The EZ Secret: Tips on Living in EZ, from Anne Sermons Gillis, 01/08/2013
Published: Tue, 01/08/13
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The EZ Secret Newsletter Emotional
Emancipation – Freedom at Last |
Anne Sermons Gillis Phone: 281-419-1775 Anne's Websites: AnneGillis.com |
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Emotional Emancipation – Freedom at Last We each have an emotional ministry. When we administer inner love and kindness, our compassion pours into our relationships. Our ministry is strong and loving. When we fail to love ourselves and we judge ourselves harshly, the results spill into everything we do and determine how we perceive our relationships. Too often we fail to be with and for ourselves. We hardly even know ourselves. I was 20 years old before I ever knew the exact color of my eyes. Not that I am my eyes, or my body, but I have eyes and a body. I had not looked at my eyes in the mirror except to glance at them, but I knew how every hair on my head behaved. I couldn’t change my eyes, but I could make my hair look like everyone else’s. I thought preferences were selfish, so I just went along with everyone. What kind of life ministry did I have? It went something like this, “If I help you, admire you, and do what you want, everything will be okay. I may not get what I want, if I even know what that is, but I won’t get in trouble. I’ll be invisible, except as a reflection of you, and I’ll be safe.” Defining Ourselves Most people live out desires implanted through needy parents and a crazy culture. We carry a fear driven legacy of separation and protection. We spend massive amounts of energy protecting ourselves from others when the real perpetrator lies within, and the perpetrator is a powerful but ill-informed story; not an entity. The external world drowns us in high technology, while the internal world flits around trying to control and strategize. Most people can’t even sit still, much less meditate or calm the mind. Inside there’s a small nagging idea that says something’s wrong, but the nature of the complaint is relegated to the thought that more of something, whatever that may be, will solve the problem - more time given to a project, more consistency to our efforts, more stuff. So we amass, kill living systems, wear out our bodies - more, more, more. Few people escape to freedom. Are you a convicted felon? Probably not. But are you still doing time, subservient to that concept? Dream or Reality? Last night I dreamed I was walking. Since this was a dream, I thought I might as well walk beside the water, on a more attractive path. I was lucid; I knew I could whip up anything in my dream. With this thought a river appeared, so I walked by the river. All of a sudden it felt real. It didn’t seem like a dream anymore. I thought “If this is a dream, I can take my time walking, because it’s not real; I’m not time bound. But if it’s real, there’s time involved and I better not stroll. I must have to be somewhere.” I somehow talked to two people about my dilemma. I explained that I thought I was dreaming, and then how I couldn’t tell if this was a dream or not. I told them about walking by the river and whether I should hurry along or leisurely stroll. They thought I was strange because, of course, we were in reality, not a dream. I was sure that I was dreaming before, but now the dream was predominately reality. Obviously I was living in reality and not in a dream. So I settled on the thought that I was in reality, not a dream. It was a decision I made, but the decision was not made with certainty – it was just a decision. I don’t remember the rest, but the dream points to how mixed up we can get about what is real and what is unreal. EZosophy I am an EZosophist. An EZosophist examines certain assumptions that keep us stuck in a reality of suffering, pain, and difficulty. Here are some of the false assumptions of the dream:
These assumptions kept me stuck in my dream. These assumptions made my relationships difficult and kept my relationship with money and time screwed up. Redefining Ourselves I wish I could write out a list of new ideas to replace the old assumptions that could fix the problem of suffering. The list might be helpful to a point, but ultimately the action that removes the suffering is our ability to live fully in the present, without having to figure out everything in advance. Constantly having to know how and why sustains the burden of suffering, while letting go and allowing the present to be what it is, is the way of ease. What we see may not be what we want to see, but when we judge what’s in front of us, we suffer. Maybe it sounds like I’m suggesting being a slug, a non-doer, and a hippy, but what I am suggesting is letting go of how the mind functions, rather than trying to fix the content of the mind. When the mind is present, life is easier, and our efforts go toward life, not toward battling life. When we talk about living in the present, what does that mean? Does present mean living in this moment – a time-bound concept, or is it something else? Maybe the question to ask is, “What is always present?” rather than “What is happening now?” And the only thing that is always present is who I am. If I strip away my false identity, my roles, my thoughts, and my emotions, am I still there? With all the old definitions and assumptions gone, can I know who I am? It gets tricky here because I can’t know who I am – knowing is a concept from the mind. There’s an awareness that is much greater than the mind, and it is a mind, but not the mind familiar to us. It’s that infinite mind, awareness, that experiences who we are. Just Look Is there a technique to experience who we are? There’s not, but it seems as if we start with a technique, the technique disappears as we learn to rest in who we are. John Sherman puts it well when he says “Just stop and take a millisecond to see what it feels like to be you. And do this often throughout the day.” This looking will set you free. Don’t try to figure this out. Just do it. If you have tried everything else and you still suffer, just look, look at yourself. If that is too vague for you, you can start with the thought, “I am here”, then feel yourself being here. Do it often throughout the day. Ramana says we can continue to ask ourselves, “Who am I?” and freedom will follow. He calls this inquiry Vichara. Most articles end with a conclusion, but this one ends
with a suggestion. Find out who you are, feel your location in
consciousness. Do it now, do it often, and you will find freedom.
You are always here. Just take that
look. If you do, I promise you that your life will be easier and
easier.
Remember, John and Carla Sherman's
JUST ONE LOOK Worldwide Event happens this coming Sunday, January
13, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (California
Time; UTC/GMT -8). That's 1 to 2 PM CST. I'm definitely planning to participate, and I strongly
encourage you to consider doing so. I believe you'll be glad you
did. All over the world, everyone who has tried the
looking will stop whatever they are doing for just a moment
and look at themselves. Bidding
Farewell to Victimville I met Michael in the 1980’s. Our friendship put me in touch with people from all over the world and opened many doors, especially those of international travel and working on global transformation. Michael started a group called Light Link, which he later renamed Network 2012. We were wild-eyed kids certain of each one’s ability to make a difference. Recently he handed over the reins of an international
consciousness school he’s been running for years. For more
information on Michael or his Mountain Sanctuary, click http://mtnlightsanctuary.com/lightweave/.
The following is an excerpt from his farewell address and is used
by permission from Michael. NOTE: If you are viewing this on a cell phone, be sure to scroll right to see the second column. |
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February 17 April 27 We will post a link when it is online. Schedule Anne for Your Meeting If you would like Anne to speak to your group or organization, you may reach her at 281-419-1775 or contact Anne by email. Anne is also available for your network marketing telephone conferences. Need a Coach or a Rent-a-Friend? Interested in getting ongoing support? Try life coaching with Anne. Anne offers options for both short-term and long-term coaching. Contact her for details. Contact Anne by email or click here to view information on her One Year Seminar. I first heard of the gift economy from a Texan named Genevieve
Vaughan. She was the spirit of the gift economy. I attended
two retreats at her lovely Texas goddess ranch and a parliament on
women that she put together. I never thought it would catch on,
but I was wrong. Our lives and our visions stand on the shoulders
of so many unknown angels. Here's the article about him: The Letter Writer— I watched The Letter Writer movie Friday night. It is a must see if you want to be uplifted. It's on Netflix and is a pick for the Spiritual Cinema Circle. What a powerful film on the difference we can make in others' lives. It's about a young woman and an old man whose lives intersect. He writes anonymous letters and sends them to random people he finds in the phone book. The teenager receives one of the letters, tracks down the writer, and the ensuing relationship enriches their lives as well as others' lives. The young woman is a musician who receives one blow after another. Rather than being doomed for the rest of her life, she experiences an outpouring of transformative grace. The movie ends with her singing. Some of the lyrics are: "Angels are hiding in the bones of humans, helping all these miracles along. Angels are hiding in the motions of humans.” You can hear the full song at http://micahdahlanderson.bandcamp.com/track/angel-bones.
When lost in the turmoil of thoughts, light the
torch of gratitude. Even the smallest appreciation - for the
unexpected cookie in the box lunch - may suddenly illuminate the
trail which leads back Home. Proceed inside so quietly that even thought is too
loud. Embracing generosity is the key to liberating
people from greed and redefining wealth. Enlightenment does not bring love; love is what
brings enlightenment. If you have dry or kinky hair, try a dab of coconut oil. Rub it on your palms then rub it into your hair. It helps calm the frizzies and gives your hair a nice sheen. Use sparingly so your hair won't be greasy. Coconut oil also makes a great hot oil hair treatment. Massage the oil into your scalp and hair. Wear a plastic shower cap for about an hour, and then shampoo. You'll love how your hair looks and feels. Try oiling yourself down before your shower. Your skin comes out soft and moist. I keep a jar in my bathroom.
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