Spiritual Guidance, Inspiration and Creativity
Welcome! I’ve been thinking about the commonalities between spiritual guidance, inspiration and creativity. Here are some thoughts. What do you think?
When receiving spiritual guidance, inspiration, or a burst of
creativity, we access our right brain and our subconscious mind.
We surrender day-to-day left brain control and open up to messages and symbols from outside ourself.
Often there is a sense of merging with something greater and letting go of individual ego.
This immersion often results in a contribution that generalizes beyond ourselves, to other people, other species, and/or our planet.
Messages or direction often comes in symbols, signs or in other unexpected ways.
Trust seems essential; trust in a process that may be frustrating, puzzling, slow and confusing.
Receiving guidance, inspiration and creativity all seem to require releasing or persevering inspite of psychological blocks such as self-doubt, fear, sense of inadequacy, self-criticism.
Share your stories, insights and comments! Visit again for
additional discussion about spirituality, creativity, energy, the
consciousness in everything, psychic and extraterrestrial experiences, and MORE!
Check out the following small example of guidance and creativity when I let go of frustration and judgment.
IRISH HARP MAGIC
The Irish folk harp can create peace and joy.
Sometimes it creates magic.
One beautiful sunny summer afternoon, I went to my favorite spot in a large public park. The trees form a semi-circle and I wanted sit in their presence and celebrate their old strength and wisdom. When I drove up, I realized I’d been pretty unrealistic — the park was noisy and crowded on such a lovely weekend day and a trio of teenagers were loudly playing their
boom box right next to “my” trees. Although I couldn’t see other people, there was a great deal of background noise: people playing games, laughing, talking, eating, socializing. I was angry and frustrated and thought about leaving. I wanted serenity.
I took some deep breaths, calmed down and decided to see what happened. In a few minutes, the harp was set up. Encircled by the wonderful trees, the harp and I rested on the
lush grass, quietly playing one of my favorite tunes about great and small fairies. In a matter of minutes, the boys turned off the boom box, packed up and quietly drove way.
I continued to play, the harp resting against my shoulder, my cheek against the sound board, arms wrapped around the strings. The air seemed exceptionally bright and clear. Birds singing in the background gradually became silent. A trio of tiny children, probably 2 and 3 years old, walked up from somewhere behind me and sat down within three feet of the harp, immediately still and absorbed. Unlike the physical activity small children usually generate, they were motionless, gazing intently at the harp, seemingly mesmerized by the
music. No adults were evident. I looked at children and smiled; they continued to listen with total fascination for an amazingly long time. Then without interrupting or speaking a word, they stood up simultaneously and walked away.
The birds remained quiet, as if entranced with this new sound. The entire park had gradually become still, listening to the harp music float over it from an unseen source. While the music drifted through the park, every creature was caught up in the magic.
After about an hour, I stopped playing. The silence lingered, as if everything held its breath, wondering if the music would resume. Gradually the birds began to chirp, slightly hesitant, as if apologizing for breaking the silence. People slowly started to talk and laugh as the magic gently dispersed.
Ordinary time and space returned. At least for the moment. Or so it seemed.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Ten Commandments for Peace of Mind
From Shri Gyan Rajhans
How to attain mental peace
Peace of mind is the most sought after ‘commodity’ in human life. It appears that most of us are in a state of perpetual restlessness. On analyzing the causes of this restlessness, I have ventured to find for myself ten solutions that need to be followed religiously if we are serious about achieving perfect peace of mind.
1. Do not interfere in others’ business
Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others’ affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic, and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction.
This kind of attitude on our part denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God, for God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because they are prompted to do so by the Divine within them. There is God to look after everything. Why are you bothered? Mind your own business and you will have your peace.
2. Forget and forgive
This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often nurture ill feeling inside our heart for the person who insults or harms us. We forget that the insult or injury was done to us once but by nourishing the grievance we go on excavating the wound forever. Therefore it is essential that we cultivate the art of forgiving and forgetting. Believe in the justice of God and the doctrine of Karma. Let Him judge the act of the one who insulted you. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forget, forgive, and march on.
3. Do not crave for recognition
This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motive. They may praise you today because you are rich and have power but no sooner you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and start criticizing you.
Moreover, no one is perfect. Then why do you value the words of praise of another mortal like you? Why do you crave for recognition? Believe in yourself. People’s praises do not last long. Do your duties ethically and sincerely and leave the rest to God.
4. Do not be jealous
We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know you work harder than your colleagues in the office but they get promotions, you do not. You started a business several years ago but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. Should you be jealous? No, remember everybody’s life is shaped by his previous Karma that has now become his destiny. If you are destined to be rich, not all the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere, but will only give you restlessness.
5. Change yourself according to the environment
If you try to change the environment single handedly, the chances are you may fail. Instead, change yourself to suit the environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has remained unfriendly for you, will mysteriously appear to be congenial and harmonious.
6. Endure what cannot be cured
This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations and accidents that are beyond our control. We must learn to endure them cheerfully thinking, “God will it so, so be it”. God’s logic is beyond our comprehension. Believe it and you will gain in patience, in inner strength, in will power.
7. Do not bite more than you can chew
This maxim should be always remembered. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable to carry out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Spend your free time on prayers, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind, which make you restless. Fewer the thoughts, greater is the peace of mind.
8. Meditate regularly
Meditation makes the mind thoughtless. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour every day, you will tend to become calm during the remaining twenty-three and a half hours. Your mind will not be disturbed as much as before. This will increase your efficiency and you will turn out more work in less time.
9. Never leave the mind vacant
An empty mind is devil’s workshop. All evil deeds start in the mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. You must decide what you value more - money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even if you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God’s name (japa).
10. Do not procrastinate and never regret
Do not waste time in wondering “should I or shouldn’t I?” Days, weeks, months and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Always remember God has His own plan too. Value your time and do things. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can rectify your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET! Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Take it as the will of God. You do not have the power to alter the course of God’s will. Why cry?
May God help you remain at peace
With yourself and the world
Om shanti shanti shanti
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Gay, thank you so much for this marvelous contribution. I have joined Oprah’s ten-week course on A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhrt Tolle. The book talks about letting go of ego, which seems to be exactly what Shri Gyan Rajhans’s Ten Commandments for Peace of Mind also discusses. As we allow our consciousness to awaken and are guided by intuition and love instead of ego, there is nothing to argue or worry about. Everything and everyone is a unique part of Divine expression. Now, if I can just STAY with that awareness! That doesn’t mean that life is always going to be easy — look at the challenges and tragedies the Dalai Llama has encountered, being exiled from Tibet, seeing thousands of monks and nuns killed by fear-based Chinese Communists. And yet whenever he speaks, he is filled with compassion and humor. He is coming to Madison, Wisconsin in July of this year. I gratefully look forward to his teachings and thank YOU, Gay, for passing this teaching as well.
Love and thanks,
Patty