METTA CENTER

In recognition of the many forms of Light that walk with me on Earth, I am holding this Lakota Sioux Prayer close in my heart. Aho Mitakuye Oyasin All my relations.  I honor you in this circle of life with me today.  I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer... To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you. To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you. To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you. To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you. To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you. To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages, I thank you....

This afternoon, as I was about to start on my next task on my to-do list, I felt a nudge, an invitation to play, from Spirit. I went outside to my garden and took a deep breath, feeling the cool wintry air on my face. I turned westward and saw the tree tops drenched orange in the late afternoon sun, and my heart skipped a beat. The scene was so glorious! So magnificent! In that split second, I felt so deeply nourished. My soul was fed! And, interestingly, I felt so rich, like I owned the world. 'Tis a wonderful feeling! Yes, life is full of riches for us to enjoy, even if they come in small slices of time and in unexpected packages. I invite you to allow yourself to take a moment out of your life and witness moments of life's magic. It is worth your while! You are worth your while!

(This article was first published in July 2007 Metta Center email newsletter.) "Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country." ~ Anais Nin What do you dream for yourself? I am talking about the kind of dream that really tugs at you, that whispers to you and calls for you in your heart. The kind of dream that has a powerful yearning to come to life. We all have such dreams. But, we often squash them for the sake of "security", 'acceptance", "respect", etc. What would happen if you give that dream a voice and an opportunity to express itself? If you could be that who you want to be, do that what you want to do, have that what you want to have, what would your life be like? What is stopping you? Exercises: 1. During the coming week, be aware  of what longings you hold in your heart, no matter how insignificant your mind might judge them. 2. Close yo...