To do-be-do or not to do-be-do?

I watched the most fascinating movie the other day called The Quantum Activist. It is an amazing quantum physics primer for anyone who is interested. It is a biographical documentary so it can be slow at times, but, it is well worth it.

It got me thinking about a great many things. Most important, if our lives are to be aligned, there must be a balance of doing and being. Too much of either is a problem. We need both to achieve our destinies.

Most of us get caught up in doing. Running from one task to another without ever taking time to rest, or be with ourselves. Too much doing causes us to disconnect form source. It separates us from the Universe, from nature, and from our fellow human beings. In a constant state of doing we are alone at the centre of a superficial world. Our lives can never bring us much satisfaction.

Some of us overemphasize the being part. They avoid participating in life. They stand by the sidelines, dreaming grand dreams. They believe that the Universe will manifest everything they want without any effort on their part. This is seldom the case. We are in physical incarnation. We need to do things  in the physical world,that are alignment with the Universe, in order to manifest.

In The Quantum Activist, Dr. Amnit Goswami proposes the perfect solution. Balance being and doing by alternating amounts of each. Honour your choice to be here, in the physical, while strengthening your connection to the greater whole.

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Is it time to make a change?

Last week I blogged about Osa, the energy of sudden positive change, expressed in nature by the force of the wind. In this post I would like to discuss another way in which we can align with this very powerful energy.

Sometimes we need to hold on and deal with the changes that come our way. At others we need to be proactive. We need to start shifts so that we can improve our lives.

Have you ever felt like you just knew you needed to make a change? The process often starts as a feeling that things aren’t quite right. That feeling is there to show you which areas in your life that are not working as well as they could. Osa will often show up at these very important moments to remind us that we can't to sit around waiting for change to happen. We must create change where it is needed.

If you realize that you need to shift something in your life, then the Universe expects you to start moving. Even the tiniest movement will allow the Universe to support you. It has the ability to turn the smallest steps forward into quantum leaps. But, it is still up to you to take those first steps. Another powerful, and equally important way that we can start to work with change energy, is to bravely move forward. Accept the assistance that the Universe provides. Change energy is wind energy. Wouldn’t you rather have the wind at your back, pushing you forward?

The Universe is benevolent. It is always there to support us. But, we are expected to be empowered and to act on our own behalf. When you realize that a fundamental change is needed in your life, move on it. Watch how the Universe helps you to move forward, perhaps more easily and quickly that you thought possible.

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Is all change positive?

There are times in our lives when unexpected changes bring us joyful transition. Sometimes they feel more like a hurricane that shatters our lives. In Ifa, the energy of sudden change is known as Osa. Osa is always positive if we see it from a long-term view.

Regardless of how difficult change is, it is always there to bring you to the next, best, place for you to be. When unexpected shifts come our way it’s best to see them as opportunities. When we get perspective we can start to understand that change, as difficult as it may be, carries hidden potential.

For many people the loss of a job is the hardest unexpected change to face. Layoffs are a sad part of our lives. Short sighted companies believe that people are easily replaced. Job loss can happen at any level. Often for no apparent reason. It threatens the security of the person and their whole family and often leads to panic. Short-term thinking at this critical time can lead to disaster.

If you face this situation a little bit of savings to tide you over is ideal. If do not have them, then view your short-term plan to get food on the table as a band aid. Start to create a longer-term vision. Use this opportunity to make changes in your life that will bring you more happiness, growth an security. This can apply to any kind of change that you may be struggling with.

Welcome the winds of change. Work through the crisis. Let the change lead you to the brighter future that the Universe intended for you when it initiated the change.

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Are we heading for the end of the world?

Happy New Year. For many people, 2011 brought some rewards but many serious challenges. Hopefully we’ve all been able to put the year behind us and are ready to move into 2012. This year promises to be healthier and happier. If you’re interested in the details please take a look and the 2012 Reading from the Ifa Foundation. For those of you who are interested in strengthening your alignment with the year’s energy take a look at the 2012 offerings.

Most of you are aware that a significant event takes place before the end of this year. The Mayan calendar is gong to conclude a long-count cycle on December 21st. To some this represents the end of the world. Not so to the Mayans, nor to me.

Many of us view the end of cycles with fear. I’ve always felt that we can look at transitions as an opportunity to start fresh. The Maya did not see the end of their calendar as the end of the world, but, perhaps, as the start of something new. A new world that will develop, over time, as it matures.

The world we live in will fundamentally change within the next couple of generations. It can no longer function as it is. We are living through the birth pains of a new order. There will be some chaos during the transition. Through chaos new ideas are born and new orders arise.

Every person alive today has the potential to affect the direction that this world is going to take. We must embrace this cycle of change so that we can create a new, better place for all of us. Our fear will only create more chaos and plant the seeds for another fear-based world. The chaos brings opportunity with it. We can all have a hand in designing our new world.

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Are you afraid of your dark?

The winter solstice is almost here. On this shortest day of the year we traditionally come together to face the darkness and to remind ourselves that the days will get longer, the sun will return. It seems an appropriate time to talk about darkness. Are you afraid of your dark?

Everything in our physical universe comes in balanced pairs. Just as species produce male and female plants and animals so must light always be balanced by an accompanying darkness. It is the perfect time of year to look at ourselves from this perspective. We all spend a great deal of time attempting to embrace the light. We want to find and bring forward all of the good and noble parts of our personalities. What about the less desirable qualities? Do we honour our darkness?

It seems to me that this darkness has its place. We all attempt to shove it down. We may shy away form it . It is there in all of us. This darkness serves to balance the light so that we can be whole. If we only have light we may be blinded, thinking that all of life is perfect. The light can make us complacent. It can also prevent us form seeing the injustice and cruelty in our world and thereby rob us of our desire to correct it. An over-focus on the light can also leave us vulnerable to those who have powerfully embraced the darker side of human nature. Our own dark side comes to the fore when it is time to defend ourselves against an attack. It is one of its most important functions.

So many of the myths that we remember at this time of year speak of epic battles between light and dark. Between good and evil. Perhaps it would serve us better to use this time to see the dark more clearly now that the light doesn’t stand in our way. To look into ourselves and see that in balance the darkness serves us as the light does and brings us to a place of power where both sides are used to forward our growth and express our good character.

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Do I have enough?

I recently made a trip to Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in Africa. I can honestly say that anyone reading this has more than enough. In fact, you may have too much. One can’t help noticing the poverty in a country like Tanzania. What also struck me is the peaceful, gentle, nature of the Tanzanians. They seem happy and content even though they have so little. This is perhaps the greatest lesson that Africa can offer us.

Our social programming tells us that we must have more. We are bombarded with marketing that carries the same message. We have been sold on the idea that we can’t be happy with what we have. There is no rest. There is no satisfaction. As soon as we have the new car we think about how we can move up when we get the next one. If it isn’t cars it might be shoes, houses or even pets. Have you ever stepped back and asked yourself if any of these things really made you happy? If so, how long did that happiness last?

To be truly happy we need to be satisfied. There’s nothing wrong with wanting things, but can our desires rob us of satisfaction and thereby happiness? How long can you remain satisfied until the next best thing comes along? Are you on the “must have it” treadmill?

I invite you to step back and take a look at all the good things in your life. Look at the emotional and spiritual but also look at the material. Evaluate how much it is that you really have. Stuff is great, but, it’s just stuff. Every one of us already has enough to last us a life-time.

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If it's legal it's OK, right?

I was traveling in Tanzania recently. We were at a small regional airport when we saw a couple of tourists led by a hunting guide. They were followed by a porter with several elephant tusks on a cart. There are licensed, private, game reserves there where hunting these beautiful animals is permitted. I was shocked that the Tanzanian government could allow this. But how can one of the poorest countries in the world turn down the money? From the preserve owner’s perspective there is nothing wrong because it is all perfectly legal.

Our obligations to ourselves, our communities, our fellow human beings and the planet, extend beyond law. Acting with good character often requires that we look more deeply and at our actions. We must seek to avoid any harm and hopefully do some good in the world.

These majestic creatures are endangered. The international ban on ivory trade has not prevented elephants from being killed for their tusks.  Killing them only serves greed and ego. Intelligent creatures who may be 70 years old are still being slaughtered. This is not in good character on the part of anyone involved.

Global poverty can be addressed so that these senseless killings can stop. The wealthy West must take a lead in that. Sharing wealth and using limited resources fairly is the only way it can work.  Acting with good character means thinking beyond ourselves. It means working towards a better world. We can create a brighter future for every being living on this planet.

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