Greetings all,
If you've been in the eastern half of North America this past week there has been only one thing on your mind and that is the weather. It is rare that I have to shovel 4 times in one week, but this was that week. I never fretted too much about weather until years ago when I drove home in really cold weather where my windshield wouldn't stay thawed. I recall I had scraped enough ice to see out which took a herculean effort with the tiny scraper. What I didn't count on was that people wanted to drive their normal 75 mph even in the slippery conditions. They kept slinging slush onto my windshield as they passed which kept freezing. This made me go slower which made more people pass me which caused more slush to be splashed onto my windshield. Since that time I have been very cognizant of what conditions are on the roads.
This week was about delays. I didn't get to the pool but once this week, but I figured shoveling snow was my workout on those days. I had my first official meditation group cancelled. I couldn't get to my office to see clients. I didn't get to go to this month's trance dance. I also didn't gather with some of the local shamanic practitioners to ironically enough honor the weather.
It is times like this that I am grateful that I can for the most part work from home. I wrote material for my book. I got to experiment with some new sculpting techniques. I did some event planning. I also got to sink further into my home study course that I am going through and practice some of their meditation exercises (actually I will practice one right after I post this blog). My meditative practice flourished amidst the frigid weather and it gave me very clear guidance about where my heart was not aligned with some of my plans. Those delays due to the ice and snow have served me well and prevented me from diving into more projects that I am just not aligned with.
Delays are frustrating but so often they happen for our benefit. Something I try to remind myself when someone is driving 20 miles per hour under the speed limit in front of me. A lot of times it can feel like opportunities are missed, but they are usually ones that we are better off not pursuing. The first time I was ever snowed in I ended up writing a term paper and finishing it two months ahead of time, just so I would have something to do. How is that for turning a situation around? I must say as treacherous as the past week has been I am grateful for the deep freeze, it kept me firmly anchored in the present and focused on what was immediately in front of me. I allowed this weather to serve my best interests, so from my heart I say thank you polar vortex.
How about you? Are you finding ways for weather to serve you? Are you using any delays that it creates to rethink your plans? Are you too fixated on zipping around? Are you focused on what you're missing instead of what you can address within? Maybe you are too busy in your life and the weather is giving you an excuse to empty out your schedule a bit. It is good to be active but we tend to value busy too much in our culture. What if you allowed weather to give you permission to say no to more activities so you can be with you and your loved ones? Try shifting your perspective a bit and try to stay warm.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Musings
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Relating
Greetings all,
I hope you had a productive week and if you were here in the northern hemisphere you got out and enjoyed a bit of the thaw before the latest cold front swept in. We are past the height of winter now but it can and will still take a bite.
This weekend is Valentine's Day. I have in years past expressed that this is by far my least favorite holiday. I always tend to be single when it rolls around. However this year it has me thinking of relationships in general. We as human beings build our life around our relationships. We start with how we relate to ourselves, our family, friends, colleagues, and our partners. Relationships are the one aspect of life where if we don't have good ones it is nearly impossible for us to find happiness. Once our biological necessities are met the quality of our life will be directly impacted by the quality and depth of the relationships we have.
The interesting thing is that we are given almost no formal instruction as we grow up about relationships. The current trajectory of our technology actually makes us less likely to interact with people. Our relationships color everything and we for the most part just wing it when it comes to navigating them. Unless we end up in counseling we may not ever even attempt to look at the structure and patterns that repeat in our lives when it comes to them.
People are rapidly losing the ability to make and maintain friendships due to all the time they spend behind a screen (not you dear reader of course so please continue reading). There have been studies that show that kids who were denied screen time improved in their ability to read emotions in facial expressions. I am thankful each day that texting was not around when I was growing up. Now it is common for elementary school kids to have cell phones. We have teenagers on social media. So we have given over our socializing responsibility to television, the internet and smart phones. I can't tell you how many times at either a family gathering or at a party people are on their phones rather than relating to the people around them.
So you'd think with how important a good healthy social network is to our overall wellbeing that we would be a bit more deliberate about our relationships. It unfortunately usually takes a few really bad ones to make us more aware of how we are delegating our time. One of the most significant events of my life was parting ways with a whole group of people. I'd never done it before. I had always been too afraid of being alone. However when I finally did it a huge weight was lifted off of me. It came as a great source of autonomy that I could in most cases dictate who was in my life. Growing up in school you are stuck with the people in your class, your household, and your neighborhood. Now as an adult the people I am stuck with are very few in number and usually are family members or coworkers and the rest is all my choice. I've spent the last few years cleaning house when it comes to the people I allow in my circle and while sometimes I feel lonely it is momentary because the truth is there are people who want to spend time with me. I am very blessed to know and care for good honest people and to have them care for me as well. So while I pass Valentines Day single I don't greet it unloved.
So how does any of this apply to you? Well how conscious are you of who you spend your time with? Whom do you allow to settle into your life? Are you giving the people that genuinely care for you the attention they deserve? Are you wasting your precious time and energy on people that are users or abusers? Do you feel spread thin by all your relationships or do you feel bolstered by them? Spring is almost around the corner so it might be time to do some of your own house cleaning. What if you gave those that mattered to you a bit more of your time and those that you don't matter much to less of it? Let me know what happens in the comments.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
I hope you had a productive week and if you were here in the northern hemisphere you got out and enjoyed a bit of the thaw before the latest cold front swept in. We are past the height of winter now but it can and will still take a bite.
This weekend is Valentine's Day. I have in years past expressed that this is by far my least favorite holiday. I always tend to be single when it rolls around. However this year it has me thinking of relationships in general. We as human beings build our life around our relationships. We start with how we relate to ourselves, our family, friends, colleagues, and our partners. Relationships are the one aspect of life where if we don't have good ones it is nearly impossible for us to find happiness. Once our biological necessities are met the quality of our life will be directly impacted by the quality and depth of the relationships we have.
The interesting thing is that we are given almost no formal instruction as we grow up about relationships. The current trajectory of our technology actually makes us less likely to interact with people. Our relationships color everything and we for the most part just wing it when it comes to navigating them. Unless we end up in counseling we may not ever even attempt to look at the structure and patterns that repeat in our lives when it comes to them.
People are rapidly losing the ability to make and maintain friendships due to all the time they spend behind a screen (not you dear reader of course so please continue reading). There have been studies that show that kids who were denied screen time improved in their ability to read emotions in facial expressions. I am thankful each day that texting was not around when I was growing up. Now it is common for elementary school kids to have cell phones. We have teenagers on social media. So we have given over our socializing responsibility to television, the internet and smart phones. I can't tell you how many times at either a family gathering or at a party people are on their phones rather than relating to the people around them.
So you'd think with how important a good healthy social network is to our overall wellbeing that we would be a bit more deliberate about our relationships. It unfortunately usually takes a few really bad ones to make us more aware of how we are delegating our time. One of the most significant events of my life was parting ways with a whole group of people. I'd never done it before. I had always been too afraid of being alone. However when I finally did it a huge weight was lifted off of me. It came as a great source of autonomy that I could in most cases dictate who was in my life. Growing up in school you are stuck with the people in your class, your household, and your neighborhood. Now as an adult the people I am stuck with are very few in number and usually are family members or coworkers and the rest is all my choice. I've spent the last few years cleaning house when it comes to the people I allow in my circle and while sometimes I feel lonely it is momentary because the truth is there are people who want to spend time with me. I am very blessed to know and care for good honest people and to have them care for me as well. So while I pass Valentines Day single I don't greet it unloved.
So how does any of this apply to you? Well how conscious are you of who you spend your time with? Whom do you allow to settle into your life? Are you giving the people that genuinely care for you the attention they deserve? Are you wasting your precious time and energy on people that are users or abusers? Do you feel spread thin by all your relationships or do you feel bolstered by them? Spring is almost around the corner so it might be time to do some of your own house cleaning. What if you gave those that mattered to you a bit more of your time and those that you don't matter much to less of it? Let me know what happens in the comments.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Yes I Too
Greetings all,
I got quite a response from last week's post. Friends were calling me making sure I was okay. The impression I apparently projected was one of anger. In all honesty there was a hint of that but it was more frustration than anger. I generally wait a while before I write about something that is bothering me, but if my deadline comes and I don't have any other inspiring ideas I write about what is on my mind.
There is always a misconception that because of what I do and who I am that I don't suffer from the same life challenges, drama, and burdens that everyone contends with. Sometimes I am going to be upset and sometimes it is for a very good reason. Sometimes it is because I have my head up my ass. I reserve the right to feel how I feel and to occasionally have my head up my ass. I am not a guru, I am not an ascended master (at least not that I know of). For me asking myself what would Jesus (or any other spiritual guru like Gandhi, Buddha, Moses, Babaji) do, is a meaningless question. I've had some say I shouldn't enforce consequences with people because it is not the compassionate thing to do. I then remind them that I am the Mooneagle, not Christ. I do have hard edges at times.
The world we live in requirers us to have boundaries and limits on what we will accept and do. We should try and expand those if we want to experience something new. However, we still need to have boundaries. One of my teachers often says to me, "We teach people how to treat us." Occasionally I need to be reminded of that. So yes I get short with people sometimes. I get pissed off, revel in impatience, and yes I do whine. I'm not happy about it either believe me. Usually I snap out of it fairly quickly. There have also been times where some friendly intervention has suggested I check my anal cavity if I wish to locate my head.
Why am I going into all this? Well I am human this time round the third rock and that means I sometimes get my panties in a twist and I need to cut myself some slack for that. Pretty much I got up today and didn't kill, rape or steal so I am not all that terrible. Many of us who are consciously walking a path of dedication hold ourselves to impossibly high standards and beat ourselves up when we don't measure up to an avatar. Out of the billions of people that have lived there have only been a handful of enlightened masters at any one time, so if you just look at the numbers this is kind of an uphill battle. Now I'm not saying we shouldn't go for high ideals, but let us remember that our ideals and the action of our life won't always mesh. There are cross currents in life that we have to respond to. So the best we can hope is that our ship is pointing the right way.
Well what about you? Do you hold yourself to impossible standards? Do you berate yourself when you are less than ideal when you've not had enough sleep or ran out of time to have lunch? Do you expect others to always behave in completely rational ways? Do you think that you are a rational being? Well hate to break it to you, but many of our responses are subconsciously dictated. They are ordered deep within behind curtains where they play cards with our shadow. Sometimes we will be selfish, judgmental, and uncaring. What if recognizing that you forgave yourself and strived to just do your best whatever that is on a particular day? What if you didn't have to be your best self everyday but just the best self you can manage each day? Would that shift how you treat yourself? Let me know. In the meantime I have some complaining to do….just kidding.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
I got quite a response from last week's post. Friends were calling me making sure I was okay. The impression I apparently projected was one of anger. In all honesty there was a hint of that but it was more frustration than anger. I generally wait a while before I write about something that is bothering me, but if my deadline comes and I don't have any other inspiring ideas I write about what is on my mind.
There is always a misconception that because of what I do and who I am that I don't suffer from the same life challenges, drama, and burdens that everyone contends with. Sometimes I am going to be upset and sometimes it is for a very good reason. Sometimes it is because I have my head up my ass. I reserve the right to feel how I feel and to occasionally have my head up my ass. I am not a guru, I am not an ascended master (at least not that I know of). For me asking myself what would Jesus (or any other spiritual guru like Gandhi, Buddha, Moses, Babaji) do, is a meaningless question. I've had some say I shouldn't enforce consequences with people because it is not the compassionate thing to do. I then remind them that I am the Mooneagle, not Christ. I do have hard edges at times.
The world we live in requirers us to have boundaries and limits on what we will accept and do. We should try and expand those if we want to experience something new. However, we still need to have boundaries. One of my teachers often says to me, "We teach people how to treat us." Occasionally I need to be reminded of that. So yes I get short with people sometimes. I get pissed off, revel in impatience, and yes I do whine. I'm not happy about it either believe me. Usually I snap out of it fairly quickly. There have also been times where some friendly intervention has suggested I check my anal cavity if I wish to locate my head.
Why am I going into all this? Well I am human this time round the third rock and that means I sometimes get my panties in a twist and I need to cut myself some slack for that. Pretty much I got up today and didn't kill, rape or steal so I am not all that terrible. Many of us who are consciously walking a path of dedication hold ourselves to impossibly high standards and beat ourselves up when we don't measure up to an avatar. Out of the billions of people that have lived there have only been a handful of enlightened masters at any one time, so if you just look at the numbers this is kind of an uphill battle. Now I'm not saying we shouldn't go for high ideals, but let us remember that our ideals and the action of our life won't always mesh. There are cross currents in life that we have to respond to. So the best we can hope is that our ship is pointing the right way.
Well what about you? Do you hold yourself to impossible standards? Do you berate yourself when you are less than ideal when you've not had enough sleep or ran out of time to have lunch? Do you expect others to always behave in completely rational ways? Do you think that you are a rational being? Well hate to break it to you, but many of our responses are subconsciously dictated. They are ordered deep within behind curtains where they play cards with our shadow. Sometimes we will be selfish, judgmental, and uncaring. What if recognizing that you forgave yourself and strived to just do your best whatever that is on a particular day? What if you didn't have to be your best self everyday but just the best self you can manage each day? Would that shift how you treat yourself? Let me know. In the meantime I have some complaining to do….just kidding.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Sunday, February 1, 2015
What's it Worth to You?
Greetings all,
Talk about a week on fast forward. I've been getting geared up for a bunch of projects for the year. To say the upcoming months will be busy is an understatement. Between writing a book and the new meditation group I am starting in February I also have a big speaking event in May. I've also had some workshops on the burners lately but I am calling those off.
I get asked to teach classes or workshops a lot. People seem so excited when they ask me. So after a while I will pull all the materials together work with my guides and create a workshop or class. Then when I finally get it all set up and have put in time these same people don't sign up. Recently I had a bunch of people want me to almost cut my price in half for a day long workshop. It got me really upset. Teaching is not something that I find is easy. It takes a lot of work, much more than goes into doing session work for clients. I am funny about teaching. I want to have a lot of background and experience in anything I present, so I do research. I either do a lot of shamanic journey work to prepare or I read up and experiment (usually some combination of the two). So I get touchy when people ask for something and then try to low ball me and haggle on the price. I try to keep my prices as low as possible.
What I've been noticing is people want Walmart prices in metaphysics. I also hear things like, "Well Madame X only charges 20 dollars for a reading." Here is the thing, Madame X just got a notion to learn to read tarot 2 months ago and now has decided she is a reader. Now that is just fine I don't mind we all start somewhere sometime, but I have people who have read a single book act like they are an all knowing guru. Madame X may only charge $20 but I charge more because I started in 1992 not two months ago. That goes across the board to all my skills. I constantly upgrade and reinvest in some form of training or deepening of my talents.
So people are wanting to pay Walmart prices for five star service. I have over my life had a real problem with self worth. I always am concerned with whether or not I am providing valuable service to clients. So when people balk at my prices or ask for a deal (and yes sometimes I do have stuff on sale) it strikes a nerve. Having spent years feeling worthless I no longer will put up with being treated as if what I do isn't important. There are times when I offer stuff to people freely, but it is never the people who ask me. I have new videos out every month and I get a lot of good feedback from people that tell me just watching those has helped them, so I no longer feel guilty about telling people no. Basically I am valuable and so is my time and attention. Now I don't mean to make this a rant about money, because it goes deeper than that. I have been concurrently experiencing a related issue in my personal life where some people don't have time for me or the only time I hear from them is if I reach out to them. It is the same thing. People are reflecting that fear of not being worthy or valuable. So in that sphere I've begun to clean house and invest less in people who can't see my value. Here is the bright spot in this, there are actually people that can't wait to spend time with me. There are people out there that value, respect and gosh darn it even like me. So I am making the executive decision to similarly invest my time with these wonderful souls.
I know me me me, but what about you you you? Are you feeling valued or worthless? Are you letting people project their opinions of your worth onto you? Are you valuing the people around you? Do you spend your time and attention on people who just can't make the time for you unless they need something? Well my dear if so perhaps it is time for you redistribute your time and energy. What would happen if you focused on where you were appreciated, and what would happen if you made an extra effort to appreciate those around you? Tell me all about it in the comments section and don't spare the juicy tidbits.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
Talk about a week on fast forward. I've been getting geared up for a bunch of projects for the year. To say the upcoming months will be busy is an understatement. Between writing a book and the new meditation group I am starting in February I also have a big speaking event in May. I've also had some workshops on the burners lately but I am calling those off.
I get asked to teach classes or workshops a lot. People seem so excited when they ask me. So after a while I will pull all the materials together work with my guides and create a workshop or class. Then when I finally get it all set up and have put in time these same people don't sign up. Recently I had a bunch of people want me to almost cut my price in half for a day long workshop. It got me really upset. Teaching is not something that I find is easy. It takes a lot of work, much more than goes into doing session work for clients. I am funny about teaching. I want to have a lot of background and experience in anything I present, so I do research. I either do a lot of shamanic journey work to prepare or I read up and experiment (usually some combination of the two). So I get touchy when people ask for something and then try to low ball me and haggle on the price. I try to keep my prices as low as possible.
What I've been noticing is people want Walmart prices in metaphysics. I also hear things like, "Well Madame X only charges 20 dollars for a reading." Here is the thing, Madame X just got a notion to learn to read tarot 2 months ago and now has decided she is a reader. Now that is just fine I don't mind we all start somewhere sometime, but I have people who have read a single book act like they are an all knowing guru. Madame X may only charge $20 but I charge more because I started in 1992 not two months ago. That goes across the board to all my skills. I constantly upgrade and reinvest in some form of training or deepening of my talents.
So people are wanting to pay Walmart prices for five star service. I have over my life had a real problem with self worth. I always am concerned with whether or not I am providing valuable service to clients. So when people balk at my prices or ask for a deal (and yes sometimes I do have stuff on sale) it strikes a nerve. Having spent years feeling worthless I no longer will put up with being treated as if what I do isn't important. There are times when I offer stuff to people freely, but it is never the people who ask me. I have new videos out every month and I get a lot of good feedback from people that tell me just watching those has helped them, so I no longer feel guilty about telling people no. Basically I am valuable and so is my time and attention. Now I don't mean to make this a rant about money, because it goes deeper than that. I have been concurrently experiencing a related issue in my personal life where some people don't have time for me or the only time I hear from them is if I reach out to them. It is the same thing. People are reflecting that fear of not being worthy or valuable. So in that sphere I've begun to clean house and invest less in people who can't see my value. Here is the bright spot in this, there are actually people that can't wait to spend time with me. There are people out there that value, respect and gosh darn it even like me. So I am making the executive decision to similarly invest my time with these wonderful souls.
I know me me me, but what about you you you? Are you feeling valued or worthless? Are you letting people project their opinions of your worth onto you? Are you valuing the people around you? Do you spend your time and attention on people who just can't make the time for you unless they need something? Well my dear if so perhaps it is time for you redistribute your time and energy. What would happen if you focused on where you were appreciated, and what would happen if you made an extra effort to appreciate those around you? Tell me all about it in the comments section and don't spare the juicy tidbits.
Peace and Blessings,
Thomas Mooneagle
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