I was in a conversation recently, where the topic was basically about how our thoughts and actions affect others, favorably or unfavorably.

It made me think about one of the first principles in yoga, called ahimsa, which means non harming. It precedes everything in yoga, and is the most important thing to cultivate.

Ahimsa starts with the self, by looking at and removing all the ways one can cause harm to themselves. This way, true vision and compassion can occur.

Beyond the obvious ways to cause harm, be it physical or verbal, there are countless other ways we all do this, and sometimes we are unaware of this fact.

It is important, periodically, to look at our intentions, because while it may not seem obvious at first, we could be injuring someone, or even ourselves. Not necessarily physically, but emotionally, or energetically.

I am constantly seeing ways in which my actions affect others, and when I realize someone is hurt by them, on any level, it makes me sad. I really want people to feel loved and appreciated in my presence. The truth is, however, I can’t assume or feel responsible for what anyone feels, but I can certainly take consideration and become astute when it comes to my feelings, thoughts and speech, and think for a second where I am coming from before I act.

I think intention is the key, and for me, it is to simply come from a pure and open heart. At times this is easy, and at others it isn’t so much, and sometimes willingness to have a pure and open heart is all that can be mustered up.

The process of the mind and personal history is complex, and is ever revealing itself. None of us will ever be perfect on this plane. That is a hard pill for me to swallow, because on some level, that is what I still long to be > PERFECT<.

Really understanding what motivates my interactions with others, or my desire for things to happen, is important indeed. At the deepest level, and sometimes the surface, I know when I am being purely self interested, and self seeking. This is not always a negative thing, but I would like for it to be beneficial for all concerned. When I am in the present moment, open my mind and heart, I can come from that purity mentioned above, and my relationships can grow beautifully. Amazingly beautiful things happen in my world view as well, no matter what is going on. This way of moving through the world, does appeal to me in the deepest sense.

A lot of my posts seem to cycle back to central themes, and self or inner love is one that I return to over and again. I believe it is one of the most important things we as humans can cultivate, and as soon as we stop criticizing who we are, and become sensitive to what we really need on a soul level, then we can realize truth, love and abundance on a profound level.

In the past, I had always thought myself to be overly sensitive in some ways, and I deemed it as wrong somehow. I guess it is because of the way I processed information and events around me. Somehow I was unable to step away and give space to a situation. I would take things personally and to heart, no matter what, which was very self centered. In this self centered place, I could not possibly see another, or see how my actions were affecting people. Even today, I can subtly do this if I am not in a clear place. Some things take time to shift.

In changing my perspective, I see sensitivity in a different context. Now I am grateful that I am so sensitive, because it is the very thing that makes me intuitive, creative and connected. The more I step out of my fear, the more in tune I feel, and the more content I feel. This allows me to love more, and love is what I truly want to radiate.

I just want to say a few things about my grandmommy. She passed on to the spirit world yesterday, and is finally at peace. She seemed to have one foot in this world, and one foot outside for about a year. Her tenacity sometimes out weighed her ability to surrender (a quality, I often possess) , and she finally did let go. I am at once relieved for her, and miss knowing she is here on this earth. She will always be in my heart.

I loved her very much. There were so many wonderful things about her. Her unshakable faith in a god of her understanding was evident, and was very loyal to showing praise and offerings, and now her spirt is flying, no soaring with the angles.

I never heard her speak ill of anyone, and she accepted people and situations as they were, and never forced her opinion on anyone. She gave generously to her family, while asking for very little. I think, it was only at the end of her life, that she allowed herself to receive and be cared for in many ways.

For many years she fought her personal demons, and finally got some peace around them. The last 10 years of her life, independent from grandad, whom she loved dearly, were really pretty happy for her, as she got to do what she wanted, when she wanted. She stayed active until about the last two years of her life here.

My biggest sadness comes from the fact that I did not ask more questions about her life, I wish I had been more active in fact finding with her. I can’t lament too much about that, because there is no point, and it is not serving her or me.

Her presence was like an oak tree, strong and quiet, and when it falls, everyone feels the vibration.

She will truly be missed.

I am having an aesthetic experience. Everything I see is beauty, everything love.

The only way I can describe it, is that from my chest comes this swirling light of energy, and this energy allows me to feel connected in a deep and wonderful way.

I have been so full of gratitude lately. I guess that is what is going on, though I don’t want to think about it too much.

I made a decision, to let my heart shine, no matter what. To love, no matter what. As strange as that may seem, I realized that I have this tendency to coil up and withhold if I am afraid, or if I feel that my love is not being received. I apologize for not being specific.

I am just saying, that right now, I am choosing to love every memory, every experience, no matter how I have interpreted the content. At one time, I lived in a world, that was jaded, harsh and sunless in moments, though now there is sunshine. I am happy for this. Im happy for today.

With everything I speak about, I refer to the microcosm (me) and the macrocosm (the world and beyond).

So… I am loving what ever comes my way, because I want to see love, I want to feel love, and I want to share love. Love tears us apart, shredding the constructs that separate us. Learning how to see this love in its many manifestations will heal everything.

I’m ready!

LOVE

Yes its all around, it permeates and transcends, it shows us pain and it heals it.

Love is beautiful, yet I would venture to guess, that most of us don’t know what to do with it, nor do we understand its magnitude. As always, I speak for myself, yet in my observations, and conversations with others, love seems to leave people in a confused state, and there is so much fear in the world, that it is kind of difficult to let love touch the heart fully.

Our early philosophers put love into context as an attempt to explain what love is and what love means, and while it is helpful to some extent, it makes me laugh, because we humans totally get off on making sense out of things, especially things that cannot be put into a box.

Eros> This is what we experience when we meet a potential lover, or someone we like a lot. We are totally exctied, inspired, and filled with desire and longing, though sex or romance is not a necessary component here, it could simply be that there are deeper feelings than that of a friend or. There is a potential for growth, and when the initial feelings of insatiable longing go away, there is a possibility for richer experience in the relationship where one sees the deeper beauty of the other. Once the initial attraction is gone however, one could realize that there is nothing deeper that they can or wish to see, and hence move on to something or someone else.

Phillia>In modern Greek, this means friendship. This implies a mutual respect and fondness exchanged between people. There is a sense of honor and equal exchange of energy, enjoyment or experience.

Agape> Means “I LOVE” it is an expression rather than an attraction. The essence of this love is of selfless giving without expectation of something in return. It is devotion.

There is so much written on love. The bible has many beautiful teachings on love and, the Bagavad Gita’s key teaching is love.

God is love.

Though as I implied eariler we, with all of our constructs find it so difficult to let love in, to really let it permeate. This is especially true when it comes to being intimate with others, and in particular, to a lover.

The heart is tender and vulnerable, even in its strength, and more times than not fear seems to take over and dominate, disallowing love to touch it. Most of this happens unconsciously, though even when you are conscious, the fears are sneaky and come in many forms. It takes willingness to face these fears, and let love in, because the love is everywhere.

I MEAN EVERYWHERE! It just does not demand that you accept it or give it or see it. Like any other energy form though, it grows with attention and intention, so the choice is yours, and mine too.

We could certainly use more love in this world, that is for sure.

Love just is.

For a lot of my life I did not feel loved, I did not think I was lovable. I thought there was something so inherently ugly and wrong about me, that I was not worthy of it. No one ever told me this, I decided that myself for some reason. (many perhaps, but all skewed)

Of course, today I feel so much love, and I see it in so many places, and through so many people, it is amazing, and I am at a place today where I can feel love for myself (most of the time). That is doubly amazing!!!!

The area that I have not let love inside of, is romance (for lack of a better term). That has been evident in the types of men I have chosen in the past (not bad, people, by the way). For some reason (again many) I am terrified of doing this thing called relationship. I can speak of what I want, and I can say that I am willing to give, but when it comes to relating to another on all levels of intimacy, I am a beginner, and I have no clue, not yet anyway. I have created a lot of space for myself, and have been healing on so many levels, yet in this territory that is vast, I have merely just touched the surface.

I am willing and open, to the possibility of sharing my heart with another, and I am willing to go through the fears when the time comes. (I hope I can say that when it happens), I also hope that I can be astute enough to recognize this love and really receive it when its in my presence.

Lots of love

Here I am

Love is all around

Will I recognize it when it comes to me

Feel the embrace when it comes through me

I think so

yes

Please come

I will let you in