Coming Out of the Spiritual Closet

         No disrespect to those who actually come out of the closet but this is what I imagine it feels like to be trapped without people knowing who you are or what is really going on with you. Why post about something so personal G? Good question. I debated that myself for awhile. In an age where anything and everything gets put on the interweb I thought I would add some depth to it AND ya I wanted you guys to see the awesome picture of me and da boo boo. ( Special thank you to Courtney Bauraschi for the shots YOU ARE THE BOMB). Back to business.

My intention for this post was yes, to be seen and heard. It is my hope that my story can inspire you to keep going or help you somehow along your way. Maybe not, maybe you haven't even made it this far in the post, so be it! A few years ago I became very depressed. Like really depressed. I didn't feel like I had a mission or a purpose anymore. OR that I had somehow failed. It didn't take long to realize that all of the emotions I had neglected when my parents passed had finally come to be seen. This post isn't about them though. It's about coming out of the Spiritual closet. ( I'm coining that phrase) It's about finding the courage to communicate my vulnerability to hopefully inspire others to do the same. On a few occasions I even thought about taking my own life. It is such a taboo subject but I'm going to eliminate that right now. Seriously, it is taboo for no reason. My life's work has been finding the best solution to this problem and it's actually quite simple. Talk. Yep, just talk about it. My mind created this horrible nightmare to scare me away from talking about it but when I did I was relieved. Severely. This is all traditional therapy is in case you were wondering. Trust me I've been going for a few years. It is simply the ability to talk about what you're feeling without anybody judging you or telling you you're disabled. Though sometimes even they tell you something is wrong with you. I wouldn't listen to that. Your mind has the ability to accept it's own reality, even if it is illusion. I think the truth to some extent is that everyone faces these kind of thoughts and feelings.

I can't get out. I'm stuck. I will never be ok.

The reason they gain so much power is because I/we are too afraid to talk about it, which DOUBLES the anxiety.

I get that G but just HOW do I talk about it? Great question imaginary reader friend.

      1) Check in with your body. How do you feel?

      2) Use the term I feel to communicate how you're feeling. If you use the phrase...' You make me                  feel or you made me feel'. You're giving your power away and blaming somebody else for your             feelings. Don't do that.

      3) When you use the ' I feel' phrase watch how the power of the anxiety gets diminished. After all,              communicating your vulnerability leads to your invulnerability.

So, if you are feeling this way I encourage you NOW to speak up to a friend or loved one or a random person on the street. Or start by writing about it ( like me :) Because it is possible to get out and find the light again. 

That is what I found in all of this. My personal commitment to myself, my lovely girlfriend Allie,( whom I've talked to extensively about this THANK YOU) and to you the reader is the TRUTH. Are you ready for the TRUTH. The TRUTH is... well shit I don't know what the TRUTH is but I guarantee it couldn't hurt to talk about it. 

Love you,

G

The Darkness and the Light

Last week I sat down for morning prayer. Friday is tied with the Planet Venus and I have noticed that it generates easier access to your heart and feelings of gratitude. It is a great day for a little Bhakti ( devotion in sanskrit). 

On this morning I felt it particularly relevant to side aside around 30 mins to consider my family, my friends, and my home in Mill Valley. I spent time praying, considering each individual, and feeling gratitude for them. It was around 15 minutes in that I realized I still had a pit in my stomach. I, being somewhat stubborn, ignored it and kept praying for the last 15 minutes. I tried to push through something that my body was signaling to me was not right. 

At the end of the meditation I was a distraught to still feel the pit in my stomach even though I had spent time attempting to feel grateful for everything. As I soon realized, the key word that I left out of my meditation was everything. Yes, we can be grateful for the light side of things ( our friends, our family, etc.) but it is the darkness that allows us to be grateful for these things. I.E. the challenges, the hardships, the mud if you will. All the gross stuff that no one wants to talk about. Though, in truth, I have seen through social media a huge influx in people allowing themselves to be vulnerable. I was struck with the insight that it is also the Darkness that we can be grateful for. Because in the end, it is the Darkness that gives our lives meaning and purpose. Challenge helps us appreciate accomplishment and Death helps us appreciate Life. It is all about the experience of being human. We are vulnerable beings. But this is what makes us so unique and beautiful; our appreciation of the Darkness and the Light.

***Disclaimer*** 

In the middle of writing this piece my dog Max yelped at me and I turned around and snapped at him. 

“Not now” I said.

Then it hit me, literally in the middle of the writing. I realized I was doing it again, neglecting a sign! I got up, fed him, and took care of his needs. The Universe can work very, very quickly if you allow it ;).

Integration:

What past challenges are you struggling with?

How can you practice seeing the ‘fruit’ of the situation? 

What does darkness and light mean to you?

In Dedication to the Mama

In Dedication to the Mama

 Memories come flooding in like the fireworks during the fourth of July. Exploding in my mind; when I think of you I can’t help but to weep in pleasure and in pain. That’s what you taught me isn’t it? It wasn’t going to be easy was it. You taught me bravery and courage. You taught me how to surrender. You taught me that there may be a God after all. With your passing I’ve had no choice but to find solace in Faith, however.

Faith. That’s an interesting word. Faith in what I ask? Faith in myself? Faith in something greater? Faith in God? Faith and hope go hand and hand. How about faith that things will work out for the best? What if this was the basis of God? Faith that when we fall, it’s possible to get back up and keep going.

Could it really be that simple? It could. It’s us that makes it so complicated and challenging. It’s painful to fall but it’s us that causes the prolonged suffering. The lingering on how we fell or why we fell. The fear that we will fall again consumes us. Isn’t it funny that this is what makes us human? Having fears, worries, and doubts. Prolonging the suffering with our need for understanding. It’s funny but a tad bit cruel. But let me rephrase; it’s our grand ability to NOT know that makes us human. The search for meaning is an important one but be forewarned, it can consume you. Many people sacrifice their lives looking for the answer when it may have been right in front of them or better yet inside them. The meaning of life is to live it, to experience it. To taste the bitterness and the sweetness knowing fully well that faith is behind it all. To feel all the ups and downs with Faith that everything will come together in the end. That’s the guiding light that illuminates the path and keeps reminding us that even though it can be so damn hard, we are still connected to something bigger, something larger, something that we can put our Faith in.

Love you Mama,

G

Interaction:

What does Faith mean to you?

What do you put your Faith in?

3 ways to deal with holiday & winter solstice stress

3 Ways to stay centered during the Holidays

It is common during this time of year for our immune systems to be bombarded by stress. Many of us overdo it and pay the price with nasty coughs or feelings of being rundown. This year, stay ahead of the curve. Here are 3 very simple, very practical ways to stay centered during the holidays.

#1) Conscious breath

Many ancient traditions teach about the health benefits of breathing it is no different here in our modern culture. Conscious breath (meaning to reflect inwards and observe your breath) may be one of the most beneficial things that we do for ourselves in times of stress. If you’re at the office, at a family party, or stuck in traffic. Try pausing for a moment and turning your attention to your body. The key word is to simply, ‘Notice’. Notice, watch, and observe the breath. Naturally, you will notice your mental and emotional state. Simply notice feelings and thoughts without judging them or seeking to escape from them. This will give you space and the expansion to breathe rhythmically and continuously. Remember there is no need to force anything, including the deepening of the breath it will happen on its own. This exercise can be performed, ‘in action’ when you have reached a state of intense stress but it is meant to be completed before the that state is reached, preferably in the morning or night when you have time to yourself.

1) Pause

2) Draw your attention to your breath

3) Allow feelings and thoughts to flow and unfold

4) Spend 3-5 minutes daily with this exercise

#2) The Heart Space

Many studies have been conducted over the past 40 years about the heart and it’s impact on our emotional states. These studies show what happens when you’re actually centered within your heart. Heartmath Institute out of Boulder Creek, CA has even designed a device that shows your coherence ration ( when your heart and your brain our working in optimal function this is known as coherence). The monitor measures your heart rate and your heart rate variability to determine the coherence between your brain and your heart. It has now been demonstrated and proven that the heart is actually the central intelligence of the body and the very first part of the body to be created in conception. From the heart sprouted everything, including the arms, legs, the brain, and the body as a whole. If you are looking for the perfect gift for your meditation/ yoga friend try the Inner Balance from HeartMath. The exercise can be done without any equipment and personally, I prefer it.

1) Pause

2) Bring your attention to your heart

3) Breathe 3 seconds in and 3 seconds out imagining the breath flowing in and out of the heart

4) Feel feelings of gratitude, compassion, and joy

#3) Ask for a Miracle

By far the most potent and useful of the exercises, ‘Asking for a Miracle’, from A Course in Miracles gets straight to the heart of the issue and relinquishes it. What this is suggesting, based on the writings in the book, is that when you ask for a miracle your mind is literally transitioning from fear-based thinking and placed into what is deemed correct thinking or thinking within love. This is called a full-blown perception switch, when you switch from thinking with fear to thinking with love. I ask for miracles daily. It is not uncommon to be given the answer almost immediately when you ask. It will take time, patience, and practice to fully gain the benefit of the, ‘Miracle Mind’ but it may be the best decision you will ever make.

1) Pause

2) In your mind, ask for a miracle to occur or ask to perceive the situation from a higher/ different perspective

3) Listen, the answer will come in the form of an image, memory, thought, or sign

4) Practice often to make yourself more open to the power of the Miracle

There you have it, these three methods could give you the opportunity to govern your holidays from a place of peace and wholeness, instead of stress and anxiety.

Re-love-ution

Make no mistake we are in the midst of a revolution. This revolution is quite unordinary, however. We will not be fighting this revolution with guns, knives, or fists nor will there be violence. This will be a revolution fought with love, compassion, creativity, and art. The re-love-ution as some are calling it, is a journey that begins with the turning of our attention inwards onto ourselves.

Revolt against blame.

Revolt against negativity.

Revolt against gossip.

We contain the capacity to expand our horizons and to enter a new age. One where Life is not a depressing drag of never ending work to barely scrape by. One where we realize we are all in this together ( including the select few at the ‘top’). One that is commanded by the heart.

Please place your awareness on your heart.

Breathe into it.

Begin to feel joy, compassion, and gratitude.

You just won your first battle. By creating positivity in your mind, body, and spirit you can reverse the effects of stress on your system. When you feel strong and resilient you are better equipped to handle Life and what it has to offer you.

Build resilience and sharpen your focus as often as possible. Nobody said this transition would be easy. Start a meditation practice, get into your local yoga class, or start an art piece.There are a multitude of ways to prepare yourself for this change.

It will feel terrifying, often.

When you make contact with your true self for even just a sweet second it will all be worth it. Soon, you will live from this place of abundance and integration. It is very possible to win this revolution. In fact it is guaranteed. This war will end with the disintegration of separation and the remembrance of Unity with God and your brothers and sisters. It is only a matter of time now. There is no rush but there is a need to stop the suffering. Remember it will begin within you and end without you. Literally translated, there will not be a ‘you’ anymore

Good luck,

G

What is healing?

What is healing? 

In order to talk about healing it is important to first understand your definition of healing. I would suggest even writing your own perception of the definition of healing to help facilitate the process. In this piece, I have done exactly that, I have compiled definitions and beliefs from all over the globe to help support the simplest variation of what I deem to be ‘true’ healing. There are so many variations and definitions that could be given to satisfy the answer, however, the most important point is that it (the answer) resonate with you.

Take a peek at Figure 1-A. Notice how the largest bubble is the one that contains all the others. This is the bubble I labeled as ‘true’ healing or spiritual healing. Now, look at figure 1-B. The first part of ‘true’ healing is the liberating phase. To me, this means to remember our connection to God. It means to dissolve all suggestions of being separate from one another and realize that we are one being. It is the release of identification as a body and a mind and integrating of the ego (personality) with God. Many classic traditions would simply call this enlightenment. To my knowledge, most traditions end with the enlightened being but there is not much talk about ‘enlightened living’. This is the second part of ‘true’ healing called the grounding phase. Once we have realized our connection to oneness and to spirit we must seek to ground it back into our body, mind, and everyday life. In this phase we think, say, and do everything from a place of Unity. Life becomes a means to help in the creation of a healed or enlightened society- a society that knows its connection to oneness.

Contained within the largest bubble is the second bubble which we will call Soul healing. This part of healing has to do with being within your Divine Purpose. If you’re not within your purpose it will be challenging to live a life of fulfillment, unity, and grace. Most diseases, accidents, etc. merely occur to help guide you to the places and people you were supposed to meet in this lifetime.

Which leads us to the third bubble, mental healing. This is where perception, belief, and free will can be found in our understanding. If our perceptions of an injury, job, person, etc. are dysfunctional than it will be very challenging to reach the higher realms of healing. A healed perception is one that is in tune with God. A Course in Miracles does a fantastic job explaining the healed perception and it is rather easy to use. Simply, ask for a miracle and practice listening to what the change in perception could be. Belief structure is an important aspect of healing. You can limit yourself to your beliefs or you can become limitless with them. This is all an aspect of free will or your own choosing. To reach a place of ‘true’ healing I believe a being must align their will with that of God’s. This means giving up everything that you thought you may have wanted in life and receiving the will of God. The good news is that God and Spirit want you to be happy and free. Therefore, aligning your free will with the creator’s is the highest possible choice one can make. This is what I call the Path of the Heart.

The 4th bubble is emotional healing and it is our connection to nature. In our society, our connection to nature has all been but severed completely. This is something we need to address within our body, mind, and spirit. We have lost touch with the natural cycles of life and death, the seasons, the cycle of the moon, etc. We are apart of it, and it is apart of us. Because we have lost touch we have created severely dysfunctional emotional bodies that create a plethora of stress and anxiety which literally becomes hell. To soothe this takes time, patience, and unconditional love for yourself. Spending time in nature helps to attune you back to the natural cycles of the universe. Practice placing your awareness in your body and allowing feelings, thoughts, and images to arise. They will give you messages to help in your process and increase your sensitivity in communicating with the Divine. The more you practice allowing things to unfold naturally the more connected you become to, yes, your inherently good, innocent, and loving nature.

The 5th bubble is physical healing. Currently, this is where mainstream health resides without any for mention of the above aspects of healing. Healthy diet and exercise is normally the determining factor for this aspect to be healthy. Within this perception of healing, diet and exercise must also be exercised as free will choice to follow the Divine Plan. Meaning even what you eat and how you exercise are in line with God. I have created a program called Eating from the Heart to help with these choices.

Until we expand our awareness of the outer levels of healing we will stay in the same cycle. It is inspiring to see that many health practitioners are speaking out. You can feel the change and the difference being made in our world. Mainstream science is getting closer and closer to revealing these mystical truths. The real healing begins and ends with you. You have the ability to affect change on a universal scale. Now is the time to exercise the full power of your choices. Will you become apart of the solution? The healing of our species and the planet rests on it.

What can I do to heal?

It may seem complicated and complex but we can start with a very easy, practical approach to get you in tune. I have created the path of the heart for myself but the true meaning of this path is to walk what feels best within your mind, body, and spirit. I understand that you will not walk the exact same path as I do but I can give you tips that will help on your personal journey. You will ultimately create your own path through the darkness. That, I hope is very clear. In this full spectrum practice of healing, all layers of our being are brought to wholeness through yoga, meditation, and proper eating habits. When you are attuned you can access the master that lives within whenever you feel necessary. For me, this has become the Heart.

The Heart is connected to the intelligent infinity that lives as the Universe. We can access it by simply placing our awareness on the middle of the chest and being with whatever arises. To access this space may take time and patience as most of our hearts, in this society, are corroded or shattered from trauma. You will need to caress your heart like a child. Take care of it by heeding its messages and listening to its pain. You will receive flashes of unity and peace. Eventually, you will live from this space. To start your practice of the path of the heart go to the methodology section on this website and try the exercise given.

To start your practice of the path of the heart try the exercise below. I found this exercise through Greg Bradden, a famous new age scientist.

1. Place your awareness on your heart

2. Assist your connection by placing one hand on your heart

3. Breathe 5 seconds in and 5 seconds out to stimulate heart- brain connection

4. Feel feelings of gratitude and appreciation

5. Spend 3 minutes daily to cultivate heart-brain connection

Namaste,

G

Introduction to the Path of the Heart

The Path of the Heart 

To introduce you to my version of the Path of the Heart is simple. To understand and walk the Path is much more challenging. The work that we may do together will take longer than the more heavily chosen ‘easy fix’ option. My immediate question for you to answer is this, ‘Would you rather be cured for a month or would you rather be cured for an entire lifetime(s)?’

This path begins with your understanding that though we may walk together for a certain amount of time, ultimately, you will choose and walk your own way while following your own inner light. I simply aim to equip you with basic exercises, daily rituals, and practical knowledge so that you can achieve this with your own self-mastery.

What is the Path of the Heart?

In my perspective, the Path of the Heart is a way to reconnect to the source of all things, achieve enlightenment, and win true freedom from the illusion of this world.

Relaxing is great, reducing stress is even better. But what if your stress and fear were only symptoms of the real problem? I could meditate for thousands of hours and still not get anywhere significant . I need a reason, a why and a what. The vast majority of our society walks around not knowing who they are or what they’re doing here. Do you think that contributes to our happiness level? That at some unknown level we have no idea why the hell we are actually here? What if you could finally answer that question for yourself? Could you be liberated on a level that seems unfeasible right now? That is exactly what the Path of the Heart aims to do, help you answer this question so you can become driven towards your greatest joy while following one goal and one voice. Imagine a world that answers only to their own Hearts? Goodbye crime, see yea pollution, hello freedom. I envision not only a world of peace but one of innovation, where technology and Earth can co-exist together.

What is the greatest problem of our world today?

I hear great answers like lack of empathy, capitalism, genocide, etc. Here is another idea. The true problem and source of all disease of our world is a disconnection from the source. The source being what others may call God, the Universe, Jesus, etc. It doesn’t matter too much what you call it but where you envision it. If you believe what religion preaches, you will imagine perhaps an unforgiving God high above in the clouds. When, in truth, God, the Source, Jesus etc. lives within you. Actually, right in the middle of your being, the illuminated Heart. Hence, the Path of the Heart. By reconnecting to your Heart you connect to the creator of all things. Here’s the catch. You get a choice. You can choose the world that you want to create. A world full of Fear or a world full of Unity.  

So, my friends, it begins and ends with you. It’s not about government or society or ‘them’. It’s about you, your choice, and the realization of how powerful your choice is. It is my hope that you choose the Path of the Heart.

Thank you,

G