Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Hello 2016!


Hello 2016

With a brand new year comes a brand new Letter of the Year for me.  As the 16th letter of The Vimala Alphabet is Ii, my overall focus for 2016 will be the Ii Soul Quality of Clear Perception. Not surprisingly, this invitation to maintain a centered view, based on facts rather than emotions and opinions is coming at a perfect time.

When I was growing up, news could be obtained from the newspaper, various radio channels at specific times, and three television networks.  The quality of the news source was determined by how successfully it maintained a neutral stance, presenting stories in as unbiased a way as possible.  Then it was up to the individual reading, listening, watching to draw conclusions and form opinions from the facts presented.

 Boy do we do things differently today.  Now we start with our opinions and prejudices and look for the news source that supports them.  24/7.  What’s wrong with this picture?  Plenty, unfortunately.  Whether it’s junk science or partisan politics, distinguishing facts from opinions has become a minefield, especially in a presidential election year.  Open minds are in danger of becoming an endangered species.


The Declaration of the Letter Ii, “I see as God sees and love as God loves,” is a gentle reminder to never compromise one’s heart and soul in search of that clear, unbiased perception of whatever life throws at us.  I may not always meet this challenge, but at least I can hold the intention to do so.  Isn’t that what the best New Year Resolutions are all about?

In this age of keyboard communications, a daily handwriting practice is a wonderful path to your Self.  All it takes is paper, pen and a few minutes of time each day.  For more information on this remarkable avenue for personal and professional excellence (including a downloadable version of The Vimala Alphabet), see www.ahigherperspective.com/graphotherapy or www.alphabeticalblessings.com or www.iihs.com 

 

 

Wednesday, January 13, 2016


Wistful Thinking?
 
My little granddaughter has just learned to shift from her tummy to a sitting position. 
 
 
 
Up until now, her parents would bathe her, feed her, put her in her crib, and Dahlia Lucine would just go to sleep. Well, that's over! Apparently last night she spent quite a bit of time just sitting in her crib and clapping.  Cute, right?
 
Today in my Bikram Yoga practice, I was lying in the long savassana between standing and floor postures when the image of my dad popped into my head.  Dad passed 24 years ago; this week, actually. He often "visits" me in Yoga and I figure that's because he was really big on exercise and for most of the time he was alive, I was a total couch potato.  I'd like to think he's proud of my Yoga commitment and just drops in to cheer me on sometimes. This always gives me great pleasure and peace but today my Third Eye gave me an even sweeter image.
 
As I lay there on the floor, eyes open, a very distinct image formed in my mind's eye.  There was my dad by Dahlia's crib playing dzappig (Armenian for pat-a-cake) with his great-granddaughter. Tears came to my eyes with this crazy, beautiful scene. A moment later, my Third Eye perspective widened to include the door to Dahlia's room.  Standing there was her dad's dad, Grandpa Andrew, watching what I was seeing.  Andrew transitioned almost exactly 7 years ago. As Andrew seemed reluctant to enter the room, I saw my dad motion to welcome him to the crib. And there the two of them helped clap Dahlia to sleep.
 
Sometimes we think, "Oh, how wonderful it would have been if so-and-so had been alive to enjoy this!"  I realize that my experience this morning could have been a total hallucination, brought on by an inner longing and the outrageous heat of the Bikram Studio.  But I prefer to hold fast to the idea that I was given a view of something very special that truly happened.