Gods--You Are, I am...

…co-creating constantly, always; in every word spoken, every action, every thought and deed—mind blowing actually, downright amazing. I’ve picked back up my violin over the holidays and I find myself listening to the loveliest of music for inspiration, Celtic fiddler like Alasdair Fraser (he’s playing now as I write this), and the amazing Joshua Bell who authored a CD entitled Romance of the Violin, which I affectionately call, Romancing the Violin. These musicians are very much aware of their brilliant capacities, and their abilities to express through a vehicle such as a musical instrument. What’s your instrument? How do you express, co-create, and exhibit your creative, god-like abilities?

Heaven or hell, creation or damnation—a little kingdom is being created inside you always, constantly. As you read these words, it unfolds. Creation, blessed life, is never-ending in the inner garden we tend and then comes to fruition in the outer world by means of our expression. Seeds, tiny seeds of compassion or love, or perhaps on a not so good day, anger, despair are sprouting. Which seeds do we tend, water, provide sunshine to and nourish?

I feel a poem coming on and I’m itching to grab my fiddle. Off I go! Gods you are, I am….

I want an Official Red Ryder, Carbine-Action, Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings to everyone. I hope you all get exactly what your heart most desires and Santa doesn't say --“No way, kid, you’ll shoot your eye out!” May you freely plunge beneath the tree, into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice and find your prize. As you close your eyes Christmas night, I hope next to you lay your oiled blue steel beauty (in whatever form it may take)—the greatest Christmas gift you have ever received, or would ever receive. May you gradually drift off to sleep, pranging (and missing:) ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots!

OK, maybe that’s going a bit too far…but, I hope all your dreams are sweet and in them you feel like da bomb!  And may it have nothing to do with what you received outside, but rather what you received inside, yep—your Inner Constellation. If you allow, I wish the honor of playing Santa Claus and offering you a sweet little package for your Inner Constellation that you can open every day of the year. But before I get into the details I want to introduce a practice called reciting the gathas. This is a Sanskrit word meaning to speak, sing, recite or extol, a perfect concept for over the holidays, eeh, especially if you’re like me and enjoy belting out Christmas chorals. Basically a gatha is a verse said in rhythm with the breath while bringing complete awareness to the present moment. So, here might be Ralphie’s gatha (character from A Christmas Story):

“I’m firing my official Red Ryder Carbine-Action, (in breath)
Two-Hundred Shot Range Model Air Rifle! (out breath)
I will be extra careful. (in breath)
so as not to shoot my eye out. (out breath)

You might recoil here, not because of the kick-back on the Red-C BB gun as it’s aimed at the paper target, but because you think perhaps I’m committing blasphemy with the gathas. No way! Gathas come from the Zen tradition and are created to reflect the practical aspects of life. There are ones for waking, eating, dressing, walking even defecating. Had Ralphie recited the above gatha he might have prevented a, um…near major catastrophe. So, now, my Christmas gift to you—since August of this year, I’ve been sending out Inner Constellation blessings, Monday through Friday, to folk’s email inboxes (your year-round Christmas tree). The IC blessings, or gathas, are very short little blips, usually just a few lines, designed to inspire and orient you toward wellness. In short, they help Chart Your Course. Here’s an example of the IC Blessing set to go out tomorrow and what it would look like in your inbox:

IC Blessing: Winter Solstice
© 2013 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

You are light scattered golden.

Unwrap each daily gift for your Inner Constellation and simply enjoy while being reminded of the real gift of you. In the tradition of the gathas, you can breathe the blessings in and out through the day—“I am light” (in breath)/”scattered golden” (out breath). And indeed you are. If you would like to accept my invitation to receive the email send Monday-Friday, please contact me. I triple dog dare you (gasp!) Happiest holidays to you and a new year filled with blessing after blessing after blessing. 

What Makes You Grin Like a Fool?

Quote from Thich Nhat Hanh

I've recently fallen in love with Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, and in his book, Being Peace he has much to say about the practice of smiling. In the first chapter I was touched by his poetic beauty:

LIFE IS FILLED with suffering, but it is also filled with many wonders,such as the blue sky, the sunshine, and the eyes of a baby.To suffer is not enough. We must also be in touch with the wonders of life.They are within us and all around us, everywhere, anytime.

 An absolute yes to his insight. He suggests the following:

If a child smiles, if an adult smiles, that is very important. If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work....

 During walking meditation, during kitchen and garden work, during sitting meditation, all day long, we can practice smiling. At first you may find it difficult to smile, and we have to think about why. Smiling means that we are ourselves, that we have sovereignty over ourselves, that we are not drowned in forgetfulness.

Hmmm, drowned in forgetfulness, how easy to forget life's sacredness, our sacredness. I tried smiling as a practice yesterday, started by doing the things I love that make me grin like a fool: played with Yogini, blocked off 2 hours for writing, loved up my sweet husband, went for a run, did dishes with gratitude for the food grown by the hands of others for the sake of my nourishment, and you know what? I had a beautiful day--things flowed and my heart was light, softened so to speak. I became curious and I did a little research. Here's what the experts have to say about the benefits of smiling:

• boosts the immune system
• natural pain killer, stress reducer and mood enhancer by releasing endorphins which block pain perception and serotonin, our feel good hormone
• measurably reduces blood pressure and lowers heart rate
• increases productivity (we really should, "whistle while we work!")
• boosts the moods of others (it's contagious, 50% of people who see a smile will smile back)
• helps us live longer (one study showed people who smile readily and more often live 7 years longer!)

And, if you really want to pack a wallop while grinning like a fool, grab someone and give them a hug for ten seconds, this is said to reduce anxiety and stress by 70%. That's more effective than any of the pharmaceuticals out there! So, it seems wise Thich Nhat Hanh's got something going on with his smiling practice. Here's what I want to know--what makes you grin like a fool? Do it, do it now (and let me know your results)!

Gihugic Aha Moment--Thank you, Ben Wheeler!

You know, I had a moment of clarity this morning as I sat with my emwave and breathed all the goodness of a beautiful morning. My aha was prompted by a young boy, age 6, named Ben Wheeler. I'll introduce Ben in a moment, but first, a realization:

Ultimately another person's suffering becomes our suffering. When darkness approaches and is all around, don't shrink away--step up, expand, shine the light and perhaps those adrift will find their way home.

This is the lesson as I took it, from a boy named Ben who loved lighthouses above all else. According to those who knew this little man, he was a lighthouse, he was also a fatal victim of the Sandy Hook shooting, happening one year ago today. I listened to his mom and dad talk on Opera's Soul Series a few weeks ago and their message was loud and clear--we have tremendous ability to either spread light or succumb to darkness. As I was pondering this reality, I got to thinking about the turning points we're given every day to truly be agents of love or agents of fear, frustration, worry, etc. How do I personally respond to horrible and dark situations--by shrinking away and adding another layer of darkness and confusion, or by stepping up, opening my heart, and cultivating goodness--shining a light so to speak. Science now shows that emotions such as appreciation, kindness and compassion literally change the physiological responses and heart rhythms of others within our 8 foot vicinity. The opposite is also true. If we are frustrated, scared or untrusting, these restricted feelings influence the physiology of other people within our radius. Ultimately another person's suffering or happiness becomes our suffering or happiness. What are we going to do, succumb to the darkness or make a revolution and shine, baby, shine? 

Thank you, sweet angel, Ben Wheeler, for the lessons you continue to teach through your loved ones that remember your adoration for the light. You are a tribute to IC Truth #3, energy never dies, it only changes form. On this day and always, may we each consciously chose to shine. 

For more information about Ben Wheeler, his love of lighthouses and his goodness that continues to spread, visit: http://benslighthouse.org/

Precious Christmas Bling!

Hope you sweet peeps had the best Thanksgiving full of counting your blessings. I prepared for Advent yesterday, set the greens, the lights and the Christmas bling. I had a poem rolling around in my head that I wished to share, it's my formula for world peace (gasp, yes really, I know it's a bold statement). Love to all and enjoy the season for you are a...

Treasure
© 2013 Karla Johnston All Rights Reserved

You are precious.
Beyond the value of gems, stones, or gold,
and you are not the exception.
Every one, no matter gender, creed or race
is equally worthy.

Every person, animal, thing
that breathes, contracts, expands,
houses the pulse of life,
is an absolute miracle.

We are glorious.
Holding the brilliance of creation
or darkening of damnation
in every word we speak.

If we saw, for brief moment, our radiance
we could never commit a harmful act,
for the understanding that we
would diminish it.

If we knew our preciousness,
hateful words could not be spoken.
Malice could find no home in us.
No conflict, no battle, no war.
Our one desire, our sole purpose
to keep carefully
this treasure—
only ever cherish it. 

What's Your North Star? Answer and Shine Bright....

I'm a writer who absolutely loves metaphor. One of my favorite Inner Constellation metaphors is the idea of North Star. In ancient days of navigation before the use of sophisticated equipment, routes to uncharted territories were plotted by first locating the--

North Star-that which is unmoving in the midst of the ever rotating star field. 

The body was the compass, using observation to identify the North Star before heading in the direction one wished to go. Let's check in with your Inner Constellation and ponder a few questions to help locate your personal North Star--that which is your highest ideal or priority for life. Your North Star will serve as your solid guide and orientation through the changing storms, clouds and winds of life:

1) What has value and meaning to you above all else?

When I ask this question about half of all people can answer it without hesitation. If you hesitate, keep asking:

2) How do you ultimately wish to respond to the challenges in life, we're talking your highest ideal state?
3) If you could choose one person dead or alive to emulate, who might it be and why?
4) What have been the most impressionable experiences in your life? What did you learn from them?

It can take some deep exploring to discover True North. Check out the North Star category on this blog to further your exploration. When answering question #1, many people will respond, "my kids," or "my sobriety," however, these will change and could even be gone one day, that would mean your North Star would fizzle out, no good. North Star is eternal, it's your essence, that which can not be taken away or destroyed. One of my greatest joys is exploring individual North Stars and then once identified, Charting Course to get a person heading in the direction they wish to go. Contact me if the above questions generate ideas or if you want to share your North Stars. In this way I can support you on your journey and be blessed in seeing you shine bright!

Poster Child for the IC Blog!

Out now, an Inner Constellation read

I adore Malala Yousafzai. She did it again, spoke clear, unquestionable ideals that rendered Jon Stewart and her audience practically speechless. Below you'll find links to her interview on The Daily Show. Here's a transcript describing her approach to her Taliban persecutors:

"I used to think that the Talib would come, and he would just kill me. But then I said, 'If he comes, what would you do, Malala?' Then I would reply to myself, 'Malala, just take a shoe and hit him.' But then I said, 'If you hit a Talib with your shoe, then there will be no difference between you and the Talib. You must not treat others with cruelty and that harshly. You must fight others, but through peace and through dialogue and through education.' Then I said, 'I tell him how important education is and that I even want education for your children as well. Now do what you want.'"

Interview part 1  (6:16)

The "take a shoe and hit him," comment got lots of laughs, however, in Arab culture it's a deep insult to do such a thing. Feet are the lowest part of the body and anything in association with them are considered unclean (thus the big hubbub when Jesus attempted to wash the feet of his disciples, it wasn't just the stink).

Malala speaks her North Star of equality so clearly and her Charted Course, with all its challenges, one of which was the attempt on her life, derailed her, but ultimately she's back on course. In fact, her North Star seems to be shining even brighter making Arrival eminent. Her message is full of hope and inspiration, and I wish now to share the rest of her interview so you may equally allow her words to wash over you, resource you and encourage you on your Inner Constellation journey.

Interview part 2 (5:28)

Interview part 3 (4:10)