Wisdom Circle of Grace

Our Wisdom Circle, the Wisdom Circle of Grace, sometimes choses to meet outside.
We we are outside, we have enjoyed creating ceremony together as we sit within our Circle.
One of ceremonies that has been so healing to our group has been the one we did about Forgiveness.
We began the Circle just like we always do by passing the 'talking stick'.
This Native American tradition of using a stick to focus attention has really helped our group remember to 'listen' rather than debate or challenge.
The person who holds the 'stick', has the 'floor' and presents 'wisdom' from his or her own experience.
Those that do not have the 'stick' listen and open to the 'wisdom' of the one speaking.

After we have a 'round' of everyone 'checking in', we move into meditation, which for our group has become the 'listening' part of prayer.
The meditation this particular night was all about letting go all those things that we have been having difficultly forgiving within ourselves.
After the meditation, we passed the 'talking stick' again and each individual had an opportunity to speak to what was difficult or easy to release or forgive within themselves.
We learn from each other.
We experience the joy another feels when a true sense of release from the chains of un-forgiveness happens.
We experience wisdom from listening to the story of another.
We come to realize that we all share part of the same story.

After our meditation, we moved into a sacred ceremony.
We each had chosen a few pieces of wood that would represent for us, things we wanted to fully forgive within ourselves or another.
Then, one at a time, we each placed our 'wood' in the fire pit that we had created to 'transmute' our pain and suffering into the joy of full release and forgiveness.
As we sat and watched all of our 'stuff' being consumed by the fire,
it was a beautiful metaphor for the love of God and how empowering it is.

The love of God is so much bigger than we are.
The love of God is all consuming of those things that we carry that are not in our
highest good.
The love of God is so available to us.
The love of God is able to release us from all those things that weigh us down
and encumber our beings.

Time seemed to stand still as we all sat in silence and watched as the fire continued its dance.
We were all reminded of our connection to each other.
We were reminded of our humanness.
We were also reminded of the gifts of 'Spirit' that are available to us.
We remember the peace of silence, the beauty of sharing from the heart,
and the joy of forgiveness.

We closed our Circle that night with the blessing of a word we each chose to 'gift' each other with for the upcoming week...
Some of the words were 'Joy', 'Peace', 'Adventure', 'Curiosity', 'Discovery', 'Forgiveness'...
And so it is.....

How Do You Get the Ball Down the Field?

We know when we are fully connected to our Source, our God, when we experience much less effort/force required and much more power/joy available to us.

The force that we must exert in order to get something accomplished is much greater when we are trying to do it on our own power vs. Divine power.

A disconnection from Source can cause us to get energy depleted and

fatigue can set in.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Divine Energy is always available to us to support our work in the world.

All that is necessary is that we do all we can ourselves and then ask God for help.

It doesn’t work to just ‘leave the driving to God’.

There is a part we must play because we are here to learn and grow and that can’t be accomplished if we are not active participants.

So how do you know when it is time to ‘power – up’?

When you find yourself physically tired, energy depleted, out of new ideas, repeating the same problems over and over again, it is time for a ‘time out’…

It’s time to reconsider what is out of balance…what is not aligned with Source.

It’s time to reconsider priorities and which goals are you moving towards or away from.

Do you have the ‘ball’ well in hand, or are you losing your grasp and about to fumble?

Is the team you are playing with going in the same direction you are?

Are your goals clear?

What is the gameplan?

Who’s callin the shots?

When was the last time you scored a touchdown?

Are you enjoying getting beaten up on the field or is it time to consider a different way to move down this field of life?

What part of the game are you enjoying?

How can you attract more of that into your life?

Where are you in your game of life?

Are you sitting on the sidelines or actively involved in getting the ball down the field?

Support the Full Potential of Each Person

Any family, community or organization is made up of individuals.

By supporting the potentiation of each individual, the family, community or organization benefits tremendously.

Each individual brings to the ‘table’ special gifts and skills that are unique.

When each of these gifts are given space and support to grow and mature,

miracles happen and tremendous creation can occur.

Creating mentoring/coaching programs is key.

In some situations, mentoring is focused on changing behaviors, creating vision, or if done at a soul level, it can become pure soul potentiation.

Soul coaching supports the individual in developing a lifepath that helps them accomplish what their life purpose is.

It helps the individual realize that there is more to life than what may have been consuming them previously.

There is an opportunity to move beyond what ‘has been ‘ and connect deeply with purpose and reason for being.

An individual that comes to recognize within themselves their true purpose is a person who senses their own power for good.

This individual has connected with the Divine within them…the power to bring forth what God had in mind when they were created.

This individual has a new sense of what is important and what takes priority.

This individual knows more fully who they are as soul.

It is the responsibility of each individual to seek out a mentor…someone who can lead them closer to who they are wanting to become.

Often the mentor simply reminds them of who they already are, but have forgotten.

The mentor often redirects the individual back within themselves to find the gifts that have been there all along.

A mentor is someone who honors with integrity and commits to the development of the mentee.

Mentors see beyond what is…they can see what may come to be with love and nurturance and believing.

Move Beyond ‘The Box’

‘The Box’ provides security, safety, the status quo.

‘The Box’ is where many people and organizations choose to be.

‘The Box’ is not a ‘bad’ place, it is simply one choice of where to be.

‘The Box’ does provide a place to start.

A concern might be that ‘the same Box’ is where you finish.

So, what is beyond ‘The Box’?

That’s a great first question because from there, the possibilities are endless.

Starting to imagine what ‘could be’ rather than reinventing the past,

is the beginning of a new condition, a new reality.

Imagine a better way to take care of people, to heal, to grow…

This creates an opportunity to make an entire system better.

After imagining and visioning a brighter future, comes the next step…

Developing more ‘form’ around the concepts and a plan as to how you might start moving toward your desired future.

First steps can be challenging because they often require courage and a departure from the comfort of the way life has always been.

But with persistence on the new pathway, success is certainly within reach.

It’s important to talk to others that may be partners in your new endeavor.

This creates higher energy around moving your plan forward faster.

It’s important to also talk to others who have ‘been there’…those who have taken the ‘path less traveled’ and have been able to fulfill their own dreams.

By creating connections with other dreamers and innovators many pitfalls can be avoided and many shortcuts can be realized.

Once an individual or an organization moves fully out of ‘The Box’, there is no going back.

The innovation, freedom and creativity of the new way of doing things can provide reinforcement to continue on this path.

This path of the innovator is sometimes a lonely path, but it is one filled with discovery and adventure.

It is a path that few choose, but the rewards are great.

Take the risk…Take the leap of faith and venture outside of ‘The Box’.

Move beyond the comfortable and dare to go where few have gone before.

Dare to lead the way to the future with the commitment for excellence, dignity, service, justice and hospitality.

Be all you can be and then some…

Be all your Creator intended you to be.

Fulfill your potential.

Fulfill your dream.

Reach for the stars.

Vision the Future

The future holds promise.

The future is not predetermined.

It is up to us to imagine ourselves into a future full of hope, health, beauty and wisdom.

Taking the time to regularly ‘see’ into the possibilities of what could be is

critical for improving life as we know it.

The health and well being of our world depend on it.

It is incumbent upon us to not leave the future to chance…but to consciously choose better opportunities and outcomes for those that come after us.

The truth is the world doesn’t have to be the way it is.

There is no reason why we can’t change it.

The world is waiting for us to make up our minds.

Why not now?

Why not us?

Reaching Out to Those We Serve

Reaching out beyond where we have been, brings with it the joy and fun of movement and adventure.

It takes us beyond our places of comfort and transports us to a new place of being.

With clear vision and foresight, we can move into a space of greater enjoyment, greater experience, greater service.

By taking a few moments on a regular basis and sitting quietly with the thought of who we are ‘servant’ to, we can come closer to why we are here on this Earth

and who we are to serve.

We all are servant to different people.

Some serve those that are ill.

Some serve those that build structures.

Some serve by creating beauty.

There are many kinds of service.

The ‘key’ to knowing, is looking often into the face of the Creator and asking the question, ‘how may I serve’ and then listening to what you hear.

The face of the Creator can be seen clearly on the face of the poor, the hungry,

the homeless, the fearful…

Opportunities abound.

The question is, ‘Do you want to know?’…and

‘What are you willing to do about it?’

So chose this day whom you will serve…and take delight in it…

The Gift of Grace

I would like to introduce you to Grace...this is an angel created by Heidi Kujat.
Heidi is an amazing sculptor...she creates remarkable angels that
hold special energies such as Grace, Compassion, Dignity.
Her angels can light up a room...they can transform ordinary space into
Sacred Space because they invite the Divine to enter.
The angels help us create a connection with a power that transcends our daily human
experience and reminds us of our relationship with our Creator.

My mother's name is Grace. She left this world a few years ago.
She loved music and its power to transform.
She knew the power of Grace.
When challenges presented themselves, she used music to liberate
the Grace in her soul.
She created her own music and allowed her God to speak to her through music.
She also spoke to others through her music...especially when normal
conversation just wasn't enough to say what needed to be said.
It was easy to 'feel' Grace in the music she wrote...it was who she was...

When I remember Grace, I remember a rhythm, a musical tone, a way of being in the world.
I remember the Grace that we are all offered and given that pours down upon
us like a soft and gentle rain.
I remember Grace as a gift...not deserved, but given freely to all who open to its power.
I remember Grace's music...the music of a heart free and open to love
and its healing power.

I remember Grace's gift of peace...
I remember Grace's gift of hope...

Open to the gift of Grace...
There is certainly enough for all...

May the music of Grace become your new heartsong...

Heart Wisdom Can Add Dimension
and Color to Your Thinking

I was blessed this week with the opportunity of attending the Two Worlds Wisdom Gathering organized and presented by the Kaiser Institute.
This Gathering of wonderful 'souls' was a remarkable experience.
We had an opportunity to experience our own spirituality in new ways and
dive deeper into cultures from around the world that are helping to heal the planet.
At this Wisdom Gathering, we met people that are on similar life paths and people that are on diverse pathways.
We were challenged to expand our life experiences and 'see' from a wider perspective.
We were invited to open to a greater understanding of a 'bigger' God than we had ever imagined.
Our narrow views of the universe were opened by new discoveries in science.
We had the opportunity to move, drum and breathe in ways that opened our hearts and bodies to the Divine.
What a gift to be able to share love for our Creator with like-minded souls.

At one session, we were invited to open our hearts to love and create a space for light to enter.
When our hearts were full, we were invited during this prayer/meditation,
to move this 'heart' light up into the space of our heads.
I remember imagining how our 'Heart Wisdom', when combined with our 'Thinking Mind',
has the potential of being an even more powerful tool for viewing the world
and all that is in it.

When I lifted my Heart Energy into my head, I felt a surge of sparkling light fill my head space.
I felt as if my 'mind' expanded to take in a larger view.
I sensed that I was 'seeing' with 'bigger' eyes...with eyes that were filled with the
deep sense of love in my heart.
I sensed an ability to view the world from a more fully human perspective.

This simple exercise/experience was one that reminded me of the limited view
that we often have when we forget to include the perspective of our hearts.
Our eyes can be misled by appearances, but our hearts never lie...

Why not inquire of our hearts more often as to the 'truth' in what we are experiencing?
As we consider the questions that life brings, why not make more room for
the perspective of the heart?
Why not open fully to love in the way we think, see, hear, speak?

The love and light in our hearts is always available to be incorporated into our decision-making, our planning, our visioning, our wondering.

How would our world be different if we chose to think with our hearts?

Honor Diversity
Diversity Can Bring Balance
Balance Can Make Room for HIgh Level Creation

When two forces come together in a balanced system,

High Level Creation can happen.

Balance suggests that there is an ample supply of those that are thinkers, doers, helpers, designers, feelers, knowers…

If we have too many of one kind of ‘player’, we get out of balance and the ability to do great things diminishes.

But assembling a diverse group of players can be a challenge.

Often we find that we are comfortable with others that are like ourselves…we ‘connect’ more with those that have similar values, likes and dislikes…

But that’s not how we learn best.

That’s also not how to build the strongest team.

That is not the way to build a strong foundation.

When our country was first established, our forefathers discovered that

diversity has its strengths.

Within diversity there exists so many opportunities to ‘see’ things differently.

Diversity adds color.

Diversity adds the dimension of size, shape, texture and sound.

Diversity reminds us that we can celebrate differences and still honor our

‘Oneness’ and our Connectedness.

Diversity should never divide us.

Diversity should give us cause to come together even closer.

The joy in experiencing another who is so different from who we are,

is a way of exploring parts of ourselves that have yet to be explored.

It allows us to ‘see’ our bigger or freer selves in the other and reach beyond the comfort of who we have been.

Incredible innovation happens when there is balance in those coming together to create…when there is a desire to bring forward

something much greater than the sum of the parts.

Magical experiences can happen as self-centeredness is relinquished and

control is surrendered.

Magic happens when we get out of the way and

the Creator can make the Miracles begin.