Monthly Archives: July 2021

A Colour Never Seen Before

Sometimes you climb the ladder
only to discover it was against the wrong wall

Joseph Campbell (teacher of mythology and religion)

Should we go higher or be happy with our current altitude?  I figure it depends on what realm you live in.  By “realm”, I don’t mean country or culture.  Rather it’s the view of life.

If you live in the world of separation, as almost all of us do, you can easily assume that, because our bodies are separate, then so are our spirits.  We love a few people but we sense there’s a gap to be crossed so we can understand and empathize.

Climbing this ladder may mean advancing in one’s profession or simply becoming a better person.  Yoga and meditation are common journeys of self-improvement.  All this sounds so normal, and it certainly is when you’re solely inside the world of the individual.

Joseph saw another wall and so do I.  In the Evolutionary Collective, we call it shared unity.  A profound connection between two humans beings is available, one in which you feel deeply “seen”.  It’s beyond your personality and the roles you play in life.  It’s a divine uniqueness … unmistakably you.  It joins with the uniqueness of the other.  The climbing in this realm is effortless, and speaks of billowing communion.  Two people experiencing the same world while each remains vividly themselves.

Another wall
Another vista
Who knew?

At the Corner Store

There was an old man behind the counter – skinny, brown and eager. He greeted me like a long lost daughter, as if we both came from the same world, someplace warmer and more gracious than this cold city. I was thirsty, and alone, sick-at-heart, grief-soiled. And his face lit up as if I were his prodigal daughter returning.

Coming back to the freezer bins in front of the register, which were still and always filled with the same old Cable Car ice cream sandwiches and cheap frozen greens, back to the knobs of beef and packages of hot dogs, these familiar shelves full of potato chips and corn chips, stacked up beer boxes and an immortal Jim Beam.

I lumbered to the case and bought my precious bottled water, and he returned my change beaming, as if I were the bright new buds on the just-bursting-open cherry trees, as if I were everything beautiful struggling to grow. And he was blessing me as he handed me my dime. Over the dirty counter and the plastic tub of red licorice whips, this old man who didn’t speak English beamed out love to me in the iron week after my mother’s death. So when I emerged from his store, my whole cockeyed life – what a beautiful failure – glowed gold like a sunset after rain.

Frustrated city dogs were yelping in their yards, mad with passion behind chain link fences, and in the driveway of a peeling townhouse, a woman and a girl danced to contagious reggae. Praise Allah, the Buddha, Kwan Yin, Jesus, Mary and even jealous old Jehovah. For the eyes and hands of the Divine are everywhere.

Alison Luterman

We do come from the same world
May our faces light up in each other’s presence
May we be seen as everything beautiful
May we be blessed
The eyes and hands are here

All of Us

Tyre Brett Sidney Jaidyn Jordyn Nicolas Jaycee Shea Maritza Judah Saige Yandel Hallie Kira Quinten Penelope Ignacio Luz Aliyah Kaden Ismael Alan Madeleine Fatima Gwendolyn Milo Chelsea Elisha Tiara Nathalia Jada Isaac Aydin Julien Nathan Terry Ryan Annabel Benjamin Eleanor Layton Janiah Bianca Quinn Kane Ximena Jaylan Jovan Pamela Luis Whitney Scarlett Amber Isai Riley Faith Dalia Arabella Kathleen Cristofer Abel Aliana Janiyah Delaney Alyson Milton Perla Moshe Kolton Rafael Ciara Reed Katelynn Robert Bryant Savion Byron Avery Kenley Madisyn Tyson Richard Luna Jax Courtney Guillermo Mya Dayanara Emmett Margaret Shayna Haley Corinne Luke Austin Dereon Uriah Hamza Yosef Josie Cael Andrea Henry Aaliyah Kaylynn Hudson Adison Valentino Tomas Roselyn Sariah Noemi Amina Alani Waylon Ariana Terrence Raquel Ayana Colten Amir Stephanie Callum Gemma Marlie Keagan Kellen Alvaro Kianna Eden Shayla Anabella Jennifer Destiny Estrella Marely Amirah Shane Brodie Demarion Carlos Bruce Molly Adam Ibrahim Kamron Alfred Cali Nikolai Cale Jeremiah Kelton Lilia Libby Landen Emery Meredith Trevon Jordin Mariama Yousouppha Lydia Jo Lore Baziel Alissa Leanna Damon Gregory Nathanial Diya Conor Clinton Aleah Jaxon Brayan Johan Leland Payton Keyla Alden Annalise Heath Kaleb Emely Kate Eduardo Titus Melody Anay Davon Kayden Cristal Angelina Adrianna Brennan Mohamed Gordon Beckham Carolina Ace Destiney Reginald Jean Kaylyn Yurem Tristan Lexie Rylie Adrian Gideon Parker Ronnie Alexandra Alicia Tristen Cordell Karli Juliet Kale Everett Jolie Jaliyah Elaine Leonel Dexter Esperanza Asia Hector Jamari Kymani Anabelle Rodrigo Saul Jason Amelia Kaya Carl Rihanna Ariel Saniya Mckenna Zoie Aspen Amiya Camila Jaiden Rex Brycen Kaylie Kasen Elianna Xavier Talon Khloe Kenyon Marcelo Liam Nathalie Denise Kyra Moses Jovanny Janiya Anna Maximillian Morgan Sandra Payten Madyson Makena Ashleigh Lauren Brooke Nataly Regan Johnathan Kole Anton Slade Zoe Jaxson Ada Kyleigh Ashly Jadyn Emilia Ean Joshua Allie Callie Kamden Samir Isla Matthew Jamal Deven Javier Kylan Darryl Desiree Miah Mohammed Arjun June Hannah Brandon Draven Erica Haylie Yair Micah Donna River Gerardo Antwan Charlize Ryann Kolby Omar Bridget Alivia Marlene April Sarahi Caitlyn Izabelle Kyson Savannah Jair Jenny Deacon Rudy Jaidyn Ronan Mariah Alyvia Katherine Amara Grayson Andreas Kiersten Fabian Cassie Mario Gary Genevieve Preston Davis Azul Jayda Shania Mallory Laila Taylor Marie Cora Juan Jayden Lola Claire Zack Garrett Darnell Bryce Arielle Aubrey Santino Dylan Lennon Cedric Brynlee Walker

Recipe Cards (Part Three)

I’ve spent years thinking of the “what” of all these words, and virtually nothing of the “who”.

Who are the people that will sit down at their computer and find my encyclopedia of “Transformational Subjects” in the Google universe?  Who will have the commitment to find “Identity” in the table of contents and sift through the pages to arrive there?  And then read the dozens of quotations about the word?  Then just sit there and let the wisdom of the ages wash over them, perhaps returning again and again to deepen “Identity” in their soul?  Plus … will it make any difference in their life?

The other “who” is me.  In the 80s and 90s, I was willing to sit in my cave and read hundreds of quotes, putting a corresponding number beside each (e.g. “Health” is 420), and then typing them into the right place.  No such willingness in 2021.

I’ve imagined myself, fairly decrepit in a nursing home, my laptop on the overbed table, me sipping liquid meals from a straw … and working on my categories.  Surely then I’ll have the time to complete my project.  But will I have the mind?

So … what’s to be done?  Hire a secretary?  Despite receiving money for the work, who’d be willing to commit to such a massive undertaking?  And I’d still  be the one to decide which quote goes into which subject.

Oh me, oh my.

Glancing through all these bits of paper over the last few days has been nostalgic.  “I remember this guy.  I wonder when he wrote down this passage from some book.”  Here are three samples of my recording wisdom.  The first is a month or two ago.  The second a few years ago.  The third many, many moons ago.  Look at how the handwriting has changed.

Ah … life is a potpourri.  Whither shall we go next?  What beckons me?  Is there a loosening?  Yes, I think so.

And there will be a Part Four tomorrow.

Recipe Cards (Part Two)

A long time ago, I asked myself what contribution I could make to the world, something that no other human being would likely do.  I was a devotée of Ken Wilber, a spiritual writer.  For decades, Wilber has attempted to integrate spiritual approaches, to create a structure that would honour them all.  He devised a system of quadrants, lines and stages of development.

Well … if it’s good enough for Ken, it’s good enough for me!  I would take a different slant, however.  I would scour through all these books I owned and find nuggets of wisdom that “sang” to me.  Then I’d write them down.  No singing, no writing.

I started to create categories of wisdom.  Certainly “Love” would be included.  I ended up calling them “Transformational Subjects”.  After composing a list of these subjects, I gave them each a number, alphabetically from 1 to 1000.  I numbered by 5’s: 1, 5, 10, 15 …  When a new topic came to mind, there was lots of room for new numbers.

Why did I start doing this, you ask?  My vision was that if great minds had a profound sentence to say about “Peace”, and I accumulated what I considered wisdom from many sources, the whole would be infinitely greater than the sum of the parts.  “Peace” would shine in previously unimagined glory.

There were years I worked hard on this, and years I didn’t.  Random slips of paper became Day-Timer sheets, and eventually recipe cards.  I bought more books written by a wide variety of spiritual authors.  I found the shining nuggets, and I entered them on little white rectangles.  I refined my categories.

Finally the question came: “What am I going to with all this?”  How are people going to see this huge collection of ideas and musings?  Will I be in deep do-do because I have no idea who said what?  Is some author going to sue me?  So I did what any abnormal human being would do.  I hired a lawyer to research copyright regulations.  Several hundred dollars later, I received the good news that as long as I included a disclaimer at the beginning, saying that I had no intention to steal anyone’s words, and that I wouldn’t be making any money from this, I’d be okay.  The omnibus would be online only, so if any author objected to me sharing their thoughts, I could remove them quickly.

That’s my story up until a little while ago.  Stay tuned.  Oh … and here’s one of my category pages:

Recipe Cards (Part One)

I’ve just spent over two hours searching the nooks and crannies of my house for … paper.  It’s the first time I’ve really noticed what a “cranny” is.

I started perhaps in 1985, making notes about something.  Essentially, I’ve never stopped.  First it was random bits of paper, then sheets from a tiny notepad, then Day-Timer pages.  Eventually I graduated to recipe cards.

I’ve just counted them all: 900 recipe cards and 927 assorted pages, most filled with handwriting front and back.

There’s a journey here.  I’ll tell you more tomorrow.

Outskirts

I was watching a TV show this morning. A new scene appeared, with a sign in the bottom left corner: “Outskirts of Atlantic City”. I’m a fairly old fellow. I’ve come across the word “outskirts” many times … and never paid attention. This morning I did.

On the edge of things, where the inside blends into the outside. Far from downtown, where most everyone goes for entertainment. That’s the centre of things, and it’s usually predictable. Cool clothing stores, funky restaurants, quiet bars, and those that rock with big screen sports.

But on the periphery, who knows what you’ll find? How about a taxidermy shop, a tire store, or a mom and pop place on the corner for necessities?

The focus is sharp downtown – lots of neon, skyhigh buildings, and buses lined up at the intersection of routes.

They say that most folks live in the suburbs but I wonder if that’s true. If you’re out there – way out there – it’s pretty disorienting at times. It’s easy to feel wobbly, lost, tilting at the junction of flying and falling. It’s not comfy on the outskirts. You may find yourself at the corner of Mystery and Innocence … and who really knows where that is?

No landmarks. No tried and true. No way home? Or every way home?

Seems like there’s no bus service out here.

Movie! (Sigh)

I’m sitting in an actual movie theatre, ready to watch an actual movie.  It’s been a long time.

I’m nestled close to … my first bag of movie popcorn since probably the 1800’s.  I feel so normal!  I’m in a really big room with this rectangle of white looming ahead. And – wonder of wonders – I’m hunkered down in a black leather reclining chair.  I feel so special!

My thoughts wander to Marvel’s “Black Widow” film.  I’m pretty sure in another place and time, I would stand beside Scarlett Johansson as we superheroes dispatch the bad guys with derring do.

My fantasy life is running wild as I wait for the really big screen to light up with action.  Let’s see.  What kind of costume would I create for myself?  It would have to be red, with touches of purple, and skin tight. That way I could show off my developing u-shaped body.  Oh, and I’d definitely need a cape … a long flowing brilliantly red jobbie that would catch the wind just so.

Oh!  The screen is now alive.  Here come assorted previews and features.  Immersion, I’m ready for you!  See you after the movie.

***

Stupid film!  Shooting and exploding.  I hereby relinquish any previous superhero ambitions.

I had trouble following the action, especially since blurred car chases greeted me from the second row.  I could figure out who’s good and who’s bad, but the intricacies of the story blew by me.  Vials of a mind control drug.  A family of Russian spies secreted away in Ohio.  Scarlet swinging on a rope from a helicopter.  Daring rescues.  A mystery woman in a metal suit.

Boring

I’ve changed … into what?  Give me a good story that shows the perfections and imperfections of us all.  I’m sitting here in reaction to all this action.  And my stomach hurts from too much buttered popcorn and chocolate covered peanuts!  Time for bed.

Results

I’m in a yearlong teacher training program with the Evolutionary Collective.  On August 3, I teach the first of four weekly sessions comprising the Mutual Awakening Practice Course.

I’ve approached 102 people, inviting them to take the course.  As of now, two folks have registered.  Most of my contact has been by e-mail – three of them spaced out over four months or so.  I suggested that people check out the EC Facebook page.  I told them about a free e-course which discusses some of the principles of mutual awakening.  I posted a video of Patricia Albere, the founder of the Evolutionary Collective, telling guests about the course.  And finally I sent a fancy e-mail, complete with cool graphics (and even a video of me!), asking recipients to consider joining me on August 3.  I was on the phone with some, and face-to-face with a few.

I wonder what it means that only two souls have said yes.  By the way, thank you, dear souls!

For months, this quote by Thomas Merton, an American theologian, has roamed around in my head.  It’s time for it to be shared:

Do not depend on the hope of results.  You may have to face the fact that your work will apparently be worthless and achieve no result at all, if not perhaps bring about its opposite.  As you get used to this, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness and the truth of the work itself.

Having two folks sign up for my course is certainly not worthless, but yes, I had hoped for more.  And … I think Thomas is right.  The work of the Evolutionary Collective in having participants experience the world away from separation, a world we call shared unity, is immense.  It has the potential to impact far and wide in the world.  Whatever the number of registrations, I need to stay true to this work.

A year ago, I asked myself what do you do if you’ve discovered something with vast power to liberate.  My answer was to tell family, friends and neighbours about a possibility that they most likely don’t know is there.  Not to shove it down their throat.  That’s neither humane nor likely to produce interest.  Just let them know it exists.  They’ll choose to respond or not.  Which brings to mind another quote, this one from Marianne Williamson:

Your playing small does not serve the world
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you

I have no interest in being enlightened
I have every interest in serving
I choose to be large