Ramana Maharshi

Angels Abound

Andrew Wyeth

The angels say, Fear Not!

St. Francis of Assisi

Canticle of the Sun:

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name. 

Praise be to God. Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness. 

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful. 

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance. 

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure. 

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong. 

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Happy trails

Everyone gets lost now and then. So have some compassion for yourself. It’s all right on your way home. It’s all right! Yes! Yes, even the detours. Even getting lost. The journey is the thing. So why not enjoy it?

The love and blessings of angels are with you now and always.

Happy trails to you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgw_yprN_-w

Response to Student

Dear Students💚
Today's message is a reply to an email a new student recently sent me. I am posting her email as she wrote it, though I made a few corrections in punctuation, for clarity. Her first language is German, so please keep that in mind. I will post the email exchange exactly as it happened. I am leaving out her name. She gave her permission to post her emails though. And if she chooses to post something here, she can. Love, Indira

This is my response to her first email (which I have not copied here, since it was long and not so coherent):

Dear One💚
I have read what you have written. Could you please write to me what your exact question is, in a more clear way? You don’t really seem to have asked one, just told me what you are feeling and experiencing. This will also help you to get more clarification for yourself and what your real true question is. The angels always say…if you want the right answer, you have to ask the right question.

So she wrote a more clear email:

Dear judy💚
Thank you for your quick reply. Now I hope I'll get it to the point. My exact demand is—I want to understand, why I can't still  switch to the other state—the state of more surrender, of more being okay with me and reality, of more being myself. Why am I apparently not ripe yet for going the next step? I yearn so much for this condition and I think (perhaps another concept)  that I am so far and so willing. What stops me yet? I feel bogged down, how can I get out? This rubber band makes me helpless, anxious, and also aggressive. What can I do so I don't feel so discouraged? I guess it's more than impatience. For me, it is a great longing, and it´s very hard for me to feel stuck. How can I get out? (I guess) I cannot wait for it to change. In my imagination I see me as a child in front of the closed ice cream shop. Ihat´s what i wanted to ask you. Thank you for taking time for me! Best regards 💚

And here is my response, which may benefit you too:

Dear One💚
Your questions will be answered in the fullness of time.
You are like someone standing in the dark, watching the moon that is only half full, asking:  When will it be full?

In Truth, the moon is always herself, always full, already blossomed. A person with knowledge knows that the moon is always full. That person does not yearn for what it knows is already there.

The search for happiness is itself unhappiness.

Sit in the stillness when you can. Be like a scientist. Observe. Watch. Witness. Learn. Let the Watching be your Teacher. Do your best not to grab hold of each thought and turn it into an “I”

I long to be happy. I am not happy. I am anxious. I am stressed.

This is false identification. There is no I—  no  ME  to  be  anything at all. A me comes into being with each passing thought that you identify with — and so create a myriad of stories. Just let each story pass by. See each thought like a bubble floating past the otherwise calm abode of the mind.

Each thought demands that you give it life. Each thought tells you how to handle a situation — get angry, get sad, get despondent, do this, do that….

The moon grows full before your eyes in the fullness of time — and yet it was always full — only your seeing is not. Breathe in the longing, the pain, and give it a home in your heart. It is lonely. It believes it is real. Let it curl up inside your heart like a small kitten — let it know it can take all the time it needs to grow up — treat it with tenderness and care, not stress and anxiety.

God is with you. Angels are with you. Walk your path gently. Do not be hard on yourself. Be soft. Be gentle. Be accepting. Trust.

💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

How To Make Almond Milk

• 1 cup whole raw almonds (not toasted or roasted, etc), enough water to cover
  3 – 4 cups water, more if desired
  a pinch of salt
  honey, to taste
• 
  
• Soak the almonds overnight in a bowl with enough water to cover. 
• Drain and discard the soaking water.
• Put almonds in blender with 3 – 4 cups water and blend on HIGH speed until smooth.
•  
• Lay a linen or cotton towel (not terry cloth) inside a bowl large enough to hold all the liquid. Pour the milk into the towel, and squeeze out the excess liquid. What’s left in the towel is called Almond Meal…so don’t throw it away.
• Taste the milk and if it’s a little too nutty for you, add a pinch of salt, and 1-2 teaspoons of honey or other sweetner if you like. Add chocolate for Chocolate Almond Milk!
• Store in a glass jar or bottle. The liquid will separate between uses, just be sure to shake it up before each use.
•  
• You can use the Almond Meal that is leftover. One way is to spread it out on a cookie sheet and bake it in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Then let it cool completely and put it in a ziploc bag and put in the freezer for use at a later date.

Poetry

THE CLEAR AND SIMPLE WAY SCHOOL

The eternal now is both full and empty.
This is not the emptiness of an ego in
despair. It is the emptiness of all that
is not you. It is the fullness of Truth.
It is space. Vast Space. It is love
beyond your wildest imaginings. It is
the light of God shining through. It is
your true nature. It is living in the
present moment.
  
Das ewige Jetzt ist sowohl voll als auch leer.
Es ist aber nicht die Leere eines verzweifelten Ego.
Es ist die Leere all dessen, was nicht Du bist.
Es ist die Fülle der Wahrheit.
Es ist der Raum. Unermesslich weiter Raum.
Es ist eine Liebe, die jenseits
Deiner kühnsten Vorstellungen liegt.
Es ist das Licht Gottes,
welches durchscheint.
Es ist Deine wahre Natur.
Es ist das Leben im jetzigen Moment.

-Lektion 8, Führung durch eine höhere Intuition

George Gurdjieff

In order to be [born]... a man must die, that is, he must free himself from a thousand petty attachments and identifications which hold him in the position in which he is. He is attached to everything in his life, attached to his imagination, attached to his stupidity, attached even to his sufferings... He must free himself from this attachment. ~George Gurdjieff

Stopping by

I haven't posted in awhile, but I come often to read, and search through the archives, which are a treasure. I get more in touch with what you say Indira, that although we can share our spiritual path with others and do the work together, which is an important part of the spiritual path, we are each responsible for our own inner work. This understanding helps me to go more and more inside.

Without the lessons and this classroom, I would not be where I am today. I read so many self-help books in the past, but having the lessons arrive once a month is a game-changer. I can't ignore them, the way I can ignore a book. It's just the kind of support I need. Your insights are so valuable to me. I am grateful for the personal connection I always feel here in the classroom, as well as with your readings and counseling.

I will talk to you soon, Indira, for our usual weekly counseling session. My counseling sessions with you are a huge support, keeping me on track, and opening me to more in depth spiritual understandings. Thanks again for the school. --Kevin P.S. I like the way the schoolroom changes, reminding me that the world is a world of change. And I like seeing this friendly golden Buddha here.

Ikigai - 生き甲斐

Ikigai -- 生き甲斐 is a Japanese concept meaning "A Reason For Being."  Everyone, according to the Japanese, has an Ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search of self. 

Friendly not cruel

Truth is friendly, never cruel. God is friendly, never cruel. Angels are friendly, never cruel. The false is cruel:  False beliefs —false conditioning —false identification with the unreal. Love is friendly, never cruel. If it feels cruel within you, it can't be Love.

Fire Meditation

This is from your school lesson: Relationships, which some of you have read by now and some of you will read it in a future lesson Here is an important meditation from that lesson, which you might like to read and practice—even if you do it only in imagination. The first paragraph under Coming Into Harmony In All Your Relations (below) is important to understand. I am posting this now for all of you, since relationships comprise a vital part of life on earth and your happiness.

Questions You May Want To Ask

(1) Are my words and actions routinely those of a foolish or a wise person?
(2) Do I spend more time perpetuating arguments and conflicts than I do resolving them?
(3) Is my goal to win or to effectively communicate, no matter what the outcome?
(4) Am I willing to give up trying to control other people’s stories about me? 
(5) Am I willing to experience peace in all my relations?

The answers to these questions may help you become more aware of both your strengths and weaknesses and bring more peace to your relationships.

Coming Into Harmony In All Your Relations

It is not necessary to have another person’s permission, physical presence, goodwill, or agreement in order for you to experience inner peace. Healing and resolution can take place completely within you! You are that free!

Yes! When you cannot come to terms with another person, despite your best efforts, you can still find inner resolution! The following meditation can help you heal relationships, particularly when another person is unavailable, unwilling, or unable to work things out with you. You may choose to practice this meditation with someone who is alive now or who has passed on. It's can be useful to practice before discussing a difficult topic with someone. You may then find that the issue simply resolves itself, or at least that you are able to converse calmly, without a strong emotional charge. You may work with any problem or situation, in which case, change the words to suit the situation.

Please be open to letting go of any preconceived idea of what healing should look like. Your idea may or may not be part of the greater picture. If you are busy with your own ideas, you may miss the resolution right before your eyes. Can you be open to the possibility that healing may have nothing to do with what you think should happen? It takes courage to be open to such a possibility, because egos have very strong opinions. It is threatening for egos to let go of thoughts and ideas, because egos are defined by these. The fire meditation is not about trying to impose your ideas over what is—it is about Seeing what IS. You are simply invited to show up and be available for healing.  Higher Conscious knows what you need. The small mind knows only what it wants. When you show up and make yourself available for healing, all the angelic and cosmic forces of the universe show up for you. 

Conscious Ritual—Fire Meditation Conscious Ritual is a way to honor yourself. There is a place within each human being that responds to the magic of fire, of ritual, of a special context within which to heal.  Make your fire ritual as sacred as you are. Follow your own pace and stay with each step for as long as you need to before moving on to the next one.

For this exercise you will need a candle, a quiet place, and most importantly a willingness—be willing to give the whole matter into the care and keeping of the angels. It is nice, though not essential, to practice this Meditation in a darkened room, to avoid distractions. You may also practice it within imagination, but actually doing the meditation will give you a deep healing experience. It's your choice. Burn fragrant incense if you like. If you have an appropriate setting you may choose to build a fire circle under the night sky.

There are two parts to this meditation. The second part of the meditation is for expanded healing, once you have resolved and come into acceptance with What IS, in your first meditation. You are encouraged to repeat the first meditation as often as necessary until you come to a point of inner healing and acceptance. This may happen right away. If the pain or anger is very deep, you may need to repeat it many times. When you feel complete with Part I, move on to Part II.

Fire Meditation Ritual: Part I

Step 1: Prepare you space with a candle and a comfortable private pace to sit.

Step 2: Enter into the safety of your private sanctuary. Gather yourself into the stillness of your heart. Consider your holiness. Silently light the candle within your sacred space. Center yourself. Breathe in the light of the fire. Let its warmth and power fill you. Observe the flame dancing before you. Let yourself experience gratitude for the magic of fire that has enchanted and served humankind for so long as warmth, as fuel, as light, and as ritual. Let yourself feel safe in the presence of the fire—safe to be soft, vulnerable, and open.

Step 3: Think of a relationship that you would like to heal. In your mind’s eye, picture the other person as clearly as you can. If you are not sure on whom you want to focus, observe the flame and wait to see who appears. Gaze into the flame and allow the image of the person to manifest before you. Let yourself see the color of that person's eyes, the shape of the person's face. When the image is clear, when you feel ready, look deeply into that person’s eyes. Give yourself permission to safely experience whatever arises within your consciousness.

Thoughts come. Thoughts go. Breath remains. You remain. Safe and serene. You are the eternal sky through which clouds pass. Clouds come. Clouds go. Sky remains, unaffected by transitory movements in consciousness.

The fire burns. Let it burn through your thoughts, body, and emotions, burning away the past, burning away the future, leaving only now . Let the strong radiant energy of the fire burn through you, purifying and cleansing. Breathe in its energy. Let healing warmth and relaxation infuse every cell of your being.

Step 4: Now ask the angels to let you see this person or situation at the individual ego or personality personality level. Ask that their flaws and weaknesses, the limitations of their ego be shown to you—not so that you might judge or condemn—but so that you may learn, grow and understand how to protect yourself. Ask that anything you need to know be revealed to you.
  
Give yourself permission to experience whatever is between you and the other person, without thinking you must control, direct, or change anything. Let whatever feelings arise—arise. Do not fear feelings, just notice them. If fear arises, notice that. Acknowledge feelings and let them pass through you and away. Your only task is to gaze into the light of the candle, breathe, and experience what is, whatever is.

Breathe through whatever feelings and thoughts arise. Be present with yourself and your experience. Be present for yourself. If there is something you think you need from this person, maybe now is a good time to ask. If there is something you think you need to give to this person, maybe now is a good time to offer it.

Step 4: Stay with process for as long as you need to. If it becomes too intense, consciously breathe and relax. If you feel you cannot complete this process right now, let yourself stop. Return to it later, but be sure to start from the beginning. Tell yourself: I am safe. I am protected. I am surrounded by the healing love of angels. Just keep breathing through this experience, remembering you are safe. You are in control. You can stop anytime. The other person or situation is not in control of you.

Step 5: When you feel complete, thank the fire for its service. Thank the other person for showing up. Thank yourself. Thank the angels for their assistance.

Please repeat this meditation as often as you need to, until you feel ready to go on to the next meditation. Take your time and do NOT try to complete Part II until you are sure you have worked through your feelings in Part I and come to a sense of inner resolution and safety. Then let Part I gently lead you into Part II.

Fire Meditation Ritual: Part II

You may now choose to repeat the entire Part I first and let it move you gently into Part II. Otherwise, repeat Steps 1-3  then begin Part II, using the same image of the person or situation you were working with in Part I.

When you feel ready, open, and receptive, invite the energy of Unconditional Love to surround you, this person, and the situation. Say this prayer: “Dear Angels, I do not know what Unconditional Love is. I do no not know what Love is. Please help clear my mind of all wrong thoughts about love so that I may know Divine Love—Love without expectations and demands—the Love that is always here. Thank you.”

Step 1: When you feel ready, open, and receptive, invite the energy of unconditional love to surround you, this person, and the situation. As you continue looking into this person’s eyes, begin to see the light that comes from God shining through. See the love that comes through from God shining there. If you cannot see these yet, pretend that you do. See any problems or pain between the two of you as nothing more than clouds—wisps of smoke. Passing by. Passing away. Insignificant next to the unconditional love that surrounds and fills you.

This is a love that needs no action, a love that simply IS. You do not have to do anything to express this love. It surrounds you in the warm light of the fire. It fills you with peace. You can see this peace shining through the eyes of the person before you. You can feel it in the firelight. You can experience it within you. It is you. Remain here for as long as you like, letting the fire of Unconditional LOVE burn through you, burning away any pain, burning through any anger, burning away everything that is not you, not Love.

When you feel complete, thank the fire for its service. Thank the other person for showing up. Thank yourself. Thank the angels for their assistance.

You are welcome to repeat this process as often as necessary. Please do not be discouraged if you find that you must repeat these meditations many times before healing feels complete. If you stay focused on your intention to heal and be healed, healing will come. Remember that reading the meditations with the intention to heal is healing in itself. Doing the fire meditation offers a deeper dimension of healing. It means making the effort to show up for yourself in a very real way. The small place inside you responds when you show up for yourself with unconditional love.

Healing

Healing often happens in layers, like peeling an onion. Instead of becoming discouraged when you find another layer, be grateful that you are moving closer to your Center where no healing is needed, because here you are whole. In wholeness—holiness—there is no separation, no enemy, no friend, no animosity, and hence no forgiveness is necessary.

Expanding your Fire Meditation Experience

1. Practice with another person: If you are in relation to someone who is willing, you may like to practice this meditation together. In this case, place the candle between you, sit across from each other, and gaze into the fire. When you are ready, look into each other’s eyes, and follow the procedure outlined above.

2. Practice with yourself: You may also practice the meditation by visualizing yourself in the light of the flame. In this case, imagine that you are looking into your own eyes, willing to see yourself as you are, willing to heal the conflicts you have with and within yourself.

Copyright ©1997/2018 Judith Ann Parsons, MSW aka Indira
May not be shared or copied in any way, except for your personal use, without written permission from the author. If you want to share it, please request permission to do so. Thank you for honoring my work, as I honor yours.

Decisions

Nature Walk: California View

Good Day,
I hope it is a good day for you. The day can always be good when we use it for good. How can we use the day for good? By using every moment to wake up—which means living with conscious awareness. Yes, this takes some effort. Many people believe that they shouldn’t have to work for their spiritual life, even though this defies all logic. We have to work for everything else—just to survive on this planet requires effort. So why should our spiritual life be any different?

The  trick is not to think of your spiritual life as separate or different from the rest of your life. Cleaning your house, taking care of your children, or going to your job is part of your spiritual life because spirituality is practical. Living a spiritual life is as simple as being practical in your everyday affairs. When making decisions in life, which all of us are required to do, you can go to your practical mind. You can ask yourself: What is the clear and and simple choice? Is it practical? What is the most likely outcome of this decision? Do I have the expertise to make this decision or should I ask for help? Am I following emotions? Are these emotions giving me right direction? Do I need more information to make a good decision? How do I feel right now, when thinking about this decision? Can I accept the outcome, no matter what? Can I let go, no matter what happens?

Hanging onto hopes and expectations brings pain. When things don’t work out the way we want and we can’t let go, we decide to suffer. Did you ever think of suffering as a decision?

Acceptance of the outcome brings peace. So try to work towards accepting what you cannot change. In this way, you will find the energy and enthusiasm to change the things you can.

Bubbles

Good morning everyone--just saw this video and think some of you would like to see this as well.

https://aeon.co/videos/can-bubbles-unlock-the-secrets-of-life-samsam-bubbleman-thinks-they-can?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=16260ed8ef-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_05_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_411a82e59d-16260ed8ef-69510445

Within

Dearest Companions on the Path,
We are fortunate to be on a path guided by angels, because angels are loving, patient, and kind in a way we are not, and so they can return us to compassion. Angels remind us to go within—the true Teacher is within. I cannot stress how important this is for you to remember.
You must turn within to find Truth. You must find out for yourself what is true.
Truth feels good—truly deep down good, and it makes your life better. I am not talking about getting a better house or more money, though that might happen—I am talking about a deep down feeling of goodness and rightness. The closer you come to God, the better you feel. God always feels good. Because God is Good.

My artwork. Creativity feels good too because then you are
one with the creative flow of the Universe.

You

YOU are a beautiful soul.

The Clear & Simple Way Messages
Your Open Classroom is always open…are you?

Todays message honors jazz musician, singer, songwriter, piano player Bob Dorough whose spirit left his body the other day. I used one of his quotes in my lessons:

“I guess I’ve been on my way home ever since I left it many moons ago. I always figured I’d end up about where I started and so I’m not anxious to complete the circle. The journey is the thing, with the side trips, detours, and—yes, getting lost now and then—it’s all right on your way home. My quest? To find you and you and you; to sing you a song and have you not walk out on me; to make you zoom in on the meaning of life like you never did before.”

And I added…
Everyone gets lost now and then. So, have some compassion for yourself. It’s all right on your way home. It is ALL RIGHT! Yes! Yes, even the detours. Even getting lost. The journey is the thing. So, why not enjoy it?

Bob and Hirth were friends and used to talk to each other on the phone, from other ends of the country. Bob even gave a testimonial for the first 24 angel lessons I ever wrote: “The Clear and Simple Way is deep and meaningful and learned and I am honored to be quoted therein. Of course, I will have to read it again (and again and . . . ?). One reading could not possibly show me its depth.”

Thank you, Bob...for all the magic.

“This Is Always”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0oMj_3NP60

Bob Dorough Ted Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i2AN2CC-60
--
Spring Travel Schedule: May 6 - May 22Los Angeles, CA
Contact me if you’d like a personal session. If you have already contacted me, I’ll be in touch soon.

©2018 Judith Indira Parsons, MSW Austin, Texas

Let nothing dismay you

"Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All thing pass; God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God Finds he lacks nothing: God alone suffices." -ST. TERESA OF AVILA: nun, mystic, writer