Friday, June 29, 2012
The following announcement is of special interest to me. A few years ago Carter Phipps did a telephone interview with me in preparation for an article he was writing for the spiritual magazine for which he worked. In the course of the interview, I discovered that he had grown up in Oklahoma, just as I had. I then found out that he had attended the University of Oklahoma as an undergraduate, and so had I. I had gone on to take a PHD in English there, and he mentioned that his mother had also done graduate work in the English department, and at the same time I was there. And, indeed I remembered her well, though I did not know her closely.
Since that time I have had a special interest in Carter Phillips, who wrote about this blog all those years ago as an example of how the internet could be used for spiritual purposes, a topic quite new at the time.
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Please join us for:
Carter Phipps:
“Evolutionaries: Who, Why, How and You"
Sunday, July 1st, 2012
at 10:00am Pacific; 1:00pm Eastern; UTC/GMT-7
Dear Friends,
Join us this Sunday, July 1st at 10am PST for what is sure to be an inspiring dialog with award-winning journalist Carter Phipps. We’ve all heard about fossils and fruit flies, Darwin and Dawkins. But as Carter eloquently argues in his new book, “EVOLUTIONARIES: Unlocking the Spiritual and Cultural Potential of Science’s Greatest Idea”, the idea of evolution is much more profound and far-reaching.
Today, evolution embraces everything—from economics to psychology, from politics to religion, from ecology to technology. So is evolution just the latest buzzword, or does all this point to a deeper, more complex truth? Carter suggests that evolution signifies the emergence of nothing less than a new worldview—one that honors science, reframes culture, and radically updates spirituality.
I've written a blog entry summarizing some of what we will discuss on the call. You can read that HERE. I invite you to take a look!
To our evolution,
Terry
UPCOMING BEYOND AWAKENING BROADCASTS:
July 15th - Jim Turner
How to Participate:
Carter Phipps
"Evolutionaries: Who, Why, How and You”
Sunday, July 1st at 10:00am Pacific*; 11:00am Mountain; 12:00pm Central; 1:00pm Eastern
*Find your local time
Listen live by phone or online, or download the recording anytime.
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About Our Guest:
Carter Phipps is an author, journalist, and leading voice in the emerging field of Evolutionary Spirituality. For the past decade, as executive editor of EnlightenNext magazine, he has been at the forefront of contemporary spiritual, philosophical, and cultural discourse, and his writings have played a key role in making important new thinking accessible to a wider audience. Phipps’s areas of interest and expertise range from metaphysics to politics to science and technology, and his writings combine the careful rigor of investigative journalism and a passionate personal concern for the development of human culture. In 2009, his feature article “A Theologian of Renewal” was awarded a Gold Award for Editorial Excellence from Folio, the leading magazine industry awards. Phipps regularly presents at conferences; has spoken at educational institutions including Brown University, JFK University, and the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology; and participates in leadership gatherings, including Deepak Chopra’s Evolutionary Leaders Forum, the invitation-only Assembly of Leaders prior to the 2004 Parliament of the World’s Religions, and the 2008 Edinburgh Festival of Spirituality and Peace. He has appeared on BBC Radio’s “Reporting Religion” and New Dimensions radio, and is a regular guest on Deepak Chopra’s Wellness Radio on Sirius. He is a board member at EnlightenNext and the Open Future Institute.
To listen to all the Beyond Awakening dialogues, please visit our audio archive page, where you can browse, preview and download our complete collection of dialogues.
About Our Host:
Terry Patten co-developed Integral Life Practice with Ken Wilber and a core team at Integral Institute. He hosts the acclaimed online teleseminar series Beyond Awakening: The Future of Spiritual Practice. He speaks and consults internationally—inspiring, challenging, and connecting leaders and institutions worldwide. In his cutting-edge writings, talks and teaching, he not only inspires transcendental awakening, love and freedom, but calls us to accept and incarnate our full humanity. He was the senior writer and co-author, with Ken Wilber, of Integral Life Practice: A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening. His 8-session course, Integral Spiritual Practice guides students step-by-step in establishing a heart-centered do-able daily integral practice. His personal web site is http://integralspiritualpractice.com
The Next Step In Human Evolution May Be Closer Than You Think
Today, a movement of visionary scientists, philosophers, and spiritual thinkers are forging new understandings of evolution that honors science, reframes culture, and radically updates spirituality. Carter Phipps calls them “Evolutionaries.”
His groundbreaking book, EVOLUTIONARIES: Unlocking the Spiritual and Cultural Potential of Science's Greatest Idea, provides the first popular guide to these exciting minds who are illuminating the secrets of our past and expanding the vistas of our future. To find out more and purchase your copy today, please visit READ EVOLUTIONARIES.com
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
Some interesting quotes:
"Art as avant guard, art as leading edge, art as pointing to something you can't get out of conventional society, art as making statements, art as method-technique of growth..." K. Wilber
"Holons: wholes that are simultaneously parts of other wholes." "Thus 'all level, all quadrant' practice means exercising physical, emotional, mental and spiritual waves, in self, culture and nature."- K. Wilber
"Art as anti-environment becomes more than ever a means of training perception and judgment. For the artist makes models of problems and situations that have not yet emerged in the larger matrix of society. In their artistic play, they discover what is actually happening, and thus appear 'ahead of their time.' Non-artists always look at the present through the spectacles of the preceding age." - M. McLuhan
"The artist is the man in any field, scientific or humanistic, who grasps the implications of his actions and of the new knowledge in his own time. He is the man of integral awareness." -M. McLuhan
"Is the creative human being merely an instrument or a projection of the creative action of totality? Or does one act from one's own being independently? I suggest that this is a wrong question, as it presupposes a separation of the human being from the totality. A better question is: can we be free to participate in the creativity of the totality at the level appropriate to our potential? " -D. Bohm
"Absolute Non-Duality; that means that a gap would no longer exist between our deepest intentions, our higher motives and the life we living right now." -A. Cohen
"If one has a blunt instrument, one can't go deeply."- J. Krishnamurti
P. S. The fire that threatened my city has now subsided and is, I believe, controlled. But there are several others still raging in the state. Observers, including fire men and women, agree that nothing like this has been seen in this area before.
"Art as avant guard, art as leading edge, art as pointing to something you can't get out of conventional society, art as making statements, art as method-technique of growth..." K. Wilber
"Holons: wholes that are simultaneously parts of other wholes." "Thus 'all level, all quadrant' practice means exercising physical, emotional, mental and spiritual waves, in self, culture and nature."- K. Wilber
"Art as anti-environment becomes more than ever a means of training perception and judgment. For the artist makes models of problems and situations that have not yet emerged in the larger matrix of society. In their artistic play, they discover what is actually happening, and thus appear 'ahead of their time.' Non-artists always look at the present through the spectacles of the preceding age." - M. McLuhan
"The artist is the man in any field, scientific or humanistic, who grasps the implications of his actions and of the new knowledge in his own time. He is the man of integral awareness." -M. McLuhan
"Is the creative human being merely an instrument or a projection of the creative action of totality? Or does one act from one's own being independently? I suggest that this is a wrong question, as it presupposes a separation of the human being from the totality. A better question is: can we be free to participate in the creativity of the totality at the level appropriate to our potential? " -D. Bohm
"Absolute Non-Duality; that means that a gap would no longer exist between our deepest intentions, our higher motives and the life we living right now." -A. Cohen
"If one has a blunt instrument, one can't go deeply."- J. Krishnamurti
P. S. The fire that threatened my city has now subsided and is, I believe, controlled. But there are several others still raging in the state. Observers, including fire men and women, agree that nothing like this has been seen in this area before.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Fire in Colorado
Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Robert Frost
Fires are now raging in almost every part of Colorado (where I live). Yesterday 35,000 people were ordered to evacuate in and near Colorado Springs, where untold acres of land are burning. To the north, one of the biggest fires ever recorded in the state's history is still flaming, and the news is that it will burn all summer. Not until fall will it end, when Mother Nature will take care of it. It is beyond human control.
Yesterday in the late afternoon lightning started yet another fire, this one near (about 10 miles) from where I live. I could see the smoke billowing behind the mountains that I look at each morning with pleasure. This morning the smoke was gone, and I am hoping that this means the fire is under control.
These fires are the end result of a sequence--first, no substantial rain for many months (years, actually). This drought left the pine trees vulnerable to the pine beetles, which ravaged the forests and left many dead trees in their wake. These trees became dry tinder for fire, including sparks from lightning strikes. In all, the land was ripe for "the perfect fire," and now we are experiencing conflagrations which are described as of "epic proportions."
Was the prolonged drought which began the sequence a result of global warming? Are the massive rains in Florida also the result of weather disturbances resulting from the same cause (global warming)? Katrina? The great Japanese tsunami? Is global warming now producing global catastrophe? Are we now into the dire period predicted for 2012?
I do not know the answer to these questions. I know that our earth was granted to us as a precious charge, and that we must be careful stewards of the land if it and we are to survive.
Hold to your practice. Hold to your prayers. Hold especially to your friends who will help support you as we move through this crisis.
Monday, June 25, 2012
A few days ago, I described Peggy Wrenn's experience of having a stroke and then her "miraculous" rescue by seemingly divine intervention. Indeed Peggy is making a remarkable recovery, with some speech problems (she is having therapy for this). Then I received this wonderful poem, written with her characteristic enthusiasm for writing, and showing that once a poet, always a poet, no matter what!
Turtle
2012
words are poetry
my heart and mind
come clear and true
embrace the turtle
my slowness alchemy
myths ancients tell turtle
unites heaven and earth
personifies peacefulness
wisdom, longevity, good luck
left brain not words
right oneness perfect
love in feminine ancient
me steadfastness
inside shell my turtle
I love me whole world
in me High Priestess
Tarot whole picture scroll
both hands shows tells one word
alchemy
Bravo, Peggy. You are an inspiration to us all.
Friday, June 22, 2012
On the Reality of Angels
"As symbols of grace and gentle encouragement, they can offer us comfort as they enfold us in their wings or lift our spirit as they take flight. We may be warmed by their glow, guided by their gentle nudges or inspired by their whispers in our ears. We may hear the name of our angel and feel a personal connection, but it isn’t necessary. All they need is to be heard, to see us benefit from their guidance and perhaps to hear a word of thanks sent their way every now and then. Whether they appear in the guise of a helpful stranger, or as a thought that suddenly occurs to us, angels are our loving guides from the spiritual realm, who with a brush of their angelic wings help us to make the most of our human experience by balancing it with the spiritual awareness that all things are possible and that we are not alone."
Madisyn Taylor
Above is a photo of some flowers I sent recently to a friend of mine who suffered a major stroke not too long ago. What happened during that critical time was an amazing sequence of events, that allowed her to escape relatively unscathed. Here is her story.
Peggy and her husband George were on vacation in a remote part of Utah, when she experienced a major stroke (Peggy is around 60 years old, and in good health, so a stroke was not something she was expecting.) Now, although they were in an isolated area, the owner of the small B&B where they were staying was a retired nurse, and she recognized the symptoms at once and called the volunteer ambulance service in that area. The ambulance arrived within 3 minutes and Peggy was rushed to the nearest hospital, where the clot was dissolved successfully soon thereafter.
Peggy emerged from this trauma relatively unscathed. Her motor functions remained intact, and, though she does have minor speech impairment, that is rapidly improving. Her doctors tell her to expect a full recovery.
Was this series of events merely a lucky synchronicity, or did divine intervention play a role? Whatever the case, Peggy's family and friends are deeply grateful that the result was so fortunate.
"As symbols of grace and gentle encouragement, they can offer us comfort as they enfold us in their wings or lift our spirit as they take flight. We may be warmed by their glow, guided by their gentle nudges or inspired by their whispers in our ears. We may hear the name of our angel and feel a personal connection, but it isn’t necessary. All they need is to be heard, to see us benefit from their guidance and perhaps to hear a word of thanks sent their way every now and then. Whether they appear in the guise of a helpful stranger, or as a thought that suddenly occurs to us, angels are our loving guides from the spiritual realm, who with a brush of their angelic wings help us to make the most of our human experience by balancing it with the spiritual awareness that all things are possible and that we are not alone."
Madisyn Taylor
Above is a photo of some flowers I sent recently to a friend of mine who suffered a major stroke not too long ago. What happened during that critical time was an amazing sequence of events, that allowed her to escape relatively unscathed. Here is her story.
Peggy and her husband George were on vacation in a remote part of Utah, when she experienced a major stroke (Peggy is around 60 years old, and in good health, so a stroke was not something she was expecting.) Now, although they were in an isolated area, the owner of the small B&B where they were staying was a retired nurse, and she recognized the symptoms at once and called the volunteer ambulance service in that area. The ambulance arrived within 3 minutes and Peggy was rushed to the nearest hospital, where the clot was dissolved successfully soon thereafter.
Peggy emerged from this trauma relatively unscathed. Her motor functions remained intact, and, though she does have minor speech impairment, that is rapidly improving. Her doctors tell her to expect a full recovery.
Was this series of events merely a lucky synchronicity, or did divine intervention play a role? Whatever the case, Peggy's family and friends are deeply grateful that the result was so fortunate.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
DAISIES
It is possible, I suppose that sometime
we will learn everything
there is to learn: what the world is, for example,
and what it means. I think this as I am crossing
from one field to another, in summer, and the
mockingbird is mocking me, as one who either
knows enough already or knows enough to be
perfectly content not knowing. Song being born
of quest he knows this: he must turn silent
were he suddenly assaulted with answers. Instead
oh hear his wild, caustic, tender warbling ceaselessly
unanswered. At my feet the white-petalled daisies display
the small suns of their center piece, their -- if you don't
mind my saying so -- their hearts. Of course
I could be wrong, perhaps their hearts are pale and
narrow and hidden in the roots. What do I know?
But this: it is heaven itself to take what is given,
to see what is plain; what the sun lights up willingly;
for example -- I think this
as I reach down, not to pick but merely to touch --
the suitability of the field for the daisies, and the
daisies for the field.
~ Mary Oliver ~
(Why I Wake Early)
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
~ Rumi ~
(The Essential Rumi, versions by Coleman Barks)
This much beloved poem by Rumi reminds us that especially when Kundalini is active, our "house" becomes a haven for many, many guests we had all but forgotten in our lives. This is the time when all of our issues, good and bad, come forth and demand to be attended to. These may be physical, mental, emotional, psychological, etc. And until we do attend to them and clear them out, we will continue to experience not pleasure but pain on our journey.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Society for Scientific Exploration
31st Annual SSE Meeting
June 20-23, 2012
Millennium Hotel, Boulder, CO
Bonfire of the Paradigms
There are three subthemes planned for this conference,
each is headed by an invited speaker.
Challenging Paradigms in the Health Sciences
Dr. Richard Olree
Minerals, Genetics, and the Long-term Effects of Cesium 144,135,137, Iodine, and Strontium 90
Challenging Paradigms in the Physical Sciences
David Dilley
Natural Climate Pulse: global warming, global cooling, carbon dioxide
Challenging Paradigms in the Biological Sciences
Thomas Dykstra, Ph.D.
Challenging the Insect Olfaction Paradigm: new evidence
SCHEDULE
Wednesday June 20
6:30pm Reception
Thursday June 21
Lectures all day: 8 am start
7:30 pm - World Institute for Scientific Exploration (WISE)
Friday June 22
Lectures 8am - noon
Special lunch: Women for Scientific Exploration
4:30: Panel Discussion - Health in 21st Century
6:00: Dinner
7:40: Panel Discussion - Global Warming
Saturday June 23
Lectures all day: 8am start
6:45: Cocktails & Banquet dinner
ANNOUNCEMENTS
___________________________________________________
WISE Meeting - World Institute for Scientific Exploration
Thursday 7:30 pm
To brainstorm about the activities and global scientific developments and alliances that WISE is pursuing. Building synergies between WISE & SSE. WISE has a very simple & light organizational structure so that it can maximize membership involvement and remain flexible to meet the 21st Century challenges.
___________________________________________________
Women for Scientific Exploration - Lunch
Friday Noon
Women scientists, scholars, therapists, healers, thinkers, and philosophers interested in topics often considered outside of traditional or mainstream fields of study are invited to this lunch and open discussion. Women interested in participating should register and can purchase a lunch ticket at the meeting.
___________________________________________________
We are happy to offer to the first 20 interested readers who apply, free copies of Anabela Cardoso's book, Electronic Voices: Contact with Another Dimension? It comes with a CD that supplies samples of the anomalous electronic voices described in the book.
This offer has been made possible by the generous support of two anonymous sponsors who enjoyed the book and would like to bring it to the attention of the international parapsychological community. To receive your free copy, please contact Sylvia Hart Wright at sylviah@efn.org. Put "Electronic Voices" in the subject line.
2012 SSE MEETING - ANNOUNCEMENT & CALL FOR PAPERS
The 2012 SSE meeting takes place June 20 - 23, in Boulder, Colorado.
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Monday, June 18, 2012
If You Want
By Dorothy Walters
(1928 - )
If you want to feel
the sweet light
flow over your body,
then give yourself to light.
If you want
to taste the secret honey,
you must allow your throat
to open.
Moth to candle,
straw to flame,
you are nothing but
materials for burning.
-- from The Ley Lines of the Soul: Poems of Ecstasy and Ascension, by Dorothy Walters
Amazon.com
The above entry was posted on Ivan Granger's Poetry Chaikhana site today, together with the following commentary:
Dorothy Walters is always a favorite with the Poetry Chaikhana. Like honey, this brief poem of ecstasy restores and satisfies, all with a sweet golden touch. Her new book Ley Lines of the Soul is a collection of "poems of ecstasy" by one who has lived for years with the sacred Kundalini experience. Rich material to explore here...
These images, light and honey, appear so often in the poetry and writing of mystics...
If you want to feel
the sweet light
flow over your body,
then give yourself to light.
Light imagery is used so often in sacred writings that it is easy to assume it is just one more airy spiritual metaphor, but there is a reason all traditions speak of light. Often, mystics in ecstatic states describe an awareness of light that is brighter than a sunny afternoon. This light is perceived as being a living radiance that permeates everything, everywhere, always. This light is immediately understood to be the true source of all things, the foundation on which the physicality of the material world is built.
This light is not merely a visual phenomenon, either; it is tactile, permeating, embracing, profoundly soothing, revitalizing, healing. Many experience the sense of being bathed in this light, feeling it "flow over your body."
But how do we come to experience it? It is not something we acquire. It is not something we hold. It is not even something, properly speaking, that we "experience." It is much too big to be contained by the individual. We can, however, participate in its radiance. We give ourselves to the light.
If you want
to taste the secret honey,
you must allow your throat
to open.
Sweetness too is often used in language of mystics. Not merely sweetness, but a sweet, vivifying liquid: honey, wine, milk, nectar... Again, this is not merely poetic metaphor; it is real. A subtle, though tangible, flowing substance is experienced as an ethereal sweetness upon the palette and in the back of the throat during some states of deep ecstasy.
In India this is often called amrita, in the Mediterranean mystery traditions it was called ambrosia.
But how do we taste this sweet nectar? We must open to our capacity for sweetness.
Moth to candle,
straw to flame,
you are nothing but
materials for burning.
These final lines can be troubling or supremely reassuring. They seem to evoke an image of self-sacrifice; worse: wanton self-destruction. So why then do we instinctively breathe easier reading these lines? The poem, up to this point, has been reminding us that we don't get the greatest gifts, we give ourselves to them instead. There is a terrible burden in constantly trying to buttress the petty self with experiences and acquisitions, when what we so want in our heart of hearts is to yield and open to our true radiant nature. The myriad ways we've learned to define and insulate ourselves, they do serve a purpose, however -- as fuel for that holy fire of self-liberation.
==
Dorothy Walters is a retired university professor who, at age 53, experienced a dramatic Kundalini awakening which, as she says, completely transformed her life. She had no guru or teacher to guide her through this process, navigating through the new world that opened itself to her by following inner guidance and instinct.
She wrote of her Kundalini initiation in Unmasking the Rose. She has several collections of poetry, including Ley Lines of the Soul, Marrow of the Flame, and A Cloth of Fine Gold. She also contributed to Kundalini Rising: Exploring the Energy of Awakening.
Ms. Walters lives and writes in Colorado.
Ivan
(For me, the images are more metaphorical than literal. Indeed the experience of actual light and the sweetness of "amrita" in the the throat are frequently reported by mystics, but I have not experienced them as such. The last stanza, with its reference to "material for burning," was actually intended to refer to the acknowledged end of the mystic journey, which is annihilation into the Beloved. However, as we know, poetry may be interpreted in different ways, according to the insight and associations of the reader.)
Friday, June 15, 2012
Common Themes in Kundalini Awakening
This morning, I received an e-mail from a young seeker who has recently undergone spontaneous kundalini awakening. Although each experience is unique in the fullest sense of the word, there are certain themes or motifs that often appear as linking threads or parallels. This particular writer underwent sudden, unexpected awakening, with the energies shooting from the base to the crown with much infusion of love and bliss ("like an orgasm but much better" because of the various levels of the self that were involved.) Like many, she feels called upon to awaken the world to this new reality which she has discovered, and longs for some kind of scientific verification of her experience so that the world itself will accept kundalini as a valid part of the human repertoire.
Here is what I wrote back to her:
I have read your account with interest. Each one undergoes a special and unique experience, but there are some common elements, and I recognize some of these stages in your narrative. Yes, there is a time of preparation--when we sense that something big is going to happen in our lives, but don't yet know what that is. Yes, there is a sense of something like a death that occurs--the death of the 'old self" to prepare for the birth of the new being. The energies shooting up from the base to the crown is somewhat unusual, but it definitely can happen (this was my own experience). The sense of limitless bliss and the blinding white light are also signs of kundalini awakening. The sense of unity and oneness--this is the classic mystical perception, one that the saints describe and other mystics also experience. As for the fear of sharing your story with others, many, many feel this. You have, in effect, been catapulted to a new level of awareness--a true quantum leap. Whatever you were before, you are not that now--and how could others--who have not had such experiences--understand what is happening to you?
As for scientific studies and evidence, there is, as far as I know, very little information on this score. I happen to be researching this topic at present, and so far the best I have found is the article called "The Yogic Brain," that is included in the anthology from SoundsTrue called "Kundalini Rising." (Perhaps you already know this book.) Newberg cites evidence of brain scan research on meditators of various traditions and strongly suggests that similar research on kundalini might well show evidence that certain parts of the brain are activated by the awakening of kundalini. However, he points out that there is no known scientific device that can account for the sudden and complete awakening of the entire nervous system all at once. You could also look at "Kundalini and scientific research" on google and see if you find any thing helpful there.
Like you, I longed for someone to study me when I had my own experience, now 30 years ago, but I found no one who was interested. And I know of no one or group who does such research today. Oddly, Kundalini itself is becoming more widespread over the globe, and yet it still is more or less ignored by science (to my knowledge).
My suggestions for you are to, first, not try to rush this process or its unfolding. Know that many are involved--across the globe--in a similar experience, which some see as part of the process of planetary awakening and possibly even the next stage in the evolution of consciousness.
Allow yourself time to integrate and balance. Let the "new self" and the "old self" get used to one another--allow a foundation to build.
Remember that the process of awakening the earth to this new reality is an assignment now carried by many--and we are expected to do only as much as we are capable of.
Finally, I suggest you could profit by reading some of the books now currently available, including my own. Some of these are poetry, but they grow directly out of my own k. awakening experience and will speak to many of your own experiences. All are available from Amazon and are listed on my blog (www.Kundalinisplendor.blogspot.com). Note especially "Unmasking the Rose, A Record of a Kundalini Initiation". This is my own account of a lengthy process of adjusting, and you will recognize many of these experiences as similar to your own. Like you, I kept a journal, and this book is based on those entries.
Good luck on your journey. You can let me know if you have more questions.
Namaste, (I honor the divine in you) and congratulations on the beginnings of a wonderful adventure.
Dorothy
(Image found on internet)
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Holy Spirit--Clarissa Pinkola Estes
The image is of Holy Spirit, Espirito Santo to whom I am praying with you in my arms, to cause the winds to calm, to lay down this fire to rest. From our family of old believers, we were taught as children that Espirito Santo, also called The Holy Ghost is considered a feminine Force by many. She is most often represented as a white dove, often with a crown of flame atop Her head or in Her heart or flying through flames. She also is representative of a certain kind of wind, el viento, that cools the fires of vices and harms, but that in another use, supports the winged, ignites love and true peace. She is considered an inseparable part of the Godhead of the mandala of The Trinity-- Creator God, God of Love within Herself, and yet The Third Corner holder of The Entirety. I see also in some of the ancient representations dating back to the CE, profound correspondence with the symbol of the phoenix who goes down into ashes in flame and rises from ashes in flames. Descent. Life/death/life Force.
from Clarissa Pinkola Estes, writing about the great fires raging in northern Colorado, about 50 miles from where I live. She asks for prayers for all who are involved, including the residents in the area, the firefighters, and all who are coming to help. An area larger than Washington, D. C., has now been burned.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
A Beginner's Handbook to God
The other evening, as I was more or less nodding off in my living room chair, this insight came to me. I have no plans to do a complete book on this topic.
A Beginner’s Handbook to God
God is a Code Name for Divine Reality
God Does Not Exist as a person, thing, or thought
God is his/her own essence, unlike any other
God appears inside the self when called
To know God, you must first know yourself
God is the ultimate vehicle of transformation
To find God, you must be willing to undergo a paradigm shift, and thus become more than who you thought you were
We will never know the complete profile of God,
for when we call upon God we confront the Mystery
Mystery lies at the heart of all things
Mystery is who we are and who we will become
(NOTE: THE ABOVE FLOWERS ARE THE BEAUTIFUL ROSES THAT MY FRIEND PATRICIA LAY-DORSEY SENT ME ON MY BIRTHDAY (NOW SEVERAL WEEKS AGO). I HAVE TRIED AND TRIED TO GET THEM TO UPLOAD TO THE BLOG, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS--SO TODAY I TRIED AGAIN AND HERE THEY ARE. MAYBE GOD IS A ROSE BUD, WHO KNOWS?)
Monday, June 11, 2012
Ivan Granger's new poetry book
Dorothy, I am so pleased to announce our first publication...
Real Thirst
Poetry of theSpiritual Journey
Poems & Translations by Ivan M. Granger
$14.95
PURCHASE
Also through
Amazon.com
Fall 2012:
Kindle & iBook The poems in Real Thirst are an exploration of the spiritual journey viewed through the mystic's eyes. This collection is a delightful blend of word and silence, presenting moments of contemplation punctuated with bursts of ecstatic insight.
Real Thirst combines original poems by Ivan M. Granger with new translations of works by visionaries from both East and West: John of the Cross, Francis of Assisi, Symeon the New Theologian, Hakim Sanai, Tukaram, Sarmad, Bulleh Shah, Sachal Sarmast, Vladimir Solovyov, Tulsi Sahib, and Antonio Machado.
“I found Real Thirst to be a slow, cool and refreshing drink. The deep singularity present within each poem, evokes a kind of felt suchness, and that is a real gift. I believe you will find these poems an antidote to the rush of your days.”
~ JOHN FOX author of Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making
Hi Dorothy
Today I feel like a proud father! The Poetry Chaikhana has published its first book!
Real Thirst: Poetry of the Spiritual Journey is a collection of my own poems along with several translations of works by other visionary poets, from John of the Cross to Bulleh Shah.
This book wouldn't have come into being without the encouragement and help of the Poetry Chaikhana community -- so first and foremost, I want to thank all of you.
As satisfying as it is to have a book of my own poems and translations in print, my ultimate goal is to publish an anthology of sacred poetry, possibly a series of anthologies: a treasure trove of the great sacred poets, accompanied by commentaries. That's always been the heart of the Poetry Chaikhana.
Before I could commit to such a large publishing project, however, I needed to learn the basics of the process. I had to educate myself step-by-step on every aspect of publishing: editing and proofreading (with the help of several excellent volunteers), page layout and formatting, cover design, print specifications, distribution channels, even marketing. It occurred to me early on that it would be best to go through the learning process with my own work first in order to be well prepared as I move into the bigger projects. Thus, Real Thirst was born.
And, I have to say, I'm very pleased with how this first book turned out.
I do hope you will buy a copy of Real Thirst... and I hope it's a book you'll love.
Not only does your purchase support the Poetry Chaikhana, you will also be encouraging future publications. Good sales of this first book makes future books possible. If you are eager to have an anthology of sacred poetry from the Poetry Chaikhana on your bookshelf, purchasing Real Thirst is the best way to help.
Purchasing Real Thirst
You can purchase Real Thirst directly, here. It is also available through Amazon.com.
Since the Poetry Chaikhana is a global community, I managed to also make Real Thirst available through some of Amazon's international sites, including Amazon UK and Amazon Germany.
eBook Formats Coming in Fall
For those of you with a Kindle or iPad, Real Thirst will be available in both formats later this year. I'll be sure to let everyone know when the ebook formats are available.
Reader Reviews
If you like Real Thirst, another wonderful way you can help is to post your own review of the book online at Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. People do read those online reviews -- I know I do. It is a great way to expand interest outside the Poetry Chaikhana community.
Read More
If you'd like to read a few more samples from Real Thirst click here. You can also see a bit more of the book by clicking the "Look Inside" link on Amazon.com.
And please feel free to send me an email or post a note on the Poetry Chaikhana Blog to tell me what you think. I'd love to hear your responses. The publication of this book -- the first of many, I hope -- was made possible by the outpouring of love and encouragement from all of you.
Have a beautiful day!
Ivan
“Ivan M. Granger has thrown open the doors of his body, heart and mind to the Infinite’s expressions of Itself in this world… These poems touch all the heart-strings. I laughed, I shed tears, I fell into contemplative states, I felt awe and wonder, love and longing as I read his offerings… You’ll want to return to this wellspring to quench your thirst over and over again.”
~ LAWRENCE EDWARDS, Ph.D. author of The Soul’s Journey: Guidance From the Divine Within and Kali’s Bazaar
Sample Poetry
First dawn. Even the
birds in the tallest pines are
surprised by the sun.
Parched
The parched know –
real thirst
draws rainwater
from an empty sky.
Every Shaped Thing
Sighing,
every shaped thing
turns
heavenward.
Your altar
cannot seat
the thousand thousand
idols.
Holding them,
what do you have?
Each gilded god
says:
"I am
impoverished
by the sun.
I can only
point
up."
Medusa
Medusa says –
I was wisdom
once,
black as night.
Now they call me:
monster,
gorgon,
hideous-faced.
So I hide
behind this hissing curtain
of hair.
Lost
little ones,
breathe easy;
you are free
to not see.
But
what is a lonely
old lady to do?
I still wait
for some daughter,
some son,
so wounded by the world,
to seize these snakes
and part my locks wide.
I still wait
for some bold, tired
wild child of mine,
determined to die
seeing what’s reflected
in my unblinking eye.
* See comments on this poem below
“A delightful prism through which we see a delicate dance of fireflies and countless other wonders – poems, haiku and translations to illuminate the heart and the world.”
~ GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK author of Haiku Enlightenment
Real Thirst
Poetry of theSpiritual Journey
Poems & Translations by Ivan M. Granger
PURCHASE $14.95
Also available through Amazon.com
John of the Cross
1542 – 1591
SPAIN
John of the Cross was born Juan de Ypes in a village near Avila, Spain. His father died when he was young, and he was raised in poverty with his two brothers by his widowed mother. His intellectual gifts, however, were recognized by a patron who provided for his early education at a Jesuit school.
In his early 20s, John entered the Carmelite order and moved to Salamanca to further his studies. Among his other teachers was the well-known mystic and poet Fray Luis de Leon.
Still in his 20s, the young John of the Cross first met the woman who would become his mentor, Teresa of Avila, who was in her 50s at the time. Teresa of Avila was a mystic, a writer, a social activist, and the founder of several monasteries. She had begun a reform movement...
La Suma de la Perfección
Olvido de lo criado,
memoria del Criador,
atención a lo interior
y estarse amando al Amado The Sum of Perfection
Creation forgotten,
Creator only known,
Attention turned inward
In love with the Beloved alone.
Notes
Medusa
I was surprised by something I discovered a few years back: Medusa, the quintessential monster of Greek mythology, was originally a much loved goddess. Her name comes from the Greek word "metis" (related to the Sanskrit "medha") meaning "wisdom." Her worship is thought to have originated in Northern Africa and been imported into early Greek culture. She was black-skinned, wore wild, matted hair (with, of course, snakes), stood naked, wide-eyed, and embodied the mystery of woman, the wisdom of the night, the truths too profound or terrible to face in the daylight. Medusa is, in effect, a Mediterranean version of the Indian Goddess Kali. Medusa was eventually subsumed into the safer, patriarchal worship of Athena, who carries Medusa’s head upon her shield. This discovery inspired me to look at the figure of Medusa more deeply. What is the wisdom that terrifies? Why the snakes? Why the petrifying open-eyed stare? And how does such a bringer of terrible wisdom feel about being rejected by her children as a "monster"?
Thief of Hearts
Let's face it, from the ego's point-of-view, the relationship with the Divine is a problematic one. What the heart recognizes as liberation, the ego sees as theft. So what is the ego to do when that master thief...
About the Author
Ivan M. Granger is the founder and editor of the Poetry Chaikhana, an onlineresource of sacred poetry from around the world. He has lived inOregon, California, and Hawaii. He now makes his home in Colorado withhis wife and two dogs.
"Poetry has animmediate effect on the mind. The simple act of reading poetry alters thoughtpatterns and the shuttle of the breath. Poetry induces trance. Itswords are chant. Its rhythms drumbeats. Its images become the icons ofthe inner eye. Poetry is more than a description of the sacredexperience; it carries the experience itself.”
Read More About Ivan M. Granger
“Every page of this book is a luminous portal through the details of this world into the vastness of pure being. I will turn to these poems again and again for transport to the ineffable, for medicine to heal my restless mind, for a fierce and tender dose of the Beloved.”
~KIM ROSEN,author of Saved by a Poem: The Transformative Power of Words
Your purchase supports the Poetry Chaikhana and encourages future publications.
- Thank you! -
Share Your Thoughts on this note...
Dorothy, I am so pleased to announce our first publication...
Real Thirst
Poetry of theSpiritual Journey
Poems & Translations by Ivan M. Granger
$14.95
PURCHASE
Also through
Amazon.com
Fall 2012:
Kindle & iBook The poems in Real Thirst are an exploration of the spiritual journey viewed through the mystic's eyes. This collection is a delightful blend of word and silence, presenting moments of contemplation punctuated with bursts of ecstatic insight.
Real Thirst combines original poems by Ivan M. Granger with new translations of works by visionaries from both East and West: John of the Cross, Francis of Assisi, Symeon the New Theologian, Hakim Sanai, Tukaram, Sarmad, Bulleh Shah, Sachal Sarmast, Vladimir Solovyov, Tulsi Sahib, and Antonio Machado.
“I found Real Thirst to be a slow, cool and refreshing drink. The deep singularity present within each poem, evokes a kind of felt suchness, and that is a real gift. I believe you will find these poems an antidote to the rush of your days.”
~ JOHN FOX author of Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making
Hi Dorothy
Today I feel like a proud father! The Poetry Chaikhana has published its first book!
Real Thirst: Poetry of the Spiritual Journey is a collection of my own poems along with several translations of works by other visionary poets, from John of the Cross to Bulleh Shah.
This book wouldn't have come into being without the encouragement and help of the Poetry Chaikhana community -- so first and foremost, I want to thank all of you.
As satisfying as it is to have a book of my own poems and translations in print, my ultimate goal is to publish an anthology of sacred poetry, possibly a series of anthologies: a treasure trove of the great sacred poets, accompanied by commentaries. That's always been the heart of the Poetry Chaikhana.
Before I could commit to such a large publishing project, however, I needed to learn the basics of the process. I had to educate myself step-by-step on every aspect of publishing: editing and proofreading (with the help of several excellent volunteers), page layout and formatting, cover design, print specifications, distribution channels, even marketing. It occurred to me early on that it would be best to go through the learning process with my own work first in order to be well prepared as I move into the bigger projects. Thus, Real Thirst was born.
And, I have to say, I'm very pleased with how this first book turned out.
I do hope you will buy a copy of Real Thirst... and I hope it's a book you'll love.
Not only does your purchase support the Poetry Chaikhana, you will also be encouraging future publications. Good sales of this first book makes future books possible. If you are eager to have an anthology of sacred poetry from the Poetry Chaikhana on your bookshelf, purchasing Real Thirst is the best way to help.
Purchasing Real Thirst
You can purchase Real Thirst directly, here. It is also available through Amazon.com.
Since the Poetry Chaikhana is a global community, I managed to also make Real Thirst available through some of Amazon's international sites, including Amazon UK and Amazon Germany.
eBook Formats Coming in Fall
For those of you with a Kindle or iPad, Real Thirst will be available in both formats later this year. I'll be sure to let everyone know when the ebook formats are available.
Reader Reviews
If you like Real Thirst, another wonderful way you can help is to post your own review of the book online at Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. People do read those online reviews -- I know I do. It is a great way to expand interest outside the Poetry Chaikhana community.
Read More
If you'd like to read a few more samples from Real Thirst click here. You can also see a bit more of the book by clicking the "Look Inside" link on Amazon.com.
And please feel free to send me an email or post a note on the Poetry Chaikhana Blog to tell me what you think. I'd love to hear your responses. The publication of this book -- the first of many, I hope -- was made possible by the outpouring of love and encouragement from all of you.
Have a beautiful day!
Ivan
“Ivan M. Granger has thrown open the doors of his body, heart and mind to the Infinite’s expressions of Itself in this world… These poems touch all the heart-strings. I laughed, I shed tears, I fell into contemplative states, I felt awe and wonder, love and longing as I read his offerings… You’ll want to return to this wellspring to quench your thirst over and over again.”
~ LAWRENCE EDWARDS, Ph.D. author of The Soul’s Journey: Guidance From the Divine Within and Kali’s Bazaar
Sample Poetry
First dawn. Even the
birds in the tallest pines are
surprised by the sun.
Parched
The parched know –
real thirst
draws rainwater
from an empty sky.
Every Shaped Thing
Sighing,
every shaped thing
turns
heavenward.
Your altar
cannot seat
the thousand thousand
idols.
Holding them,
what do you have?
Each gilded god
says:
"I am
impoverished
by the sun.
I can only
point
up."
Medusa
Medusa says –
I was wisdom
once,
black as night.
Now they call me:
monster,
gorgon,
hideous-faced.
So I hide
behind this hissing curtain
of hair.
Lost
little ones,
breathe easy;
you are free
to not see.
But
what is a lonely
old lady to do?
I still wait
for some daughter,
some son,
so wounded by the world,
to seize these snakes
and part my locks wide.
I still wait
for some bold, tired
wild child of mine,
determined to die
seeing what’s reflected
in my unblinking eye.
* See comments on this poem below
“A delightful prism through which we see a delicate dance of fireflies and countless other wonders – poems, haiku and translations to illuminate the heart and the world.”
~ GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK author of Haiku Enlightenment
Real Thirst
Poetry of theSpiritual Journey
Poems & Translations by Ivan M. Granger
PURCHASE $14.95
Also available through Amazon.com
John of the Cross
1542 – 1591
SPAIN
John of the Cross was born Juan de Ypes in a village near Avila, Spain. His father died when he was young, and he was raised in poverty with his two brothers by his widowed mother. His intellectual gifts, however, were recognized by a patron who provided for his early education at a Jesuit school.
In his early 20s, John entered the Carmelite order and moved to Salamanca to further his studies. Among his other teachers was the well-known mystic and poet Fray Luis de Leon.
Still in his 20s, the young John of the Cross first met the woman who would become his mentor, Teresa of Avila, who was in her 50s at the time. Teresa of Avila was a mystic, a writer, a social activist, and the founder of several monasteries. She had begun a reform movement...
La Suma de la Perfección
Olvido de lo criado,
memoria del Criador,
atención a lo interior
y estarse amando al Amado The Sum of Perfection
Creation forgotten,
Creator only known,
Attention turned inward
In love with the Beloved alone.
Notes
Medusa
I was surprised by something I discovered a few years back: Medusa, the quintessential monster of Greek mythology, was originally a much loved goddess. Her name comes from the Greek word "metis" (related to the Sanskrit "medha") meaning "wisdom." Her worship is thought to have originated in Northern Africa and been imported into early Greek culture. She was black-skinned, wore wild, matted hair (with, of course, snakes), stood naked, wide-eyed, and embodied the mystery of woman, the wisdom of the night, the truths too profound or terrible to face in the daylight. Medusa is, in effect, a Mediterranean version of the Indian Goddess Kali. Medusa was eventually subsumed into the safer, patriarchal worship of Athena, who carries Medusa’s head upon her shield. This discovery inspired me to look at the figure of Medusa more deeply. What is the wisdom that terrifies? Why the snakes? Why the petrifying open-eyed stare? And how does such a bringer of terrible wisdom feel about being rejected by her children as a "monster"?
Thief of Hearts
Let's face it, from the ego's point-of-view, the relationship with the Divine is a problematic one. What the heart recognizes as liberation, the ego sees as theft. So what is the ego to do when that master thief...
About the Author
Ivan M. Granger is the founder and editor of the Poetry Chaikhana, an onlineresource of sacred poetry from around the world. He has lived inOregon, California, and Hawaii. He now makes his home in Colorado withhis wife and two dogs.
"Poetry has animmediate effect on the mind. The simple act of reading poetry alters thoughtpatterns and the shuttle of the breath. Poetry induces trance. Itswords are chant. Its rhythms drumbeats. Its images become the icons ofthe inner eye. Poetry is more than a description of the sacredexperience; it carries the experience itself.”
Read More About Ivan M. Granger
“Every page of this book is a luminous portal through the details of this world into the vastness of pure being. I will turn to these poems again and again for transport to the ineffable, for medicine to heal my restless mind, for a fierce and tender dose of the Beloved.”
~KIM ROSEN,author of Saved by a Poem: The Transformative Power of Words
Your purchase supports the Poetry Chaikhana and encourages future publications.
- Thank you! -
Share Your Thoughts on this note...
Monday, June 04, 2012
NOTE: I WILL BE OFFLINE FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK.
Poem by James Broughton
If you hanker for
a zenith of felicity
on the bed of the Divine
begin by dusting off
the wings of wonder
on your local pillow
Lift your ineffable
out of the mundane
Aim for airborne
with the eye of the heart
as your sky pilot
and soar to glory
~ James Broughton ~
(Little Sermons of the Big Joy)
Poem by James Broughton
If you hanker for
a zenith of felicity
on the bed of the Divine
begin by dusting off
the wings of wonder
on your local pillow
Lift your ineffable
out of the mundane
Aim for airborne
with the eye of the heart
as your sky pilot
and soar to glory
~ James Broughton ~
(Little Sermons of the Big Joy)
Friday, June 01, 2012
(Recently a scientist friend of mine asked me if there was any scientific evidence for the existence of Kundalini. I was quite surprised and puzzled by his question. I think I have lived so long in the field of Kundalini, that it has never occurred to me to ask if it was "real." I find Kundalini as real as any other feature of existence. I meet it on a daily basis, and together we affirm our affinity.
Since I do not come from the world of science, which emphasizes objectivity rather than subjectivity, I accept that most of what we know as our "experience" is in fact shrouded in mystery. To allow this mysterious process to roam through our systems and to embrace it as ultimate truth without full explanation is, for me, not a challenge but a blessing.
Somehow, I saw a connection between these thoughts and what Hildegard says of the beautiful plant she is contemplating:"No earthly sense or being can comprehend you." Life itself is a mystery which cannot be explained, whether of human or animal or plant. Likewise with Kundalini.
O most noble Greenness, rooted in the sun
By Hildegard von Bingen
(1098 - 1179)
English version by Jerry Dybdal and Matthew Fox
O most noble Greenness, rooted in the sun,
shining forth in streaming splendor upon the wheel of Earth.
No earthly sense or being can comprehend you.
You are encircled by the very arms of Divine mysteries.
You are radiant like the red of dawn!
You glow like the incandescence of the sun!
