Peace, Compassion & Connection
Filed Under:
Letters from the Executive Director
Written by Juli Somers
“All know that the drop merges into the ocean, but few know that the ocean merges into the drop”
KABIR
I have been watching myself struggle lately. With all the tools I have and the understanding that growing on a spiritual path can sometimes be a very uncomfortable process, I still can get sucked into the quicksand called hopelessness. I then watch as I make choices that either nurture myself or feed my unhappiness. Needless to say, only one of those choices helps me find my footing out of the quicksand. For me the point isn’t really to feel better rather it’s about becoming more conscious of the choices I make and to transform whatever in me is not at peace.
My practice lately has been a practice of allowance; letting whatever wants to come to the surface bubble up and float around. I surrender any agenda to feel better (ego) and in the moment, choose to explore these difficult places with love and compassion. I find when I am just willing to be present with the hard places that arise, instead of distracting my self with busyness or trying to avoid them, they soften and move on.
This past week as I practiced sitting in some uncomfortable feelings without judgment (not easy) I explored them like a map. Some were roads that I hadn’t visited in a long time. On one occasion when I finally surrendered to the day’s uninvited visitors, I had a profound experience of knowing in every cell of my body that I am never alone; that I am inexplicably connected to everything and everyone. The closet way to describe how powerful this sensation was is to say that this drop of the ocean called Juli felt the energy of the whole ocean inside of her and with it, profound peace.
It is necessary to have some sort of practice, such as meditation, to remove one’s awareness from the “numbing effects brought about by living at ordinary states of consciousness” as Carlos Castenada so brilliantly put it. At the same time, I find it just as important to realize that daily life is our spiritual practice. With the seemingly constant tragedy in the world - perhaps the biggest proponent of the “numbing effect” - I know the greatest contribution I can make to peace on this planet is to commit to creating peace inside of me. If we are all indeed connected through a ocean of energy as I intensely experienced recently, than any good I do will benefit all. When I can greet the tough places inside of me with love and compassion, I am giving love and giving compassion back to the ocean of consciousness from which we all drink.
It is not a luxury to work on healing oneself or to do spiritual practice. In this world, where the illusion of separation is causing such catastrophe’s, I find it crucial that each one of us takes responsibility for what energy we are giving back to the ocean. As we consciously take the journey to recover the wholeness within ourselves we will repair that illusion of separateness between people’s, nations, races…all. So, if you find yourself encountering your own journey into quicksand, please, greet the experience with love. Know that your tender handling of the ‘drop of the ocean’ that you are will help to heal the whole ocean. You are that important.
Juli Somers is a gifted psychic, spiritual healer and minister. She is the Director of The Center For Inner Truth in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Written by Juli Somers
“All know that the drop merges into the ocean, but few know that the ocean merges into the drop”
KABIR
I have been watching myself struggle lately. With all the tools I have and the understanding that growing on a spiritual path can sometimes be a very uncomfortable process, I still can get sucked into the quicksand called hopelessness. I then watch as I make choices that either nurture myself or feed my unhappiness. Needless to say, only one of those choices helps me find my footing out of the quicksand. For me the point isn’t really to feel better rather it’s about becoming more conscious of the choices I make and to transform whatever in me is not at peace.
My practice lately has been a practice of allowance; letting whatever wants to come to the surface bubble up and float around. I surrender any agenda to feel better (ego) and in the moment, choose to explore these difficult places with love and compassion. I find when I am just willing to be present with the hard places that arise, instead of distracting my self with busyness or trying to avoid them, they soften and move on.
This past week as I practiced sitting in some uncomfortable feelings without judgment (not easy) I explored them like a map. Some were roads that I hadn’t visited in a long time. On one occasion when I finally surrendered to the day’s uninvited visitors, I had a profound experience of knowing in every cell of my body that I am never alone; that I am inexplicably connected to everything and everyone. The closet way to describe how powerful this sensation was is to say that this drop of the ocean called Juli felt the energy of the whole ocean inside of her and with it, profound peace.
It is necessary to have some sort of practice, such as meditation, to remove one’s awareness from the “numbing effects brought about by living at ordinary states of consciousness” as Carlos Castenada so brilliantly put it. At the same time, I find it just as important to realize that daily life is our spiritual practice. With the seemingly constant tragedy in the world - perhaps the biggest proponent of the “numbing effect” - I know the greatest contribution I can make to peace on this planet is to commit to creating peace inside of me. If we are all indeed connected through a ocean of energy as I intensely experienced recently, than any good I do will benefit all. When I can greet the tough places inside of me with love and compassion, I am giving love and giving compassion back to the ocean of consciousness from which we all drink.
It is not a luxury to work on healing oneself or to do spiritual practice. In this world, where the illusion of separation is causing such catastrophe’s, I find it crucial that each one of us takes responsibility for what energy we are giving back to the ocean. As we consciously take the journey to recover the wholeness within ourselves we will repair that illusion of separateness between people’s, nations, races…all. So, if you find yourself encountering your own journey into quicksand, please, greet the experience with love. Know that your tender handling of the ‘drop of the ocean’ that you are will help to heal the whole ocean. You are that important.
Juli Somers is a gifted psychic, spiritual healer and minister. She is the Director of The Center For Inner Truth in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- The Church of Inner Truth
- 826 Camino de Monte Rey
- Suite A1
- Santa Fe, NM 87505
- 505-920-4418
