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Question: "What is one simple thing that I can do
to bring
more spirituality into my life every day that won't take
too much time or great effort?"
Answer: I am sure many people feel this way
as life is very fast
paced and stressful and we are all pulled in so many
directions. With everything else I have to do, how can I
possibly make time for spiritual growth?
One thing that will be quick and not take much effort is
called the "Mindfulness Moment." Every day
on the way to work, we have to get there, one way or
another. We drive, walk, take a tram or bike or some of
us are lucky to work from home. But during that time of
movement from home to work and the return in the
evening, we usually either sit or drive and can have a
few minutes of quiet time.
A practice of a
mindful
moment is to close your eyes or stare ahead while
driving. You take a few deep breaths and be still and
say to yourself, "Here I am, God, I make time for You",
and be present in that moment. Say it a few times
silently to yourself and be still. You don't have to do
anything else but be mindful of this statement and
being still. You can use other
words, but address the connection, if only for a few
moments.
In fact, this is a sort of "meditation
in motion" that only takes a few seconds or minutes if
you are "present" while you do it. Do this a few times a
day and see what happens. You will be surprised at
the peace it can bring throughout your day.
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Everyday Spirituality Workshop (3 hours)
April 27th and May 24th, 2007
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Pamper Your Inner Self Day (Full Day Event)
June 9, 2007
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Uplifting Spiritual Sites |
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Everyday Spirituality E-Newsletter
Celebrate the Spiritual in You!
April 2007, Volume 2, Issue 4
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Greetings!
Last month's features were quite well received by
our readers. The concept of "The Petty Tyrant"
seemed to be applicable for many people.
The 5 Minute Audio Meditation: The
Visitor
also ventured into new ground by introducing a
connection to a higher being at the lake chairs. I hope
you were able to benefit from this meeting. You can
actually LISTEN to the meditation by clicking
on the link.
The
archives of previous e-newsletters will be added to the
website this week.
In this issue, our feature article is called "Where is
God?", poses the question to you - Where do you
find
God?
We also introduce a new section
called,"Ask Barbara", which is a sort of
question and answer forum. I encourage you to
send me a quick email with your everyday spirituality
questions and I will answer them in the following
issues.
I believe that the simple spiritual insights
and gentle teachings offered in this e-newsletter
bring comfort when needed to the reader and the
author. For what you teach, you must first learn.
Thank you for your support and keep reading!
From a loving and devoted heart,
Barbara
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Feature Article: Where is God?
By Barbara Rogoski
This month we look at the perception of where God is
in our lives. You may call Him by another name such
as Creator, Divine Presence, Universal Energy or
other names. But for this message we use the name
God. Where do you think God is?
Growing up in a catholic school environment, I
thought that God was up in heaven high above me
and that I could pray to Him way up there and hope
that he would listen to little old me. I still have an
image of God above me, but the direct line to Him is
a becoming clearer as I consciously make time to
develop it .
The question for all of us to
consider is, Where is God in my life?
That answer will be different for each of us and there
is no right or wrong answer.
Is God found in nature when you are walking
alone with no other person around? Is God in the
person you help who has lost their way and who looks
in your eyes with gratitude as they walk away?Is
God in the sorrow you feel when someone has hurt
you and you feel alone?
Is God there then?
I also have a big grand image of "The Universe"and
that it is broad and all around me with an unseen
power to make things happen in my life. This is clear
in the film 'The Secret' where it often states that what
we ask for, the Universe will provide. The Universe
hears our thoughts and feelings and responds like a
magnet bringing back to us what we project out into
the world.
I ask myself - Is the Universe a
separate
entity from God? Does God exist within the
Universe or what?"
This took up alot of my
time in contemplation on walks in the woods with my
beloved dog, Ginger.
What I have come to learn is this: that the term
Universe is another name for God. So you can
replace one with the other. What we ask for, God will
provide. God hears our thoughts and feelings and
responds like a magnet bringing back to us what we
project out into the world.
So in fact, God is that higher being, up above us. But
God is also the wide expansive entity all around us
that we call the Universe. God can also be found
in the person we help or that helps us. As I said in the
last issue, sometimes we are helped up by someone
sent for that very reason and sometimes we are the
one sent to help another.
But the most
important place where God is, in my opinion, is
within us when we are joyful, contemplative, sorrowful
or lonely or any other emotions we feel. God is there.
You just have to look up or around you, at others you
meet, in nature or within you. God is there.
Ponder this question - Where is God in my
life and how can I make more time to connect with
Him
in my busy life? No matter where we are in this
process of discovery - there is always more to explore
within us.
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Five Minute Meditation
The 5 minute meditation for April is called,
"WALKING TO THE SOLUTION", and offers
you
the opportunity to contemplate a decision you must
make in your life.
Having to make a difficult decision is hard because
sometimes we just don't know what to do. We can't
choose between two paths. It sometimes helps to
take a really long walk in nature to sort things out in
your mind. This meditation is designed to do just that.
Walking outdoors can clear the mind, move stagnant
energy, promotes better circulation and encourages
creative thinking. If you have a difficult decision to
make or have to sort out a problem, take a long walk
to focus your mind and expand your options. This can
be done by physically taking yourself to nature or
going there in your mind. The real thing is always
better, but if you cannot get out, listen to this month's
audio or read the text.
Let us begin with
WALKING TO THE SOLUTION.
Sit back in your chair with your
feet flat on the floor.
Your hands gently resting on your lap and relax. Close
your
eyes and focus on your breathing. Take a deep breath
in, hold for a few seconds and release. Again. Breathe
in deeply, hold for a few seconds and release.
Continue to breathe in this manner as best you can as
you listen further to this meditation exercise.
When the everyday little nagging thoughts creep into
your mind to distract you, gently brush them away and
concentrate on your breathing. All your daily worries
and concerns will be taken care of in good time, but
not now. Put
them aside for the moment and listen to my voice.
Breathe in deeply, hold a few seconds and release.
You find yourself standing in the woods
facing a long path with trees on both sides. You
cannot see the end of the path. It seems to go on
forever through this beautiful and peaceful wooded
area. You are dressed in appropriate hiking
clothes and boots and you are ready to go!.
Begin your walk by focusing on your breath for a few
minutes to calm your mind and settle into your walk.
Your breathing should coincide with the steps you
take.
You are going along the path, feeling the breeze on
your face and hear the wind rustle the trees.
You
may
have a big decision to make or one that just requires
some consideration.
Each step you take brings you closer to your decision.
Then focus on your dilemma while you walk.
Consider the two scenarios you have. As you are
walking, think
about scenario A
And visualize yourself like a movie, living with that
decision if you chose that one. How does it feel to your
mind and heart? In the flow or struggling upstream?
Does it feel good there or not?
Are you
supposed to follow that one? What does your inner
guidance or "gut feeling" say about this choice?
Now, let that image go, and consider scenario B.
Visualize yourself living in that movie and watch
yourself there after choosing this one. How does that
feel to your mind and
heart? Does this feel like it is in the flow or
struggling against the current? Does it make you feel
good or not? Give yourself the time to
see how it feels to be there. You should always listen
to your feelings about a given situation.
Now for the rest of your walk, invite an unknown third
scenario to arise. It is an alternative that you
have not thought of before. Do not force this, but let it
come. Do not be resistant to considering another
option. How does this one feel? It would not be
brought to your attention unless there was something
there to look at. Can you visualize this third option as a
movie you are watching of yourself? How does this
one feel to your mind and heart?
You come back to simply walking and enjoying the
beautiful day around you. But suddenly you
come to a fork in the road with THREE paths. If you
look to the left, down the path a little ways, you can see
scenario A again, playing out and you are watching
yourself there. What do you feel? You look to the
middle path straight ahead of you and you see
scenario B playing like a movie and you see yourself
there. Imagine that! What feelings does that stir up?
And finally, you look to the third path on your right and
you see the scenario C that just came to mind
playing out with you as the leading character. What do
you think of that solution?
You have three options right ahead of you. Which one
feels the best? Which one is your inner guidance
telling you to take? You know the answer already. Your
inner self knows what to do. Now it is up to you to
listen to it or not. Follow the path you are guided to
take or not.
Only you can say what is best.
Now you turn around with a clearer perspective of the
dilemma and begin walking back to where you
started.
You walk with energy in your steps as you feel better
about what to do. As you are walking, you see a bench
and you sit down. You are ready to come back to
you seat where you have started this meditation. Open
your eyes and stretch out with a better insight than
when you started.
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Closing Thought
It is not easy to keep positive thoughts in your mind
when life gets hard. When things aren't going right,
that is the exact right time to watch your thinking. Try to
lift up your mind, even slightly with the thoughts you
think. When you are down, say to yourself and
believe , "Something good will be coming to me
soon." Repeat it all day. You will feel your spirits lift a
little so that you can face the challenges until the good
things do arrive.
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For more information or to give feedback, contact:
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Barbara Rogoski | |
31 626 898 717 | |
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Momfulness; Mothering with Compassion and
Grace by Denise Roy. Amazing book about the
spiritual practice of conscious mothering. The feature
article next month will explore this topic in more
details to coincide with Mother's Day.