Friday, April 27, 2007

The Art of Not Being Offended

What other people think about me is none of my business! I had heard this statement a long time ago and always chuckle when I repeat it, as it contains some very wise advice. This sentence reflects the same sentiment of the article I read this morning written by Dr. Jodi Prinzivalli on, "The Art of Not Being Offended."

There is an ancient and well-kept secret to happiness which the Great Ones have known for centuries. They rarely talk about it, but they use it all the time, and it is fundamental to good mental health. This secret is called The Fine Art of Not Being Offended. In order to truly be a master of this art, one must be able to see that every statement, action and reaction of another human being is the sum result of their total life experience to date. In other words, the majority of people in our world say and do what they do from their own set of fears, conclusions, defenses and attempts to survive. Most of it, even when aimed directly at us, has nothing to do with us. Usually, it has more to do with all the other times, and in particular the first few times, that this person experienced a similar situation, usually when they were young.

Yes, this is psychodynamic. But let's face it, we live in a world where psychodynamics are what make the world go around. An individual who wishes to live successfully in the world as a spiritual person really needs to understand that psychology is as spiritual as prayer. In fact, the word psychology literally means the study of the soul.

All of that said, almost nothing is personal. Even with our closest loved ones, our beloved partners, our children and our friends. We are all swimming in the projections and filters of each other's life experiences and often we are just the stand-ins, the chess pieces of life to which our loved ones have their own built-in reactions. This is not to dehumanize life or take away the intimacy from our relationships, but mainly for us to know that almost every time we get offended, we are actually just in a misunderstanding. A true embodiment of this idea actually allows for more intimacy and less suffering throughout all of our relationships. When we know that we are just the one who happens to be standing in the right place at the right psychodynamic time for someone to say or do what they are doing-we don't have to take life personally. If it weren't us, it would likely be someone else.

This frees us to be a little more detached from the reactions of people around us. How often do we react to a statement of another by being offended rather than seeing that the other might actually be hurting? In fact, every time we get offended, it is actually an opportunity to extend kindness to one who may be suffering-even if they themselves do not appear that way on the surface. All anger, all acting out, all harshness, all criticism, is in truth a form of suffering. When we provide no Velcro for it to stick, something changes in the world. We do not even have to say a thing. In fact, it is usually better not to say a thing. People who are suffering on the inside, but not showing it on the outside, are usually not keen on someone pointing out to them that they are suffering. We do not have to be our loved one's therapist. We need only understand the situation and move on. In the least, we ourselves experience less suffering and at best, we have a chance to make the world a better place.

This is also not to be confused with allowing ourselves to be hurt, neglected or taken advantage of. True compassion does not allow harm to ourselves either. But when we know that nothing is personal, a magical thing happens. Many of the seeming abusers of the world start to leave our lives. Once we are conscious, so-called abuse can only happen if we believe what the other is saying. When we know nothing is personal, we also do not end up feeling abused. We can say, "Thank you for sharing," and move on. We are not hooked by what another does or says, since we know it is not about us. When we know that our inherent worth is not determined by what another says, does or believes, we can take the world a little less seriously. And if necessary, we can just walk away without creating more misery for ourselves or having to convince the other person that we are good and worthy people.

The great challenge of our world is to live a life of contentment,
regardless of what other people do, say, think or believe. The fine art of not being offended is one of the many skills for being a practical mystic. Though it may take a lifetime of practice, it is truly one of the best kept secrets for living a happy life.
____________________________________
Dr. Jodi Prinzivalli conducts workshops in the Chicago area regularly. She is the author of the recently released book How To Be A Mystic In A Traffic Jam.
You can learn about her work by visiting her website at
www.energeticpsychology.com








=

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Molokai Flower



Beauty abounds and this unusual flower's lifeforce is found on the island of Molokai. My daughter recently visited the island and sent this picture back.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Kinky Links...here's another!

If the link below doesn't work for Stuart Mitchell's new CD, try this one. Just in case that doesn't work either......... here it is: http://www.tjmitchell.com/stuart/rosslyn.html

This new google account - has some kinky links to it! :-) Reminds me of Laura's post today, "Gotta Love that Ripple Effect." Someday's it just best to surrender!

Rosslyn Motet CD




.J.Mitchell's Rosslyn Motet - Produced by Stuart Mitchell

20 years of research and miraculous discoveries have un-veiled a music long forgotten in the history of Scottish music. For the first time in 500 years, the music of Rosslyn Chapel can be heard explained in extra-ordinary detail, beautifully portrayed using original instruments of their time. No element has been left out, not one stone un-turned. The intended music of William St Clair hides many secret's and a new book by Thomas Mitchell (Stuart's father) tells a story of music and symbolism and how it all connects to the creation of life.

You can purchase the CD here. For more information on the composition, please see my previous post.

Stuart Mitchell - Breaking the Codes


Father and son discover the Holy Grail of music hidden away for 600 years on the columns of Rosslyn Chapel.

A father and son codebreaking team have discovered music's Holy Grail - hidden in intricate carvings at Rosslyn Chapel for almost 600 years. Music teacher Thomas Mitchell, 75, strived for 27 years before he and pianist son Stuart, 41, deciphered symbols in the chapel which featured in the Da Vinci Code book and film.
The pair will reveal the secret songs in a special concert at the Midlothian chapel next month. Thomas, of Edinburgh, said: "The music is the result of years of painstaking research, recreating secret notes hidden for almost 600 years in carvings on the arches within the chapel itself. "We believe this is the Holy Grail of music and, unlike the Da Vinci Code, it is absolutely factual."

Thomas was intrigued by the sculpted angels and hundreds of intricately carved cubes in the arches of the Lady Chapel. Using skills learned as an RAF code-breaker during the Korean War and his lifetime knowledge of classical music, he finally realised they depicted the vibrations of musical notes. He said: "It was a Eureka moment to end all Eureka moments. "Many angels were carrying musical instruments and some were even grouped as if they were a choir. "But one angel gave me the biggest problem. He was carrying something and at first I thought it was musical instrument which had been lost in the mists of time. "It was only when I realised that he was carrying a musical stave, the blueprint for all musical composition, that I knew I was looking at a secretly coded piece of music. "By recreating the patterns on each of the carved cubes, with Stuart's help, we unlocked the notes to find a haunting piece of music had been hidden in the arches for centuries. "For the choral sections, we've used the words from the hymns to St John the Baptist taken from Matthew in the Old Testament which is fitting because the chapel itself is dedicated to St Matthew."

Stuart, a classical composer and pianist, used computers to decipher the carvings' secret music. He has named the medieval music the Rosslyn Motet. He said: "I also used authentic mediaeval instruments to recreate the music exactly and it truly is a masterpiece. "While the Da Vinci Code was full of red herrings to make it a thrilling work of fiction, the Rosslyn Motet music is a tangible work people can listen to. For centuries, scholars have been convinced Rosslyn holds the key to many different areas of knowledge. "We think we've cracked one particularly fascinating code, although we're convinced Rosslyn holds many, many more."

Four singers will join eight musicians playing mediaeval instruments to perform the Rosslyn Motet at Rosslyn on May 18. Simon Beattie, of the Rosslyn Chapel Trust, said: "We're looking forward to the event as this is a such an exciting and intriguing piece of work. "The music is particularly haunting and we cannot help feel this is yet another of the many puzzles that make Rosslyn such an astonishing place."

Rosslyn Chapel was built by Sir William Sinclair and Sir Gilbert Haye in the 15th century. Steeped in the history of the Knights Templar and Freemasonry, Rosslyn's mysteries are famous worldwide. Among the theories surrounding Rosslyn is that it is the secret resting place of the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant and even the mummified head of Christ.

How They Did It

1. Carved angels and blocks above their head in arches of chapel baffled Thomas until he realised this one was holding a musical stave - and that the blocks signified notes.
2. Using this specially enhanced photo, Thomas and Stuart worked out that the carvings above the angel represent A, B and C.
3. Thomas and Stuart used this metal plate to recreate the ancient method of making notes. The plate is vibrated and sand poured on until it forms a particular pattern - indicating the correct pitch. The patterns match those carved into the arches of Rosslyn Chapel.
From Stuart:
Basically we have calculated the frequencies of the 3 notes that the stave angel is pointing out and it amounts to this;
At (ancient tunings)
A = 432
B = 488
C = 512
--------1,432

Also check out this link - "The Octave: Tuning at A432 or F432."

Thursday, April 19, 2007

No Clinging Allowed


No Clinging Allowed...........Each path is individual and must be walked alone. This is YOUR journey, yet the creator allows for a vine and many new buds to form and grow from the same source. Our friends and family are our "buddies," yet each must grow according to their own original divine blueprint.

Why the Rose as each flower in the garden of life is beautiful and has great purpose? My Grandmother was of Irish descent and a little of her energy (DNA) remains in me. At family gatherings when I was young, I was often asked to play a little tune on the organ, and the one song that normally came to mind was, "My Wild Irish Rose."

It was in this song that I could feel an energy brewing that was alive and always moving towards a sense of freedom. It is through our senses and opening to our inner senses, that one will finally understand what it means to be truly free. One cannot cling to another, or anything, but rather remember their own individuated self and unfold their beautiful petals (essence) to discover the center of their being.

As the rambler moves quickly through thought form not clinging to it, releasing judgement and attachment to it, one may free themselves from the prison of their own mind.

Ramblin` rose, ramblin` rose
Why you ramble, no one knows
Wild and wind-blown, that`s how you`ve grown
Who can cling to a ramblin` rose?
Ramble on, ramble on
When your ramblin` days are gone
Who will love you with a love true
When your ramblin` days are through?
Ramblin` rose, ramblin` rose
Why I want you, heaven knows
Though I love you with a love true
Who can cling to a ramblin` rose?