Editor's Note from Diane Renz: "Compassion is in our DNA", just waiting for our Attention. With repeated focal attention you can change the structure and function of your brain, for better, or for worse, dependent upon where you place your attention. It takes intention and commitment to Turn a Mind away from the unconscious onslaught of our day to day societal spin of separation and negativity and toward the cultivation of what is whole and well existing inside us. Here, a beautiful practice shared by Jim Doty of CCARE is to help you find support for this focus of attention. Let your Mind find a prop for to rest its incessant running around, the prop here are prayer beads, with a mnemonic C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L standing for Compassion, Dignity, Equanimity, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Humility, Integrity, Justice, Kindness and Love and the last Golden One...the Golden Rule---treat others as you wish to be treated, or even better, treat others as if they were you, because their happiness is intrinsically linked to your own, there truly is no separation.

PsychoSpiritual

by Tasara

For some of us, the word prayer invokes feelings of power-under, being small while making entreaties to a god that is big and far, far away. Some of us might associate prayer with guilt, as in “I don’t pray enough” or more likely, “I am _(lazy, unenlightened, lame, etc)_ because I have not kept up with my spiritual practice.”

But there is no shame or blame in the spirit world that we choose to engage with in shamanism. There is only love...

Shamanism

"Journeying god, pitch your tent with mine so that I may not become deterred by hardship, strangeness, doubt."

~From a prayer song from Ghana, translator unknown

Meditation

by The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers

The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers was set in motion by a common vision, a prophecy seeded decades ago in many people around the world. One of these seeds was planted in Jyoti, and in Ann Rosencranz, of the Center for Sacred Studies. In this vision, the Divine Mother appeared and offered Jyoti a basket with five precious jewels. As she handed it to Jyoti she said, “Take my basket, tend to these precious jewels, do not mix them and do not change them, each jewel represents a line of prayer that goes back to original times...

Editor's Note from Sue O'Callahan: I attended a gathering at a friend's home to meet Grandmother Pauline Tangiora, an Ambassador for the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. Grandmother Pauline, is Maori elder from the Rongomaiwhine Tribe, and like the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, is an emissary of peace, balance and respect for the Earth and all people. She introduced me to this council of elders, their work and mission, all of which is so deeply rooted in love which has truly inspired me.

Shamanism

by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault

I have come to see that our yearning for intimacy is the way in which we human beings show ourselves to be most profoundly made in the image of God. Too often our pictures of God distort this essential point. When we think of God as a self-sufficient “first cause”;” when we pray (as in one of those Eucharistic liturgies), “Oh God, you have no need of our prayers,” we are allowing our philosophical minds to betray what our hearts know so indelibly: that God’s yearning for intimacy is the real cause of everything, and the only reality in which our hearts can ultimately find refuge...

Editor's Note from Sophia Hansen: Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault's beautifully articulated article describes how we find true intimacy.  She explains, "...that love is an infinite yearning within us..."  This article teaches so much about love, God, mysticism, and our own humanity from a modern day mystic's point of view.  (This is part 1 of 2). 

Intuition & Symbols

by John C. Bader

Modern science advocates that the subconscious brain is capable of processing some 20,000,000 environmental stimuli per second, compared to the conscious brain, which may struggle with as few as 40 processes per second. One could believe it is this incredible processing power of the subconscious mind that explains why people experience good results from techniques such as “positive thinking”, meditation and or prayer...

Editor’s Note from Eden Kozlowski: John, I just dig this article. Thank you for letting us include it here on AllThings. I work with energy and this adds more umppphh to the reality of what I do and the work of many, many others. And, it showcases the tremendous, as you call it "burden," that we carry to live and love well. So, readers... are you up for the call to watch your thoughts with clarity and vision... with depth, vitality and courage AND excitement??!!

Meditation

by by Elaine Grundy

Reiki is Japanese for Universal Life Force or Life Energy. It is a practice of energy healing that requires no prerequisites, no diets, no beliefs, no prayer. Of course the Reiki Master you choose will come with his or her own baggage, beliefs and packaging, so simply choose the one you like and have fun...

Editor's Note: If you're thinking of learning Reiki, this article has some nice thoughts to consider.

Energy Medicine