My Heartsongs

This past bit of time has seen the celebration of the Diá de los Muertos —that annual holiday with Mexican origins that honors the dead. And I did my own ofrenda, with lit candle and photo for the recent anniversaries of the deaths of my grandfather and grandmother. Part of being a positive light bringing ancestor myself is clearly and regularly honoring those upon whose shoulders I stand who assisted me in simple and complex ways to move forward in my own life journey.

Hunting for elk in the Cruces Basin of northern NM. I was a vegetarian for years, and understand that this topic may be hard to relate to for some. I used to say I was a “non limbic system” fish and fowl okay flexitarian: however recent studies indicate that fish can feel pain and birds do indeed have brain structures resembling a limbic system, hence emotions. For me, it is important to be intimately familiar with the main meat source in my life. I don’t generally eat beef or pork, because of the conditions in which they are commonly raised. I try to eat fowl domesticated under more caring circumstances, but it is still taking a life to support my own. I do engage in the hunting process with awareness, kindness and respect.

As an alternative to hedonistic happiness, Aristotle basically defined the well-being of eudaimonia as being the result of active engagement in human activities that are goal-directed and purposeful. Having such a positive subjective sense of wellbeing involves the self-actualization of individual unique talents over a lifetime. “Be your greatest” always involves invoking the larger eagle eye view, beyond the prison of my own limiting beliefs.

What do strength, flexibility, endurance and balance look like in the spiritual realm? What exercises and practices could be useful to promote spiritual fitness? From deepening my compassion to connecting to the planet, daily spiritual awareness is easy to implement. Also check out these wise words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZJvBfoHDk0

What might strength, flexibility, endurance and balance look like in the mental realm? What exercises and practices could be useful to promote mental fitness? From brainstorming to thoughtstream shift, there are many possibilities.

I always defined stress as the internal state that results when the capacity to adapt to what is happening has been exceeded. This often occurs without our awareness, as evidenced by the sensation of peeling off onion layers of tension and pressure when we do actually take a vacate tion. When I tune in – having dropped out of electronic device land – I realize my personal emotional default is usually sadness. That’s where I go when “things” – personal, loved ones, global and yes even cosmic – are not unfolding to my liking.

Let’s play Just Ask Anxiety. If everything is okay then why are so many so anxious? One might propose that a triad of unskillful human habits consistently generate anxiety for a multitude of folks: Habits of scarcity,  struggle, and doing doing. I do believe anxiety is basically fear without a name. If it is a signal, then what is the message we need to heed? What fear lurks behind it?

I am defining deep desire as those inner aspects of who I really am that have always wanted expression in the outer world. Maybe it reveals itself in consistently wanting to play an instrument, live by the sea, or travel to specific faraway exotic places. Deep desires elicit needed changes and growth, and are often a pain in the derriere, creating much suffering as well. They play a central role in shaping who I am and the narrative of my life, as my identity morphs throughout my personal evolution.

Another summer solstice is almost upon us. So for me, as is my custom, some turning inward. As I have shared a number of times in these brief weekly musings, I have journaled at least monthly for almost 50 years, regularly taking the pulse of my own personal evolution. This usually involves creating some quiet alone time for reflection, contemplation and meditation, offering up what I like to term ordinary transcendent experiences. No bright lights or stigmata on my hands, but clearly heart and mind aligned on a discovery adventure.

The unrecognized onion layers of stress effortlessly peel off, revealing a core simply hungry to just be—no phones, computers, internet or planetary bad news. This brief excursion takes me out of myself, so I might embrace an eagle eye’s view, and get out of Dodge, surrender to the timeless wisdom of “sleeping on it.” I invite you to contemplate how you renew yourself, and when and how is the next adventure into that realm going to unfold for you?