Developing Your intuitive Gifts

Notes from the May 5th TeleSangha: Developing Your intuitive Gifts:

"As we find our access point into sacred space we begin to open the portals of our intuitive mind. Remembering the intuitive doesn’t just consist of the mind, but the entirety of our being. It is a utilization of all our senses to retrieve information from a higher consciousness which then filters through our intuitive mind or the mind’s eye. It is in this place which we create accurate interpretations of the information we sense."

Here is the recording: 

Blog on Hold

Hi there,

thanks for stopping by! I've placed my blogging on hold for now and focusing on a book project. 


Feel free to sign up on my email list to enjoy my weekly newsletter offering tips for wellbeing. You can do so at http://jbrinn.com Otherwise please enjoy the past postings!


Blessings & Be well*

Feelin' Groovy

"Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy."    

The lyrics from the now antiquated Simon & Garfunkel song"59th Street Bridge" begin to ring in my head around this time of year.  It's the universe flashing its omnipotent yellow traffic light reminding me to slow down. The song sings in perfect harmony with the 4th quarter Mercury Retrograde and impending Winter Solstice. This crafty trio is too much a match for our self-imposed warp speed which always seems to kick in just after October 31st.


As we've entered into the fall and coming winter months, our biorhythms pair up with nature around us. The rains begin, the leaves fall, the animals grow warmer coats. And we somehow try to defy what is inherently being called of us. There are family gatherings, social engagements, copious shopping, work deadlines and all the while trying to keep up with our normal daily calls for duty. Of course this occurs perennially, but during the holiday season we try to accomplish an endless to do list within such a compressed amount of time. 


There is a sign in my home office which reads, "I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe." This is exactly how we feel when we're moving too fast, moving against our grain.  Often when clients or students come to receive or study Reiki, they feel restored to their center. There is a sense of peace, contentment and less engagement in anything which doesn't serve us.  Engagement in the present moment pulls rank over the back and forth mind chatter of the should-haves and need-tos which ordinarily consume us. Oddly enough when we are in overdrive we tend to misstep and spend more time playing catch up than we would if we were a bit slower and more methodical. As we take more time to explore, there is more time to listen to guidance from within, to construct ideas, to hear and feel the rhythm of all things. From this we become more malleable with the flow of simply ‘what is’, and there is less upset in the rational mind of what is ‘supposed to be’. 

As adults we mature intellectually and emotionally, yet we become unhinged from our spiritual self. We’re told to stop daydreaming and exploring in order to be more productive. We are told to lose one of the most sacred gifts a person could have which is our sense of wonder. When we orient ourselves with the rational more than the intuitive we also feel more discomfort in the chaotic nature of the universe. In this discomfort, exists a constant swirl of reasoning to the point we rationalize ourselves into a state of separation. When we’re in this state we spend more time and energy reasoning rather than gaining insight on the broader perspective. If we can align the rational with the intuitive, then we begin to release our hold on the ‘supposed to be’ and soften into ‘what is’. It’s in this place where we find solace, peace and even compassion for where we and others live on the unified path.

The seasonal slowdown is a way for nature to regenerate and a reminder for us to do the same. Aligning with the circadian rhythms informs our physiological and behavioral processes. This biological clock tells us to sleep when it's darker, wake in the morning light and prepare us for seasonal change. Having great impact on our metabolic impact, these rhythms tell us to rest and eat more as environmental conditions cool down. Hence the yearning for more comfort food, wanting to sleep in when it's cold and rainy outside, wanting to simply spend more time curled up inside with a good book. Yet we live in a  task-oriented society which doesn't allow much room for slowing down. So as our clocks slow, we still move at jackrabbit speed. Too much of this can compromise our immune function which is why we often succumb to what is known as cold and flu season. 

As I write this from my kitchen table, Mount Tamalpais slopes before me. A hawk circles with the thermal current, then glides out of sight and I'm reminded to take time out to do the same.

"I've got no deeds to do,

No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy."
May the season nourish, hold and restore you into the new year!

Candy Everybody Wants

A few weeks ago CNN broadcast an image of a man holding up a sign reading "I work 3 jobs, I have a house I can't sell, My family insurance costs are outrageous, but I don't blame Wall Street..Suck it up whiners...I am the 53%...". My immediate thought was what is wrong with this picture? If a real living wage were offered by corporations, then we as a people wouldn't have to work 3 jobs to hold it together. If affordable healthcare was a right and not a privilege then we wouldn't have outrageous insurance costs. If the banks were held accountable for misleading and betting against the market then we wouldn't be burdened with a decline in the housing market. I wanted to reach through the television, pry the man's brain open, massage the gray matter so the synapses would once again begin firing enough for him to WAKE UP! I looked up this counter movement of the 53% and read other blog posts which told his story of working hard all his life through high school and college, but still not having a child, home or vacations because he can't afford them. We as a society have fallen so under the woo of the corporate sociopaths that we have shut off our interest to think critically. We have allowed government and bureaucracies to spoon-feed us until we have lost sight of our inherent entitlements enough to demand what is best for humanity on the whole.


Admittedly I have watched the Occupy Wallstreet Movement from a distance. Even as this movement protests against corporate greed and government inaction, I have been contemplating my position and the best course of action. I personally stand as part of this 99% and share in their message, "The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%." I support this cause not because I'm a liberal, not because I'm a democrat, but because I'm a member of this world population. It is no longer a preference or a trend, but absolutely necessary for us as a population to practice sustainability, social responsibility and raise our consciousness so that we may evolve in alignment with all the other species on this planet. 


It's difficult to look at, but the corporations are mirrors for our complacency. We say we want an end to corporate greed, so it's up to us as the 99% to stop funding it. We wanted convenience, speed, efficiency and they've provided it across the board. Let's look at a few examples:


Our food has become a processed distortion that it loses many of its original nutrients forcing 'fortification' .  Additives, preservatives, hormones and antibiotics have caused numerous imbalances in our bodies. Not to mention this food comes nicely wrapped in packaging that eventually spills out from landfills. 
Responsive action: Eat locally and know where your food comes from. Research farming livestock and fishing practices.


Medicine has been confused or lumped into the same meaning as medications which offer a riotous amount of disclaimers and side effects. The difference below.. 


Medicine: the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.


Medications: A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.


Responsive action: research your ailment, get multiple opinions from allopathic and holistic, #1 find out why! An ailment doesn't just show up overnight, it is a symptom of greater imbalance in the body. Backtrack to the cause and treat it rather than putting a band-aid on the symptom.


Beauty used to be only skin deep, but the chemicals used in many of our products have carcinogens and additives causing skin and respiratory allergies. Not to mention the brutality of animal-testing and use of animal products in these ingredients. 


Responsive action: Read and research your ingredients. Lean towards single source moisturizers such as coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil, in other words, get back to basics!


EMFs are increasing in cell phones, wi-fi, Kindles and computers. Research is revealing significant effects from headaches to immune imbalances. I know as a holistic practitioner the energy of someone who is constantly "plugged in" is vastly different than someone who is not.
Responsive action: decrease use, wear headsets, read books! (used if possible), remove these electronics from your bedrooms.


They've given us the candy and we forgot to ask about the cost. Complacency has a cost when responsibility is left to sociopaths. The 1% may have the money, but we as the consumer have the power. For every cent that leaves our pocket we need to understand and know where it's going and what it supports. Let's do our research and choose responsibly so that we may shift the consciousness of this population. 


I may not be marching, but like all consumers I am on the frontline of this movement. For everything we dislike, look at what we want to change and manifest. Let's begin to treat our planet and all its inhabitants that they are invaluable not disposable. We can all step into this movement by encouraging each other that it’s all a very real possibility and essential for this planet to move forward.

Animal Spirits ~ Since this posting Oliver now rests peacefully--he continues to be a guide and angel, we'll miss him terribly. 1997-2011.

"Cats love me!" Those were the famous last words of a long ago date who didn't make the cut. As he sauntered into the living room making himself at home on my sofa my buddha kitty Oliver was also sauntering through, giving him the stink-eye. My roommates upon hearing this declaration of animal magnetism smirked to themselves with the knowing that Oliver, along with most cats, do not succumb to magnetism. It's more of the reverse stance which cats take that "people love me."

I've lived with animals my entire life. Growing up, my mother trained Tasha our husky-shepherd mix on hand signals. We had numerous parakeets and a sea of cats over the years, the latter of which endured the ritual rite of passage of being dressed in doll clothes. My dream house would include a couple of dogs, a few cats, maybe a horse and definitely a goat!

For now I still have Oliver. For over 14 years he has been my teacher and guide. Out of all the cats I've ever lived with, he has never caught prey and brought it to my doorstep, sparing me the despair of blue-jay parts disposal. He literally has never even hurt a fly. Oliver is one of the few, if not only, kitties who will sit and actually study a bug run its own spidery course without ever lifting a paw. 

He sits with me in meditation, I've come to sitting on a big enough cushion for both of us. He definitely receives his share of Reiki and while never formally attuning him, I swear he practices Reiki on me by sitting in places which need healing the most.

I think the most extraordinary moment for me was when I  was a foster parent for feral cats. What possessed me to do this, I have no idea. For sixteen weeks I was given the task of socializing two consecutive 8 week-old "kittens". If a bobcat were crossed with the Tasmanian Devil this would have been the offspring. Yet, Oliver would welcome them up to his 'loft' in the cat tree to nap together. He'd allow them to gobble his food before he did, it was amazing!

As I write this, we've discovered we have a short time with him. He has a tumor growing along his left side and advanced heart disease. 14 years suddenly feels like months. Yet even with his maladies, he cruises the rooms of our home, patient with the well-meaning advances of our 6 year-old daughter and purrs…yes purrs while I give him his meds and insulin injections. While I've been heartbroken over the fact the vet is telling us months, he continues to teach me to be in the moment with his bright green eyes shining as if everything is perfect…and somehow I suppose it is.

In the Native American tradition, a person is believed to possess nine animal totems which represent the gifts they bring in their lifetime. Each animal represents specific powers and characteristics to remind us of our alignment with our world. As a human species we've made a departure from the animal kingdom. In doing so, we've destroyed habitat, corridors, we've exploited animals for food and products. Yet as the vibration of our planet continues to rise, so does our consciousness. Animals are the ambassadors in connecting us with the natural world. They are in constant communication with each other and us. If we are present with them we can listen and begin to understand their wisdom.

I invite you to visit Earthfire's You Tube videos to help us all reconnect to what we already know.

To learn more about animal spirits, visit: animalspirits.com

WonderWoman

At a very young age, as early as I can remember, my eyes have always tilted upward, seeking..almost expecting wonder to sneak up and tickle me from out of the expansive blue sky. As children we hold wonder like a cup of warm cocoa with marshmallows, whipped cream..and sprinkles! Tiny hands cupping it near to us always situated at the heart's center, as the children's version of Namaste.

I feel so fortunate now as an adult to be able to recall so many wonders which have graced me from childhood to present. Retrieving early memories of being raised by a young hippie mom, I remember the cursed: brown earth shoes, running around naked even when my three year-old modesty inherently objected,  eating veggie meatloaf..it was yellow! Moreover I remember the grace of being raised by her. Bike rides down to the river beds, turning over stones and looking for fossils, discovering that we lived beside a fairy hill (which I later learned were fireflies) and being visited during the night by the Tooth Fairy who left behind her tiny wand and glittery-gold footprints beside my bed! Later moving to Florida, I learned the foam on the turquoise waves were mermaid kisses being blown from a faraway sandbar. 

Along with the magical was also the scary. The drive to my grandmother's meant passing the Grouch Forest where the Fanny-Biter lived. I think I imagined something out of Pink Floyd coming to bite my behind if I didn't behave. It was the kind of scary which sends little kids screaming, knees popping up into the air, in harmony with laughter. The kind of scary I still love to this day, stoking my passion for a good ghost story.

With this wonder and instilled fantasy, life was just as much the technicolor saturation as the Wizard of Oz. Sesame Street was great, but who needed TV when you had a pet crow named Sammy ( a story for another time)? Everything including the inanimate was animated and anthropomorphized. With this wonder brought a sensitivity to life around me. Everything became a treasure. It's why I still bring home stones from my hikes and shells from the beach. It's why I was thrilled off my chair to see a hummingbird for the very first time, watching in awe, as it twirled around foxgloves and danced along the treetops of Ventana. It's why I couldn't possibly live without animals in my life. It's why I continuously ask the Divine for signs when I'm empty on answers. And it's probably why I am so fascinated by the work of Reiki, the peace and healing it brings and the messages I receive while working in such sacred space.

This sense of wonder allows us to defy the implausible. It allows us to shrug and say hmm..may-be! It allows us to make a wish. It allows us to pray. It allows us to experiment, explore and expand beyond our limits. It allows us faith in something higher and the opportunity to be boundless in our will. It's what makes us creative beings. It's what makes us appreciative for simple surprises and miracles. Without wonder we lose imagination and possibilities. 

The wildy surreal filmmaker,  Fellini once said, "Never lose your childish enthusiasm and things will come your way." Take a moment today and remember the many wonders which have filled your life. Let these memories fuel your present state, easing the struggle held in our rational mind, tilting your eyes upward with the knowledge that there is always more to come!

You Must be Present to Win!

Jack Kornfield's  A Path With Heart has been on my reading list for some time. I'm finally getting around to reading it. I've given this book to loved ones, referred it out to clients, but now as I read it myself it means hiking up from the valley of my own avoidance. I call it a valley rather than a trap because we are never trapped. The experience of traveling as both human and spirit in this world is to cover a motley terrain of our proverbial peaks and valleys. Often we spiral back to where we've been with new tools and information so we may map a new direction. This book is presently my trailguide!

Kornfield discusses why its essential to move from our heart and what is needed to do so. We often think we're going to cease a pattern, by simply going cold turkey. We're going to stop smoking, stop drinking, stop sugar, stop interacting with a bad relationship, whatever it is not serving us, we're simply going to stop, put on our gameface and battle it. Yet the real battle is within. Our wars are so embodied and embedded into our way of life that "we have changed the name of the War Dept to the Defense Dept and call a whole class of nuclear missiles Peace Keepers!" We have dismembered ourselves due to our own internal battle..talk about repetitive stress injury!

Being present means sitting, emotionally more than physically, with our treasure trove of scars, traumas, patterns and all the icky-poo-poo which is the amalgam of our 'stuff'. The constant projection onto all the people, jobs, objects that are not working for us, becomes the scenery of our lives instead of sifting through what is fueling our struggles with them.

Meditation feels so uncomfortable when we begin to practice. We have to physically be still, leading to restlessness of mind, leading to thoughts, memories, emotions, leading to processing it. At which we can only stand about 10minutes of and become defeated, unfold and distract ourselves with something else. Yet when we go deeper we get to experience everything and when we experience everything, it is the true experience of being in our heart. We encounter polarities all the time…light/dark, north/south, Like/Unlike, mean MUNI driver/cute guy on the bus, sadness/happiness,…the law of polarity is never going to change in this dimension. Therefore the sooner we learn to embrace it, the less struggle we have. This is life as a whole. Kornfield explains this embrace as 'wise understanding'. Because when we begin to embrace, we being to understand. This understanding leads to the higher states of empathy and compassion coming from our heart. As this happens, we release the struggle within. That defiant wall around our heart begins to fall and we are cradled in peace. 

When we have a peak in consciousness we begin to ask, "What is my purpose?" As the egoic walls fall away, all of sudden there is more space for our true state of being. Moving from our true state requires no effort, it just is. It's as natural as breathing. It's moving from the source which allows us to be in our fullest potential. We enter this world as beings with enormous potential and spend our lives in distraction from it. The potential of our being can power us in a migration through many passions and experiences in our lives. Can we allow ourselves to go there, free from the atonal orchestra of voices in our head? Only we hold the winning lottery ticket of our lives and we've got to be present to claim the prize!