Living together requires sharing power whether in the family, in the village, in the city, in a nation or in the world. Arguden, Yilmaz - The Globalist
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Here is a link to my published article in Life As A Human
http://lifeasahuman.com/2013/arts-culture/culture/the-creation-of-turtle-island-ojibwe-creation-story/ Today I'm thinking about the special endowments we humans have of choice. We can write new programs for ourselves apart from instincts. This is why an animal is limited. If we live like an animal out of instincts and conditioning we will be limited. My favorite hero is Victor Frankel who used "the last of human freedoms" - that the oppressors could not take away. He could decide how the experience was going to affect him. But given choice he would not purposely put himself in the situation - he had only to deal with what was put on him.
I find myself in discussions about duality a lot. The bottom line being that there is no separation between God (a higher power) whatever you name it; and myself. Since I know that, its give me the power to set boundaries with people. If you've been an abused woman you have every right to set those boundaries. Let no one tell you that because you are one with God that you can handle the abuse and should. Its really all relative - yes, there is a fine line and sometimes you may opt to put up with some things. But if you have decided not to; then God has given you the courage to do so.
When you begin a journey to healing , empowerment and finding self you may find yourself separated from your group and you do not fit in. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz since she does not fit into the conventional tribe, her consciousness is her own to develop. On the journey you will discover many aspects of self. Like Dorothy, finding the child within her- she says "I'm a child, I've lost my way, I've got to get home. But the forces around her say, You're on your own kid, and its time to grow up.
I've left Bethlehem
and I feel free... I've left the girl they wanted me to be and some day I'll be born. Inspired by Paula Cole Yesterday I joined long time friends in ceremony I had not seen in awhile and I am reflecting on how sitting in a circle in prayer was nourishing and uplifting to my soul. It was a feeling of going home. My awareness takes me to the question of how would life have been different for you if you had had a place to go and be with mothers, grandmothers and elders. How would life have been different for you if you had been honored at the start of your menses with the wisdom of the women , having ceremony, gift giving, sharing a feast, singing and if the whole community had been present to honor you in your becoming - your sacredness.
The desire for self determination (determination by oneself or itself from outside influence) is a basic human inclination whether for political or personal independence. True liberation is a call to free yourself from limiting ideas and habitual behaviors. When you live in a constricted view of yourself, you suffocate your creativity, enthusiasm and joy. Moving beyond limitations you expand your sense of identity and exhilaration (condition of joyousness, gaiety) rises from your depths. Most people mistakenly believe that external forces limit their happiness - for example, when the kids move out, when I get rich, when I find the perfect mate...etc. then I will be happy.
Survivor: to survive after some life threatening event; keeping alive against all odds; a capacity for endurance; one who outlives others
Have you ever felt that you have not quite reached the pinnacle of fame, success, love or joy which you hoped all your efforts would bring? Often times though we have met our goals we still do not feel peace. When we strive to manifest external success sometimes we unconsciously or consciously have neglected our inner self. |
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