I wanted to take a little time to talk about something that means a lot to me….
my spirituality… to be more exact…my Native American spirituality…

It is what has connected to my soul the most… I did a lot of searching and tried all kinds of religions and practices before my Native American beliefs settled into my heart. Actually I believe it was within me all along, I just didn’t open the right door and let the light shine in…

You know, it’s kind of like going into a store to try on a pair of jeans. You may try on twenty pair before you find the right ones. But once you do, you know it right away as you slip your legs inside and pull them up over your hips and button them. The fit is not too loose and not too snug but just right. You turn around and look at your backside in the mirror and it hugs you all in the right places and makes you look soooo good. And they feel good too. The jeans are the right ones and you know you are gonna buy em …maybe even buy two pair exactly the same because the are just right and you’re your body perfectly.

My connection to nature was the biggest clue for me, and once I started learning more about it and what Native American beliefs were, well it all just fell right into place and I knew it was right for me. It fit and it felt good within my being and my heart. Of course I am also proud to be of Cherokee heritage too. It’s one of the things I am glad my birth mother passed onto me. So I want to talk a little about my beliefs, if that’s okay….

I never even knew what Shamanism was until about 8 years ago when I started going to drumming circles at the healing center where I did a lot of my recovery work. It is Native American based and is about healing one another and helping one another in this lifetime. Healing can mean different things to different people, but healing can be as simple as the healing touch of massage to the more complex laying on of hands to heal someone of physical ailments in a more spiritual realm. To me it is about embracing the ancient perspectives and wisdoms that make sense to me and making it part of my everyday life. It works for my life and I’ve seen it work in other’s lives too. It is about the Creation around us and the connection to all living things. Everything in Creation is alive and has spirit and all those things form a Web of Life which is an ever changing flow of connection and balance. Each of us forms an important and unique link and a duty of respect to all living beings which is part of the Circle of Life which we are all related to.

In our lives we are constantly weaving new learning and experiences into this Web of Life. We become attuned to this process and we get a heightened sense of the presence of a guiding force, which is like my power animals and my spiritual guides. This is all connected to the Great Spirit who is many things to many people… in some cultures he is Budda, to others he is God or the Trinity or the Holy Spirit… the thing that I have come to accept long ago is that there is no one right way or path. Christian conservatives will try to convince you that there is only one true way and that most likely is their way which is the only way to Heaven. Well. My thoughts are there are way too many cultures in this wonderful world we call Earth and I really doubt it if God took a little pin and stuck it in the world map and said.” These are the only people who will know the way… The rest of the world is damned and will suffer in Hell.” No… even I know that the Great Spirit is a loving and kind God and would not do that to his creation. That is why there are many different kinds of world beliefs and religions in this world because there really is no one right way…. There are many paths to the Great Creator… People come to terms with their spirituality in many ways and some never do. I don’t believe that it’s over for them… I believe they will have to go back through the lesson again until they do get it. Anyway I am getting off track here…

A shaman is a healer, a visionary and a soul doctor who walks between the worlds of the everyday and spiritual realms, the visible and the invisible with the aid of special spiritual helpers. Many shamans go through long difficult and demanding training and gain highly specialized skills. Others can practice shamanism and have powers within them and are able to connect with their own totems or spiritual helpers. They are healers in their own rights too and develop their own shamanic senses. I experience shamanic awareness although I do not consider myself to be a shaman. I practice Shamanism and I embrace the beliefs, I have walked between spiritual realms and am a healer of sorts by helping others to heal from the effects of abuse. I share my artwork and my words and it helps another, helps them to heal too.. I have natural abilities within me that can be used to give comfort to another, I have Reiki energy within my hands although I have never had any training… it is a naturally within me so yes, in that regard I do have shamanistic abilities.

To me it’s about understanding the mind, the body and the spirit and caring from the heart most of all. It’s about the process of healing, nourishing and protecting, honoring, and embracing your own sacred self and extending that to all others and all living things in the Web of Life. We are all related to all parts of Creation; the four legged ones, the stone ones, the tree people, the winged and finned ones and the invisible spirits of the water earth fire and air. When we connect with that and we remember we are part of the Circle of Life we feel a sense of being home which is both healing and empowering…

Try something for me if this is interesting to you… If not... that's okay too. For one minute concentrate on how many different sounds you can hear when you are totally silent. If you really want to get a lot out of that little exercise… go outside and listen for one whole minute. The key is to notice everything and censor nothing. What did you hear and see? Did anything speak to you or give you a feeling or a message? Were you able to expand your senses to hear sacred dialogue? If you listen close enough even a snail is likely to have some message for you, a plant may attract you with it’s beauty, a stone may call out to you. All these are part of the bigger picture and should be noticed.

Try this exercise if you want to… Connect with the Web of Life… Bend down outside and touch the earth with your hand and pause for a few moments to feel the presence of Mother Earth and Father Sky and all of your relatives in Creation. Say “For all my relations” and send thoughts of love and balance to the whole Web. Stand up again take a deep breath and focus your senses on what lies around you. You may find that in that instant the Web gives you some kind of response. It may be the cry of a bird or a stirring of the breeze, just pay attention to what is being offered.

Well… that’s all for now but I would like to continue to write more about this and in that way I am sharing more of me with you too..

Mitakuye Oyasin

PolarB ;)

Hello Peeps!

 

Happy Sunday! Has everyone recovered from all the green beer celebrations? Did you remember to kiss someone Irish? I had fun Friday night at my sister’s house… It is great just getting together and letting loose and dancing and laughing and just being silly sometimes… I saw a full moon or two and I ain’t talking about in the sky! FUN FUN FUN!! Guess that is the effects from green beer huh?

 

Well…. I have been trying to get into my computer to check in with you guys and my internet service would not let me log in… apparently Norton Internet Security did a download that prevented anyone from logging on… finally was able to get in after running updates that took from 3:00 pm until 9:30 last night… At that point I said fagittaboutit and went upstairs to read while laying across the bed…. Well that didn’t last long cause ole PolarB here feel asleep about 10 and didn’t wake up until 8 this morning…. big Saturday night right?? Ahhh well.. I know I most likely needed the rest anyway…

 

The BP meds seems to be working okay and I am sleeping really good… I am thirsty as hell but that is okay too because it is forcing me to drink more water and that is a good thing. The doc said the water pill combo will most likely help me shed some weight too because my skin was really tight and she said I was holding lottsa water. It’s a good thing… I bought a new exercise bike and put it together yesterday… That will help my knee so hopefully I can build it up a little and do some hiking this summer… We got new backpack gear the Christmas before last and I haven’t been able to use it much since the car accident that messed up my knee. I feel a change a coming in my body and feeling good about that. Gotta get healthy and stay that way!

 

I am slowly learning how to be better to myself and nurture myself… Seems I can nurture everyone else but when it comes to taking care of myself , I tend to slack off …so it just takes practice and dedication…. I got my tax refund back and that is a very good thing! That means Lovie and I will start working on the house again and getting good things for us too… Going be taking a 10 day camping trip in May so I am definitely looking forward to that! Heading back to the mountains and I plan on getting plenty of good shots while I am there… I heard about a place that has herds of elk that is like a nature preserve area for them so we are hoping to pay a visit to it and have good photo opportunities while there. I would love to see some bears too while we are there but they are a lot harder to spot..

 

I ran across something fun that I wanted to post in honor of all the bloggers who have to go into an office everyday…. You know it’s the kinds of things that make work fun and it’s a bit mischievious for the ones who have that little twinkle in their eyes… YOU know who you are….. so listen up!  

 

These are called Office Dares…

 

One point Office Dares.

 

1. Run around the office at top speed.
2. Ignore the first five people who say “Good Morning” to you.
3. To signal the end of the conversation, clamp your hands over your ears and grimace.
4. Leave your zipper open for one hour. If anyone notices and points it out, say “I prefer it this way.”
5. Walk sideways to the photocopier machine.
6. Phone someone in the office you barely know, leave them your name and say, “Just called to say that I can’t talk right now…bye.”
7. While riding the elevator, gasp dramatically every time the door opens.
8. Groan out loud in your bathroom stall (at least one other non-player must be in the bathroom at the same time.)
9. Write in a colleague’s day planner: 10am. “See how I look in tights.”

 

 

 

Three point Office Dares

 

 

1. Say to your boss, “I like your style.” And shoot him with double-barrelled fingers.
2. Babble incoherently at a fellow employee then ask “Did you get all that, I  don’t want          to have to repeat myself.”
3. Page yourself over the intercom… (Do not disguise your voice.)
4. Kneel in front of the water cooler and drink from the spout, (There must be a                  non- player in sight.)
5. Shout random numbers while someone is counting.
6. Carry your keyboard to a coworker and ask them if they want to trade.
7. While an office mate is gone from their desk, move their chair around to different          places each time they leave their desk.
8. After every sentence say “mon” in a really bad Jamaican accent. Keep it up for one hour.
9. At lunchtime get down on your knees and announce, “As God is my witness, I’ll never go hungry again!”

 

 

Five point Office Dares

 

 

1. At the end of a meeting suggest that you all conclude with signing the national             anthem. (You get double points if you actually launch into it yourself.)
2. Walk into a busy person’s office and while they watch you, turn the light switch                  on and off ten times.
3. For an hour, refer to everyone you speak to as “Bob”
4. Announce to everyone in a meeting that you really have to go number two.
5. In a crowded elevator, slap your forehead repeatedly and mutter, “Shut up,                   damn it.! All of you just shut up!”
6. Repeat the following conversation 10 times to the same person; “Do you hear that?”   “What” “Never mind, it’s gone now.”
7. Come to work in Army fatigues and when ask why you are dressed like that say,                “I can’t talk about it.”
8. Hang a two foot piece long roll of toilet paper from the back of your pants and act      surprised when someone points it out.
9.  Speak with an accent (German, French, Porky Pig) on your next conference call.

 

 

Okay folks…. That’s about it for me today….I’m gonna go paddling around the stream to see what I can get into and try to answer all those comments I gotta get to….from one mischief lover to another....Love yas and have a great one!

 

 

From your friendly residential

 

PolarB ;)

 

Morning peeps....

Sorry to tell you but no fun facts today for me.....
Yesterday was an exhausting emotional day....I did enjoy my massage and Lovie and I went out to eat some good warm soup at Panera and I came home and cuddled up in a warm soft blanket and crashed on the couch....
I had a doctor appointment in the morning and my doctor put me on blood pressure medicine to help lower my blood pressure.. it was high as it always is.... the new meds make me very thirsty and they also include a water pill which will help me but also cause me to make many tinkle trips to the ladies room.... got up four times last night but I still slept good. I also have to go see a cardiologist- my EKG was a bit abnormal so I need to get that checked out further...
I did alot of processing yesterday (not about medical stuff but deep core emotional stuff) and although it was good, it also exhausted me to the point I had no more tears left.... I was empty and wiped out....
Today is a fun day at work and we are having a celebration so that will be good... and tonight we are going to my sisters to hang out and drink greeen beer.... sounds like a plan to me...

BTW- Happy St Patrick's day- kiss someone Irish and if they ain't Irish kiss em anyway! If someone pinches ya today it is because you aren't wearing green.... I am wearing my green so have a happy one peeps and I will catch up with you sometime over the weekend...

Love
PolarB ;)

Yep.... I think I wanna be in the twilight zone.... I have moments like that and am feeling the need for solitude at the moment...actually needing to connect with some things....nature being one and anger being the other..... anyway....ran across this website once again and wanted to share it with you.... go to: www.thegoodnessoflife.com

It really is kinda calming in a way...maybe a bit of perspective too.
I have a me day scheduled off from work tomorrow...Gotta go to the doctor and then getting a massage later in the afternoon...gotta take care of me and my body needs it today...I havent been very kind to me lately...I could use some heavy metal rock and roll and beat my frustrations out on a punching bag...I'll get through it... I always do... and anger is a good motivator too. Kicks my ass into gear... Later peeps

PolarB ;)

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if you were the only person on the earth? I mean what if one day you woke up and found out that every other human being on the earth had poof disappeared! What would you do? Some days I think that would be a nice thing... You could go anywhere you wanted and explore absolutely every single place and never fear being harmed or have to protect yourself from anyone. You could get in your car and drive and drive and drive.. when you get tired, stop anywhere because you would have your choice of where you wanted to stay... you could stay in the penthouse suite of the best five star hotel.... of course you wouldnt have room service but if you are hungry you could go into the grocery stores and get whatever you like and when you run outta gas... just stop along the way and fill up... you could drive to the beach and walk for miles and miles along the ocean naked if you wanted to.... you could scream to the top of your lungs and listen to the silence afterwards... or better yet drive to the Grand Canyon and listen to your echo..... You could be one with nature in the most intimate way....

So what would you do if you were the only person on earth? Where would you go and what would you do? Would you be lonely? Would it make you sad? Would you miss the human contact with others? Would you be scared? What if you knew it was only for a week or a month..then everyone would come back? What if you could pick one person to be with you in this world...would you or would you enjoy the solitude alone?

Just wondering....

PolarB ;)