Second Chances

With the New Year rolling in, I thought writing about second chances would be appropriate.  So I typed, “Second chance” into a search engine, and I was over come by the amount of information that was available.  So if you’re looking for a second chance, you are not alone, buy no means. 

And why would you be?  After all, being human and second chances go hand in hand; there is no such thing as the perfect person. Our perfection is in being imperfect.  Without imperfection we would be rather boring, wouldn’t you think?  Kind of like a well-oiled machine where everything is mechanical.  The tone of ones voice, would sound alike, we would probably look alike, live in the same perfect home with no color, because color induces emotions, and it is emotions that set us apart. 

And we are emotional beings.  That is why color and tone play such a huge role in our healing.  It is also why there is such a great need for forgiveness.   Second chances are often a result of being forgiven.   The story of Jesus teaches us that even in death, after brutally beaten and hanging from a cross for hours that to live as the Creator intended, we must forgive; including such extreme acts against us such as the crucifixion of Jesus.  Forgiveness no matter what! 

Forgiveness is allowing your heart to let go of the hurt and pain that you or another persons actions may have caused.  

And yes, it is important to forgive yourself as well.  Forgiving is an essential component of any healing process, and its effects can be felt worldwide by others.  When you heal yourself, you heal the world.  I strongly prescribe to this belief that forgiveness is a gift shared by all.

Ho’ oponopono, a Hawaiian practice of forgiveness, has traditionally been used to heal the ill.  Ho’ oponopono means to make right.  I learned of the ritual from an article about a therapist who was using it to heal his patients in a mental institute, without ever seeing them.  Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, psychologist, would study the inmates chart and then look within himself to see how he created that person’s illness.  As he healed himself, the patient improved as well.

“I was simply healing the part of me that created them,” he said.

In other words, the total world is of your creation.  Ho’ oponopono is taking total responsibility for your life; if it’s in your life, then it is your responsibility.  You simply need to create a mental picture of the person you need to forgive in your minds eye, and then from your heart you say these four things, “I am sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you.”

So now you know - this is your second chance.

 

 

FORGIVING BP

Did you know that there is medical evidence that your thoughts play a significant role in your health?

I had Diverticulitis and it caused my bowel to perforate.  On a metaphysical level it is suggested that diverticulitis is a condition caused by "blaming others for failing to prevent unpleasant experiences from happening and refusing to forgive them."

At first I was scratching my head thinking who am I not forgiving?  I know the importance of forgiveness, and how it can affect ones health.  But I never considered a corporation as an entity that I needed to forgive.  A friend, who is a healer, suggested to me that it could possibly be the BP oil spill.  Like she said, they took something away from me, and I was forced to deal with it. 

I live in Pensacola, Florida, and I had not swum in the Gulf of Mexico since Memorial Day Weekend in 2010, due to the Deepwater Horizon Disaster.  Following that holiday weekend is when the tar balls began to wash ashore.  And it affected me deeply.  I was so sad and depressed, as well as the rest of the community.  I fought tooth and nail to get others to realize what BP was trying to hide with their false advertising and total disregard for the environment.  In addition there were other stresses associated with the movement, like the clash of egos among community leaders. 

In the fall of 2013, I felt it was time to let go, yet I found myself getting wrapped up in the BP drama from time to time still.  A year later and I was feeling the symptoms of diverticulitis.  By December 2014, I was in the hospital. 

I was released from the hospital in January 2015.  Right after the 5 Year Anniversary of the BP Oil Spill (April 20^th), I found myself in the hospital a second time.  Again I had allowed myself to get caught up in the BP drama, by being asked to get involved with events aimed to honor the anniversary.  Believe it or not, I was actually diagnosed with diverticulitis a second time (very unusual).

Just recently, a friend turned me onto this book called, “The Power of Now,” by Eckhart Tolle (A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment).  Over five million copies sold.  It’s all about enlightenment and keeping track of your thoughts; the conscious mind verses the ego.  By being a witness to your thoughts, instead of allowing your mind to just wonder while being unaware of what you are truly thinking about, is a step towards living in the now; letting go of the past, don’t dwell on future events that have not happened yet. 

 

Now here are a few quotes I want to share from the book:

Ø      “If you believe on a deep level, in separation and the struggle for survival, then you see that belief reflected all around you and your perceptions are governed by fear.  You inhabit a world of death and of bodies fighting, killing, and devouring each other.”

Ø      “If you feel called upon to alleviate suffering in the world, that is a very noble thing to do, but remember not to focus exclusively on the outer (world), otherwise, you will encounter frustration and despair.”

Ø      “This also applies if you are supporting a movement designed to stop deeply unconscious humans from destroying themselves, each other, and the planet, or from continuing to inflict dreadful suffering on other sentient beings.”  Otherwise you will create an enemy and be drawn into unconsciousness yourself.

Ø      “Only those who have transcended the world can bring about a better world.”

Ø      “Peace is your is your most precious gift to the world.”

 

Most of this I already knew to be true.  And I pretty much conveyed this message in my book, “The Crude Oil Adventure of the Human Re-Evolution.”  I’ve been a student of metaphysics for several years now, and most of what I have learned, I have put into practice. 

 

After four years of meditating and praying over for the ocean water in the Gulf of Mexico, I can say the small fish have returned to the shoreline, and several turtles have returned as well; ghost crabs everywhere. So, I finally took a dip into the water that I once considered toxic.  I’ve played in the waves, and I let go of my fear and felt the freedom and power of the ocean once again.  It was certainly a forgiving experience.

We all have a choice.  It’s all about perspective.  Anger, anxiety, hate, jealousy, these are all negative emotions.  Love, gratitude, compassion, these are positive emotions.  When I view the BP Oil Spill now, I am grateful for the experience.  It helped me to evolve spiritually.  It is taking a negative event and viewing it in a positive light.

No more anger – just forgiveness, followed by peace.  Peace Out!