(note from admin: we are no longer taking this feed: 24/7/2009)
http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=%22spirituality%22&t=%22spirituality%22&r=Exact&o=d&f=tag
MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'spirituality'.
If you Google it you’ll find it yet I still couldn’t determine who to attribute this to - one more thanks to my friend Alex.
12 Symptoms of a Spiritual Awakening
1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
2. Frequent attacks of smiling.
3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.
4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience
6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. ....(more)
12 Symptoms of a Spiritual Awakening
1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
2. Frequent attacks of smiling.
3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.
4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience
6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. ....(more)
The Way Path dark and narrow Bordered closely by cow crap Direction one way Peace, Doc Copyright © 2009, Thomas A. Blood, Ph.D. "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950) Technorati Tags: poetry,haiku,spirituality,cow crap (Source: Solo Shrink)
see: http://soloshrink.blogspot.com/2009/05/seeking-spiritual-enlightenment.html
see: http://soloshrink.blogspot.com/2009/05/seeking-spiritual-enlightenment.html
I know I’ve checked with Ron about this before - we apparently are not related - but I come from a Chaplin family rooted in Perth and Glen Tay. (I now reside in Toronto.) The story reads like it could have been written about either my late brother Craig or me. I ... (Source: My journey with AIDS)
see: http://myjourneywithaids.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/in-gods-image/
see: http://myjourneywithaids.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/in-gods-image/
I don't have much to say about my life lately. It's all going well. It's all just swell.There are things that could be better, of course. I could make some more money. My husband could get a job. I could work out some kinks in important family relationships.But overall, I'm happy. I am in love with my husband, and I feel loved by him. I have great friends. I have wonderful tools, and I'm learning to take better care of myself every day. There are fun things on my horizon...friends visiting, weddings, events. I am looking forward to these things. I am even thinking that my husband might be able to participate...which is exciting. He's never had it together enough to be able to come with me to a wedding or to visit family, and the idea that he can be my real date, a real boy, is exciting to ...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2009/04/just-swell.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2009/04/just-swell.html
I have always been impressed by doctors who do not limit themselves to practising medicine and look for new horizons to conquer. Being a doctor gives you insights into life which few other people get to see . Unlike judges, who usually see the seamier side of life and tend to have a prejudiced view of mankind ( because they have to deal with disputes day in and day out), doctors are usually much more optimistic and upbeat, because they deal with inspiring patients, who fight their disease bravely and live their lives courageously. Unfortunately, few doctors are blessed with the ability to write well - and even fewer have the desire to share their life time of accumulated wisdom with others. Fortunately, there are exceptions, and one of my heroes is Dr Ravin Thatte, a senior plastic surgeon...
see: http://doctorandpatient.blogspot.com/2009/03/genius-of-dnyaneshwari.html
see: http://doctorandpatient.blogspot.com/2009/03/genius-of-dnyaneshwari.html
The Peace Prayer of St. Francis
by an anonymous Norman c. 1915 A.D. Peace Prayer
Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred,
Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith; ....(more)
by an anonymous Norman c. 1915 A.D. Peace Prayer
Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred,
Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith; ....(more)
Listening to a guided meditation today, I was struck by a statement reminding me about what happens each morning when we wake up. Every morning of our lives, we open our eyes and completely take for granted that our heart is still beating, our lungs are breathing without a second thought from us, our kidneys are churning out urine, and the blood and lymph and other vital fluids of our body are busily going about their work as we rub our eyes and set feet to the floor.I, for one, am so often lost in the daily deluge of email, phone calls, papers, appointments and "things to do" that I completely forget what's happening right here inside my little envelope of skin. How can this be?My wife often reminds me to be sure to feel, express and contemplate gratitude every day. Gratitude for what? Fo...
see: http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-we-take-for-granted.html
see: http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-we-take-for-granted.html
With all due respect and consideration to our friend JJ, this feels timely and I’m not sure why…
Originally found at Silkworth.net where it is published without a clear attribution I can find;
Reason, Season, And A Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you will know exactly what to do.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go..
Some people become friends and stay awhile…
leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts…
and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!! ....(more)
Originally found at Silkworth.net where it is published without a clear attribution I can find;
Reason, Season, And A Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you will know exactly what to do.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go..
Some people become friends and stay awhile…
leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts…
and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!! ....(more)
Which can result in the Big Lie…
From “The Language of the Heart,” page 263;
“There are, nevertheless, certain occasions where reckless truth-telling may create widespread havoc and permanent damage to others. Whenever this seems possible, we are likely to find ourselves in a bad jam indeed. We shall be torn between two temptations. When conscience agonizes us enough, we may well cast all prudence and love to the winds. We may try to buy our freedom by telling the brutal truth, no matter who gets hurt or how much. But this is not the usual temptation. It is far more probable that we shall veer to the other extreme. We will paint for ourselves a most unrealistic picture of the awful damage we are about to inflict on others. By claiming great compassion and love for our s...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/pjF0Nimcr0Q/
From “The Language of the Heart,” page 263;
“There are, nevertheless, certain occasions where reckless truth-telling may create widespread havoc and permanent damage to others. Whenever this seems possible, we are likely to find ourselves in a bad jam indeed. We shall be torn between two temptations. When conscience agonizes us enough, we may well cast all prudence and love to the winds. We may try to buy our freedom by telling the brutal truth, no matter who gets hurt or how much. But this is not the usual temptation. It is far more probable that we shall veer to the other extreme. We will paint for ourselves a most unrealistic picture of the awful damage we are about to inflict on others. By claiming great compassion and love for our s...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/pjF0Nimcr0Q/
I am fried. I'm not writing well. It's sucky.I have a huge project that I'm trying to finish that was due on Monday, and it's been eating my brains. I have decided that today, I'm going to work on other projects and let the big, soul-sucking one lie for a bit. I hope this helps.I'm not sleeping well. I'm not going to yoga. I'm not doing much besides sitting in front of my laptop in a questionable state of sanitation, writing.One thing I have been doing in the midst of it all is keeping up my meditation practice, and it has served me well. Having a few minutes to be quiet and to notice my state has helped me to stay aware and to recognize that I'm doing a bad job at meeting my own most important needs. I have had a few experiences this week in meditation that have been powerful, and one las...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/12/fried.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/12/fried.html
I have been talking to a nice lady who has a heart-wrenching blog, where she talks about the pain that addiction has caused her family, and about the Faith that has helped her and is now helping others. I placed a link to her blog in the Blogroll; I encourage you to check it outt and see addiction through a mother’s eyes.
After reading some of her posts, I was thinking tonight about Faith and about the 12 steps– in 1993 my desire to use stopped abruptly after the realization that I had to ‘let go’ and stop running things, and rather, start listening and believing. I remember thinking back then that for the first time in my life, I had a sense of what ‘Faith’ consisted of– and it was about the opposite of where I was at as a using addict. I ...
see: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SuboxoneTalkZone/~3/474342910/
After reading some of her posts, I was thinking tonight about Faith and about the 12 steps– in 1993 my desire to use stopped abruptly after the realization that I had to ‘let go’ and stop running things, and rather, start listening and believing. I remember thinking back then that for the first time in my life, I had a sense of what ‘Faith’ consisted of– and it was about the opposite of where I was at as a using addict. I ...
see: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SuboxoneTalkZone/~3/474342910/
sometimes I feel like the dog in this video... it is when I realize that reality is much bigger than my dream of it (Source: Positive Technology Journal)
see: http://gaggio.blogspirit.com/archive/2008/12/10/our-mental-barriers.html
see: http://gaggio.blogspirit.com/archive/2008/12/10/our-mental-barriers.html
Which is, imho, one of the deepest challenges for us alkies…
Just a few sentences from today’s Daily Reflection - “Love With No Price Tag”
“Carrying the message is a gift of myself, no matter how many years of sobriety I may have accumulated.”
“My dreams can become reality.”
“My wish to help another drunk is the key to my spiritual health.”
“I never forget that Got acts through me. I am only His instrument.”
“To act, to never grow weary in my Twelfth Step work, is the key.”
“If I am capable of laughing today, let me not forget those days when I cried.” ....(more)
Just a few sentences from today’s Daily Reflection - “Love With No Price Tag”
“Carrying the message is a gift of myself, no matter how many years of sobriety I may have accumulated.”
“My dreams can become reality.”
“My wish to help another drunk is the key to my spiritual health.”
“I never forget that Got acts through me. I am only His instrument.”
“To act, to never grow weary in my Twelfth Step work, is the key.”
“If I am capable of laughing today, let me not forget those days when I cried.” ....(more)
I have been focusing on meditation after having a really wonderful experience meditating a few weeks ago, but I have had less success with being able to pray. I have had a few different kinds of prayers over the last few years while struggling with my reactions to my husband's addiction. Most often, my prayers are centered around the themes, "Help me! Help me! Help me!" or "Please help my husband!" Sometimes, I have prayed in gratitude when I've broken through some barrier, and after working the steps the first time, my prayers have frequently reworded the 11th step..."God, please show me your will for me and give me the power to carry it out."Last night, though, I recognized something new...When I pray, it can function similarly to my meditation. When I sit to meditate, I am trying to qui...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/12/prayer-and-meditation.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/12/prayer-and-meditation.html
When I was growing up, we didn’t really attend church on a regular basis. My mother is a very spiritual person and taught me about God and religion, but my father at that time was not a big believer. In high school and at the beginning of college, I declared myself an agnostic. I am not sure if I ever really truly was agnostic of if I just went along with the idea because I thought it was cool. It wasn’t until after a few years with Crohn’s that I really became in touch with my spirituality and my religion.
It wasn’t like I came down with the disease and suddenly came to God. It was a very slow process with me not understanding what was awakening within me. But slowly, with time, I could feel that God was in my life and guiding me on a path. Where this path would eventually lead m...
see: http://blog.healthtalk.com/life-with-crohns/kelly/spirituality/
It wasn’t like I came down with the disease and suddenly came to God. It was a very slow process with me not understanding what was awakening within me. But slowly, with time, I could feel that God was in my life and guiding me on a path. Where this path would eventually lead m...
see: http://blog.healthtalk.com/life-with-crohns/kelly/spirituality/
Today was my second meeting with my guru, and I am very excited about one particular suggestion of his to enhance my meditation practice. He recommended that I get a set of clothes that I use only for meditation, which sent me on a giddy shopping spree for my perfect white light outfit. I had $25, so I headed to a discount store to see what I could come up with.I started out in the exercise section, but nothing was quite right. Fortunately, though, the exercise section was right by the pajama area. I never wear pajamas, preferring either to go naked or to wear an old t-shirt to spending money on sleeping clothes...but there, in the pajama section, was a selection of the most ridiculous, beautiful, outrageous daishiki-muumuu looking things I've ever seen. They are long, one-size-fits-all ki...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/11/spiritual-shopping-spree.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/11/spiritual-shopping-spree.html
Have you ever felt like “If this is all there is to sobriety, then why bother?”
Other than the disease talking to me, I discovered something about that state of mind a few years ago. It’s in the Big Book on pgs. 50-57.
I’ll refer to what still makes the most sense to me;
“When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is, or He isn’t. What was our choice to be?”
At those times in my life that were (and still can be) the most difficult, those that feel like everything is unfair and I don’t deserve this, I have this tendency to feel like God has gotten farther away. Fortunately, an oldtimer taugh...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/297448793/
Other than the disease talking to me, I discovered something about that state of mind a few years ago. It’s in the Big Book on pgs. 50-57.
I’ll refer to what still makes the most sense to me;
“When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is, or He isn’t. What was our choice to be?”
At those times in my life that were (and still can be) the most difficult, those that feel like everything is unfair and I don’t deserve this, I have this tendency to feel like God has gotten farther away. Fortunately, an oldtimer taugh...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/297448793/
Notice that it doesn’t say “In Good Religious Health.”
“When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and spiritually.”
First things first - “Intelligence is not incompatible with humility, provided I place humility first… To be fashionable and to seem better than I really am is a spiritual illness.”
In my drinking life I could not put these two together. Why? Simply because the concept of humility was totally lost on me. To be humble was not within my understanding. I was either less than, far worse, or far better because, if not, I was worthless. Absolutely convoluted…
“To recognize and to admit my weaknesses is the beginning of good spiritual health.”
Funny, but at this moment as I write those words it...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/296499868/
“When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and spiritually.”
First things first - “Intelligence is not incompatible with humility, provided I place humility first… To be fashionable and to seem better than I really am is a spiritual illness.”
In my drinking life I could not put these two together. Why? Simply because the concept of humility was totally lost on me. To be humble was not within my understanding. I was either less than, far worse, or far better because, if not, I was worthless. Absolutely convoluted…
“To recognize and to admit my weaknesses is the beginning of good spiritual health.”
Funny, but at this moment as I write those words it...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/296499868/
Who’s Your Momma?
I am fascinated by many things. Well to be accurate, I’m perplexed by some, awed by others, and for better or worse I’m amazed by the rest. One of the events that I find fascinating is the token celebration. You know- the event/occasion/or person we celebrate on a designated day, week, or month. I can appreciate the merit of having a time of distinction for people, places, and events that have value. Parents, civil rights, secretaries (I mean administrative professionals), and hotdogs (yes there actually is a hotdog day). Truly, I get it-“demonstrate value by remembrance and recognition.” To be honest, like everybody else, I overeat and buy random presents because I’m supposed to.
More important than the gift or dinner, I enjoy the time spent focusing on the ...
see: http://www.popeinstitute.com/caregivingminutes/?p=84
I am fascinated by many things. Well to be accurate, I’m perplexed by some, awed by others, and for better or worse I’m amazed by the rest. One of the events that I find fascinating is the token celebration. You know- the event/occasion/or person we celebrate on a designated day, week, or month. I can appreciate the merit of having a time of distinction for people, places, and events that have value. Parents, civil rights, secretaries (I mean administrative professionals), and hotdogs (yes there actually is a hotdog day). Truly, I get it-“demonstrate value by remembrance and recognition.” To be honest, like everybody else, I overeat and buy random presents because I’m supposed to.
More important than the gift or dinner, I enjoy the time spent focusing on the ...
see: http://www.popeinstitute.com/caregivingminutes/?p=84
Always recognize the dreamlike qualities of life and reduce attachment and aversion. Practice good-heartedness toward all beings. Be loving and compassionate, no matter what others do to you. What they will do will not matter so much when you see it as a dream. The trick is to have positive intention during the dream. This is the essential point. This is true spirituality. CHAKDUD TULKU RINPOCHE (Source: Digital Doorway)
see: http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2008/05/during-dream.html
see: http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2008/05/during-dream.html
Reading today’s “Daily Reflections“ I believe I am reading Dr. Bob’s words…
First Things First - Dr. Bob speaks of practice and I imagine that this was passed down to the point when it eventually came to me because my sponsor pointed out to me the only way I’d become good at anything was to practice it. It most certainly applies to recovery as Dr. Bob says;
“And I don’t believe we do AA too well unless we practice it.”
He goes further to speak of practicing then acquiring the spirit of service which, in turn, leads to;
“We should attempt to acquire some faith, which isn’t easily done, especially for the person who has always been very materialistic, following the standards of society today.”
Which may have something to...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/274910238/
First Things First - Dr. Bob speaks of practice and I imagine that this was passed down to the point when it eventually came to me because my sponsor pointed out to me the only way I’d become good at anything was to practice it. It most certainly applies to recovery as Dr. Bob says;
“And I don’t believe we do AA too well unless we practice it.”
He goes further to speak of practicing then acquiring the spirit of service which, in turn, leads to;
“We should attempt to acquire some faith, which isn’t easily done, especially for the person who has always been very materialistic, following the standards of society today.”
Which may have something to...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/274910238/
I am always cautious about safety in parking lots when shopping alone. What this elderly woman experienced is what most women fear when shopping alone.
A would be robber jumps into the passenger side of an elderly woman’s car. She had just finished grocery shopping when the man entered her car, said he had a gun, and request all of her money. She said “no”, and that is not the most incredible part of the video…
WOW! does not begin to describe her courage and faith. This story comes from Action News 5 in Memphis Tennessee. (Source: CaregivingMinutes™ by Pope Institute)
see: http://www.popeinstitute.com/caregivingminutes/?p=62
A would be robber jumps into the passenger side of an elderly woman’s car. She had just finished grocery shopping when the man entered her car, said he had a gun, and request all of her money. She said “no”, and that is not the most incredible part of the video…
WOW! does not begin to describe her courage and faith. This story comes from Action News 5 in Memphis Tennessee. (Source: CaregivingMinutes™ by Pope Institute)
see: http://www.popeinstitute.com/caregivingminutes/?p=62
A dear friend who I've known since I was 13 years old sent me the following text message this afternoon:"The essential nature of the Universe is immeasurable abundance."This simple phrase was like a sword of clarity cutting through my day, and I felt quite uplifted by it. I've been worrying about money, work, taxes, my health, our house, chores, the endless list of to-do's.This simple message told me to just take a breath and realize that there is enough time and energy to go around, that it will all get done in good time (and if not, see Monday's post.....)Even more food for thought for a busy mind in the Information Age. (Source: Digital Doorway)
see: http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2008/04/immeasurable-abundance.html
see: http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2008/04/immeasurable-abundance.html
After reading this article today, I really began to wonder something: If you were on a committee to decide whether or not classes in spirituality (as it applies to medical care) should be taught to the med students of today, how would you vote? Yay or nay?
Is there some sort of bond to be bridged between physician and patient by incorporating spirituality? Would a doctor saying “I’ll pray for you” make a difference in your outlook if you were ill? Does knowing that someone else with “p...
see: http://www.healthbolt.net/2008/03/25/a-touchy-subject-do-science-and-spirituality-mix/
Is there some sort of bond to be bridged between physician and patient by incorporating spirituality? Would a doctor saying “I’ll pray for you” make a difference in your outlook if you were ill? Does knowing that someone else with “p...
see: http://www.healthbolt.net/2008/03/25/a-touchy-subject-do-science-and-spirituality-mix/
"Be still, and know that I am god. I shall be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." -Psalms 46:10I love it when I find these little tastes of the god of my understanding in the Bible. I need to make time to meditate. I hate it when I'm too lazy or busy to take proper care of myself. I hate it when I don't know if I'm too lazy or busy...you'd think those two wouldn't overlap so strangely.I had trouble sleeping last night. I had trouble being still. My mind goes, and goes, and goes, and I seem to be lacking skills in turning it off...and no wonder I don't have skills in turning it off. I don't practice.My goal for myself is to try to find 20 minutes twice a week, at least, to sit in stillness, to lose my focus, and to find that soft place inside myself that is most pre...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/03/be-still.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/03/be-still.html
“We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness.”
We have a good friend who asks this question at meetings - “how do I know that AA is working?” The answer?
I’ve never had it so good!
There are times like right now that I must bring this to the forefront of my mind. I’m on the right track. God has me exactly where he wants me. How do I know? Because I’ve never had it so good!
I could spend hours picking out all the negatives and fears in my life each day. All I have to do to live a happy day is remember, see factually, know without doubt, that my life is truly a gift. Had God not walked my ugly butt into AA when He did, t...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/cI4pb3bXPLs/
We have a good friend who asks this question at meetings - “how do I know that AA is working?” The answer?
I’ve never had it so good!
There are times like right now that I must bring this to the forefront of my mind. I’m on the right track. God has me exactly where he wants me. How do I know? Because I’ve never had it so good!
I could spend hours picking out all the negatives and fears in my life each day. All I have to do to live a happy day is remember, see factually, know without doubt, that my life is truly a gift. Had God not walked my ugly butt into AA when He did, t...
see: http://feeds.b5media.com/~r/b5media/ADozenSteps/~3/cI4pb3bXPLs/
Martin Nicolaus notices a not yet published study on the impact of spiritual guidance as part of treatment. There was no impact. In fact, the group with spiritual guidance by certified spiritual directors had worse outcomes on measures of depression and anxiety, though a group receiving spiritual guidance from their counselor did just as well as the other groups.What's especially interesting about this study is that Bill Miller, the lead author, is very friendly to spirituality as an tool for facilitating change. He seems stumped but isn't questioning the study itself.There is reason for confidence in the findings of this study. Outcome variables were carefully measured by independent interviewers, fidelity of interventions was good, and 82% of all possible follow-up interviews were comple...
see: http://www.dawnfarm.org/2008/10/spirituality-and-recovery.html
see: http://www.dawnfarm.org/2008/10/spirituality-and-recovery.html
Two controlled trials of the effect of spirituality on addiction recovery showed no improvement for the patients given spiritual guidance as part of the usual treatment regimen, either in their addiction recovery or in their spiritual practices. In fact, in one trial, the patients provided with spiritual guidance made less progress in overcoming depression and anxiety than the patients not given spiritual treatment.Details are in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, July 25 2008. The abstract is here. Thanks to David Kaiser Ph.D. for flagging the item. (Source: New Recovery)
see: http://newrecovery.blogspot.com/2008/10/spirituality-strikes-out.html
see: http://newrecovery.blogspot.com/2008/10/spirituality-strikes-out.html
I was meditating tonight in the bathtub. I like to meditate there. It's safe and warm and quiet. There aren't dogs around poking me with cold noses or wet kisses. I always visualize things in the bath tub. I'm not sure why.Tonight, I couldn't focus on the quiet. I kept hearing the words to songs, kept wanting to sing along, kept thinking about how much I'm hurting and how afraid I am. The voice that sometimes speaks from the quiet, still place said to me, "Go ahead. Sing. Think. Feel. I'll still be here."So I did. I thought about my worst fears. I thought about what it would feel like if my husband were to die. I thought about how awful I'd hurt if he were to kill himself or overdose or otherwise die tragically. I pictured his body, broken and cold. I pictured myself looking at his dead bo...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/10/meditation.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/10/meditation.html
I just finished Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth last night. I've been reading it for a while, kind of in between other things I've been reading, and through the peaks and valleys, I've found a lot of things that helped me re-think my choices and re-view my life. In many ways, it felt like reading familiar material put into new words...and not in a bad way.You can find the rest at The Second Road. (Source: Heroin Addiction Codependence)
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/09/if-you-cant-accept-it-or-enjoy-it-stop.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/09/if-you-cant-accept-it-or-enjoy-it-stop.html
In this second go-round with the Steps, I've had something of a discovery of my understanding of what this lesson with addiction might be teaching me.So I have this Higher Power, and I've been learning to turn my fear, my distrust, and my pain over to this Higher Power. In exchange, I have found some new space within myself for peace. I have found comfort in being alone and the sure sense that no matter what happens to my marriage or to my husband, I am going to be ok. Through this sense of peace, I have found a portal to get away from pain. If I truly get centered in myself...truly let go of all my desires for things, for my husband, for my marriage to follow the path I'd set out on initially...I can avoid much of the gut-wrenching pain that has consumed my life. I find contentment, quiet...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/09/passion-vs-peace.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/09/passion-vs-peace.html
“I Stand At The Door” is the title of a piece written by Sam Shoemaker from the Oxford Group. It begins;
I stand by the door.
I neither go to far in, nor stay to far out.
The door is the most important door in the world -
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There is no use my going way inside and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is. ....(more)
I stand by the door.
I neither go to far in, nor stay to far out.
The door is the most important door in the world -
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There is no use my going way inside and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is. ....(more)
My very special blog BFF recently sent me a present. It's a beautiful Japanese bell, quite like the one in the picture. When you bang it with the pretty wooden stick, it makes a wonderful, resonant sound, and it reminds me of the way there are angels that seem to sing when people say "Om" together before a yoga class.I was showing it off to my husband, and you can read the rest of the story at The Second Road! (Source: Heroin Addiction Codependence)
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/08/my-bell.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/08/my-bell.html
I had another evening of sitting by the lake tonight, and I found myself surrounded by geese. Apparently, my break time is also dinner time for geese. They came all around me, and they were making these quiet, gurgling noises.I'd always been a little afraid of geese. An ex of mine was afraid of them because of a bad experience as a child. He'd been chased and bitten. All my previous interactions with geese left me anxious. Some of them hiss. Their beaks are black and strong.Tonight, though, I insisted that my fear be quiet. I sat still, and the geese came all around, rumbling in their throats. They ate grass, and they looked at me. I liked their black feet. One of them kept stretching out his leg and his wing at the same time, balancing on one foot. It made me giggle. None of them hissed.I...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/08/geese.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/08/geese.html
The best of man is like water,which benefits all things, and does not contend with them,which flows in places others disdain, in harmony with the Way;It is the substance of all things, though it does not control them,a mystery beneath... (Source: Diabetes Daily)
see: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiabetesDaily/~3/350850174/living-like-water.php
see: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DiabetesDaily/~3/350850174/living-like-water.php
Just the other day, I had tea with a good friend and talked about life, love, and our own pursuits, both professional and personal. This friend, with whom we have reconnected very strongly in the last year or so, is a man of great insight, knowledge, sensitivity and kindness. While I historically don't usually enjoy the company of men a great deal (and consequently have few good male friends) this person feeds my soul in a way that is unique and enlivening.Without going into details, I will simply relate that my friend lives a life much different than mine, having neither employment nor living arrangements which are permanent or fixed. By choice and by circumstance, he chooses to live his life on a certain societal edge, eschewing the trappings of the middle-class (mortgage, material posse...
see: http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2008/07/comfortable-with-uncertainty.html
see: http://digitaldoorway.blogspot.com/2008/07/comfortable-with-uncertainty.html
At one of the places where I work, there's this big artificial lake behind the building. It's always been kind of annoying to me in its juxtaposition with a large, corporate building. There's a few ducks that live there, and a few other birds that fly in and hang out.I get a break halfway through my shift, and a few nights ago, I sat in my car and stared at the lake. There were a lot of dragonflies, flitting around, skirting the edge of the water and fighting or fucking each other. I liked their big eyes and delicate, strong wings. I was almost late getting back to work I'd enjoyed watching them so much.Tonight, I sat down on the edge of the lake during my break to watch the dragonflies up close. It's only twenty minutes, but I'm finding that I don't have many twenty minute blocks to mysel...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/07/bird.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/07/bird.html
Twelve Step recovery is spirituality at its best
Nancy Kehoe, Ph.D., is a Massachusetts psychologist who for 20 years has trained mental health care providers to tend to the spiritual as well as the psychological needs of their clients. At a Hazelden Women Healing conference in April, Kehoe emphasized that although spirituality and religion can be integrally linked to mental health, the therapeutic community is usually reluctant or ill-equipped to explore these areas with clients — even though doing so could greatly enhance and speed up their recovery.
Understanding how people image God or a Higher Power and what role spirituality plays in patients’ lives can give therapists valuable information for diagnosis and treatment, Kehoe said.
Mental health professionals can learn much...
see: http://twelvestepfacilitation.com/twelve-step-recovery-is-spiritual/
Nancy Kehoe, Ph.D., is a Massachusetts psychologist who for 20 years has trained mental health care providers to tend to the spiritual as well as the psychological needs of their clients. At a Hazelden Women Healing conference in April, Kehoe emphasized that although spirituality and religion can be integrally linked to mental health, the therapeutic community is usually reluctant or ill-equipped to explore these areas with clients — even though doing so could greatly enhance and speed up their recovery.
Understanding how people image God or a Higher Power and what role spirituality plays in patients’ lives can give therapists valuable information for diagnosis and treatment, Kehoe said.
Mental health professionals can learn much...
see: http://twelvestepfacilitation.com/twelve-step-recovery-is-spiritual/
This article explores four possible mechanisms by which prayer may lead to improved health.
While acknowledging the efficacy of prayer and recognizing the needs of patients, prayer, being a personal spiritual practice, cannot be prescribed, nor should it be used in place of medical care.
The spiritual search for meaning and hope in life is integral to human existence. This is particularly evident during times of personal stress and crisis. Recent census findings indicate that 74% of Australians and 96% of Americans believe in a higher power, and similar percentages claim some form of religious affiliation.1,2 Evidence also suggests that certain spiritual beliefs and the practice of prayer are associated with improved coping and better health outcomes.3-6 Although North Americans have been ...
see: http://twelvestepfacilitation.com/spirituality-and-health/
While acknowledging the efficacy of prayer and recognizing the needs of patients, prayer, being a personal spiritual practice, cannot be prescribed, nor should it be used in place of medical care.
The spiritual search for meaning and hope in life is integral to human existence. This is particularly evident during times of personal stress and crisis. Recent census findings indicate that 74% of Australians and 96% of Americans believe in a higher power, and similar percentages claim some form of religious affiliation.1,2 Evidence also suggests that certain spiritual beliefs and the practice of prayer are associated with improved coping and better health outcomes.3-6 Although North Americans have been ...
see: http://twelvestepfacilitation.com/spirituality-and-health/
When people ask you what you do for a living and you respond, "I'm a writer," the question often follows, "What's your specialty?" Nice girls respond with nice words like, "I write copy!" or "I review movies!" or something, anything, other than what I say.Someone asked me recently, and it was all I could do to keep the word "Addiction" from flying out of my mouth. I actually choked on the word, stuffed it back down my throat, and responded with something like, "I write personal essays..."Addiction: it's become my area of expertise. Specifically, I'm quite knowledgeable in writing about heroin addiction, and even more specifically, my husband's addiction to heroin. If there were only a job that would pay me well and give me benefits to write about my husband's addiction to heroin, I'd be a ...
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/07/whats-your-specialty.html
see: http://www.thejunkyswife.com/2008/07/whats-your-specialty.html
Johns Hopkins University researchers have released two follow-up papers to their fascinating 2006 study in Psychopharmacology, in which 36 healthy volunteers were given psilocybin (also known as “magic” or “sacred” mushrooms) under controlled laboratory conditions.
Subjects in the original study were screened to rule out any predisposition toward psychosis or other serious mental illnesses, which can be exacerbated by hallucinogenic drug experiences. The rigorous process involved two different 8-hour laboratory visits, during which subjects received psilocybin on one occasion and a placebo (Ritalin) on the other. The study was double-blind, meaning neither the participants nor their highly trained “monitors”, who were present for safety reasons during the trials, knew who was ...
see: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2008/07/02/groovy-man-follow-up-study-supports-therapeutic-use-of-hallucinogenic-mushrooms/
Subjects in the original study were screened to rule out any predisposition toward psychosis or other serious mental illnesses, which can be exacerbated by hallucinogenic drug experiences. The rigorous process involved two different 8-hour laboratory visits, during which subjects received psilocybin on one occasion and a placebo (Ritalin) on the other. The study was double-blind, meaning neither the participants nor their highly trained “monitors”, who were present for safety reasons during the trials, knew who was ...
see: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2008/07/02/groovy-man-follow-up-study-supports-therapeutic-use-of-hallucinogenic-mushrooms/
0. Abstract:
Reiki is a healing energy technique of uncertain origin. It may not be applicable to occupational therapy, but the process of learning reiki may be of use to occupational therapists for facilitating spiritual emergence and personal development. This blog entry describes my personal journey as physiotherapist learning reiki, and how the experience led me to re-train as an occupational therapist. The benefits I experienced included increased empathy and interpersonal skills, more ethical living, a deeper respect for occupational therapy, improved physical and mental health, a feeling of connection to the universe and restored faith in God.
1. What is reiki?
Reiki is a technique for channelling energy from the universe into a person, object or event through placement of the hands...
see: http://metaot.com/blog/reiki-facilitate-spiritual-emergence-personal-journey
Reiki is a healing energy technique of uncertain origin. It may not be applicable to occupational therapy, but the process of learning reiki may be of use to occupational therapists for facilitating spiritual emergence and personal development. This blog entry describes my personal journey as physiotherapist learning reiki, and how the experience led me to re-train as an occupational therapist. The benefits I experienced included increased empathy and interpersonal skills, more ethical living, a deeper respect for occupational therapy, improved physical and mental health, a feeling of connection to the universe and restored faith in God.
1. What is reiki?
Reiki is a technique for channelling energy from the universe into a person, object or event through placement of the hands...
see: http://metaot.com/blog/reiki-facilitate-spiritual-emergence-personal-journey
As good a starting point as any, as the full gravity of the truth begins to come out, points assigned according to abuses suffered:
“Repeated persistent anal or vaginal intercourse — 45-60 points. Penetration with an object — 36-44. Repeated, persistent fondling –11-25. Simulated intercourse — 11-25. Nude photographs taken — 5-10.”
“One or more physical assaults ... (Source: My journey with AIDS)
see: http://myjourneywithaids.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/the-quiet-horror-of-residential-schools/
“Repeated persistent anal or vaginal intercourse — 45-60 points. Penetration with an object — 36-44. Repeated, persistent fondling –11-25. Simulated intercourse — 11-25. Nude photographs taken — 5-10.”
“One or more physical assaults ... (Source: My journey with AIDS)
see: http://myjourneywithaids.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/the-quiet-horror-of-residential-schools/
I have been sober over 24 years and studied all the usual Alcoholics Anonymous books plus many peripheral books about AA. This book has renewed my quest for my ‘spiritual aims’ in a way that is both satisfying and challenging.
I’d recommend it to all who may have been in the program quite a while or may have become moribund with time.
These are extracts of reviewer comments on the wonderful book ‘The Spirituality of Imperfection’.
Although it reinforces the validity of the 12-step recovery approach, this intelligent and wide-ranging book has an undeniable appeal to anyone with the yearning to understand more deeply the nature of spirituality.
It is filled with stories from a variety of cultures, and so many of the tales have stayed with me for weeks now. Some of the points ar...
see: http://recoveryissexy.com/the-spirituality-of-imperfection/
I’d recommend it to all who may have been in the program quite a while or may have become moribund with time.
These are extracts of reviewer comments on the wonderful book ‘The Spirituality of Imperfection’.
Although it reinforces the validity of the 12-step recovery approach, this intelligent and wide-ranging book has an undeniable appeal to anyone with the yearning to understand more deeply the nature of spirituality.
It is filled with stories from a variety of cultures, and so many of the tales have stayed with me for weeks now. Some of the points ar...
see: http://recoveryissexy.com/the-spirituality-of-imperfection/