Bendin' Ur Spoon!

I’m not usually into the cute pictures of critters doing silly things, but this one reminded me of myself--trying to fend off the dome of smoke billowing over my California mountains! I live about 60 miles from the Yosemite Rim Fire as the crow flies, and since it began twelve days ago, my town has been under smoke so thick that many days we haven’t seen the sun. Last night I had a rough night of sleep, coughing through most of the night, and I woke this morning with a tight, constricted chest that I promptly relieved with my two favorite tools: Meridian Tapping and Heartmath technologies. As I was doing my self-care, to my utter delight, the sun peeped out and, then, shone brilliantly! I jumped up and went outside to see the bluest skies since the fire began. I grabbed my running shoes and headed out the door.

As I was moving around in the mostly clear Tahoe blue, I began pondering the metaphors I use with my clients:

• North Star – one’s un-moving, highest motto for life or one’s personal ideal
• Clouds – whatever obstructs seeing or orienting to one’s North Star

When clouds (or smoke) set in and obstruct our North Stars, what can we do to resource our highest ideals (compassion, generosity, gratitude, etc.), in spite of the fact that we’re not feeling it? One of my favorite daily practices when the clouds (or smoke) set in is to resource a past feeling. In other words use the power of your mind to “Bend Ur Spoon.”

You know, it’s a toss-up whether our brains are receivers of consciousness or transmitters of consciousness. Quantum Physicists have no definitive answer one way or the other. Studies actually show that one’s ability to bend reality is probable. So, resourcing one’s North Star when the clouds (or smoke) roll in means, imagining a time when you've experienced your ideal state. By doing so, you part the clouds and your North Star becomes visible.

In my above example of struggling with the affects of the Yosemite Rim Fire, when skies cleared, I got out there and resourced, resourced, resourced: I sucked in deep the clean air, I marveled at the robin-egg-blue sky, I greeted the Stellar’s Jays and Woodpeckers (wildlife was out resourcing too), I looked far in the distance and gave thanks that I could see the sturdy, green pine trees. I was running around like Snow White! Side note: nature is my favorite place to "resource" for it innately and constantly rejuvenates--no matter the destruction, Momma comes back to balance, always. 

With the fire 30% contained and an anticipatory containment date of September 10, I can expect more smoke will come rolling in; however, I am resourced--I have “Bent My Spoon,” and I've established a resource state to access in the future. I am soooooooo appreciative of clean, fresh air.

So is Yogini. When I arrived back home and opened up the sliding glass door, she was in 7^th Heaven and ran through the house whirling and kicking up her chubby heels! Try Bendin' Ur Spoon--it’s the best!!

Meet the Woman Who Prevented a Mass School Shooting

You all might have heard about the amazing woman, Antoinette Tuff, who talked down a gunman at an Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia a few days ago. She was interviewed by Channel 2 news and described the event and how she was able to face the gunman by expressing compassion for his situation. Here's the captivating and inspiring interview.

Can you imagine quelling the natural impulse to run or fight and instead face the danger with calm compassion? Antoinette was asked how she was able to do it. Firstly, she spoke of her own experience of suffering and shared her struggles with the young armed man, Michael Brandon Hill. She spoke of her multi-disabled child, her husband of 33 years she had recently lost, her own suicide attempt, but then she reminded him that although life throws in turns, it's possible to overcome them, or in Inner Constellation language--transform all adversity and challenge (IC Truth number 3: Everything, no matter how challenging, can be transformed)

Secondly, Antoinette spoke of anchoring in her faith. Knowing that the situation was beyond her, she consciously allowed herself to be used as a vehicle and prayed for strength, that’s when she began to engage the young man. By responding with compassion she prevented further harm to herself, the shooter, and over 800 children at the school. Her description of anchoring brought to mind an Inner Constellation technique I’ve coined, Dropping Anchor:

1) Focus on dropping your attention into the area of your heart

2) Breath evenly and comfortably in and out of the heart area as if it has its own respiration

3) Call to mind and appreciate all the times when you've experienced or expressed your NorthStar

4) Ask yourself, "what is one way to exercise my North Star today?"

As a sweet friend of mine said, Antoinette Tuff dropped anchor directly into Divinity's heart. She was completely present with care. Antoinette’s story is an inspiration that all things are possible when we ground to what is most important to us and become a vehicle for transformation.  Antoinette Huff, thank you for demonstrating bravery and North Star heroism.

Peace Day Training. Hippy Dippy? No way!

Howdy IC peeps. I wanted to let you all know about a fantastic offering that I've been taking part in and enjoying thoroughly. Every Monday and Thursday for the next 8 weeks Heartmastery provider Sheva Carr and Olympic Gold Medalist Marilyn King will be offering Peace Team Training calls at no charge to the listener. Their generous offerings will culminate on September 21, 2013, in celebration of International Day of Peace. These two women are a dynamic team combining Sheva's extensive knowledge of Heartmath practices (my favorite way of generating peace within) with Marilyn's experience of elite performance to provide a hub for individuals dedicated to peace practices. Here's the information:

CALL DATES AND TIMES:

Mondays and Thursdays July 29th-September 19th

9:00am-10:00am PT

DIAL IN:

(559) 726-1300

Participant Access Code: 574998

If you aren't available for the live calls, recordings of the calls can be accessed by joining the facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/428189453962428/

On the calls you will learn:

·       The eight domains of a world of peace

·       The history of each domain, where we stand now, and future trends contributing to a peaceful world

·       Who’s doing what in each domain to create a culture of peace

·       What you can do as a peace team player in each domain and on your unique pathway to peace

·       How to connect the dots of personal, local and global peace initiatives as important playgrounds for your pathway to peace

·       How to create a morning practice that builds a culture of peace in you and around you

·       How you can be a part of the International Day of Peace

·       How you are a part of a global family of peace team players just waiting for someone like you to play with!

We all have morning practices, rituals, and routines. Some of them are conscious, some not so conscious. Some of them are beneficial, some not so beneficial. Peace Team Training is designed to help you start your day the Olympian Way as a peace team player engaged in creating a world where a culture of peace thrives!

Looking forward to "seeing" you there and winning the gold of peace- TOGETHER!

Seven Seconds to Peace

Sitting at Tara’s Feet

©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com
September 2, 2012

Mother of compassion,

bright star in dawn’s first light,
bridge fording the stream
crossover unseen.

Peace, peace, peace

wash over me. 

Malala Yousafzai Speaks to the UN

Being shot by Taliban made me stronger.

This morning, July 12, 2013, on the day of her 16th birthday, Malala Yousafzai's rocked the United Nations and the more than 500 young people from over 80 countries present. She is a pristine example of Inner Constellation Truth #3:

Everything no matter how challenging, has the ability to be transformed. 

And, actually, IC Truth #2:

Energy never dies, it just changes form. 

Stronger, stronger, and stronger still.  You go, Brave Girl, voicing your North Star--the universal right to education.

Here's a link to one of the most inspiring speeches I've ever heard, Malala's words to the UN. Enjoy, and may her words inspire each of us to give voice and action to what you believe in.

Meeting Unloving Circumstances with Love

Monday was the first day of an 8 day Peace Training Camp hosted by Sheva Carr and Marilyn King. This free event is for anyone committed to peace as a personal orientation and it started off with a bang. Gitta Ryle, a holocaust survivor, was interviewed last evening and her message of forgiveness was profound. Sheva did an excellent job of summing up her words of wisdom for anyone facing an unforgivable circumstance:

1) Make an inner choice - make a choice to not hold on to the experiences in the physical body. Do not forget, for this protects us and honors our life experience but make a conscious decision to move beyond the pain. Gitta spoke of how her physical body began to break down and become sick when Gitta's children became the age she was when separated from her mother and father during World War II. At this point in her life, Gitta made a choice to not just exist but to live and begin to heal and eventually thrive in spite of her horrible circumstances. Her first step was making the inner choice to forgive.

2) Align with what you love - once Gitta made the inner choice to forgive, she said her energy was suddenly freed and she began to see the gifts in her life experiences. Her family had great musical talent and she remembered fondly that which she loved and had been denied for so many years. She rekindled this passion and it became her fuel, her honey, so to speak. She began sharing her gift of music with others and thus became a lighting rod for her core value of cultivating beauty in any given circumstance. When Gitta aligned with and nurtured what she loved, her healing accelerated.

3) Ask for help - Gitta acknowledged with gratitude all the people who helped her to safety and to eventually overcome her tragic circumstances. With the help of caring family, friends and professionals, she was able to confront the issues rather than "stuff them into the body."

4) Have a sense of purpose - lastly, Gitta expressed that when she became free of the great weight of unforgiveness, her freed energy had a purpose. She began speaking to young people as a surviving, thriving witness. In Gitta's interview with Sheva, she spoke of the Yin and Yang of life and that some people are inclined to help while others are inclined to harm, this is human choice. Gitta made a conscious choice to offer comfort and support and be a role model for forgiveness, what is possible and living this actuality.

After the interview wrapped up, I took a humble guess at Gitta's North Star, that which is her guiding light and life's orientation--meet unlovable circumstances with love.

If you have interest in joining the 8 day Peace Training Camp, visit this page, where all talks beginning this past Monday, July 8, through all 8 days can be accessed. If you don't have a Facebook account and would like the links sent to download the talks, please contact me, and I will happily send you all links. Here is the link to listen to Sheva Carr's interview with Gitta . Here's another link to a Heart Start call with Sheva, introducing the amazing heart-empowered, Gitta Ryle. May we learn from her extreme example of meeting unlovable circumstances with love.

Tick Tock Internal Clock

Out paddle boarding, on a crystal-clear, calm day. Words are only suitable if they arrange themselves into a poem. Hope you're out soaking up beauty and sunshine:

Circadian
©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Rhythm, pattern, flow,
this is how it goes.
In breath, out breath,
paddle, my extension.
Cup and scoop cool Tahoe blue,
push gently forward, ever forward.
I am light scattered golden.