Tag: #wellbeing #meditation #prayer #dailyword

REVERENCE TIPS Day10

Please be still

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

It is really hard to stay still. As I observe people, the inner mental chatter is almost audible. I am just the same. As soon as I sit in meditation attempting to become still and centered in the Silence of my own heartbeat, my mind rushes in with a marching band blocking the way to ‘be’. My mind always has something to say. She likes being clever. When she isn’t, she is either frantic or dealing with some kind of pain. There is always a program running.

DRAWING makes me still. If I want to experience a sense of stillness, I need to focus intently. I know it sounds self-defeating but it actually works. I can concentrate and get lost in drawing or creating something so much that I experience flow and inner stillness. At a place, where I am not aware of my mind’s constant chatter any more.

What is my tip for today?

Do something that gives you a sense of stillness. May it be meditating, praying, drawing, walking, gazing … experiment with it. 🙂

REVERENCE TIPS Day9

What is Peace for me?

Yesterday, I shared a list of ‘meanings’ of Peace and invited you to choose one and contemplate on it this week.

  • freedom from disturbance; tranquility
  • a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
  • freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
  • harmony in personal relations
  • a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
  • to be, become, or keep silent or quiet

“freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions” 

is the definition of PEACE that I wish to contemplate on this week.

This morning as I was meditating I noticed that there was zero peace in me. My mind was rushing around like crazy, digging up the oldest of memories of fear and pain. “Great!” I thought to myself. “I was hoping for some ‘peace time’, not ‘crazy time’!” Then I remembered this quote below:

Agree with God, and be at peace; in this way
good will come to you.

Job 22:21

I believe that God is a presence within me, not ‘someone’ outside of me. So ‘agreeing with God’ means to me that I allow myself the experiences I am going through without fighting or judging them.

So, my first step towards my definition of Peace (please see above) is ALLOWING and BEING WITH IT. I simply accepted that my mind (ego) was freaked out and needed to run in circles to make sure that she felt safe. It went on for about an hour. As I was simply observing, my rushing thoughts slowly dissipated and calmed down. Eventually, I did find some peace in my meditation time this morning. I am grateful for being reminded that ‘agreeing’ with what is the quickest way to Peace.


What is my TIP for today?

Just agree with what is, even if it is uncomfortable. Every moment passes eventually. Listen to this lovely piece of music to help you get into the flow …

REVERENCE TIPS Day8

THE WEEK OF PEACE

Tonight is the last night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. Looking back this week has been an adventure. 🙂 It always amazes me how far a little extra focus goes!

In short the first week of Advents (and the week of the Festival of Lights) made me aware of some of my deep seated patterns of ‘productivity’ and inability to take time out and just chill. I also realized the importance of ‘imperfection’ and allowing things to unfold as they wish without me trying to control them for ‘best results’. Hahaha! As if I knew what that is!

All in the name of Faith and Hope. Being focused into Faith in the unknown and developing a sense of Hope for good made it possible for me to have this amazing week of discoveries and healing from some rusty old stuff.

Tonight we step into the second week of Advent: Peace. I look forward to experimenting with a sense of Peace.

My Tipp for today is to contemplate on the many meaning of the word PEACE. Choose one that grabs your attention and think in what ways you would like to live that element of Peace.

  • freedom from disturbance; tranquility
  • a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
  • freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
  • harmony in personal relations
  • a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
  • to be, become, or keep silent or quiet

“freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions” – This is the one I will contemplate on.

REVERENCE TIPS Day7

For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 17:20

Today is the last day of the Week of Hope/Faith in this Advent Season. I woke up exhausted. By this time of year, I often deflate like a balloon and all I want to do is watch Christmas movies in my PJs in bed.

Since it is only the 4th of December, it is rather unlikely that I can spend the rest of the season in PJs eating comfort food.

Not sure what to do about my tiredness and how to find balance between utter laziness and the workload staring at me in the face, I decided to sit in meditation for a while and see what happens. As soon as I closed my eyes, I had a thought to look into my Daily Word booklet. Today’s Daily Word says :

I bless myself with rest.

WOW! How appropriate! But how? What would feel like ‘blessed rest’ for me? Staying in bed is cozy but it is not actually restful for me. I only do that when I am shattered and just want to shut the door on the world. Rest is actually active for me. It is a beautiful day today. Chilly but sunny. How about a long walk somewhere in nature!

With the lockdown I have been confined to my desk and my computer screen for long months now. I only go out to do some shopping.

Nature usually allows me to replenish and refresh my senses. I have strangely forgotten it. The garden is sleeping now so it cannot offer fun outdoorsy playful time any more. I did not even realize what a hermit I have become again.

What would feel blessed rest for me now?

A few hours later …

Tarra! The answer came rather unexpectedly! I remembered that I am stuck at a spring water basin. Why don’t I go to one of the nearby Wellness-Spa Centres?

And os I did.

What is my TIP for today?

RELAX AND HAVE SOME FUN! Trust that all is well while you are taking time out to replenish.

REVERENCE TIPS Day6

Just let it roll!

This youtube concert of the great Karen Drucker (below) is a great example of ‘let it be’. This not-so-perfect and easy-going concert reminded me of how to allow ‘things’ to take place as they want to without me trying to control them or manage them.

I think we live in an over-controlled environment where were try to hind our fears of the unknown (mostly scary phantasies) and the unmanageable (mostly scary phantasies) by taking fewer risks and organizing things to the last detail.

I think it is time to accept the Life happens the way it wants to. Like new rivers they flow and carve out their bed as they please.

We live at a time in human history when life takes twists and turns like a roller coaster without us being able to control much of it. We try but we hardly succeed.

Maybe, just maybe, it is time to let it roll, let it all go and relax into the ‘all is OK’ even if I am afraid of the unknow. We only need to have a little faith in the good that is to come.

REVERENCE TIPS Day5

Smiles and Hope

All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15

It has been raining for days, it is gloomy and wet. I have been feeling very tired and rather under the weather. Literally.

For a while I was in limbo. Shall I spend the day in gloom and doom? Or shall I put on a brave face and dare let out a smile even if there is not apparent reason for it.

My immediate environment is convinced that I’ve lost the plot. But who cares, I feel happy! 🙂

What is the tip?

JUST SMILE! HAPPINESS IS HOME-MADE!

Joy is wonderful way to express our divinity.

REVERENCE TIPS Day4

What is Faith?

Faith it is NOT blind confidence in a God figure from whom we can expect great things to come! Faith is inner knowing!

I grew up with ‘seeing is believing’ and betrayal upon betrayal. If the communistic regime taught us anything it was how to distrust each other. We were literally expected to spy on each other. It was not a particularly positive way to inspire faith and trust in goodness.

My observations as a child taught me that God cannot not be human – a father figure – because most humans do not possess (have it but not act on it) the qualities of God according to spiritual scriptures such as Loving, Accepting, Forgiving, Embracing unconditionally, Joy and more.

Through my journey of self-discovery and spiritual-awakening, I understood that God is not a white-bearded man who magically delivers upon my wishes. But God resides within me. I am part of the Divine that is often called God.

Having Faith for me is knowing that there is goodness in everyone (everything), including myself, regardless of my actual experiences. I know that we, humans, are not capable of acting according to our God-given qualities because we are lost in the world of Fear (the Serpent/Kal/the Devill/Evil). Just because we are often not aware of it, it does not mean it is not there.

Having Faith in myself means that I know that I am inherently good, even when I cannot act accordingly. I am a Divine Spark and of Spirit having a human experience.

Needless to say that Faith requires persevere until we make connection with the higher realms of consciousness. It is only there where we can experience the blessings of the Divine presence and our own goodness.

“Nothing shall be impossible unto you” if your faith is in Spirit and if your work is in harmony with Divine Presence.

(Adopted from Charles Fillmore – Christian Healing)

REVERENCE TIPS Day3

FAITH VS HOPE

“Faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen” … “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death .. By Faith Noah .. prepared and ark to the saving of this house … By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac .. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents .. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down …” “The idea that faith is something that has to do only with one’s religious experience is incorrect. ”

extracts from Christian Healing by Charles Fillmore

Faith, derived from Latin fides and Old French feid, is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept.

You may wonder what has God/Divine/Spirit have to do with Creativity Education and Therapeutic Art. Well, quite a lot, actually.

You are the Creator of your own Life and as that you are fully responsible for your Creation. Spirit/Divine within is the Loving guide helping you make your Creation a healthy and happy one. (As long as you are touch with him/her!)

I find that creating Art comes from the same place where I find myself when I meditate. It is hard to explain it because it is rather a feeling state than a mental concept. In some ways creating Art helps me connect with that part of me who shows up when I meditate. I hope it makes sense.

For me, walking a Spiritual Journey is like walking a journey of Creating.

This is what Julia Cameron has to say about creativity&spirituality HERE

So, today, I feel like creating something as part of my spiritual devotional practice of this Holy Season. Some say that the first week of the Advent is about Faith. So, my artistic endeavour will be about meeting Faith in the face! 🙂

HERE IT IS!

My dancing Spirit in the Candle reaching up into the Light. On the side of the page you can read my Fait Haiku

REVERENCE TIPS Day2

Hanukkah – The Festival of Lights or The Feast of Dedication

Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, is often called the Festival of Lights. The holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.

Hanukkah overlaps with the first Advent Week of Hope this year. Both Hanukkah and Advent are about inviting Light into the Darkness. Hanukkah’s special message for me is about re-dedication and spreading the message of Hope. The story of the Second Temple – pls find story below – talks to me about cleansing and reaffirming one’s commitment to spiritual life.

The first week of Advent brings the message of HOPE.

The word advent itself comes from the Latin word “adventus” meaning “arrival.” We prepare for the arrival of Christ. The wreath itself represents eternity and everlasting life, a circle that never ends. During the Week of Hope, we anticipate the arrival of our Saviour.

The Saviour in my interpretation is my own Soul or Spirit. During the Advent Season, I am invited to strengthen the Light of my Spirit by rededicating myself to a spiritual life of prayer and meditation.

Darkness is none other than Fear. During the Dark months of the year we tend to slide deeper and deeper into our fear-habits. (pls check this video out for more info on fear-habits HERE) As a result of that our Spirit sinks into the background. We run our whole life as a respond to our ‘main’ source of fear, whatever it maybe.

This is why it is so important to re-dedicate ourselves to the Saviour who lifts us out of our own darkness, from our fears. The saviour is you. It is you who when devoted to Spirit can hope to expect the arrival of the Saviour. It is you who makes the effort and elevates yourself out of the Darkness into the Light.

Regardless of one’s faith or religious affiliation, it is obvious that the messages are the same: Guard and build the light within so the Darkness can be cast out. The more we pray, meditate, or spend time with Spirit, the stronger the Light within us will grow. The stronger the Light within, the more it shines and inspires other Lights to shine, too.

The Light of Loving within by Kelsie Mc Sherry

GENERAL INFORMATION ON HANUKKAH

Hanukkah 2021 began in the evening of
Sunday, November 28
and ends in the evening of
Monday, December 6

The story: The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Judah called on his followers to cleanse the Second Temple, rebuild its altar and light its menorah—the gold candelabrum whose seven branches represented knowledge and creation and were meant to be kept burning every night.

 The Miracle: Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, leaving them time to find a fresh supply.

The Hanukkah celebration revolves around the kindling of a nine-branched menorah, known in Hebrew as the hanukiah. On each of the holiday’s eight nights, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown; the ninth candle, called the shamash (“helper”), is used to light the others. Jews typically recite blessings during this ritual and display the menorah prominently in a window as a reminder to others of the miracle that inspired the holiday.

Source

Feel the Fear …

Many people are living in an invisible fear trance that affects every aspect of their lives. This animation addresses these questions: 1. How did we get so scared? 2. How does fear change our relationships? 3. What does fear do to your body? 4. How can you change your fear to flow now? 5. Free of fear, what’s possible?