by Lori | Mar 2, 2021 | Blog
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Meister Eckhart
In the Standing in the Light® Classes, we teach that when possible the simplest way to do something may be the best way. Our clearing statements, gratitude statements and ceremonies do not need to be overly elaborate to be powerful and effective.
We also teach that sometimes it is better to look for the detail in order to make sure we have covered all the possibilities.
Meister Eckhart’s quote, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough,” is an example of keeping it simple. The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World, quoted below, is a beautiful and moving example of being precise and detailed to cover all the reasons we have to be grateful.
As part of the manifesting class in Standing in the Light®, we teach that, besides the specific resonances that we are trying to create, there are five resonances or energies that we need to hold in order to create what we wish to manifest. Those five resonances are Love, Trust, Surrender, Detachment and Gratitude. Sometimes we humans forget that we need to be grateful before we “get” something in order to energetically be ready to attract that quality to us. (For more discussion on these five resonances as part of manifesting, check out my blog entry from July 2016. https://iamstandinginthelight.com/the-joy-of-gratitude/)
Gratitude is such an important energy and an important feeling state that being specific about what we are grateful may help us identify areas in our lives that we have been taking for granted. The more we are consciously grateful, the more we consciously live. The more we consciously live, the more we consciously evolve.
The English translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address may help you focus on gratitude. It was developed, published in 1993, and provided, courtesy of: Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project.
If you want to add this gratitude practice to your life, great. If you would like to write something specific that speaks to your heart, great. Gratitude is welcomed and needed in all its forms.
I am grateful to all who have brought this wonderful address to us. Namaste.
Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address – Greetings to the Natural World
The People
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.
Now our minds are one.
The Earth Mother
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Waters
We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.
Now our minds are one.
The Fish
We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.
The Food Plants
With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Medicine Herbs
Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.
Now our minds are one.
The Animals
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one
The Trees
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.
Now our minds are one.
The Birds
We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the largest, we send our joyful greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
The Four Winds
We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.
Now our minds are one.
The Thunderers
Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.
Now our minds are one.
The Sun
We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.
Now our minds are one.
Grandmother Moon
We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.
Now our minds are one.
The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.
Now our minds are one.
The Enlightened Teachers
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.
Now our minds are one.
The Creator
Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.
Now our minds are one.
Closing Words
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one.
……….
This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address was developed, published in 1993, and provided, courtesy of: Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project. All rights reserved. Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World English version: John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict, Turtle Clan/Mohawk) Mohawk version: Rokwaho (Dan Thompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk) Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)
Gratitude to Pixabay.com for the image. (No specific creator noted.)
by Lori | Jan 31, 2021 | Blog
We have heard a lot of calls for unity recently. It is a topic that we teach in Standing in the Light® and for which we have discussed here many times before. However, a friend of mine, Rae Russel, mentioned that we would be better focused on the energy of empathy as a stepping stone to eventually manifest unity. Her words really resonated with me.
Therefore, I started to poke around the internet to find a definition of empathy that spoke to me.
In the online version of Psychology Today, there is a definition of empathy in an article called Empathy | Psychology Today
Empathy is the ability to recognize, understand, and share the thoughts and feelings of another person, animal, or fictional character. Developing empathy is crucial for establishing relationships and behaving compassionately. It involves experiencing another person’s point of view, rather than just one’s own, and enables prosocial or helping behaviors that come from within, rather than being forced.
I really liked the part of this discussion that having empathy helps with “behaviors that come from within, rather than being forced.” This is important so that the action is instinctive instead of feeling like we are following a set of rules or guidelines that someone else imposes on us.
Going a little bit further down the rabbit hole of this definition, I looked up the meaning of prosocial. At the website called verywellmind.com, there is this definition in an article titled The Basics of Prosocial Behavior (verywellmind.com)
Prosocial behaviors are those intended to help other people. These actions are characterized by a concern for the rights, feelings, and welfare of other people…Prosocial behavior includes a wide range of actions such as helping, sharing, comforting, and cooperating. The term itself originated during the 1970s and was introduced by social scientists as an antonym for the term antisocial behavior.
Obviously, the above definitions are from the third-dimensional world. They are a good place to start evaluating ourselves. If we are having trouble being empathetic and helpful, we will want to ask what judgments and fears we have that are keeping us from feeling these qualities instinctually. Do we fear scarcity and abandonment? Do we judge others for their actions? Are we judging ourselves for our own thoughts and beliefs? Look at the reasons behind the lack of 3D empathy.
In the Standing in the Light® Channeling Class, the Christ tells us that one of the modalities for receiving information, for channeling is being empathic. Here is that definition. “An empath is one who receives information through sensing emotions. An empath tunes into the emotional state of a person, a group, an animal or an object and feels the emotional state.”
The benefit of tapping into your ability to be an empath, if you desire, is to help you understand the reason others may feel and act the way they do, to be less judgmental of them and allow you to discern what action is in the highest plan for you now. You may be guided to help someone else in a third-dimensional way, like by donating money or time for a cause. You may be guided to send energy to others on your own or with a healing circle. By understanding how someone else feels you may be guided to do nothing, knowing that it is important for the other person to work through her situation herself. By being empathic, you will feel more confidence that the action you take or don’t take is the highest plan. Ultimately, this confidence will help you with your stress level because you will know that you have played your part in the co-creation of what is unfolding.
We are reminded that being empathic is not an excuse to be a psychic voyeur and to forget that we ask permission when we send energy to others, just as we would ask to help someone in person.
We are also reminded that just because we are aware of someone else’s energy does not mean that we need to take on or wallow in that energy. We use the awareness for information to help us know what our action plan is.
Finally, let’s look at 5D Empathy. When we are holding the frequency of fifth-dimensional empathy, we are tapping into the energy of the Whole, the energy of the One, the energy of Source. Within Source are all the energies and emotions healed and unhealed. All the energies are divine even when they don’t feel divine. Having the awareness of all possible energies will allow you to consciously decide what action plan is the highest plan for your piece of the puzzle for all of creation right now. The knowingness and wisdom of Divine Empathy will guide you to more peace and unity instinctively. It will feel like second nature and the truth of who you always have been because it is the truth of who you are.
Thanks to pixabay.com for the image.
by Lori | Dec 31, 2020 | Blog
At this time of year, different traditions and cultures extol the virtue of giving and receiving gifts. Now that we have moved into the New Year, many observe the Feast of the Epiphany, which traditionally is celebrated as the moment when the Three Kings or Wise Men came bearing gifts to honor the birth of Jesus. Each brought valuable presents to show their adoration and love: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
Fast forward a few millennia, Spirit is asking us what gifts we have to offer, not to Jesus per se, but to the energy of Love? What innate abilities, proclivities and gifts do we have to offer each other as Love? How can we show our adoration and love for each other? How can we show our adoration and love for ourselves?
Take the time to remember what matters most to you and what talents you have that can move that energy forward in the world, even if that movement is “simply” sending and receiving energy in your meditation practice. Your gifts don’t need to be material and they don’t need to be what others would consider a gift. Your gifts and talents are needed to help Mother Earth and Humanity at this time. But, most importantly, your gifts and talents are needed for yourself.
Shake off any insecurities or lack of confidence that you don’t possess all that you need to help yourself to evolve. You possess all that you need to remember who you are. Look for it. Embrace it. Give yourself the gift of your conscious intention and self-love. As you embrace your own self-love, your gift for each other will flow easily and your adoration will surely show you as the wise one you are.
Gratitude to Natalja Dauilchenko from Pixabay.com for the image above.
by Lori | Nov 28, 2020 | Blog
At this time of year, we are encouraged to count our blessings and to be grateful. Even in 2020, this “unprecedented year”, people are expressing gratitude for the things that are going well in their lives. Some people are expressing gratitude for family, friends, nature, abundance, and good fortune. Others are expressing gratitude for frontline workers in the medical fields and distribution chains, emergency first responders, food banks and their volunteers and contributors, and others who are making a difference in their daily lives.
Spirit urges us to continue to review all of the positive aspects in our lives. However, we are reminded that it isn’t that difficult to be grateful for these things. It is harder, and perhaps more rewarding, to be truly grateful for the situations in our lives that we don’t find to be particularly pleasant. Being grateful for when a situation pushes our buttons is the sign of someone mastering their experience. This is what we are calling the Mastery of Gratitude.
If we are only grateful for what is going well in our lives, then we are missing out on the gratitude that comes from knowing what is still dense inside of us and recognizing that it needs to be healed. Until we understand what needs to be healed, we will founder. Once we have the awareness that something makes us mad, frustrated, sad or hateful, then we can seek guidance in order to heal the discordant emotions that we still feel. We may be guided to look at the situation from a different perspective or from a larger point of view. We may be guided to look at our belief system or old patterns of behavior which are contributing to the discordant emotions. Then, we ask to clear / heal the issues. When we do this, the situation no longer triggers the negative response or at least, doesn’t trigger as negative of a response. The more we allow for this healing, the less and less we will be triggered.
After she traveled to India for a spiritual journey, according to Wikipedia, Alanis Morrissett and her writing partner, Glen Ballard, wrote the song Thank U. The lyrics might not sound like the things you normally hear at a Thanksgiving Day gratitude circle with your family members. Here is part of the song.
How bout me not blaming you for everything
How bout me enjoying the moment for once
How bout how good it feels to finally forgive you
How bout grieving it all one at a time
Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence
The moment I let go of it
Was the moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it
Was the moment I touched down
How bout no longer being masochistic
How bout remembering your divinity
How bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How bout not equating death with stopping
Thank you India
Thank you Providence,
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence…
Perhaps we should start a new tradition – expressing gratitude for the potential to heal after recognizing issues that underlie the pain we feel. The more we master gratitude, the more we will master the illusion, and the more we will be the Masters That We Are.
Gratitude to Swmiananda with Pixabay.com for the above image “Namaste”.
by Lori | Oct 28, 2020 | Blog
Many lightworkers, Ginger and me included, have been encouraging the resonance of Divine Patience in recent months. We have channeled the benefits from a metaphysical standpoint. Ginger’s channeling from earlier this summer is particularly powerful. In her channeling called The Power of Patience she writes, “Patience helps us to stay balanced in chaos, calm in turbulence, hopeful in darkness, and powerful when we feel helpless.”
The truth in that wisdom is enough to coax us into working with the energy of Divine Patience now and always.
If that is not enough to convince us, however, let’s look at the 3D Physical benefits of the power of patience. One recent article addressed this issue better than I can. Thus, I will quote it here. It was first shown as a story on CBS Sunday Morning on Oct 25, 2020. This is the link. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/impatience-why-we-dont-want-to-wait-what-we-can-do-about-it/
As evidenced by pictures of Americans from all across the country, wherever you vote this year, there is a good chance you need to be ready to wait.
Waiting at the polls, at the grocery store, and in traffic, Americans are weary of waiting in today’s exasperating times. However, even before the coronavirus pandemic hit, we spent an estimated two years of our entire lives waiting in lines.
With COVID-19 cases rising, it is fair to say many people can’t wait for things to get back to “normal.” But as Barry Petersen found out, impatience may be more harmful than some would expect.
“You know, there was an interesting study where they gave people the choice to sit alone and get bored, or give themselves painful electric shock. And about 70% of men chose to give themselves painful electric shocks versus sit alone and get bored,” researcher Amit Sood said. “People do not like to be controlled. People do not like uncertainty.”
Dr. Amit Sood founded a department that researches impatience at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, he spoke to Petersen about why humans “don’t like to get bored.”
As he explained, people are “designed to be impatient.”
“When little babies are born, they don’t just wait for you to clean their diapers, you know? They cry,” Sood said. “When was the last time you really preferred a slow elevator, or you loved, you know, slow internet connection?”
It turns out, how we handle ourselves in these uncertain times comes at a price.
Impatience is not simply the opposite of patience, Sood explained. Rather, the absence of patience brings anxiety, illness, injury, loneliness — and even death.
“An episode of explosive anger, stress or impatience can increase your risk of heart attack and sudden death by two to eightfold for the next few hours,” he said.
Impatience, or a lack of patience, can even have a long-term effect on one’s DNA.
“If we were to take your blood sample and measure your… telomeres, which are at the end of chromosomes, the shorter they are, the smaller they are, the older you are. And people who are impatient have shorter telomeres,” Sood said.
Stress is another negative emotion related to impatience. To see its effect on the average American, Petersen took the Mayo Clinic stress test, which is designed to simulate the stress of everyday life.
The test includes activities such as squeezing a grip, and submerging a hand in ice-cold water for three minutes.
Petersen’s results showed dramatically higher blood pressure and changes to the heartbeat.
Dr. Michael Joyner, who oversaw his test, explained that Petersen’s “big rise” in blood pressure was tied to being in “imposed situations, where you weren’t in control.”
Joyner agreed when Petersen compared it to the feeling of “being on the phone trying to get customer service… where you feel like you’re endlessly waiting.”
He said it could “absolutely” have the same effect on one’s body.
“People have a very hard time understanding what they do and don’t have control over,” Joyner said.
While one might be inclined to feel like the world is out of control, especially at the current time, Dr. Sood said it was important to remember the ability to control oneself.
“If you choose to be patient, you are helping yourself. You’re living longer and happier. And you’re helping your loved ones. Being patient is a choice,” he said.
Another word Sood said would help us through the pandemic: Resilience.
“You do not have any bullets, you do not have any swords. You can’t fist-fight with this virus,” he explained. “You can empower your billions of immune cells to fight with this virus. And when you are resilient, your immune cells are stronger in waging that war.”
Boosting resilience could be as easy as a walk in the park — something writer Florence Williams proved to be a literal reality.
“The science is pretty clear on this,” Williams explained. “Even after just 15 minutes of walking in a green space or a park, our blood pressure drops a little bit, our heart rate slows down, and even our stress hormones like cortisol lower.”
Williams traveled the world writing about how nature can help us master impatience and make us healthier. She said there are “many elements” of nature that people respond to.
“It boosts our moods very dramatically,” she added.
It is not surprising that the frustration of lockdowns quickly gave way to people flooding the outdoors when they could. People like psychologist Jane West took it to new lengths with the Japanese-invented practice of “forest bathing.”
Forest bathing is essentially hiking in slow motion. “The benefit of slowing down is that your life isn’t passing you by,” West said.
West, who leads forest bathing sessions in the Colorado Rockies, said being in a forest and its “wonderful smells” allows people to “be lost in this moment as if nothing else exists.”
“I know that’s so hard to find these days,” she said. “But it is doable, it’s reachable — and I do this because it gives me those moments.”
While the pandemic may not be ending anytime in the near future, Dr. Sood insists we can turn our impatience to good use, if we really want to:
“There is tremendous opportunity during this pandemic to rise because of it.”
Story produced by Robbyn McFadden. Editor: Carol A. Ross.
© 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
There is a lot of good information for us to consider in this article. It might help us view the need to be patient for more than just a metaphysical platitude. It might help us see the value of ourselves as Source at the physical level as well as the emotional, mental and spiritual levels.
May we all embody Divine Patience. May we all just breathe.
Thanks to Peter Fischer at pixbay.com for the image.
