Month: December 2022

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A great tide of loving, joyful energy

Ananda volunteers at the book table during an event in Los Angeles

This afternoon we celebrated World Brotherhood Day here at Ananda Village.

Unfortunately, it had to be switched to online only (due to a surge of COVID and other illnesses), with only the speakers, a small singing group, and three or four other guests in attendance.

But I found it as inspiring as ever to hear about Ananda’s outreach ministries and all the wonderful work they’re doing around the world.

In fact, I’m reminded of when I lived in Switzerland (from 2004-2006) and would receive Ananda’s annual appeal in the mail. I was still relatively new, and I remember being absolutely thrilled to know I was — in my own small way — a part of such an expansive work. I even sent a donation (though I’m not sure how I managed to afford it at the time!).

Of course, Ananda’s work has exploded in so many directions since then, and Ramesha and I play a much larger role in the worldwide music outreach nowadays. But the basic feeling is exactly the same as it ever was.

This quote from Swami Kriyananda describes it perfectly: “We are part of a great tide of loving, joyful energy that wants to give and give as long as people are happy to receive it.” 

What a blessing it is to be part of that great tide of loving, joyful energy!

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Staying warm and cozy

What a blessing to be able to stay home — warm and cozy — in such stormy weather.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m extremely grateful for days of heavy rain (though the intense winds were less appreciated).

It’s just that I’m equally grateful not to have had to get in the car and go anywhere in the midst of it all!

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Staying flexible

Remember slinkies?!?

Whether we like it or not, life has a way of keeping us flexible.

Which lately seems to be the whole raison d’être for this ongoing pandemic.

It’s really frustrating, but we’re determined to find an uplifted and joyous way to still share the inspiration of our Christmas music with the world.

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Here we go again

Tonight’s choir rehearsal was cancelled due to so many cases of COVID and flu happening in our community. The December 17 Christmas concert is also in jeopardy.

We certainly don’t relish the thought of pulling the plug on the first concert to include full choir in three years(!), but we really, really don’t want to create a superspreader situation either.

Sigh.

I so hoped we would be beyond this by now. 😕

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Loving well

And if I want to help myself heal, I need to love me without an agenda.

In other words, without treating “loving myself” as a way to lose weight or attract abundance or accomplish any other specific goal.

I want to learn to love myself well just for the sake of loving. And that applies to loving others well also.

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Unconditional love

Yesterday’s blog ended with the statement that “It’s about making the inner switch from self-condemnation to compassionate self-love.”

So, today I want to share something related to the power of unconditional love.

Way back at the end of the 1980’s, I was an active member of a Unity church in San Francisco. A songwriter named Greg Tamblyn frequently performed there and I purchased several of his recordings.

Although he specialized in spiritual humor, he also had a talent for addressing deep issues and profound emotion through his songs. One in particular touched me deeply. It told the story of a woman named Evy who healed herself of an illness through learning to love herself unconditionally.

Fast forward to just a few years ago. Somewhere along the line I ended up on the mailing list for Greg’s email newsletter and for some reason found myself remembering that song and wanting to know more about it.

Going to Greg’s website, I listened to the song again and found it just as powerful as when I first heard it over thirty years ago. I also found a blog post Greg had written about it and was blown away.

I invite you to listen to the song (below) and read Evy’s story (by clicking here (Greg’s blog post) or here or here (written by Evy herself).

More and more I’m understanding that LOVE truly IS all we need.

Unconditional Love (The True Story of Evy McDonald) by Greg Tamblyn
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Changing the inner dialogue

I experienced a big “aha” moment recently.

It happened when I ended the nourishing cleanse and immediately started “treating” myself to the foods that made me feel “special” and “loved.”

In a moment of insight I realized just how food and love and treats are inextricably mixed up in my psyche.

So, when I’m eating super healthy and taking care of myself, a part of me does not interpret that as loving, but as self-deprivation. And when I stop the healthy stuff and indulge in “treats,” that part of me feels loved once again.

And all the while there’s an inner voice criticizing what I choose to eat, how I look, how much I exercise, blah, blah, blah! Which then makes me want to treat myself with another goodie.

Needless to say, there’s a whole lot to process around this and I’ve only just begun. But I am finally beginning to understand that it’s not what I do out there that’s going to make the ultimate difference. It’s making the inner switch from self-condemnation to compassionate self-love.

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Gone readin’

This is my version of gone fishin’ — meaning that I consciously opted to sit and finish a less than worthy novel rather than write a thoughtful blog post.

It doesn’t happen often, but today was a “don’t really feel like writing” kind of day.

Oh well.

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Inner upheaval

Sometimes it feels like I’m getting stirred up with a big cosmic spoon, at the same time as the heat beneath my pot gets gradually turned up from simmer to boil.

And in the midst of this inner upheaval, I somehow need to sort through where I’m at; where I’ve been; and where I’m going.

Is that all?!?