Light on Ukraine--"Heroes never die!"

Brave Yulia in "I am a Ukrainian"

If you have any interest in what's going on in Ukraine, and more specifically how women are playing important roles, please watch this very short, moving Youtube video, entitled: I am a Ukrainian, by a woman who calls herself, Yulia:

"I am a Ukrainian"

Her straight-forward appeal has gone viral! After 3 months of protests by civilians in Independence Square, Ukraine, violence erupted late last week as 70-100 protesters were gunned down and killed and another 1,000 beaten by Ukraine Security Forces. After the killings, the Ukraine parliament stepped in and removed the President in protest, Viktor Yanukovych, from office. He is presently on the run and the people of Ukraine have secured Independence Square once again. Another momentous decision by parliament was to release Yulia Tymoshenko who was Ukraine's first female prime minister and imprisoned for the last seven years.  She immediately went to Independence Square in Kiev. Here are two moving videos broadcasting Yulia's emotional speech to her people, in her first hours after being released from prison:

Yulia Tymoshenko's speech 1: "Heroes never die!"
Summary of Ukraine Revolution and Yulia Tymoshenko's speech 2: "You are heroes...the best of Ukraine!"

I stand in awe of the Ukrainian people, who as the first video states, "just want freedom." Please take the time to join Ukrainians in this pivotal time in history. To all those who lost their lives and for those who remain on the front lines, "Energy never dies, it just changes form (Inner Constellation Truth #1)."

Join me in sending love and care and exercising Inner Constellation Truth number 2: "Everything, no matter how challenging has ability to be transformed." Please assist in the transformation and pass these links on--shine the light on Ukraine.  

Chart Your Course, Sail True North

Once you've discovered your North Star, you’re able to move toward that guiding light. Now, you’re ready to Chart Your Course. What will be the tools to keep you heading in the right direction and alert you if you're off course? The Chart Your Course category of the blog explores personal tools of refinement that emphasis body, mind and spirit practices in addition to my personal favorite--Meridian Tapping. 

If you go to my website and scroll down, you will see a beautiful tapping points guide that you can resource to learn Meridian Tapping as a self-administered technique. If you need the additional support of a trained and certified practitioner, please contact me to start solidifying your North Star and Charting Your Course by using your body as your guide and compass.

Wilbur, Will You Be My Valentine?

Happy day, Valentine! Enjoy the following as my gift to you on this day of LOVE:

Will you be my Valentine?
© 2014 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Love spoke to me and said, “What’s all the hub-bub, Bub, simply love,
period.
On and on and on, people ask, ‘Have you ever fallen in love?’
Starry eyes, these are good to possess,
but a better question might be, ‘When have you fallen out of love?’
Now this is a meaty question…
or better yet, sticky sweet.”

I pondered Love’s question, when have I fallen out of love?
Ah, yes, the woman on the phone,
sweet thing, just doing her job, verifying my social security number,
mother’s maiden name,
high school,
sex of my last child (of which I’ve had none),
pet’s name (“Did I put down Sparky or Ninja…?”
“I don’t know, you tell me!”),
thong or bikini underwear,
are you kidding me?
Ten minutes of verifying my identity
and my patience thinned.

Then, there was Facebook,
does it count to fall out of love with a social network platform?
What if your relationship is only a day old?
After years of people haranguing me to join, I did,
and then, well, it’s just so basic and ordinary. 

I’m on a roll, for this admittance I could probably get sued.
One of my greatest loves was offended—chocolate,
so I must divulge:
I’m participating in a chocolate making class
and imagine this—a multitude of beautiful confections are displayed on the table.
After three hours of whipping, concocting, baking, decorating, inhaling
they’re ready to taste.
Students gather round, giddy with expectation,
body chemicals in overdrive.
Instructor dives in, no fork, no plate, chubby fingers stab
these perfect creations of love,
like Cortez snatching the cacao beans from Montezuma,
didn’t even bother to wipe lips,
stained with the blood of the peons’ offerings.
To the wide-eyed terror and gapping jaws, teacher replies,
“Chocolate is sensual!”

Yes it was, until…well, I won’t go into it again.
My internal thoughts chatter into overdrive, “Who's the instructor, God?
Quetzalcoatl, perhaps?”
In my mind, I step all over the teacher to crawl up on my high horse.

“Ding, ding, ding!” the horse speaks!
It’s Love, of course,
disguised in the horsey voice of the famous Mr. Ed,
“Losing patience,
expectations dashed—so basic and ordinary,
judgment downright sickening,
sounds like love in muddy valleys rather than soaring peaks.”

I consider kicking the sides of my beast,
sinking the spurs in deep and high tailing it out of there,
but of course, Love’s on the bottom and doesn’t move an inch,
rather with sides of steel, speaks,
“When falling out of love, reign yourself in,
don’t shoot for the moon, Starry Eyes,
find a neutral resting place, OK,
like the humble shade beneath me and cool off!”

I begin humming, “I left my horse in San Francisco…
tied to the post by the Ghirardelli factory,” but then,
realizing I’m yakkity yakking a streak,
Love cuts to the chase and speaks
four simple words, I must endorse,
(I’m a sucker for metaphor and Love knows it)
of course, of course—
“Love is the refuge.”

I harrumph,
climb down off my high horse,
enter the humble shaded space,
and breathe a sigh of relief,
falling back into love,
my refuge. 

Mind(fulness) Over Matter

I just finished reading a book club pick entitled, Grace Eventually by Anne Lamott. Notice there's no link to it, as it doesn't come recommended. It wasn't completely without merit as the author is way witty and shares the downfalls of human nature with an honesty that is remarkable. Also, reading it enabled me to solidify my personal preference to fill up with reading that inspires and celebrates one's best nature versus telling funny stories about one's attempts but missing the mark.

In my personal walk, I find being consciously mindful of love, compassion and hope will increase these qualities in my life, and if I encourage these seeds they will grow. The opposite is also true, if I water the seeds of fear, failure, anger, impatience (even though I'm human, heck give me a break), then these seeds will grow and love, compassion and hope will be but flutters and afterthoughts. I know, I know, it takes great discipline, and yes, it does. But, as one of my dear friends always reminds, it's well worth it in when the seeds grow and you begin to feel the positive effects in the nervous system and the mind--peace, calm, clarity, gratitude, etc. Also, for me, mindfully making a decision to focus on higher ideals (North Stars) takes me out of my tiny circumstance; it's an antidote to being self-indulgent.

When my turn comes to pick the book for book club, I will be juxtaposing Anne Lamott with Malala Yousafazai, in her new book, I am Malala. This young woman spends a mere seven pages in the prologue describing the events of her shooting for those who are perhaps unaware and then shifts her focus entirely to the state of her country and the light of hope she and her family continually shine in the face of devastating circumstances, most notably the earthquake that struck Pakistan and the rise of the Taliban in her country and home region. Malala continually orients toward compassion, hope, love and courage and this after an attempt on her life. Reading such a book inclines me to become a better human being, to consciously and mindfully make a choice for only goodness, in spite of what the outer world reflects.

Thank you, both Anne Lamott and Malala Yousafazai, for clarifying that Mind(fulness) over matter is my commitment.

Raw Compassion--Ouch! That hurts.

But it doesn't have to...ever been in a situation where you're called to witness another person's suffering and you don't know if you have it in you? Trust, dive in, fill up and give. It's really that simple. There is a never ending, constantly flowing resource, a reservoir, and it's not us alone--it's part of us, it's the energy of all those who have come through suffering, it's our ancestors and holy beings--I call it Raw Compassion. There's a constant flow, and you can tap in. Here's a poem to commemorate an amazing day I had prompted by the Inner Constellation Blessing*-- please consider helping one person suffer less.

Enjoy and be inspired:

Silent Lover
©2014 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Leaving my home this morning and going to work as a translator,
I had a goal in sight—
help one person suffer less.

Inundation began before noon:
veteran whose spouse had died a few years ago, yet pain of loss appeared, fresh.
Another observer to the veteran’s remembrance shared that she too understood loss,
hers was a child.
As the miracle of collective comfort unfolded, I remained humble translator—
hands conveyed spoken words into American Sign Language and vice versa,
creating a bridge to ford the stream of suffering.

Afternoon, I sat across from one describing attempted rape at knife-point 

but rejoicing in escape. 

Inspired by perception’s shift, we dove through churning and cresting waves,
went deep into calm resilience and rested there, in the lessons of life.

Early evening, student shared she considered taking her own life three times,
another in response told the story of a family member, attempting suicide.
That young one intervened, literally staunched the wounds until help arrived.
Wrist revealed to show the name of the beloved tattooed across tender flesh
as reminder—life is precious.
Penetrated by inked transmission,
surrounding mouths dropped agape, eyes lit bright
asking about the health of the loved one.
“She’s fine, she’s absolutely fine now.”

Today, life was miraculous,
an inundation of ocean’s ability
to remind water of its source.
Breathe in, allow its touch and movement,
breathe out and enter the ocean,
receive through aching hearts its passage,
clean and pure.


*IC blessing is a daily Mon-Fri send of short inspirational blips. If you'd like to be added to the mailing, please contact me