Dear Friday morning loves,
This week's Friday Frolic started with a surprise encounter followed by fifteen minutes of non-stop belly laughter! I walked into Michelle's welcoming home at 9:00 am, as I do each Friday, and was greeted by Paul, her husband. Paul and I had not yet met in the context of his life with Michelle, but we instantly recognized each other and we were equally thrilled and shocked by the serendipity of our encounter!! Paul and I met in 1989 on a Bust Loose trip to Mexico. Yes, you read that right...1989!! He and his three friends and me and my three friends met on the plane to Puerto Vallarta and we hit it off immediately. What followed was a week of outrageous laughter, way too much drinking, and non-stop FUN (and may I add that it was 100% platonic for all of us which is what made it so, so incredibly special)! The eight of us kept in touch for years to come but then, as happens, we lost touch of each other. Paul met Michelle shortly after our trip to Mexico and went on to set-up the most beautiful life with her. Who would ever have predicted that 29 years later, I should find myself taking the key to Paul and Michelle's house while he rushes her off to the airport?! You can probably hear Michelle's roaring laughter through your screen...the three of us were nearly peeing our pants!! I remember Paul as being the most gentle, generous and seriously fun guy...and I am not the least bit surprised that he was wooed by Michelle's gorgeous spirit! I just LOVE it all.
Now, on to Qigong, cause that's what I'm here for, right? Well, yes, AND apparently so much more (as each week continues to show me)!
This week we had another small gathering (Michelle C, Cathy, Lisa Marie, Jessica and Katrina C were greatly missed). It was odd and yet divinely peaceful to be in the Lotus Garden without Michelle's presence...what a gift to be able to use her space even in her absence. We welcomed Tammy, one of Michelle's yoga angels to our group, Tammy will be joining us for the rest of the session and I'm thrilled to have her! Michelle Mc, Glenda, Katrina K, Tammy and I shared a circle of serene and sincere presence.
Last week I started reading the book, "Broken Open", by Elizabeth lesser. This book has been suggested to me for years, but, as I often do, I waited for the book to call me before beginning. I am finding it to be very powerful and affirming of my own experiences. I was particularly moved by a passage about grace, which lead me to re-read the passage from Mooji that I shared last week...
I followed this with a passage from Elizabeth's book that was written by Ram Dass. Ram Dass began his life as a psychology professor named Richard Alpert and went on to become Ram Dass, named by a Guru in India. In 1997 he had a debilitating stroke that changed his life forever. Here is what he writes about his stroke and his experience of grace...
“For me to see the stroke as grace required a perceptual shift. It was a shift from taking the point of view of the Ego to taking the point of view of the Soul. I used to be afraid of things like strokes, but I’ve discovered that the fear of the stroke was worse than the stroke itself....I’ve now been given a fully rounded understanding of grace. What was changed through the stroke was my attachment to the Ego. The stroke was unbearable to the Ego, and so it pushed me into the Soul level, because when you “bear the unbearable”, something within you dies. My identity flipped over and I said, “So that’s who I am - I’m a soul!” I ended up where looking at the world from the Soul level is my ordinary, everyday state. And that’s grace. That’s almost the definition of grace. And so that’s why, although from the Ego’s perspective the stroke is not much fun, from the Soul’s perspective it’s been a great learning opportunity. When you’re secure in the soul, what’s to fear? Since the stroke I can say to with an assurance I couldn’t have felt before, that faith and love are stronger than any changes, stronger than aging, and, I am very sure, stronger than death.”
Once we began to practice qigong, the energy of emotions and the desire to be with all that arises became very strong. So I spontaneously changed my plan and shared the Qigong series of the Daoist Five Element for Organ and Emotional Health. Based on the wisdom of the Five Elements, this set restores Yin and Yang balance by promoting efficient qi flow from one organ to the next. It brings the elements back into balance and keeps the organs clear, strong and flowing with qi. It also has a powerful effect of harmonizing the emotions, especially when combined with the intention of doing so.
I closed with Kuan Yin's message of The Lotus Throne..
“The same Lotus wisdom that enlightens beloved Kuan Yin and all spiritual masters is the very same Lotus Light within your own heart beloved. It can take great courage to trust your own inner light, to ascend the throne of your own inner spiritual authority, especially if the light of others around you seems more powerful than your own. You are being asked to trust this inner guidance above all others now. Have faith in your own heart. Know that you are divine.
Prayer of the Lotus Throne:
You burn bright in my heart, guiding me eternally, Divine Lotus of Light, my very own Heart. I ascend to the Lotus Throne within you, my power, my wisdom, my love and light acknowledged. All is well within my own Soul, by Kuan Yin’s grace and my own Divine Fire. I trust and empower myself spiritually now more than ever. Om Mani Padme Hum. ”
Blessings to each of you this week. I will see you next Friday, May 11. Reminder that there is no class on May 18. 💜
Love Patti
xoxo