Sweet surrender

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Recently I was away and initially the internet was iffy at best and absent at worst.

My do-aholic mind spent many ingenious hours plotting and scheming where to go to hack into the internet so I could honour commitments and `keep up ` with work etc. 

I had forgotten universal truths… one being that when I am away there are always less texts and emails… the universe knows. The other, just trust. 

Then I was on a boat with no internet. Initial frustration was quickly transformed into a delicious sense of surrender, now I could really release as there was absolutely nothing I could do about it other than hijack a lifeboat and paddle like mad!!

The utter peace and joy of sweet surrender. Five days of silence from this world allowed so much quiet time to hear the inner voice; also, to realise how the ego hangs on tenaciously to distract us from alignment with our soul. The blessing of time to pause, breathe and catch up with myself.

It will be a challenge to be disciplined regarding the internet when I return home, yet what gifts the space in between emails, texts and surfing offers…..

Authentic Communication: 7 Keyways to Transform Your Relationships

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In today’s fast-paced world, where information inundates us and distractions abound, the essence of authentic communication is more vital than ever. Genuine communication is all about being truthful, open, and vulnerable when we engage with others. It serves as a conduit to deeper connections, enhanced understanding, and personal growth.

In this blog post, I explore the seven keyways to authentic communication that have the potential to nurture more profound and authentic bonds with those in your life.

The seven keyways to Authentic Communication are:

  1. Willingness:

Willingness is the initial step toward authentic communication. It entails being open and receptive to the exchange of thoughts and emotions, even if they challenge your existing beliefs. By approaching conversations with an open heart and mind, you create an atmosphere of trust and acceptance.

  • Accountability:

Accountability is the act of taking responsibility for your words and actions. Owning up to your mistakes or acknowledging when you’ve hurt someone is essential. Authentic communication hinges on recognizing your role in conflicts and working towards resolution.

  • Defencelessness:

Being defenceless should not be confused with becoming a doormat. Instead, it’s about letting go of the compulsion to protect your ego at all costs. When you shed defensiveness, you become more open to constructive criticism and can engage in conversations without becoming defensive or confrontational.

  • Vulnerability (Emotional Transparency):

Vulnerability is a potent tool for forging connections. It involves being open about your emotions and revealing your genuine self. When you practice emotional transparency, you encourage others to do the same, nurturing a deeper level of understanding and empathy.

  • Radical (Self) Honesty:

Radical honesty revolves around speaking the truth, even when it’s challenging or uncomfortable. This doesn’t mean being hurtful but rather being forthright in a manner that’s respectful and compassionate. It entails being honest with both yourself and others.

  • Trust:

Trust is an implicit but crucial aspect of authentic communication. It involves having faith in the sincerity, honesty, and reliability of those you communicate with. Trust creates a safe environment in which individuals feel comfortable being vulnerable, practicing radical honesty, and expressing gratitude. It underpins many of the keyways to authentic communication.

  • Gratitude:

Expressing gratitude is another pivotal component of authentic communication. It entails acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of your interactions and relationships. Gratitude can elevate a conversation from a mundane exchange to a heart-warming connection.

By embracing these keyways—willingness, accountability, defencelessness, vulnerability, radical honesty, gratitude, and the power of silence—you equip yourself to navigate the complexities of human interaction more effectively. 

Authentic communication has the potential to bring more joy, understanding, and meaning to your relationships, ultimately enriching your life.  To realign our intentions using the 7 Keys to Authentic Communication. 

I encourage you to join me on this liberating journey, and watch this overview on YouTube: 

Remember, authentic communication isn’t a destination; it’s a lifelong voyage of self-discovery and connection. Embrace these keyways and savour the profound impact they can have on your relationships and your life as a whole.

Enjoy the journey of authentic communication!

Cate

Reference

A Course in Miracles (ACIM) offered by the Foundation for Inner Peace

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As I make my way through the profound teachings of A Course in Miracles (ACIM) offered by the Foundation for Inner Peace, I find that each day brings its unique set of challenges and revelations. Some lessons flow easily, while others, like Lesson 128, “The world I see holds nothing that I want,” can present quite the conundrum. In my quest for understanding, I turned to YouTube, hoping to discover videos that would illuminate the depth of these teachings.

Lessons 128 and 129, “Beyond this world there is a world I want,” beckoned me to delve deeper into their meanings, and this quest led me to an intriguing discovery. In my online exploration, I stumbled upon the work of Nouk Sanchez and Coreen Walson, who offer a unique perspective on ACIM’s holographic messages and the profound significance. 

Their commitment to this metaphysical journey is evident in their approach, filled with love and laughter.

What they share goes beyond a mere explanation of lessons; it’s a metaphysical feast for the soul. I invite you to join me on this voyage of exploration and understanding, guided by Nouk and Coreen’s insights. 

In my next blog post, I plan to delve into Authentic Communication and the 7 Keyways to Transform your relationships and journey towards the world we truly desire.

For more resources and information, including the Total Transformation Course (TTC) and the Holy Relationship Journey (HRJ), you can visit their YouTube channel here…

Let’s embark on this voyage of self-discovery and enlightenment together.

Cate 

The Way and The Ordination Course…

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“Working through both The Way and The Ordination Course has been quite an adventure. When I joined, I had no idea how deep it would take me. If you want to go on a real journey of self exploration and learn about your own spiritual, personal and moral alignment, then I highly recommend this course. It has helped me to determine a clarity of focus, pushed me to the dusty corners of my soul and afforded me many amazing friendships. Life changing, certainly. And in the best way.”

Best wishes

Rachel Cheer

Independent Celebrant

www.hopeceremonies.com

St Francis and the simplicity of Love

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In our physically and emotionally complex world there is a place for simplicity. For staying in the moment, being fully present, just being love in every situation.

St Francis, the saint who is often linked to nature, the animals, birds, and stars took simplicity further still. He internalised it to include his will and ego, to then surrender his all to his God.

He is reputed to once have said “Why are we not just in love with love?” Quite a thought to realise how much we objectify love, as a person, an idea, even marmite…

Remember how rich and all-encompassing the feelings of love can be? 

Beyond the ego passion, the ego need to have and hold, to contain or own is a rich and beautiful place, we have all experienced. It may arrive as a wave of golden love suffusing us sometimes for no obvious reason. Imagine if we could tune into that experience of love all the time? 

Maybe we can…..

Beginnings and Endings

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Book – endings

Here in the Open Sanctuary, we are deeply aware of the power of ritual, of marking passages of time, seasons, situations and so forth.

On a daily basis we offer a Morning and Evening Office; this is a Sacred Space in which to settle the heart and mind enabling us to hear Divine guidance.

These times in Sacred Space represent setting the Intention for the day in the morning office with the evening office being a time for Reflection on how the day has been through the eyes of the morning Intention.

This is not as scary as it sounds… in the morning office there might be a mantra, a few words or a short reading from which you notice the words that resonate and allow them to percolate through you in meditation for 10 minutes or so. You are invited back from your meditative place and invited to share your Intention for the day in a few words. 

The evening office opens in silence as we enter a Reflective time in which to review the day through the lens of the Intention we set in the morning. 

In this time, we honestly and gently explore all the occasions when we did not live our Intention to the best of our ability.


Then we open to exploring what quality or value might have helped us changed that.

For example, the reading might offer us some guidance about `being more patient`, so in the evening office of Reflection where we step into self –awareness, we bring to mind the times we rushed or were not patient.  From the spiritual qualities we discern the most powerful tools to support our reframing our way of being more patient. This might be to `pause between situations, to breathe and to space our diaries more graciously.

So, at the end of the Reflective time when we re-gather, the words we would share with the group would be “Pause, Breathe, Space” as these are the lessons we opened to this day.

This process ensures maximum engagement with our Intention and all the Reflection offers us allowing us to go to bed with positive thoughts in mind. This helps ensure each day ends quietly, incrementally building upon the previous… a kind of win win really!

“The Power of Humility and Unconditional Love”

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In a world that often values ego and self-promotion, the virtues of humility and unconditional love stand out as beacons of light. These qualities, rooted in the core of our spiritual selves, have the ability to transform our lives and our relationships.

Humility: The Art of Selflessness

Humility is the gentle art of recognising our own limitations and imperfections. It’s not about self-deprecation or putting ourselves down but rather an honest acknowledgment of our humanity. When we embrace humility, we open the door to personal growth and deeper connections with others.

By letting go of our need to be right or to prove ourselves, we create space for understanding and empathy. Humble individuals are open to learning, adaptable to change, and willing to admit their mistakes. In doing so, they nurture an environment of trust and authenticity in their relationships.

Unconditional Love: The Purest Expression of Compassion

Unconditional love is a love without conditions or boundaries. It’s a love that extends to all, regardless of their actions or circumstances. When we love unconditionally, we accept others as they are, without judgment or the need to change them.

This type of love is not just reserved for our closest relationships but extends to all living beings. It’s the love that sees the divinity in every person, recognizing that we are all interconnected and deserving of love and respect. Unconditional love is a powerful force for healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

The Beautiful Symbiosis

When humility and unconditional love come together, they create a beautiful symbiosis. Humility helps us recognise our own imperfections, making it easier to extend unconditional love to others. Unconditional love, in turn, nourishes humility by reminding us that we are all in this human experience together.

In this symbiotic relationship, we discover that we don’t need to be perfect to love and be loved. Our imperfections become part of our shared humanity, and we become more compassionate and understanding toward ourselves and others.

As we journey through life, let us remember the transformative power of humility and unconditional love. By embracing these spiritual virtues, we can cultivate deeper, more meaningful connections with others, heal wounds, and contribute to a more compassionate and harmonious world.

So, let us practice humility in our daily lives, and let our love be a beacon of light that shines unconditionally on all we encounter. For in the fusion of these two virtues, we find not weakness, but strength; not separation, but unity; and not judgment, but boundless compassion.

With love, Cate 

Beginnings and Endings and A.G.M.s

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The Open Sanctuary have just had their AGM.

The perfect opportunity to experience beginnings and endings.

What has been resisted, learned from and offered to another in the previous year.

 It is a natural point of review, reflection, renewal and growth.

From the previous year what informs the coming year and what can we now offer from that acquired wisdom?

Sometimes it takes courage to step into a new version of ourselves as it is often untried and untested. It takes courage to be willing to put oneself forward in a role that may be new to us. 

Here the generosity of those in the Open Sanctuary mirrors their core beliefs, one of which is:

“Our purpose is healing through union”.

How reassuring it is to have role bearers offering to shadow and support the incoming office bearers as they take up their new roles. 

Such an opportunity to deepen connections with another, all of which is part of the healing dynamic, moving duality into non duality.

Such a gift to see people model their beliefs.

An ending blessing tomorrow.

Jude

“Remembering Donald: A Tribute to a Good Man”

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In my three heartfelt encounters with Donald before his passing, I was struck by his gracious and humble spirit. Together, we meticulously planned his funeral service, from newspaper announcement, music to the eulogy. 

His legacy was simple yet profound—to be a good man. Donald’s contentment in recounting his happy life served as a testament to the depth of his character. 

In his quiet way, he reminded us of all that a life lived with kindness and humility leaves a lasting impact, far greater than any accolades or possessions. 

Donald’s memory continues to inspire us to be better, to be good people, just as he was.

Today is going to be a slowwwww day.

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I travelled from Aviemore to Edinburgh yesterday, the day was perfect, and I wasn’t driving so I could soak up the fabulous views, the truly amazing scenery and be reminded of the wonder of this amazing wee planet.

Edinburgh was its usual busy city, people everywhere, all rushing, vehicle sounds and toots, it was also very hot which always acts as a magnifying glass.

For a couple of hours every sense was assaulted from the sounds, the sights, the rush, the smells, and the taste of city grit. The north bound journey home was as stunning as heading south, yet from a different angle…

Home to utter exhaustion.

It reminded me of the tale of the Native Canadian found sitting on the station at the end of a Canada wide train journey. 

Who, when asked why he was not rushing off to `get somewhere` replied quite serenely, ” I am waiting for my soul to catch up”. 

Perhaps this is a definition of jetlag? 

Yesterday I felt my soul pass itself coming and going at Pitlochry…. 

Today is going to be a slowwwww day.

Jude