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Mind your own business Monday: Is a Misfit another name for an Empath?

Unless you have found your natural inclination, your life is going to be a long, long tragedy, from cradle to the grave. The only people who have been blissful in the world are the people who have lived according to their own intuition and have rebelled against any effort by others to impose their ideas. Howsoever valuable those ideas may be, they are useless because they are not yours. The only significant idea is that which arises in you, grows in you, blossoms in you. ~Osho

I believe this to be truth, although a little harsh it is certainly a good kick in the pants. We take nothing with us but this very thing Osho is talking of.

I do think the empath is the the misfit. Feeling things ever so strongly and acutely, the misfit gets bombarded. So many deeds done on this planet that are despicable, a misfit would never dream of that. Who would torture anything? The misfit has been so busy torturing his or herself!

If you are totally down with that last line, this is your life. I declare it’s time fly free, and be truly loving to you.

Why is bullying so strongly in the foreground?  We’ve all been imposing. Endlessly offering advice, and endlessly bombarded. Sometimes it’s been the only way to feel in control. It’s clear that a bully is insecure, and it seems that finally following the crowd is losing its charm. You can’t watch a show anymore where the celeb isn’t saying, just be yourself. It’s actually trendy now to be yourself, however that is. Hilarious really. We ride the tides of the collective, as well as our own personal rhythms. Its’ a lot to manage!

Imposing is a big bad stinky habit. It demonstrates a lack of trust. It’s got to stop. We don’t know the biggest picture. We are always being guided to take care of our own business. That’s enough, isn’t it? It should be good news.

My whole platform now is built on personal experience.  I encourage from this fertile ground. Brush all the webs of interference away, and reveal your sculpture. It’s interesting, it’s unique, and it’s based on your trials and your understandings.  I want us all to come out of hiding, and I feel this year has all the necessary support to do so. One of the big problems facing us all is we have turned away from the very thing that we’ve been looking for.

What is that? I believe it has everything to do with where our superpowers reside. ooh la la.

Until next time….

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Why East West living?

It solves a problem for me. Forever I’ve been motivated and dedicated to some sort of spiritual calling, and teachings. I have taken some so literally that I’ve missed opportunities, here and now. I’ve thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Living more in those ideals. I’m aware that in the Biggest picture, you can’t miss the boat, that life keeps coming for you, trying to fulfill the desires that are propelling. What we can do is delay, get in the way, and live a life where indifference sets in. A what’s the use scenario, until we get up again and look for inspiration.

What seems to happen to spiritual seekers is eventually we draw from our own experiences and make them our own. That’s the aha moment. The moment I realized that being born a Westerner in my specific way, and the many comforts I’ve had, spared me from experiences that I didn’t have to go through, yet my soul has been so drawn to Eastern teachings, that I’ve set up more poverty scenarios than necessary. Wrong perspective.

Yes I’ve suffered from some deep sense of disenfranchisement. I didn’t always appreciate the life I’d been given and my set of circumstances didn’t force me to do anything. Nelson Mandela and Ghandi clearly knew their oppressor. It’s been more of an inside job, to dig in and actually find the bridge that needs crossing. Whom and what to follow as many oppressors are cloaked in pretty packages.

At this time on the planet, being American born has had its own very specific struggle that for some, it’s been hard to pin point. I see it here as a great experiment. Caught between so many influences. The real, ancient, traditional knowledge based cultures have been more natural to me. They haven’t been regarded, and as a result  are endangered, becoming such rare birds. I’ve studied with so many greats. I get it now that I am a bridge. I am not talking about the save the planet interest that some people have. That’s not been my thrust. I’m talking more about not wasting resources, and being on point in career and relationships. Where then you serve. Service has always been a given.

So, The Misfits Guide to East West Living. A birth. A pulling together of information. A place to visit the well of nourishment and build your business. So if you do think the planet needs saving, or you want to contribute, you will be on track to do so. If you’re under the influences of the Western mind, not quite sure what to do with yourself, and have never quite fit in yet have such a longing in your heart, you too are a rare bird. You are worth saving, and its my hunch that it’s your time to be heard.

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It’s not too late

To wake up.

To be myself.

To appreciate it all.

To live a life expressing from authentic realizations.

To carve out impressions of my finer points leaving footsteps that inspire.

What about difficulties?

I aspire to transcend them, and they in turn become like smoke, not like armor.

To be noble and humble.

I am thankful that the arrival of truth comes about through a  loving moment.

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wasp medicine

This picture is the last bit of stuff that went in to my car.

I just moved. Am now in an apartment. Yesterday was a real big day in getting organized. A big move across a few states and voila, am in a new place. A wasp happened upon my screen in the living room, so I looked it up. I love the part about use of female warrior energy, and assisting in assertive communication. So valuable to remember in mercury retrograde.

Have a look:

Wasp/Hornet/Yellowjacket’s Wisdom Includes:

Use of female warrior energy
Sisterhood
Understanding female societies
Communal living

Animal symbolism of the wasp deals with:
•    order
•    construction
•    communication
•    involvement
•    development
•    progress
•    team-work
•    productivity

The wasp might be a sign that we may need to express ourselves more clearly.
Because the wasp is symbolic of communication, order and productivity, those who encounter the wasp may ask themselves:
•    “Are all my affairs in order?”
•    “Am I aligning myself with my goals?”
•    “Am I procrastinating about something?”
•    “Am I keeping myself from reaching my highest potential?”
•    “Am I allowing my progress to be held back by others?”
Those with the wasp as their totem may learn more by asking these questions of themselves, and calling upon the wasp for more clarification too.
Wasps are perfect totems for those of us who need a bit of organized focus, and assistance with assertive communication.
The wasp can also help in areas of building, whether it be a new home, or building on a dream – the wasp is a master architect and can guide you with the planning of any building project you have in mind.

How cool…

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Completion…sets us free

The ego keeps us incomplete. Thrives on it for survival. Makes experiences its own, and is that voice that has us doubting,

So…completeness is our birth rite. How to feel it and experience that. How about abundance? That too is our birth rite.

I had a very powerful visualization of my grandmother opening a safety deposit box. Inside of it was money and jewels. She stepped aside and said it’s here for you. A dragon was in front of it and when I saw it, something inside of me said no more guarding this and be gone! It disappeared in a puff. I am left with the feeling that whatever is guarding our treasure for us is just waiting for us to be ready to claim it. Since I am embarking on selling and finding  a place for many things that I’ve been the guardian of for a long time, it’s up to me to own the price I place on it or the ability to give it as a gift. Own the feeling totally, not the property and let it go.

There is something to completing. It is the symbol of wholeness. We don’t lug around unfinished business. What a nice visualization. When you need something go get it. You don’t have to mire through the murky shadow of a pesky mind saying that you’re not enough or you didn’t do it right, or it’s not for you. It’s all for all of us.

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Symbols …The Cormorant

Hi all..in the topic of symbols, Friday I went to the mall, which is a rare event to see about resoling my favorite boots, and as I left I saw this little guy.
I stopped 4 parking spaces from him, took some pictures, and then finally he puked up a fish and flew away (i have a picture of that too). I looked up cormorant on-line since it’s not in my animal speak book. I found it soooooo interesting that maybe I’m not the only one to whom this message may be relevant:
This is a reminder that we must learn to enjoy our accomplishments, our catches in life and not allow others to distract us from the enjoyment of our accomplishments.
When the cormorant is an individual’s totem, the person will have a knack for accomplishing in unique ways what others could not seem to do. When it appears in our life as a message, it is a reminder for us to dive in to what we have been hesitating about. The cormorant teaches us how to dive into the waters of life creatively especially if we wish a new birth.

The Cormorants have been used as symbols of nobility, indulgence, and in more modern times a totem for fishermen and a bountiful catch.
The fishing technique of cormorant is excellent. They are skilled at maneuvering through murky waters and finding fish even at great depths. Not only that, they can literally swim under water. Often, they will swim alongside small boats and help fisherman at their task. They will swim under water and then pop back up when they have a fish in their mouth. This nature of the bird is considered to be very giving. They can signify prosperous times ahead. They can also indicate that a negative period in your life is going to be overcome.
When the cormorant comes to you as a guide, it is there to it give encouragement. It says that you need to engage in a new opportunity which you may think that you are unable to do. Because this bird is quite intelligent it is a representation that you need to use your own wit and skill to reach a goal or achieve a task. While this bird can be a spirit that comes to you, sometimes in times of need you may wish to call on the cormorant when you are feeling lost or out of touch with your own goals. The cormorant can teach you how to be more self-reliant and to use your own wisdom to attain your goals.

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This New Moon…The Divine Feminine

Take the opportunity of this new moon with a solar eclipse to immerse yourself into a deeper feminine place. Look at this from your perspective, from your mother’s perspective, and with great love and respect, let go of anything that doesn’t fit. A deeper calling is “hear” for you: feel directly. Go to the earth, if only for one moment, and with bare feet place your hands on the ground as well. You will be a current of energy running deep into mother earth. Allow anything that is no longer true to form, go – with hands and feet wide and vulnerable – straighten the hooks of attachments created both by you and anyone else. Let go! Ask of the Divine Mother to fill your heart and direct you gently. Be your own individual. Breathe and smile. Share via the comments!

Eclipse Visualization

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Stick with it…

Currently attention spans are miniscule, as is happiness and peace of mind. When we stick with something- see it through, have integrity, complete it, even if it’s a mood, its power over us diminishes. That’s what I did. I sat still. It was a turning point as I had been physically and mentally running everywhere.

One of my first inspirational teachers, Carolyn Myss, did that. She needed direction, and sat at a stop light watching it change from red to green to yellow several times. She was begging for a sign and then she would move. Her eyes finally focused on the medical center where her mentor, Dr. Norm Shealy was resident. The rest is history. If you don’t know her story, she began as a medical intuitive and her work with Norm was instrumental. They are colleagues to this day.

I talk about facing things, and seeing them as they are. This may not mean that we totally understand, but if we can look at something without judgement, we will get direction. Judgment (look how fickle it is it even has two acceptable spellings) is the spoiler. Hurray..out of judgement and into action! But what now, how?
~Do you know how long it takes to make a movie? And people barely have the attention to sit through them. The devices we can view them on are getting smaller and smaller. Soon enough an acceptable movie may be three minutes.

I like to get people to sit still. One of my favorite people to spend time with on this planet is my mother. She loves to have tea with no agenda. She and I can sit together til the cows come home. Can you tell I’m from Indiana? One of our secrets is we laugh a lot. Now she is in a different state of mind, doesn’t speak, and I still enjoy sitting with her. This freaks people out! It’s not hard for me, because I don’t need her to speak with words, to be other than she can demonstrate. I am grateful we are still laughing. I attribute some of this ability to my training as an actor. Actors can be very healthy people, they try on roles instead of identify with them.

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Here’s to Wes Anderson; may he win the oscar for best screenplay 2013- along with Roman Coppala

I just listened to an interview between Terry Gross and Wes Andersen discussing Moonrise Kingdom since it is up for best screenplay this year at the Oscars. I am a huge fan of Wes Andersen, namely due to The Fantastic Mr Fox and Moonrise Kingdom. I like all of his films. These last 2 are complete, and that is no small feat. So, I have felt connected to his work in many ways. His opening scene in the movie, with the close and play, when I saw that I almost jumped out of my seat. I wrote a scene years ago, with a little girl and her close and play. Anyway, glad to finally see it, especially by his masterful direction.

In this interview he spoke about a situation at school that was likely very helpful to him. He got in trouble a lot and his teacher knew that he liked to put on theatrical productions. So she would encourage him. If he stayed out of trouble he could put on a production. How fantastic! I was also in trouble a lot of the time in school, especially very young, like kindergarten and first grade. It usually happened like this: I would be talking and my teacher would ask me what I was talking about. So I would say, “Herbie the love bug, or that darn cat!”, movies I had seen. I was over the moon about them. She didn’t care and punished me by making me stand in the corner. This went on and on. I didn’t understand how this wasn’t fascinating to her. There wasn’t a lot of tolerance for my brilliance and certainly not encouragement in the right direction.

By 3rd grade I was so stressed out over school even though I made good grades. My teacher that year was really concerned about me, and actually gave me a day to create an event. We were studying Hawaii, and my father had traveled there many times. I had a miumiu from one of his trips, so the class made muumuus (pronounced moo moo) and I led a day about the culture of Hawaii and my dad came in and spoke and showed …a movie. It was very satisfying. I loved that teacher, Mrs. Martindale. She had a good eye and a heart and most importantly wasn’t lazy. My first blog was all about movies. I wouldn’t critique as much as I would revere them. I wrote about many very obscure films. Although I discontinued that blog site I am still looking for its remains, because it had a ton of hits. I didn’t realize at the time how beneficial that is.

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Let go of the shore.

Let go!

When I woke up this morning  my first thoughts were about being a river. I saw very clearly the things that keep me clinging to the shore.  Zen uses the river as an example of how to live a life in flow.  Whoever I am still carrying and wherever I perseverate is me clinging to the shore. We don’t have to stay on the shore. Comfort is also the shore.  That’s why Zen says stay moving. I see self inflicted torture as standing on the shore watching life go by, they are the thoughts that keep us from jumping in and letting nature deliver. When I got up and  I looked at new emails  there was one from my sister:

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some
blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a
spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson