Relax your jaw, let your tongue fall to the floor of
your mouth, allow your jaw to part slightly and just relax.
Feel the relaxation floating down your spine: feel it go
down vertebrae by vertebrae, relaxing you totally and completely.
Feel your chest filling with a deep sense of relaxation.
Feel your chest opening, relaxing, letting go. Feel that
feeling going down into your stomach. (Pause)
Now feel it going down your legs and out your feet. Imagine
yourself totally surrounded by an energy of peace, of love,
and of deep relaxation. Notice how your body feels. Let
the energy of relaxation and peace flow through you. And
relax, just breathe deeply and relax. (Long pause)
Imagine yourself sitting on top of a hill looking out
at the countryside. The air is warm and the wind is gently
caressing your skin. You feel totally at peace, relaxed,
and safe. The sky is incredibly blue and there are beautiful,
fluffy, white clouds floating by. You lie back and take
a deep breath and just watch the clouds. You feel so relaxed,
so at peace. As you watch the clouds you notice how each
one is different, each one is unique, yet perfect. Notice
how easily the clouds drift across the sky. Even though
each cloud is different, they are all perfect. Just relax
and watch the clouds. (Pause) It is easy to accept the
clouds just the way they are. It is easy to see their beauty
and their perfection. Now let yourself know, at the core
of your being, that you too are perfect. Just as you accepted
the clouds, accept yourself. Imagine viewing your life
with the same peace and acceptance you felt for the clouds.
Allow yourself to accept and love yourself, just as you
are. (Long Pause)
Really allow yourself to feel the love. Feel that sense
of self acceptance flowing through you, embracing you and
filling you with a deep sense of peace and love. (Pause)
When you are done, gently and lovingly bring yourself back
to this room.
Take at least a few minutes to bring yourself back. Get
up slowly and give yourself some time to become oriented
to the room again. You might want to stretch gently and
take a few deep breaths. Give yourself a few minutes to
think about the following questions:
- How do you feel physically? Emotionally?
- Were you able to accept yourself?
- Did you find it hard to let go of any judgments you
have about yourself?
- How does your body feel?
The more often you allow yourself to experience this or
any other meditation, the easier it will become. Just notice
any resistance you have to the process. Try to get in touch
with the inner dialogue, what it is you are telling yourself
that is causing your resistance. Change that dialogue and
your experience will change. Tell yourself it is easy to
follow the meditation and it will be.Most importantly,
honor your process and be gentle with yourself. And remember,
you are perfect just the way you are. Society teaches us
that in order to be perfect we must measure up to someone
else's external standards. In dominion you already are
perfect. If you don't acknowledge your perfection now,
no matter how much you change, no matter how 'perfect'
you become you will never experience your perfection. So,
allow yourself to be perfect moment by moment. In dominion
we don't embrace change because of a need to improve ourselves;
rather we embrace change because we want to experience
a greater degree of happiness, freedom, and joy in our
lives.
CENTER>
from my new book
The Toltec Way
Dr. Susan Gregg
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Dr. Susan Gregg
April 12, 1999
The
Power of Our Word
The Gift of Silence
Remember the story of the little boy who cried wolf. He
misused the power of his words so many times that when
there was a real danger no one would listen. In some translations
of bible the creation story in the book of Genesis starts
with "In the beginning there was the word." We channel
the energy of creation with our words. Our words are powerful,
once spoken they can never be withdrawn. Now think about
your own words. How often do you speak? How many words
do you use in a day? Your words have the power to create,
think about the words you most often speak to yourself.
Are they words of love or words of fear? What are your
words creating in your life right now? Your words create.
What are you asking for on a moment by moment basis? Do
you even know?
Our mind communicates in words; our spirit has no words,
it is an energy. We communicate with the energy of our
spirit with feelings and body sensations, our mind then
translates the energy into words and visions. Once we name
those feelings and sensations they too move into the world
of words created by of our mind. Words are energy vibrations
our mind has translated and defined; the energy of words
are contained and limited once we 'know' their meaning.
And words have different meanings to each of us. The realm
of our spirit lies beyond words, in the silence of our
hearts.
Only in the silence can we clearly connect with our spiritual
essence. Yet we spend most of our time filling up the silence
with our voices and the sounds of civilization. We often
speak words with little or no thought. We learn to speak
our mind and value its opinion; we repeat what we already
know and close the door. When you speak or think the words "I
know" you have cut yourself off from the possibility of
learning. The doors of the universe fly open when we say "I
don't know" and we mean it, really mean it in the core
of our being.
Beyond our presumptions about life is the
very real power of silence. Be still and know God; be still
and know yourself as God. Try practicing the art of silence
and see what happens in your life.
from my new book
The Toltec Way
Dr. Susan Gregg
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Dr. Susan Gregg
June 14, 1999
Making
things Non-Negotiable
A woman who read my first book Dance of Power once asked
me how I had kept going, why I had not stopped or given
up as I proceeded on my path. She said there were many
points as she read my book that she said, "If that had
happened to me I would have quit." The best answer I had
for her at the time was that I just knew I had to continue,
quitting was just not an option.
A few days later I was sitting in the sanctuary of a Catholic
church meditating. As I opened my eyes a group of children
came out of the back room. All, except one, were bouncing
along as children do. One little boy was very mindfully
carrying a bottle of oil. He looked at it reverently as
he walked silently along. I wondered what his life would
be like, I wondered if he would be able to hold on to his
sacred connection. I closed my eyes and continued to meditate.
The question of how I had made myself continue, how I
had gone on when others would have quit surfaced. Over
the years I have seen so many people quit when they were
at the verge of a major break through. Just before they
would have achieved a deep sense of peace and freedom they
stop doing the very things that were leading them toward
that freedom. At that very moment they were about to experience
a miracle people frequently become convinced that they
need to do something else, or they need more time for themselves,
or . . . the reasons are endless. What stopped me from
doing that?
I know we are all the same, we all have the ability to
achieve freedom. I am no better than the next person. Why
is it I went on when others didn't? I was sitting near
a statue of Jesus and I began to wonder what he did, how
did he achieved personal freedom? The sense that I got
was his personal freedom was rooted in a deep sense of
love and compassion for himself and others. I know we all
need to be gentle with ourselves, we need to accept our
process and honor where we are before we can move forward.
Love and compassion are far better motivators than fear
and judgment.
I realized that great teachers like Buddha, Lao Tse, and
Jesus we totally dedicated to experiencing and sharing
their divinity. In my classes I often talk about the need
for discipline and dedication, two words we often hate
to hear. They had the discipline to overcome any odds because
they knew the prize was well worth it. They saw themselves
as God had created them rather than as their minds perceived
them.
How had they gotten to that place of knowing. My sense
was by making certain things non-negotiable. They prayed
and meditated on a regular basis. They did what ever it
took to maintain a deep and clear connection to their spiritual
self. That connection became like the very air we breath
- a non-negotiable part of life. Einstein once said that
the most important decision a person could make was whether
we lived in a friendly or hostile universe. From direct
experience they knew God was all loving, they knew the
universe was a friendly place. When I finished my meditation
I realized I had a much better answer for the question
of how did I go on. I made certain things non-negotiable.
I prayed and meditated daily. I had a loving mentor who
told me to find a place I could talk to God and go there
ever day. For me the place I connect most fully with the
energy of the Creator is the beach. Every morning I would
go to the beach and pray. For me my prayer was very simple
- please love me. I would open my heart and let that love
in, then I would go about my day.
As much as possible I would maintain an attitude of humility.
Whenever I was unsure of what to do or how to do it rather
that guessing I would say I don't know. As soon as I admitted
I didn't know I became teachable and the answers could
come to me. When I felt totally hopeless and didn't want
to go on I remembered that quitting wasn't an option and
I couldn't go back. Besides not being an option going back
could never lead me to where I wanted to go.
I remember many nights getting out of my warm bed to finish
my list of non-negotiable things. In the corner of my mirror
on a small white index card was a list of four things.
The first was to stand in front of the mirror, look deeply
into my eyes and talk loving to myself twice a day. The
second was go to the beach and pray. The third was meditate
and the forth write in my journal.
After at time I remembered to pray in the morning because
the beach was cold and lonely late at night. I never allowed
myself to stay in bed and do them tomorrow because after
all doing them was non-negotiable. Non-negotiable means
no room for negotiation, none what so ever. We never negotiate
our need for air. We never put off our next breath because
it is inconvenient or we'll do it later. If we want to
continue to live, breathing is non-negotiable. My hunch
is Buddha, Lao Tse, and Jesus were all very well acquainted
with discipline and dedication and the concept of making
things non-negotiable. They also said they were no different
from us, we could do the same things and even better, if
we wanted to.
Do you want your life to be full of happiness
and joy or pain and struggle? The choice is yours. And
it all depends on how willing you are to exert discipline
and dedication and to make things non-negotiable.
from my new book
The Toltec Way
Dr. Susan Gregg
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Dr. Susan Gregg
October 21, 1999
The
Future
The clouds were still pink and orange from the
last rays of the sun. You could see people's breath as they
moved
rapidly through the village. It would be another cold night.
The musky smell of pinion wood floated up from the cooking
fires and the sound of children's laughter filled the air.
The Grandmother sat in silence watching and waiting. Her
heart was filled with love as she looked down upon her
village.
"Yes," she thought, "this is my village."
"I wandered for years before I settled here, before I
could love myself enough to have a home."
Soon the children would gather about her feet, clamoring
for their evening story. How she loved their curiosity,
their openness, and their innocence. They questioned everything
not because they were cynical but because they were sincerely
curious. That was why they learned so easily. Curiosity
and openness pushed them to question and to learn, it was
their gift to all who cared to notice. Adults could learn
much from children.
Years ago while she was caring for two of her young charges
a young boy had asked to hold his infant sister. It was
an unusually request so she asked the boy why. He had looked
at her very solemnly and replied, "Because she is closer
to the Great Spirit and I am beginning to forget." She'd
handed him his sister and watched. He spent hours looking
into her eyes. Now he's a great healer and teacher in a
village far away.
"What would you like to hear about tonight children?"
There was a great deal of laughter and whispering. They
had been trained to confer among themselves and come up
with a single request. After a time the smallest girl stood
up and announced they would like to hear of their future.
The Grandmother laughed and looked solemnly at each of
them. Then she closed her eyes and began to speak.
"One of you will be a great chief, one of you a thief,
and one of you will be a powerful healer. Among you there
will be mothers and husbands that are good providers. There
will be good hunters and bad ones. But each of you, no
matter what you become, is part of the Great Spirit. You
are not what you do or who you become. You are a light,
a shinning example of the love the Great Spirit placed
inside each of us."
"But Grandmother who among us will be the chief and who
will be the thief?"
"Why does that matter little one? The Great Spirit wants
us to treat all of his children the same, with love and
compassion.
"A great chief loves the healer and the thief. Perhaps
he even loves the thief just a little more because he is
wounded and needs love to heal. Only love heals. Anger,
hatred, and judgment only create deeper wounds."
"I don't understand Grandmother," said the oldest boy. "If
someone steals something of mine I would be very angry."
"Why?" asked the Grandmother. "Do you fear there will
be no more? Is not everything but a gift to be shared?
If you give love in return for betrayal have you really
been betrayed? And is anything except love real?
"Remember, anyone who shares anything but love is wounded
and must be treated with compassion. Love and compassion
will set you free and it might just heal the heart of the
thief."
Off in the distance voices were calling the children for
dinner.
"Now go and think about the words you have
heard. Think about the incredible power love has to heal
and ask yourself which feels better, love or anger?"
from my new book
The Toltec Way
Dr. Susan Gregg
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Dr. Susan Gregg
February 28, 2000
Meditation
Freeing
Your Body
Get quiet for a few minutes. Close your eyes, take a few
deep breaths, and allow yourself to relax.
Imagine yourself standing in a clearing in the middle
of a primordial forest. The clearing is bathed in moonlight
and filled with the feelings of peace, safety, and love.
It is a warm night and the air is heavy with the sweet
scent of the earth. You take a few deep breaths and something
deep within you begins to stir. You feel totally free perhaps
of the first time in your life. An ancient rhythm starts
to flow through your body. You can feel it in each and
every cell of your body.
You slowly begin to move around the clearing feeling your
body. You become aware of each and every movement of your
body. Love and self-acceptance begins to move through you.
You find yourself moving more and more freely. Your body
seems to have its own rhythm and inner grace. The ancient
rhythm fills you and moves you. Just let yourself dance
the dance of freedom in the beautiful moonlight. Relax
into the experience and allow yourself to be one with it.
Allow yourself to enjoy your body.
Take as long as you'd like with these images. Imagine
how you would feel if you started each day with the memory
of having danced in the warm moonlight the night before.
Imagine how you would walk, how you would hold yourself,
and how you would treat your body.
from my new book
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spiritual Healing
Dr. Susan Gregg
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Dr. Susan Gregg
February 23, 2000
Final Note
When people study with me I can remind them when they
are struggling to be gentle with themselves. When they
are in emotional turmoil I can remind them to love themselves
and embrace their discomfort. If you do nothing else remember
to accept where you are, embrace it, love it, and then
choose again. Your process is your process. Comparing yourself
to anyone else serves no purpose. As soon as you use comparisons
you are surrounded by your filter system and back in the
paradigm of domination.
Be gentle with yourself as you learn to live your life
from a place of dominion. The words in this book will magically
change as you proceed on your path. While you are away
a tiny being will rewrite entire sections and put a new
message there.
The further you walk along this path the more you will
realize you are not alone. There is an old Yoruba proverb
that says, If we stand tall it is because we stand on
the shoulders of many ancestors; All you have to do is
reach out with your heart and we will be there for you.
Make sure you develop a loving, nurturing inner voice
to replace the voices of the judge and victim. Take the
time to develop the ability to say positive, encouraging,
and uplifting statements to yourself. I made a list of
things to say and put it in the back of my journal and
on my mirror. I also bought several packages of colored
index cards. I wrote down quotes, insights, and anything
I knew would help. I carried them everywhere I went and
in spare moments I would read them like flashcards. You
are learning a new language, the language of love. It is
a language your filter system can't speak so make those
flashcards a memory aid to help you learn the new vocabulary.
I wish for you great happiness and joy. Let your process
be a gentle one filled with love, curiosity, and wonder.
You are at an exciting point in your life. Let yourself
fully enjoy the experience; it is the only time you will
pass this way so fully embrace it.
The only regret I have about my studies is that I didn't
allow myself to enjoy every minute of it. I always wanted
to be just a little further along so I missed the gift
of being right where I was. Life is only a series of moments
in which we get to be right where we are or not. That's
our choice moment-by-moment, we can be where we are and
enjoy it, or we can be where we are, pretend we're not,
judge it, and miss all the joy. Be where you are--you are
there anyway. I have learned to be where I am and enjoy
each moment--it is a gift best savored fully.
Some
Suggestions that might help:
- Create a daily
routine
- Do things
everyday that feed your soul
- Spend time
out in nature
- Talk to a
tree
- Meditate
- Journal
- Change your
habits and routines
- Be gentle
with yourself
- Make a pack
of flashcards
- Talk to your
spirit
- Ask your future
self for help
- Read
- Set your
intent to love yourself unconditionally
- Look at
yourself in
the mirror and remember to be honored to be in
your presence
- Define
your principles
- Remember
you are a divine being
- Live in
dominion with everyone and everything
- Honor
your process
- And
remember to be gentle with yourself no matter
what
- Let
others love you
- Love
from my new book The Toltec Way [ Some Basic Philosophy ]
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Gregg
April 14, 2000
Don
Miguel Ruiz was kind enough to write the foreword.
Forword
Susan Gregg's The Toltec Way:
A Guide to Personal Transformation is a recapitulation
of the techniques we did together more than ten years
ago. The practices served as a guide for her incredible
spiritual growth. Her life was completely transformed.
Susan found the strength and courage to face all the fears
and beliefs that used to guide her life into drama and
emotional pain.
Susan practiced these techniques every
day for many months until it became a new habit in her
life, until she mastered a new life. Her life no longer
was a drama but became one of happiness, joy, and love.
Her gratitude for that transformation
is so great that Susan has decided to share everything
she learned with whomever wants to take advantage of her
mastery. She has decided to take apprentices of her own,
to guide them to personal freedom as I did with her.
I am so happy to see how all of her
apprentices have the benefit of her love. I feel so happy
to see the success of her first two books and how she shares
her love through them. I'm sure this new book holds the
keys of transformation to whoever decides to practice all
the techniques that will guide you to your personal freedom,
to your happiness, to your self-realization.
by Don Miguel Ruiz
Author of The Four Agreements
and The Mastery of Love
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Dr. Susan Gregg September 20, 2000
Awareness
Awareness
is the first of the three Toltec Masteries and is the first
stage on the path toward personal freedom. In exploring
Awareness, the seeker might want to perceive herself as
a student. To be a student you need only have an open mind
and great deal of curiosity.
If you would
like to change yourself and the way you live, Awareness
is a necessary ingredient. Awareness is something that
continually deepens. As I release my limiting beliefs and
assumptions, I become more and more aware of my true nature.
Awareness allows me to see the world and myself as it really
is rather than how I think it
is.
As you explore
the various aspects of Awareness, you will begin to understand
your inner landscape and life in a completely different
manner. As you increase your Awareness of how your life
operates, you'll make different choices and you will be
able to create what you want when you want it.
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Dr. Susan Gregg Chapter
3
AModern
Interpretation of the Toltec Path When don Miguel told me
to go and teach in my way, I infused his Toltec teachings
with the feminine principles of harmony and spirituality.
I am part of the lineage of what I have come to call
the new seers. The ancient Toltec seers were right: we
are a spiritual energy contained within our physical
bodies. I also believe, however, that all energy is one
and makes up the totality of the energy we call God.
As a new seer, I know we live in a universe that is totally
safe, loving and supportive, and I have found that the
greatest benefits from the Toltec Masteries can be drawn
from this perspective.
As I take you along the
journey of the Masteries, I will be asking you to often
think in terms of themes, each of which contrasts the
isolated, fearful state in which most of us live to the
joyful state of peace. At the risk of being redundant,
I'll suggest once again that you suspend your left-brain
judgment as you read on. You'll find that the path on
the road to freedom will, in time, reveal itself to you.
Keeping that in mind, the following will serve as an
introduction to the way we typically view ourselves in
the world and a way in which we can see ourselves, and
our world, as loving and gentle.
[A] The Concept
of Domination
I
think you'll agree that our society is based on the concept
of domination, in which we seem always to be in opposition
to something. Domination requires that someone is better
than you or inferior to you, that events or actions are
right or wrong, and people are richer or poorer. It is
almost impossible to feel safe or to relax when the world
is your opponent. This paradigm pervades society and contaminates
most of our thinking, leading us to a limited concept of
reality.
Whenever
you judge yourself or someone else, or you find yourself
comparing yourself with others, or in some way measuring
anything in your life against an external source, your
thinking is based on domination. In domination we don't
feel safe so we try to control the events in our lives,
other people, or ourselves. Domination causes us to make
our decisions based in fear. The best result we get when
our decisions are based in fear is to generate more fear.
A
society based on domination creates some very limiting
beliefs about conformity and about shame. There is no room
to embrace pain or limitations; you must overcome them; you must win. The very nature of domination
requires us to struggle.
Living
in a world founded on conflict, we feed ourselves a daily
diet of insecurity. If you are honest with yourself, you'll
admit that you sometimes compare yourself to others, or
even the media version of who and what you should be. You are better than
or less than, you do not have enough or are not successful
enough, you are too fat or too thin. You feel pressured
to conform. This type of thinking is very narrow and polarized.
Domination can be symbolically represented as a line.
[A] The Concept of Dominion
If, instead, we shift to a paradigm of
dominion, our vision of life becomes expansive. In dominion,
everyone is part of a greater whole, everyone is an equal
and integral part of the circle of life. We are no longer
residing in an either/or situation; the whole and the person
become one. A person truly living in dominion cannot make
a choice that will harm another. Rather than being fear-based,
dominion is based in love, unconditional love for the self
and all other beings great and small.
Within the context of dominion, the people
in our lives become our assistants instead of opponents.
The idea of competition no longer makes sense nor does
it have any value. It is a totally different way of viewing
the world, one in which peace of mind becomes a way of
life. Viewed from this perspective, life becomes limitless.
We can afford the "luxury" of treating everyone and everything
with compassion, love, and equality. We are able to embrace
everything in our lives because we no longer need to struggle
against anything--we are accepting of who we are as we
are. A person is honored for merely being alive; no one
is ever judged. This kind of thinking is expansive. Dominion
can be symbolically represented as a sphere.
We aren't trained to think in terms of
dominion, so the concept seems frightening to many people.
How do you live in a world based on domination and yet
get your needs met if you remain in dominion? Won't people
just walk all over you? Well, sure, perhaps some will.
However, I believe that for the most part, we receive what
we give. When we are loving and non-judgmental, we are
treated in a loving, non-judgmental way.
Finally, when we perceive our lives as
lived in dominion, the process of our personal transformation
takes on a sense of gentleness and safety. As you work
through the Toltec Masteries you will learn who you really
are and to love that person unconditionally. This will
be extremely difficult if you remain in a judgmental state
of domination.
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Dr. Susan Gregg Chapter 8
The
Book of Freedom
Our mind wants to be right; most of the time it would rather
be right than be happy. Robert Bolton once said, "A belief
is not merely an idea the mind possesses; it is an idea that
possesses the mind." If you want to experience personal freedom
you must break free of your mind, you must end the war between
your mind and your self, and lovingly take control of your
thinking. You must set your spirit free and become who and
what you've always been.
Writing your
Book of Freedom will help you do just that. My teacher, don
Miguel, never taught in absolutes. He would make suggestions
and whether you followed them would be your choice. When
he introduced a process similar to this to his students,
he told them they either had to do it or they could no longer
study with him. That was how important he thought it was.
Writing your
Book of Freedom is an arduous process but the rewards are
immeasurable. Most of my students resist because they don't
like to write, or they don't have the time, or . . . the
excuses go on and on and are sometimes very creative. The
question I pose to you is this: In five years you'll be five
years older and if you don't actively do something to change
yourself, your life will be pretty much the same. If you
really use this tool you'll be five years older and your
life will be totally transformed. Imagine it's five years
from now, which choice do you wish you'd made?
Remember what
I said about making steps in your process non-negotiable?
Writing your Book of Freedom should be non-negotiable, just
do it, and see what happens. I guarantee your life will be
transformed. If you are diligent and follow all of the directions
as written, you will learn to see life through the eyes of
love and fear will leave you.
[A] The Book of Freedom--Overview
This
journaling process has several different components. There
are sections you write in daily, there is another section
you work on throughout the day, as well as sections you write
in periodically to release the past or re-create the present.
It is a very easy process if you stay in the moment and don't
overwhelm yourself. Just read through the directions and
follow them step-by-step. If you have a great deal of resistance
to the process, track your resistance. This book is your
ticket to personal freedom.
Your mind is
meant to be a tool but it has learned over the years to chatter
endlessly. This incessant noise is the mitote of
the mind. Your mind can learn to be quiet and only talk when
it's necessary. I leave my computer on all day. When I am
not actively using it I have the screen saver set so the
screen goes blank. When I want to use my computer I touch
a key and it's ready and willing to serve me. It doesn't
sit on my desk and endlessly talk to me. It doesn't demand
my attention or offer me its personal opinions. It just sits
there and waits for me to use it. Your mind is a wonderful
bio-computer. The Book of Freedom will allow you to turn
on the screen saver option.
In all, you will
need to keep three separate journals. The entire process
will take about an hour a day and may take over a year to
complete. Once you become accustomed to the process and your
mind starts to quiet, the amount of time you devote to it
daily will decrease.
The first journal
can be in the form of a small book, or a small tape recorder,
that you carry with you at all times. In this book you will
record your mind's meaningless chatter. When I did this it
was amazing how fast my mind stopped talking; it didn't want
to have to record all those thoughts.
In a second journal
you will write twice a day, at morning, and at night. You
can use one journal as long as you have separate sections
for each function. I remember spending days finding just
the right journal and pen. It was a wonderful excuse not
to begin. I suggest you just grab some paper and get started;
actually the present is the only time you can change anything.
So get your pens ready!
The largest journal,
the Book of Freedom, is broken down into two parts, the Book
of the Past and the Book of Creation. In the Book of the
Past there are five sections, the biography, the section
listing all your beliefs, the section dedicated to final
judgments, the section devoted to final victims, and a section
for righting wrongs entitled "I'm sorry, you were right,
and I was wrong". The Book of Creation is not divided into
sections. It contains your thoughts on living in a state
of love. This journal will take time to complete. I suggest
setting aside at least an hour every week to work on this
journal.
The writing is
specifically designed to help you re-train your mind. You
may find all this writing annoying and that's great. The
annoyance will create the momentum necessary for you to stop
thinking the way you have been.
On
the first page of all my journals I have a contract with
myself that I sign and date. I read it every time I open
my book. Sometimes I read it when I don't want to write and
it reminds me of why I undertook this process in the first
place. I suggest you read the copy of my contract below and
then use it to design your own.
"I, ____________, agree to write only the
truth, as I now know it, in these pages. I have decided to
follow this process so I may free myself from the limitations
of my mind. I promise myself that everything in this book
will be as honest as possible. My intention in writing in
this book is to create the internal need, a sense of clarity,
and desire to relearn and select all the knowledge, assumptions,
and beliefs I choose to store in my mind. I will use this
book to re-train my mind and learn how to choose when I think
and what I think about. I dedicate myself to the process
of this Book of Freedom. I ask for help and assistance as
I take on this formidable task. I ask for the willingness,
the openness, and the courage necessary to stick with the
process. May this process help me see myself and my world
through the eyes of love, compassion, and forgiveness. May
I always remember that this is a process of healing and remembering.
I promise to be gentle and loving with myself as I proceed
with this process."
___________________Signed
____________________Dated
Write
a similar contract in your journal. Use your own words and
emphasize what's most important to you. This would be a good
time to create your definition of personal freedom. Incorporate
it into your contract. Make this a contract of dedication
to your personal freedom. Give yourself the gift of doing
whatever it takes to achieve a life filled with joy.
Quote from The Toltec Way
by Dr. Susan Gregg
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Intent
Intent is
the third of the Toltec Masteries. It corresponds to the
stage of development in the Toltec tradition referred to
as being a warrior. As a warrior you are practicing the
skills of emotional neutrality and alertness so you can
choose more clearly when and how to act. You are close
to achieving personal freedom so your choices are based
on your connection to your spiritual self rather than your
filter system.
Our Intent
directs our energy and dictates the form our creations
will take. It is a very powerful force in our lives, yet
we are often unaware of it. We have allowed the energy
of Intent to become enslaved by our filter systems.
Intent works
either consciously or unconsciously, but it is always operating
in our lives. Once you learn how to consciously harness
the power of intent, anything is possible. Intent works
hand in hand with the other two Masteries. If you set your
Intent to be aware of your filter system, you will stop
focusing on the "out there." If you aren't actively conscious
of your Intent, chances are your Intent is to defend your
filter system and your limitations, so you will.
Our
lives constantly reflect our Intent. If you look at the
results you are getting in your life you can understand
what your Intent has been. If you are unhappy, your Intent
was to be unhappy. If you say your Intent is to quit smoking
and you continue to smoke, then your Intent was to continue
smoking. By using your ability to track yourself and see
deeply within, you can understand your motives and use
them to change your Intent.
Intent
and the will complement one another. Think about a sailboat
with the wind blowing strongly in its sails. The Intent
is the wind, and the will is the rudder guiding the boat.
Your will directs the energy that propels you forward.
Your Intent is part of the divine force that allows you
to create your experiences in this life. Focusing your
Intent with your will allows you to become a co-creator
with God.
Intent is often hard
to see directly but its reflection in our lives is always
crystal clear. In order to thoroughly understand Intent,
we will have to approach it from several different directions.
Be gentle with yourself, embrace your outcomes, and Intent
will become your greatest tool. Judge yourself and your
process and you can be certain your Intent is to stay the
same, not change. In the following chapters, I'll explore
how to discover your Intent and how your life will change
when you surrender to it.
Quote from The Toltec
Way
by Dr. Susan Gregg
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Dr. Susan Gregg
Being
Responsible versus Being at Fault
Most people confuse the idea of
being responsible with the concept of being at fault--I know
I did. When I first read about the idea of being responsible
for my life I was confused, but I whole-heartedly embraced
the concept. The first time I got a cold I was furious with
myself. I knew I'd failed; I was responsible for my life.
It was my job to maintain my body and I had caused it to
get sick. I'd done something wrong and I had failed. It was
entirely my fault so I had a wonderful excuse for beating
myself up emotionally. That is an example of having the idea
of being at fault and confused with being responsible.
The concept of being responsible
is really about our ability to respond to events in our life.
If we have a cold, are we going to take care of ourselves?
Do we need to pay more attention to our body so we don't
get sick in the future? Yes, I'm responsible for paying attention
to my body. Before I got sick I was paying more attention
to external events and I didn't remember to pay attention
to my body's internal signals.
Being responsible includes the
ability to embrace an event, action, or emotion. It is part
of dominion. Being at fault implies that either you or someone
else did something wrong. It is part of domination. There
is no such thing as being at fault. We can't do anything
wrong, we merely get outcomes or results we don't like. If
we take responsibility for the outcome we can lovingly explore
the choices we made so we can make different ones in the
future. If the outcome was our fault we will generally choose
to berate ourselves for our choices.
Taking responsibility for your life makes it easier for
you to change and to grow. The idea of the universe punishing
you or seeing if you've learned your lessons by testing you
are examples of having fault mixed up with responsibility.
Asking yourself why you created this mess is a sign you feel
like you are at fault.
In dominion there is no such thing
as an error or mistake, just an outcome. You may not like
the results you are getting and decide to change it, but
there is nothing wrong with it. In dominion the word mistake
takes on a new meaning; it means you merely need to adjust
your choices so you will get a different outcome.
As we wake up to the illusionary nature of reality it becomes
easier to learn; we are no longer afraid of making mistakes.
We realize mistakes are part of the learning experience and
we can embrace them. Learning is what taking responsibility
is really about -- the ability to learn or respond. Releasing
fault is a giant step toward achieving your personal freedom
or enlightenment. As you learn to view life from the paradigm
of dominion it becomes much easier to take responsibility for
the events in your life and to make different choices. If you
feel you have done something wrong or you have the need to
forgive yourself or someone else, you are dealing with the
concept of being at fault. If you in any way feel the need
to defend yourself, you are dealing with the idea of being
at fault and not with being responsible. Take some time to
really look at your definition of responsibility and make sure
it is free of fault. Write about it, observe your life, and
your feelings.
If
you are taking responsibility, you ask yourself questions like:
- What could I have done differently?
- What am I telling myself
about this event?
- What do I need to know so
I can make a different choice next time?
- How
do I feel about my decision?
- How did I make that particular
choice?
- What
did I believe in order to make that choice possible?
If
you have fault mixed in you are probably asking yourself questions
like:
- Why does this always happen
to me?
- How could I have been so
stupid?
- When am I ever going to
learn my lesson?
- What is the matter with
me?
- How could they do this to
me?
- What
did I do wrong?
Does the idea of being responsible for your life or your experiences make you
feel uncomfortable in any way? Does the idea of being responsible for everything
in your life make you angry? If it does, I guarantee that you have being responsible
confused with being at fault. When you accept responsibility for your life it
means you have the power to change. Being responsible for your choices is empowering
and it is another one of the keys to achieving personal freedom.
Take some time and really look at your definitions.
I assure you that as you learn how to take responsibility for your life and
release the idea of being at fault, you will reclaim your sense of self and
take a giant leap toward personal freedom.
Quote from The
Toltec Way
by Dr. Susan Gregg
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All material © 2005 Dr. Susan Gregg September, 2001
Forgiveness
and Beyond
In the wake of the events of September 11th I thought this article
I wrote so time ago would be most appropriate to post now. My thoughts and
prayers
are with everyone at this time. I hope you will join me in praying for the
healing of this wound humanity has carried for so many centuries. It is time
we woke up to the cause of such violence rather than perpetuating it. May love
surround not only the families of the attack but may love find a way to heal
the hearts of the attackers as well.
As so many of us do, I carried wounds from my childhood into
my adult life. As a young girl I was molested by some boys. At the time I was
devastated. I was sure it was my fault, and when the boys told me not to tell
anyone or they would kill me I believed them. Before that I never felt like
I fit in afterwards I felt like a total misfit. I was sure life was a complex
game and everybody except me knew how to play. When I began my journey of self-discovery
in my twenties I ran across the concept of forgiveness and with a great deal
of anger and judgment promptly rejected the idea. Over the years my thoughts
on forgiveness have changed drastically. Now I believe forgiveness is one of
the most important steps we can take toward achieving self-acceptance, peace
of mind, and happiness.
We are taught to think in terms of duality: right and wrong,
positive and negative, good and bad, black and white, you and me. Our society
is based on the concept of domination - the society and the individual are
seen as separate - the problem and the solution are two different things. As
long as we view the world that way judgment and comparison are very much a
part of our thought process. Forgiveness seems like we are letting them off
the hook - punishment makes much more sense than forgiveness. We aren't taught
to believe that everything in life is one. But in truth we are all one, everything
and everyone is part of the great mystery of life.
There is another way of viewing life, which I call dominion.
Symbolically I think of dominion as a huge sphere, a womb that holds everything
lovingly within it. How we view events in our life depends upon where we are
standing on that sphere. I am not separate from anyone hence no one can do
anything to me, they just do it. Viewing life this way makes forgiveness a
desirable and understandable component of life. Let me explain. As I embraced
the concept of dominion I realized that those boys didn't do anything to me,
I just happened to be in the same place they were when they decided to do something.
The boys that molested me dealt with their emotional pain by passing it on
to me. It was really all about them. What a gift that realization was for me!
Not only was I able to forgive them but I was able to forgive myself and really
see the experience for what it was, an opportunity to learn how to open my
heart and love at a much deeper level.
I strongly believe that if we learn to live in dominion instead
of domination the world would be a much more loving and gentle place to live.
In dominion, instead of judging things we embrace them. Life, relationships,
and everyday events become an opportunity for us to see our filter system,
which is composed of all of our assumptions, agreements, and beliefs. In each
moment we have a choice - will I see this through the eyes of my filter system,
the eyes of fear and separation, or will I see through the eyes of my spirit,
the eyes of love and oneness? In each moment we can choose to either be in
domination or dominion.
When I first introduce these concepts to people they usually
say I am asking them to be a doormat. They ask me how I can embrace the rapist
or the murderer? When they ask that, I share the story of my family. The Nazis
killed my great grandmother during the holocaust while a cousin went back to
Germany to fight with the Nazis. Dominion allowed me to accept and understand
both a brutal murder and murderer. Many holocaust survivors share that they
couldn't make peace with their experiences in the camps until they forgave
the Nazis. I believe that as a species we missed a wonderful opportunity after
World War II. If you want to get rid of a dandelion, cutting the head off won't
work. If you deal only with what's on the surface the weed will come right
back; if you dig out the root, the weed will be gone forever.
The legacy of Hitler and the holocaust isn't just about unthinkable
cruelty and genocide. Those were just the head of the dandelion. If we have
the courage to really examine the root we will find judgment and our need for
domination. I believe the questions we ask as a society often define us. What
if we had asked ourselves what caused Hitler to have a filter system that allowed
him to make choices that resulted in the death of millions of people? What
if we had seen judgment as the cause of all that death and suffering and Hitler
as the symbol of our collective hatred, criticism, and judgment? What could
we have changed as a society? Where would we be today if we had sought to free
ourselves from judgment instead of focusing our judgment on what they did?
Everything in life is a process and by definition a process
takes time. Getting to the point that we are even willing to think about forgiveness
often takes a long time. I believe exploring the concept of dominion expedites
arriving there. When we view the
world from a place of dominion our perspective changes and we are able to fully
embrace the experience. As we learn to embrace the events in our life the problem
and the solution become one.
The first step in our emotional healing is allowing ourselves
to freely vent our anger and judgment. It is important not to rush through
this step. Do whatever is necessary to release the emotional trash surrounding
the issue; write a series of letters fully expressing all your thoughts, judgments,
and feelings and then burn them; draw pictures; scream and yell; beat on pillows.
After all, if we have a lot of emotional trash hanging around it makes it much
harder to move toward forgiveness. Once we release the emotions we have attached
to the memory we can begin the process of forgiveness and acceptance and then
we can begin to see the gift every event in our life contains.
All of our emotions are generated by what we tell ourselves
about the events in our lives rather than by the events themselves. As we change
what we tell ourselves about an event our emotions will change as well. Our
emotions are really signposts that point toward our filter system. Our filter
system is composed of our beliefs, the assumptions we've made about life, and
the agreements we have made with ourselves and our world. We think we are seeing
reality when we are really seeing the distortion version of reality created
by our beliefs, the assumptions we've made about life, and the agreements we've
made with ourselves and our world; we see our filter system and not the world.
We often say things like, "You hurt my feelings," or "You
really make me angry." What actually happens is someone does something, than
we tell ourselves something about what happened, and those words generate our
emotional response. All the events in our lives are emotional neutral until
we attach an emotion to the event by what we tell ourselves. When we realize
our emotions are our own creation we can use them to set ourselves free of
our limiting beliefs. We can use the events in our life to illuminate our filter
system. Instead of focusing our attention on our emotions and trying to change
the events in our life we can change the way we think. We don't want to suppress
our emotions, it is important for us to feel them and do what is necessary
to release them. That allows us to have an opportunity to see our filter system
in a neutral and non-judgmental manner.
After we achieve a degree of emotional neutrality it is much
easier for us to see to see our filter system for what it is - a collection
of ungrounded and limiting beliefs. Our mind would much rather be right than
be happy. Our spirit is limitless while our mind feels safer within the familiar
limits of our filter system. Once we fully embrace that which our mind wants
to judge we can then set ourselves free. At that point not only do we forgive
ourselves and anyone else involved with the event but we move beyond the need
for forgiveness.
As we move beyond forgiveness and toward acceptance we see
the beauty of all of our creations. When we view life from the perspective
of dominion we begin to see it as a work of art we create moment by moment.
Every event in our life is an opportunity to deepen our connection with ourselves,
the people in our lives, and with God, the Great Spirit or whatever you choose
to call the Creator of this magnificent universe. After we clearly see the
role our filter system plays in our experience of life we often want to release
it.
Until then we frequently attempt to control things beyond
our control so we can be happy or at least comfortable. We try to change the
events in our lives instead of how we see them. When we learn to focus on our
filter system instead of what 'they did' or 'what happened to us' we can learn
to be happy no matter what is going on in our lives. We can move beyond forgiveness
to a deep sense of acceptance of life just as it is. When we finally realize
it has been our filter system that has prevented us from being happy we can
change how we think about life.
Changing your mind is a process and it can be an easy and
enjoyable one or one that is full of pain and struggle, the choice is ours.
To make it a more enjoyable experience create an inner sanctuary for yourself,
become your own best friend, talk lovingly to yourself, and gently accept yourself
just the way you are. Remember, learning to see life through the eyes of dominion
and love is a process that takes time. Give yourself the gift of taking a much
time as you need.
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All material © 2005
Dr. Susan Gregg My next book is tentatively entitled Mastering the Toltec
Way: a daily guide to happiness, freedom, and joy. As the title implies
it will be a daily guide full of exercises, quotes, and guided meditations.
It will help you apply the Toltec principles to your daily life.
January 15, 2002
Acceptance
Acceptance is the cornerstone of
a happy life. Life is as it is, period - if we deny what 'is' we create
a great deal of unhappiness, stress, and discomfort in our lives. We also limit
our range of emotions, our options and our ability to make choices. Acceptance comes from a Latin word
meaning to take to oneself that which is offered. Part of acceptance is realizing
that everything in life is a gift, especially the experiences that we say we
don't like. "Good," or "bad," every experience is an opportunity to connect
with our divinity and our true nature or to move further into fear and denial.
In fact, we are explorers; we are constantly exploring the nature of reality
as well as our true nature.
The first step toward happiness
is to accept where we are, and decide if that is where we want to stay. If
we fail to accept where we are, change becomes more difficult. We can always
change our perspective even if we can't change the events.
Try closing your eyes, spinning
around several times, and then walking out of the room without opening your
eyes. It is possible but awkward. Now pretend you are in a different building
and do the same exercise. It becomes even more difficult to navigate. Life
becomes much easier to negotiate when open our eyes, see our filter system,
and make decisions based on what we'd like to experience. Acceptance allows
us to focus on what is rather than on what we think is.
* * *
A man was walking through the jungle
one day when a huge tiger began chasing him. The man ran as fast as he could
when he reached a cliff, knowing he had no other choice he leaped off the cliff
grabbing onto a vine. From above he heard the tiger growl. He clung tenaciously
to the vine. As he looked below two tigers paced back and forth looking hungrily
up at him. The man looked to his left and saw a luscious, ripe strawberry.
He reached out and ate it.
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All material © 2005
Dr. Susan Gregg
My next book is tentatively entitled Mastering the Toltec
Way: a daily guide to happiness, freedom, and joy was just sold in March.
It will be in bookstores sometime in 2003. As the title implies it will be
a daily guide full of exercises, quotes, and guided meditations. It will
help you apply the Toltec principles to your daily life. Check back
here to read excerpts as I write them.
Snowflakes
Snowflakes are incredibly beautiful and
no two are exactly alike. As a young girl I remember catching them on my mitten,
looking at the complex patterns, and watching them as they slowly melted. Sometimes
the snowflakes were huge while at other times they were so tiny they looked
like small balls of frozen water. When you sit inside at night all cozy and
warm with the outside light turned on, snowflakes look so peaceful as they
drift by the window. On a very cold night, when the moon is shining, and the
air is very, very cold, a field of snow glistens as if it is filled with millions
of diamonds. As you walk on the crusty snow your footsteps crunch and the sound
of your breathing echoes on the frigid air.
Snow can also be slippery, dangerous,
and deadly. Avalanches are an amazing force of nature; they can erase a whole
village and bury unsuspecting skiers in an instant. The sound of their approach
is deafening. Yet avalanches are simply a collection of millions of tiny snowflakes.
A single snowflake is quite harmless but many snowflakes together are a powerful
force to be reckoned with.
Your life can be broken down into
snowflakes, little parentheses in time, single thoughts or actions, beliefs,
agreements, assumptions, habits and routines. Each taken separately is of little
significance but when you put them all together you have the major events in
your life, the avalanches.
Take time today to examine your thoughts.
Ask yourself throughout the day: What am I thinking? Then drop down a little
and notice what emotions are present. Scan your body and notice what physical
sensations you are feeling. Once you have gone beyond your filter system ask
yourself what you need, what do you need to do right now. What small adjustment
do you need to make to avoid an avalanche at some point in the future? What
do you need to do right now, for yourself that would feel loving, nurturing,
and really add to the quality of your life?
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All material © 2005 Dr. Susan Gregg Emotion Emotions are simply energy in motion. They don't have
the power to do anything nor do they have the power to make us do something.
No event in life has an emotion inherently attached to it unless we imbue it
with one. Life is entirely emotionally neutral; we supply all the emotions
with our internal dialog.
Emotions are signposts that can help us map our inner landscape. Understanding
and changing this landscape is essential if we want to improve the quality
of our lives. Every piece of information or memory stored in our brain has
an emotional component and an action component. Something happened in our life,
we had a reaction, and the memory was stored. The next time a similar event
happened our brain retrieved the information, replayed the emotional component,
and told us how to feel and how to react.
Our emotions and our reactions are all learned behaviors.
Our minds remember the "right" emotion and then we dance to it like a puppet
on a string. Our emotions are really a result of our filter system which is
the sum total of all of our beliefs, agreements, assumptions, and expectations.
When we realize our emotions are our own creation we can use them to set ourselves
free of our limiting beliefs. We can use the events in our life to illuminate
our filter system. Instead of focusing our attention on our emotions and trying
to change the events in our life we can change the way we think.
We often say things like, "You hurt my feelings," or "You
really make me angry." What actually happens is someone does something, then
we tell ourselves something about what happened, and those words generate our
emotional response. You don't want to suppress your emotions. Once we begin
to have an emotion is too late not to have it. If you are angry write a letter
you never let anyone see, roll up the windows in your car and yell, beat the
bed with a bat; if you are sad, cry; if you are afraid, take a deep breath
and allow yourself to feel the fear. After you feel the emotion notice what
you have been telling yourself and decide what you want to experience before
you choose how you are going to act. Stop letting your emotions tell you how
to act and instead allow them to show you what you think.
After we achieve a degree of emotional neutrality it is much easier for us
to see our filter system for what it is - a collection of ungrounded and limiting
beliefs. Our mind would much rather be right than be happy. Our spirit is limitless
while our mind feels safer within the familiar limits of our filter system.
Once we fully embrace that which our mind wants to judge we can then set ourselves
free.
Use your emotions to fully illuminate your filter
system. Dandelions have very deep roots and no matter how often we remove the
top it will come right back unless we dig out the roots. Emotions are like
the head of a dandelion. Unless you remove the roots - the filter system - the
top of the plant - the emotions - will come right back.
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All
material © 2005 Dr. Susan Gregg Betrayal
We all know what betrayal feels
like but what is it really? The word comes from an old French verb that means
to hand over or deliver up. The dictionary defines it as treachery, the disappointment
of ones hopes and expectations, or to reveal, disclose, show, or exhibit. When
we feel betrayed the emotions it evokes are so primal, they seem to go to the
very core of our being. Once we learn to view betrayal differently that emotion
can become a gateway toward greater intimacy and a deeper connection to ourselves. When I look at betrayal, I can
focus my attention on what I perceive as treachery or look at my own expectations.
Whenever I have an expectation I am setting myself up to be disappointed, especially
if my expectations are not clear to myself or to the people around me. I must
clearly negotiate and define my expectations. I must also check to see if they
are realistic or not.
Many of us have had the unrealistic
expectation that people will treat us differently than they do others. They
might lie to everyone else but they will tell us the truth. They will cheat
on their former lover but they will be faithful to us. They will gossip about
other people but they will keep our secrets. When they don't treat us differently
we feel betrayed. People are consistent unless they are actively working on
changing a behavior.
I have found that if I base my
happiness on another person I eventually feel let down or betrayed. Ultimately
I am the only person responsible for my happiness. If I expect my friends,
lovers, or the world as a whole to 'make me' happy I doom myself to a life
filled with disappointments. If on the other hand I realize I am in charge
of my happiness I can be happy regardless of the events in my life. Focusing
on the feeling of betrayal prevents me from looking at the role my beliefs
and expectations play in the creation of my happiness.
If I turn my attention from what
happened and to what I can change - myself and my reactions - life can become
one magical experience after another. Even the most profound betrayal can be
an opportunity for me to deepen my connection with myself. I can understand
my expectations, see how they affect my choices, and choose anew. As I look
within I learn to listen to my inner voice, to trust myself, and to clearly
understand all of my expectations.
Betrayal can be my greatest
guide; it will lead me to my expectations every time. And if I'm willing to
change my expectations I can be happy no matter what is going on in my life.
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Dr. Susan Gregg
Love
Perhaps love is the process of being led gently back into ourselves.
Love can either be a noun or a verb; it can be an emotion
or an action. Love can be love-based or fear-based. Volumes have been written
on the subject of love yet do we really know what it is? The original root
word for love had spawned a huge number of other words and not just words for
love - it is the origin for words that mean praise, strong desire, to find
pleasing, be satisfied with, trust and believe.
But love is often easier to describe than define.
When I describe love I use words like gentle, kind, patient, soothing, nurturing,
expansive, freeing, generous, big, safe, cuddly, all encompassing, and - I
could go on and on. Before I released some of the emotional garbage attached
to the word I thought love was frightening, often painful, and something to
be avoided. I am so glad that is no longer true for me. You can define love
for yourself, if your definition causes you pain change your definition.
Energetically, love is expansive and unconditional
while fear isn't. Love allows us to see the infinite number of possibilities
available to us at any given moment. One of the most important decisions you
can make in life is whether you are going to choose to believe in a safe universe
or a hostile one. When I believed in a hostile universe I was often unhappy,
frequently depressed, and fearful most of the time. When I decided to believe
in a universe that was very loving and safe, my life changed completely. I
was able to experience a sense of freedom and joy I never thought possible.
Yes, my body can be harmed and die but the essence of who and what I am cannot.
I now know I am a spirit within a body, but I am not my body. I am limitless,
eternal, immortal, and infinite; I am free and love becomes a way of living.
As with all of our other emotions, love is self-generated.
It is not dependent on another person's actions, external events, or anything
else for that matter. When we act and think in love instead of fear our lives
can become a glorious, fun filled experience.
Exercise:
How would you like 'love' to be defined in your life?
Our experiences in life do conform to our definitions - if you want to change
what you experience change your definitions.
Think of the feeling of love. You might want to start
by thinking of something or someone you feel loving toward - a puppy, a kitten,
a child, a sunset, or your love interest. How does it feel in your body? Is
your chest relaxed or tight? How does your stomach feel? Really notice how
your body feels, start at your head and scan every part of your body. What
are you physically feeling in your body? Now practice creating that feeling
of love in your body. Practice until you can do it easily. Once you can do
that think of someone you are upset with or a situation you find upsetting,
and then generate the feeling of love. Do your thoughts about the person or
event change?
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Dr. Susan Gregg Chapter 3
Going
Inside
It was a cool dark night and they all huddled close
to the fire. The Grandmother's
gaze drifted as she began to speak.
"The longest journey you will ever take is from your head
to your heart. Your mind believes the words it speaks. It tells you stories
about everything yet it seldom stops to ask if they are true. Love or fear - the
mind knows mostly fear - your heart remembers the love. You can train your
mind to see the love but first you must connect with your spirit and the spirit
of all others.
"You must let go of the stories your mind tells you. I am
a teacher and I teach through stories. What if I told you stories of fear?
What if my stories distracted you and made you look only at the illusion of
physical existence? That's what the words you speak to yourself do. They distract
you from what is real, they stop you from being able to feel the energy all
around you.
"Our best hunters are able to feel the energy of the animals,
they can become a deer or a buffalo. The hunters walk as the animals walk,
there is a sense of oneness and harmony. They don't talk to themselves or listen
to their mind, they listen to the silence within.
"Close your eyes, take a deep breath and go within. Go beyond
the noise of your mind and feel your body, feel the energies about you. With
your eyes closed look all around you with your heart. What do you feel?"
A young boy softly said, "I feel the warmth of the fire and
the peace of the night."
The Grandmother looked at him and asked, "How do you feel
warmth? How do you feel peace? How do you know what you are feeling?"
Before the boy could answer the Grandmother continued. "As
soon as you talk to yourself about what you are feeling you are no longer feeling.
Your mind can interrupt the energy and distort. Quiet your mind and feel. Practice
until you can feel the energy and then let the energy teach. You can't fill
a gourd that is already full. Empty your mind, stand in the place of creation
by knowing you don't know and then let the world teach you anew."
The Grandmother became very still and stared at the fire for
a long time. "Follow your breath. Breathe and feel. Your breath is your connection
to your spirit. When you want to connect with the energy of the earth - breathe
the earth. When you want to connect with the spirit of your friend - breathe
your friend. When you want to hunt a deer - breathe the deer. See yourself
breathing them in your mind's eye and feel your breath become one with theirs."
The Grandmother turned, looked at the fire and took a very
deep breath, "Now just breathe, know you don't know, and feel."
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Dr. Susan Gregg Chapter 12
Life
is but a Dream
All his life he had been a seeker. He traveled the world looking for the truth.
He was always searching yet he never found that sense of peace and knowing he
so desperately sought. He had dedicated himself to finding the meaning of life,
to finding God, but he'd failed.
With each passing year it became harder to continue. He valiantly fought
against the quiet voice within him that suggested he surrender. He vowed
he would never give up. But he knew he was dying. He had failed. An immense
feeling of sadness overwhelmed him and he no longer had the energy to
fight. The only thing he could do was surrender.
Suddenly an ancient one stood before him. The man rubbed his eyes in
amazement. In a frail voice he asked, "Why now, where have you been all
of my life?"
The ancient one answered, "I have always been here but you've been too
busy searching. You fought so hard you couldn't hear the voice of love
above the chatter of your mind. You howled so loudly you could only hear
yourself. You cannot fill a cup that is already full."
"What do you mean?" asked the man "My only prayer has been for enlightenment.
How dare you say I have been too busy to listen, I have spent all my
time searching!"
"Exactly," said the ancient one. "You searched but you didn't allow
yourself to find that which you sought. You were afraid of love. You
listened only to your fear, you fought your heart, and you were too afraid
to accept love. You ignored the whispers of your spirit. You let fear
become your god. You searched for peace but you never allowed yourself
to be at peace."
"What is there to find in any ones heart but sentimental drivel? If
one works very hard and learns to control his emotions, perhaps he will
be fortunate enough to find enlightenment. If one suffers long enough
and learns to master himself then and only then will he be the master
of his fate."
The ancient one smiled sadly and said, "Do you truly believe you can
find enlightenment by controlling things? What of compassion? What of
love? Love demands nothing."
"Love is fine for the masses but the truly enlightened have no need
for emotions. Emotions are a sign of weakness. Compassion is for people
who have a need to prove themselves, I have no need for other people's
good will."
Let me tell you a story, said the ancient one. The man feebly nodded
yes. "At the beginning of time, the ancient ones decided to share the
gift of immortality with the mortals. They placed the spirit of immortality
deep within their beings knowing it was a place few would have the courage
to explore. It was decided that at the time of each human's death an
ancient one would come to answer any questions and guide that spirit
home. But instead of embracing death you began to fear it. You believed
you were a body instead of enjoying the experience of having one. You
forgot you were a spirit who came to live within a body and that you
came to earth to have fun and remember your true nature."
"Instead of awakening to your true nature, you continue to go deeper
into the dream you call life. None of this is real. All the secrets of
the universe lie within you. You cling so tenaciously to a reality "out
there" that doesn't exist. The only thing that is real is your spirit.
Your spirit is pure love, expansive, unconditional, limitless love.
"You think of me as the Grim Reaper. I am here to help you find your
way home, to remind you who and what you really are. I cannot force you
to listen or to believe me. You are dreaming my friend. You cannot die.
You are already free. You are made of God. You are one with God. You
always have been and always will be. That energy you call God is infinite
so how can you not be in the heart of God even now?
"The gift of your spirit or the love that lives within you is so precious
and so freely offered. All you have to do is allow yourself to feel the
love. You are living in a beautiful amusement park designed for you and
you alone. You are safe, you are loved, and you are immortal. Nothing
in the universe has the power to hurt you unless you pretend to be hurt.
Heaven and hell exist only in your mind. You can create either by how
you choose to view life.
"You can see the face of God within everything if only you . . . "
The dying man began to cough violently. When his coughing subsided he
said, Why do you bother me with this foolishness old man? Leave me alone
so I can die in peace. I don't want to hear your lies any more."
The old man looked around and noticed his visitor had left. The ancient
one smiled. He had sat with this spirit many times before. At least this
time they had been able to talk. Maybe in the future this spirit would
be more aware of the dream and not get so tightly caught in the web he
thought of as reality.
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Gregg September 2002
Chapter 9
What
would love do?
"Grandmother, were you always a storyteller?"
" No my child once I was a little girl just like you. I liked to play and laugh
but I always felt a connection to spirit. One day, many moons ago, a wolf came
into my life and changed everything.
"
It had been a long, cold winter. I couldn't sleep one night and as I wandered
through the village I came upon a wolf. Before I had a chance to run away
I noticed that his paw was injured. I knew I should fear him but deep in
my being a question arose, "What would love do?'
In that moment I knew the wolf was a gift, I reached out, and patted
his head. I told him I would return with help. A trusting friend helped
me carry the wolf into my home.
"The wolf's eyes were filled with gratitude as we laid him on a blanket.
I cleaned his wound and gave him a bowl of broth made with a scrap of
meat I had left. He drank the broth and as soon as he was done he fell
asleep.
"I was tired so I laid down next to the wolf. His presence was comforting
and I quickly fell into a deep sleep. Suddenly I found myself standing
before the ancient ones and the wolf stood beside me. I was frightened
at first. I felt very humble and small.
"The ancient one smiled and said to me, "We are very proud of you little
one. You reached out in love. You set aside your fear and saved this
being's life. People have too long worked alone. They have come to believe
that they are superior to the earth and the other animals. But you are
all one, my child."
"For years I had felt this way. I had listened to the whisperings of
love but I tried to close my heart to the message. I was afraid. The
other children often made fun of me for my sensitivity. Hearing the truth
gave me the courage to speak to the ancient one.
"But when I try to tell the others that the animals talk to me they
just laugh. I hear the spirits of the land and of all its creatures.
The earth is sacred, we must love it and treat everything in it with
love."
"The ancient one nodded and said, "That is why you are here little one.
You are here to take a message back to your elders. You will teach with
your stories. You will remind others that all of life is sacred and that
you are meant to live in harmony. You must teach others to treat everyone
and everything with dignity and respect. Mankind must learn to act in
love, not with fear, anger, hatred, or greed. People must work together,
in that way they will again find their way home."
"But how will I get the people to listen?" I asked.
"Trust me little one, the story of how you tamed the wolf is already
spreading. The wolf is a feared creature, yet you healed this one and
saved its life. You slept beside him with no fear for your own safety.
The people now know you are special."
"When I awoke in the morning I could hear people outside talking. When
I stepped out of my dwelling the wolf stood beside me. A murmur went
through the crowd. I loved that wolf and he was with me for many years.
I will enjoy meeting him again when my job here is done.
"When I spoke my voice had changed and people listened. I was not yet
ready to be a storyteller but people did listen when I spoke of my dreams.
"It is time for sleep. Remember your dreams little ones. You never know
who will visit you. Sweet dreams."
The Grandmother's heart was full of joy as she watched her young charges
wander off to their homes. Love is such a wonderful gift when it's freely
given.
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Dr. Susan Gregg Sacredness
Imagine living your life as if each moment
was sacred. Imagine that everything you look at, everything you touch,
and everything that touches you is sacred. Imagine the act of living
as a sacred act.
Take a deep breath and call upon the energy of sacredness, let it fill your
heart and your mind. Feel the sacredness with in you and around you. How does
it feel to you? What would happen to your life if you made every moment sacred?
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Gregg Meditation
Focus your attention on your breathing and allow yourself to relax.
Imagine yourself walking along in the countryside. The air is warm and
the wind is gently blowing. The birds are singing and the air smells
fresh and clean. You feel totally at peace, relaxed, and safe. The sky
is incredibly blue and there are beautiful, fluffy, white clouds floating
by. The air smells so sweet. You take a deep breath to fill your lungs
with its sweetness and your entire body relaxes. You feel so peaceful
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