Day 134 of 365 - A Day of Paradox
I have always loved words, ever since I learned how to read in Grade One. Likewise, I have always loved reading and writing. And, I've always been a good student, still enjoying learning in my senior years via reading and online presentations. I have a decent library of books on a variety of topics of interest to me, several of which I have already referred to in these blog posts. But, so far today, words failed me.
There are a few ideas I have in mind for new posts, but they are not well developed yet. Today, I found myself without inspiration for my writing. Most other days, if this happened, I just waited for something that crossed my path that day to prompt me. My day went on, and on, and on, with no kindling.
Finally, late this afternoon, I picked up Martha Beck's Finding Your Way in a Wild New World book again. The narrative and exercises in this book primarily help you to 'move your basic perceptual and analytical thinking out of your head and into the whole inner space of the body'.
I was drawn to the section on Paradox. The definition of paradox: one (such as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases. (Merriam-Webster dictionary) I did a couple of the exercises, writing thoughts I often think and then their equally true opposites. This was to help shift me out of my analytical thinking and the duality of the verbal mind.
Eventually, something clicked. Even though, much of the time I operate from the perspective of my analytical mind, I am not without intuitive abilities, and can become quite absorbed in energetic experiences. For example, a few of the activities I engaged in today included: sending distance Reiki to someone; learning about the properties of one of my crystals; and, chanting along with a website recording to send sound healing out to the earth. I was quite engrossed in each of these activities, which are much less about words and more about oneness and interconnection.
When I am engaged in those activities, they do feel closer to my true nature, but they are things for which words mostly don't do justice. Because they seem abstract, they might also be considered 'weird'. So, instead, I've mostly found my acceptance in the world by book learning and academic achievement. That's my paradox, my seemingly contradictory qualities. And, I've had that experience a long time. Even in university, for my bachelor's degree thesis project, I chose a topic for my questionnaire to occupational therapy clinicians which irritated many of them. I was exploring rehab strategies for psychiatric patients who also had physical disability. Some clinicians just wanted me to 'make up my mind' about one or the other.
Beck says, "If you can truly absorb paradox, you'll suddenly find yourself very high up, watching the world with strangely clear vision, what the Sioux call 'eagle vision'." When I read that this evening, I remembered that I had drawn the Eagle Spirit card from my oracle deck early this morning. Part of the message for that card said, "Eagle Spirit has appeared to ask whether you're willing to soar to new heights, even if that means solitude for a short while. Truly, all the wisdom of the world is available to you".
Enough said.
There are a few ideas I have in mind for new posts, but they are not well developed yet. Today, I found myself without inspiration for my writing. Most other days, if this happened, I just waited for something that crossed my path that day to prompt me. My day went on, and on, and on, with no kindling.
Finally, late this afternoon, I picked up Martha Beck's Finding Your Way in a Wild New World book again. The narrative and exercises in this book primarily help you to 'move your basic perceptual and analytical thinking out of your head and into the whole inner space of the body'.
I was drawn to the section on Paradox. The definition of paradox: one (such as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases. (Merriam-Webster dictionary) I did a couple of the exercises, writing thoughts I often think and then their equally true opposites. This was to help shift me out of my analytical thinking and the duality of the verbal mind.
Eventually, something clicked. Even though, much of the time I operate from the perspective of my analytical mind, I am not without intuitive abilities, and can become quite absorbed in energetic experiences. For example, a few of the activities I engaged in today included: sending distance Reiki to someone; learning about the properties of one of my crystals; and, chanting along with a website recording to send sound healing out to the earth. I was quite engrossed in each of these activities, which are much less about words and more about oneness and interconnection.
When I am engaged in those activities, they do feel closer to my true nature, but they are things for which words mostly don't do justice. Because they seem abstract, they might also be considered 'weird'. So, instead, I've mostly found my acceptance in the world by book learning and academic achievement. That's my paradox, my seemingly contradictory qualities. And, I've had that experience a long time. Even in university, for my bachelor's degree thesis project, I chose a topic for my questionnaire to occupational therapy clinicians which irritated many of them. I was exploring rehab strategies for psychiatric patients who also had physical disability. Some clinicians just wanted me to 'make up my mind' about one or the other.
Beck says, "If you can truly absorb paradox, you'll suddenly find yourself very high up, watching the world with strangely clear vision, what the Sioux call 'eagle vision'." When I read that this evening, I remembered that I had drawn the Eagle Spirit card from my oracle deck early this morning. Part of the message for that card said, "Eagle Spirit has appeared to ask whether you're willing to soar to new heights, even if that means solitude for a short while. Truly, all the wisdom of the world is available to you".
Enough said.
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