This interview with Tony Robbins is one of those. Tony has mastered a good many endeavors in life and has been paid the really big bucks as a life coach. In these few paragraphs Tony seems to sum up a life time of experiences and the essence of what he believes really matters.

I have been writing about manifestation, intuition and synchronicities as thinking patterns. My stockbroker called me today and said “Hey I have just read this great blog in the Huffington Post on an interview with Tony Robbins.” I said, “What interesting timing, I am reading it right now.”  When I finished reading it I felt I needed to post simply urging people to read it.

Here are just a sample of Tony’s comments:

“Life supports what supports more of life.”

“A sense of service makes all else disappear.”

“What ever you give your brain to answer you will get an answer.”

“What makes people feel alive is a life of meaning. Pleasure is in the body. Happiness is in the mind.”

Check the whole interview out by going to:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marianne-schnall/life-purpose_b_1461184.html

I find this perhaps one of the biggest challenges. Drives me crazy.

If you know what you need, such as a source of income, or better health, or improved relationships then of course set your mind on seeing this happen and then pay attention to your intuition to help you make the choices that present themselves. Yet if it all is a bit hazy, then the exercise gets really challenging.

I once spent several weeks with Peter Caddy, the co-founder of the Findhorn Community in Scotland. At the time he was travelling and was absolutely penniless, simply depending on intuitive guidance to get him through each day. I asked him how that was. He said, “ Maddening.” I felt that what Peter was practicing was the extreme case of simply being 100% in the flow for everything, a truly difficult space. For most of us we have a bit more luxury. We know where our next meal is coming from and a good bit of how the day will be structured.

Yet for those who have the luxury of not worrying about money this is the ideal time to mindfully set yourself up to be much more in a state of allowance, noting what comes up and what then you are using your energy to accomplish. I don’t say that this is actually easy, because we are used to a high degree of structure in our lives.

I just spoke to a friend of mine today who needed $35,000 to pay taxes. He is a day trader but normally does not expose himself to that many contracts, meaning that usually he makes or loses $2,000 to $3,000 during a day.  He told me that for some reason he just decided to take a much large exposure. He allowed that feeling to guide him.  He earned the $35,000 he needed. He said he even thought about more and asked me how I thought it would have gone. My thoughts were that he needed the $35,000. Beyond that I feel the deck might have been stacked against him.

What do you think?

Our culture produces a myriad of illusions which keep us from finding the truth.

I was once in a workshop with Terrence Mckenna, and he made this comment, ” Culture is your enemy.” The issue seems to be that culture is made up of a set of rules and regulations. We abide by these because we have learned that we can count on the effects of certain behaviors. For example we have laws with enforcement  and that makes life more certain and safer. But when we impose our ideas of how to live  and put a judgement on everything else that does not conform, that is where the trouble resides. People go along to get along, conform to norms so they will be accepted. If they get to far off of the reservation they will be ostracized or worse possibly even banished, and this is one of the greatest fears of all people-to be excluded. Yet at the same time it is the odd duck, the nut case, the geek or strange person who discovers the truth of a a new way which can help everyone. But how do we do this? How do we navigate to be our authentic self and not a threat to others?As a former advertising executive I believe the first realization is that we may do and believe because we respond to classic disinformation theory. That occurs when a powerful interest, usually for economic reasons, tends to deny or discredit a piece of information with such conviction that if no new evidence surfaces, the cognoscenti or those supposedly in the know such as our opinion leaders can dismiss it with a comment like , “Oh we’ve checked that out long ago and since there is no new evidence we’ve concluded that this or that is probably a hoax or not true. And if you persist in investigating this for yourself you are obviously uninformed and you would not like to be thought of in that way would you?”

As I mentioned awhile back  I had attended the 2012 International UFO conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Now the word UFO is a label that in our culture seems to  connote a weird group of people who are chasing around after things that probably don’t exist or there is another rationale explanation. Yet much to my surprise the evidence and calibre of people there suggested that alien worlds are not only real, but that we have  been rewarded with highly advanced technology from them that has been kept under wraps for economic reasons. Yet with the advent of the internet and the ability to spread the word virally we will see this year many come forward to talk about these discoveries including the ability to make “free energy,” which would be a real game changer. The theme of one of the speakers, Dr. Steven Greer, was to help distribute their film on this topic when it is finished at the end of the year. When generals and medical doctors are presenting this kind of dialogue one takes notice. I felt motivated, to do something, as if I had come to the right meeting almost serendipitously.

Now my point here is not to convince anyone of my  view but to say that we must be willing to check things out for ourselves. Today so much is taken at face value with so little real investigation that we have begun to deduce truth from sound bites and rash statements. Yet it is the contrarian, the one who swims against the current who questions and proceeds who ultimately finds a new reality.

So as I stated above how do we find out what is true?

I believe that the first thing we must do is to simply ask, better yet, demand to know the truth of the situation. That is not something we direct at others but to our higher self. It is a question we ask with intent, trusting and knowing that in due time the truth will reveal itself to us. However,  we must be willing to follow our intuition, hunches, inner self and to go where that takes us.  It may not be a linear path of discovery, but one filled with synchronicities, serendipity, and magic.  It is not perhaps a path of comfort, but there is a reward to the inquisitive mind willing to operate in this fashion, and it is rapidly becoming the new modus operandi.

I would love to hear your comments on this topic.

The circle is a coded representation of pi to the 10th significant figure Photo: APEX PICTURES

One of the over riding themes today is the idea that with structural change taking place everywhere ( As opposed to cyclical change in which patterns simply seem to repeat) we need to find a practice to help us deal with it all. We cannot rely on normal channels to guide us. For example there seems to be more truth in the comedy channels than the so called legitimate news. The political debates seem to focus on the absurd. So we desperately need not just  guidance, but reliable guidance. Yet from where?

I mentioned in my last post that I had been to the 2012 International UFO conference in Phoenix . It was a delightfully rewarding experience. Excellent heartfelt speakers. One over riding theme coming from many of them was that now is the time to put a meditation practice into our daily routines. Why, because, at the level of the great unconscious we all seem to be connected, and this is where the our very  next steps seem to reside. Mediation for me simply means finding a place to quiet or still the “monkey mind.” So virtually anyway we can accomplish this gets the job done.

I like what James Joyce had to say in his book, “Portrait of An Artist,”  about art as a vehicle  for arresting the mind. He said that there were two kinds of art, kinetic, which inspired movement and static art which arrested one. The latter he called the highest form of art.  So what ever you choose to look at that can do this is well worth it.

One of the more fascinating art forms that keeps emerging are the ever complex crop circles that are appearing all over the world annually but predominantly in southern England. I find that the most amazing unique qualities of these is that  I have yet to see one of these designs that is not beautiful to look at. Some of the speculation is that it is a gentle way for higher intelligence to be making contact with us at this time. It has been going on now for some thirty years, but basically is ignored by the mainstream media. Yet I find that I want to check things out for myself. So I urge you to do the same. Just Google “Crop Circles” and look at the patterns. Amazing.

J

Just how curious am I? That is what makes life interesting-living life as a question.

If we just tune into the same sources of information, our universe will probably stay pretty much the same. We will think, act and feel much as we have always done. The trick is to consciously seek the new and novel. For example this last week I attended the International UFO Convention in Phoenix. My brother has always lived in tthis world and I said, “Ok, I’ll go with you.”

Your first thought might be “oh just a bunch of weird people on the fringe.”  But you could hardly be further from the truth. Instead you would have met a group of highly educated and curious people. Many who have had abduction experiences.  And as one abductee kidded, they are not interested in just “anybody.” Long gone is the idea of proving that aliens are real and amongst us. The data is everywhere. For example one of the most compelling speakers was Dr. Steven  Greer, a retired emergency room physician, who founded CSETI, the center for extraterrestrial intelligence.You will find this website filled with interesting and provocative information. A much richer and complex story is emerging about what alien contact has provided us scientifically already. Reliable sources seem to suggest that we have the knowledge to build free energy machines, but these technologies are not being revealed. Once you peruse this site and look at the data you may begin to ask, “Why are they here and what is their agenda?”

You might ask, if this is true then why has there not been disclosure? It seems that many reliable people have had first hand experience but events have conspired to keep the information secret. Yet now more than ever the planet needs the technology that has been with held. Of course there are skeptics and debunkers, but my point is that we should pay attention to information on the edge of mainstream and check it out for ourselves instead of simply being dissuaded by naysayers.

More on this topic in later posts.

stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral

I went on a whirlwind four day trip to leave some of my mom’s ashes in her favorite city, Paris. I am traveling a lot these days and one exercise I find extremely useful and rewarding is to seek pleasant surprises and acknowledge them as they occur. A pleasant surprise is just that. Of course I like to think that we have invisible partners that arrange them, but this is just my belief system.

You don’t think about going to Paris in the Winter, but when the sun shines it can be quite pleasant with a warm coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. My first pleasant surprise came when the adjacent seat in coach, which I refer to as sardine class, was the only empty seat that I could see on the entire plane. Being able to stretch out just a little bit is a god send on a 10 hour plus flight.

I was traveling with Larry Hauer and Jeannie Smiley. They had made this trip before so much of the ground work had been done.  Our boutique three star hotel, the Villa Martin, in the 10th district was another pleasant surprise. It was but a short walk from the magnificent Gare du l’Est. train station. The small room and bath was modern, clever, inviting and simply well thought out, especially the lighting. The staff of young women all spoke English and best of all the smile was a permanent condition of their faces.

On a short trip if you master the subway, you can sample a wide range of Parisian delights. Drawn to sacred geometry I had always wanted to see the Rose windows of the  Cathedral at Chartres, We did. I was not disappointed.  Hoping on the subway in minutes we were at the  mus’ee de Orsay, one of the most inviting and tasteful buildings on the planet. It is a converted train station whose architectural elements accentuate the exquisite art deco, impressionist and art noveau treasures it houses. The cafe there is a must, a feast for both the eyes and the palette.

musée de Orsay

A cruise on the Seine, expressos at the myriad of  sidewalk bistros, and a stroll through Monmarte. I could go on, but you get the drift.  Few cities can give you day for day what Paris can. It is one big pleasant surprise.

Quincie Hamby is truly a gifted jewelry designer who can dazzle a naked neck like nobody I know. She and her husband Billy (We were in the 4th grade together) hosted me and through a delightful book signing party.  Their son, Henry, had me address a gathering of students at his junior college.  It is fun to visit with friends whom you have not seen for aeons and about their  life journeys while talking to kids who are getting ready to set sail on theirs.

I have been reporting on synchronicities as a guide to us being in the flow and on the right path. Even days that seem devoid of anything note worthy usually contain these subtle undercurrents. Today was no exception. I thought that I wanted to buy and I pad, but frequently I find that I am a bit impulsive. The looming question was whether I really needed one.  I drove to Best Buy, went in, and then could find nobody to help me. I asked one clerk who said he wasn’t knowledgable. There was another but he was tied up with a customer. Everywhere I turned helpers were involved. Finally, I accepted the idea that this simply was more of an impulse than a true need. I owned a Mac Air book and a new I phone. Between the two my travel needs could be met quite adequately. And so, nobody to help confirmed to me that I really had not taken the time to think this all through.   I could have gotten upset, but I realized that perhaps something else was happening. Small setbacks or disappointments can quickly be seen for what they are, like trim tabs on an airplane, the fine adjustments to life that help us smooth out the ride.  I write a good bit about Invisible Partners in my book book released this year. In this case it was like being with a good friend who was saying, “Do you really need this?”

This year I will be on the road a good bit much of it open-ended, consciously paying attention to simply letting the journey unfold and making notes about it.

Tallahassee, has been a wonderful stop along the way.

I just spent a week in the sleepy village of Barra de Potosi on the west coast of Mexico. Up the road is the bustling tourist beach community of Zihuatenejo where the action resides.  Barra is more like a zen experience. I stayed with friends in a camp (as in cool) little b & b on an unpaved village lane. A Trip Advisor review had given it a poor rating because they said it had bugs and seemed run down. I reflected on how frequently people impose expectations into just about any situation without regard to where exactly they are. I was  happy we had hot water, clean sheets, and mosquito netting, which we did. Furthermore  the French Toast was remarkable.  But that is not what made this entire setting memorable.

We were in a time warp. it was as if we had gone from our customary  60 to 70 mph pace to practically zero.

After a leisurely breakfast and scintillating conversation with Laura, the owner, we could amble down to the enmaradas. These are small restaurants with thatched palm roofs over chairs and tables firmly planted in the sand. You could stake out your spot for the day and settle back into a shaded view of the large bay.  Your eyes would rest on a gentle shore break with an endless show of various dive bombing sea birds, and fishermen with throw nets or little hand lines on spools they could toss and wind  miraculously fast. Somehow the Mexicans seem to find the simplest way to do things.

The beach spread down for as far as the eye could see and was virtually empty. A few hundred yards away you could stumble in to an hour  long massage which would leave you in yet a further altered state of relaxation. I brought books and tapes but always found the visual scenery too alluring. When you finally felt the mild pangs of hunger there was an abundance of  seafood right from the water in front of you. In the other direction were large fresh water lagoons surrounded by mangrove trees one could explore by kayak or small skiff. If you were curious enough you could find crocodiles at the far end. I wasn’t. i even learned how to toss the fishing not well, but well enough.

The large Frigate birds were fascinating enough. They like to perch on abandoned poles or posts in the water. Their wing span is so long that if they accidently crash into the water they cannot easily take off again if at all. They skim the water surface deftly scooping fish on the fly.

Then there were the walks on the shore. If you wanted to walk for an hour you just headed out for 30 minutes, on the hard sand of the soft shore break, reversed course and were back as if you had been in a dream. No treadmill in a Gold’s Gym looking at your watch every 10 minutes to see how much more you had to endure.

At 5 pm the enmaradas quit serving, but the anesthesia of the day carried you into the early evening where the warm glow of that large orange ball slowly sunk on the haze covered horizon transfixing  you for the days finale.

Wandering the short distance back to Laura’s place, the evening life emerged. Dogs playfully running after one another, the chatter of children, open doorways and tables being set up on the street offering a simple meal of tacos, or the latest house specialty.

In this kind of atmosphere you don’t just  decompress,  you slow down and then as if you have crossed into another reality,  become conscious of life moving at the deliberate pace of a Tai Chi exercise.

creation

I am in Honolulu now. It has been almost four years since I have been here. It is a time of catching up with friends from a past period.  Ghandi said we can never stand in the same river twice. Even though the geography remains familiar like the place you put your foot in the river, the river is not the same.  I am in another state of mind or consciousness and realized that with that state comes a corresponding way of  experiencing the familiar terrain.

See if it isn’t happening for you right now… 

I was having lunch with my former wife, Susanne and her former business partner, Maureen. We were talking about 2012 and all of the predictions. Susanne said she had just heard a profound comment:  our ability to manifest is directly proportionate to our capacity to love and being particularly conscious of this would be an interesting way to embrace and track  the year’s personal experiences.

In reflecting on people from the past we  commented on how much we had  enjoyed a mutual friend, Jesse, and how nice it would be to see him. He was always on the frontier of the new and novel.  After lunch, we were waiting for the elevator at the 2nd level of a local mall. As it opened there was Jesse. We laughed. No sooner had we talked about wanting to see Jesse, there he was.

Having just spent ten  days with dear friends on the Big Island and  taking care of a real estate sale as well as  shedding and storing “stuff,”  I reflected  on events,  and they seemed to have come together as smoothly as  zipping up a well oiled zipper. They were not big things, but they could have been were they to have gone the wrong way.

I think that the most difficult challenge for me is to be mindful of what is gaining my attention and not to dwell too long on bad news, conflict, and turmoil which is the daily diet of the media. Secondly, when even the simplest of events like running into Jesse occur, I want to take a moment to connect the dots and say, “Yes.”

While these are small parts of existence being aware of them not only creates strength in the face of uncertainty, but adds  excitement when we see them happen. I would love to hear whether you are noticing these small daily occurrences and in this state of mind realizing that they are happening faster.

The uncertain road

I am on the road again. This time my first stop is Ventura, California to visit a long time friend. He urged me to go see the latest film out called “THE ARTIST.”  We can all see films differently. For my pal, he was captivated by the uniqueness of the film’s communication mode- no dialogue, yet fascinating. I saw it from another perspective. I was reminded of the need for PATIENCE.  We live in an instant gratification oriented world, where computers and smart phones give us instant information and answers.  Yet in this movie the star’s role is a metaphor for the perils of resistance to change. Success in a dying art left him depressed as he realized his accomplishments and recognition were from a dying art. The ensuing period shows him in the depressing “chaos of creation,” that never never land where we just don’t know ihow what is next will all come together. I won’t give away the story any further in that it is an excellent film. Why it is important to me is that in-between periods are like being in between stations on the radio frequencies. There is static and no clear signal. I like to think the universe is busy filling our orders. In the movie our hero is about to do himself in because he is losing patience with the process and sees no end to his misery.  He is on the vertical climb of a stairway trying to find the level ground of the next step.

So Patience seems to be the antidote. Our hero reinvents himself when all seems lost, and that seems often to be the case especially in these times.  I think the difficult part is to keep plugging away knowing that forces are at work to deliver what we have ordered.