"Sail on Silver Girl...."

Life can be distracting. Or better put, I can get easily distracted by life! This weekend I had yet to settle in to write as I had promised myself and instead was proceeding through my “to do” list. The little voice in my head (probably the good angel) said, “There will always be something else to do.” As the truth of these words digested, I noticed, “writing” had never made it to my “to-do” list. OK, point well-taken. I laid down the list and picked up my journal. I began pondering priorities or as described in my Inner Constellation work—North Stars.  Where do I keep my sights in spite of all other distractions jockeying for my attention? What keeps me on course and heading in the right direction? I can feel my North Star a changing, and that’s not a bad thing if I’m conscious of the change. One of my North Stars is compassion.  This priority has taken center stage for awhile, however my focus goes even deeper. My present North Star is best described as freedom: where as compassion is a condition of the heart, freedom is a state of mind. What am I allowing to come between me and absolute freedom? Where are my resistances or hard edges? For me all these questions are best answered by working with the energy stirred up…oh, and poetry of course:)

Land Gives Way to Water

Walk on solid ground,
over shifts and fractures where ever they are found.
North Star the gentle guide,
Inner Constellation the map to confide.
Only by stopping and becoming still will I arrive upon the shore—
a subtle, streaming boundary
between me and thee.
Star-studded surface reflects the choice
to enter in, shed the skin,
ride silver-rooted waters.

Energy Vessels

Since arriving home from my ACEP workshop (Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology), I’ve been pouring over my notes and digesting the material learned. I woke a few mornings ago with a snippet in my head and thought it expanded on my Inner Constellation metaphor so nicely, it deserved a blog article. Here’s the dream phrase:

“We are vessels of energy. We are vessels for energy.”

“Vessels of  Energy”
Mind, Heart, Nervous System—three parts of the energetic anatomy that continually pulse signals throughout the body, mirroring how we perceive and interact with our environment. Thoughts and feelings trigger electrical impulses that can be measured 8 feet or more from the body and reflect either coherence or incoherence in the body system. Like lines connecting the stars in a constellation, the meridian paths distribute the body’s energy mix through the body, but it doesn't stop there. Our constellation (or energetic imprint) goes out into the environment where it continues to pulse its influence.

“Vessels for Energy”
 Not only is energy generated by our bodies but energy is generated and distributed by all of nature’s creation. Creation’s Energy is ours to access and utilize without limit. In the Inner Constellation metaphor, Creation’s Energy is the night sky surrounding the constellation and attributing to its brightness. I'll let you all in on a little secret--"Creation's Energy" is my equivalent to "God." Every single thing is energy, it never dies it only changes form, and lastly, we are energy! Blasphemy, utter blasphemy! Nah, consider it a responsibility, read on...

How empty is the Vessel?
If you’ve ever been in a city and looked up at the sky, you’ll notice the stars are washed out by the interference of artificial light. In the same way, clouds can cover star light too, and even though they’re shining bright, their influence is blocked. In a similar way, repeated discursive thoughts, feelings, or sensations can create blocks or clouds to accessing the flow of energy intended for our replenishment. Creation’s Energy is accessible always, similar to the black night sky surrounding the constellation. However, if we’re standing in the middle of the city or are surrounded by clouds overhead, Creation’s Energy won’t be experienced.

Empty the Vessel: Getting rid of interference allows creation’s restorative energy to flow. You guys already know my favorite way to do this—meridian tapping. By tapping on acupressure points (stars in our constellation) the log jams are removed and the lines connecting our points flush the system and leave us open to receive. So high-tail it out of the city and into a little stillness and tap on your blessed points! To do so is a practice in good emotional hygiene.

Fill the Vessel: Once the clouds are removed, then it’s time to fill it up with every good thing, as many good things as possible: beloved companionship, sweet music, nourishing food, inspirational writings, gratitude and appreciation. The list goes on. We are influencing vessels of energy and receptive vessels for energy—let restorative energy in and give it out to others. Flow, vessels flow, for energy’s source never runs dry! 

"Electrified, I'm on a wire...."

I've been thinking lately of the perfection of the nervous system. Many folks are surprised to find that not only does the nervous system direct all bodily functions, but it also protects and heals. When we perceive distress, our miraculous protection modes kick in, often referred to as, "fight, flight, or freeze." The nervous system adapts in a split second to manage any threat with the sole goal being survival. After the threat has passed, the nervous system then instantaneously begins the process of healing. Often when working with someone experiencing pain in any form, be it emotional or physical, I go immediately to the nervous system, with the intention of engaging the body's natural healing process. How is this done? My two favorite methods are:

1) Meridian Tapping or EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) - a simple, self-administered technique best described as acupuncture without needles. By consciously tapping on pressure points the body's electrical system is accessed to increase blood flow and release pain and/or trauma from the body. By electrical system, I'm referring to one's energetic anatomy: 1) Mind 2) Heart 3) Nervous System

2) Writing - this form of expression is the most effective way I've found to connect and capture what's going on inside my body or the bodies of my clients. I share inspirational, tailored offerings with clients who are also inclined to this form of expression.

The nervous system is our wiring system and without it we could not survive, function or heal. It's also our connection to the outside world and a mirror of our perception of it. The nervous system is our direct line of communication with others and with creation. Ah, but this will have to wait for another day, I've got to head to San Francisco for an Energy Psychology convention. I'll keep you all posted on the trip.

Oooo, La-La...Provocative

Declaration—
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Is it enough to simply write?

Write and love,
write and love?

These two keep me flowing,
creating, growing,
stretching, releasing,
glorifying, praising,
transforming, thriving,
giving and knowing
my place,
my connection
and my Voice.

Amen

"A-hunting I will go to catch a wong-eared wabbit!"

Many months ago a friend recommend I watch the movie, "Rabbit Proof Fence." Oh my gosh, if you want to be inspired by the resiliency of human bonds, it's a must see. The movie opens with a beautiful metaphor--a rabbit-proof fence that runs the length of Australia, built to keep rabbits out of the agricultural land. Now, you all know I'm down with this measure (if you're scratching your head, thinking, "huh", read my past post, Everything is Energy)! As the movie progresses, however, the Australian aborigines become the hunted and relocated. Rabbit Proof Fence is a true story about three remarkable girls who push beyond man-made barriers. I was left pondering a truth I've grown increasingly sure of--the human tendency to believe we are somehow separate from one another leads to trouble. We are not separate, of this I'm certain. From where did this false notion derive? I have a theory and it's expressed in the poem below:


Belief of Separation
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

First man, first woman,
Adam and Eve,
cast from the garden,
somehow severed from their Creator.
Has anyone considered this question:
How can creation ever be separated from its Source?
Perhaps, that old devil snake pondered the same.

If banishment from Source is possible,
then might I, too, cast you from me:
judging,
dominating,
converting?
With walls erected
and flaming sword drawn,
I become God’s cherubim,
guarding the Eastern gate,
convinced I hold the keys
to your salvation.

Untitled Rumi

It's the start of a good week whenever I rise early, write a poem and have the joy of perfecting it as the days progress. Part of my morning writing ritual is flooding my senses with inspiring poetry as soon as I awaken. One of my favorite poets is Rumi. Often I see a line he wrote so many years ago and wish he were alive today to expand on a line or two. Then, I remember--energy never dies, it just changes form....

Untitled Rumi
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

“When one of us gets lost, is not here, he must be inside us.”

                                                            ~Rumi

Beyond words, tone, volume
and all crutches used to communicate,
or perhaps disguise,
there are underlying feelings:
expressions,
mannerisms,
some call it, ‘body language.’

Crutches draw all eyes to the obvious hobble,
the physical injury in plain sight.
But what condition is the heart, the very center?
Is it wide-open,
walled-off,
content,
lost?

To feel your way inside,
through constant,
pulsing,
subtle energy,
holds up the magic mirror.
Don’t be surprised if you see yourself
reflected there.

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow

I was exercising the other day and turned on the TV to pass time. A man with a Scottish accent was being interviewed (I'm a sucker for the Highland voice:). With soft-spoken, humble demeanor, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow shared an amazing story, and I knew I had to highlight him on the Freedom Series section of my blog. He and his brother were sitting in a pub one day when the local news picked up a story on famine-stricken Somalia. After watching the devastation, they asked, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could just do one small thing to help?" Ah, the life-changing question! The brothers decided to spearhead a local community gathering of food, clothing, blankets and medical supplies. They loaded up all the accumulated goods and drove to Somalia. When the men returned to Scotland, an avalanche of continued donations greeted them. Imagine Magnus's reply (in Scottish accent, please:), "I was touched by the overwhelming generosity of others. I saw all of these donations in our family home and thought, 'Wow, people are good,' and it inspired me to be good too." Magnus quit his job, sold his home and started Mary's Meals, an organization that now feeds 900,000 daily meals to children around the world at the cost of about 8 cents a child.

If, like me, your radar picked up on the organization's name, it is named for the Virgin Mary. According to Magnus, there is no ministry attached to his work, "We are very careful to never link feeding and faith. We serve those in need...period." Amen! Any one with a momma's heart would proudly support his mission.

If you find yourself curious, check out MarysMeals.org. Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow won the 2010 Hero of the Year Award from CNN. If you wish to check out this year's candidates of everyday people following their North Stars, go to CNNHeroes.com and vote on your favorite. A special tribute show will air on December 11 at 8ET/5PT announcing the winner, so get out there and honor these heroes with your vote. In closing, Magnus summed up his organization with what I thought was the perfect blessing: "I've learned...that every small act of kindness makes a difference."