Keep Me in Truth

If I spoke only Truth
If I saw only what is Truth
How different would my life be?
Truth with the capital 'T' is so different from
          the little truths,
               half-truths,
                    non-truths,
                         wanna-be truths
I embrace as the 'real thing'.
These are 'mis-beliefs', not truths at all.
It takes time to come to know the difference between my mis-beliefs, which have come to feel so much like truth to me, and the kind of Truth which stands up to the scrutiny of time and life.

The cycle of Thank Truth gives me the practice of gratitude. Learning how to be grateful takes practice.  It is a challenge to see the Truth in my own being.  To be willing to see Truth in others is an even bigger challenge.  This waxing moon cycle invites me to take up the challenge.

Self-Reflection: What new Truth about myself has been revealed during the waxing moon phase?  Am I feeling gratitude for this discovery?  Am I full-in with Truth?

Gratitude Builds a Strong Temple

Gratitude builds a strong temple of faith and gives hope a place to live.
As we moved through the waxing phase of the December moon cycle 
our practice of gratitude for all aspects of our life may have had many effects.
Hopefully we have come to more gentleness with ourselves in our struggles and mis-takes.
Perhaps we are now able to pat ourselves on the back and appreciate effort and progress.
Sincere gratitude strengthens our resolve to carry-on.  It builds discipline in our character.
Sincere gratitude brings us faith that our efforts will carry us forward in our life, toward a future of hope.
Sincere gratitude hones our abilities and smooths away the rough places where we stumble.

These qualities are needed as we move into the waning phase of this moon cycle, where our expression of gratitude is outward, toward others.  
We become the strong temple in body mind and spirit.
We are a place where hope can live.

Self Reflection:  Am I ready to share gratitude?

Feeling Alone and Forgetting Truth

Carolyn shares: I wake up very early. The cloud cover has shut out every bit of light from the moon and the stars. All the holiday lights are off in the neighborhood. I'm in the midst of that in-between everything time when I feel totally alone, disconnected from everything and everyone; even from the source of creation. It is a terrible anxiety, moments of total desperation, loss, panic, confusion. I recognize how often these feeling pass through me.--I wonder if I have tapped into an ancient feeling in the core of human beings in those moments, hours, days, maybe even weeks, when they felt alone. How often I forget I am connected to ALL.  I can't ever really escape this connection, but I am always forgetting it. THAT is probably the main reason I stay connected to the mooncyclecircle--so I  forget less and know my connection more. Then, I am able to be a place for others to know and remember their connection as well.  

When I forget, I close myself up in seeming self-protection, and these feelings can not pass through.  Instead, they must take up residence in  my body ('my own personal, 'oh shit, here I go again' response), my mind (which brings up all the bad stories from my memory), my emotions (I feel them in the racing of my heart) and my spirit (which I think feels desperate in my disconnection). They are trapped there until I open up again, which happens ONLY through my willingness to remember I am always connected, even when I forget I am.

Self-Reflection:  Am I willing to open up enough to let the difficult, scary panic,anxiety and fear pass through?  

Learning Gratitude For All Parts of Our Truth

This month is a gift of teaching us how to Thank Truth.  This gift informs us to look deeply within ourselves for all those parts of ourselves that are worthy of gratitude.  This includes thankfulness for both what we consider the ugly, the shame-filled, and what we label as mistake parts, as well as what we label as victories, beautiful and love-filled.  Both are necessary for full expression of our Self. Without thankfulness for each and every experience, our life will remain shallow and, without depth.  Author and Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron, teaches that our ability to experience joy is equal only to our willingness to embrace our pain. Truth sees all, receives all, knows all, accepts all.

Self Reflection: Am I willing to find a way to be grateful for ALL of my self?

Gratitude for Truth: The Crack Where the Light Comes In

Taking time to sink into thankfulness for the truth of what is opens the space for us to be the human we are born to be. This is, to paraphrase the late Leonard Cohen, 'the crack where the light comes in'.

Cracks occur in a number of ways:
A house settles and a crack appears in the ceiling.
The root of a tree grows pressing against the sidewalk.  The sidewalk cracks against the pressure of this tender, tenacious root.
Humpty Dumpty falls of the wall.  He cracks his shell.
The earth quakes, she cracks open.
We lose a Love. Our heart breaks. Our heart has a crack.

It may take some time to hold gratitude for that which cracks us open so the Light can enter into our hearts and our life.

Self Reflection:  Am I willing to allow time to see the truth in the cracks in my life?

Desiring Gratitude for What is True

The desire to thank truth
Invites slowing down.
       No; requires slowing down.
Takes time.
       No; it gives us time.

Self Reflection: Do I desire gratitude for the truth of my life?

Try this: Spend one day expressing gratitude (just say it in your mind and heart, not out-loud) for every experience, every thought, every action.  yes, this experiment will take time.  The gift is: the presence we have for each moment -gives more time.

Personal Work for the Waxing Moon Phase

During the waxing moon we have a chance to embrace those parts of our selves that we tend to hide from others, from the world, and from our own consciousness. 

Marianne Williamson wrote: It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.   

And yes, most of us are more likely to 'hide our light under  the bushel', then to put it out in the open for all to see. (Is the idea of being in the limelight a little scary?)  This tendency to stay small also prevents us from having gratitude for our gifts. In fact, many of us have shame and doubt about the most powerful and effective parts of our being.  

A daily practice of gratitude toward ourselfwill, over time, turn the bushel covering our light, transparent. This covering will gradually disappear, and we WILL be able to share who we are in the world! With a commitment to find and express gratitude in our life on a daily basis, our understanding of life will expand. Our awareness of options and choices also increases, as does wisdom, and also our ability to discern what is truth from what is false.

Self Reflection:  Am I ready for my life to expand? Am I truthfully aware of my options and choices? Am I willing to discern what is truth from what is false?

Thanking Ourselves Deeply

A kind, loving, and steadfast friend knows about gratitude.
They will stay by our side and know we will stand by theirs, regardless.
Yet, there is no taking for granted, no need to know the outcome.
These are relationships of deep gratitude.

We learn to be steadfast friend to our soul
            by holding our self in both compassion and accountability.
By expressing gratitude for our life experiences,
            we remember that our life is a journey of practice and progress.
For us; for others.


Self Reflection:  How will I express deeper gratitude to me?

Thankful for Honsety

In all of our relationships we ask:
Am I in truth?
Or am I in non-truth, falsehood, wishful thinking, manipulation, delusion, addiction?
To walk a path of gratitude for truth
is to walk a path of committing to honesty.

Self reflection: Am I committed to honesty in my thoughts, words and deeds?
Where might I struggle most in using this gift in my life?

The Foundation for Living in Gratitude

These are the foundations that are the basis for living in gratitude:

What Is:  there is so much goodness available.  In fact, the darker the space, the more place there is for good.

What Has Been: We will not regret the past nor try to shut the door on it.

My Gifts: we are the treasurer of our life.  What does that mean? Being able to work the edges and the core of our being at the same time.

My Trials:  It's so easy this time of year to run around like like a lunatic, to lose connection with what grounds me. When I let my environment direct my actions, I can not hear Higher Guidance.

Self Reflection:  I have the ability to listen for gratitude, to discern gratitude in all situations.  The only question is am I willing to live in gratitude rather than ego?

The One Reason We Thank Truth

To say Thank You and really mean it requires we fully accept what is offered.  Otherwise, our thanking is shallow.
To express gratitude while not truthfully receiving what is given, denies a gift we may need for our well being.
It may be that we are given the gift of gratitude for the primary purpose of practicing gratitude so we may eventually learn to thank and have gratitude toward ourselves.
We must experience gratitude toward Self in order to truthfully express gratitude toward others.
To thank the truth within our Self, in our gifts, imperfections, and miss-takes opens us to the gift of being human.
It is a gift to be human...a rare gift.
When we live this gift in the practice of being human, we are Truth,
we know the meaning of Thank Truth.

Self Reflection: Am I willing to express only authentic gratitude?

How Do I Thank Truth?

How to Thank Truth.

What does it mean to Thank Truth?  

Live in gratitude

Gratitude for my path

Just as it is unfolding.  

Cut myself some slack

Pat myself on the back

Lighten up

Maybe even embrace a little humor, even if it is dark humor

Don't take myself too serious

Self Reflections: Creator, Spirit of All That Is, help me remember that the path of my life takes me toward truth.  No matter how crooked my path, no matter if I stray far off the path laid out for me, eventually I WILL embrace my Truth.  And I will thank her for my journey.

New Moon, December: Darkness Becomes Apparent When Exposed to Light

Darkness becomes apparent when exposed to light.
On this new moon, darkness is apparent, because, for the moment, the light reflecting from the moon is not visible to us. And in December, the darkness seems even darker as the night continues to lengthen.

This is the month to Thank Truth.  There may be things, rules,experiences, persons and institutions we struggle with, maybe even feel hatred toward, that we we not only don't want to hold in any form of gratitude.  These same 'things' we also repel from even considering that what have is true about them is not true at all, let alone ask with sincere intention to know and be grateful for the truth of these life experiences.

Gratitude is the light that will end the darkness of any situation.
We begin to bring in light by acknowledging there may be a truth in (the situation we are thinking of) that we do not yet understand and are not yet able to accept.  This can take effort and time.

Self Reflection: Am I willing to commit to continue looking for a tiny place for thankfulness, no matter how difficult or horrible the experience?  If not yet, what would I need (within myself) to look?

In the Time of the Closing Moon of Sharing Truth

The time of the 11^th Closing Moon

I am holding the place of TRUTH that walks beside me. Even when I don’t see her, hear her, feel her.

She is there, here, always present.

But where am I?

How has TRUTH, my silent, ever present partner, manifested herself this month, in me?

A year of sitting with the TRUTH and inviting her into our life:

We have learned her.

We have honored her.

We have accepted her.

We have seen her.

We have heard her.

We have spoken her.

We have loved her.

We have served her.

We have lived her.

We have worked her.

We have walked her.
We have shared her.

Now…

We thank her.

Next…

We ARE her.  We are TRUTH. 

TRUTH (and her sister Wisdom) emanate from the moon.  Both are essences ever present, though visible only through their reflection out to the world.  Still, even in their not being seen, they exist. 

Self Reflection: The truth of my essence is also visible as a reflection in the world. 

How Can I Trust I Am Actually Sharing My Truth?

When we can begin to appreciate ourselves, we begin automatically to accept help and support and gifts from outside sources, including others--the beginning of the end of self-reliance.
Self appreciation is not the same thing as self-aggrandizing, conceit or self-absorption.  In fact, these characteristics are the opposite of true self-appreciation.

In appreciating our self, we are accepting all of who we are, warts as well as loveliness.  This appreciation is a kind of change of view point that allows us to accept our self so much more fully than when we judge ourselves.

Appreciating our self is a necessary first step of humility.  It is also a defense against humiliation. We begin to see and experience the value of our self in the world.

Where are all these words leading?  It is going to take us to a way of being where we are able, without trepidation or fear, to share our being in the world, trusting the truth that it will be the best we are able in the moment we are giving it.  Self-acceptance of our imperfections, and of those moments where we also experience perfection.

Self Reflection: How do I appreciate myself? Am I willing to accept help, support, gifts from others? Am I still hanging on to self-reliance? If so, what fears lie beneath this veneer of self-will?

Rhythms and Cycles as Guides to Caring for Self and Others

Jamie Sams tells the story of Walks Tall Woman, her conceptualization of the archetypal embodiment of the November moon cycle.  As a storyteller, Sams uses mountain lion, the totem animal of leadership, to bring the cautionary message to Walks Tall Woman concerning the right use of her gifts, and the importance of taking time to rest and replenish.

When we are in our role as leaders, we must take time to replenish ourselves with the energy of creator--with quiet reflection and regenerative sleep.  When we don't, we draw on the life force of those we would help and we invite imbalance and disharmony into their lives and ours. (Pg. 234) 13 Original Clan Mothers

Self Reflection: Am I taking time for meditation, contemplation, reflection?  What is my definition of regenerative sleep?

Facing Both Darkness and Light

The November moon energy calls us to face our shadow and our fears, as well as to acknowledge our achievements and dreams (all parts of sharing our truth). 

If we are able to face our fears and our shadow while there is still light, perhaps we would not be so afraid of the darkness. Perhaps the tendency for depression and isolation would not be so strong during the winter months. 

If we could acknowledge ourselves in our successes and deservedness, with humility and balance and clear vision, then perhaps we could truly enjoy those months, which if we prepared and allowed ourselves, could result in a lot of creativity and fulfillment.  

Self Reflection:  I name and acknowledge the successes I have had in all aspects of my life. I name and acknowledge my deserving as a child of Creation.  This is me, Sharing Truth. 

The Waning Moon in Winter Can Get Really Dark

Perhaps it's all the holiday lights that make the dark seem even darker.

Certainly it is the ever shortening days that remind us of just how dark it can get.

Not just in the out of doors, but within ourselves as well.

All the cheeriness and sparkling lights can seem to make a dark mood darker as well.

No shadow is cast in this deep darkness.

We need not be distracted or frightened by their distortions.

We can choose to slow down and be present to the growing dark. 

We can choose to sit with the darkness and come to know it better.

For the gift of this time of growing dark is that, in the end

the deeper the dark the easier to recognize

The small flicker of light that is eternal within us.

Self Reflection: I will embrace my times of darkness. I will let my inner eyes adjust and I will see the small flicker of eternal light within.

Pouring Out Like the Bowl of the Waning Moon

The waning moon is the pouring out phase of the moon cycle.  At certain times of the year, the upside down positioning of the visible moon can mimic a bowl turned on edge to pour out its' contents.
As we approach the midway point of the waning moon phase, we check our intention and purpose in sharing our truth.
The writing on one of the waning moon journal pages reminds us that our path should not interfere with the path of others.

Self Reflection: I pour myself out into the world with care.

All Truth Cycles Imply Movement

Rhythms and cycles imply movement
They also imply there is a repeat in pattern, an ongoing return to repeat,
or to begin again further down the path
or further up the spiral.

Life has rhythms and cycles as well.
Perhaps this is why some of us are drawn to journal amidst the moon cycles,
using the Cycles of Truth as our guiding star.

To Share Truth is 'Walking Our Talk'.  We are growing, changing and 'choosing' beings.  The moment we entertain stubbornness or status quo we are no longer in a present time, we then are no longer in Truth. A very blunt spiritual teacher once said to me "You are either dynamic or dead; ultimately there are no other options."

We are all walking a spiritual path in our life, and by being conscious of our path we remain in motion. Our spirituality is a dynamic process; spirituality is NOT passive!

Self Reflection: Do I experience my spirituality as dynamic? passive?

Carolyn comments: Depending on where the teachings on the cycles of truth are sourced, the 10th and 11th cycles both may refer to Walking the Truth.  This could be a confusion in translation or interpretation, but I have come to understand this seeming confusion not as confusion, but as an invitation to be conscious of the ACTIVE action required in both October's cycle of 'Work/Walk Truth' and November's cycle to 'Share Truth' as Bob and Lee Nitsch name these cycles, or 'Walk Truth' as Jamie Sams and Kenneth Cohen acknowledge it. The teaching source (Grandmother Twylah Nitsch) is the same.

On Being With the Truth of My Day

Carolyn's personal share:
Some nights it is a struggle to find the right words for an inspiring post.

I can't seem to find the connection to inspiration or wisdom.
I feel more weary than witty.

My mind is packed full of thoughts, overstimulated from a full and challenging (in a good way) day.

I think of yesterday's post on Challenge and Truth.
The truth I can share is about my tiredness, and that I am being challenged to change.

I am grateful for the post and for Marianne Williamson's quote.
I'm cutting myself some slack.
I'm accepting this challenge to change.
I have some experience in the challenge and the change getting easier.
Ahhh, I feel better already.

Self Reflection: What is my experience moving from challenge toward change?

Challenge and Truth

A challenge is a call to change.
Challenge is embracing an inner urging to change.

Almost always--this change is toward growth, creativity and joy.
Almost always--this challenge, takes us into a shared space with others, and out of aloneness.

For many people, it is so much easier to resist the change, and instead experience the higher cost and tougher challenge of trying to stay the same.

It is a challenge to live truthfully.  Not because we have so much 'bad stuff' to hide or stop doing,
but rather because we humans have this bizarre shame about letting our light out into the world.

When we accept the challenge of sharing the goodness we are aware we have, then our goodness that still remains hidden will share itself. It emerges, most often (maybe even 100% certain) without challenge and difficulty, but with a sense of ease and flow.

Self Reflection:  What is my goodness? How could I share it more fully?

― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Interaction and Inner-action

This cycle of Share Truth is a month of action: interaction and inner-action.
Both are necessary for moving in and through the world

Interaction with others, in our family, our community, our work
Inner-action as we go deeply within ourselves to clear out the clutter,
to make way for our authentic self to bloom.

Self Reflection: Where am I taking action in my life?  Who an I interacting with? What is my 'inner-action'?

Surrendering 'My Way'

On the journey (or the path) of sharing ourselves out in the world what is/are the challenge(s) I currently have in my life that could require I surrender 'my way'?
What might possibly be the 'my way' that is getting in the way of my having what I want or long for in my life?

Self Reflection Exercise (yes it takes more than a minute, but well worth it)!

Make A List 

Challenges            My Way(s)         Desired  Outcome       What will I change?

A Task for the Waning Moon: Surrendering What No Longer Serves Me

Surrendering what no longer serves me frees me of shame:

Accepting the time for surrender
Accepting the time for support
Opening to let go
Opening to clarity
Trusting guidance
Trusting intentions
Proceeding with Truth as my sentinel
Proceeding with Source as my compass.

Self Reflection: I can surrender what no longer serves me, trading that in for my real life, that which does serve me, and others, and the world.

PS:Check out Michael Singer's book  surrender-experiment.

November Full Moon Moves Us Into Sharing OUR Fullness

Invitation:

As the moon is full with light on this night, may I too know the fullness of my light.

As the moon reflects the light of the life-giving sun, may I too reflect the light of my gifts, sharing the fullness and Truth of my being in the world.  

As the moon is not alone in a universe of endless stars, may I too remember I am not alone, there are others with me who may light the way for me, or with me.  

Self-Reflection: May I remember to ask for help, support and wisdom as I continue my journey to share my truth.

Shame and Gratitude Meet on the New Moon of Share Truth

Sara’s honesty in sharing her experience of shame around her personal gifts and accomplishments reflects how a willingness to be visible creates an environment for others to experience their lives more fully.  This kind of sharing with others has the effect of dissolving shame and making space for new growth--for ourselves and for those with whom we share.  In Sharing Our Truth we invite others to do the same.  A new community of trust and camaraderie with others begins to form.  This is the deeper calling of this moon cycle, Share Truth. As this cycle moves toward completion, the emerging  moon cycle brings the gifts of gratitude, strengthening our commitment to Share Truth. 

Shame lives in our shadows

              and feeds our fears.

Shame encourages hiding.

Shame keeps us from living fully,

              from sharing the truth of our gifts, talents, accomplishments.

Gratitude is the antidote for shame.

Gratitude nourishes our gifts,

              grows our talents.

Gratitude is a catalyst of encouragement,

for showing up as our real self.

Self Reflection: My time of daily reflection and contemplation makes a space where my gratitude and shame can meet.  This time creates a sacred space where my gratitude can shine light on my shame. Shame crumbles and loses its' power. In this time of sacred, quiet self-reflection, I experience gratitude for my abilities and accomplishments. I find courage to share my life fully in the world. For that, too, I am grateful.

Noticing Choice

It is important to acknowledge both the light and the shadow in how we live our daily lives.  Our truth is played out in the 10,000 choices we make each day.  When we notice and give ourselves credit for the times we choose alignment with our higher self, we have less need to hide from the shadow self.

Sara's personal share: While I easily acknowledge my gifts and abilities, I find they are often a source of shame:  I feel shame for not living up to my potential, not being as "good" as I "should" be, given how I have been blessed.  My "review/release" circle is filled with choices I made that "could have" been more in alignment with my Truth.  Today, I am reminded that I also need to balance my review with acknowledging the choices I make every day that ARE in alignment.

Self Reflection: Do I carry shame about my gifts, abilities, accomplishments?  If so, how has this affected my ability to align myself in truth? to Share my Truth?

Imperfection as Sharing Truth

Perfection is a not required action.
Truth exists within my imperfect self.
I can share truth even in my imperfection
      and it is still Truth.
The roots of Truth are within
Intention.

Self Reflection: When I have integrity in my intentions I have tapped into the roots of truth. I share with ease.

Self-Appreciation

Today, I appreciate myself.
My efforts
My imperfections
That my imperfections don't keep me from keeping-on
That I make mistakes
That I take my mistakes as opportunities
For doing things differently.
For making a different choice.

Self Reflection: I honor the whole of me, my efforts, imperfections, mistakes, doing differently, making new choices. I have compassion for the whole of me.