Category Archives: spirituality

consciousness, spirituality

The Pathway to Peace

Yesterday I talked about knowing the truth versus feeling the truth.  I posited that feeling the truth requires surrender, trust, and being present in the moment in order that evidence of the spiritual truth you are attempting to feel within can present itself.

One of the most miraculous tools for feeling peace, trust, joy, balance, energy, bliss, and anything else you desire, is meditation.  Meditation doesn’t seem fun or interesting at first, and that thought can prevent one from trying it.  But once you start to attempt a short meditation each day, a routine like brushing your teeth or taking your vitamins, it becomes easy and enjoyable.  Not only does sitting in meditation become more comfortable after making it a routine, it starts to create visible positive changes in your everyday life.  The practice of living all of the wonderful spiritual principles, that in your mind you know will improve your life exponentially, begins by simply sitting in silence.

Meditation creates space within that is normally occupied with thoughts and emotions.  When you clean out your inner space, the universe has a vessel in which to express its highest potential. Eventually when meditating you can feel this flow of universal energy as love, joy, and boundless peace.  Miracles begin take place within and without.

To begin practicing meditation I highly recommend Deepak Chopra’s “21 Day Meditation Challenge.”  This particular bout of the meditation challenge is a collaboration between Deepak and Oprah entitled “Miraculous Relationships.”  This is a free online program that offers a new 15 minute guided meditation every day for 21 days. Oprah and Deepak offer invaluable guidance throughout each meditation, and the music is beautiful.  Deepak has done several meditation challenges in the past, and each one has completely changed my life in ways I could have never imagined.  Many blessings as you go forth into the practice.  If you have any questions, comments, or experiences you would like to share about this meditation challenge, or other experiences with meditation, please leave a comment.

Here is the link to get started with your new meditation practice:

https://chopracentermeditation.com/home

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consciousness, spirituality

The Difference Between Knowing The Truth and Feeling The Truth

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After the mind is convinced of something, it knows it as truth. For example, I know that my bus will arrive at 23 minutes past the hour every day. I have been convinced of that after riding the same bus day after day. Yet, even though I know that this is true, each morning before I leave I track the bus on my phone to see how many minutes there are until it arrives. It is as if I don’t really trust that the bus will show up, or trust my knowledge of the bus schedule. This is because I don’t really feel like the bus will always be there. Even though I know this truth, I don’t completely feel it, and end up checking to make sure the bus will arrive when I think it will.

This silly situation operates on a larger scale with universal and spiritual truths that I “know.” My mind is convinced that the universe teaches us the lessons that are most helpful to the evolution of our consciousness at any given moment. My mind has seen evidence of this principle through other people, and through personal experiences. I can see these lessons so clearly in hindsight. When I was around age 15 the boy I had been dating all year broke up with me, and I was completely beside myself. Now I can see how the thrust into introspection, self-doubt, reflection, and independence, played a necessary role in waking me up to my true nature. Through the unhappiness I experienced I was forced to look within to understand the root causes of pain, and developed a veracious need for peace undetermined by circumstance. I could go on and on looking at the circumstances of my life and seeing how they were teaching me lessons essential for my spiritual growth. And yet, even though I know the universe operates as teacher, I still don’t trust each moment I am in.

Although my mind is convinced of this spiritual principle, I don’t always ask why I am experiencing difficult moments. A lot of the time I end up frustrated or upset by situations that don’t work out in my favor, whether it is a tedious task I have to endure, an illness I have, or an unfriendly person I have to deal with. When such situations arise I don’t always feel like I’m learning a lesson. I don’t always feel like the moment I am experiencing is helpful to my spiritual growth. I don’t always feel like the universe is teaching me. Sometimes I feel like the situation just sucks.

The difference between knowing something to be true, and feeling like something is true is that feeling like something is true allows you to actually experience what your mind knows. When you feel like something is true, then that principle can genuinely operate in your life. When you feel like something is true, it becomes a reality for you.

When learning about different spiritual principles, knowledge is only one small step. After reading many books and engaging in countless discussions, there are a host of things about myself and the universe that my mind is convinced of. But until I feel like those things are true, they will not be real for me. Sometimes feeling like something is true arises because you’ve experienced that reality. For example, I feel like I am not my mind because I am constantly experiencing my true being which is beyond the mind. But if you know something is true and want to get to feeling like it is true, this requires surrender. If you know the truth but can’t feel it, there is a small part of the voice in the head that is doubtful and unconvinced. Through surrender you can say to yourself, “It is okay that I am experiencing this doubt, but I have decided to allow myself to let go of listening to all of those thoughts, and experience what I know to be true.” After surrendering to the truth that you know and want to feel, look around for evidence. Look about, come fully into the now, and watch for evidence of that which you know to be true. The truth will be presented to you, and that experience will be one step closer to feeling that truth. It will be one step closer to living it. Although, as in my case, the evidence does not always evoke the feeling, surrender and trust allow the truth to become real once again.

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consciousness, spirituality, Uncategorized

Contagious Creativity

Tonight I had the privilege of seeing my brother Greg Spero perform with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project.  After the performance, I stood in the lobby of theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art and was in awe as I looked around at all of the tap dancers and musicians.  It is so incredible to experience people who are living their highest potential. Being around other people who live in the present, and take that golden opportunity to allow something great to flow through them into this world, inspires me to live as such. If you want to rise to a new level, hang around people who inspire and motivate you. Greatness is contagious.

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consciousness, spirituality

How The Mind Convinces Itself It’s Correct

This morning at work I experienced technical difficulties with the projector.  It was the last day of class, centered around the movie “Lilo and Stitch,” and the projector had always worked fine before.  After several minutes of unsuccessful troubleshooting, and with class about to begin, I felt reaction rising up inside of me.  I was frustrated and about to freak out.

The reaction I experienced was brief and subsided as I made the decision to have an enjoyable last day, and ask for assistance. Yet, however brief, the pull of reaction was strong, and it was to an inanimate object in a low-pressure situation.  How strongly can egoic reaction pull a person in when the unfavorable situation is caused by another person?  When other people act in a way that causes the voice in our heads to start condemning, we experience the beginnings of a reaction caused by the ego.  Some people manage to live mainly through egoic reaction, and over time it deadens all of life, leaving the person unable to enjoy any situation and experience their true nature.

I love this video because it is so clear, and beautifully manages to snap me out of the voice in my head.  The truth to which Eckhart Tolle speaks here, can have the power to completely change any life that has been taken over by reaction.

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consciousness, spirituality, Uncategorized

Curiouser and Curiouser

Today was mysterious.  As I was walking along with Judy Brubaker I missed a call from an unknown number.  I began thinking that maybe it was Oprah, or Quincy Jones, or anyone!  Then I realized why the “unknown” was so awesome; it had infinite potential!  It could’ve been the president calling!  And if it was, I’m sure he’ll try again later anyways.

In the midst of that call was my walk with Judy.  That was even more mysterious.  I didn’t know Judy before this.  I had merely been walking home, found an elderly woman unable to unlock her door, and asked if she needed help.  She told me she didn’t but would love to go on a walk with me.  I obliged.  I had no way of knowing who this woman was, but she told me about herself.  She was 89 years old, had been living in Chicago for the past 50 years, and used to be a film star in Hollywood during the early 1950s.  I believed her, but she seemed a bit forgetful, and at the back of my mind I was still wondering what her story truly was.  She then told me she still sings on Wednesday nights at Maggiano’s, but hadn’t since her recent surgery.  She sang a few lines for me and I was amazed; she did in fact have a beautiful voice.

She insisted that I leave her where she was and continue my walk home, but I refused.  I told her that I must walk her back home.  So we slowly walked along, but as we got closer she made me leave her side, saying she didn’t want her husband to think she was doing anything crazy. I walked ahead of her but I made sure I saw her walk back up the stairs to the door where we first encountered each other.  She must have gotten inside because I didn’t see her as I walked back up the street in the direction of my apartment.  I felt so compelled to know what she was doing, what her life was like.  We made a real connection and at this point I still have no idea why.

When I got home I decided to Google her.  Judy has in fact lived in Chicago the past 50 years, does still sing occasionally at Maggiano’s, and was a film star during the early 1950s.  I was amazed!  I had just been on a walk with the Judy Brubaker!  I may never know the meaning of our encounter.  I also may never know who the unknown caller was.  But the mystery is so curious, and so enjoyable.  Many things in life are inexplicable.  Many of the things that we do explain away are, in truth, inexplicable as well.  Although the mind prefers to label and have things fit into its set parameters of perception, the world beyond such explanations is more alive, more real, and more curious than one could imagine.  One of the greatest lessons I have received is to embrace the mystery.  Shout out to the universe, “I just don’t know! I have no idea!” It is at that point that the miraculous has an opportunity to appear.  It is at that point that anything can happen.

This is a video I found on YouTube of Judy singing at Maggiano’s:

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spirituality, Uncategorized

What Makes You Present?

536192_10151747318244894_586462762_nPhoto by Rob Kleeman

Today I had the privilege of performing with my family band at a town festival.  Waiting to perform is nerve-racking for me.  But the second I’m on stage and begin to sing all of the nerves just float away, and I’m there, completely present.  I love the feeling of being totally in the moment.  One of my favorite aspects of presence is the experience of joy; the natural state of being that is usually covered up by thoughts and emotions.

 What makes you present?  What snaps you out of thinking and brings in you completely into the moment? 

Presence can be practiced in any situation, but a great place to start is by finding a situation that tunes you into the now.  It could be yoga, taking a walk, straightening your hair, driving, singing, anything at all!  When you find that thing that snaps you into the present, it isn’t really that thing that is so enjoyable.  The joy comes from being fully in the now, without psychological past and future taking up all of your attention.  So give yourself a gift and begin practicing being in the now.  Start with whatever brings you joy!

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consciousness, spirituality, Uncategorized

Wondrous Perception

When I really pay attention I can hear my mind labeling the things and situations it perceives.  It says things like, “Wow, the moon is so bright tonight,” and, “The sky is very blue today!”  But attaching words to my perceptions doesn’t mean I actually have any idea what I’m seeing.  Perception becomes miraculous and new when you can see without mentally labeling everything.  When labels are gone, we can see things for the wonders they truly are.

This video is a beautiful example of the magic of perception:

Thanks to Pilobolus for this amazing work, and thanks to Marc and Angel Hack Life for introducing me to this video!

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consciousness, spirituality, Uncategorized

Confirmation That “Anything Can Happen”

Part of the first experiment in E-Squared by Pam Grout is giving yourself a two-day time frame in which to look for the “field of potential” to present itself to you in a clear way.  You look for a gift, for something to come out of the abundance that is in and all around you.

I started this experiment yesterday, Thursday, at 5:05pm.  In last night’s post I mentioned that I went to a dance show at Columbia College Chicago.  I was looking for the “field of potential,” or God, or the universe, the whole time.  When the song “Anything Can Happen” by Elie Goulding came on during the show I thought maybe that was the sign.  But I wasn’t sure, so I continued to ask the universe for a clear sign of its presence.  This morning on my way to work I saw a cute wooden box under a tree and thought, “could this be the sign?”  But I wasn’t that interested in the box, so once again I asked for a very clear sign.

Today we took the kids in our summer program on a field trip to a museum.  We were having a great time.  I remembered, as we were walking around to the different exhibits, to keep looking for this highest potential to present itself to me.  I then checked my cell phone to see what time it was.  I noticed I had a new voicemail from a number I didn’t recognize.  I was so curious I listened to it right then, and heard a voice saying “Hi this is a message for Katie.  I’m calling from the Dance Movement Therapy program at Columbia, and wanted to let you know that you won our raffle from last night!  Congratulations!  Please call me back to let me know when you can come pick up your prize.”

So that is what a clear sign is!  And as if the experiment hadn’t gone well enough already, when I called the woman back I asked her what the prize included.  There had been a couple different prize packages.  The one I won included one month of unlimited yoga classes at a yoga studio that is on the same street, literally steps, from the front door of the new apartment I’m moving into in September.  Now that is what I call the “field of potential” saying, “Hey Katie, what’s up?  I’m here!”

Is there any downside to asking the universe to show you the best of itself?  To believing that all encompassing abundance is on its way to you right now? As I said in yesterday’s post, the worst thing that can happen is that nothing happens.  The best thing that can happen is beyond your wildest imagination!  What miracles are you looking for in your life today?  Are you expecting great things to happen?  Even if you don’t yet know what you want, you can always ask for a clear sign from the universe to show you the unlimited wonders it has to offer.

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consciousness, spirituality, Uncategorized

“Anything Can Happen”

I’m still reading E-Squared by Pam Grout and it has reminded me of what I’m always trying to convince myself of. Namely, that the world is wondrous when you look for the wonder. The universe rises to meet you where you are, with the situations and things your perception accepts as possible and real. Why not see what happens when you drop the conditioned ideas about what life is, and decide that miracles are everywhere and are readily available to you?

When you look for that highest potential you are much more likely to allow your perception to actually see it expressed in your life.  And if you’re like me and your mind needs a little more convincing, ask yourself: why not?

Why not see what happens when you decide something wonderful is currently happening in your life? Why not see what life is like when you ask it to show you the best it has to offer? The worst thing that could happen is that nothing happens. The best thing that could happen is that all your dreams come true. Theres no “losing” side of suspending your disbelief and deciding to see the best of your imagination manifest before your eyes. So why not try it, and ask the universe to give you a clear sign of the abundance it has ready and waiting for you.

Tonight I went to see my former teaching assistant perform at the Dance Movement Therapy show at Columbia College Chicago. When this song came on I heard the universe saying “Yes I’m here, keep watching what I can do!”

Thanks to Ellie Goulding for this performance of your song “Anything Can Happen” and to Ellen!

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