Twin Spirits United

This blog is a compilation of thoughts, professional and personal.

With that in mind and heart, on Saturday evening, October 3, 2009 I had some good friends over and we watched The Shadow Effect produced by Debbie Ford. With contributions by Marianne Williamson (I love her) and Deepak Chopra, among others, it is a solid and even remarkable piece of work that addresses what they refer to as our "shadow". I refer to it as our "veil". Whichever and however we speak of it, it is about that part of us which we are not "happy" with; that part of us we hide from the world... that which we see as weakness.

In watching and engaging the DVD, a thought occurred to me. At its core, we are talking about embracing our whole selves, using the struggles of our lives as sources of strength and teaching... not of shame and embarrassment... and thanking them, not being ashamed of them.

What I found powerful and a remembrance for me was the opportunity to name "the pain", or shadow. I was a very loving and audacious child who grew up with the notion that I was "too soft" and would have my heart broken. While at my core, I knew that I was strong, constant and well intended messages surrounded me that how I felt and how strongly I felt it was somehow naive and would leave me open to abuse. It was seen as not practical.

Now, I blame no one.

I only recognize that throughout my adult life, I have strived to be "responsible", a guardian if you will... the protector, vigilant. It served me well in many ways, throughout my life. Still, it caused that audacious, idealistic, bountiful soul to get buried amidst the pragmatism.

Today, this day, after real and engaging prayer and meditation and a day of being me, I realize that the "balance" for me needs to shift. That indomitable spirit of which people have seen shades and glimpses (many would say I have in abundance, but little do they know the degree LOL)... it needs release from its almost self-imposed exile. That does not mean that I somehow throw all things in the air and renounce "realism". But, part of my "realism" is this unconstrained spirit. I think of it as bringing that spirit to the front lines to stand side-by-side with the responsible one. Balance. ;-)

My Baha'i Faith tells me that God is real, and unknowable and creates us because "He" loves us. I believe that in work and play, we each somehow believe that we are to hide aspects of us which we are told are weak, flawed... not appropriate in this crazy world. We put them aside, somehow feeling that if we ignore them, they will go away. I do not believe that this means that we share all secrets. Still, I do believe that our authenticity requires us to realize that what we have been told are weaknesses are, equally, strengths in that we can learn from them.

This blog is about "wholiness"... and in watching The Shadow Effect, I suggest that wholiness is advanced when we embrace all that we are and have experienced. My personal faith tells me nothing has happened without a reason and that my true and only power is to discern the lessons and act upon them. I will be watching the interactive version of the DVD this coming Thanksgiving weekend, taking Thanksgiving Day as a retreat... or maybe I should call it an "advance". ;-)

Bottom line, I suggest you might want to see the DVD. Regardless, I suggest you name that which you have long hidden and see as pain... and you have that conversation with yourself about what it has brought to your life in positives. For me, I sit here typing, knowing that I have found a remarkable new sense of balance of 2 warrior spirits, one guardian, one fierce... one shield, one sword... and I am embrace them both. My spirit roars!

May your spirit and all that it has experienced and the strengths and lessons you have gained from it all, shine and roar!

Peace, prosperity, and passion... and please stay tuned.

Barry