OTHER WORDS OF WISDOM FROM OUR COMMUNITY


• From a second year prisoner student about one point in his daily spiritual practice:

"This has been a difficult month for this assignment. It seems that each time I attempt to perform sacred rites, Prayer, offering, there is something there at the same time to interrupt and interfere, and added to this my own motivation to perform these practices has been very low, and almost I don't care if I do these or not, and more of an obligation than a desire to do them. My thought is that what does it matter if I do them or not nothing changes, and it just doesn't matter at all. I do recognize this as being a low point and that it will pass. I do hate going through them. But it seems inevitable that these times come. Faith is low motivation is low. Surley there is a lesson here. Perhaps it is that no matter how I feel or what's going on around me that I need to press through and myself be faithful to commitments."

And from a second year in-residence student:

The leaves have long since fallen Art from a Prison Graduate: And the hot summer sun is gone too Laughing Otter The winter wind blows cold all around me I pull my collar up closer to keep me warm And I breathe in the fresh crisp air It bites at my face yet it gives me a lift The snow looks so soft where it lays on the resting Earth And the ice is like chandeliers hanging from the trees Sending prisms of light to the snow and ice covered Earth The Earth now a sea of spheres and glistening forms It looks forbidding and harsh and suspended in time Until you see the glow at the Center And feel the warm invitation to also stop for a while and rest. Jan, 1-7-99

Going into the Second Year from a Prisoner Student:

"I hope this will help you. I know that my life was not good. But then I sent you a letter and then you sent me a letter back that was the day when my life became a new life for me. And now I know that I say that I love people with all of my heart. I know when I get out of here I can help people all over. And with all the help you gave to me will let me help some one out, I have to do more work so I can do this. I know that it has helped me and gave me a new life that is why I need all the help I can get. I know that it has been a very powerful step on the Spiritual journey for me. I know that all of the exercises that I've been doing they have helped me. I know they have been teaching me how to live and to love other people. And how to be happy. I don't know how to say what I have seen. I know that I will keep on with all the things that is for me to do. I hope that you will let me go on with this. Can you send me the 2nd year? Thank you."James


THE AGE OF KALI YUGA (A wisdom teaching from the East)

+ In this age all the collected wisdom and teachings of the past ages will be made available to all people - but most people will not be interested.

+ The first decision to be made is whether one wishes to deal with magical or divine forces at all. The 2nd act is the process of familiarization. And lastly comes "identification" (teaching).

+ Three choices have to be made. Whether to be: 1. a Repository - a bowl or holder of the wisdom 2. a Generator - one who furthers the system, helps to add to and complete it. 3. or a Gateway - helps to open the system to other people.

+ Map your unspoken reality borders by listing those things you consider taboo, forbidden or negative in relation to your spiritual work. Where won't you go? What won't you do? What would cause you to stop or alter working on this path? (This is an honest description of your personal fears, childhood programs and moral precepts. You must define what you are willing to have relationship with and what you are willing to let touch you.)

+ Then write what is required for your path.

What offerings are required? 1. What are the love offerings, the devotions required? 2. What are the energy offerings? How much time do you need to spend? What ceremonies, rituals, meditations, etc., are required (deeds, behaviors)? 3. What physical offerings are required (objects)? (water or other liquids, special herbs, parts of your body, money, etc.)

+ We need to remember that it was the industrial culture that set the goal of protection from harm and discomfort. Primal cultures see spiritual growth as more important than comfort or safety. Staying alive and living life to a ripe old age was never the goal of the old ones. If that happened, it meant that the fates had a reason. Living life in sacred relationship to life was (is) the goal of Earth peoples.