4 TENETS for ALL ARCS of the JOURNEY

Preparation ↔ Contentment

Sending out invitations, rather than intentions, which can easily morph into expectations. Not grasping onto outcomes; trusting that what comes up is an essential part of the journey.

If you want to catch a horse, don't chase it. The distance will only get further. -I ching

Ceremony ↔ Contentment

When we let go of attachments, we are able to fully engage with what comes to us, experiencing it with a freshness and openness, feeling fully, with the ability to be present with whatever arises; no judgment, only wonder.

Awareness with acceptance is healing! -Medicinal Mindfulness

Integration ↔ Contentment

Losing the linear growth check-list mindset. Recognizing that healing happens in a spiral, uncovering layers and coming back around when one is ready. Grasping at hopes, fears, and regrets keeps you out of the present, where you are most open to growth. Having self-compassion, being grateful for small steps.

Preparation ↔ Openness

When going into any new experience, advice often given is, “Keep an open mind!” In Zen, this is known as Beginner's Mind. Without preconceptions and prejudgements clouding the mind, one can freely explore new possibilities and perspectives. One can practice increasing awareness and tamping down reactiveness through practices like meditation and shadow work. Knowing you are not your thoughts or thought-patterns, you can let them go without losing yourself.

Ceremony ↔ Openness

Curiosity is a great ally. Whatever comes up, shine the light of your awareness on it.

1. Face it with clarity
2. Welcome and Accept it
3. Resolve or respond to it
4. Let it go

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. -Rumi

Integration ↔ Openness

Medicine journeys tend to stir up a lot! As in the journey, energy flows where awareness goes. The more we're aware of, the more we must embrace.

“As feelings come to the surface, we're able to expose the deeper layers of our habits. The more we work through them, the more we are able to let go and accept ourselves. In time, we become freer.” -Guo Gu, The Essence of Ch'an

Preparation ↔ Flow

Change is nature's way. As you prepare for a journey, common advice is to Let go! or Trust the process!

If you observe nature, you will see things arise and fall back; there is a time to thrive and a time to fade. The end of one chapter is the beginning of another; death gives birth to new life. Recognizing that things come and go-like clouds in the sky, like leaves floating down a river. Knowing that this too shall pass.

Ceremony ↔ Flow

Journeys are a venture into the unknown and a return to deep knowing. When we make a thing out of experiences, which are naturally fluid and open, we create walls and obstacles.

If you find yourself caught in a challenging torrent, let go and embrace the experience! This surrender lets you transcend. You cannot fight nature, but you can flow with it.

As Bruce Lee said, Be like water, my friend.

Integration ↔ Flow

The return can be difficult…-jarring and disorienting. Making a point of getting out in nature, slowing down, making space for peace and quietude. Any way to float in the actual current of the present (meditation, nature walks, creative movement, music, etc.) will do. Moving at the pace of grace, being patient with life; trusting that your life will unfold as it should!

Nothing can compare to simply living out the inevitable unfurling of your life. And there's nothing more difficult. -Chang Tzu

Preparation ↔ Oneness

Recognizing that a lot of suffering comes from separateness-being abandoned, lonely, other-ed, etc.

Individual people are like the individual waves at top of the ocean. At first glance each wave appears to have an independent existence, but this is really not so. The basis of each wave is the boundless ocean. It is from the ocean that waves come, and it is to the ocean that they return; the waves and the ocean are all one. This separation is an illusion.

Ceremony ↔ Oneness

True connection is all-encompassing love and compassion.

When you feel this, you know your allies are always with you, your inner-healer is always present, you have a direct line to universal love and wisdom.

Immersed in this sonder-You know you are but one drop in the ocean. Yet you are the ocean.

Integration ↔ Oneness

The disconnect is not as real as it seems; the disconnect is the illusion. “We are spiritual beings having human experiences.”

Reach-out, be ready to support.

Be of service.

Be part of humanity's healing.