June 2011 Blog Posts (10)

From the Daily Inspiration service of Don Miguel Ruiz

Doubt is a powerful tool. Doubt challenges my beliefs and breaks the spell of all the lies and superstitions that control my world. I use doubt to recover faith in myself, to take my power back from every superstition I believe in, and return that power to myself.

(c) 2011 Howard McQueen

Exploring our inner landscapes,

 especially the darkened places

 where the candle has been seemingly snuffed out.

It often takes multiple visits 

 to relight the candle that seems to have blown out.

And, even then, those mind-made miseries  

 may take a while to relax and dissolve.

Sometimes it requires a courage to eat the demon.

Sometimes it is manifesting the patience…

Version 2.0

(c) 2011 Howard McQueen

Time to reassess.

Time to sober up.

Time to let go all the false pretenses and ignorance.

Time to stop that hiding in the shadows,

 relying upon all those repetitious patterns of self-medication.

Engaging life.

Riding the bronco.

Looking the dragon in the eye.

Eating the demon for breakfast.

Being in this world without acting out

 fear, or…

(c) 2011 Howard McQueen

We humans live in the seeming paradox

 of being both distinct life forms as well as being interwoven into life.

We believe our pain is unique

 instead of shared 

 and we disconnect into the artificial illusions of separation.

We can become so practiced with separation that what is artificial

 covers over what is real

 and we become lost in the smoke and mirrors…

(c) 2011 Howard McQueen

What is universal,

 lights up my eyes

 and all my senses.

Membranes, skin and bones

 form these temporary boundaries

 and I claim this shell-of-a-body as my home.

Fifty trillion cells coalesce and make agreement to cooperate

 in organic, clockwork-like rhythms.

The bounty of our Earth is brought to my table,

 all this effort brought to bear to sustain my life

 and…

(c) 2011 Howard McQueen

Like experiencing magic for the very first time,

 like the first glimpse of the ocean

 or the snow-capped mountains,

 we hold a depth-of-capacity

 to vibrate with delight.

A ten year old sofa bed is retired from the vacation rental cabin

 and is donated to a consignment shop.

A single young mother scrapes up the money to buy this,

 so very delighted to have something like this to grace…

© 2011 Howard McQueen

The troubled mind is so easily isolated, so easily it maneuvers our awareness back into a corner:

  too much information,

  not enough information,

  needing to control outcomes.

The mind cramps and our inner weather darkens

  as old patterns of trouble accept invitation to take root and dominate.

LIKE SELLING A HOUSE AND BUYING A HOUSE

The mind wants to quantify and…

© 2011 Howard McQueen

Become deeply anchored in this home, your organic body.

Let your emotions be felt,

passing them through your heart,

to guide your purity of intent.

Intermixed with all the blissfulness,

are the emotions of anger, grief and shame. 

These are the emotions that have been allowed

to bypass the heart

and fester in the mind

as wounds that ooze as suffering.

Consider how…

© 2011 Howard McQueen

Set aside, for the moment, that special someone we refer to as our sweetheart.

Turn inwardly with me so together,

we can cultivate an appreciation for our inner heart-space.

You are the chef, the alchemist, the director responsible for the sweetness of your heart.  When you place all your resources,

all your being, in the service of keeping your heart sweet,

life itself becomes increasingly…

© 2011 Howard McQueen

I’m overwhelmed again,

having encountered an inner burden,

a blockage that alters and depreciates

my connection to the present moment.

Being overwhelmed is reaching another inner threshold,

an opportunity to grow, inwardly.

It could be something you need to fully witness to integrate.

It could be shifting your relationship with another and reclaiming your power.

It could be surrendering…