To forgive is divine. I do not remember where I heard this, but it seems a bit awkward. God forgives when we ask her, but why should he? If we are born of Divine love, in God’s image, and we have free will, then how is forgiveness required?
The Course in Miracles is a great book to study, read it more than once. Take time to digest it and find the shifts in thinking both for self and with in the book. I have read this book more than a dozen times and each time the words offer new understanding.
The Urtext is the rough draft of the Course In Miracles, you can down load a copy or read it online. The text here is similar, the language is not condensed or choppy as some complain about the final edition of CiM. I enjoy reading this because I get the insights as given by Jesus. Insights like explaining the concepts of iron and spider webs (p15, end of page).
Forgiveness is an act of love which in turn is a miracle. Miracles are always present, born of love, natural and one does not need to think about performing them. This is the nature of the Course (pp15-17).
Forgiveness is equal to atonement. One need only ask for atonement, forgiveness, as Jesus tells us we have everything else. Yet sin is made by man to punish man and since it is created by man and no the Divine why ask for forgiveness? Sin is not a Divine act, will, or design. It is something that man created, born out of religion, a need to control? Where is the proof of any of this? Yet the question remains, why ask for forgiveness? Why ask God, Jesus, or the Divine to atone for “me”?
Forgiveness is the act of love that frees self and the person being forgiven. When asking the Divine to forgive you this is the act of releasing yourself from guilt and shame. But it is also the act of owning your mistake, stating “I know I made a mistake and I need to fix it.” The guilt of creating that mistake may be removed or not.
When there is no shift or change to a healing or loving state of being it may be a sign that you did not mean what you asked for. That you do not believe that what you did require forgiveness.
The other note to make about forgiveness is this, intention and attitude are important. Believe in what you ask for. Learn from this mistake, take note of it, listen to it, remember it. This is necessary to keep from repeating the same mistake.
What is your belief about forgiveness? How do you feel when you consider the concept? Notice any physical sensations, emotions, or thoughts that arise. Listen. Is there anything you might like to change? Or are you comfortable with your belief?
The decision is yours. Not mine. I can write several times over on this topic, each one from a different perspective. My beliefs belong to me. No matter what you read or hear, the final say is yours.
Take what you need and leave the rest.
The information I uncovered in a Google search relates the term to hoarding. Hoarding is a phenomenon where a person holds on to things he or she believes is valuable in some way, it cannot get thrown out. Before long there is no room for the person to walk or live in his or her home. The objects of importance have taken up residence. The term clutter blindness is related to this phenomenon as the inability to see the clutter. Blind to the way clutter has taken over the home and moved the person out. Clutter is a stack of items that may be disorderly or neatly stacked. The items may hold some emotional value to the person collecting them.
Clutter blindness is not just about hoarding. It is a phenomenon of its own. The person may see that there is a pile of newspapers, dishes, or other items collecting in an area but ignores them. The minimization of the clutter is part of the blindness. The blindness is progressive until the issue is brought to light, then the overwhelm of the clutter takes over and the person is frozen and unable to do anything about it. This is also an aspect of hoarding. Perhaps hoarding is the latter stages of clutter blindness.
There are several articles relating to clutter blindness, one includes ways to de-clutter your home. The first suggestion is to invite people over for a party (See resources for more information.) This is suggested as a way of motivating you to clean your home. This is great if the only problem is a few stacks of things sitting around that you would not want someone to see. What happens if you are on the overwhelm part and cannot possible clean up? The idea of bringing people into your home is insane, rather the shame and guilt arises with the fear of judgment. A few individuals I know refuse to bring anyone into their home, this includes asking anyone to help them clear the clutter. The last thing you would want is for someone to see your home a mess. We all know what is thought of “those people.” There are television reality shows created using “those people.”
Begin with baby steps. Ask yourself what is so important about the stack of papers or newspapers? Are there articles that mark the passage of time in your life? Then clip them with the newspaper title, paste them in a scrap book. Then recycle the newspapers and magazines. This is a good time to develop the three or six month rule. If you have not read it or looked at it in that amount of time it is not important any more. Do not look at it and recycle it.
The rule for clothing and other similar items is usually six months or a year. If it has hung in your closet through a second season and you have not worn it, recycle, donate, but get rid of it. Reading material, dishes, pots and pans, any nicknacks, receipts, collectables without a great deal of value, hold a yard sale and what you do not sell donate to the nearest charity, then put the receipts in a file for your taxes at the end of the year. Recycle any receipts that do not pertain to your taxes.
Baby steps! Congratulations on the first one. Even crawling is better than not moving forward at all. If you are really stuck and want to make a few bucks and gain your 15 minutes of fame write the show “Hoarders.” They may feature you and help you clean your house. But check to be sure that those things that are of value are resold and those not valuable are recycled.
Congratulations on your first step towards recovery. Clutter blindness is a part of what ever is happening in your life, depression, loss, trauma, there are many beginnings in this journey. The end is up to you. Need someone to talk it through, contact me, I am a great listener and on occasion do come up with some great ideas. Bless you, may the next step take you to your destination.
AARP Bulletin: When possessions rule your life
NPR Books: Hoarding: When Too Much ‘Stuff’ Causes Grief
Unclutter.com: Strategies for seeing clutter
Do you have an answer to this question? What comes to mind when you read this question?
Well, let me tell you this about me, have not clue. I was asked once if I could describe me. Who I am… My description was met with derision.
The comment following was simple yet profound. “You described what you do, not who you are.” What I do? All those titles and not one said who I am. Not then and not now.
How do you answer the question? Do you list the labels attached to you? Labels like mom, sister, father, brother, clerk, nurse, doctor, chief, bottle washer, housekeeper? Or what about woman, man, girl, boy? Who are you?
On a earlier post I made some comments about the phrase “I am.” About 2o years ago there was a commercial for Verizon, I think that was it. The people stood in a crowd and held up signs that said “I AM.” I thought, “Wow. What a profound comment.” Then I came across an article that said everything after the phrase “I am” denotes ownership of that word or description.
Sitting in 12-step meetings I listened to people introduce themselves using “I am.” Phrases like “I am an alcoholic or addict.” I began realizing that this meant this is who I am. I was not sure who I was but I did not want to own a disease, a dysfunction, especially when I watched what it represented in the world.
Define alcoholic, addict, gambler, or any other phrase that fits with a 12-stepper. It is a negative definition. One that nearly everyone I knew who used it, used it as an excuse for living their lives without hope. Lies, stealing, gossiping, it all remains in a person’s life until he or she decides to stop it. There should be a 12-step for this type of behavior.
An old saying that can be shifted to nearly anything: You can take the drunk out of the bar. But you cannot take the bar out of the drunk.
That which is defined as a drunk are the beliefs, the actions, the ideas of who and what one believes is true.
Who are you?
My answer today? I am…. My gender is female, woman, sexuality is heterosexual, age is 56 considered to be a crone or wise woman, my occupation is spiritual counselor, minister/priestess, student, coach…. I have many titles to describe me as a person. But who I am is the daughter of the Divine, a goddess and nothing less. I am filled with love. Tempered by my old beliefs and behaviors, the way I have always reacted to drama and crisis. These things are not me, but what I do. They are life lessons taught through experience beginning with my parents (step-father).
I AM: Divine, love, grace,
I AM: anger, trauma, nightmare.
These things are a part of me, the inner part that is seeking healing. When I let them speak the result is silence. But I have to let them speak.
Who am I? A woman of Divine guidance willing to change, to grow beyond human experience and embrace the Divine.
Bless you and know I am available to share your journey. Click the Services tab at the top of the page.
(The song titles: Who are you? were performed by the Who in 1978 (written by Peter Townsend) and Black Sabbath in 1973 (written by Black Sabbath). I like both versions. There is another one performed by Shades in 1977… )
There are few resources in this world, written in English, that I have not reviewed, read, experimented with, tried on for size, and either kept portions, all or none of them. I have been reading self-help books for over 20 years now, from alcoholism and addiction to co-dependency and domestic violence 12-step concepts. There is not one I can say that has had all the resources and answers I required. The amount of money I have spent is not calculable because I do not wish to consider how much I have tossed into my library, then donated to someone else. Not the point of this post anyway.
My point is that visualization is touted as the way to attract your heart’s desire. See yourself as you wish to be, see yourself living the life you want. Another step to include as the secret to the “Law of Attraction,” add feeling to your visualization. Be in the moment with your desires. Feel what it would be like to achieve your goals. Can you do this?
How can you know what it would feel like to achieve your goals? What would it feel like to not look at your bank account and wonder how you are going to pay this month’s bills or where your next meal will come from? I do not have a clue. Do you?
I have continued to “fake it till I make it.” I Continued to pretend that I might know what it feels like to be worry, fear, anxiety, and depression free. The problem is I have not a reference point, no memory of having ever lived in this manner. When I have it to spend, I spend it. I do not know what it would feel like to save my money, budget it so that each time I look, it “feels” like I have plenty. Rather, it feels like never enough. How to make a penny pay for a meal or ten, I know what it this feels like. How to ask for time to pay the rent and the bills, stress over a conversation with debt collectors, this I know how it feels. I have lived a life of poverty, never enough, always wanting for more, actually learning how not to want for anything.
What is the solution to learning how to visualize? My thoughts are to go to the type of homes you desire, walk around in them, hang out, take pictures of your self in the home. You can do this by attending open houses in the neighborhoods that meet your desires. Take a friend or your mate and a camera. You do not have to be anything more than a lookie loo. If asked you can tell them this is a homework assignment, you are building your vision board.
What about a check with loads of zeros? Got PhotoShop? Or another similar program? Make one… Fill in the entire check, make it look real. The print it out and frame it..
The car of your dreams? Go to the car lot and ask for a test drive to get a feel of driving your dream car. Get a picture of you in the car. Tell them it is a homework assignment. Sociology or psychology class. Be creative. Cannot take a test drive, sit in the car, close your eyes, let your senses fill you in, notice how you feel, remember it.
Vision boards are great for those who can imagine. But for those of us who have not reference, create it. Go visit those places or similar ones, get a feel, pretend it is yours. What does it feel like? Take plenty of pics with you in the frame. This is your reference.
Journal the feelings that come up for you, notice your body’s sensations, what draws your attention? Yeah, first get over the fear of doing these exercises. I feel the fear of rejection just writing about it. But I can tell you that once you do it, you will remember what it felt like to own it.
Give it a try. You won’t get arrested and no one is going to condemn you. If you are told to leave, then tell them thank you for assisting you with your assignment and find someone else to help. Smile and wish that person a great sale. Do not indulge in anger or shame… These are no longer necessary. Besides, if you allow this to hang out, it will be a permanent house guest. I do not know about you, but me? Sick and tired of being sick and tired. I like experiencing the great feelings and of ownership.
My next goal? To own a newer RV. Guess what I get to do? Yep, go visit a few RV dealerships, ask for pics of me in them, put them out for me to see. Remember how it feels to own one. Yep, watch for pics of me in the driver’s seat and laying out on the couch or the bed. Who knows. Not the kitchen, sorry, not so much domestic any more. 
Maybe I can hire a housekeeper, cook or a housewife? Who knows…
I send you my blessings and best wishes. May today be the prosperous, fun, loving day you hoped for. Peace be with you.
The month of August is a Muslim holiday, Ramadan. The linked article describes how during the entire month of August Muslims world wide will begin prayers are dusk and fast during the day. This is traditionally a time of reflection, prayers, and spiritual development.
Spiritual development is different in each religion. There are those of us who are not affiliated with a religion and so develop our spiritual contacts through a variety of practices. Those may include prayer, fasting, meditation, formalized rituals such as candle lighting and oil anointment may be included. The ritual is as extensive as those who practice.
For those of you who partake of Ramadan ritual I send you my blessings and may incorporate the evening prayers in my daily practices of spiritual development. I will be reading more about the Muslim practice of Ramadan to gain a greater understanding of the intent.
Ramadan begins in Indonesia – Channel NewsAsia.