LESS EGO / MORE SOUL

I’ve been thinking a lot about the wisdom of trees lately. My experiences in working with Ayahuasca only confirmed my long-time suspicion that within each plant lies a sentient being.

To me, they represent one of the purest states of consciousness, remaining so still and open energetically, as if in a constant state of zen meditation.

In a previous post I used the metaphor of an apple tree as being the epitome of unconditional love. It bears it’s fruit so generously without expectation or concern for who or how it is consumed.

Recently I was standing at the edge of a forest, admiring nature’s wild beauty when four colourful parrots flew over my head and landed in a nearby tree. They were gorgeous creatures of red and blue feathers and I considered how cool it would be to have them come to me. I stood there meditating, connecting with them for a few moments, setting my intention. When the time was right, they flew toward me, but all I could do was flinch, duck and laugh at myself.

I can only begin to imagine what it would be like to be as energetically open as a tree.

One of the many lessons nature has taught me along my journey is that one of the keys to life is to make others feel welcome – particularly through sharing.

Tarot talks about the wisdom of being the fool – to be open and open and still open to life, no matter the potential for pain and suffering. This allows one to maintain the innocence and fearless enchantment of a child.

In my mind, trees demonstrate this beautifully as the forest shares everything – it is open and open and still open like a fool. Friend or foe, a plant does not show any fear – whether its approached by a tree-hugging hippy, or a ferocious chainsaw. It stands before both, radiating isness as if to say simply: “I am, until I am not.”

At times we might fear the dangers of the outside world, but despite it all, trees stand strong and tend to live long. Their resilience to the fear mentality that imbues our human condition inspires me, reminding me of the world I knew in my younger days, where fear was no thing and the possibilities of what I could do and create with my life were limitless.

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A friend of mine once pointed out to me, “you know all they want is your appreciation” and so I make a point to give it to them. They give us so much after all – food, shade, oxygen, and if you are willing to listen (as they whisper ever so softly) wisdom.

I have a new yogic practice…

It involves maintaining open, symmetrical body language throughout my daily movements.

As I sit, stand, walk and move my aim is to have the left and the right sides of my body mirroring each other, without crossing the central axis of my spine. This is the way a young child or an animal will often express themselves when they are relaxed and at peace.

Being conscious about my posture in this way allows my energy to flow freely. It also symbolizes my openness to life, experiences and others. This is a powerful practice because it is through our own symbolic actions that our sub-concious communicates.

Interestingly, my ego is not so fond of this really simple practice. I think it finds it confronting to be so open – to allow myself to appear vulnerable. This requires more of a conscious effort on my part – reminding myself that there is nothing “out there” to fear.

I know from my yoga practice how common it is in our modern lifestyle to maintain a hunched, closed posture as we attempt to shield our vulnerabilities from the outside world. In many subtle ways, I find this reinforces our separation conditioning of fear as we “protect” ourselves from what we no longer consider a part of “us”.

This is why I am making a conscious effort to use this practice as a way to soften my ego. After all, it is by making ourselves vulnerable that we eventually become invulnerable.

Dear World,

Happy New Year!

I know I’ve been rather quiet these past few months, but its been important for me to get away from this cyber trance and get dirty with experience so that my words actually hold some relevance and meaning.

So, in November I set off around Australia again - this time exploring the NSW Hunter Valley, Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, and the Mornington Peninusla. To top it all off, I spent my new years, closing the year full circle at ConFest (where I also started 2011). It was so great to connect here with so many of the beautiful people who have coloured my journey this year. It’s  also been so refreshing to spend a lot of this time close to nature, sleeping in my hammock under the stars again. I have no doubt this year is going to be a good one!

Already I have a year of gypsetting travel planned, starting in February with a tour of Tasmania. Later this year will see me returning to Peru to dive back into the depths of Amazonia as I look to learn as much as I can about traditional shamanic healing and working with superfoods and other plant medicines. I’ve also got plans to witness the desert madness of Burning Man, reconnect with old friends in San Francisico and explore Central America.

Just a heads up – this will mean irregular blog posts, so don’t be surprised if I dissolve into silence for a while. However, if you would like to keep in touch, take a moment now to subscribe to the blog (by entering your email in the box, top right). This way you can rest assured that I will always resurface in your inbox at a later date as your subscription to my journal will send new blog posts directly to you.  This will save you from having to check back here.

You can also keep up to date by friending  the Less Ego / More Soul page on Facebook or following me on twitter @JivenyBlairWest.

Wishing you a great year ahead – may it make you feel alive and awake and manifest all the wild and joyous dreams of your own divine imagination.

Love, Jiveny