FEAR

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Wow! I don't know why I committed myself to writing about fear. I guess it is fitting for Halloween. It is such a huge subject. Fear can be so subtle we are hardly aware we are being influenced or it can be brash and offensive.

The huge part is it involves everything that is not love. The part of ourselves we project to the world is shaped by all the big and little dangers we think we see. Some peoples egos are a fortress the only purpose being protection. Part of growing up is dropping our protective shields and becoming who we really are which is love.

Fear is used in advertising, commerce, sales promotions, everything. What got me thinking to write a blog about fear was this political season. In my 83 plus years on Planet Earth I have been conscious of propaganda since I was about 10. I was 10 when WWII ended and it was sometime during the war that I realized all that was said was not true. I can say with fair certainty that this year there are more appeals to naked fear than I have experienced in 63 years.

All violence, whether it be individual or group [war] begins with fear. As far back as we can see in history we have been terrorized by leaders who used fear to get and maintain power. The basic formula is create division, set the groups against each other, crank up demonetization and then create the spark need for one group to attack the other.

The divisions in our society have been laying dormant [more or less] for a few generations. The coals of hatred, bigotry and all negativity are being fanned with gusto. It is scary but this is a blog about how not to be scared.

How do we react? Have you ever been at a family gathering and Uncle Bozo says something horribly obnoxious and you had the momentary realization that if no one reacted the crisis would pass harmlessly? When anyone fans the flames of hatred they are inviting you to join with them or react in opposition to them. Either way the negativity increases.

Look at it this way. Whenever a person spews out a pile of venom it creates a pool of ick [let's call it acid]. It lays there largely inert. If someone joins in it gets a bit larger. When we react with great emotion it is like throwing a rock in the pool and we can't know where it will splash. Our emotions are generally going to be dominated by our fearful reaction which validates the original spewer and adds to the general negativity. There are always ways of dealing with the venom spewers without making it worse. In the case of political issues; stay peaceful, stay calm but VOTE!

We need to hone our perception to what is true and what isn't. Does the message have any invitation to be afraid? Is the core of the message loving? Is the message one that benefits all? Does the message enhance our idea of Oneness?

We the people are gradually waking up. We are realizing we have been lied to for our whole lifetime and probably thousands of years. We are realizing that all wars, conflicts etc. have been created by those who wanted to enrich themselves with power and money. We know that we could sit down with any ordinary folk on the planet and have diner and a good conversation and come away richer for it. We know that the ordinary folk on this planet just want to live and love. We can look around us and see that some folk have been so used and exploited that they are in extreme want. We would as individuals reach out to help. We would wish our government would share in our awakening and reach out to the people of the world and give them all they need. Can you imagine how amazing this world could be if we used the resources we use for division and war for love and peace?

In the meantime don't step in or splash those pools of venom they will become harmless in a short time. We need to know that love is far more powerful than hate. The awakening cannot be stopped. See the present events as the crust on your septic tank; the pile of poop that rises to the top. I think it is happening so we can all see how blatantly we have been used and manipulated for thousands of years.

Spend a little time each day retreating to the center of your being. Reintroduce yourself to the love and peace that is there. That is what we are. Nothing on the outside can disturb us unless we let it in. The more we can hold on to who we really are the more the greater our light shines and the more we aid the awakening.

Let us all dress as great beings of light this Halloween.

Love and Peace, Gregg

GETTING BACK TO MY OLD SCHEDULE

I thought I would make, this the week, I got back to writing three days a week. We will see how that works out. I am gradually getting back to my old schedule. I washed dishes today. That was my job until I was too wobbly to stand up that long. I would like to relieve Jamie of that task.

I don't feel very creative and I don't have any burning issues to write about. Perhaps, Wednesday or Friday, I will address the issue of fear and especially how it is used politically to control people and create violence. I want to let some ideas percolate for awhile.

I was very pleased with the response I received with my last blog, DEATH. What an important subject. Do you suppose all the violence etc. on TV is an attempt to deal with our fear of death?

A member of our social group suggested we form groups to discuss the subject of death. Nothing got off the ground and I have to say I didn't put much energy into it, although I thought it was a marvelous idea. I have two family members, a daughter and a daughter-in-law, who work in hospice situations. They have much experience working with the dying and their families. I would like to get their ideas on whether group discussions with ordinary folk about death and dying would be helpful.

I went through much unpleasantness, if not agony, getting over my fear of death. How could I be helpful to others? Would writing more about it be useful?

My mind is now focusing on the general topic of fear and how dangerous and disabling it is. It destroys individuals, families and countries. I will write about it this week. In the meantime, pay attention to how many times we are invited to fear, especially by campaigning politicians. It is crazy. It is dangerous.

Love and Peace, Gregg

DEATH

I have written on this subject before and now I am even more qualified. Ever since I received the diagnoses of a squamous cell esophageal tumor and the doctor told me I would be dead in 4 to 5 months without treatment, I have been looking in the eyes of death. I didn't choose treatment over death because of shyness about death but because the death he described was no fun. I, eventually, would not be able to swallow my spit and no eating or drinking. I suppose life support would be used for awhile. I didn't ask him.

I saw various things in the eyes of family members, I think some thought I was denying my fate, I wasn't; death was not the issue for me. I don't know when most folks get over their apprehension with death. Most people my age seem to have resolved much of their fear, however I knew a man in a nursing home who was terrified of death and he was in his nineties.

I know what it is like to be afraid of death. In my early thirties I had three anxiety attacks that were based on that fear. The first one was triggered by the thought that life was just like falling off a tall building, the ground was coming at me swiftly and there was no way to stop it.

I couldn't imagine not being. I had no belief to comfort me. Getting to where I am now was gradual and I am still in evolution.

I don't remember where I was at spiritually in my early thirties. I was Catholic until I was fourteen or so. Eight years of parochial school and a priest who taught of a cruel God, helped me to conclude religion was nonsense. I suppose I was into one of my quasi atheistic states or agnosticism. I thought of my myself as an atheist, but I never really was. An atheist believes there is no god. How can you decide one way or another? Either way is a decision without enough information.

During this time of suspended belief, I read two versions of the bible cover to cover; King James and the Douay. I wanted to compare them to see where the difference lay between Catholic and Protestant. I couldn't find a clue. I read the Koran and the key works of all the major religions. I was a man with much information but little knowledge. So when I was in my early thirties I still did not know who I was, I did not understand 'being'.

After those anxiety attacks I must have asked the Universe for knowledge. Of course I was familiar with reincarnation from my Eastern studies, but suddenly I was coming across articles and books about it in the modern Western world. And stories about near death experiences seemed to drop in my lap. Furthermore, I was a psychotherapist at the time, and I begin to get patients who were on the same quest I was; one had a near death experience, others had experienced hypnotic-regression to passed lives.

I am a qualified hypnotherapist. I only used it to help people give up habits like smoking. Now I began to use it to explore passed lives. I was amazed at how passed life experiences fit into my patients tasks to deal with in this life.

I could write about this for hours but to make a long story short I finally concluded we are not bodies. We are the energy that animates the body. That is our 'being'. The energy that is us is the same energy the Universe is made of. I believe it is Unconditional Love. All those silly ego ramifications are attached to the body and if one would examine them they would find them fear based.

When we sit here in our bodies and let all our concerns float away, we can connect with beingness. That is what we are. What we are is beautiful. What we are is Love. What we are is ONE. One with each other and one with 'all there is'.

At this point in my life I can't imagine being afraid of death. I love this beautiful body that has served me so well and no I don't want to leave it yet. I am eager to see how the craziness in the world is going to end. I want to be here for the grand awakening. Yet, if I leave this body today or tomorrow that is okay too. I will continue to serve wherever I go.

From the state of our being we can conclude there is no death.

Love and Peace, Gregg

SEEKING PARADISE

We all want love. We all want joy. We all want peace. We look out upon the world and we see nothing but craziness. What should we do? We were dreaming of paradise on the earth!

Well it doesn't do any good to criticize, rant and rave and especially to get angry. Anger can be seductive because it can make us feel virtuous for a moment, however it only adds to the negativity.

Two things we should remember, the power of perception and the starting place, the state of our own being. When we look out upon the world we don't just see the craziness. There are loving things too. We have let out minds be trained to focus on the nuttiness. It is possible to reverse this programming and see only love. For beginners it is better to avoid looking at the world through the idiot box etc. because it is so slanted toward craziness.

We need to begin with ourselves, our state of being. When we contain nothing but love, we have nothing to give but love. In truth, we are nothing but love because the ego stuff is not real. But as long as we peer through it, our perception is distorted.

So we want paradise, let us create paradise within us. Let us let all fear thoughts pass through without leaving their ugly trace. Continuously bathe in the love of the Universe and wash away all negativity.

Love is infectious! Your love will glow. Folks around you will respond to it and feel an attenuation of their own negativity. When we look out on the world, our minds will select the loving to focus on and we will add love to the world as a healing balm.

We will change the world by loving it. After-all we are one. We are powerful creators. We change what we see by how we perceive it.

Unfortunately, our minds operating separately from our hearts, can only analyze and judge. The mind alone will always be dysfunctional and at the same time pride itself of the opposite. The mind can only see clearly with a well spring of love from the heart.

Let us remember, when we find ourselves judging we are not seeing clearly.

So we want to live in paradise? Do we have paradise inside us? We can. We are love. We were created by a loving universe. Every moment we are confronted by the choice, to love or not love. Let us choose wisely.

Love and Peace, Gregg

STILL HERE

I am not very good at seeing my blogging future. I thought I would be blogging three times a week long since.

I finished my fifteen weeks of Radiation and Chemotherapy September 7^th and we moved here on the 9^th. I was warned that I would feel worse the two or three weeks after the treatment stopped. I wasn't prepared for the ups and downs; feeling great for a couple days then crashing into an incredible weak state. I am told by my Docs I am doing great and these events are to be expected considering the intense degree of radiation. It has made my return to full time blogging difficult. I am getting much better and several times I planned to blog and something came up. I don't dare make any more predictions yet.

I have yet to walk the outside perimeter of my house. I don't know where my fuse box is. Well, I guess it is a breaker box now. I am just beginning to familiarize myself with my surroundings. When I first moved in I would see the full moon shining through the bedroom window curtains. I don't know how many nights passed before I realized that can't be the moon. I spread the curtains and saw that it was big light hanging from a pole quite a ways a way. I am just getting to the place where I am able to explore my environs.

I have been so turned off by the news lately. Ahhhhhhhhh it is awful! The divisiveness! Everybody stuck in their little camps ready to through their poop at the folks in the next camp. The vileness of the political Ads has reached the lowest level I have seen in my lifetime.

What happened to Oneness. Where has our connection gone? It seems hopeless, yet I talk to folks and everything seems fine. Everyone I meet is friendly, loving and I see no reflection of the craziness that comes out of the idiot box.

What can we do to counter the insane media? We should declare a media free holiday. I can't think of what to call it. For one day a week, Saturday maybe, we become media free and get to know our neighbors. In Summer, groups of families could meet for cookouts. In Winter we could meet in each other's houses. Occasionally, we could meet once a week in larger gatherings. In most communities there are places available. Many pastors will let people use their church, sometimes schools are available. I have spent the last 43 years in a rural community. I have heard some of the best music, seen some of the best plays and have been entertained all around by the folks I live with.

It is amazing the talent that exist in every community. We don't have to depend on the idiot box to be entertained. We certainly don't need them to tell us how to think.

We need to get back to valuing our togetherness. We will discover those differences espoused by the media do not reflect who we are. Most people are searching, in innocence, for some kind of happiness and sanity. Of course, many of us are way off base, but when you look past the error in thinking, we know them.

Love and Light is our only reality. All else, is painfully created ego illusion.

Love and Peace, Gregg

WAITING

When is that guy going to blog? He keeps saying he is getting better. Well he is. At least the doctors say so.

This last week has been one of the most eventful, yet sometimes boring, week of my life. How can it be both? I am not sure I can explain.

It was characterized by up and downs. Some days I would feel okay and the next day I would be in the dumper. I had two Doctors Appointments last week, one a wind up with my Radiation Doc and one with the Doctor supervising my general health.

My Radiation Doctor was enthused about how well I did. When I pointed out how weak I still was, he emphasized what a difficult program they put me through, especially the last five days. I didn't realize how intense my treatment was, although, therapist kept remarking on how tough I was. He felt it was expected that I would have these weak days. He was sure I turned the corner and would feel remarkably better in a week or ten days.

My other Doctor, also, felt I was doing great. She kept saying how happy she was, I was feeling better. The lab took five vials of blood shortly before the interview, she said how great the results of the test were. This all gives me great encouragement.

Okay, why am I not more happy? I know I am waiting. It occurred to me because I didn't want to write a blog and I asked myself, “Why?” I have a big day coming up Tuesday. They are going to do a total body scan to determine if I am free of my affliction. I suspect it has been weighing on my mind for a while. It was scheduled a couple months ago. As the day grows nearer it becomes more powerful.

I certainly know better. I have been teaching people for over forty years that happiness can only be found in the present and it is possible to pull your focus out of the past or future. Now is the only time there is; the future doesn't exist. I have gone through many difficult times by remembering to focus only on the “now”. When we love ourselves and our lives now, we shape the future. I am going to let the love of the Universe flow through me and bask in it.

I have learned and relearned so much! I don't know that I can emphasize enough how amazed I am at the care I received. When I left the radiation clinic I felt humbled. Could I return the love I felt was bestowed on me? Almost everyone I met was an angel! I have had much criticism of our corporate/capitalist medical system. I am glad to discover it doesn't contaminate the doctors, nurses, lab techs etc. who do the hands on work. I was treated like I was a precious member of their family.

Love and Peace, Gregg

I WILL GET BETTER

A blog! On Tuesday yet! Well I thought about blogging yesterday and couldn't bring myself to it. I can't write my usual blog, including observations of the world, I am isolated in my chair in my home, we haven't made enough acquaintances yet to expect folks to drop over. So I sit in my isolation staring at that big faceless box in the corner. Occasionally, I push the button on the remote. It is like a canon spewing garbage. I can't tell a fact from an opinion Everything seems twisted and bizarre, negative outweighing positive 10 to 1. I pick up my iPad, at least I can choose my propaganda.

Here is what is happening. The docs told me the worst would come after the radiation was over. One said,” You are going to hate us before you get better.” Since they are the most loving folks I ever met that won't happen, but I get the hyperbole. For me the the worst is not pain but incredible weakness. In the last week or so I felt there most be something else wrong. Naomi, our youngest daughter stopped by last Night. I related my concerns to her. In about five seconds she read from her phone the very symptoms I was having. In some cases they last for months. Then she said glibly, “all that you have to do is google it.” That was actually very reassuring. 

At 3PM I have the wrap up visit with the radiation doctor. I am sure he will say, “You are really doing well.” He is very personable and very interested. He will enjoy hearing about any idiosyncratic responses I have.

I am getting stronger it won't be long.

Love and Peace, Gregg