BUMPS IN THE ROAD

There are few bumps on the road to enlightenment. Let me describe yesterday's.

My everyday chores consist of taking care of the animals and washing the dishes. Other things arise during the week: Mondays I blog; Tuesday mornings we have a neighbor visit us for a couple hours; Wednesday I blog; every other Thursday the cleaning lady comes and we clear out of here at 10:30 and return by 1:30 in the afternoon. We go for brunch and shop; Friday I blog; Saturday is recycling day and other odd things missed during the week; Sunday I often do the our finances, pay bills and balance the checkbook. Everyday, I find time for doing the crossword puzzle and a little nap and meditation.

Were a spontaneous bunch, so this noway gives a complete picture. We go out fairly often and have company.

But if you note every other Thursday, the one the cleaning lady doesn't come, I have only my routine chores. I look forward to those Thursdays as days that I have more time to read, nap or whatever. Yesterday was that day. Watering the house plants was the only thing that needed doing besides my regular chores. I think everything was fine when I awoke, but a heaviness developed as the day wore on. I usually can snap my way out of a mild depressive state. This time it was tougher. By early afternoon I was tortured with self critical thoughts. Not any big things; just little things that I might be embarrassed about. My usual methods of escaping the past didn't seem very effective. It was as if my ego called in an army of discarnate spirits to aid in the torture. Well maybe that is an exaggeration. But this was more than, the usual efforts of my ego, to put me in my place.

I had had just heard of somebody burning sage to clear their home of negative energies, so I tried that. I don't know if it worked but it filled the house with a nice aroma. I told Jamie about my state of consciousness and she told me to take off my shoes and socks. She gently massaged my feet and rubbed frankincense ointment on my soles.

I began to feel better and since it was five o'clock, hey, I thought, a martini would hit the spot. It did and soon I was feeling great. I need to add a note here, that alcohol is not the friend it used to be. It is occasionally good medicine and I find a few drinks at social gatherings great, but regular use, doesn't work for me.  I feel better and sleep better when I do not imbibe. It may have something to do with being 78.

Well yesterday is behind me and I feel great today! Our egos don't like the idea that we are getting ready to scuttle them. I attempt to reassure my ego, it isn't going to disappear, but only going to be in service of spirit and not be in the drivers seat. However, the ego is used to running things. It likes to keep your universe orderly by judging everything and using fear to keep you from realizing you don't need it.

The light is shining bright and it is getting easier and easier to ignore the caterwauling of the ego. However, the ego is very tricky and when we let our guard down and let fear and doubt enter in, it can have a field day.

I was struggling with past issues yesterday. I have some understanding of 'the why' but not completely. I don't think we need to know. We can replace these negative states and thoughts with love. It takes vigilantes. The sooner you catch yourself in an ego dominate state the better. It can be tough. The ego is clever with its disguises.

Giving up the past is an important task for us, who are on the path to enlightenment. As long as we think the past has value, we open ourselves up to the ego's chicanery. Remember the past is past. It no longer exist. For our purposes, it never existed. We live now. We can swim in an ocean of unconditional love.

Love and Peace,  Gregg