Archive for October, 2009

“What limiting thoughts, patterns or possessions is it time to release now?”

Sunday, October 25th, 2009
Now that cooler weather has finally arrived in South Texas, I’ve started unpacking our winter clothes from storage.  Among the first things to emerge and get worn again were my beloved house slippers.  They’re incredibly comfortable; the thick, black wool wraps my feet with just the right amount of warmth and pressure.  Not too hot or cold, not too tight or loose, with the perfect degree of arch support underneath my flat feet. Which is why I have them on again right now.  
 
The only problem is they’re well worn, to say the least.  Both of my big toes stick out through gaping holes, which isn’t surprising, considering that a dear friend gave them to me for Christmas many years ago (ten?  twelve? Probably longer, but it’s hard to remember…)  These slippers have served me very well, so I’ve been loathe to replace them.  My kind wife has lovingly patched those holes at least twice in recent years, and now they’re really beyond repair, but I don’t care.  I love them.  Okay, they’re embarrassing to wear if we have guests, and, yes, they’re slightly drafty in front, but hey, they’re still incredibly cozy.
 
And, yet, the truth is that it’s really, no kidding, time to replace them.  But that’s much easier said than done. I’ve tried before, several years running.  The manufacturer doesn’t make this particular model anymore.  Plus, they were quite expensive, so it’s hard to match their level of craftsmanship, texture and warmth - much less their arch support, which is pretty rare feature in house slippers.  And because I’m very picky about what I’ll wear on my feet, and because I refuse to buy shoes online, and because there’s not a large range of options in winter wear available locally in sunny San Antonio, I’ve had lots of perfectly good excuses for clinging to these ratty old things. Still, now that I’ve finally made this decision, it ought to be just a matter of time before a new pair is bought.  Hopefully, before the first real cold front blows in…
 
Yet there’s a larger question all this brings to mind for me — and perhaps for you, too:  why do we tend to resist change so much? Not only with regard to mundane things like worn out slippers, but many other areas in life as well.  Why hang on to old habits, possessions, and relationships, long after they’ve stopped serving us, and have started to get in the way of our growth and well-being? 
 
I don’t claim to know, but as I stare through the open window in front of me, I feel a cool autumn breeze come wafting in.  Meanwhile, many of the trees in our backyard are shedding leaves, as groups of migrating monarch butterflies drift by under the crisp, clear sky, making their annual trip to Mexico.  They all seem to be asking me the same thing that I’m asking myself (and you):  “What limiting thoughts, patterns or possessions is it time to release now?”   Hmm… 
 
With blessings and best wishes for your Highest Good, 
Rudolf

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“It’s about the fishing, not the fish!”

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Our family spent a few days at the coast recently, thanks to the generosity of a friend who loaned us her condo in Port Aransas. There weren’t too many people around, because the weather was mostly grey, cloudy and wet - yet the water was warm enough that we could still swim, though not for too long at a stretch.  So it was mostly a restful time, with multiple walks, naps, snacks, and books. But as usual, my favorite part was doing Tai Chi Chuan on the beach at sunrise and sunset, and whenever I could get there in between. It’s such a delicious study in contrasts: expanding and contracting; rising and sinking; watching the shift between darkness and light at the margins between day and night. Dancing through the split-second timing of this ancient form, along the narrow stretch of firm, yet constantly shifting wet sand at the interface of land and sea, accompanied by the stimulating, yet calm song of the waves.  Ahh…
 
Two mornings in a row there was a guy surf-fishing nearby from dawn till after noon.  His form looked different from mine, but he, too, was dancing to an ancient rhythm: casting, sitting, waiting, tugging, reeling in and casting, over and over again. He certainly seemed to be enjoying himself, though I never saw him catch any fish.  As he was packing up to leave on the second day, I walked over to make conversation.  His eyes twinkled as he acknowledged having caught and released just three small fish during two long days of fishing, then smiled deeply and said, “But, hey, it’s about the fishing, not the fish!”
 
Now that I’m back at my desk and tackling the seemingly endless stack of details, deadlines and duties involved in being spiritual director of Celebration Circle, I choose to remember that this work, too, is all part of that same fascinating, timeless dance of Life.  That the purpose of a dance isn’t to finish it as quickly as possible, but inhabit it fully.   And that although I’m now sitting many miles from the seashore, the age-old rhythm of the surf is still pulsing through the saltwater in my veins, whispering, “Slow down.  Relax.”  Reminding me that regardless of what society or my Monkey Mind may say about my job (or yours), there’s no need to rush toward some imaginary “result” or “finish line.”  Yes, there are responsibilities to fulfill, budgets to meet, and widgets to make, both at home and at work. But Life is much more than just what we do or make or “catch.”  Like the man said, “It’s about the fishing, not the fish!”  About being willing to participate fully in the process of growing, without becoming attached to the products, while still trusting that all those products, projects, and outcomes will turn out just fine - and maybe even better - because of such willingness to focus on the fishing, not the fish.
 
Sure, it’s all too easy to forget this larger perspective in the course of daily life.  But that’s why I find it so helpful to be around people who are willing and able to remind me.  To be in a spiritual community like the Celebration Circle, where we seek “to honor and nurture the Sacred in ourselves, each other and all of Creation.”  To take part in our various weekly gatherings, or Meditation Circles, and be surrounded by others who are eager to support and be supported in the process of Remembering the Big Picture as often as possible.
 
And that’s why I’m particularly delighted to invite you to be part of our upcoming weekend retreat on November 6-8, when we’ll be focused on “The Gift of Sacred Rest.”  Together we’ll explore and experience a variety of different ways to relax into the Sacred Rhythm; to become more mindful and gentle with ourselves; to remember to focus on the fishing, not the fish.  This marks the 11th year of presenting these Circle weekend retreats at Slumber Falls Camp in New Braunfels - and I don’t think it’s bragging to say that we’ve developed a very meaningful, magical and peaceful format over the years.  I’d love to share it with you.  We offer a beautiful outdoor setting on the banks of the GuadalupeRiver, with three days/two nights of great meals, meditation, spiritual direction, relaxation, music, art, and yoga - all for just $195 (and better yet, just $175 if you register by October 25th). 
 
It would be great to have you join us at the retreat.  But whether you come or not, attend our Circle gatherings regularly or infrequently, live nearby or far away, I truly hope that you feel welcomed and affirmed by your connection to the Celebration Circle.  That you feel supported in remembering that You are the Dance.  And that you know how much I appreciate being able to dance alongside you.
 
With gratitude and blessings, 

Rudolf

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If We Didn’t Know it Was Impossible

Saturday, October 10th, 2009
The popular Hollywood film, “Good Will Hunting” is best known for being the vehicle that made Matt Damon and Ben Affleck famous.  But even more interesting is the fact that their script is based on a true story taken from the life of George Dantzig, a renowned mathematician and the father of linear programming.  When Dantzig was still a doctoral student at UCLA, he arrived late to statistics class one day and noticed two problems written on the chalkboard.  Assuming they were a homework assignment, he solved the problems and turned them in at the next class.  Late that night, his professor came knocking on Dantzig’s dorm room door, shouting, “How did you do it?”  “Do what?” replied the dumbfounded student.
 
“You have solved two classically unsolvable mathematic equations!” said the teacher, waving the pages in his hand.  “Oh, really? Dantzig replied, “I just thought they were homework.”  
 
So, okay, you and I may or may not be mathematical geniuses, but the question remains:  “What amazing thing(s) could we create if we didn’t know it was “impossible” to do so? 
 
That’s my question, and I’m sticking to it.
 
With blessings and hopes of seeing you Around the Circle, 
Rudolf

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Ritual and the Sacred Cat

Friday, October 2nd, 2009
Once upon a time a beloved spiritual teacher lived in a remote ashram along with many devoted followers.  One morning a beautiful calico cat wandered into the group’s meeting hall during their communal meditation session; it walked right over to the teacher, jumped into his lap and lay peacefully for the remainder of the session.  The teacher was delighted and immediately adopted the kitten, which soon became a fixture on his lap during the daily meetings.  After a few months of this, however, the cat developed the unfortunate habit of meowing so loudly that she was disturbing the group’s meditation.  Reluctantly, the teacher ordered his pet be tied with a silk leash to one of the pillars located on the far side of the courtyard, where he could still see her, but she would not be heard.  Immediately afterwards, she was to be untied and allowed to roam the grounds freely until the next morning’s session.
         
Over time, the ashram grew and prospered, the teacher retired and another spiritual leader took his place. Eventually, the cat died, and a search committee of devotees was assigned the task of finding a new calico to replace her, which they did (albeit with some difficulty, as calico’s were even more rare in those times than they are today).  The years rolled by, as various teachers, devotees and replacement cats came and went.  The one constant was that the cat continued to be tied to the same courtyard pillar before each day’s meditation session, then untied immediately afterwards. Although no one could remember the reason for doing so, the act of tying and untying her had become a sacred ritual over the years, considered to be an integral part of the meditation process.  
 
But eventually, a time came when no suitable replacement calico could be found.  Not knowing what else to do, the community hired a renowned artist to create a life-size sculpture of the Sacred Cat, so the devotees could keep ritually tying and untying her and their meditation process could continue unchanged… 
 
I’d like to think that the Celebration Circle has a more fluid set of rituals than the spiritual community in this folk tale.  As an independent, interfaith group with no denominational ties to any other organization, our ritual format is still evolving, as it has been over the course of seventeen years of our weekly gatherings, reflecting the various faith traditions that inform the Circle.  If you’ve been attending our Sunday Circles regularly, the various parts of our ritual format may already be familiar to you:  the invocation, the Four Directions, the Union Bread, the offering ritual, our Closing Circle. But how did they arise in our midst, and what do they mean?  Are they still appropriate, and do they reflect who we are and who we are becoming as a spiritual community?
 
I won’t pretend to know all the answers, but throughout the month of October I’ll be reflecting on these questions in my weekly talks.  Each Sunday we’ll be exploring the specific rituals we share, as well as various aspects of the wider role that Sacred Ritual can play in developing your unique spiritual path.  I really hope you can join us for this series, as we examine the ritual underpinnings binding us together as a faith community. I also hope that you, too, will benefit from the process of keeping our rituals alive and personally meaningful. 
In any case, thanks again for your support.  I look forward to seeing you Around the Circle.

With blessings, 

Rudolf

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