Expect a Miracle!

My understanding of a Higher Power is a fluid thing. "To Define God is to Limit Her," read the title of a neighborhood church sermon one week. That made sense to me.

Perhaps it is human nature to try to define the Divine. I certainly don't believe in the Judeo-Xian god of my upbringing. I think I am too limited in this human form to comprehend god. Native Americans call thatwhichIcannotknow, Great Mystery. Sometimes the best expression for me is G.O.D.: Good Orderly Direction. If I could just follow that, it would be path enough!

One notion I often return to is the unity of all matter at the level of energy. The glue that holds all matter together at the atomic level, that which unites all beings and all that is. This tells me that we are all One. All united Divinely. We are all god. Pantheism, perhaps.

I also perceive god as Love. It fits into my belief that there are really only two emotions: love and fear. All the others can be slotted into one side or the other of two columns marked 'love' and 'fear'. So, either I am in a state of Grace. Or I am in a state of Illusion ... Fear.

I am not a religious person, but I find I am drawn to some of the mystic sects of many religions: that is, those which teach that one can have direct conscious contact with god. That one doesn't need an intermediary, such as a priest, to learn god's will.

Finally what I believe is neither here nor there. What I do, is. If my beliefs don't provide a framework for my life, goals to shoot for, a path to follow, then I might as well not believe anything at all. It's the principles that count. Forgiveness. Open-mindedness. Willingness. Honesty. Humility. Integrity. Service. And Love. Above all, Love.

Meditation

Meditation has become a large part of my daily life. I have practiced meditation off and on since I was in my twenties. It is a source of incredible peace and joy in my life -- not to mention a great stress reliever and emotional management tool.

There are so many wonderful methods or "ways in" to this state of alert restfulness. I've used a candle as a focus point, or sometimes a point on the wall or ceiling. I've chanted mantras and the sounds of the chakras. Mostly I just sit for 20-30 minutes and follow my breath. Recently, I've been using a meditation poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, my yoga teacher shared with us. Hanh lives in exile in France in Plum Village.

There is a beautiful illustration of one of Hanh's other meditation poems online: an animated ecard from SpiritCard Center. The animation is meant to be sent as an online greeting card, but it works very well as a mediation.

I am also deeply inspired by Lorin Roche's book: Meditation Made Easy. It's a wonderful resource for beginner's and veteran meditators alike.

Paths and Teachings Which Influence or Attract Me:

Law of Attraction

I am absolutely convinced that we get what we think about - especially when our thoughts are paired with emotion. I was introduced to the Law of Attraction by a friend who gave me a tape of Abraham-Hicks. There are many other wonderful sources for information on how to incorporate the Law of Attraction into one's life:--

• The Secret - A must see movie if this topic interests you. My prayer is that this information is no longer a secret!
• Robert Brezsny - Particukarly his book: Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings. I love his weekly e-newsletter with its wacky, but inspiring horoscopes.
• Dr. Joe "Mr. Fire" Vitale - The Law of Attraction is full of paradox - Abraham teaches that you need only visualize what you want to receive; that action is not necessary, but if you are more action oriented, Vitale's techniques for using the Law of Attraction in your business may be for you.
  

Yoga

I'm happiest when my life includes a regular practice of hatha yoga. A number of summers ago I had the extreme good fortune of finding my way to Kripalu, a yoga center in the beautiful Berkshires. Kripalu's approach to hatha yoga is compassionate and centered on the breath. It isn't about twisting or forcing my body into a contorted pose, but about experiencing where I am in the present.

Reiki

This path has brought me the most tangible experience of energetic connection to all that is that I have ever experienced. I always leave a Reiki Circle feeling complete and connected. I was introduced to to this healing energy a few years ago now by Charlene Saucier, an Usui Reiki Master. I became a master through her circle and instruction. I have missed it for the last couple of years, and am so blessed to be part of a new Reiki healing circle here in the Florida Keys, the Atlantis Crystal Reiki Circle. I have also trained in Shambala and Karuna Reiki. I would be most interested in connecting with Reiki masters in Asheville, NC. to start a Reiki Share/healing circle.

Some yoga resources:

  Yoga Net,Yoga Journal's web site, includes articles from current and past issues, as well as a teacher's directory.

  Stretching and Flexibility is an excellent 'How to Stretch' article by Brad Appleton.

  Hugger Mugger makes terrific accessories for hatha yoga practice and meditation. Body Trends offers Hugger Mugger mats and some other yoga accessories on line.

Al-Anon & AA and the 12 Steps ...

I've been a seeker all my life, but it was in Al-Anon, a program for families and friends of alcoholics, that I found a structure for my path. The 12 Steps, adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous, lay out a clear guide for me. I am free to explore any belief system, but I am encouraged to practice a set of spiritual principles.

  The 12 Steps & 12 Traditions of Al-Anon.

  Key to Harmony, an email discussion group with twice-weekly meetings, was my Al-Anon home group on the Internet, when I was active online.

  The Official Al-Anon web site.

  I used the 12 Steps of AA to quit smoking more than fifteen years ago! I had tried so many times and failed to stay stopped! Here's how it worked for me!

Other 12 Step sites ...

 Alcholics Anonymous Schedule for the middle and lower Florida Keys
 Alcoholics Anonymous
 ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics)
 Narcotics Anonymous
 Recovering Couples Anonymous
 Recovery.Org
 Codependents Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous