Enlightenment is Awesome... and inclusive. (What's that mean?)

Today I was told I was wrong.

I have been attending a Universalist Unitarian church lately - delighted by the professed inclusion of a variety of spiritual practices. The structure of the celebrations follows the norm - entrance, light candle, words and music and non-denominational prayers/ meditations, douse candle. One service was lead wholly by various members of the congregation. 

And the music. OH! the music has been a balm to my soul. Choral music. Contemporary music, orchestral and pop Congregation singing hymns, of course, and members playing Chopin, and choirs singing Billy Joel, and... and... and... So far every service has been different and every service, musically at least, has fed my soul.

Propelled on the love of the music, I joined their choir. Just this week.

I am glad that I did. That I have been carried on the wave of the music. Because today, I was told that I was wrong. That my practice - the Happiness Practice - basically everything I am - is wrong and NOT part of the inclusion that is the Unitarian Universalist tradition.

I am "enlightened enough" to understand that this could be my interpretation… but the words I would say her sermon paraphrased down into was "Individualistic focuses and practices are bad." We are, as humans, relationship beings. And so, our focus the core of the faith practice - even a liberal faith practice which has no set dogma or creed but is all about inclusion - should be on the society. "Ask not what your church can do for you…"

I am proud of myself. I was still able to enjoy the music.

And it is so tempting to rail against the injustice of this personal attack - though it wasn't. It wasn't personal at all. She didn't even know I was in the audience. Only a few people in the congregation even know I am a Happiness Practitioner. Heck, only a few people in the world know what a Happiness Practitioner is!

The first part of the service had readings which talked about the difficulty of being a liberal religion - because there is no One True Way. There is no set dogma, creed, or practice to say "DO THIS" in bright bold letters. So it in not, as was said, a faith path for the faint of heart.

And this sermon was the minister's way of giving her congregation a sense of purpose and a direction for their spiritual focus. "Ask what you can do for your church. For your community." It was her job!

And isn't my job to accept that? Not that I am wrong, not that I have to change in order to become an acceptable choir member. But to accept that the words she spoke are her truth. Her reality. Her Happiness hinges on this belief. This is her center.

And it does piss me off, that to be true to myself I have to accept her truth as valid, for her. It would feel so good, so righteous, to use all this hurt to argue with her, tell her how wrong she is, make her validate my point. MAKE her - and by extension the community she represents - accept me.

Well, that's not my job. That's not my truth. And in the end, it might feel triumphant - for having said my piece - but it wouldn't be fulfilling. It wouldn't be my PEACE. Because in the end, it would be against the true meaning of acceptance and inclusivity - which means basically she has the right to believe her reality of the world. She has the right to make the world a better place in her fashion. She didn't throw me out. She didn't even single me out. She didn't harm me in any way - though I was harmed by her words.

I, to be true to my faith and my practice and my Happiness, get to practice accepting her. And I get to make a choice.

Am I going to let her truth become my truth? Am I going to turn myself into her version of a Universalist Unitarian in order to feel I have permission to sing? No.

Am I going to slink into the church each time, hoping to be unnoticed so I can get what I need and scurry away? No.

Am I going to swagger in, daring someone to ask me if I am an individualist? No.

Am I going to starve myself of music in order to be out of her sphere of words? No.

Am I going to sit martyr like through her sermons and wait for the arrows of her truth to pierce the armor of mine? No.

I am responsible for my Happiness, for my joy, for my practice. And if we ever meet, she will think what she thinks about me. She will include me - the Unique and Equal individualist - or not as fits her truth. It has nothing to do with me.

And will I include her? Well. The Happiness Practice is diverse. And Inclusive. And we accept that everyone, EVERYONE has the right to their truth. And frankly, I don't know her. She could be a very nice person. But I won't be seeking out her company any time soon; I doubt she is my KIND of person. Because of this one truth she has spoken.

If I want to make the world a better place - if I want to make MY world a better place, I have to do it my way.

I hope you're having a great day!

-Lila

Why do Coloradans drive on the left!?

Today I am writing to reveal the answer to that eternal mystery.

Like you, I have been frustrated by this enigma for most of my years of driving in this state (except when I am using the right lane to pass all the traffic.) But I recently have begun travelling in the older parts of Colorado, and I have discovered the reason behind this cultural norm.

Or should I say reasons - because there are a few.

1)The right lane is for loading and unloading
How does traffic merge on? The right lane.
How does traffic exit? The right lane.
Whether you're on a highway or a main street, the right lane is the lane from which one turns right. Sometimes there is a small lane carved out of the bike lane. Sometimes there is not. And sometimes the right lane suddenly becomes the turn lane, as signaled by the discreet white sign was saying "This lane MUST turn right."

2)The right lane disappears
Yes, I said what I meant. The right lane disappears.
Many is the driver who is caught by surprise when she finds herself heading toward the sidewalk because the two-lane street merged, for no discernible reason, into one lane.

3)SNOWPLOW!
It's actually pretty logical - though, since I avoid driving in snow, the husband had to tell me this one. The snowplow plows the left lane first - much more efficient, than plowing the right lane first, since the snow (and or slush) that is being plowed gushes to the right.
 And driving next to a snowplow is NOT fun. Exciting - yup. As in "WTF!" But not fun. (Yes. This is personal experience talking.)

4)The right lane dips like a ballroom dancer
And I don't mean this in an attractive, graceful way.
Denver loves to boast of it's status as a Mile High City at the base of some beautiful foothills.
What this really means is we DRIVE on hills. Our roads are carved on hills. Which means the right lane might have a tendency to lean to the right - which means, you're driving at an angle. Not comfortable when you're trying to look over your shoulder to see if you can merge before the lane ends!

So if you see a Colorado plate cruising sedately in the left lane, just smile and nod. Cause now you know a few of the reasons why. And yes, you could ask us to change, once we're on the Interstate. But if you've ever tried to break a habit, you know how easy it is to consciously switch years of daily behavior. (Ie - Not) We thank you for your tolerance and understanding.

Safe driving, dear one!

A breath-giving moment

As I sit to morning prayer,

 this is what I see.

And I am grateful for the breath

 of beauty set before me.

It's just a tree. It's just snow.

It's just a sky of blue.

It's just a breath-giving moment of peace

I wanted to share with you.

This is life. This moment, this time

this scene of chilly grace.

This is the world where I choose to reside -

This beautiful, happy place.

Life in Runes - The Blank Rune

The blank rune -

No questions asked can have an answer from the past.

Because the future's not yet told; choices have the weight of gold.

The blank rune -

What you cannot see is all the ways the world can be

and any step you make is right; you've the choice of fight or flight.

The blank rune -

Time to reach inside to find the truth from which you hide.

Up or down, right or left, you're the one who know the best.

The blank rune is asking you the question.

What is it you want to happen?

How will you get there? What's your choice?

The blank rune offers you your voice.

My Solstice Wish

Hello, dear ones!

What a year it has been. So much to celebrate - endings and beginnings. So much growth and transformation it's difficult to know whether to laugh or cry or hide under the covers. And if you're like me, there is a lot of gratitude that the year has ended - rather like being grateful for night fall, because you know the day is finally done, and another has yet to begin.

But here we are at the new year. The dark days of introspection and healing are winding down; the lightening days of planning and looking forward are coming on.

This year, once more, I wish us abundance. That all within our greatest and highest good comes down; that everything we need appears; that all the positive and amazing energies we put out into the world return to us threefold. That all of our happiness grows as we find our footing and our foundations.

And this year I would like to focus on something more -  the abundant self.

We each are amazing and creative beings. WE each have so much to give - and the more we are ourselves, pure and strong and true, the more we can give from our heart and the more we can receive and the more power we have over our reality. But it can be difficult to find ourselves, to believe in self, to really know, in the deepest part that we can hear, that to be myself is the best I can possibly do. That that is the reason for my creation. That this being me is my greatest gift. And you being you is your greatest gift.

So this year, the gift I am spreading out into the world is that of stones - big stones, little stones, beads, baubles, bangles. I scatter them for you to find. So that when you are searching for a little more inspiration, a little outside knowledge that you are enough, you will find a stone. One that sparkles, or flashes, or washes up - and you will pick it up in your hand, and you will know, without any doubt whatsoever, that you are not alone. That you have a connection to the Divine, and through the divine, to all who love you. To all who cheer for you. To all who believe in you. Including me.

And whenever you need that extra mmmph, as we all do, the stone, my wish, and the belief of the Universe, will be there for you.

strong as stone, steadfast and true

I know what I was born to do

I believe in the power of me

to be the best that I can be.

I hope we all have an awesome and amazing Year.

What can I say?

For a while, I would say, every day - I am a happy, healthy, wealthy, witch.

Positive affirmation statements to create a preferred, empowered, and (naturally) happy reality.

But then, I heard I was saying it all wrong. Because  saying "I Am" told the Universe that how I am at the time of  utterance is my definition of happy, healthy, and wealthy.

Hmm.

But one can't use the word "becoming", either, because that implies a growth process without the final result. I would always be becoming, and never actually realizing happy, healthy, and wealthy.

So, word smith that I am, I really struggled with how to create my reality, how to form the words to tell the story of the life and person I wish to be. How to bring the amazing awesomeness of myself out into this reality.

And today, thanks to my path partner and a video/class from Dr. Joe Dispenza, I realized something.

Well, more accurately, I remembered something and it became more solid.

The affirmation is about CREATING the reality, not about DECLARING it.

I create my reality. So when I say "I am a happy, healthy, wealthy witch" I am putting out the energy and creating the reality of being the greatest and highest and happiest and healthiest and wealthiest. I am rippling the energy of my desires, of my heart home, out into my personal universe.

Easy peasy. I am not accepting that reality (which is the feeling of depression and oppression and boxed in and poor and sick and old and helpless) as the pinnacle of my life. I am turning this - connected, loved, at one with my body, mind and spirit, abundant in all that I need -  INTO the pinnacle of my life.

Deep breath.

Sink into the heart.

Feel the energy flow through the fingers, up and down the body.

Feel time and space ripple in the personal bubble.

I am happy.
I am healthy.
I am wealthy.
I am living my most awesome life and doing what I love and receiving love.
My world is everything I want it to be.
And it is amazing.

Can you feel it?

So mote it be.

Thank you for your voice

Just a quick Thank you for expressing your opinion by taking part in the voting. I know it's easy to feel like our voices are lost - especially if our choice is not one of the two current major parties. But every step we take, every time we step up to express our desire about how the world is being created, that is one brick in the new reality.

 It can be difficult, these days, to feel valued. Between political correctness, and fear of offending someone, we can feel stifled. And we can feel bad about ourselves. Oh, so guilty. Because I am better off than her, or I am in a better position than him, or I didn't have such a visably crummy childhood as they. Or I just don't like that person - and that person has a different skin color, belief system, sexuality, way of dressing or speaking - so there must be something wrong with me.

But my feelings are legitimate also. Each and every one of them. The ones that make me feel like a good person and the ones I'm ashamed of. They are all me. I get to think and feel and opine what I think and feel and opine.

And I get to vote for who I want to vote for. Regardless of the size of the party, or the chance of them winning. Because I can't change the system by playing the game. And my voice matters.

Saying my piece matters.

My experience, my needs, and my reality matters.

I get to vote for whom I want to vote. Not because I don't want the other person to win; not because it's the best of two bad choices. But because this is what I am drawn to. This is what I believe in. This is what I really think will make the world a better place.

So thank you for voting. Thank you for putting your opinion out there, no matter what it is.

Thank you for working toward your better world.

Because I do believe we are creating a better world. I insist on it.

I hope we all have a great day.