Manure

Today's Reminder is: 

"It is said: "Manure happens." This is not so. Manure is the result of a natural process. We all create manure. 

It is important for you to realize: manure is a useful substance. It is a natural fertilizer which helps things grow. Our purpose as spiritual beings is to Grow. Are you using yours?"

Living things are self-organizing energy transformation systems.  What does that mean?They take from their environment the raw materials and energy they need for their own well being. They build relationships with others and their environment. What they can not used is excreted. 

Yet that 'manure' can provide the basis of new life, more materials, and more complex organization, and,yes, sometimes new ideas and new frontiers. Your manure is an important resource. If you don't use it then some one else will.

Surprised?

Today's Reminder is: 

"It is no surprise to you when you cut yourself and you feel pain. Why then are you surprised by the circumstances and apparitions in your life? 

Both are the impersonal application of the same natural organizing principles and operational rules which manifested these results in your life. 

The only difference between them is your refusal to accept they come from the same source."

Life is a complex flow of energy interactions governed by the conservation of energy laws. All states even conscious states are subject to the laws. Social interaction and societies also are subject to the conservation laws. Some of the interactions can and will be physical. Some of interactions are emotional. Some of these are intellectual. 

These interactions lead to experiences and results. Some of the results lead to higher entropy states of order while others lead to lower entropy states of disorder. Some of these states are pleasant while others unpleasant. Yet they all come from the same general rules of the conservation of energy. 

We do not live our lives outside the conservation laws and we cannot deny their functionality. The sooner one realizes this the sooner they can optimize their efforts toward achieving intended results.

Here?

Today's Reminder is: 

"You are here. Are you Now?"

Sometimes we "wander off" into the past that was or a past that might have been. This can have deleterious effects to your present circumstances.  You cannot change the past. Ever.

Living in the here and now will probably allow you to respond in more appropriate ways to current circumstances.

Let go of the past. Live in the present. Plant seeds for a joyful future. 

Are You Willing?

Today's Reminder is: 

"To be loved, you must be willing to be Loved. The same is true for being hated."

Never doubt that you have the power to choose what you will experience in your life.  You have the power to accept love... 

But what about hate? 

It is no different than love-- except it is a "negative" emotion which usually comes with hurt. It seems that we mistakenly believe we have no control over being hated. That is not true. 

To really feel hated one must accept that the person hating you is somehow justified in feeling the way they do. In other words when you feel hurt because someone "hates" you it is because you have accepted their judgement of you. The hurt can wound you even if it is untrue because some part of you believes it is true.

When you do not accept another person's judgement of you, you cannot be hurt emotionally by them. That is not to say that "haters" can be ignored but the emotional damage they might cause you can be stopped. Once you stop accepting their judgement of you, you can make clear decisions on how to deal with them.  

The Unspoken Law of Karma

Today's Reminder is: 

"The Unspoken Law of Karma is: 'If you follow a certain course of action almost anything is likely to be realized but some realizations are more likely that others.'  So what is actually going to happen if you do thus and so?"

 Many people do not understand that cause and effect are not necessarily directly chained together. You know -- The punishment must follow crime or reward must follow a good deed. 

If you look around with open eyes you'll notice it rains on the Righteous and the Unworthy. The sun shines on the Bad and the Good. Flowers and fields grow for the Powerful and the Weak. Why would that be so?

Like many laws of nature, reward and punishment fall along a statistical line.  You are less likely to be punished for a good deed than a bad deed. You are more likely to be punished if you do something that deserves punishment. But will you? Look at who you are... look at where you are. Look at what you have done and what you are doing.  

For example: Attempting to free prisoners of an oppressive government by your self is not likely to get you a reward from the oppressive government... and reporting "patriots" to an opressive government might get you a cash reward [and you name on a list somewhere].

Think! How does this plot line usually end? Don't like the potential results? You always have the option to turn around. There is always an opportunity to do thing in a positive way. There are ways to accomplish your goal.

I once knew a man who claimed to be a rodeo clown. His day job was to fire people. He was good at his job. He lied to them. He deceived them. He played his victims and eventually they succumb to his mission. He did his job five days a week and took his pay with a smile. There was no conscience shown in his behavior. No sense of regret. It almost seemed certain he was rewarded for his behavior. Was he? Does it really matter?

In the long term this self proclaimed "clown" will pay for his behavior and his choices... but the important thing is to recognize that the "karmic fate" of another person has nothing to do with you. The Universe can deal with them without your assistance. 

It's not your role [or place] to judge them. If you become a self-proclaimed "avenging angel you fall to the same level as the person that has harmed you and you will pay a price for playing the same evil game as they.

So what is likely to happen? Can you be rewarded for bad behavior? Possibly... in the short term... but don't count on it.

Got Spice?

Today's Reminder is:

"Always set aside a portion of your income for spices. Spices can make even the dullest life livable."

 It seems simple. You have a limited budget and You have to live within your means. Beans and rice seem boring... but add a little spice and suddenly not only does the meal become eatable but life becomes livable. "Spice" can be any simple thing that makes life better. Salt, pepper, hot sauce, garlic, oregano, parsley, thyme are all spices. But a kiss, a hug, a smile, a greeting, a laugh... these are spices too.  Are you using them?

Who not What

Today's Reminder is:

"Accept responsibility for who you are, instead of what you've been."

If you focus on "what you have been" you are focusing on the past. The past is gone. It cannot make the present any different. Focusing on the past can lead you into the same problems you had-- the ones that gave you this moment. Showing remorse for the past of itself does not change behavior.

Accepting your "ability to respond" as who you are in this moment means you have the ability to make this moment and each succeeding moment different. Do you want a new future?  Accepting the responsibility for who you are acknowledges you have the power to change. Do you dare to grab a new future? Showing remorse for the past and accepting that you are responsible for your behavior now and always is the first step in not repeating the same mistakes. It is also the first step in making your life different.

Words of Themselves

Today's Reminder is: 

"Language is a formalism used to convey meaning. Words of themselves convey nothing."

A writer loves words. The power of language is that it allows us to construct messages that are both filled with information but also can be 'emotionally' or 'spiritually' meaningful. A dancer loves to Dance. The power of Dance [and the martial arts] is you can see the 'energy' of the message in the motions. The artist, photographer, or filmmaker can give birth to Images, real or imagined, that give the viewer the "feeling" of the captured image.

The late Isaac Bonewits , in his book Real Magic, made note of these three forms of communication [taken from Hindu religious philosophy] which can be used to elevate one's beliefs and / or consciousness. The three forms are:  Mantra [Words], Mudra [Actions], Mandala [Images].  Each of these forms can also be used to convey a message or meaning to an audience.

• Mantra - Words - Books - Scripts - Oratory
• Mudra - Action - Dance / Ballet / Martial Art 
• Mandala - Image - Art - Visual Media

Combining these three forms in a work [or your life] makes  your ability to convey a message more effective. A recent example of this kind of work is James Cameron's Avatar. While the plot is rather simple the net effect of the words, actions, and images invites the viewer to hear/see/feel the message . If you have not seen it, you might take a look. After seeing it, evaluate each component form. Ask yourself: how effective was the form? How effective was the combination of forms?

The whole point of words, actions, and imagery is to communicate a message. It is important to remember never to get so caught up in the "forms" that you forget to deliver the message. Think about how effective you are when you try to convey a message. Think about your successes and failures. You are a messenger of a message only you possess and only you can deliver. Think about that the next time you use the three forms: Words, Actions, Images.

The Biggest Problem In Your Life

Today's Reminder is: 

"The problems you have with others, are in fact the problems you have not been able to resolve within your own self. The biggest problem in your life more often than not is You."

 How often have you said "If they only would..." or "How can they be so selfish?" or "Why do they act that way?" or even "Why are these evil people in my life?" The answer is you my friend.  The world we see and experience is mostly seen and experienced through the "filter" of our own beliefs. Change your beliefs and the world changes.  

"If only they would..." is actually "If only I could...."

 "How can they be so selfish?"  is actually "How can I be so selfish?

"Why do they act that way?"  is actually "Why do I act this way when I am with them?"

"Why are these evil people in my life?"   is actually "Why do I stay in this place?

Change is always an option. No one is stopping you from making changes in who you are or the way you act or the way you see the world. 

I am not saying that evil people or life threatening health issues can be changed or  suddenly "go away". What you can change is how you see these things in your life. In seeing things differently, you have the opportunity to choose a new path which is more healthy for you. Your problem is your solution: You.