grim23 | What I learned this last year, beside the Psychology stuff...

So, an addendum to my memories of the 2007 Burn: While wearing my hakama and waiting for Tam, I had a long and very profound conversation with a young Warrior who lives in Portland, and trains a style quite similar to Maddok. I’m realizing how profound that conversation was, and how grateful I am for the kanji of the Way he gave me as a reminder. This is a thank you to him for the lesson. *bow* Domo Arigato Gozaimashita!

So, what have I learned this Year of the Fire Boar, a time of dramatic change, while I was away?

1. Go with the flow. Expect nothing. Plan, but be open to your plan going sideways, and use that not as a stressor, but as a lesson. Breathe. Spending time with other people, situations, and events means an opportunity to learn from those people, situations, and events. Say yes when you can. Sit back, find the rhythms, and dance. Enjoy it. Let go. Letting go of the known, and the comfortable, is very difficult for most. If it doesn’t serve, it’s weighing you down – and interfering with going with the flow. Follow your dreams. Don’t stop following them, but allow them to change paths. Be open on all eight ways.

2. Set clear intentions. We are beings of energy, and we attract like energy. Focus on what you prefer to create in your life. Be aware of what you are manifesting, and don’t allow it to manifest as depression or anger/fear in your circumstances – stay positive, and trust in the Universe. Emotion is simply energy in motion. Keep an open heart. Breathe, and keep focusing. This is my most difficult lesson.

4. Count on yourself. You are a being of infinite power and infinite ability, with unmatched resilience. Do not let your mind or body or emotion or spirit tell you that you are not. The Universe will send you lessons and messages, and they’re the hardest when you need to learn them the most. Breathe. Listen to them.

4. Be grateful, and humble. I have been very fortunate to have learned from outstanding teaching experiences that have taught me much. Find the lesson, breathe, learn the lesson, pick yourself back up, and be ready to repeat this with the next one. Use what you’ve learned, and integrate that into what you’ve already learned – but be willing to chuck the whole thing if necessary. There is always another way to look at things.

5. Speak your truth, or find your peace some other way, as Godsmack sings. Allow others to do the same, without judgment or comment. Breathe. They’re learning a different way and perhaps at a different speed than you. Help them, if you can and if you choose, or stay out of the way if you’ll be making it more difficult for them to learn. Stirring up learning for others for your own ego interferes with your Naked Flame, and compromises your integrity.