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I started this piece cursively and repeatedly writing these words in reference to a couple of people in my life, a male and female. Upon hearing the following statement by Dharma teacher Anam Thubten, I finished it.
"Understanding that the very people who give us or provide severe, painful challenges are not the people who will comfort us or come from heightened awareness; rather, they are necessary catalysts for growth, and others will comfort us as we become more aware."
"The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense." Yes, dear sister, pretense daily masked by a thick coat of make-up to give the illusion of a beautiful person.
Wow, how timely to hear this new report by Nick Leiber! Was it surprising to hear that in 60% of elderly financial abuse cases, the perpetrator is a family member(s)? Not at all, as it's familiar. This scenario has happened in my family with one vitriolic sister as the ringleader and primary mega thief, in collusion with her twin sons. (Ironic, as she masquerades as a "spiritual intuitive"). Although two additional sisters participated in the bilking of Mom's estate over the years, the amounts they got pale in comparison.
Quite challenging I would say to observe this bilking and not be able to affect a positive change. And, now, heartbreaking upon recently reading Mom's will/trust, to know that the revision she was coerced into signing is the antithesis of the detailed information she gave me regarding her desires; thus, grand theft.
I fully understand what is playing out here is the destructive drama and dysfunction that my family has operated under for so long, running the same charge around survival, getting enough and having enough. That being said, thievery is thievery!
A saving grace is believing in karma and trusting that justice will ultimately prevail. And, my work continues to be letting go of what no longer serves me so that I can live my life as freely and happily as possible. To be sure, especially involving birth family, this is no easy feat, but persevere I must and will. After all, "Perfect, Tommy, Perfect"!
Once upon a time, I worked at an advertising agency whose "bread and butter" client was a winery. One of the ads we produced involved a scene with a good-looking couple at a restaurant. The man ordered a bottle of red wine, the waiter brings it over, opens it and pours a little in his glass; he swirls and sniffs the wine, then looks up at the waiter and says, "Perfect, Tommy, Perfect!"
I have repeated this line silently to myself, often thereafter, for the seemingly good and bad/painful experiences. Ultimately, could it be everything that happens, including personal and social atrocities, is to benefit individual soul development and that of the collective?
Hooray for Daniel Barenboim, a very wise and courageous man. Right on!
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/daniel-barenboim-tries-bridging-the-middle-east-conflict-with-music/
Finally, a memorial depicting truth and the systematic travesty of justice. Some progress has been made; however, there is a long way to go to ensure equality. Next will have to be a memorial for those who have been shot to death.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/memorial-lynching-reckoning_us_5ae22f8fe4b04aa23f212c2e
It's so cool to finally fully realize that my art is chronicling my life; a testimonial to a brilliant journey actually.
What a phenomenal process, to actually "rise from the ashes" and be reborn within a lifetime! I feel so happy to be me, for my resiliency through fear, frustration and doubt, and my persistence, perseverance, and patience. Much more to come and, well on my way, I AM! Yaaaay!
"(In classical mythology) a unique bird that lived for five or six centuries in the Arabian desert, after this time burning itself on a funeral pyre and rising from the ashes with renewed youth to live through another cycle."
Rising from the ashes, symbolic of transcending oppression, embracing empowerment, greater creativity, and abundance. This is my journey.
