A Bit of Foolish Wisdom: April 1st – Commonly known as “April Fools Day“. The day when everyone in the country knows its acceptable to play a prank, to be silly, to joke around. It‘s a day of lightheartedness in general of fun and frippery.

Our Inner Fool

The opportunity to be foolish is one we rarely give ourselves permission to partake in. Our Inner Critics are not of a mind to allow us that much exposure – that much vulnerability with ourselves. And yet the transformation of that inner critic into our inner fool would be a welcome one. Historically the Royal Fools of monarchs were not only silly and amusing, but also full of a keen insight. Known to be unbiased and totally honest about whatever was going on – they were depended upon by royalty and were often the most trusted – known to have no ulterior motives or allegiances. What a lovely concept! An inner voice that is amusing, honest, unbiased and trusted. Compare this to the harsh, critical judgments of our inner critics and its easy to see that it‘s time to tap into that inner fool.

Today lets turn our inner Critics into Inner Fools. Let‘s view ourselves less harshly, laugh at our mistakes and honestly admit our “oops“ moments without holding ourselves in contempt for being human. Picture your Inner fool wearing a bright costume and jingle bells (mine is dressed in fuchsia and yellow, with glitter). View the past through the eye of humor and the wisdom of Lessons learned. Today let your inner fool laugh.

Our Outer Fool

The ability to be foolish – the willingness to do so – is an integral part of living a creative life – a life of authentic expression. Such a life requires that at times we walk against the flow of traffic, color outside the lines, dance off beat. Being willing to be foolish is to be open and free without fear or inhibition.

This is the key to living an Authentic Life.To living the life the reflects our Spirit.

If we would allow our Spirit space to breathe, if we would give our dreams wings, if we would exhale and be who we really ARE – we would dare to be vulnerable and foolish.

We live in a culture where we prize viewing things with a jaded eye, where being a cynic is worn as a badge of honor, where disbelief and hardening our of precious hearts and dreams are the norm.

When we decide we are ready to crack open, that we *MUST* live – it requires a sort of foolishness from us.

The birds in the eggs call the one pecking the inside of the shell foolish.

The caterpillars crawling on earth call the one spinning the cocoon foolish.

The rose buds call the unfurling petals foolish.

Today…

*Laugh out loud and fully

*Grab a pack of crayons and draw the first thing you think of-Hang it on your refrigerator

*Eat a piece of cotton candy

*Keep a jingle bell in your pocket as a reminder

*Draw on the sidewalk with chalk

*Catch raindrops with your tongue

*Sing the song that‘s in your head out loud and dance to it!

*Let your writing be transparent- leave the typos and missteps

*Finger-paint on canvas

And in the words from “Whole Earth“ catalog…. “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.”

In Laughter, Love, and Lustiness,

Quote: “Do or do not… there is no try.” – Yoda

In Sight: I love the above quote, and yet it can be a hard pill to swallow. We love the word “try”, to move things into an either “do or don’t” situation seems very limiting. And what’s wrong with trying anyway? Isn’t trying good enough? What’s wrong is that to try is to not commit. To “try” is to leave ourselves with room for NOT doing what we have said we will “try” to do. Trying leaves room for failure and for a lack of discipline as well.

Most of us have seen a movie at some point where an athlete is tested to the limits of his/her endurance. Said athlete then wants to give up but somewhere either due to an amazing coach or support system or by sheer force of will the athlete overcomes the hardship and actually does what they set out to do. Why? Because for that person just trying wasn’t good enough.

But those are extreme cases, in typical daily life we use the word try often to indicate that we lack commitment to whatever we said we were going to attempt. “I’ll try to clean my house”, “I’ll try to call”, “I’ll try to be more soft spoken”, “I’ll try to stay within my budget”. what are we really saying?

We’re acknowledging that doing these things are good ideas while still allowing room for *not* doing them, still allowing room for excuses. Why? How does this serve us as we seek to lead better more authentic lives, lives that are the reflection of our Truth and Bliss? The truth is that it doesn’t help us at all.

Often try is a way for us to give the “soft no” – it can be a way of us not having to say no -but being able to indicate our “no” with our actions. Try can be a means of us allowing ourselves to be continually pulled in more directions than we can commit to. “I’ll try to help with the event”, “I’ll try to help out with the PTA meeting”, “I’ll try to help you move”. By saying “Do or do not” we must choose. It requires mindfully deciding on a certain course and eliminating other options. It requires us to become intimate with our own state and not to handle our precious selves arbitrarily.

It forces us to slow down and look at what is truly possible and what is not. This doesn’t have to be limiting in a bad way. We can use these opportunities to take stock and re-evaluate what we’re doing and how we’re using our resources – time, energy, finances etc. If we find that there are many things we desire to “do” but are unable to commit to we can then redistribute things. “Trying” puts this ability outside ourselves, whereas “Do or do not” is a statement of personal responsibility. When we stop “trying” we may find that we have more energy and greater clarity. For we who serve “do or do not” can bring more excellence to our service, and also aid in our commitment to the One we serve in that we must seek Direction *prior* to committing. This can facilitate communication between us.

In “The Four Agreements” the last agreement is “Do your best”, notice that it is not “try your best”. Committing makes it an action. “Trying” keeps it in the realm of a thought. As we take more actions that align with the Lives we desire to live we will find ourselves manifesting that life daily. We create that life. Creation is not trying, creation is doing. Activity: For this week avoid using the word “try”. Keep a journal of opportunities when you wanted to say “try” and if you committed to doing or not doing in those situations. What was the result? If not saying try is very difficult for you use a coin toss! Heads you say “I will, I do” tails you say “I won’t, I do not” rather you find yourself  adhering to the results of the coin toss or not – often making it so tangibly yes or no can be a great too to bringing clarity to if your soul is saying “yes or no” to something.

Questions: What are your observations of this experience? What did you find out about yourself? What impact did it have on others? Is there a difference between try and attempt for you? What is it? What can you begin to “do” an “do not” within the realm of service or surrender?

Affirmations: (use only the ones that resonate as true for you)

I am actively committing to _______________.

Saying no to one thing means saying Yes to something else!

I can do whatever I will to do!

I am doing what I will to do.

In Laughter, Love, and Lustiness,

“I am here to live out loud” ~Emile Zola

Recently, the Universe really impressed upon me the three p’s: “Power, Purpose, Presence” – and to express to others that this is one of the core reasons we exist and it is from this place that we function and live our dreams. That this place is the wellspring through which we can find that which is most fulfilling to our hearts and souls and living a life that matters.

Power: The Ability to act and to cause an effect

Purpose: a result, end, mean, aim, or goal of an action intentionally undertaken

Presence: now existing or in progress;  a state of being containing intimacy, awareness, and spirit.

For many of us, life has brought more than one opportunity for us to not care, to live aimlessly and to be a spectator. We are sitting on the sidelines awaiting the game to start or worse- watching those in the game and content to live vicariously through them.

But no more.

Today is your “One Day”…

Inhabiting life in a way in which we are fully invested, intentional and effective is life changing not only for ourselves but for those whom we are honored to share space and relationship with.

Life has taught us to live beneath our station. Now its time to learn who we really are, and how to live within our Legacy and birthright as conscious creators, artists, birthers, innovators….yes I mean you!!

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

What would you do if you had no fear?

What is your song – that you have not yet sung?

Affirmation: i have come to live out loud, i choose to embrace my Power, Purpose, and Presence and to create a life that supports me in these ways. i am more than the sum of my parts, i am greatness personified!

In Laughter, Love, and Lustiness,

By Namaste On December 29, 2010 ·

Today I had the opportunity to participate in day one of the Phenomenal Adela Rubio’s  “Free Your Essence” 21 day energy shift program. Let me tell you it’s powerful!!

One quote from her website was:

There is nothing to fear at all; all that is needed is a little more awareness. So whatever your fear is, catch hold of it, look at it minutely, the way a scientist looks at a thing. And you will be surprised, it starts melting like an ice flake. By the time you have looked into its totality, it is gone. Osho

Based on that quote I have created the following affirmation and linked it to a mantra:

Affirmation: Today i am FEARLESS!! Under the fierce light of my own brilliance -fear melts. Rather than allowing fear to have its way with me, i grab it, face it and walk through it on my way to Purpose and fulfillment!

Optional Mantra: VAM (Repeat for 2-3 minutes)

Feel free to use these as you move through your day to energize you, center you and create movement.

In Laughter, Love, and Lustiness,

Quote: “One must feel chaos within to give birth to a dancing star.”— Frederic Nietzsche

Thoughts: Recently a friend and I were discussing something and I mentioned forgetting to do something. She offered that I might put it in my blackberry to remember, and that sparked a comment from me that I’m not as organized in the last 2 months or so as I usually am.

What? Me? Not organized???!

This is unheard of!

But True nonetheless.

Of late the universe has been teaching me a splendid lesson. How to be okay – no, not just okay- but to embrace making A Marvelous Mess!

Things happen. Life happens.

Sometimes things don’t go the way we plan.

Sometimes on the way to Vision, Purpose, Bliss and Excellence things must be Messy.

Look at the caterpillar as it becomes a butterfly. Transformation is Messy.

Look at the Sacred act of Sex. Places of Bliss are Messy.

Look at the Potter’s hands. Creativity is Messy.

Look at the Birthing room. Creation is Messy.

Look at the act of Sacrifice. Surrender is Messy.

Don’t misunderstand me here. I’m not advocating a lifestyle devoid of structure, devoid of organization and eschewing the idea of “everything in it’s place”. Heaven forbid!

I am suggesting that there is a value in learning that there is a time and place for everything, including Chaos.

Chaos.

The place of beginnings – for the Earth was created out of it. Chaos can be scary, challenging and oh so sacred. The wonder of the loss of control, of letting go. We want to believe that this will look beautiful and ordered, we desire a pristine awe. It reminds me of an profound experience my Beloved and I went through at one time. I thought the exercise would be lovely, a graceful giving over. Instead it was tears, and runny noses, and screaming and crying. Face distorted, clinging and inarticulate. It was … I was – A Marvelous Mess.

The last two months have been a deepening of that understanding. An internalization that is not situational. Looking at the daily messes…the unfinished email…the paints and brushes all over whilst creating a piece of art…the unmade and tousled bed…a counter strewn with various vegetables and fruit in some state of being prepared…the odd mixture of “greens” and “browns” tossed into the compost bin. As I neaten, tidy, or sometimes leave it until later…it occurs to me -All of it messy, all of it incomplete – and yet perfect in it’s own way.

Perfect in that the Mess is a Vital part of the process.

Have you ever attempted to clean without making a mess? It’s nearly impossible. It’s necessary to unearth and pull up the things that are hidden and often forgotten. On some level we know this will happen, this is why we dread spring cleaning, or cleaning the garage, refrigerator or attic. It’s messy. And yet afterward we have the well ordered space that we desired.

If we recoil from the messiness that the cleaning takes we may never start. Instead we don our cleaning clothes, turn on some good music and get busy making our Mess. From Chaos springs forth Order. I encourage you to spend time making a mess. Get your hands dirty. Pay attention to the naturally occurring messes all around you.

How do you respond? What do they bring up? Can we find a way to enjoy the mess – in the Now – as opposed to worrying about the clean up? Can we see the Beauty in the Mess? Can we honor the Sacredness of the disorder? Can we Marvel at the Mess?

In Laughter, Love, and Lustiness,