I have been Blewing Thunder again, down here in the South!! I am just getting back into rhythm after a great visit with Kathryn's folks and family. It was probably the first time in that family setting without experiencing any kharmic exchanges, which I attribute to my progress in the last three years of the 90 Day Program.
After 900 miles put on the odometer, and lots of time to review, I am recognizing and realizing the progress I have made. I am being able to relate to each and every one of those that have been BLOGging and reaffirming how similar every one of us are. And relating to those who have not BLOGged, understanding how you feel.
For some of you that know me, you might think it is easy for me to talk. Well guess what! A little over 24 years ago, I sobered up. Through a 12 step program, and the group meetings, I was encouraged to share what was going on in my life. Filled with terror, I spoke anyway, often with armpits around my neck and sometimes concerned about wetting pants! Just pure terror. But more than anything else, I wanted to sober up and heal my life.
It took me the longest time to learn to get out of my head and into my heart. My ego kept me in my head. Bucky Fuller talked about ego suicide. He said this is where we could truly get into our life's work. I was told that is what would help me heal the old wounds.
The next level of terror came from when I had to look at myself and write down a moral inventory of me. Then I had to share it with another human being. I was so scared that I didn't think that I could do it honestly. But here again, I was told that if I did this, the compulsion for me to drink and do drugs would leave me. I was only as sick as my secrets.
Once again, the most important thing for me was that I wanted to live a life of quality. I wanted to live my life's work. The only way I could get present was to heal the wreckage of my past. For over 7 years I went to 12 step meetings and I learned a new way of living. It came through listening to other people share all of the events in their lives; the good, the bad, and the ugly. As a result of that, I came to understand how alike we all are. I learned who I was by hearing the stories of others.
Through another workshop I went to years ago, one thing that stands out for me, was how to release kharma. In talking with Kathryn, as she has assisted me in writing this post, she pointed out once again the medicine wheel; the equation "thoughts" (female left hand raised above the head) in the EAST, "feeling" (through the heart) in the SOUTH, "spoken word" (right hand down towards Mother Earth) in the WEST, and "emracing it with gratitude and enthusiasm" (hands encircled) in the NORTH; visualize a lightening bolt entering through the left hand, passing through the heart and out through the right hand into the ground, then encircling the whole.
The biggest key is having a witness to the spoken words. The witness is where the freedom comes, because another human being has heard, along with the creator. We can also honor artful disclosure, the wisdom to know the difference of when to share and who to share with. The more I can share and the more humble I can get, the more people I can assist in understanding that we are all one heart, truly. The paradox is the purest form of healing.
I was also told that if I wanted to keep this freedom, I would have to share this freedom with others. While down south with Kathryn's family, I got to notice the challenge that my brother-in-law has with alcohol, and the constant bickering between he and his wife, because of alcohol. Today I can see how much it is because of alcohol. Both of them are wonderful people, yet the kharmic exchange that gets locked in makes it almost impossible to get out.
And so what Kathryn and I did was to show them a different way to live. Not through promotion, just as a result of observing how we live as partners. We felt good about what we had to share with them, our true essence. And they had tears in their eyes and said "Thank you" when we had our good-byes.
I was once told that if I can see progress in someone else, then that means I am healing too-because I am the last one to be able to see myself. So I keep moving towards spiritual progress, rather than spiritual perfection. And that is part of how the blue circle came to be.
So I truly thank those that have shared. Our true desire is to create a safe space here, where people feel supported to share. In Anchorage we could hold a physical space for this, and our intention is for recreating this here. A safe and neutral space.
And I thank my Ancestors for giving me the courage to share. Aho.
Blew Thunder
