Out With Victimhood, In with Congnizance

This One Love Nugget comes to us from a sister releasing victimization."
"Victimhood, one big trip we all decided to take, Earth included. Now we have the opportunity to release that which no longer serves our growth and expansion. Could you give some nuggets regarding this release in the body and in the moment we find ourselves choosing to feel like a victim?"

Great question. With honor and respect to all beings who suffer war, genocide, natural disasters and more, I am humble in the face of Karmic and Kosmic forces. On one level Victimhood is an attitude, consciously or unconsciously chosen. Dreadful, unspeakable things have happened to people who still somehow cultivate the ability to keep their hearts open and embrace their experience as their opportunity. Not all blessings feel blissful.

My dear teacher, Vanessa says "Life is not happening TO us, it is happening FOR us." I love how that flips the Victim mentality immediately. If everything is happening for our greatest good, our evolution, then turning to embrace it as gift serves the whole. This includes the Earth's journey, and all of us on it as the living body and consciousness of the Earth itself. This fits into the Jungian and Aboriginal ideas, that we are all dreaming one dream, and that every aspect of the dream is an aspect of ourselves. So, for starters let's stop victimizing ourselves on all levels. Let's command our sacred space-be peace, be love, be free. Perhaps easier said than done...maybe not. Another beloved mentor, River, always reminds me "you are at cause". At every moment, we have the opportunity to choose, Source our experience and command our sacred space-even if that starts with our Inner Space, no matter what the external circumstances.

As for shifting out of victimization tendencies, be on the look out for red flags that give it away. Mine include a pursing of the lips, furrowing of my brow, tightening my jaw, and a familiar emotional energy and mental configuration that go along with it. I utilize these cues and say to myself, "You are doing that thing!" Then, aware, I can make a choice to shift my inner reality, which often changes my experience of the outer one. This goes along with a willingness to rewire and reeducate myself and others, including making new agreements about how I roll.

Here's an interesting word play. We all know that a synonym for victim is martyr, but so is sufferer, babe in the woods and dupe. And did you know that the antonym to dupe is Cognizant? I love that. Cognizant is defined as aware, knowing, awake. What a perfect antidote to victimization, Cognizance. WAKE UP the moment you become aware of running a victim story about yourself or another and flip it into a choosing point, an empowerment (Sourcing your power). And last but not least, with it all, may we ride the currents of grace and gratitude.
Thanks so much for your poignant question!
One Love,
G

Let Your Life Force MOVE

This One Love Nugget of Wisdom explores the following question...
“What is the best way to move through emotional resistance?”

The best way to move through emotional resistance is with sobriety and love. Emotion is feeling in motion, it is primal and natural, right?...so, let 'er rip...cry, yell, breathe, choose to move through it. Resistance is defined as: A force that tends to oppose or retard motion. An earnest willingness to drop in, embrace, be with, give voice to and move through whatever IS, always dissolves resistance. Emotional Allowance, shifts Emotional Resistance. Wish I could make it more juicy but it is really vanilla, plain ole love yourself and go for feeling your emotional energy to the core. Just do it! FEEL. I know you can.
Thanks so much for writing in, and keep 'em coming.
All love,
G

"Compassion in Action-Devotion in Motion"

“Soul Seeker”...Thanks for your questions... here's what the winds of wisdom blew in...
What is the nature of letting go? True “letting go” is a nervous system response. It is a disengaging of the chemistry of control, also known as withholding, contraction, closure and unlove. Some feel the “holding on” as a shallow breath or tight sphincter or low grade (to chronic) inner clench. The nature of “letting go” then includes a deepening of breath…an EXHALE, a loosening, a disarming, a softening, an opening of the heart , a dropping in to one’s self and one’s Source. A wiggle, a shimmey, laughter, a good cry, a wild dance, vocal toning or a deep belly scream all support the disengagement. It must be a bodily felt, vibratory experience to be total. “Letting go” is allowing the drop of consciousness to feel its home in the Ocean of Being, and feeling the Ocean of Being at home inside of the drop of consciousness. It is a deep relaxation and restoration into the place of unshakable peace that is always accessible. “Letting go” is being in connection and communion rather than in isolation or separation. The flavor is unmistakable and no other mimic can compare. Ain’t nothing like the REAL thing. You are wise and knowing, witness yourself and tell me what you discover… “What IS the nature of Letting go?”

How can I practice deeper, more authentic compassion? Make a commitment to deepen your capacity to love and be willing to be humble before the great Mystery as it lives through you.
Compassion is a state of grace that comes with melting open your heart and feeling your kinship with all life. Imagine the love and care you feel for that which you hold most dear, sacred and precious…then apply that to every sentient being you encounter. That is an amazing exercise to practice.
Just last week, my husband, daughter and I were the last passengers onto our Southwest flight. Our 3 year old daughter and I were separated from my husband and ended up next to a single dad with his 15 month old boy. We were in the boondocks…the last row of a bumpy flight, stuffed full of people, including 20 plus Fraternity boys who I was not digging. I was grumbly and mad inside. I did NOT want to share my paid middle seat with this guy and his kid, much less share my row. I did not want to love him. My breath got shallow, my jaw tight. I was armored. I noticed this in an instant. Thank goodness, that like “letting go”, compassion builds muscle strength in practice. I immediately saw my hypocrisy (One Love, my ass!), and my closure. I remembered all the times I traveled solo with my baby on my lap, squished into a single seat, feeling vulnerable and needing help, and kindness.
I smiled, introduced myself and welcomed my flight neighbors into my heart. For the next 2 hours we talked, laughed, shared snacks and connected as humans with tender hearts, parental responsibilities, joys and challenges. I held his baby so he could go to the bathroom, and offered an extra hand when needed. I listened as he shared about his life and felt so grateful for the opportunity to connect and get over myself. I let go of my resistance to having 2 kids on top of me, to tending to & nurturing an “other”, a “stranger” (when I felt tired and really just wanted to read my book and nap). “Compassion in action, devotion in motion” (Mc Yogi), is a life practice. I hope that this example of practicing on the spot helps to ignite your deeper understanding of what cultivating compassion might look like for you. And a final note, please include compassion for yourself in your practice, forgiving and embracing even our moments of disgruntled closure is of essence. Anything can transform and flourish when held in love …everything and everyone, known and unknown gets to drink of the love.

All Souls OM-Community Ritual at its Best!

The OM mantra is the eternal vibration of unity. It is considered the original sound of the Universe, the Supreme...and on November 8, hundreds of us at the All Souls Procession (the largest of its kind in the country)chanted OM together for an eternal moment that unified our energy and kicked off the evening festivities.

It was twilight on 4th Avenue in downtown Tucson, where thousands of people were gathered to march, dressed in outrageous costumes, carrying elaborate floats or humble photos of their beloveds, aligned for the intention of honoring All Souls. What better place to stage a One Love Alliance Flash Mob mission! Event producer and creator, Nadia, of Flam Chen, had sent an "OM" announcement out to all the "spirit dancers" marching in the procession, and had given us her blessing to attempt this orchestration of many voices making one sound. There was a cacophony of sound at the procession line up. Divergent conversations and energy mingled with jitters of anticipation. Then, at 5:55pm, Kenya's arm spiraled a start signal to our Batucaxe peeps and we began to sound the "OM"...the tones grew in depth and volume with every breath. Suddenly, the wave was flowing, and we were all bathed in the ocean of supreme unity. It was purely magical. Breathtaking and life giving all at once. And then a moment of silence, a pregnant void that lingered just long enough-and carried us right into a most smokin Brazilian percussive break calling the Batucaxe ensemble into a lively, infectious Samba Reggae groove and the start of the procession.

The next two hours, I danced in communion. I danced with my fellow band mates. I danced with the 20 thousand participants and spectators. I danced with the living, the dead, the seen and unseen beings. I danced in honor in what was a massive community ritual. I was honored to have the "All Souls OM" be among the many sacred, memorable moments of the evening. Special Thanks to Nadia, Cliff, Batucaxe, the One Love Alliance Members and Kenya, my partner in everything forever.

Were you at All Souls? Did you OM? Write and let us know! Stay tuned for our next Flash Mob "Mission Socks and Sandwiches" (for the Tucson Homeless).
Shanti OM! May Unity Ring!

One Love Nuggets!-Git em while they're HOT!

On this Auspicious November Full Moon, One Love Nuggets are officially launched. Piping HOT. What is so hot about receiving a poignant, witty nugget of universal wisdom to chew on? Maybe that answer lies in the fact that we all travel similar paths in our inner most core, and that if we find ourselves here, on this blog, we share an intention to be connected, in love and in communion with the Source of life. There is a deeper life that is always happening, one that is humbling, awesome and mysterious...and, when we dwell there, everything takes on a richer perspective and we become more alive. Now that is HOT!

So...our first question comes in from "Easily Distracted".

Dear G,
How do I easily keep my internal focus and connection with all the wilds of the world spinning around me?-Easily Distracted.

Dear Easily,
There are many ways to answer this question, but in a "nuggetly" fashion, I will say this...The wilds of the world spinning around you literally stop spinning so wildly when you anchor into your deep center and rest there. Make that a practice. Even if you have to set a timer every 5 minutes to do it. Breathe. Drop in to your self, and rest there. You see, I know you do, that the connection to your core self, big SELF,is not at odds with the spinning wilds, it actually contains them. Your "internal focus and connection" are the designated drivers, not the "wilds". Reestablish connection easily in any moment by asking "Who is driving?" You decide.
Thanks for your question and let me know how the journey unfolds.
One Love,
G