MARCH SNOWS

I awoke to about two inches of fresh snow. I had a dentist appointment first thing this morning. I finished my chores late and now it is time to blog.

If the forecast holds true, we will be snowed in again Monday. This Winter seems reluctant to let hold of its icy grip. Perhaps it is a metaphor for the, seeming, continued grip of the old world. This Winter has not been good to me. I am sure there is some benefits I don't see right now. But I experience it as long and dreary. From any objective standard, it hasn't been bad, but I have been wanting it over for two months.

I was hopeful that the new pope would be a good person to oversee the dissolution of the Papacy. It is over! Will it go gracefully or in anguish? If the reports are true, he is not the person to do the job with Grace. He sided with, the most conservative of the church, against liberation theology and fired two Jesuit priest who were later murdered by the Argentinian dictatorship. I don't know if there is a connection between the firing and the murders, but his detractors, say there is. We will see. Everything will come out.

Despite my ability to see the shining of the light everywhere, I have been overwhelmed with the horror of the news lately. I like news. I don't listen to television news much anymore; for one thing, Jamie can't stand it. It doesn't, usually, affect me that much, but I don't get anything out of it either. I still like to read the paper. In the last couple weeks, I have been appalled by the negativity and plain stupidity of the reported news.

I just reread the foregoing paragraphs. It doesn't sound like I am bright and shining today. Well, I can't be on top every moment or maybe I can. Every once in awhile the weariness that chases me catches up and I need to let go, relax, and let the light shine it away.

I am convinced, that if we could see the truth of who we are, we would be estatic all the time. We get caught up in our own thought streams that are influenced by past negativity. They don't even have to be identifiable thoughts, they can be old feelings that are still available because we need to give up our attachment to some element of the past. As we move out of the past, really let it go, our perception of the present changes.

In fact we are doing that, right now, collectively. As more and more people understand they are the authors of their experience, they begin to bring more love in to their lives and spark love in their neighbors.

There will be a coming together of like minded people soon. I think people, who have a vision of the new world, will be gathering together to bring their vision to fruition.

Love and Peace,  Gregg

FORGIVENESS II

There is much more I have to say about forgiveness. I didn't talk about forgiving yourself and I didn't connect it with our sense of worthiness.

The most difficult problem is the forgiving of self. Perhaps not so surprising, the ego resist your forgiving of others, but really digs in its heels at the idea of forgiving yourself. There lies the ego's ultimate control. And this goes back to, at least, two thousand years of programming.

We have been programmed for control and eventual slavery. Attacking our self-worth has been a fruitful way of maintaining control. Folks who are unsure of their worthiness don't demand much. They are easily cowed.

Control by an elite group predated Christianity and so did the concept of original sin. However, the early Christian church used it as a cornerstone of its control mechanism. Can you imagine anything more diabolical than original sin? So you are born unworthy and destined for purgatory and can only be purified by a priest in an institution that you have to support. How could anything be more awful and transparently controlling? What kind of a God would approve of this nonsense? That makes God the devil. You are born on this beautiful, fruitful planet only to find you are condemned by something your mythological ancestors did. Hey! Give me a break! What kind of nonsense is this? What happened to the God of Love? Where is love in an institution that would do that to its people?

The church is not the only institution that uses your sense of unworthiness for control. It is rampant in this old world. All our institutions, in some way, demand you prove yourself worthy and hold that judgement over your head.

All through our history, groups of people have seen this reality. Some have rebelled and have been quickly put down. Some have called for evolution and have been ridiculed and marginalized. There never was the sheer mass of people that can 'see' as there is now. We have passed the critical mass. We cannot be stopped. We will create paradise.

Why is forgiveness so important in this scenario? We are soon to see how lied to and manipulated we have been. It is very possible, that nothing you hold true is true. It is going to boggle your mind. Yet, we were the willing participants in the creation of this old world because we were convinced we deserved nothing better.

We have to rise above this struggle. We are co-creators. We get the world we want. It feels good to rail against injustice and be indignant about the dishonesty and pain of this awful world. However, any involvement that causes negative emotions keeps you stuck and neutralizes the love you want to pour into the creation of a new world.

Accept the fact that you, in some way, participated in the horror of the old world. See it for what it is. Then turn your eyes to a vision of a world made of love.

We need to forgive ourselves for our participation in the negativity of the old world. Only forgiveness will wipe the slate clean; then we are free to create with love.

WE ARE WORTHY OF PARADISE. WE ARE WORTHY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

We need to be able to stand on the Earth, our toes deeply into the fertile soil, and with our arms outstretched, proclaim our sovereignty and the oneness of man, the oneness of man with the universe and the acknowledgement of God as Unconditional Love.

Love and Peace,  Gregg

FORGIVENESS

We had rain over the weekend. It didn't help much to melt the snow, but it created a skating rink of the driveway and the paths, too, are treacherous. It makes doing the chores interesting.

I don't have the wisdom to do justice to today's topic. It is the most important thing that we individually and collectively need to do if we are to have individual or world peace. Intellectually, it is simple. You say, "I forgive you". But forgiveness is in layers; you haven't forgiven if the hurt still comes to your mind. You haven't forgiven if the memory of the hurt still guides you in some way, no matter how small. If you are wary of the person who hurt you, either the threat is real and, you shouldn't be standing so close to a hot stove, or your forgiveness isn't complete.

Even if you have trouble forgiving completely, your intent to forgive is very powerful and will be freeing both to you and the forgivee. The importance of forgiveness cannot be overstated. Genuine peace awaits forgiveness.

Peace comes when you hold no one else responsible for what bugs you. If you have the urge to blame something or somebody else; you have something yet to forgive.

Despite my intent, I haven't forgiven completely. Examining myself intellectually, I cannot see how I have left anybody or any situation unforgiven. Yet, I have feelings arise, occasionally, that can only occur when one is still holding on to some pain or grief. These little capsules of hurt that exist in our psyche get smaller and smaller as one doesn't reinforce the feelings that they generate. When you are invited to feel a past pain, you can look at it and dismiss it and every time you do it, it becomes less important. Soon it will fade away completely.

One thing that helped free me; was seeing that everybody is innocent. We are, all, in these bodies, trapped by our ego generated perception. People that hurt are hurting. They are trapped in a dismal picture of a dangerous world. They are temporarily blind to love. They are innocent of intentional wrong doing. 

Yes there are others, some in high places, who appear to do intentional harm. These are people, who are so damaged, that they cannot believe that love is real. To them all 'soft' feelings are suspect and only used for manipulation. Although, some of these folks do immense damage, withholding your forgiveness only hurts you. If you spent a few minutes being them, you would understand their painful emptiness.

On close examination, everyone is innocent. Those tortured souls, who do not, yet, know love, will need to have experiences to help them see. Some will need to be locked up and separated from the rest of us for societies protection. They need love, not punishment. We may still lack the means to treat their afflictions, but, we do know how to treat them as human beings.

As the world collapses around us, many in high places will fall and many of these people will need to be secured away from society for our protection. Resist the urge to be scornful. It is good to celebrate the freedom their arrest will bring. Be clear, however, that they need our love and forgiveness to help them turn to the light.

We have been waiting for a long time. We are now on the verge of some great changes. Continue to pour your love onto the world. The world is grateful for your every loving intention. Hearts are opening! Minds are understanding! It won't be long.

Love and Peace,  Gregg

LOVE

We are sitting here with at least fifteen inches of snow. The temperature highs remain in the thirties; the snow is going nowhere, for now. But soon! Spring is definitely in the air. We may have rain mixed with the snow tomorrow. In the second week of March, last year, the temps were in  the 70s and 80s. That was unusual, we are actually very close to the long term averages. In the sixties, we had several incidences of 20 degrees below zero F in March.

Jamie and I went out to our favorite restaurant last night. She had wall-eye and I had a t-bone. It was nice to get out. We missed going out a few times, when we normally would have. We hope to make up for that in the next few weeks.

I write a lot about love. I urge people to love everybody and everything. I know folks sincerely try, then they react to something and all goes in the toilet. Sure, you are responsible for your reactions, too. That is another discussion, however.

One of our Great Beings said, "Love your neighbor as yourself". I am sure he had a twinkle in his eye; because the trouble is, we do. We sure have trouble loving ourselves. We can only love others to the extent that we love ourselves.

We have been carefully trained to not love ourselves. We have been trained to be contemptuous of ourselves. Self criticism is encouraged. People are expected to judge themselves. Loving yourself is not ego. Ego is a defensive posture against everybody else. To be egotistical is not love for self. It is fear that self is not good enough.

Love knows oneness. If you love yourself you automatically love others. We have been trained not to regard ourselves. Some of us have learned to pamper our bodies; that is okay, but we are not bodies. Do you like who you are? Are you happy with yourself? Do you hold yourself in esteem? Do you know you are lovable?

You are lovable! You are perfect spirit! All of us have an equal contribution to make. That may be hidden from you now; but you will see it. As you look for the love in your neighbor, you will begin to see it in yourself. Please, take some time, everyday, to sit quietly and focus on the love all around you and inside you. You may notice nothing at first but if you bring peace to your mind, you will begin to feel the swelling of love inside you.

We have been so programed to judge ourselves, that we don't recognize when it is happening. That old saying that, we judge others by the way we judge ourselves, is true. We do criticize others for what we are, afraid, are our faults.

Fortunately, the earth is ablaze in light right now and all are being uplifted. It is easier and easier to give up judgement of ourselves and our neighbors.

Many folks are disappointed that there has not been more change. We expect there would be greater evidence of old world collapse by now and stronger dawning of the New Age. The powers that be are doing everything to maintain the facade. The shell of the old world is getting thinner and thinner. They won't be able to prop it up much longer. There has been real and observable change in us folks. Look at yourself. Look at your neighbors. They are beginning to see how crazy the world is. They are ready to give up war. They are ready to give up seeing everybody as an enemy. They won't be seduced by fear anymore. They know that governments are only here to serve a sovereign people. There is no doubt about it, the awakening is well on the way and cannot be stopped.

Love and Peace,  Gregg

LIFE ON THE FARM

I thought we had dodged the brunt of the snowstorm. Monday night we had only a heavy dusting where the cities and other regions had a couple inches of snow. But, Tuesday Morning we woke up to about a foot. I guess Mother Nature didn't want to leave us out.

Naomi was the only one who had to get out; she had a test [nursing school] which she couldn't miss. We were plowed out shortly after noon. She made it to school without incident, but on the way home, slipped off the road. She called and reported she was stuck badly and the rear of the car was still on the road. Thoughts of tow trucks, the car causing an accident if left on the road overnight etc. etc. past through my mind. I grabbed a shovel and went out to find her [she was about fifteen minutes away]. Before I reached the place where she went into the ditch, I saw a car approaching and slowing down, it was her van. She had been pulled out by a passing motorist, who had the right vehicle and equipment. What began as a traumatic event, turned out to be worthy of celebration. On the way to pick her up, I was aware of the thoughts that passed through my mind, but I didn't indulge them and I was able to maintain peace. I was very gratified to experience the happy conclusion, but not surprised.

Remember the old rooster; the magical one that disappeared for four or five days? Upon his return I ensconced him in the broody area of the barn where he would be safe. In the last couple weeks he has healed up well and except for his assumed loneliness, he seemed just fine. Yesterday, when I went in to check on him and give him water, I found him dead. I examined him and found his neck had been chewed on. I know of two predators who will first eat the neck meat, a skunk and a great horned owl. There is no way an owl could be in that area of the barn. Of course, I don't see how a skunk could be either. That area, that we call our broody cage, has been safe from predators for the last twenty five years. I couldn't see how an animal big enough to kill a ten pound, healthy, rooster could get in. Chickens can't see at night. Skunks have good night vision. Skunks can grab a chicken off the roost and dispatch them quickly. We have had it happen before. Over the years skunks have been our worst predators. Still a ten pound rooster! That has never happened.

Living on a farm, you have these experiences. I wasn't upset. Puzzled perhaps, but not upset. I do look for messages that life brings me. I am not sure if there is a message here.  In a way the skunk, or whatever it was, did me a favor. Caring for a lone chicken in the barn was an extra chore and I had planned to let him run free when the weather improved. It would have been difficult to lock him up at night and so he would be vulnerable to just what happened. There was a time when our life depended on what we raised and we would have eaten him by now. And that was always a possibility, but he was a friend and I wasn't eager to go that route.

The only thing to do, is love and love some more. Love without attachment. That rooster did not have to stay alive for me. I don't have to be angry with that skunk who was just looking for a meal and I can be thankful for him that he showed me that a predator can, now, get into the broody cage. By the way, I think it was via an under ground tunnel probably dug by a woodchuck. I spotted an area where the floor was raised up. 

Life comes to us everyday. According to our attitude it can be an adventure in love or a tragedy. The circumstances can be the same. I am learning to love everything. This Winter has been a test. It seems like every week, something happens which could be seen as a tragedy or at least very inconvenient, yet, when you pause and look for peace inside, suddenly it is not a big deal. Our experience and the very perception of our surroundings, seems to be molded by our attitude which is governed by our thoughts.

I am blogging early because I need to go the the feed store. My little truck is on the fritz and I need to use the van to pick up feed and get the milk from the Amish. Normally, I would go to the feed store and Jamie would get the milk. This way we get to do it together.

Have a wonderful day and love everything.

Love and Peace,  Gregg
 

PEACE

The good news is that we have dodged the worst of the snowstorm today, of course, we are suppose to get a bunch more snow tonight. The not so good news is that the internet has been down until a couple minutes ago; I might not have much time to blog. Then I don't know what I am going to say anyway.

I think, often, that peace is the basis of a satisfactory life. Joy and those loving feelings, are transitory in the absence of peace. How do you maintain peace? First: don't expect the outside to be peaceful, so you can be peaceful on the inside. That is a common mistake. Sure, you can either demand or look for quiet when you want to meditate; but, in your everyday life experience, you have peace or you don't. You can learn to have peace on the inside and maintain it by not getting caught up in your thought stream. That is one thing meditation teaches us. If you want peace you must seek it and extend it. People who have reached the level of peace, that the rest of us aspire to, bring peace by their very presence, wherever they go. We can, too. 

Some people have trouble finding peace because of anger that sits quietly in their being waiting for expression. They were folks who were brought up to believe being angry is wrong or dangerous, so they hide it from themselves, and it comes out passively or in a rare explosion.

There is a difference between being angry and getting angry. One can get angry at all kinds of outrageous things, but once it is expressed it is over. Being angry is like a psychological carbuncle that poisons the system.

Anger is a tricky emotion. It can feel good if you feel helpless. Expressing anger can lift you out of mild depression and it can help you feel empowered and in control. However, it is destructive if embraced for any length of time.

When I was a psychotherapist, I spent a great deal of time helping people see who they were angry with {usually parental figures} and once they were able to feel and appreciate the level of their anger, I helped them forgive. The forgiveness part is most essential.

If we accept that we create our own experience, then we must recognize that anger is a way of blaming something or someone for how we feel. That, of course, gets us stuck because only we can be responsible for how we feel.

We are living in an outrageously, painful world. It is natural to be angry at the injustice all around us. Translate the anger into compassion for those in pain and look for the love and peace inside you.

Anger has never worked to bring positive change. The great ones of both ancient and modern times have eschewed it. However, to reiterate, don't think of anger as "sin" and hide it from yourself. That makes matters worse. Accept, that part of the human condition, is that you will get angry. Look at it with honesty and let it go through forgiveness.

If we are going to bring paradise on earth, we are going to do it with love. That means being peaceful.

Love and Peace,  Gregg

TIME TO CLEAN-UP OUR ACT

Yesterday Jamie said, "The Amaryllis". Instantly, I realized she was commenting on the fact that I had forgotten to pot them. For those who are not familiar with the plant; many people pot the bulbs around Thanksgiving, so they bloom at Christmas time. I usually pot mine after the new year, so they will bloom in the dreary part of February. After it warms up in Spring I take them out of the pots and plant them in the garden until fall, when I dig them and put them in the basement. Many people leave them in the pots and place the whole pot in the soil for the Summer.

I don't know how I forgot them. No wonder February was dreary! They add a lot with their red, white, pink and salmon colored blooms. I have raised them for twenty five years and some of my bulbs most be that old. I will get them potted today or tomorrow and they will flower later this month.

Is it time to clean up your act? Are you happy most of the time? Do you love yourself? Are you nice to yourself? The incoming light on the planet is intense. We are surrounded by unconditional love. Now is the time to see what is keeping you from experiencing the loving being you are.

Do you know when you are being a jerk? Ask your wife or husband they know. Husbands and wives are experts on each other. Not that they are always right; in fact they are frequently wrong, because they are observing and reacting through their own ego. However, they are right that something needs correcting in your consciousness. It will behoove you to listen carefully; connect the dots, even if they are not completely accurate, what they observe is important information for you. Generally our problems boil down to being afraid of love. We are uncomfortable in a situation where we feel love coming at us, we are out of control in the presence of unconditional love. If you don't love yourself, you won't believe anybody can really love you, and you diminish them in your mind if they do. You then, in some way, will treat them with disrespect.

I speak about this with first hand knowledge, as this is one of the areas in which I am learning. I am a slow learner. I pick up things swiftly at an intellectual level, but at an emotional level I lag behind. When I was a therapist, I was amazed at how some people changed who were in deep denial about something once they 'saw'. I have had clients who were not aware of their real feelings about a parent or sex or whatever. When they were helped to see, it was like bursting a boil, they started to change and got better. It was great to see.

 Then there are people like me. We don't deny, at least at a surface level. When I first read Sigmund Freud's "Introduction to Psychoanalysis" it made perfect sense to me. I had no resistance to the concepts. Intellectual learning about myself was no problem, the assortment of unsavory things people deny about themselves, I had no problem accepting at an intellectual level. However, accepting those things did not make me feel better about myself. Learning for me was like wearing away a stone. Looking back I see that I have come a long way. There have been a few 'aha' moments but mostly it has been a slow process.

Whichever type of learner you are, it is time now to get the act together. There is no better time. Love surrounds you. Help is available. Your most intimate relations are a good barometer. Listen to your husband, wife and children. If you detect they do not feel respected by you; look into yourself. You are probably not respecting yourself and are afraid of love.

Paradise is knowing you are unconditionally loved. You can begin to create it around you.

Love and Peace,  Gregg