Ancient Celtic culture depended, as did many other cultures, on bards, or seers, to transmit history and to reveal spiritual perceptions. They went through extensive training to help them develop the mindset for looking at life in insightful ways. Through training, they would be prone to see miraculous scenes and events of the Otherworld. Here’s the deal: we don’t really need the Otherworld, well, maybe we do, but I don’t think it’s restricted to any one class of people. Miracles are all around us and available to us. Maybe you wouldn’t consider me wise enough to tell you that, but how would you respond to Albert Einstein? “There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle: you can live as if everything is a miracle.” How do we view life around us? with wonder, amazement, awe? with a cold, calloused eye of rationalization? You and I get to choose. When we choose to see common life around us with a fresh vision, we get to see how extraordinary life all around us is — the interactions of people whether positive or negative, the busy hum of life all around us even when no human voices are to be heard, the impulses of electronics or the dynamics of other technology of communications, jets or drones overhead, water systems underground, or automobiles and transportation systems. I choose miracles, because these things and millions more are just that — miraculous, intriguing, engaging, terrifying, awesome. If we did not use our ability to imagine, reason, engineer, and create, then natural law would keep us in the state of mere animals — biggest and strongest win but with nothing really to win. And that is exactly the way depression operates — nothing to win, no hope, nothing for which to show enthusiasm, no joy. I’ve felt that before, so I say once again, I choose to not only view life but also to “live as if everything is a miracle.” It feels a hell of a lot better. Just as Celtic seers had to develop a visionary way of seeing that sort of life, so do we. We must choose. Yesterday, I shared a way to start viewing life as a poet or bard by making a list. Today, let’s add another technique to help us along. It is not so foreign because I have suggested it before, but now, if you would, see it as a tool in this toolbox of developing into an everyday poet. If you are really exploring self and life, then just walk outside and start asking questions about any element of nature to which you are drawn. Ask questions: How is this a miracle? What miraculous principles and dynamics are operating to create this? OR you could just say, “Oh, it’s a dead flower; it’s a tree; it’s a bird; it’s lousy grass that I’m just going to have to mow.” You get it. I would encourage you, especially if you are struggling in any way now, to list the things you are observing and record details. Then, next to it or under it or somewhere, answer How does this make me feel? When you begin thinking like this, you are developing the mindset of a poet, one who can capture, evaluate, and reflect on life and see things for what they really are: miracles. It’s a good choice, but one that requires effort to develop. It’s worth it!
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Questions to consider:How many times have you asked yourself or simply thought about the following questions?
Who am I, really? What is my truth? How do my actions reveal what I really feel and believe? What would I do with my life if I could do anything? What is my passion? Why am I here? How can I discover answers to any of these questions? If you have considered any of these questions, I hope that my experiences and writing will give you some guidance. Please read my blog and comment and share your thoughts. I would love to hear from you! Archives
December 2019
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