The Gifts of This Morning

We are instruments of Creators Source and it is limitless in all ways and things. Life is energy, there is no real matter, just energy and your mind does the rest!© Pa’Ris’Ha2011

As the radiant morning sun, Nunda, peaked over the beautiful desert mountains dusted with white snow this morning, I went out to say my morning prayers and as I was completed I then rushed around the outside of the house finishing up some cleaning before the new shift come on for work. In the quite stillness of the new day’s birthing my mind started with its sometimes incessant chattering – going over the list of things I had prepared the night before of tasks to do this day- preparing new lists- worries about things that don’t need to be worried about –your basic garden variety of  mind stuff;  I  continued my business of cleaning the porch and taking out the trash when I felt a presence of something/someone watching me!

At first I just thought it was my spooky reaction to the quietness of the surrounding desert or my wild sense of imagination but as I loudly continued my work the feeling also seemed to continue and follow me.  I then stopped and looked around the yard in the dim dawn light and from the corner of my eye I caught some movement and there in the side garden were two large rabbits! They had been sitting just intently watching me clumsily move about.  Now I trust and believe that all has a sacred message in their presence so the first thought that came as I made eye contact with them was, “Be still and know that I am God.”  Yes, I thought, in my loudness (both externally and internally) I needed to appreciate the stillness and the power of silence. To know God, that all is flowing in complete harmony and to not let my issues of control, fear ect. be that what I move with but with Spirit and Oneness with the All That Is. To let go let flow!

In my tradition, my Elder, Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha has shared what message and many gifts  the rabbit was to our People (the Tsalagi, Cherokee). The rabbit symbolizes rapid growth, transformation, prosperity, duplication and of course it was also the trickster.  Rabbit is a symbol of fertility. Rabbit shows us new growth in artistic areas and new projects. Growth is assured when moving in balance. Are you moving to fast or too slow? Rabbit has quickness and agility. Take advantage of the opportunities that arrive quickly and may only be shown for a short period of time. Rabbit also is a symbolism for fear. Are you always running away from what frightens you? They ask you to face your fears with care and gentleness and power. The pair of rabbits was also significant as the number 2 reminded me of the power of relationship and the reflection of another. As it says in the Bible, Matthew 18:20 : “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

So I smiled and gave great appreciation for the gift that the presence of two rabbits reminded me of in my state of being “busy”  – the reminder to be who I am really am – my spiritual self and to “be still and know that I am God”.

“Lots of people talk to animals,” said Pooh.
“Not that many listen though.”
“That’s the problem.” (The Tao of Pooh)

Forming New Habits/ Resolutions

“Awareness of your infinite Being and material world peace is all a given and yours already when you live as an infinite Being and accept you are of Source and have all that will ever be important and fulfilling right there within you. ” © Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha 2011

 Last night as the Georgian calendar marks the year 2011, many people ritually mark this time with a party and/ or sitting down to ponder out their list of resolutions, goals, and self-improvements.  Some of the top things people resolve to do in the New Year are: to lose weight/work out more; spend more time with loved ones and quit smoking or drinking.

Countless research and studies have shown that people rarely keep their resolutions. Why?  Well one reason is that we have formed habits, which is an action that we have performed so often that it becomes almost an involuntary response. If we consider this habit to be undesirable then we may label it a “bad habit”. The first step in breaking a bad habit is to look at why you find this action so compelling. In other words, what’s the payoff for doing this seemingly negative thing? The whole reason you formed your habits in the first place is that they filled a need/payoff.  You cannot change your outer world without changing your inner view. The key to any life change lies in first shifting your self-perception.

Repeated actions of the new behavior, and subsequently the good feelings associated with them, will become rooted in the fabric of who you are with each action you implement.  Learning and practicing will actually “change” your brain function, transforming bad habits into good. 

Dr Joseph Dispenza, author of Evolve Your Brain explains highlights how to rewire your brain once it’s already been wired to the habit/actions you have formed. Why do you perceive the things the way you do?  It’s a result of the two laws:

• The Law of Association
• The Law of Repetition

Both laws work in an entangled manner to allow you to learn and respond to the world around you.

The Law of Association gives you the ability to continually process new information to better understand how things are associated in the world.  You learn how to categorize and expand your understanding through associated events and experiences.

The Law of Repetition says the more you do something the easier it gets.  This sounds rudimentary, but it is your ability to learn skills and “hard wire” them such that they become automatic, which allows you to then learn another skill, another habit and another way to be. “Script how you will respond to situations or conversations with someone or thing of conflict, so you do not resort to old destructive ways of doing it.” © Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha 2011

Connecting With All

Last nite I had the pleasure of being part of a book study group in which the book we are reading is, “The Power of Intention,  by Wayne Dyer. It is a great book and all of what he has written in it has been just a small fraction of the wealth of knowledge that Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha has been teaching over the past 15 years I have known her. The subject we were reading last night covered what obstacles we may face when we connect to the power of Intention and how we can have an impact on others when we are in the power of our intention.  It talked about how we can have a positive effect on all that we come across and  when we are in the high energy of happiness and joy we can lift all others to happiness and joy no matter what their situation is.  

When we change our thought patterns to raise your energy and reduce the demands of our ego, we will begin to develop  reverent and holy relationship with others.  As we recognize the holiness of others, we are in connection with all.  If we desire peace for others, we will receive it, if we desire all to feel love – we will be the recipient of love. If we see only beauty and worthiness on others, the same will be returned to you. Like attracts like.  As my elder, Grandmother Pa’Ris’ha says, “We are of the beauty way! We were created in beauty least we not be here.” (Pa’Ris’Ha©2010)

 This material made me think about a woman I have taken care of for some time now. When I first meet her and started to care for her, she was the one of the angriest, saddest and crankiest person I had ever met. Nothing was ever right for her and she was mad at the whole world for everything including being alive.  I realized that she was brought into my reality/world for a reason and I could use working with her for the highest good for the both of us.  Every day that I was with her I would do everything she asked and needed with extra joy and appreciation – one because I knew it bugged her to see someone happy and secondly, I would say something or do something that would eventually bring a half grin to her face.  

As I write this article this this morning she is in her last few moments here. But as I take care of her, her half grins has turned to bigger grins, to smiles and laughter and joy.  She sometimes tries to pretend to be that old cranky women and then we just look at each other and laugh! Everyone has noticed the difference in her and as someone said to me yesterday, “What has happened to her?”  I replied that she has found her inner joy and is no longer “mad at the world”.  And now it is time for her to go in peace and joy and not in hate and anger.  So we had the opportunity to both learn from each other. She helped me to raise my level of energy up that Dyer discusses as well as to see how the external manifestation of how our power of intention can be for happiness or anger. We choose how we want our world and our life to be by our thoughts.

It also made me think how many times do we pass another in the super market and bank and how do we use the opportunity to extend our life blessings to another by a smile and  “hello” to them? We have so many ways we can connect with others and expand our “beauty ways. “ Have a beautiful day.

Heather Harris/Dludlu Ajila
“Enlightenment is easy, just think kind compliments of all things, and all people!” Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha©2010

Enjoying the Moment

Today I was pondering how each moment and second is very precious and valuable.  How we don’t know when our time is through here on Earth and how we have to make each day /moment count.

Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.

Mahatma Gandhi

How to Live to the Greatest Good

I have found this poem some time ago and have been reading daily to remind myself  of how to live and be living like the great teachers and masters such as my Elder, Pa’Ris’Ha exemplifies and to live like a Bodhisattva (Bodhisattva literally means ‘enlightenment being’ but the correct Sanskrit derivation may be ‘bodhi-sakta’ meaning ‘a being who is orientated towards enlightenment’).

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
Atisha

Thoughts Creating Situations/Reality

Ever since I have had the opportunity to know and learn from my Elder, Pa’Ris’Ha and long before the popularity of the movie, The Secret; she has taught me how important our thoughts have on our world and not even just our present times but for the next seven generations after us.  And sometimes you get the opportunity to see an immediate example of this wonder at work.

You ever have those little times that the Universe give you little glimpses that shows you – “yea it works!” And ever notice that these “little glimpse” happen when you aren’t expecting it.  They come like little bright flashes of light going off or as some people describe them as, “Ah ha moments”. It is like what Dr. Joe Dispenza says in the movie, “What the Bleep do we know?”: “When I create my day, and out of nowhere, little things happen that are so unexplainable, I know that they are the process or the result of my creation. And the more I do that, the more I build a neural net, in my brain, that I accept that that’s possible. It gives me the power and the incentive to do it the next day.“

Well let me share with you a little example of this and how the power of one fleeting, so called- small thought can to be reality! Yesterday, I was driving home from work , tired, it was night time and I pulled over to the nearest gas station to get some gas. Afterwards I looked over the parking lot to Walmart and realized I needed some food for the weekend. So I drove over to Walmart and attempted to find a parking space in the midst of the holiday traffic.  I found a spot after a few minutes and as I was putting my car into park, I was thinking how packed the place was and if it was a good idea to come and shop.  My very next thought was I was feeling it would be nice to see one of my teachers here because I would like to thank him for his class.  To me at the time, it was just a thought and it was only a feeling of gratitude that I wished to express to him for I didn’t get a chance to at the finals.

I went into the store and grabbed a cart and started to weave my way through the aisles. I was just about done and saw the Christmas isle with all of the gift packs and decided to go down and look at it for gift ideas. I was half-way down the aisle and look in front of me and right in front of me was my teacher! I immediately laughed to myself and said to the Universe- Yes I know my thoughts DO create my reality! I get it!  Smiling, I pulled up alongside of the isle he was at and he turned around and we exchanged greetings.  After a few minutes, we left and continued our way. I was   just about to go to the check our line and realized that I hadn’t really completed my creation process- I didn’t thank him. And just then he came back around to near where I was and then I went over to him and thanked him for his teaching abilities and that it was a joy to be in his class.  He shyly thanked me back and again we parted ways.

Now just think for a minute – out of all the people that were in Walmart and at all of the minutes of a day – what is the chance that the one person you would like to run into would be there at the same store, same time and in the same aisle that you go to?

As I was leaving the lot, I could only smile and thank the All That Is for again showing me even in a little way, to remind me again that yes, we are creators of our world. Our thoughts become the realities of the next breath and next moment, sometime we see the immediate effects and sometimes it takes alittle more time to experience it.

History of Christmas Part 2:

 In my research on the true history of Christmas and why society has embraced certain “traditions” of the holiday a few things I found were quite interesting.

Most of all the symbolism of all of the traditions we come to celebrate as Christmas came from the cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of the lands. The Romans wanting to obliterate their culture and customs took their holy days and festivals and incorporated “Christmas” as a way to cover up and indoctrinate all to Christianity. Now I am not at all against celebrating the birth of Christ and all that he gave us, but I am merely bring history to light as the origins and truth of why so celebrate Christmas.

Here are some interesting meanings behind the symbols of the holiday from the Christian faith:

 The Christmas tree: Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen, with its unchanging color, represents the hope of eternal life. Its needles point heavenward as a reminder that mankind’s thoughts should turn heavenward as well. (I will share more about the Great Pine Celebration of my People and its meaning to us later).

The star was the heavenly sign of promise to teach the children that God always fulfills His promises, and that wise men still seek Him.

Red is the first color of Christmas. Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color of the life-giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God’s greatest gift.

The glow of the candle represents how people can show their thanks for the gift of God’s Son.. to go about doing good. To remind all to let their light so shine before people who all may see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkling lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God’s precious children, their light shining for all to see.

The beautiful wreath made of fresh, fragrant greenery tied with a bright red bows reminds us of the bond of perfection, which is love. The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven-turned needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story of good will towards all and its color reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice. Even its very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ’s love. It is a circle, without beginning and without end. These are the things you must teach the children.

The Real History and Origins of the Holiday, “Christmas”

Part 1

As you stroll through any store at this time of the year you will hear the joyful songs playing on the overhead speaker invoking the season of Christmas time and every radio, and television commercial entice you with sales to buy more – do you ever wonder how did we come to this holiday of Christmas? Celebrated as the most high of Christian holidays, Christmas is the largest holiday of the year.  Most never reflect on why they believe what they believe or do what they do. We live in a world filled with customs, but few ever seek to understand their origin. We generally accept them without question and then what do we pass down to the next generations? A lot of customs not celebrated for their true meanings and virtues so they can learn a deeper meaning of life – more then just getting the best toys. And Santa? Where did he come from and what is his purpose with the supposed birth time of Christ? The true origins of Christmas may surprise you!

The earliest reference to Christmas being marked on Dec. 25 comes from the second century after Jesus’ birth. It is considered likely the first Christmas celebrations were in reaction to the Roman Saturnalia, a harvest festival that marked the winter solstice—the return of the sun—and honored Saturn, the god of sowing. Saturnalia was a rowdy time, much opposed by the more austere leaders among the still-minority Christian sect. Christmas developed, one scholar says, as a means of replacing worship of the sun with worship of the Son.

Though the Church at Rome maintained that December 25^th was the actual birth date of Jesus, the most likely date (according to civil and historical records) was sometime around the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, which was celebrated in autumn. The unanimous adoption of the December date came about as an attempt by the Church to integrate Christian ideals into the Winter Solstice festivals celebrated by all Indigenous Peoples  during that season. The Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, December 1984: “The Roman festival of Saturnalia, Dec. 17-24, moved citizens to decorate their homes with greens and lights and give gifts to children and the poor. The Dec. 25 festival of natalis solis invicti, the birth of the unconquered sun, was decreed by the emperor Aurelian in A.D. 274 as a Winter Solstice celebration, and sometime (later)…was Christianized as a date to celebrate the birth of the Son of Light.”

The early Romans were not celebrating Christmas but rather a native pagan feast called the Saturnalia. It occurred each year around the beginning of winter, or the winter solstice. This was the time when the sun had taken its lowest path across the sky and the days were beginning to lengthen, thus assuring another season of growth.

So Christmas was really not started to celebrate the birth of Christ but to hide the Indigenous  people celebrations and mask it as a Christian holiday.

How the Power of Appreciation Can Work for You

“Enlightenment is easy, just think kind compliments of all things, and all people!” (Pa’Ris’Ha: http://www.parishaonline.com)

Many years ago I began to study all of the major religions and find a deeper way I could connect with the Source and better myself in the journey of life. One of the greatest life lessons I have learned and continue to explore is the power of our mind and how our thoughts do create our reality.

Today there is much new brain research and teachers sharing some of the mysteries of how our brain works and how our thoughts can affect our life and situations we find our-selves in. 

When you appreciate something you almost always experience some feeling/emotion. For example: if you take a moment to appreciate the time you have with your family or a loved one you’ll sense some emotion – you’re going to feel good about this because you’re focusing on the positive aspects of the family or loved one. These feelings or emotions that you utilize when you appreciate someone will attract more positive things and more positive people into your life.

Why?

Whatever you focus on you will attract, whatever emotions you attach to what you focus on — you will attract in greater quantity.

If you focus on something positive you will attract more positive situations. If you focus on something negative – you will attract more negative situations. If you spend most of your day complaining, worrying, thinking about what isn’t right in your life, how your not making enough money, or your relationships aren’t ideal- through the power of your thoughts you will only attract more of those situations – and if you attach emotion to those thoughts – then you’re going to attract what you don’t want in greater quantities. Take time to look at what you regularly think about and then see if you attach any feeling to those thoughts. As an example: if you think about not having enough money and you have sad, depressed feelings/emotions –remember we are our thoughts. By regularly having negative thoughts and thoughts of doom and gloom – you’ll only attract more of the same.

One practice you can do to assist you in having more positive thoughts are to keep an appreciation journal and spend time at night before you go to bed to appreciate something in your life. It can be anything – you can appreciate the beautiful weather, the people in your life- anything and everything- there is so much around us to be grateful for!

When you work with the Power of Appreciation you suddenly stop having negative thoughts and you actually start attracting more positive things into your life. Notice that when you do that your mind shifts, your focus shifts, your emotions shift and the energy you send out shifts. Instead of focusing on something negative and attracting more negative situations – you start feeling better and you start attracting more positive situations into your life. Which would you enjoy more? Feeling good about something or feeling down and out about something. Attracting positive situations or attracting negative situations?

Watch the magic of the power of appreciation as it flows in your life!

The Power of Appreciation

The Power of Appreciation

I have found in my life the more I think, give and demonstrate appreciation, the more happiness, peace and real joy I experience. And the one person who has taught me more about the power of appreciation is my Elder, Pa’Ris’Ha. She has been the main constant in my life as she has constantly not only taught me about the power of appreciation but lives it and walks it fully as I have had the great fortune to witness countless times over as she always see the best in every person and every situation.

The dictionary gives the definition of appreciation as:

1. Recognition of the quality, value, significance, or magnitude of people and things.

2. A judgment or opinion, especially a favorable one.

3. An expression of gratitude.

4. Awareness or delicate perception, especially of aesthetic qualities or values.

5. A rise in value or price, especially over time

Saying or giving appreciation is much more powerful than saying “Thank-you” because what or whom you are giving appreciation to get more value or ‘”appreciation”.  Many years back I started a “Appreciation Journal” to which every day write down what I appreciated that day. Then everyday I would add more and more things that I was grateful for and the reason why I was grateful for them. It was a wonderful way for me to start to put the principle of appreciation more into my life for then I forced myself to really look at all and everyone around me and really look at their beauty and appreciate them. 

One of the prayers, my Elder Pa’Ris’Ha has shared states upon immediately rising in the morning says, …..and may I see 1000 beautiful things and touch 1000 sacred objects”. This has helped me immediately focus on the appreciation of the new day and the many opportunities that this day offers ahead. Instead of complaining about the hour of rising and all the many things that need doing – I now think how am I going to assist today? How many wonderful things do I get to witness and be apart of?

The power of appreciation enables us to get in touch with inner most thoughts to overcome any obstacle in our way. We can unleash the power of appreciation so that our lives are free of fear, worry and anxiety. Our lives will become satisfying and the many things we seek will be manifested and we will start to enjoy every moment of our existence.

(I give great appreciation to my Elder, Pa’Ris’Ha – for all that she has given me and I give appreciation to all of you! Have a great day!)