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Intelligence – how do you perceive it?

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Intelligence – what does it mean to you? I enjoy intelligent conversations but then what I class as intelligent conversation may not be your idea of the same.  I am not highly educated.  I do not have an overly extensive vocabulary. Does this equate to lack of intelligence on my part?  Some may deem it so, however I do not measure intelligence on one’s level of education nor on their use of high falutin words, or their knowledge of world events or other cultures or politics such as this.

I personally see intelligence as one’s ability to embrace all they can, to be open to every experience whether it be ‘good’ or ‘bad’.  It is about having an opinion or a point of view while allowing others to have theirs and listening to those opinions with an open mind and appreciating and respecting them for what they are.  We do not have to agree with one another to have intelligent conversation nor do we have to refute, merely to listen and respond.

I have had some wonderful conversations with people with no formal education, people who simply speak from their hearts, sometimes a little timidly, sometimes with great passion.  What makes these conversations intelligent to me is the fact that these people know their truth. They know their feelings and their words don’t come from another persons mind but straight from within.  Intelligence is not one’s ability to recite another’s teachings it is about one’s ability to know what they feel and to express this to honour the existence of these thoughts, ideas and concepts.

I recently had a conversation with someone who inferred I was not as intelligent as he because I had not travelled extensively; he questioned my interest in other cultures because I did not watch foreign films.  Since when does one’s intelligence align with one’s bank account or work opportunities?  Since when has watching films spoken in a language I cannot understand been a measure of my ability to use my mind?

Some one else who I consider to be very intelligent because of the stimulating heartfelt conversations we have considers me more intelligent than them because I am able to express myself through my writing.  This is not intelligence, this a merely my tool to express my intelligence; my tool to express my thoughts and ideals.  So I have the gift of the gab and my amazing friend is not so fortunate (or unfortunate as some may say!) to have this same ability.  We are both intelligent human beings, we just utilise this intelligence differently.

I have had some dreadfully boring conversations with highly intellectual beings who perceive themselves to be experts or near enough in some fields. Most of these people have not learned learned through experience, they have often developed almost tunnel vision in their pursuit of their holy grail. To be spoken to with condescension by another person reveals much more about them than it does about me. Does their lack of tolerance and ability to communicate with in an ordinary everyday conversation make them intelligent… I think not, however you are entitled to your own belief in this as you are in everything.

Intelligence, what is it to me?  It is the ability to be yourself and allow others to be who they are and still encourage and enjoy open and honest communication.  What does it mean to you?

‘Til next time… peaceful journeys

Meditation Tips

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“You will often hear of the symbol of the water lily being used in spiritual unfoldment.  The lily shown on the surface of the water is an ancient symbol of the unfolding spiritual gifts.  If you would cultivate gift of the spirit, first close your eyes and ears to all that is physical, then create a vision, or a mental picture, of a harmonious beautiful garden.  Walk through your garden to the innermost sanctuary, passing through the wide-open gate; and within the inner garden, see the silent pool, pure and still and so clear… still water of the spirit is clear as crystal.  You may look into that water, and see the true reflection of yourself, for the waters of the spirit never lie.  One the surface of the water you will see the lily, pure white, with a centre of gold ~ white and gold, symbolical of purity and divine intelligence.  Rest quietly in contemplation of this perfect flower.” ~ White Eagle.

There are many of you who tell me that your minds are too busy to meditate, too many thoughts coming through.  You must remember that meditation is not necessarily sitting in the lotus position slipping into a deep trance like state.  Many of us meditate without even realising that we are doing it.  Have you ever just sat and watched a scene and allowed your mind to drift?  You find yourself deep in thought and often something startles you to bring you back into your present surroundings.  This is meditation.  Busy people sometimes experience something similar when they are performing mundane task that take little or no concentration, like washing the dishes for example, ironing their clothes, gardening or mowing the lawn, or when fishing.  Many of you will find that if you think about it you have actually meditated often without realising that this is what you are doing.  While this may not be the deep meditation that you would like to experience, it is a good place to start.

The secret to meditation is don’t try to force it.  I find that if I concentrate on my breath I am able to relax quite rapidly, however that was not always the case.  When I first started to meditate I was told to concentrate on my breath and allow it to relax me ~ of course, that is what I did but in doing so I kept my conscious mind so in tune with my breath that I had no hope of relaxing.  It was only once I moved my focus from the mechanical process of breathing to the actual flow of breath in and out of my body that I started to appreciate the method.  What many fail to explain to our ever attentive students is that to meditate we need to not focus on the act of breathing it is the breath which is important!

One little trick which works for me when my minds is particularly busy is to sit with my eyes closed, imaging in my mind’s eye a single candle burning brightly in an otherwise totally dark room.  I focus on the candle and I breathe in relaxation and breathe out stress and tension.  Allow whatever thoughts you have to be attracted to the flame and then be consumed by it.  Once you have dispersed of the thoughts extinguish the flame.  You are left with a beautiful black void, indicative of a thought free mind.  Just sit within this void allowing images and emotions to come to you.  You will know the difference between messages through meditation and your regular thoughts quite easily.  Messages usually come in a much gentler and more flowing manner whereas thoughts come in far more static manner and with more urgency.  Allow yourself to sit in the comfort of the darkness for as long as you feel you need, soaking up whatever comes to you and enjoying your connection with your inner wisdom.

Another method I find works well for me is to picture a pond in your mind’s eye.  Allow your thoughts to ride across the ripples on the pond, breathing in peace and relaxation and breathing out stress and tension.  When you feel you are starting to relax visualise your hands appearing over the pond.  Ever so carefully use the palms of your hands to smooth the waters of the pond taking with them all thoughts until you have a perfectly flat surface and no thoughts.  Use your mind’s eye to gaze on the water allowing your inner wisdom to rise to the surface of the pond.  Take in all that is presented to you and enjoy the experience.

It is important to realise that you may not receive precise messages, you may not feel that you are ‘getting’ anything.  Allow any colours, symbols or emotions to register.  In many cases these are the messages.  People often expect light bulb moments with messages that are so profound that their lives will be changed forever.  If this were the case we would all spend far too much time in meditation and no where near enough time in the ‘real world’.  If you get nothing else from the process you will have spent some quiet time and will have relaxed for a spell.

Do not be too despondent and disappointed if you ‘get’ nothing.  Meditation takes practice as do most things.  Stick with it and know that each moment that you spend in meditation is a moment spent in your heart.

Obviously there are far more profound methods of meditation.  What I am sharing with you here are just the simple starting points for those of you who would like to give it a try.  You may wish to meditate on something in particular.  If this is the case allow your mind to clear of all but the matter in question.  Once you have ‘placed’ it into your meditation, let it go also as you did your other thoughts, then just relax and enjoy going within to find your answers.

Don’t forget to make sure that you are in an environment where you will not be disturbed by your telephone or others walking in on you.  If you hear noises around you don’t let them interrupt what you are doing, just gently brush them aside and let them float away from you.

Peaceful journeys

 

The Looking Glass

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It stands there, the looking glass
Hoping to catch your eye
To show you all the blessings
That in you reside

It shimmers with the kindness
That with others you share
That firm but gentle way you have
Of letting others know you care

It glows with commitment
To a job well done
Of all those tasks completed
And many more to come

It ripples with unfinished dreams
of days within your past
Waiting to be drawn out
From that place they’ve been cast

It vibrates with the love
that your heart cannot contain
The passion being awoken
As you learn to live again

Look now into the looking glass
Gaze at the spectacular view
See everything that others see
The wonder which is you.

Trish Johnston 5th February 2016

Progress? Change? Or just simply life?

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Ever had that feeling that there is so much more to life than what you are currently doing?  It is something that I experience from time to time and it has only been in recent years that I have started to honour it.  I have had many ‘wise’ people tell me that ‘one day you will have to stop running away’.  It used to make me stop and doubt my inner feelings, make me wonder what exactly it is that I am ‘running away’ from.  These days I no longer listen to these helpful folk.  I know that what is within me is my ultimate guide. My wisdom comes from within and while there are times that I allow fear to dictate I know that I will find peace once I let go of that fear and do what feels right to me.

I do not feel that I am running from something, nor do I feel that I am constantly searching as others sometimes tell me I am doing.  Searching implies that I’ve lost something.  I certainly do not feel that I’ve lost anything, rather that each and every time I make another life choice I am growing and evolving on many different levels.

Several years ago I became the proud owner of a beautiful website.  A wonderfully patient friend produced some stunning art work for the site. The site was to showcase not only my healing modalities – Kinesiology, Reiki, Massage, Spiritual Guidance but to allow me to share my writing with the great big wide world.  At first, like most people I was very enthusiastic and posted regularly.  Then gradually I allowed the demands of life as it was then to change my focus.  Eventually I forgot how to even log on to manage the site so I allowed it to go where so many other websites go, that graveyard in cyber space!

Recently I had the urge to start up my website again.  In the intervening years from when I began my first site and now I have had so many experiences, some of which were painful, some of which were very extremely enjoyable, all of which culminated in the realisation that within me there is the soul of a gypsy, a wanderer, a free spirit.

As I progressed along my path experiencing life, I wrote many poems on so many different topics.  At times my emotions poured out through my keyboard, raw and revealing.  Some who are close to me find it too difficult to read about the darkness and anguish that plagued my life (or maybe they just really don’t enjoy my writing!!) but there were others, usually strangers who contacted me, telling me how moved they are to at last have found someone who could put into words the emotions that they themselves had been feeling but were unable to verbalise.  What a wonderful revelation that was to me.  To be seen as a ‘voice’ for the expression of the deepest feelings of not only myself but of so many others is an honour beyond all others.  Just as I consider it an honour to have an individual come to me for physical, hands on healing of one modality or another; to experience the level of trust that people place in me is truly humbling.

I have long been aware that my life purpose is healing.  There is nothing that gives me more pleasure than to be involved in the healing process of another, to facilitate the healing and hopefully sharing with them the tools which will allow them to take their own healing to another level.

Recently I have been experiencing many aches and pains throughout my body.  Of course, being in my early 50’s I was prepared to accept that age was catching up with me and that the dreaded arthritis was invading my joints.  Off to the doctor I went and fortunately he decided to send me to a specialist.  The specialist had no real opinion to offer one way or the other but did arrange for me to have almost every bloody test known to man.  After having 9 phials of blood taken for goodness only knows how many tests I eventually received the call from my doctor asking me to come in and discuss my results.  Guess what?  The results revealed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with me!  No signs of arthritis in any way shape for form. Xrays also returned with nothing visible. So what is this mystery illness?  Why am I experiencing pain daily, almost constantly?   My health according to science is extremely good.

The idea has been filtering down to me in various ways for a while now that maybe I am not doing what it is that I was put on this earth to do.  How can this be so?  I am a healer and for the past year or so that is what I have been doing.  I have my own little business with a wonderful client base, I have been living my dream. How can I not be doing what I am meant to be doing?  

I have just returned from a week in Rotorua, New Zealand.  The trip literally fell into my lap and was totally unexpected.  I invited a girl friend to join me and away we went.  I do not believe in coincidence, my belief is that the Universe lays things out before us and it is up to us to either recognise the synchronicity or go on ignoring the signs.  Whilst in the wonderful Rotorua I attempted to make appointments to see local ‘spiritual healers’ in the hope that they may have some revelations for me.  I was unable to lock down appointments for various reasons so I decided to just book into a spa for a 30 minute massage while my friend had a treatment.  Thank you Universe!  Here, in the surrounds of this very lovely but quite commercial spa I found my spiritual healer.  She took one look at me when I walked into the treatment room and started lecturing me.  Why am I carrying so much pain belonging to others?  Do I not realise that the pain I am experiencing is not my own but that of my clients and most likely many others as well?  Of course, being a spiritual person I am fully aware that this is one of the dangers of being an empath and a healer.  We had a lovely discussion and the beautiful Marji massaged away the pain and the weight of what I had been carting around with me believing to be my own.

Also during the trip my friend received an email from her publisher with suggested cover designs and type fonts to choose from for her soon to be published novella.  It was so special to share this exciting time with her.  I know how much writing means to her as it is a passion we have shared since meeting.  As we sat and talked late into the night for many nights on our holiday we spoke of our dreams and explored possibilities of what might lay ahead for each of us.  At one stage I found myself telling her that she had no need to pursue a career in healing as her particular healing gift was in her ability to write.  Hello? Where did those words come from and were they only for her?  

A culmination of so many things which have occurred in the past couple of months has given me the awareness that my focus must return to my writing.  My healing does not have to be only in the form of getting people up on the table in my little clinic and soothing away their woes.  My healing can and will be also through my words, my ability to express from my heart whether I am writing of my own experiences or others.  How many times does a light bulb have to go off before I listen to my inner self and do what I am truly deeply passionate about?  Yes, I love my little clinic but it does not have to be my only focus.  I must embrace ALL that I am, allow my words to flow and trust that those they are meant to reach will through one channel or another find them when they will do most good.

So, is this progress?  Is this change?  Or is this just simply life and the Universe leading me to my ultimate Utopia?  Keep an eye on http://www.indigowisdom.com.au to see where this journey goes.

Until next time, which I am expecting to be real soon!

Take care,

Indigo (aka Trish)

Living in the Moment

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There’s a joy in living
That we don’t always see
Sweet and precious moments
That set your spirit free

Awaking to a new day
Knowing it’s just the start
Of the rest of your life
And yesterday is past

Put this day to good use
Live it, don’t pretend
Be right here in this moment
And your joy will never end

Trish Johnston 10th November 2015

Cliché or True Wisdom?

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How often do we hear clichés bandied about with such abandon that our minds switch off to their true meanings?  So many wise words are used with such frequency and so inappropriately that to many they become worthless clutter in our minds.  I have come to realise that there is so much wisdom behind so many sayings when they are used in the correct context and when the timing is right.

For many years people have thrust quotes upon me with the enthusiasm of fanatics at a protest march.  So emphatically were they shared with me that often they left me feeling deeply inadequate because I had not reached the goal referred to in the quote.  I would agree wholeheartedly and then crawl away to lick my wounds and assure myself that one day I would reach that place of such freedom that I too could share such wisdom with others.  One day I too would be in a position where I could become a superior being who had attained the state of euphoria which came from letting go, forgiving, loving myself so as to allow others to do so as well, accepting perfection for what it is, etc.

Interestingly as I have moved along my path, sometimes with assistance, most of the time alone, I experienced a settling calm within me.  I have learned to let go of the things that weighed me down and fogged my mind; I have learned that in forgiving myself I have indeed simultaneously forgiven others; I have learned that the person who needs my love and respect most is myself and in giving myself this gift I am much better equipped to love and respect others also.  When I say ‘love and respect others’ I mean that I can now allow others to be who they are.  I have learned that while I do not have to like a person the most important gift I can give them is to respect that they are who they are and allow them to live as they choose to live.  While their choices may not be the same as mine they have a right to make those choices just as I do.

So many times I have been told that when the time is right things will unfold.  Absolutely, I could not agree more! However, what often is omitted here is that we have to have enough courage to believe in ourselves and what it is that we want.  We have to trust in ourselves, listen to our inner voices and filter out what is the residue of others thoughts and opinions (because after all everyone has an opinion and most are only too happy to share it!) and be strong enough to be true to ourselves.  Yes, when the timing is right things will unfold, but it also takes a little effort on your part.  Don’t just sit back and wait for things to happen, for the Universe, or God or whoever you believe in to hand it to you on a gold trimmed platter.  Make some conscious decisions, take charge of your own thoughts, and ignore the well-meant advice of others.  We must remember that no matter how much someone wants to help us they can only give us thoughts from their own perspective.  Only you can see, think and feel things from your own perspective, therefore only you can know what it is that is your truth.

The funny part is that now that I have actually made it to this place where I really do love myself, the person I really am, I have no desire to spruik the clichés.  Yes, there are times when I do use them, apologetically mostly.  The real truth of it has struck me in recent times.  The absolute wonder of becoming my own person with my own thoughts and my own feelings capable of making my own choices astounds me with its simplicity.  The truth is that once you love and accept yourself you have no need to feel in any way superior.  The liberation that comes with non-judgement is what creates our inner peace.  It is called compassion.

Next time someone throws a line out to you, before you grasp it look closely and ascertain if it is in the form of a cliché from another’s ego or wisdom from another’s heart then decide what you choose to do with it.

Until next time….

Battling the Mind

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I see your mind is so full
that you could not even think
Words just tumbling all around
pushing you to the brink

I see you battle for control
to absolutely no avail
churning tumbling torturing
making clear thought fail

Frustrations overwhelming
driving you insane
emotions simmering wildly
torturing your heart and brain

STOP for just a moment
take a big deep breath
you must still your mind
and cease this useless quest

Maybe the answers are not clear
because you push yourself too much
expectations running high
wishing for the Midas touch

You can be in only one place
at any given time
you can only do so much
before efforts become benign

Sometimes the only thing to do
is to sit inside your heart
listen to your deepest feelings
without tearing yourself apart

Feel what is in the centre
don’t dwell upon the rest
accept your inner wisdom
for it really does know best

Your head can be too practical
filled with preconceived ideas
while your heart will guide you honestly
to release those hidden fears

Take time to honour You
the wonderful person that you are
and know that to someone out there
you are their brightest shining star.

Trish Johnston 21st October 2014

My Inspiration

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When I seek inspiration

my thoughts turn to you

for you seem to have a way

of keeping my skies blue

 

the grass is always greener

the sun shines even brighter

in this blissful place

my mind is always quieter

 

you are north to my south

the east to my west

forever in alignment

on this our life long quest

 

your wisdom and your kindness

toward every race and creed

your total lack of judgement

sets my spirit free

 

you ignite in me a flame

a warmth throughout my being

a love like no other

for this soul that I am seeing

 

wherever your journey takes you

however far you roam

know that the centre of your heart

is the place that I call home

 

Trish Johnston  21st October 2014

My wish for you

My wish for you

My wish for you is freedom
From the cage which you are in
To live a life you choose
In a place your heart can sing

My wish for you is happiness
Seated deep within your being
The kind that breeds contentment
Which you have rarely seen

My wish you is peace
May you find it in this life
Away from pain and suffering
Anguish, fear and strife

My wish for you is love
That eternal burning flame
To glow bright within your heart
And make you whole again

Trish Johnston 27 January 2014

Fear ~ that ‘other person’ in your head

Fear ~ that 'other person' in your head

“Worry is a terrible thing; like having another person in your head.” ~ taken from Ten Weeks in Africa written by J M Shaw.

These words jumped off the page at me this morning. I indicated in my last blog that next I would share my thoughts on fear. The quote above has prompted me to do so today. I am including in this an article, for want of a better word, which I ‘channelled’ in 2009. I share it with you exactly as it came to me:

“Fear; the most consuming emotion in the human spectrum. Fear is the greatest block that a human will have to deal with and deal with it you must. It must be confronted, defeated and diminished to a level that allows you to live wisely, trusting your intuition to guide you instead of the fear that constantly holds you back.

Fear leads to a great lack of self-worth. It holds your heart in a tight fist, allowing no growth, keeping it constricted, unable to function in the most fundamental manner of giving and receiving.

Some believe that it is easier to live in fear than it is to defeat the cause of their pain. These are the ones who are unable to experience the joy in life, the sweetness of true acceptance and love. Much of the dis-ease on Earth today can be attributed to fear. Your physical bodies hold within the pain that comes from fear, it lodges in an area of weakness, growing and manifesting into illness. To cure many of your Earthly diseases the first step should be to address the emotionally crippling fear from which the illness arose.

Addictions are a direct result of one feeling unable to face fear and turning to a substance that for a time appears to offer an escape from the pain and uncertainty in life. What the addict fails to acknowledge is that the paranoia brought on by the altered state is no more desirable or beneficial than that which is driving the addiction. Alcohol and drugs are mere masks offering no solutions.

Fear of living in your true power leads to a misuse of your personal power. To be a powerful person is to be one who has self-love, the love of and for fellow man. While this may seem a simplistic view it is all that is necessary to overcome the negatives. A misuse of power is due to fear and insecurity in oneself and one’s ability to perform a given task. A bully lives in fear of being defeated, of being ridiculed; unworthy so therefore he projects these very things onto others. Bullies demand respect which will never be forthcoming as respect is one aspect of love and love is something which must be given and received freely and willingly, with no expectations.

Many relationships fail due to fear from either one or both partners being unable to overcome the fear of commitment or the fear of failure or the fear of ‘surrendering’ the self to another. What they do not recognize is that in this surrender is a completeness brought about by releasing the fear of inadequacy and allowing love to lift and empower themselves and their partner.

Fear creates a tremendous imbalance in life. Dark outweighs light, pain and anger dominate happiness and joy; and so the cycle of negativity continues.

Those who use fear as a tool of dominance are committing a gross disservice to all concerned. The threat of punishment either physical or emotional is driven by insecurity and non-acceptance. Hate, anger and cruelty all stem from fears; either your own or those which have been forced upon you by others within your environment.

The most basic and essential task for all of mankind is to work on releasing fear and allowing love to guide your to contentment, joy and respect. Once this is attained peace and unity are unavoidable!”

To me there are basically only two real fundamental emotions – Fear and Love. Every emotion; every feeling; every action; every reaction; in fact everything we do comes from either one or the other of these driving forces. Fear, for the most part, comes from lack of knowledge and understanding. If we enable ourselves through learning to understand that which strikes fear into us at least we are then better equipped to handle it in our daily lives.

Often the fear which impacts us most is that of actually releasing pain. I know that this sounds strange as we all say that we would love to be free of the emotional pain which on some level haunts us all. There are, in my experience as a therapist, many instances where a person feels that without their pain they would have nothing. This is not a conscious thought, I am not saying that people consciously, willing hold on to their pain. I am saying that at times it feels, on a subconscious level that pain is what validates them. They have lived with their pain and their horror for so long that it has become a crutch to them… it has become their identity and if they were to release it who then would they become? The fear of that unknown ‘fearless’ identity is overwhelming. The whole scenario of unworthiness takes hold for they feel that they do not have the right to expect that their lives could possibly become full of peace; laughter and joy; love; even though that is what they would dearly love to have. It is frightening to think that they will have to readjust their life to accommodate a whole new set of feelings and emotions. What they do not realise is that it is an automatic occurrence. When we release fear love is all that is left to us.

I do not mean love as in the traditional meaning of the word, though usually once fear is release that one of one love comes freely also. I mean love as in self-love, acceptance of self, acceptance of what happens within our lives and the ability to make changes or change our perspectives to enable us to live a more peaceful existence.

I have another piece of writing from March 2010 which I would like to share with you about an amazing young Rwandan who proves that love can overcome the fear that I have described above. I will dig through my archives and find it and post it here soon.