• Registered: 2005-06-26

Re: Lifelines

Oh that's just beautiful. Thanks for sharing it, Ayahuasca.

"The most important decision you have to make is whether you live in a hostile or friendly universe."
~ Albert Einstein

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. ~Marcel Proust

The evolution of humanity is an evolution of the heart. The path is through the heart.

17 Reply by Jen

  • Jen
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Re: Lifelines

Are you still in touch with this girl, Andy?  I lost my hearing too, when I was 7,  so I know something of what a challenge that is.  It was much more so for her, though, I am sure.  Children are more flexible and able to adapt.  Adolescence is such a difficult time,  and deafness on top of that must have been a nightmare.   Thank you for being there for her.

She would be a perfect candidate for cochlear implant surgery, which I had myself.  Modern medicine does have its points, in some ways...

I think it would be great if you wrote more about that experience--an essay, if not a book.

  • From: Peru
  • Registered: 2004-08-06

Re: Lifelines

Jen wrote:

Are you still in touch with this girl, Andy?  I lost my hearing too, when I was 7,  so I know something of what a challenge that is.

No, there was no real happy ending unfortunately. The last I heard from her was in February 2004. To be honest I don't even know if she's still alive. It's my 30th birthday next week and it's not beyond the realms of possibility she'll get in touch, but I'm not expecting it, and even though I'd love to know she's ok it's probably for the best I don't hear from her. I think I've expended enough loosh on her already.

She would be a perfect candidate for cochlear implant surgery, which I had myself.

Unfortunately not. The damage was to her brain, not her ears. Her ears were fine but her brain was scrambling the signals so a Cochlear implant would not have helped.

I'm actually partially deaf myself in both ears so I can relate to the deafness thing too. It was something I was born with, but it's not too serious. I wear a small digital hearing aid in my left ear and  through that my hearing is just about normal.

I think it would be great if you wrote more about that experience--an essay, if not a book.

I've thought about it several times and maybe I will one day, it's certainly an interesting story but perhaps a little too personal.

Andy

Join me in Peru to celebrate December 21st 2012 - Visit: http://2012awakeningretreat.com/

Ayahuasca's Website

19 Reply by Jen

  • Jen
  • Guest

Re: Lifelines

Whew...a lot on that girl's plate, no question, and I can understand how difficult it must have been for you as well.  I am sure there were gifts there for you, though.  We grow in compassion and understanding through being challenged to do so.

As for this being too personal to write about--maybe you mean you don't have enough distance from it emotionally at this point, and I can understand that.  Creative nonfiction is generally very personal writing, however.  Perhaps you could just jot down some notes about the experince, at this point, and some day you may feel ready to put it all together in a finished work. 

Anyway, thanks again for sharing that, and hope you have a wonderful birthday celebration next week.

  • From: Atlanta
  • Registered: 2005-04-22

Re: Lifelines

I think that one of the best lifelines can be the beauty of nature its self. Back when I had to go to private school I wasnt very happy kid. This is also about the time that I had started to read about spirituality, paranomal, metaphysical type things. So I knew that everything was connected in the universe.  We were driving to school and I was just staring at this tree in a field and it was so beautiful at that moment I just looked at it and felt this inner warmth and a feeling of belonging, love, or connectedness. If your feeling down just look out the window at the landscape and know that we all belong. Some how some way ... just keep on lovin

  • Registered: 2005-06-26

Re: Lifelines

I emailed you, oceanchild. Let me know if you don't get the email.

"The most important decision you have to make is whether you live in a hostile or friendly universe."
~ Albert Einstein

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. ~Marcel Proust

The evolution of humanity is an evolution of the heart. The path is through the heart.
  • Haven
  • Haven
  • bull in a china shop
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  • Registered: 2004-11-24

Re: Lifelines

Jen wrote:

All the posts are inspiring!  Sowelu, thanks for sharing your lovely poem.  Trust and Surrender--truly words and concepts to live by. 

You reminded me of a prayer-poem I wrote myself.  I haven't used it as a Lifeline so far, but maybe it's time I did: 


Finding Myself

I am aware of myself,
I am aware of my radiating impact.
My heart beats with the heart of All.
I love and have faith in myself
as I navigate my self-created experiences,
and my thoughts and actions
dance and flow together inseparably.
I respect and honor my emotions and heart-felt desires,
holding the Vision,
knowing it is full-filled, in the spacious Now.
It is done, it is done, it is done,
in pleasure, ease and exhilaration.
I am each day growing closer and closer
to who I am and who I can be;
I am a dolphin jumping for joy
In the ocean of life.

Hey, Jen, nice prayer-poem.  I think people tend to neglect those lifelines that remind them of moments of inspiration.  It is these moments of enlightenment that serve the basis of my hope; instead of what could be, I realize what can be.  These moments don't have me create a constructed, and, secretly, doubted, vision of what is possible.  Instead, they help me to remember what I know is possible, because I experienced it myself.  I don't know if that was your intent, but it certainly reminded me of that.

* When we start identifying wisdom with our ability to comprehend its form, what wisdom is that?
* Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
* People want platitudes, not progress.

23 Reply by Jen

  • Jen
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Re: Lifelines

Thank you, Haven.  I've never shared that with anyone previously so it's nice to get your comments.  And yes, you described my intent there--I wanted to convey a sense of those exalted moments when we are tuned in to our greater selves and destiny. It's a re-minder to myself and hopefully to others as well.  So again, I'm gratified that it resonated with you.

  • Registered: 2005-03-07

Re: Lifelines

Jen wrote:

My heart beats with the heart of All.

...This is powerful.  People often allude to the Great Mind, or the infinite intelligence--but rarely to the Great Heart, "the heart of All."

You can't change a tiger's stripes,
but you can avoid its teeth.

25 Reply by Jen

  • Jen
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Re: Lifelines

Yes, we are all one Heart, and one Mind. 

This reminded me of the song "One Hand, One Heart" from the musical
West Side Story: "Make of our hands one hand, Make of our hearts one heart...Make of our lives one life...Now it begins, now we start..."  I feel that many such songs can be understood on another level than just the personal.  In this case, the interpretation could be, "Make us understand on a deep level that we are all one heart, one hand, one life."   

And it strikes me that the song "Somewhere" from the same musical, is a re-membering of our true Home: "There's a place for us, Somewhere a place for us, Peace and quiet and open air, Wait for us, somewhere."   I first heard that song when I was at the drive-in watching the movie with my family, and it blew me away, though I didn't make those kinds of connections about its meaning,  at the time.

There are many hints, codes, lifelines, hidden in plain sight, helping to wake us up to the truth of who we really are.  Maybe to access this information, we need to be coded, ourselves...

  • Registered: 2004-10-06

Re: Lifelines

I love this thread.  When I first read it, I wished I had something to add.... I just came across this:




Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson


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's 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're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great and would suffice.  ~Robert Frost