Living the Inner Life

A Subjective perspective comes from within - it is how we look at ourselves and the lease through which we look at the world. An Objective point of view is supposed to be free from feelings or bias - just the facts, Ma'am. Yet, even when we observe things with a scientific mind, we still bring in our experiences and personal viewpoints, at least to some degree. It can be advantageous to pull back from our personal perspective and just look at some things or people without prejudice or preference - even some of the bad stuff. By observing clearly, we can often find something useful and to our advantage - the silver lining that lies inside the cloud.

What is the state of your Union? We have so many facets to ourselves and they don't always get along with each other. Contradictions, complexities and conundrums are ever present in our lives. The Shamanic practice of Soul Retrieval puts back together the pieces of our psyche that have split off with each traumatic experience throughout our lives. Welcome those wayward parts back to make a strong Union, one that cannot be divided.

When confronted with a danger, our 'Fight or Flight" mechanism kicks in to make us ready for battle, or to run away. This 'sympathetic' part of our nervous system increases heart rate, enhances our eyesight, and produces adrenaline to help us survive. It also turns off our digestion and reproductive systems because they are not needed. When the danger has passed, the 'parasympathetic' system stops the adrenaline and returns our heart rate, stress levels, and digestive systems back to normal functioning. When the danger is real and visible, like a tiger or and oncoming train, the 'fight or flight' response is only temporary. Whether we win or lose in the confrontation, the danger will pass and we will return to normal. When the threat is invisible, emotional or perceived, the stress hormones respond the same way, but such threats often never go away. Nor do they every really kill us. Therefore, we can spend much more time in fight/flight than we are equipped to do so, and after time, it can do much damage to ourselves - physically and psychologically. Try to see these types of threats - even if they may risk your reputation or self-esteem - as being paper tigers that can't really hurt you. The best way to deal with these enemies, is to become calm, centered and have your stress hormones, digestion and heart rate return to normal. Then you will see a way through these, or a way to laugh at yourself so they can not pose a threat - real or imagined.

Practice does not make perfect - practice makes permanent. We have muscle memory that remembers how to do things, even when our minds forget. It's how we memorize music, math tables and just about everything else. If you've ever caught yourself daydreaming when you are driving home, and you don't realize how you got there when you pull up to the driveway - this is your muscle memory, conditioned into a habit that allows us to do the thing without much conscious thought. This can be very helpful and it can work against us as well. We can get stuck in habits that are hard to change, habits of feeling and thoughts, but we can change them. Also, our bodies are always trying to tell us things we need to know about our condition. Unfortunately, we also have the habit of masking, medicating and denying these uncomfortable messages. Therefore, we can rarely get to solving the problem or healing the condition. We must learn to relax and listen to what our wise, intuitive body is saying. Ask what it needs, how you can help. Then you can get to the source and solve the issue so you no longer have the symptoms. Listen and learn.

"The mind is the slayer of the real" ~H.P. Blavatsky. By over-planning, over-analyzing and overthinking things, we make the things we do sterile, mechanical and clinical. Too much intellectualism can detract from spontaneity and excitement. Even if something is produced or performed "perfectly", without the emotion and passion, it will be dry and lifeless. Ultimately, we need a balance of both. So plan and think things through, but then set out to do the thing. And as you do, the path will be made more clear and you will find out things that would have been impossible to think of beforehand. As the great author wrote, even the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. So go ahead and start, even before you're 100% ready - and enjoy!

The first rule of magic is containment. Also, the first rule with many other things, like containing heat in a pizza oven or preserving tomatoes in a Mason Jar. Same with the Inner Life. When we are working on something new - an idea, invention, habit, or anything else we want to accomplish - it can be really destructive if these are not contained or protected. Containment keeps what is inside from leaking out, and prevents impurities from the outside from seeping in. What is contained has value, which is why we put it in a container. Your ideas, attitudes and self-improvement are also valuable, so keep them contained until you are ready to tell the world!

You cannot give someone wisdom, any more than you can work out or practice a musical instrument for someone. This is the work we all need to do for ourselves. Teachers, coaches and trainers can help with you along the way, but this is a journey we all must make as individuals. The 'Parable of the Sower' from the New Testament (Matthew 13:3 and others) describes what happens when seeds are planted in various types of soil. Only a ground that has been properly cultivated will produce favorable results when seeds are planted. Same with our Inner Lives. New ideas, thoughts, better habits - all the things we want to grow and bear fruit - will likely fail unless we cultivate a head and heart space that is not too hard, not to porous, and not too crowded with other, competing ideas and beliefs. Clear your heart and mind for these new seeds to find a welcome home and produce a harvest more than enough for yourself and to share with others. 

"Should I follow my head, or follow my heart?" The answer is yes. To both. Both the intellectual and emotional parts of ourselves are important and very powerful. The head and heart have different needs, see things differently, and speak different languages. Like Yin and Yang, they are also inseparable and work much better for us when they are in harmony - each giving to the other the best of what they have to offer. Too much intellectualism can be cold, sterile and uninspired. Too much unbridled emotion can become scattered, dramatic and even dangerous. The mind can temper the emotions. The heart can energize the intellect. Together, the head and heart can become the core of our inner lives - when the two are made One.

"Surrender, Surrender, but don't give yourself away" - the lyrics to this Cheap Trick song are more profound than I realized. Surrender does not mean defeat - it means ending the battle so you will survive. Some fights are not worth fighting for, especially the internal struggles that we have within. Sometimes our best efforts have put us in un-winable situations. Holding on to old ways of thinking, or pride, or reputation - these self defensive mechanisms - actually keep us from succeeding. Letting go of the things and people we cannot change - letting go of the trying to change these things - will give the freedom to fight for what is actually important and the power to succeed, progress and transform our lives. But sometimes we need to be rendered even more helpless before we are willing to receive the help we need. Surrender is not weakness; it is strength.

Creating sacred space is an ancient ritual, used by many cultures, to prepare the area and one's self for a ritual or ceremony. This can also be useful in our daily lives, as well, even in the most mundane things we do. We all have to wear different hats to cover our many responsibilities. So why not 'shift gears' by recognizing the importance and sacredness of what we do with ourselves. By putting on a particular shirt, or piece of music, or an apron in the kitchen, we can get ourselves in the mood - and mode - to harmonize our selves with the task at hand. Same with our inner lives. Carve out a time and space where you don't let any negative or conflicting thoughts and emotions to contaminate what it is you are trying to do. This keeps you present and tuned in to whatever it is your are doing. And when the next part of your day requires a different mind set, honor the sacredness of that in some way. You are worth it!