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do be doo..

Posted on Apr 9th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 09, 2009:

If you were enlightened, how would your life be different?
          If you were enlightened, right now, what would you do next?
                                                            How would you answer this question?



..trumpets blazing, stars dancing & angels hovering, enlightenment is upon me! 

what would I do next? chop wood carry water, business as usual..(& very soon I'm
gonna go buy me an icecream).. I anticipate a heightened level of consciousness,
not that I see that happening within a moment, more like a subtle change over
time..The difference could be a change in perception that will affect my sense
of being along with knowing that less needs to be done to be..


A person who says, "I'm enlightened" probably isn't.
Ram Dass




   Happy Easter everyone!  party on : ) 







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Tagged with: QaR, enlightenment, enlightened, spirituality

wanna play 30 day QaR blogathon?

Posted on Apr 16th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 16, 2009:

.....what do you wish you'd paid more attention to?




[ free style blogger ]




Regrets are an utter waiste of emotion imho since it's beyond me to turn back time & there might likely have been something happening that I could have attended to more fully. Or not. Luckily I have been overcompensating by attending more fully to a few happenings than need be, like fx closely monitoring the political sit in Denmark & how it affects the financial crisis. For you who don't know, our prime minister got shipped off to the UN & as happy as I am to see him go, it may not cause a new election as soon as I'd like. 

A recent annual checkup at the doctor doctor showed a slightly elated blood pressure which got me sent home with a fine lil piece of machinery for me to do further close monitoring for a few days. If anything has had my close attention of late, it would be that. And it made me say my goodbye's to the o c c a s i o n a l ciggy too. Final results landed at 106/77 & according to nurse Bridget's verdict: 'woman, you'll live' I rest assured.. anyhoow, back to the questione at hand:

A lil something that does seem to sneak under the radar is the inbox on my macbabe that somehow managed to overflood itself again (986 msgs & counting) whilst I was looking the other way (read: daydreaming, pondering life, picking fluff out of navel, marvelling at spring & going to the gym, now almost as often as I'd actually like to) -when this phenomina ocurred previously, lil hives & hot flushes accompagnied by stresslike thoughts of HTF am I ever gonna get myself ploughed through all this? forced me to click delete for instant peace of mind, shortly followed by a determined plan to STOP subscribing to the ridicilous amount of information a part of me appearently needs to absorb on a daily basis. 

Ofcuz another part of me, the curious part who do not want to miss out, sabotages that very determined plan by shortly thereafter deciding to attend to that pos crucial info from now on, so no need to unsubsribe.. yeah right. As we speak, that pos crucial info has now been deleted again again, which leaves me with personal msgs & gaia 'stuff'' from..ahem..quite a while back till right about now. 

And right about now is the perfect timing for today's questione for me with a small rewrite into present tense: What do I want to pay more attention to? Well, apart from attending to my inbox, it's time for me to snap out of my daydreaming & -drifting mode, play catch up with u gais & more so, get blogging again, something I have indeed been neglecting a bit of late whilst absorbed in my inner world.

I even missed my 2yrs anniversary on gaia the other day, how about that for lack of attention? ('o') To celebrate, I've decided to challenge myself to do a 30 day QaR blogathon. I did one last spring, it's great fun & quite a creative challenge to write based on a given subject every day. (& yes, deep bows (–_–) to the ones of you who already master the task). I'd love to have playmates, so let me know if you're game ..wanna play?





Cher & Cyndi Lauper - If I Could Turn Back Time




list of playmates : )







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Tagged with: QaR, attention, presence, messages, celebrations

you are what you eat

Posted on Apr 17th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 17, 2009:





[ over achiever ]




what is most influencing how quickly you're acheiving your goals?

how much I want the carrot.



what is holding you back?

if/when something is, it will either be fear of success, fear of failure, or laziness.



what would it be like if this blockage could be resolved, or this barrier removed?

just splendid & rather toffee.



and what purpose is it serving?

as with every odd & seemingly selfdestructive behavioral pattern,
the purpose is paradoxically to protect oneself.




Classic Sesame Street animation - "The Carrot"





photo from flickr by graham king

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the nearness of you

Posted on Apr 18th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 18, 2009:

If you could learn one thing, or have one question answered,
about someone you love, be it your mother, spouse, child,
or dear friend, what would it be? what would you most
like to know about someone close to you?

  



   

















  
   what's in your heart
   and on your mind,

   what would give you ease,
   make you feel at peace,

   what would you like to share
   with me this moment now?





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the map is not the territory

Posted on Apr 19th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 19, 2009:

Who or what do you give authority to? What do you tend to give power to in your life? 
Where do you place authority? Who or what do you tend to see as having control over, 
or influencing, your choices? What would it be like if you reclaimed this authority?







My first thoughts on the word authority are anarchy or cake! & no rules rule! given my political inclinations to kinda say that I give authority to nothing & nobody. Which then proves the exact opposite as it is quite clear those ideas are indeed influencing my choices, at least when it comes to first thoughts. Some possibly even controlling my life in ways I'm not initially inclined to acknowledge on this fine spring sunday cuz I far prefer the image I have of me as a freedom loving, autonomous, emancipated women who is the authority in her own life. But as reality will have it, certain ideas has been known to have led me astray on the occasional deroute. I think ideas as such has a tremendous influence, ideas forms beliefs & values, shapes a big part of this entity called tara & definetely has the ability to pull major strings regarding the choices I make. And my gut feeling weighs in, although not a major player since preference, projection & perception more often than not gets in the way of the authentic feeling. 

Fear has ruled at some point & love for another, leftovers from both might still have an effect. Same goes for addiction, which is forever keenly anticipating a comeback, an influence not to be underestimated. Conditioning (& soo many rules taught & some never questioned) has a fair say in the matter too. Lack of awareness gives away power when making both minor & major choices in life, depending on how much the autopilot is switched on, & luckily something that can be fixed with cascades of paying attention. 

Trickier it becomes when moving away from the outer layer & into the murky waters of the superego, the voice of the inner critic with it's abundance of rules for how to be the perfect human. It's a sneaky bastard that one, yapping on & on with all the do's & dont's, a lifetime of material, never tires. Saying sod off! in a firm voice helps in the interim while the real work is being done, getting rid of the weed by the roots, she says whilst digging dilligently & possibly halfway to China by now.. meanwhile, who is in charge around here? 

Yes, I know answering a question with a question is not optimal unless you're a Native Indian ('ive read the really smart ones do that) or it is yesterday on the QaR. Ideas, beliefs, values, gutfeeling, fear, love, addiction, conditioning, autopilot, mindfulness & the superego are all elements of what I 'give' authority in my life, simply cuz I am aware that they have it & to varying degrees, I know how it affects me & for some of it, I have the option of choosing differently. But for the rest of it & the traumas & the damage that was done it's not a matter of me having had the choice of giving authority to someone or something, it was taken. And for that part of me where I'm digging & shedding light, I can't answer the question, as i have yet to fully understand.

As 'I' am on the journey of reclaiming authority by integrating what was taken into a congruent whole, I reconnect with my Self & I recognize a feeling, an energy, something I used to think was created by external influences, something that would swing by on lil visits. Now I know it's always been there & it can be the most powerful surge of energy that would knock me off my feet if I wasn't sitting in meditation. It's in the bubbles of joy that dance tickling through my body for no apparent reason & it has hold the space in moments of deep despair where the point of going on had momentarily eluded me. 'It' could be the experience of the concept of god, I'm open to the idea & looking into the matter. It feels more than anything like a lust for life so strong, so innate, it could be as simple as a basic instinct. And when i've reclaimed my authority of all the territory that is me, I sense that i will not only know what it will be like. I will own it.





   the map is not the territory
   alfred korzybski


the The - Love Is Stronger Than Death





photo from flickr by andrew edmark

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gotta wear shades

Posted on Apr 21st, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 21, 2009:

   What is the life stage of humanity?
   Are we toddlers, teenagers, adults, or elders?




cosmic egg toddler













I think we have yet to discover levels of awareness that will cause quantum leaps in creativity & visions for humankind that makes us mere toddlers at this point.

On the other hand, at the rate we're going in terms of misusing the abilities we've discovered so far, we could also be at the final life stage of humanity..

..I have this picture in my head of earth loosing her patience with us one of these days & making the laws of gravity exclusive to animals ;-)

And what was most important to you in
making the journey through those
stages, or in transitioning from
adolescence to adulthood?

I'm still in transit..








 photo: We do not descend from the Apes  by Jan Westphal

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keeping it simple

Posted on Apr 22nd, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 22, 2009:

........How can we live more whole and undivided lives? How can we focus on
what is essential and important to life? What connections should we sustain?
How can simplicity support aliveness?









When I focus at what is right in front of me, give my full attention to this moment, my mind is calm & I enjoy a full sensation of being present in my body. I am aware of my breathing & I feel vibrantly alive. 

That's as simple as it gets for me & a very essential element in my life to remember. And I remind myself often or said another way, I'm still learning to sustain that kind of connection, of feeling centered & whole. It's easy to feel when that is all I focus on but as the way of the world will have it, sitting in meditation is not an option tout le temps. And more often than not, a small break of a few deep breaths, looking out the window or stepping outside will connect me again. 

A mind that used to be kept very busy with going that extra length & a body oblivious to the term inaction, do still occasionally object to the fact that I've taken away a lot of toys & distractions in favor of a soul that craves peace & quiet. It shows up as restlessness, second guessing choices & an urge to throw a bundle of bouncy balls in the air that I'm not able to catch in my current zen walk pace anyway. And it's ok, it's all part of the journey. I focus by listening & keep listening very closely when I ask myself: what do you really want?  

Keep it simple was my goal for the last couple of years & part of it was letting go of other goals that I thought sustained me, but really left me gasping for air & divided inside. Balance is my current goal as I'm learning to maintain a feeling of connectedness within me while the immediate world around me seems to run faster the slower my pace. Living in a city where zen walking is causing traffic jams & a sense of being somewhat out of synch, is sharpening my focus on what is essential for me to live a whole & connected life. 

I'm kinda hanging in thin air between letting go of the old & getting a clear picture of what is emerging; It has to do with doing less & achieving more, as in making a difference more than making money, living with nature instead of merely going for walks in it & most importantly, connecting with kindred spirits who share my delight for taking the time to smell the flowers. and dance.





      listen! the wind is whispering
      lars muhl


Duet






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it's alive!.. & possibly kicking

Posted on Apr 20th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 20, 2009:

What if we saw the universe as a living thing? How would our lives be different
if we saw ourselves as being a part of a conscious, living cosmos?



[ cosmic egg dance ]




I already see myself as being a part of a conscious living cosmos although I am not at a stage where I'm actually capeable of fully experiencing it. As for the 'we' part of the questione, It's beyond my preferences & my ability to speculate, to grasp the concept of 'we' as a unity seeing things the same way. There are billions of we's, & that's just on this wee planet, who go about living their lives with varying degrees of awareness, some projecting negativity into the collective consciousness, some working hard raising awareness to counteract & probably a heck of a lot of us doing both. 

And musing over the what if we all could just see the light in a flash of a second & transform ourselves into spiritual beings with such heightened awareness that we can transcend our separated minds, is a dandy way of magical thinking, but in reality doesn't change a thing. Other people are going to do what they are going to do & maybe it is the way it is bc 'we' are still learning. The autrocities, the greed & the killing hasn't changed much throughout the course of history & is giving me the impression that 'we' are indeed slow learners.

Patience is a virtue & i'm learning it, slowly, as I turn my eyes towards accepting my experience of reality now to embrace the sufferings of the ignorant, a child dying every 6th second & cultivating my faith in the innate goodness of human nature.  Deepening my awareness & sense of compassion may not change a thing either. There may not even be a collective consciousness, it's something I choose to believe, a rather handy detail about being human that I get to do that btw. And although I prefer to concern myself with what I do rather than daydream about what if' we all.. I am going to make a qualified guess when saying we do what we do for the same reason: cuz it makes us feel good. 



Positive & Negative Energy Effects on Water Crystals







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right on time

Posted on Apr 23rd, 2009 by tara : samana tara


- Responding to renegade QaR:

thank you Jeannie for keeping us in the flow for the 30 day blogathon game
with a brilliant twist to the classic question:



   How is it that those missing socks go missing?
 
[ hozone ]




It is the strangest winds that sometimes happens to be blowing when laundry is being done. It's hardly felt, but still, lifts you off your feet.  And more  than that, the winds swoops that one sock away to a secret place called ho'zone. Here the missing sock dances the sock dance & lives happily ever after with the other socks gone missing..






    - or it's cuz these guys keep borrowing them..

Red hot chili peppers- Right on time live






photo from flickr by chrissie white

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a present of presence

Posted on Apr 24th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 24, 2009:

What are your true gifts? - According to Duane Elgin, we all have 'near' gifts
(things that we're pretty good at, at that most of us use when we're at work) and 'true gifts' (those that express our unique talents, interests,abilities, an passions). In Elgin's view, this is not the time for half-hearted contribution: the world needs our greatest talents. What does this mean to you?




[ passionately present ]




Contributing whole heartedly to the world with our greatest talents (as opposed to merely utilizing skills aquired) means to me that a process of seeking authencity within has likely taken place. Finding gifts to share is closely connected to discovering one's  true potential & purpose. Looking within to connect with the soul & attend to everything with mindfulness, is a way to live with congruence & passion to share that unique expression of self with the world.

Living with balance between the inner & outer aspects of what makes up a life, is an ongoing changing process. A task that requires paying attention & making conscious choices when it comes to what one really needs to have & do, to feel fulfilled & content. The tendency in our busy & complex world to define success & happiness in terms of external values, can come with the side effect of feeling divided & empty inside. The soul whispers slow down & the world screams run faster.

Letting go of distractions & cutting to the bone of what is essential with simple living, allows me to reconnect with the authentic core of my being. Creating a soulful relationship with life where I can truly share, is about caring for my soul by giving me the gift of being present. And a fave gift is inquirying within by asking: what am I experiencing right now?, allowing the sensations in my body to be met by an open curious mind. 

It sounds simple & with practice, I find it becomes easier to sit & feel what I feel. Also when it is painful to go from being completely stuck to becoming unstuck. Paying attention is a gateway to the source of passion & deep joy that will allow for the emergence of my gifts to be shared along with using the skills i've aquired.





     let the thoughts come and go as if touching a bubble with a feather.
     this straightforward discipline prepares us to stop struggling
     and discover a fresh, unbiased state of being.
     pema chödrön on meditation


Annie Lennox - The Gift




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self is(h)

Posted on Apr 26th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 26, 2009:

......what does your Self want for you today?







    - to keep flowing into the stream of consciousness..
   (as I was yesterday & forgot to say) 



   & anything from Jeannie's list would be swell too.. 
   (might want to add icecream)
Massive Attack - Teardrop [HQ]





 the painting:  'swept away'  by blake flynn

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dolly dot does

Posted on Apr 27th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 27, 2009:

what do you most love to do? What do you love so much you can do it for long stretches of time without getting tired or bored?








I love to do whatever it is I choose to do in the moment. I can't single out one activity as the one I love most to do, it depends where my passion runs at the time. I don't do things that bore me, not even for short stretches of time, why would I want to do that to myself? I love learning more about some things, little bits of many things & a part of me would kinda like to know everything. I love love reading, blogging & being creative, meditating, making love in tantric ways, talking to a friend sharing moments & feeling inspired, inspiring others, dancing, cooking colorful food & basking in breathtaking 3D mouthorgasms when eating it, laughing a lot, thinking & pondering, daydreaming, brainstorming, exercising & definetely rollerskating & all the other to do's listed under things tara loves. And when i get tired I love to take a nap.



Lykke Li- Little Bit




photo from flickr by ajpscs

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Tagged with: QaR, love, calling, life, work

What is your unique ability?

Posted on Apr 29th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 29, 2009:

What special skill are you gifted with? What unique ability, fully realized and put to work, can provide the most benefits to you and any project or people you serve?



I am the only one who is able to be me.

I am however not entirely sure whether that ability is fully realized & put to work.

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buttering the sky

Posted on Apr 30th, 2009 by tara : samana tara
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for April 30, 2009:

In your work (or life) what produces the highest ratio of satisfaction an

abundance to amount of time spent? What do you find most rewarding? 

What in your life gives you the most satisfaction?


 

 


   

   those 'perfect' moments where I am in acceptance of what is.

 

 

   slipping on my shoes, boiling water, toasting bread, buttering the sky:
   that should be enough contact with god in one day to make anyone crazy.

   hafiz

 

   

Vasudeva mantra



     


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