Judgement call

Posted on by

darkness.CTB Carl Jung, a psychoanalyst I’ve long admired, called this shadow work. He said we never see others. Instead we see only aspects of ourselves that fall over them. Shadows. Projections. Our associations. ToLove If we can see and accept those aspects of Self that we would rather cast out – the parts we don’t like – we will find ourselves more understanding, forgiving, caring and loving toward others.

If you want a glimpse  your darker side, try this little mind trick : judge others’ unabashedly on paper (for your eyes only!). Now, find the ways that quality speaks about you.

For example,

“I don’t like people who think they’re superior to other people“.

True about me? Lets see… Have I ever thought I was better than others?

• When I get annoyed that the driver in front of me is “too” slow. (i.e., My way of driving is better than theirs)

• When I think I’m smarter than the support staff or employees at PetSmart (ouch)

• When I think others’ are superior to me. (I’m not smart enough, in good enough shape, creative enough, fun enough, young enough, or successful enough)

As I make my list, it is sinking in… I know the next time I see another as “thinking they’re superior to others“, I will probably realize I do not know the one I am judging, and I may feel more compassion for those I imagine are not being understood.Pema Chodron

Here is my Secret

Posted on by

essential2.CTBMy mother read The Little Prince to me when I was small, and it was magical… all about adventure and the incredible relationships we can make if we have an openness to it.

This particular verse takes hold of me because it speaks, I think,  to the internal mysterious world that cannot easily  be put to words – that which “is invisible to the eye”.

When I am in nature my internal mysterious world takes flight. How can one not see the universe there? and with it – evidence of the divine? Of spirit and our infinite connection to everything?

This picture captures it all for me…. my twins (14 at the time), adventuring during a vacation we called The Grand Loop. Ten years later I found the perfect Maxfield Parrish to merge it with, emphasizing the magic I felt then – and still do – when I remember what an incredible gift life is.

And I wanted to share it with you.

Namasté 

Translation: I honor the place within you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place within you, which is of Love, of Truth, of Light and of Peace. When you are in that place within you and I am in that place within me, we are one.