November 4: Back to Basics

One of my favorite "go to" books is "Anatomy of the Spirit: The 7 Stages of Power and Healing" by Caroline Myss.  She has synthesized three different spiritual traditions

(Catholicism,  Judaism, and the Chakra system) and synthesized their concepts to identify connections between spiritual energy and our health.  Over the years it has helped me grow - helping me pinpoint some areas I needed to address in order to move forward.  I discovered how my lymphoma diagnosis was connected to first chakra issues - and how some of my present health issues seem to be connected to the same.  And there are others...

Today I began reading to learn more about a diagnosis faced by a dear friend.  And - as things usually go when I "let go" - I have been led back to how we are all connected, and how praying for her needs to take place conjointly with my own efforts at being the best I can be.  By healing my "piece" of the "larger body," I can support the whole - and, in turn, support her.

Myss used the chakra system to organize her thoughts, and I had a bookmark in the 4th chakra, around the heart, which mediates between the physical and the spiritual world.  Yes - interesting - since that is where some of my lessons seem to currently be.  I looked again and found that my osteoporosis is connected to 1st chakra - as is the lymphoma.  

And then I found this gem: Even though we come into this world with powerful connections to a "tribe," we still have a "relentless congenital desire" to explore our own potential.  "This desire is the impetus behind our striving to become conscious.  The universal human journey is one of becoming conscious of our power and how to use that power.  Becoming conscious of the responsibility inherent in the power of choice represents the core of this journey."

So - becoming conscious, becoming aware.  Then, understanding that there is power in that awareness, and in the choices that we make as part of that awareness. 

For me, becoming aware of how that consciousness and spirituality manifests in moi - and how I use it's power truly is my human journey.  Understanding how each and every choice I make (without judgement!) has its own results (not good or bad, but merely movement one way or another). Being conscious of and understanding my own power within and in relation to Spirit, and the responsibility inherent in my power of choice every single moment truly does represent the core of my own journey.  

Perhaps, then, the "devil" truly is in the details.  There are so many choices I make in every waking moment.  Some of them are very conscious ones - and others are made even before I've had time to think or be aware.  Perhaps it's the latter that deserves more of my concern.  And, goddammit, that comes back - once again - to a daily (or more frequent) spiritual practice.  

 Sigh (choice).  Eat (another choice). Hike (another choice).  

May I be fully present in the midst of all of the choices - now and more.