VERONICA LEE

Fear can be sparked by anything; money, natural disasters, illness, and – interestingly enough – thoughts of the future. Where some might respond with fear, others may be mildly entertained, have no reaction at all, or have an entirely different reaction. Yet, there are common responses to life’s challenges (or perceived dangers), and fear tends to be a typical one.

When people respond to circumstances with fear, it can leave a deep impression in their soul. This impression can be so embedded, they can become fearful about things that might happen. Rather than looking to the future with hope, or even neutrality, they look to the future with fear.

In these times, as the economy continues to plunge, Mother Earth helplessly bleeds oil, and wars rage on, fears can certainly arise for all of us. Many wonder, “How am I going to get through all this? What’s going to happen to my money/life/our planet? What does our future hold for us?”
​
Perhaps these trying times are trying to help us work through our fears. Or maybe its time to release fear altogether.

Whether its money, the earth or some other issue that hangs heavy on our hearts, we are experiencing a shake up of our foundations, our primary sources of security. Thus, we can be consumed by fear.

In this state, we may not remember all the times we landed on our feet, were taken care of by Spirit, or how things turned out fine.  We begin to believe that we are truly in danger.

Realistically, the chances of your survival are actually pretty good. Likely, you’re not going to die soon, or even end up impoverished on the streets.  Although most of us survive hardships, many of us still fear the future and the unknown. Living with fear is not good for the body, mind or soul. It does not need to be part of our lives.

What if – instead of living with fear – we learned “to live out of pure trust”?

Imagine living your life with “trust in the ever-present help of the spiritual world.” This does not mean that life won’t have its down times once you learn to trust. It simply means that you learn to trust in the flow of life knowing there are both down and up times and you don’t have to control, fight or fear them.

Trust does take courage: the strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. In fact, “courage” has its Latin (“cor”) and French (“coeur”) roots in the word for “heart.” By tuning into our heart, we can connect with our courage. And, when fears arise, we can discipline our will by bringing ourselves back to our heart center, again and again, as needed.

One simple exercise you can try is to place your hand on our heart and breathe deeply into your heart center. Feel it, notice any fears, and take a few more deep breaths. Be mindful of the present moment, releasing all thoughts of the past or future. Activate each of your senses: with eyes closed, notice what your inner vision sees in your heart; with each breath, take note of the scents in the air, and so on. Recite a prayer of trust or surrender, such as The Serenity Prayer or a heart-felt spontaneous prayer of your own.

To develop trust takes willingness as well as discipline. If you are ready to “eradicate from the soul all fear and terror of what comes towards us from the future,” this simple exercise is just one way to begin. By connecting to your own heart, by awakening from within yourself, you will begin to feel the trust that resides there. And, if you are willing, you can do it “every morning and every evening.”

Wanting is not a bad thing. In fact, our souls wanted to be incarnated, and so we came into existence. Many of us wanted to create or be a part of something bigger in these incarnations; we wanted to make a difference or bring an intention to planet Earth. Yet, wanting can lead us down a path of more wanting. We can feel empty and unsatisfied with what we have or where we are in our lives. Our desires can feel like insatiable dragons always needing more.

Do we need more?

At this time in our lives, we do need more. We need more simplicity, more time for ourselves, more nothingness to feel the void (not fill it) so we can experience the essence of who we are. Our souls are calling for us to become who we really are… now.

How do we become more of who we are?

One way to connect with who we really are is to rid ourselves of what we think we want or need; we can practice non-attachment. When we release our desires for having more, we have more opportunities to experience who we are and where we are in our lives (good or bad). We become more present with what is… now.

How do we release our desires for more?

As a consumer-driven society, our entire environment is bombarded with pressures to do, have and be more. We do our best to keep up, acquire and become who we think we are supposed to be. Unfortunately, we often fall short of societal and self-approval.

“MORE!”  We press onward in our desire to feel better about ourselves and our lives.

Though not an exhausted list, here are a few suggestions for taming the dragon of desire:

1. Stop watching TV. When we are exposed to commercials, mainstream TV shows and even “how to” channels, we can feel as if what we have isn’t enough. There will always be a better something-or-another out there, and buying it won’t make you any happier.
2. Reduce computer time. Like TV, we can be lured away from our e-tasks or social interactions and into a gauntlet of pop-ups, promises for a better you and a world wide web of more, more, more.
3. Avoid trashy or “how to better your home/life/body” magazines. Even the most inspirational magazines are filled with advertisements of goods, garments and gadgets you must have. Save these magazine splurges for visits to the doctor or salon.
4. Minimize shopping. Do the least amount of shopping possible. Groceries are good, of course, and there are always those necessities. Malls, stores and outlets spend millions of dollars on creating ways to get you to want what they have.
5. Begin to appreciate what you have now. Look at where you live, what you own, who’s in your life and notice how blessed you are! Sure there may be people out there who have more, but there are far too many who have less as well.
6. Slow down. Reclaim your time and choose a slower pace. Life doesn’t need to be a “put all you can into the shopping cart before the bell rings” game. It can be a leisurely stroll through the meadow, if you wish.
7. Connect with down-to-earth, authentic people. This is not a judgment about people, rather a suggestion to evaluate who you spend your time with; perhaps its time to make changes that align with your values.
8. Give. Look at all the things that you don’t need, love or want and give them away. Give your time to others who have greater needs than yours.
9. Meditate. Spend a small amount of time in quiet solitude. This allows the emptiness to get used to being empty. Meditation is actually one way to practice non-attachment.
10. Simplify your life. Amazingly, by clearing the extras out of your home, schedule and life, you will find you actually have more. Simplifying offers you more time, more room, and – more importantly – more appreciation for what you have and who you are.

Why is simplicity so difficult?

We live in a culture that thrives on doing and accumulating.  Removing ourselves from this reality is not easy.  Choosing simplicity is counter-cultural.

First, we are social beings and like to feel connected to others.  When others are engaged in faster-paced lifestyles it can be hard to disconnect; we can feel isolated.

Time can feel like an enemy of simplicity, as well.  With all the to do's in our lives, there doesn't ever seem to be enough time.  Our entire human-created schedule puts work at the forefront of how we spend most of our days with a tiny slice left to do everything else; we get the bonus of a couple of days "off."

Another obstacle in releasing our hold on the cultural demands is money.  We all need it (hence those five devotional days to the god called Work).  Even if we minimize what we must have to a trunk load of essentials, we still need a place to rest that trunk (and ourselves, of course) and food to keep us alive. 

Simplicity, however, can be something we strive toward.  It can make room for more joyful social connections as well as bring mindfulness to how we spend our time and money.

Simplicity begins with choices.
​
We constantly make choices, but rarely do we infuse them with consciousness.  We usually move through the day with the same doings of the day before and thus end up with the same life.  Many of us complain about it, but don't take the time to change what we do.

Simplicity can be a matter of deciding what we don't want in our lives and slowly eliminating them. Begin with a purge of material objects that no longer serve you.  Take an extra trunk load to the nearest thrift store, or donate it to a women and children's shelter.

Getting rid of things that you no longer need is good practice for releasing relationships that are toxic.  This is simpler than it seems.  Stop sending Christmas cards to everyone, forget a few birthdays here and there and start screening all of your calls.  This may sound cold, but is a toxic relationship good for anyone?  The bottom line is that relationships that are not healthy actually drain our time, sometimes our money and add a heavy weight on our souls.

When we release the "extra" relationships in our lives that aren't serving us, we make room for more heart centered relationships with the people we love.  We also create space for new, healthy relationships to grow.

Take time back!  Remember how you spend your time is ultimately up to you.  It is your choice to feel guilty about what you do or don't do with your time.  How do you want to spend each day?

Whether you choose to work less or eliminate expenses, both can lead to a simpler, more fulfilling life.  What if you created a list of essentials?  Real essentials. 

When you think of essentials, think of your essence. What aligns with the essence of who you are?
​
Do you need to have 235 channels to watch?  Do you need the big SUV with its trunk load of expenses?  Do you really need your credit cards?  For that matter, do you need to pay them off so you can keep your good credit?  Do you need good credit?

Choices.

Letting go can feel frightening, but can also be a great relief. 

Can you hear your heart sigh?

Detachment certainly takes practice, so start small and work your way toward the "biggies."

Know there are no have to's in cultivating a life of simplicity. Only choices.  And, believe it or not, choosing simplicity can be simpler than you think.

Finding time to meditate can indeed be tricky.  Yet, there is always a moment to breathe.  A slow, deep breath will do wonders when a "real" meditation can't be afforded.  There are also simple methods to bring meditation into your daily routine that don't involve much more than creating a small time frame while doing what you are already doing.  The time frame doesn't always mean stopping what you are doing, it can also mean being fully present with what you are doing - being mindful.

One meditation method you can do is lead yourself through a simple visualization through each of your chakras before you rise from your bed in the morning.  It literally can take 7 minutes or less. 

Begin by laying on your back with your arms and feet straight, yet relaxed.  Allow your pillow to support your head or neck.  Take three or more slow deep breaths, then imagine each color of the rainbow as you focus your attention on each of your seven major chakras.  You can first try to perceive the color that is emanating from each area, then offer the corresponding color as sort of an "alignment":

1. "Root Chakra" (Muladhara) - Perineum or base of spine - Red
2. "Sacral Chakra" (Swadhisthana) - Reproductive area - Orange
3. "Solar Plexus Chakra" (Manipura) - Naval area - Yellow
4. "Heart Chakra" (Anahata) - Heart area - Green
5. "Throat Chakra" (Vishuddha) - Throat / neck area - Blue
6. "Third Eye Chakra" (Ajna) - Between the eyebrows - Indigo
7. "Crown Chakra" (Sahasrara) - Top of head - Violet

The specifics about where you focus your attention or what color you imagine don't really matter.  What does matter is that you've taken a small amount of precious time just for you.  To be still, to breathe, and - yes - to meditate.

More info:  As infinite beings, we have an infinite number of chakras.  One is often referred to as the "Sacred Heart Chakra."  It is located between the "Heart" and the "Throat Chakra" and is often imagined as a turquoise color.  This, of course, can be added to your morning chakras meditation.

“O, the month of May, the merry month of May,
So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green!”

As we move into the merry month of May, we may notice that Mother Earth is “so green, so green, so green.” Perhaps your yard is blossoming with new growth; that which you have planted and nurtured, or maybe that which you refer to as weeds.

What have you observed?

• Are the deciduous trees beginning to fill out and offer a bit of shade?
• What new flowers have appeared?
• How green and tall is the grass? And are there several varieties?

For a moment, or maybe longer if you wish, take a walk through the greens of your yard or neighborhood. Allow the gifts of May to awaken your senses. Notice the trees, the gay new blossoms, the bees. Observe the many shades of green nature offers in just one yard. Allow your feet to touch the real earth; feel her coolness, her warmth. Breathe in the scents of lavender, rosemary, or the sweetness of your roses. Listen to the frolicking frogs, the rustling leaves. Taste the mint, or even a blade of grass; taste the green!

The beauty of sacred living is that it is available in every moment, every experience.  It is usually a matter of noticing the sacred in the ordinary.

At least once this month allow yourself to be fully present in your yard or garden. No need to pull weeds, water grass, or prune anything. Simply experience and observe.  Maybe you will notice the frolic, the gay, the green of May - the merry month of May* - in your own backyard.

*Thomas Dekker wrote "The Shoemaker's Holiday" which included his poem "The Merry Month of May."