Cheer Up 101

Some days just don’t sparkle.  Although my personal life and family are swimming right along today, there are things happening out in the big wide world that are scary and sad, and even the sun seems to have deserted us this Spring.  I was having difficulty writing an upbeat blog post this morning, so I deleted everything, went into the kitchen, and started grating orange rind, chopping almonds and pecans, and measuring flour and oats.  Now my home smells like cookies, and soon I will have a treat with my tea. 

Some days, that’s just the ticket!

Now excuse me, the timer is ringing.  

Who Turned On the Lights?

I’m reading a quantum physics book*  (yes, the same person who taped a copy of the Multiplication Tables in the back of her math notebook through 8^th grade) and it's very interesting. Quantum physics deals with parts of the universe that are small beyond imagination.  The book presents the info in a way that I can just nod and keep reading without actually understanding every nuance.  I’m intrigued by the fact that even the physicists themselves don’t quite “get” it either.

One of the buzzwords in quantum physics is “vibration”. Everything is made up of vibrations, and the higher the vibration the more light is emitted.  Put that thought into your head and look outside right now as spring is bursting through the earth and everywhere you look insects are humming and flowers are blooming, grass is growing, rain is falling, and nothing is staying still. Imagine the crazy vibrations happening inside everything you see, and think of the light energy building up and shining through.  Just peek outside at nature right now and see if you don’t immediately think, “exuberant!”  

Now take a look at the people around you with those same eyes.  Imagine their vibrations creating light inside of them, light that connects to your own light. 

The Light in me shines on the Light in you.  We are all part of the same Light.  Namaste.

*The Dancing Wu Li Masters, An Overview of the New Physics, Gary Zukav, 2001.  If you prefer video, try “What the Bleep - Down the Rabbit Hole, Quantum Edition”

Look Up

Here’s a little Zen story for you.  A monk leaves his home on the hill for a trip, and upon his return, the roof of his house is gone, blown away by the wind.  His neighbors wait anxiously for his reaction, sure that he will be devastated.  “Ah,” says the monk.  “That roof has been blocking out the skies.  Now I will have such a lovely view of the stars.”

Devastating things happen.  Tornados and floods come to mind today.  When visited by such disasters, we have to make a choice:  Become part of the disaster, or be apart from the disaster.  All the usual human emotions of grief and fear will come up, and these cannot be lightly dismissed.  Yet once these feelings are dealt with, remember that all it takes to begin a recovery is to take one step forward.  You may slog through some deep mud for a while, but one day you’ll look up and see the stars.

And the winner is . . .

Do you remember those cartoons where one of the characters is facing a moral dilemma, and a little angel pops up on one shoulder, and a teeny devil on the other?  The little guys generally ended up fighting each other, with the angel’s halo falling askew and the devil wrapped in his forked tail but usually winning.  Those tiny figures were representing the main character’s conscience, helping decide between right and wrong.  It’s likely that you, too, have experienced the struggle between angel and devil.  Who usually wins?

Every day we make decisions based on our compass of right and wrong, good and bad.  It often seems like the little devil is proposing a more fun and satisfying game, while the simpering angel is a buzz kill.  Is that really the way it is, or is it just our outward selves putting that forward? 

We have an inner voice that is always available to us.  I like the phrase “Higher Self”.  Someone, who is actually me, looking out for my best interests without judgment, blame, hypocrisy, or ego.  Someone who realizes that there is no “good”, no “bad”; there just is.

So flick those troublesome creatures off your shoulders, sit down, and be still.  Let your Higher Self chat with you.  And please, listen to what you hear.