand or limit me? What does the expansion, the
limitlessness of the yearning feel, how do you experience
it? Can you see how your yearning is a Divine desire?

Meaning in life. Meaning in spirit. We all wish to have
meaningful experiences, to have life mean something, to
us and to others, but is it something that just arrives or
meaning?

Meaning does not come to
us in finished form, ready-
made; it must be found,
created, received, and
constructed. We grow our
way toward it.
Ann Bedord Ulanov
























Meaning has to parts seeking and creating. Seeking is
simply the action of looking for a new perspective that
resonates within. Creating is simply the action of giving
form to an experience. Everything in our Universe
has meaning. It is seeking resonate vibrations to be
created into form. Sometimes it is simply the act of
creating new perspectives from our act of seeking.

MANTRA

A traditional Mantra to practice while breathing as a
spiritual practice of meaning (try it lying down looking
up to the skies, standing atop of rock looking down, any
new position to give new perspective of seeking and
creating)


Breath inward: Old Wise One

Breath outward: What Shall We Create
Our longing is an echo of the
divine longing for us. Our
longing is the living imprint
of divine desire.

John O'Donohue




Every action, every spiritual practice, every experience has
meaning even inaction. The spiritual practice of
meaning is entwined and weaved with every thread of
every other spiritual practice. The gift comes when we
allow ourselves to see with a new perspective through
opening of the mind and heart.

Spiritual Practice: For one week record in your journal
actions taken and what meaning you experienced and
record any inaction with their experiences. After one
week, go back and look at each entry and seek to
create a new experience by seeing the experience with a
new perspective. Can you see if from another persons
perspective? Can you see it through the eyes of love? Or
perhaps through the eyes of action when you took no
action? What you learn from this simple practice can
shift your entire perspective in life.

The spiritual practice of yearning is fueled by actions of
active love. When we actively love self, others, nature,
the universe, it is then we will discover meaning in
every experience.



Book of Meaning Practice

Create a Book of Meaning. Recycle an old book that
you no longer read by pasting quotes of meaning, acts
of love, or photos that hold moments of personal
meaning. Write your words of meaning in marker. Do
this weekly or whenever you come across words of
meaning or pictures to include.










Existence will remain meaningless for
you if you yourself do not penetrate
into it with active love and if you do
not in his way discover its meaning for
yourself. Everything is waiting to be
hallowed by you.
Martin Buber


Spiritual Practice Unity


Unity as a spiritual practice is living in harmony with all
- all people, all animals, and all living things. It is the
experience of knowing that we are co creating
communities that celebrate diversity. The spiritual
practice of unity is awareness that while we have
differences, we also share in commonalities.

When we feel isolated, it is when we are not
practicing unity. We become protective of what is ours.
That can be our race, our beliefs, our ethnicity, or our
economics. We are defining and celebrating differences
but forgetting our sameness.

Unity Practice

Ask yourself what communities you belong to? Do they
celebrate both differences and commonalities? How
can you bring the practice of unity to your community?
What blocks are keeping you from celebrating both
differences and commonalities? By answering the
questions from your soul truth you are bringing into
awareness the practice of unity. One cannot practice
unless one sees where there is no awareness.


Every action we take can be an action of service and love.
We create through conscious and intentional action of
service and love. In times when many have lost their
connection to community, it is vital to join together. It is
in this joining together, in this sharing of medicine,
sharing of service that we elevate the human society. We
are all related in the circle of life.



To stand together, to cooperate with one another, to co-
create with one another is a return to our ancient
teachings. It is through intentional focused energy of
community that we begin to change society - change for a
reality of peace.

It was shared with me long ago to change anything
one must engage; one must take focused action. Any
change begins with a single ordinary action.


It is truly an amazing time in our human society. It is a
time in society to not only listen but to "do the pictures".
While it is vital to hear, to listen, it is only going to make
an impact in our world if we actually gather together and
do the pictures. It is not enough to write, speak, and
dream them into reality - it requires action. Whether the
action is physically gathering your tribe, your
community, together and having a ceremony, plant a
garden or celebrate with one another or you find your
community to gather with on the technology we have
been gifted in this world and participate in ceremony,
celebrate with one another and support each other; action
is necessary.


















We need more light about each
other. Light creates
understanding, understanding
creates love, love creates
patience, and patience creates
unity.
Malcolm X






The time for gathering together to support, nurture, and
co creation is upon is. The time for lines and boundaries
which only serve to separate All Relations is done. We
are All Related to one another; we are all inter-dependent
upon one another from our human relations to our animal
and plant relations. The knots of emotion that bind us to
lack, limitation, and lines to separate us need be released
fully and wholly. Many nations, many paths of
community united in a singular voice can shift society
when the unified focused intent of thought is gathered in
this way.

Many over time have spoken words to bring us to this
moment, now is the time to place energy to the worlds.
The knowledge of what must be created remains
knowledge until we gather together and apply it in
action. It is only through the action that it becomes
wisdom to spread across the globe. Focused intentional,
purpose filled action is the call.


There is no right way to act upon the call - simply act
upon it. When two or more gather together with intent
to heal, to nurture, to create, the Great Spirit of the Divine
Universe hears and responds.




What intentionally purpose filled
action will you take?

What creation of unity is calling you?

What simple action can you take to
heed the call?



















We are already one. But
we imagine that we are
not. And what we have to
recover is our original
unity. What we have to be
is what we are.
Thomas Merton


Spiritual Practice Faith



What is the substance of faith? In essence it is not
something you have but rather what you are in - a
relationship.

Faith means that you are aware of a Divine presence. That
may be God, Allah, the Great Spirit or the Universe. A
presence that is far greater than the human presence that
relates to all things in life. That awareness is the beginning
of faith.










To practice faith is developing that relationship,
becoming attuned with the energy of that presence.

It is like any human relationship that you may have.
You must give a relationship attention to nurture it and
develop it in order to have trust and confidence in that
presence.

Sometimes we will all have disbelief and doubt, which is
the main obstacle to faith. The real obstacle is
resistance - in resistance there is no doubt because one
refuses to become aware. There is no disbelief because one
has no awareness to disbelieve. Resistance is a closing
of the heart to all things outside. Many times doubt is
actually the catalyst for a deeper faith. During the darkest
The substance of the faith remains
always the same, but the mode of its
expression changes.
Pope John XXIII



nights of the soul all that one can do is have faith that
it will pass. Practicing faith is the patience in
knowing it will pass.

How we practice this faith, how we express it, is the
personal spiritual path that each makes. Yet, the
relationship at its core remains the same on all paths.



A Parable on Faith


Faith was explained to me through a short parable.

You move into a new town and need to find a good
mechanic. You ask a friend who they use. They suggest
one. You do not have faith in the mechanic - you believe
your friends advice.

It is not until you go to the mechanic, get your car fixed for
a reasonable price, and it continues to work that you
develop faith in the mechanic.

You developed a relationship through action with the
mechanic.

Faith is not a simple quality that exists for some. It
requires practice and action. It is not a one sided
relationship.

Practice: As faith begins with an awareness of a Divine
Presence, begin increasing your awareness that a power
exists in everyday experiences. When you are open to
see, vision is restored. Opening yourself up to become
awareness begins the action of practicing faith.




Practice is training to produce a specific characteristic or
pattern of behavior. So when we speak of spiritual
practice of faith we are training or working towards a
specific behavior or belief.


Many believe that faith comes before courage; when in
truth courage gives us the practice that will lead to faith.
Faith takes dynamic action on your part in order to
develop the relationship to experience what can be
called the unshakable faith.

So ask yourself, where in my life am I sitting in fear and
blocking faith because I will not take the courageous
action to practice faith? That one question can open the
doors that you may have felt bolted shut.





Where in my life am I sitting in
fear and blocking faith because
I will not take the courageous
action to practice faith?

Spiritual Practices Beauty















There is a Navaho blessing that says May you walk in
beauty which at its very essence is the spiritual
practice of beauty. It is not a reflection or societys
definition of beauty; but rather it is a path you travel on,
the perception of how you see what surrounds you. It is
an inner reflection of life. Thus, the first aspect of the
spiritual practice is to work towards a new definition of
what the word itself means.

We begin with knowing that there is beauty
everywhere and we simply need to discover it. When we
know it is there, the experience of beauty can be felt in
the physical; simplicity rather than complexity. Taking
away all the old excuses and definitions of why
something may not reflect beauty can be difficult.
Our routine and habit of seeing the world my societys
definition causes us to become lost in a rut of habit. It
narrows our mind.

May you walk in beauty.
Navaho Blessing


Imagery Exercise Beauty

We will work with the Navajo prayer May you walk in
beauty for this exercise.

Close your eyes and breathe out three long slow
exhalations
Using your favorite color, see and sense beauty
before you
Letting the color float away again inhale and allow
yourself to see and sense beauty before you
See and sense the beauty behind you
Inhale again see and sense beauty in front of you
Inhale again see and sense beauty above you
Inhale again see and sense beauty below you
Inhale again see and sense beauty all around you
Breathe out slowly and see and feel yourself walking
in beauty
When you are experiencing beauty all around
you, breathe out again and open your eyes.

Beauty Practice

There are many ways to practice the experience of
beauty. From the crack in a sidewalk that is creating an
intricate pattern. One exercise that can really bring the
experience into focus is to spend a week writing down
every experience of beauty you have during the course of
the day in your journal, whether the experience is
material or an ahha moment.























Beauty Journal

Expand upon the idea of writing everything you
experience of beauty in a day to the following outline

Day 1 journal about a beauty experience in childhood

Day 2 journal about a beauty experience either at school
or work

Day 3 journal about a beauty experience in nature

Day 4 journal about a beauty experience in your home

Day 5 journal about a beauty experience that
surprised you

Day 6 journal about a beauty experience that few
consider beauty

Day 7 journal about a beauty experience when
looking in the mirror

"The flower that blooms in
adversity is the rarest and
most beautiful of all."
Mulan - Walt Disney


Spiritual Practice Vision


The spiritual practice of vision is really about
perceptions being cleared to allow us to have a fresh
insight of life and how life can be. It is through the
spiritual practice of vision that we can cultivate new ideas
and wisdom. It is through vision that we discover our
own truths and authenticness. Many times people
confuse vision with revelation. Revelation is an
extraordinary perception. That ah ha moment; while
vision is something entirely new.

Many times vision is also confused with values. Values are
our ethical decision making tools. By examining fully our
assumptions, our perceptions, that lie beneath our
thoughts/emotions we can see the values that may be
clouding the vision.

We hear the visionary called many things from a
dreamer to a seer to a reformer. It is an idealists way of
being - a utopian altruist. Realists have a very difficult
time with visions. They approach a situation needing to
analyze it, study it, and look towards the immediate
effect; whereas the visionary will consider unproven
theory as a possibility.

The ideal is to be in perfect balance
between the visionary and the realists.






Spiritual Vision Prayer to see the vision
within

Blessed is the Great Spirit who has given us vision so that
we can bring about change in the world.
Spirit, I call upon you to clear my eyes that I may see with
new vision all that is within.

Spirit, I call upon you to allow the vision to be a
kaleidoscope of your love.

Spirit, I call upon you to gift the vision that I may be lead
in your direction.

With humble heart I thank you for all things.



You know that you are visionary within.

One only needs to allow the visions to appear.

Spiritual Vision Practice

Often times we use a simple mirror to reflect upon the
visions we struggle to see in our minds eye. The mirror
can reflect the changes of our inner realities long before
we have brought them into daily practice.

Begin by closing your eyes and breathe in and out three
times, counting backwards. Breathe once more allowing
the imagery of zero to fill your sight. See it as it
becomes larger and larger with a reflective surface in
the center. A circular mirror. See the reflection of

your life, the community you live in and the world. Do
not judge the reflection. Allow it to fill the mirror even if
it is wounded, angry, and violent. Now reach out with
your hand and wipe the image away from right to left
with your left hand. Clear it completely.

Now turn the mirror over and see a new image appear.
The image of the reality you desire. The love, the joy,
and the peace. Allow it to form on its own knowing that
while it may be different than you thought it is a loving,
nurturing and balanced image. Now wipe that image
away from the mirror left to right with your right hand.

Once you have finished breathe deeply in and out
allowing the zero to disappear as you count upwards to
three returning to the here and now fully refreshed.













The best success I can
dream for my life: to have
spread a new vision of the
world.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin


Breathing Practice

Breathing in:

The vision within

Breathing out:

Leads me to see

Visionary Journal

Having a vision of who you are and where you want to
go is like having a blueprint for building a house. What
are the cornerstones and building blocks of your
vision? Make a sketch in your journal of your vision
house.


What are the cornerstones and
building blocks of your
vision?

Spiritual Practice Gratitude


Gratitude some say it is simply a state of mind, but it is
an action word and way of life. Many of us can say thank
you for all that blesses our lives. We can express
appreciation. Yet, can we practice gratitude when things
are not being experienced as a blessing? When we feel
jealousy? How often do we feel entitled to something?
How often do we take aspects of life for granted?

The practice of gratitude we strive for is a continuous
expression of gratitude. We do this not only for the joy,
but for the challenge. Not only to be grateful to others,
but for others. Thomas Merton shared Gratitude takes
nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is
constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the
goodness of God. Gratitude is never unresponsive
always practiced even in the face of challenge.















Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is
never unresponsive, is constantly
awakening to new wonder and to praise
of the goodness of God.
Thomas Merton

Gratitude Practice

Practicing gratitude on a daily basis truly means that
we are expressing deep joy for all that we have right
now, in this moment, without any qualification for
what we once had or what we might have.

One way to practice this is through a gratitude journal.
Spending 5 minutes a night recording what you are
grateful for in this moment.

Simple words of gratitude written by our
own hand will create powerful energy.

















Cultivate the habit of being
grateful for every good thing
that comes to you, and to
give thanks continuously.
And because all things have
contributed to your
advancement, you should
include all things in your
gratitude.
Ralph Waldo Emerson



Gratitude In Advance Practice

One of the most powerful gratitude exercises is to be
grateful in advance. What this really means is to express
gratitude for whatever may come, for whatever the
Universe brings to you. This is really an expression of
your faith and trust in the Great Spirit that they have got
your back.

Practicing this form of gratitude can open your being to
a vibrational shift that brings more than one can
imagine.











Gratitude also opens
your eyes to the
limitless potential of
the universe, while
dissatisfaction closes
your eyes to it.
Stephen Richards


Spiritual Practice Hope


Hope. It brings us through the darkest times. It seems to
come when we need it most; yet, it is also a spiritual
practice that can be practiced with certain spiritual
attitudes in life. It is not only a positive thought.

It requires other practices to maintain such as
patience. Patience when things are not happening fast
enough, patience to allow life to unfold without knowing
how or when it will happen.

It requires courage to stand in the unknown. It requires
courage to have confidence that all be okay. It requires
persistence to keep going no matter what. All of these
underlying practices are a part of hope.

Many think of hope as simply a
perspective of being optimism. However,
it is more than that. It is an action.

Hope is not simply a way of thinking. We have all
heard of hope for the best, but expect the worst. This
way of thinking is really saying I do not hope for I know
the worst will happen. This puts us in a gloom and
doom waiting for the other shoe to drop mentality.

Hope requires enthusiasm to fuel it. It is an experience
that fuels our physical level as we are in a positive flow
easily being patient, courageous, and persistence. Hope
is acting in a courageous way. Hope is acting in a
persistent patience knowing when to step out.





Hope Practice

Hope is the seed for all new blossoms. It is said that hope
inspires a person to create without limitation. What do you
hope for?

Pause tonight and write a list of all the things you hope
for. Write until there is no more to write. Fold the paper
up and put it away somewhere safe (I have a hope box
Hopes is written upon the top and I add my papers in
whenever I pause to write the list) and allow it to fade
from your conscious thought. When you place something
in the hope box you are having patience in knowing it is
with Spirits hands, not yours. You are being courageous
in taking the steps without knowing the ending.















Hope is the foundation for
creativity, inspiration, joy and
all those emotions which
allow us to transcend
ourselves. Verena Kast


I hope that in this year to come,
you make mistakes.


Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making
new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing
yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're
doing things you've never done before, and more
importantly, you're Doing Something.
So that's my wish for you and all of us, and my wish for
me. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing
mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before.
Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good
enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or
work or family or life.


The practice of hope is making mistakes,
being patient with you, and being
courageous to try again and again. When
we are no longer making any mistakes, we
have lost hope.







Spiritual Practice Being Authentic

Understand that each of us is simply work in progress
beings. The spiritual practice of authentic- ness is a
challenge to be all that we can be with integrity.
This does not mean it will not change rather the
opposite is true. Only through aligning ourselves with
our authentic self can we fulfill the desire of being
balanced, joyful, and abundant. The challenge being
authentic verse self-absorbed/selfish. This practice
requires that we serve the universe without placing our
own-self above any. Tricky balance.

Authenticness means spiritual that you
have both pride and humility in the same
breath. That you are assertive and yielding
in the same moment.
The shadow side of authenticness doubts our own
competence in life. We sabotage ourselves because we
feel inferior in some way because we are unique in
thought or being. This closes our ability to grow. We
must have pride in what we do tempered by humility.
Yet, we cannot hold ourselves to perfection (which is
simply another way to self- sabotage as we see all that
we do below our expectation of perfection).


The ideal of authenticness spiritual practice is to balance
our strengths and weakness in order to discover and
express ourselves authentically.






Being Authentic Practice

Draw pictures of some of the masks you tend to wear,
the outer expressions of your inner selves. Choose the
one you would most like to present to the world. Now
remove all even this mask. What lies beneath as you
stand raw and naked before yourself? Now draw a
picture of the authentic you with no masks.

This can be an art filled picture or a word filled
picture.



Authenticness Practice

Placing pen to paper many times reveals more than we can
think our way through.
Journal Questions:
Identify one unique aspect of yourself?
Who is the person in your life that has helped you feel the
most positive about your true authentic self?
Are you more accepting of your public self or your
private self?



Writing the Story of Authenticness

Write a short story of how you may live authentically use
this one unique aspect.

Being authentic is the ability to be
true to oneself. Living an
authentic life requires the ability
to be true to our own wants, needs
and desires and not live our lives
by the opinion of others. Being
authentic is the ability to make
self- honoring choices and stand
firmly in who we are in our core.
Being true to ourselves gives us
the insight and compassion to see
others, for who they are, not who
we expect them to be. It frees us
up from the judgment of
ourselves and others and it gives
others the freedom to be
themselves as well.
Victoria J. Reynolds





Spiritual Practice Forgiveness


Forgiveness. There are many layers to forgiveness from
self-forgiveness to Spirit forgiveness. They all are of
great value to our daily life. It is through self-
forgiveness that we are able to release our own guilt and
shame. To know we are not perfect in nature is the
practice of forgiveness.
We forgive another, regardless of whether they forgive
us, we release burdens once more. Spirit forgiveness
offers us grace and hope that encourages us to be strong
for Spirit does not expect us to be perfect either. There is
great value here yet many find that the practice of
forgiveness an impossible ideal that they cannot reach.


When we practice forgiveness we are looking with spirit
filled hearts towards the one needing forgiveness, even
when that person is our self. We look to see what the
emotion that is being experienced is. Are we angry? Do
we feel guilt? Shame? Humiliation? The emotion can be
released through the practice of forgiveness. If you are
living with these emotions, imagine for a moment how it
would feel to have a day where they were not
experienced.
There are many ways to practice forgives from accepting
your mistake, acknowledging it to another, taking actions
to amend for the mistake. The one vital key to this
spiritual practice is to let go of the need to continue to
hold onto the emotional attachment of t h e experience.


























A beautiful sentiment to end the day with.
Feeling wounded, hurt, and insecure is the shadow side
of forgiveness; as are revenge, grieving, and anger. We
can feel so wounded that bitterness and stubbornness fill
our hearts. We worry if we forgive and trust again we
will be hurt once more. So we build walls and become
resentful. It is only through forgiveness that we can
break down the barriers and allow loving energy to
replace the anger.


The capacity to
forgive is the
capacity to let go of
ego.
David Richo in Shadow
Dance


Forgiveness Mantra
Breathe in: I forgive myself
Breathe out: So that I may
forgive others





Forgiveness Practice


Write a list of instances where you have felt hurt,
betrayed, ignored, or used another being. What happened
(i.e. what preceded the emotion)? What aspect of life
was affected by the instance? Was it trust? Security?
Finances? Love?
Where have you hurt another? Betrayed another?
Ignored another? Used another? What caused you to act
in this matter? Again, what aspect of life was affected by
the instance? Was it trust? Security? Finances? Love?
Do I want to be right about this and stuck in a difficult
situation?
Or do I want to be happy in the certainty that you are
working in my mind to bring me to a place of peace?
Write a letter to each person who you need to forgive.
Write the letter until you no longer have emotions
attached to the person whether those emotions are
anger or guilt. Each time burn the letter.




Spiritual Practice Listening


















Listening a bridge to wisdom.

The spiritual practice of listening brings within it many
other practices. It is vital for the practices of attention,
presence, nurturing, and even shadows. It is what allows
us to hear the Divine. It is how we now our own
intuition.
We have become so overloaded in life that we have lost
the sacred practice of listening. Sounds no longer hold
sacred meaning as for the most part we ignore them.
There is an old adage that says we have two ears and one
mouth this should be an indication of the relationship
between speaking and hearing.








Listening is the act of entering
the skin of the other and
wearing it for a time as if it were
our own.
Listening is the gateway to
understanding.
David Spangler


Listening is not only for other people, but with animals,
nature, and the elements. We can hear much when the
skies speak to us or waves crash in upon the beach.
Animals share messages with us when we can truly
listen. Everything in nature has a sound-really
everything in the universe.
Listening Practice
When we pause and listen it is like making a sacred altar
of your ears. Listening to the nature and the orchestra of
sounds that are part of life can reconnect us with the
wonder that is the Great Spirit. Each day take 5 minutes
to simply hear the orchestra of sounds around you. Even
if those sounds are the knowing of a big city. Speak no
words, simply listen.

Our bodies tell a story Practice

They tell a story that shares with us wisdom if we listen.
Wisdom of what the story is not the words. It is said that
the stories in life will tell us the true nature of the
meaning of life. It is through listening with our whole
body that we can cultivate that meaning and remove the
ignorance of the shadows.
There was a time when elders would sit around telling
stories of life. Some called them parables, some myths,
and some truth. Spend time listening to the stories,
read old stories of your culture, stories of the elders.
Listen as you read to what your body tells you. Read
stories to your children and listen to their reactions. This
art of listening can cultivate joy within, peace within and







Spiritual Practice Unplugging



Unplugging to Recollect yourself and
Reconnect with the Divine



Is unplugging is a spiritual discipline?

Removing distractions that separate us from nature and
the Divine has been practiced for centuries. These days
we call it unplugging in order to remove the distraction of
the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, and all the infusion of
news.
As we celebrate a day that reconnects us with our
"Father" - unplug for the day and celebrate and rejoice the
moments with the Great Spirit.
Reconnecting Practice
When you find that you are so anxious that you cann ot
unplug to reconnect, take a few deep breaths while
rubbing your earlobes. This can calm you in order to
reconnect.



































Unplugging Practice

Reconnecting includes reconnecting with loved ones.
Take a walk. Hold hands with loved ones and skip.
Have a soulversation while looking into the eyes of the
person you are speaking with. Play a board game. Teach
your child to fish. Plant a garden. And the list goes on
and on. The practice of not allowing technology into the
conversation so that you simply focus on the loved one
you are with is the spiritual practice of unplugging.



Take one hour a day and turn
that thing off. Take your eyes
off that screen and look into
the eyes of the person you
love. Have a conversation, a
real conversation.
Eric Schmidt, Google
Chairman


Spiritual Practice Play


How you play, defines how you manage
life.
We are taught that ceremony is serious, church is serious,
and meditation is serious. So we forget that our spirits
need to celebrate, be joyful, and play. It is a balance.
When we play it is connect to spirit as deeply as when we
are around -the fire in deep journey.
Play allows for the energetic space to expand so that we
can laugh, feel alive, rest our minds, and imagine. This
opening, expansion, actually allows us to be inspired, for
our spirits to take flight.
Play Practice
Today allow the energetic space around you to
expand and feel alive by spending a few hours
simply being spontaneous in play.














The word "silly" derives from the
Greek "selig" meaning blessed."
There is something sacred in being
able to be silly. Paul Pearsall


Silly Practice

Silliness makes your soul smile! There is nothing more
sacred than your soul rejoicing and celebrating. Being
silly can release the stress and tension even by simply
blowing bubbles or walking like a duck through the
puddles.

Do one thing every day that is just silly.


Dean Sluyter suggests that the classic line from Bug's is
the perfect mantra for play. He shares "the pause
before formless awareness concretizes into
words and thoughts: the wisdom of uncertainty,
omnidirectional openness to all possibilities, the
child-mind that is required to enter the kingdom
of heaven." The second phase presents the challenge
for our meditation: "What's the story? What's
reality?"





Play Practice Mantra

Breathing in: Eh . . .
Breathing out: what's up, Doc?




Play Your Way Every day!


Play Practice
Play exists for one purpose - its own moment. It
removes the fast pace we get stuck in daily life. When
we play simply for the sake of playing, we leave behind
pretense of our role in life, we leave behind all excuses
of why we "cannot", and we simply forget everything
for the moment. This complete emptying through the
sacred art of play can be the key to peace, joy, and
creativity.
If you have not stopped long enough to play, take an
afternoon off and do nothing but play - whatever your
definition of play is.





When we play, we sense no
limitations. In fact, when we
are playing, we are usually
unaware of ourselves. Self-
observation goes out the
window. We forget all those
past lessons of life, forget our
potential foolishness, and
forget ourselves. We immerse
ourselves in the act of play.
And we become free.
Lenore Terr



Spiritual Practice Reverence


Reverence is the practice of knowing all is sacred. It is a
recognizing of the soul. It is honoring the presence of
sacredness. Honoring the sacredness within yourself,
within others, within animals, and within Mother Earth
herself.
There are times we do not revere our own bodies, let
alone all others. How we eat, how we rest, and how we
exercise are dynamic actions of reverence for s e l f .
Stepping outside in the world with awe as we watch a
sunset is reverence for the Universal mystery of life.
When we waste gifts from the Mother Earth we are
showing irreverence of the world. When we treat others
badly, we are showing irreverence. When we show any
form of irreverence we are saying we do not value the
sacredness within self and everything around us.


Reverence Practice
Participating in saving any of our animal relations is an
act of reverence.

Participating in saving any animal habitat is an act
of reverence.



Reverence Mantra

Breathing in:
I am in awe . . .
Breathing out:
of all Creation.



Reverence to A Tree Practice
Find a tree to lean your back against (if you can't get to a
tree visualize yourself sitting with you back against a
tree)
Close your eyes. Inhale deeply and exhale. And again
inhale the pure oxygen gifted by the tree and exhale. Inhale
and feel the connection with the tree, its branches, and its
roots. Exhale.
Inhale deeply the spirit of all others who have leaned
against this very same tree, your ancestors. Exhale.
When you are ready to take your leave after connecting
deeply with the tree, pause and give thanks to the tree for
the oxygen and for the energy gifted.




Reverence Contemplation Practice
Reverence Contemplation is to simply acknowledge and
know within that every life, every being, and every spirit
is valued. When we value anything we know love. The
sacred act of reverence is necessary
















I know to love is to respect.
And reverence is
the nature of my
love.
Thich Nhat Hanh


Spiritual Practice Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm the word itself from its Latin origin means
having a god within. The energy itself that is expressed in
enthusiasm is spiritual by its very nature.
Enthusiasm Practice
Making others aware when you are excited is being
spiritual. Being eager to begin the day, being willing to
share your celebratory experience, or singing from your
soul are all examples of being in the practice of
enthusiasm.
Instead of taking a nap the next time you are feeling
lethargic, close your eyes and check in with yourself and
ask am I really just bored? Then take a moment to focus
on something that really excites you. It can be the last
football game or your latest project.






Do not judge whether what you
are doing is impressive or
mediocre, spiritual or mundane.
Just do it with enthusiasm. Just
give yourself to whatever you do
with this full knowledge: "God is
within me. All actions that I
perform are an offering to Him."
Swami Chidvilasananda


Enthusiasm is the greatest power.















Enthusiasm Breathing Mantra

A simple breathing practice when your energy is low and
you want to revitalize your enthusiasm for life



Mantra

Breathe in:
This is
Breathe out:

so good



For one endowed with
enthusiasm nothing in
this world is
impossible.
The Ramayana




Spiritual Practice Shadows

Shadows
It is odd to think of a spiritual practice in terms of our
shadow; yet, it is one of the aspects of life is ignored and
set aside. We all have a shadow aspect within our being.
Just as we can practice wholeness, loving, and being
humble we can do practice the shadow in our anger,
pride, and selfishness. All of the experiences we have
that cause us embarrassment, to feel less than and well
up anger are part of our shadow side. Again, why would
we wish to practice such?
When we deny any aspect of ourselves, we deny our
sacredness. Acknowledging that we have flaws we
embrace our entire being. It is a taking responsibility for
our actions, while practicing forgiveness and compassion.
It creates wholeness within.


Many times we see in the world around us and have to
pause to ask why? I dont understand. Many times in the
name of spiritual beliefs people do things we cannot
begin to understand. We must see this in a different way,
just as we had a shadow within, so too does all. Many
times in that darkness of the soul things are said and
acted upon that are projecting negative aspects of self
into the world. Just as we would wish for forgiveness,
understanding, and compassion we must strive to
extend the same to others.



This spiritual practice is a unity of all we
are within accepting it and loving that
we are not perfect.

When we are approaching our own self as being in duality
(light and dark) it causes us to live in the shadow of perception;
allowing us to judge others on their journeys for not fitting into
our own perceptions.
In truth, we are extensions of one another ad when we
can begin to integrate both that which is shadow and light
we can let go of the judgment of others. The judgment
causes the internal struggle and it creates the imbalance.

The shadow is really just the opposite of
light. They stand apart but cannot exist
without one another.

When we embrace our true selves we create unity from
the duality to transform ourselves and our reality into a
peaceful and harmonious state.
Shadow Practice
When you find yourself judging another, pause and ask
what within your own shadow is appearing. Jealousy
ask yourself what is lacking within me that is causing the
jealousy. Judgment ask yourself what is the fear within
that is causing the judgment?



Asking yourself what within is out of balance is
embracing the shadow within in order to acknowledge
our own short comings. Perhaps not perfect, but sacred.












Only in love are unity and
duality not in conflict.
Rabindranath Tagore


Spiritual Practice Connectedness

I heard once that the definition of
spirituality is the simple art of making
connections.

Connections with one another, to Mother Earth, to the
animals, and to Spirit. Each is made of another, leading
to another, and related to another.
Following the connections that are weaved together is the
spiritual practice of connectedness. Separation is only an
illusion - as we know that all are interrelated and
interdependent upon one another. We simply loose the
awareness. and begin to compartmentalize every
experience in life separating them rather than seeing
them as part of a whole life. When we become aware of
the connectedness we eliminate separateness and duality.


If everything is connected to everything
else, then everyone is ultimately
responsible for everything. We can
blame nothing on anyone else.



















Sacred responsibility for all our thoughts,
actions, and intentions is paramount when
one is aware of the interconnectedness of
energy.
Connectedness Practice
Begin by focusing upon your thoughts before you take
action. How will your action connect with others? What
emotion does your action bring to the moment? Can you
see the ripples of your action?
After pausing to reflect upon your action in thought - ask
yourself what is the intention of your action?

Does the connection and ripple reflect your action?



The more we comprehend
our mutual
interdependence, the more
we fathom the
implications of our most
trivial acts. We find
ourselves within a
luminous organism of
sacred responsibility.
Laurence Kushner




While we cannot pause before every action before
taking it, the simple exercise of pausing becomes habit.
That habit makes us aware that everything we do, say,
or experience is connected to all others in some way.

Connection is a spiritual dance within
and around us.

It is a joyous dance of celebration that reflects the canvas
of creation. What one may consider chaos another
considers a masterpiece. You are the canvas of the
connected relations that is within you reflected out to the
Universe.



Seeing the Masterpiece Practice

Our connectedness to the Universe is a gift to be
celebrated. It is a gift that we share with all others; each
their own masterpiece. When looking upon another and
seeing chaos pause and ask to be shown the masterpiece
- even when the other is your own reflection.


Beneath the external there lies a dance.





















Mitakuye Oyasin is a Lakota prayer that embodies the
spiritual practice of connectedness. The phrase is used as
a way to express gratitude to ancestors and reminds us all
that we are in a relationship with everyone and
everything. It is a prayer which profoundly honors the
sacredness of each individuals spiritual path, honoring
the sacredness in all life, and the awareness which
strengthens the sacredness of our footsteps. It is a prayer
for all.
We are in a relation to everyone in
every moment in joy, disagreement,
or love.
We are equal in relationship to all relations. Part of the
whole our perception of the experiences is what tends
to cause the disruption in the connectedness. There are
infinite ways in which we can see the relationships in our
lives. Some of these relations support our journey and
some of these relations are teachers of what we need to
learn. The relationship is based upon experiences; yet, we
are always still relations even when we are not in a
relationship.




Mitakuye Oyasin
Lakota Prayer




Mitakuye Oyasin Practice

Contemplating the infinite ways we are in relationship to
all our relations and allowing the relationship to be
separate from the relation is the key to t h e spiritual
practice. Though we may find the need to let go of an
unhealthy relationship, we are still in relations with those
beings. Allowing that which no longer serves to support
us, nurture us, and empower us to flow out of life but not
flow out of love can be difficult.






















May all things move and be
moved in me and know and
be known in me
May all creation dance for
you within me.
Chinook Psalter


Spiritual Practice Nurturing















Nurturing - a spiritual journey towards
community and spirit as self allows for the
discovery of who we are within before
making the commitment to the community.

It is a self-caring of ones own soul so t h a t the soul has
energy and strength, love and faith, hope and passion to
share with others. One must give and receive
nourishment to practice nurturing. While we all seem to
give, we MUST also focus upon receiving.


Inside each of us there is a beautiful
flower garden. This is the garden of the
soul. Here we can enjoy the fragrance
of each and every flower and discover
the true beauty and boundless freedom
of our inner selves.
Sri Chinmoy


Nurturing Mantra
This is a reminder breathing practice that we MUST
balance receiving and giving in a rhythm of life to be
balanced.
Breathing in:
Receiving . . .
Breathing out:
Giving . . .















4 Houses Practice

There is an Indian proverb that says that everyone is a
house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an
emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one
room most of the time but, unless we go into every room
every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a
complete person. Rumer Godden
Self-care is not selfish
or self-indulgent.
Jennifer Louden


We need to look at each aspect or room within every day
to truly nurture our entire being. Every day spend time
looking in a different room within - physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual to discover what the needs of that
room are.
















Self-nurturing is not selfish nor is it self-indulgent. You
cannot nurture others if your own inner well spring is dry.
When you nurture your own being by surrounding all
aspects of your being with sacredness, it is then you can
nurture others from the bubbling abundance of your inner
well spring.
Replenishing the Well Practice
I rise at 4 am in the morning in order to have a fire and
watch the sunrise. It is self- nurturing and self-love to
do this practice. It allows for a sacred beginning in
order that I may have an abundant well spring. Try
arising thirty minutes earlier each day to gift you a half
hour of self-nurture time.

We cannot nurture

others from a dry well.

Jennifer Louden

























Mind Rest Practice

When most hear the word nurture they think mother. All
of us, male and female, old and young, mother and birth
into the world. We birth children, ideas, animals, art,
gardens, causes, and even our voices. Each must be
nurtured and cared for. We become the one birthing, the
midwife, the creator, t he mother, the father, the guardian
all in the same breath. Yet, we forget that the soul too
needs the same nurturing that our children do. Take time
out to nurture your soul by giving it the attention it
craves.

We need to take care of
our own needs first, then
we can give from our
surplus, our abundance.

Jennifer Loude




Take time out to give the mind rest. Take time out to
play and laugh, dance and sing. These things nurture our
own beings.




To my inner perceptions, the whole
of creation is constantly in a state
of birthing myriad possibilities,
potentials, insights, energies, and
qualities are emerging daily and
we are deeply woven into that
process as midwives, participants,
creations, creatures, and co-
creators all rolled into one.
David Spangler

Spiritual Practice Presence


Being present means we are not only in the moment of
time but we are "being" in the here and now.

Being Present is practicing the
presence of the Divine in all
moments - no matter how simple
and trivial they may appear.
So many of us live in the past or we live in looking to
the future. We hold onto regrets. We constantly look at
how to explain our own actions or others actions. We
lay blame or hold guilt. This is all past living. Future
living is becoming attached to expected outcomes. It is
not visualizing the future in manifestation - it is being
attached and having expectations of what may come.
Either way, it is not present living - even if it is
optimistic expectations.

















The Place you are right now
God circled on a map for
you.
Hafiz


The present moment, right where you are holds dreams
and gifts beyond your imagination. To receive them
being present in the moment is required. It takes faith and
trust to believe it is a sacred moment. Yet the more our
soul being is present, the more our lives overflow in love,
abundance, and joy.



















Presence being is like the endangered spotted owl. The
more it is chased, the greater danger of never existing in
the future. The more boldly we remain in being
presence, the greater probability of every moment being
a presence being moment.

Presence being is our gateway into the Great Spirit's
being. It opens the doors of possibilities simply by
replacing expectations and assumptions with faith and
love.

We spend a long time
wishing we were elsewhere
and otherwise.
Robert Farrar Capon


Presence Practice
Consciously be in the present. Notice all that is in the
moment.
Your breath.
Your heartbeat.
The skies.
The Earth.
The songs.
The whispers.




















Now is the only time. How we relate to it
creates the future. In other words, if we're
going to be more cheerful in the future,
it's because of our aspiration and exertion
to be cheerful in the present. What we do
accumulates; the future is the result of
what we do right now.
Pema Chdrn



Did you accumulate
today what you wish
for in your
tomorrows?



Each second we
live is a new and
unique moment of
the universe a
moment that never
was before and
never will be
again.
Pablo Casals



Spiritual Practices Laughter












The Spiritual Practice of laughter brings you into the
present moment where there is no pain, fear or anger, only
joy, hope and love even for that single moment.
What if the hokey-pokey is really what its all
about?
The truth - laughter is fun, it is a release. However, what
we miss is it is also a powerful form of communication
and insight into the soul.
When we can laugh at self within, we are exercising our
emotional muscles and our mental muscles. A good
laugh can shift our perspective and see life in a fresh
way. Laughter touches our soul and all the souls around
us. It affects our relationships in every aspect of life.
How often do you have a really good belly
laugh?



Because when youre
laughing, there is no other
emotion in that moment except
for joy.
Robert Schimmel















Laughter is more than a simple release; it is proven that it
reduces stress and anxiety. It can relax and calm
instantly.
In the moment of experiencing laughter a respite is gifted
that dissolves all being held within.

Laughtercise Practice
Do the funky chicken or hokey pokey.
Dancing Laughter.
Laugh while you dance your funniest personal dance!











Everyone has a laughing
place. Some people just dont
take time to find it.
Walt Disneys Brer Rabbit

"I love smiles and laughter. If one
wants more smiles in one's life, one
must create the right conditions for it.
Certainly not through anger,
jealousy, extreme greed or hatred,
but through loving kindness, an open
mind, and sincerity." Dalai Lama


Ho-Ho, Ha-Ha Practice
Start a ho-ho, ha-ha laugh with your mouth half open
and your hands slightly raised and bent at the elbows,
making sure the sound comes from the navel. Swing
your body in rhythm and clap if you want. Slowly
increase the tempo of the laughter until you burst into
loud laughter, while throwing your arms up toward the
sky. Continue laughing for 10 to 15 seconds or more.












If a parsley farmer is sued, can they
garnish his wages?


Cosmic Comic Vision
Expand your cosmic comic vision by discovering what
make you laugh. Assume that humor is waiting for you
to discover it. Go out and seek it.

Laughter is the sound of the
soul dancing. My soul
probably looks like Fred
Astaire. Jarod Kintz



















Lion Laughter

Keeping your eyes open and hands poised like the paws of a
lion extend your tongue by opening the mouth wide.

Now laugh while keeping this position!







Laughter is a
sunbeam of the soul.
Thomas Mann


Spiritual Practice DE Clutter



Subtraction becomes a catalyst to
gratitude.



The most important part of DE cluttering your life is
leaving empty space. Our lives are way too cluttered with
things, activities, and obligations. We over fill our
calendars and our lives.
DE Cluttering Practice
I was introduced a long time ago to the art of "whatever
comes up" (WCU). Every day, even in work, you leave
space for WCU. This type of space is filled with
unplanned soulversations, walks in nature and play time.
When we allow for WCU time, we find that more time to
be; more time for breathing, new possibilities, and more
time for growing. Start by imagining a whole day of
WCU. How can you see it unfold? What can you see
filling it? Then try planning for 10 minutes a day of
WCU until you can expand to a whole day.


We need openness in our life.




Make a Cup of Tea
The art of making tea can be a spiritual practice. As the
water boils, hold the empty cup in your hands and gaze
into the empty space that is there. See all the room the
cup has for filling.
Now imagine that empty cup is a symbol of your being.
Space for filling by spirit. Hold the empty cup up in a
gesture to spirit and ask for it to be filled, filled with all
the blessings and abundance that Spirit has to offer.
Make your tea and as it steeps, gaze at the cup as a full
container. Full of blessings and sweetness of life. As you
drink the tea notice how it fills the empty space within
and notice how there is always more.
















A Zen story.

A university professor goes to have tea with a teacher.
The teacher pours the visitor's cup full and then keeps on
pouring. The professor wat ches the overflow until he
can no longer restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more
will go in!"
Have nothing in your houses
that you do not know to be
useful or believe to be
beautiful.
William Morris


The teacher responds: "Like this cup, you are full of your
own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen
unless you first empty your cup?"
We all fill our cups with expectations, perceptions, and
assumptions. We all have prejudices and opinions that we
believe to be truths. We believe we know what we need
or want. The spiritual practice of DE cluttering and
making space asks us to be open for change, open for
new, and open for guidance from spirit.














Clutter
dreams swirling in your head not acted upon
toleration of breaking your own ethics
unhealthy relationships
addictive behaviors
mental chaos
When we DE clutter one area in our life, it becomes
simpler to DE clutter all areas of life. When you DE
clutter you clear out whatever no longer serves you. This
creates space for the blessings. The simple act of
beginning starts a new set of habits.


How many things are
there which I do not
want?
Socrates





Spiritual Practice Attention

Attention has also been called mindfulness, awareness and
being awake. When we stay in attention to all that
surrounds us we see the moments. Moments full of grace.

Attention Practice
Focus on one thing at a time. Keep your mind focused on
whatever you are doing in any moment. Even the
mundane, when attention is practiced, can bring clarity
and gifts. Spend your attention wisely.




















There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks.

"What will you buy with your
attention today?"
Scout Cloud










Stories Practice
The story is being whispered around us every day; we
must be patient and slow down to hear the whispers.
When hearing a bird sing, pause and listen with the heart.
When the rains come, pause and look to the skies to hear
what they share. The stories are
everywhere.











Most of the time we are simply
not patient enough, quiet enough,
to pay attention to the story.
Linda Hogan

Attention is the intention to
live without reservation in
the here and now.
Timothy Miller


Perception Practice
Look to what is front of you. Look to see a different
perspective. Look as though you have nowhere to be
except right in the moment.
Try now laying on the floor and seeing the difference.
Try standing on a chair.
Go outside and sit on the grass.
Go to the beach and sit on the sand.
Climb a tree and see the birds eye perspective.
When we shift our perspective, many things come clear.




Breathing Mantra

A simple breathing meditation for attention to be
able to refocus


Breathe in:
Remain here
Breathe out:
Remain awake




Bombardment Dispersement
Not paying attention has the opposite effect. Not being in
the moment allows for everything to register within our
mind to the point of not knowing what to do with it all.
We become bombarded with stimuli and we find we
can't focus on anything. We feel scattered and stressed
simply wanting to isolate.
Begin by closing your eyes. Slowly take three long deep
breaths.
Now open your eyes and chose one thing to focus on, let
all others slip away. Follow your gaze as it looks upon
the one object. Allow yourself to see the blessing of the
object as you give your full attention.
Close your eyes once more and inhale feeling the energy
return to you from blessing the object with your attention.
This only takes less than a minute and can reground your
entire being.




Spiritual Practice Habit

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not
an act, but a habit. We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle


What is one habit that you should drop?
What can you replace it with?


Habit Practice

Create a habit of quiet time each day for contemplation
and reflection to create an intimate relationship with
self.
Feeding upon a spiritual way of life, we receive the
nourishment we need to continually expand.
Write down one habit that you should drop and what
you can replace it with. In a week, go back and look at
your progress.


To let go of behaviors that protect us
against fear is difficult, fear is compelling
and can be overwhelming.




Fear Release Practice

Whenever fear crops up (and it always does - the
reaction to it is what is important) create a habit that
immediately sets the intention to release it. Blow
bubbles and pop them breaking the fear. Write it on a
piece of paper and burn it or put it through your work
shredder. Straighten out a paper clip with the intention
fear no longer clips (binds) you.




















Singing and Dancing Practice

Singing and dancing - drumming and chanting. When we
celebrate in a spiritual way we are praising and rejoicing
Spirit. When we make a habit of rejoicing the more
grateful we find ourselves.

Be mindful of your behavior
in all situations, spiritual
development depends on
mental discipline until it
becomes habit. It is a long
path that requires balance and
we are rewarded with
colorful experiences.
David Bennett




Prayer Practice

Pray - it is through the act of prayer - to whomever you
pray - develops hope, peace, and guidance. Just as we
listen to Spirit we must also too ask of Spirit to assist us
in creating or breaking habits.



Community - we assemble in community to nurture
and support one another. When we isolate we allow fear
and doubt to be our only companions. It is in community
that we can be of service.



Community Practice
Community - make it a habit of assembling with others
so that you can make a habit of service.
We often times become so busy in life that we forget
about the beauty of being in fellowship with a
community; regardless of whether it is a religious
fellowship or a brother/sisterhood joining together for a
common cause.











Spiritual Practice LOVE














The Practice of Love Love of self, love of
community, love of Divine they are the foundation
of our spiritual path. They pave the way.



Weave your life into a net of love







Spread love everywhere
you go. Let no one ever
come to you without
leaving better and happier.

Mother Teresa

"To love is to be there
for him, for her, and for
them."

Thich Nhat Hanh


LOVE Practice

To practice love we must begin by recognizing that it is
impossible to love others fully until you truly love
yourself fully.


Fear is the shadow side of love. We can become afraid
to love or worry we will never find love. We fear that
we are not strong enough or the other person is not. We
fear we are not lovable or that we will be hurt once
more.
FEAR of LOVE Practice
Whenever fear comes up surrounding love - either
giving it or receiving it - practice looking in a mirror and
speaking "you are loved". Make it a habit.





















When we stop seeing the world as
a "problem" to be solved, when
instead we open our hearts to the
mystery of our common suffering,
we may find ourselves where we
least expected to be: in a world
transformed by love.
Philip Simmons
















Will you make this pledge?
Let us make a pledge that, if not all day
or all night long, at least for a few
moments every day, we will make an
effort to experience love, love that is
free from selfishness, free from desire,
free from expectation, love that is
complete freedom.
Swami Chidvilasananda


Learning how to love is the goal and
the purpose of spiritual life not
learning how to develop psychic
powers, not learning how to bow,
chant, do yoga, or even meditate, but
learning to love. Love is the truth.
Love is the light.
Lama Surya Das




Spiritual Practice NEW















What is one new thing you can try today? Bringing
newness to life is being open to the spiritual gifts
presented. Whether you are trying something for the
first time or simply trying something from a new
perspective, for growth and expansion to occur we
must continue to expand what we do.










Do one thing every day that
scares you.
Eleanor Roosevelt

If you want something new,
you have to stop doing
something old
Peter Drucker
























Accepting the New Practice

The most difficult piece of accepting anything new is the
hurdle of beginning. We may have the best of intention
yet it is the starting space that becomes lost in daily life.









It is only when the mind is free from
the old that it meets everything anew,
and in that there is joy.
Jiddu Krishnamurti

Don't be sad because it's over. Be
happy because you can start over.
Ria Tuminmomor


The new is not revealed to those whose
eyes are fastened in worship upon the
old.
Albert Pinkham Ryder



Make space for the new by breathing in the expansion of
life.
Simply incorporate something new every day from adding
exercise to simply making a journal note of a new
experience or new gift of seeing a flower bloom.




Become a creative catalyst.
Becoming creative in your own life is to
connect with the Divine within.


Commitment Practice

Commitment just as every new practice in life requires
commitment, so too does commitment to the newness in
life.







Do the new,
Be the change.

Neeraj Vohara


Spiritual Practice Selfless


Selfless practice is become welcoming to
all.


What is one thing you can do today as a selfless act for
someone else?
















Every morning
is a new arrival.





I welcome every creature of
the world with grace.
Hildegard of Bingen

A joy, a depression, a
meanness, some momentary
awareness comes as an
unexpected visitor. Welcome
and entertain them all!
Rumi


Be a welcoming presence by
diminishing yourself.



Selfless Practice

Sharing a meal is a traditional way of extending
hospitality - a selfless act. Make having guest in for
dinner a regular event in your household. Try to invite
someone you don't know very well each time.

Ask yourself: Are you a better host or
guest?


























A good guest is an example of
owning less (not even what is
yours is truly yours) and thus
having more.

Nilton Bonder








Welcoming Practice
Welcoming others without expectation is a selfless act
whether at home, work or community.
Regardless of who crosses your doorstep today, practice
greeting them with a warm smile and welcoming
comment.









"Is the universe a friendly place
or not?"

Albert Einstein

Our prime purpose in this life is to
help others. And if you can't help them,
at least don't hurt them.
Dalai Lama

How should one Live?
Live welcoming to all.
Mechtild of Magdeburg




Spiritual Practices Happiness


Happiness is essential. It is a response to an experience of
pleasure and an awareness of life.
Happiness is an inside experience. It cannot be found
outside of self.
The ingredients for happiness are appreciation and
gratitude of life as we share it with others.




















If you want to be miserable,
think of yourself. If you want to
be happy, think of others
Mahayana Buddhism




Happiness is when what you
think, what you say, and what
you do are in harmony.
Gandhi


What is one thing you can do today to
share happiness?
Happiness Practice
Make a point every day to share a random act of
kindness. Seizing the opportunity to express gratitude
through action allows you to focus upon relationships
and community which brings the happiness and joy into
daily living.
When we share happiness, it returns to us tenfold.

















For every minute you are angry
you lose sixty seconds of
happiness.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The happiness of your life depends
upon the quality of your thoughts.
Marcus Aurelius


Action Practice

Thoughts matter as they lead to your actions. Actions
matter as they lead to your thoughts.
When we shift our thoughts to extending ourselves to
others, we act in gratitude. When we act in gratitude, we
experience a shift in thoughts.
When thoughts enter your mind, make a habit of always
ending the thought with thank you. That simple act will
shift your actions into gratitude actions.














"Happiness is not something ready
made. It comes from your
own actions."

Dalai Lama

Whoever is happy will make
others happy.
Anne Frank
















Pay attention to your thoughts, your emotional thoughts
and reactions to others. Practice acting in everything is an
opportunity to be grateful.
Values Practice
Make a list of your core values in life and experiences
that matter most to you. This will assist you in focusing
yourself in your authentic inner purpose in life. This
brings happiness, gratitude, and joy to life.
While many people might choose similar values for
themselves, those values might not mean the same thing
to everyone. Take time to clarify how you define the
value.















Happiness is only real when
shared.

Jon Krakauer

































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