Home Is Wherever I AM

I am here on Cedar Mountain in North Carolina in a retreat center called Terra Nova. They have a place called the Hideaway that guests stay in. I have known the people who created this place for a number of years and they gifted me retreat time in this lovely space, for a few weeks.

There are five bedrooms that have a number of beds in each. I have one of the back rooms that is sort of away from the others to accommodate my having a silent retreat. As the people came and went, my “silent retreat” occurred more when I walked the woods or stayed in my room, which worked out just fine. As I went into the common kitchen area, we would all meet with each other and it always seemed to be a beautiful heart-felt exchange.

What was interesting was the common question that started the conversation each time… “Where do you live or where is your home?” Everyone I met answered easily enough. But, each time for me it was a new revelation. It asked me to look closely at what was coming up in responding to their question as to where was my home.

The feelings of not having a “home” were kind of unsettling at first, having just recently moved out of AHAM. It’s not like I am walking as the Peace Pilgrim did years back. I do have a car. But, to tell you to truth, it brought up something to see through. Staying with these feelings as they were arising from Awareness, what come through was … “the Heart is my home.”

I’ve said this many times before or heard it said. But, this time it struck a deep cord. When there is literally “no home,” one is left with nothing to hold on to. What Grace! There is only the Heart left standing as a solid, strong feeling within.

This then brought about the further realization about what it is to “follow a calling” … this phase of my life is to follow this mysterious calling into the unknown. And, it is revealing itself each step of the way. Every chance meeting is a blessing … a blessed exchange of Heart … a puzzle piece in the whole picture. This was a blessing that someone visiting this center gifted to me: “It is commanded, the most benevolent outcome for Elizabeth, that she has clarity of her calling and moves along her path full of grace and love, giving and receiving blessings.”

Everything that I am being moved to read or hear spoken, is opening the space for clarity as to what is true, where I am and what is my next step to take. Much like the old movie “Field of Dreams” and how he was given each step as he went along and didn’t know the ending until it got there. There seems to be an uncanny faith in this unknown journey and a certainty that all that is needed will be provided … and, so far so good.

Lao-Tzu says it so beautifully …

Be content with what you have;

Rejoice in the way things are.

When you realize there is nothing lacking

The whole world belongs to you.

Just before leaving and coming here, Jim and I went to a concert at Duke University in Durham and met with Miten and Deva Premal. Deva had given consent for Jim to use one of her songs in his new Arunachala DVD (which will be coming out soon.) And, so after the concert, we met them out back in their motor home. What impressed me, during the concert, was Deva mentioning how people would ask them where they lived. And, she responded “our home is wherever we are." So, it is not a unique thing, with what is happening overall these days, that people are following a calling to serve wherever their Heart moves them to serve and doing it however they are being inspired. One of the songs we chanted together was, “Let the Heavens meet the earth.” The Love was so powerful and deeply moving for all.

Miten, Elizabeth, Jimmy, Deva Premal

So, as we are following our calling, wherever or however that may be, I hope our paths cross along the way. In the meantime, let's join together in the Heart, on October 28th, and radiate our Love and glorious Light, connecting the Heaven to the Earth. It is a very auspicious day according to the Myan Calendar.

May the Love we're sharing spread It's Wings

Fly across the earth and bring

This LOVE to every soul that is alive.

May all the Beings, in all the worlds, be Happy.

The Power of Love

The Creator is love,

The Source of love,

And the origin of your Beingness.

In that image you were created.

Love is the imprint of your Beingness.

In knowing that, you will understand why lesser actions fall short.

But more importantly,

You will begin unfolding that special nature

Which you were really created to be.

Think not of love as an action, however,

Nor as a magnitude of effectiveness.

Love is not a quantity,

But a quality of Beingness

That brings forth rightness of action.

Your character is the summarization of your love.

Love is universally free.

Thus, in being love, so are you.

Love commands the adamantine particles,

Thus in being Love you take command of your life.

Love is the master of conditions,

Not the servant of them

Thus in being love, you are no man’s slave.

Love is the law,

And any law is only as valid as it is rooted in love.

By this, all men shall know the law

And be equal under it.

This is why I left you with only two commandments:

To love God with all your heart,

And your neighbor as yourself.

Love is universally resonant with all of life,

And in being love you are also resonant with life.

There are no conditions to the truth of who you are.

It is your sacred right to be the love that you are,

And that is unconditional.

- Jeshua from “Love Without End”

These are very powerful words of Truth that gives us a major key to how our life is orchestrated and conducted by Love.

For the past nine months, I have written on this blog, insights that have been arising in Awareness while meeting what has been coming about in “my” life while travelling around the world. Now, it seems that this journey continues.

Over the past four weeks, I have been in N.C. and moving my “stuff” out of AHAM and preparing for the next step in “my” life. I continue to say “my” life, as it doesn’t seem to be my life any more. This LOVE that Jeshua is describing above feels to now be what is directing and guiding each step of the way. Actually, it has been that way all along, but it appeared that I had some say in what direction it was taking along the way up until now.

Now, I am retreating in a lovely place on Cedar Mountain just south of Asheville, N.C. and I’ll be here for a few weeks to rest in this “crystal cave” and fully surrender into this LOVE that is now and will always be commanding my life.

There was a hesitancy to continue this blog since ending the traveling last month. But, a number of folks prompted me to continue. And, I am realizing while writing this, there is no particular reason to do it, and yet it can be a way to keep a Heart-to-Heart Connection as a natural, free flow of Love communicating itself through us.

“The universal facilitator of all communication is the Love that we are.” - Jeshua

As this says ... the Love that we are is what facilitates our communications…so having the blog is a natural way to allow this to happen.

The journey continues ... I am in N.C. mountains until the first of November and then off to Florida for the winter…coming back to N.C. for a few weeks at Christmas. The rest will be revealed as we go along.

So, we shall let it flow from here and just see what comes…

Forever Dance!

El Yunque Rain Forest

We are here now in San Juan, Puerto Rico with Belkis. I have been here more than a week now.

This has also been my birthday week…in more ways than one…and Belkis and I chose to celebrate it together as our “Birth” Day.

In Daniel Ladinsky’s book “I Heard God Laughing” he shares with us the words of Hafiz, an awakened poet. Daniel says this about Hafiz:

Hafiz says God is fully known only through love, which accepts everything. Love reveals the Universe as a cosmic playground where every thing and every being participates in a single, magnificent Game. Hafiz says…

I rarely let the word “No” escape

From my mouth

Because it is so plain to my soul

That God has shouted, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

To every luminous movement in Existence.

It has been a little over nine months now since leaving N.C. on this “around the world” adventure. And, it has been exactly that…an adventure of saying “Yes!” to all that arises to “every luminous movement in Existence” and following this path of the unknown step-by-step. If you have followed with me, it is very clear to see that it was not a journey unique to Elizabeth. We all have our own journey into the unkown in every moment of now. On the 17th of September, this trip is over...or is it just beginning???

It seems that this birthday begins a new life…one of sound health, vibrancy and a celebration of each moment, as it is … loving the ”participating in this cosmic playground."

Belkis and I started the celebration with our first day having a gentle soak in the warm salt water of the ocean, and the next day in a trip to a hot springs…so relaxing and renewing to our bodies. Then, we stepped it up a bit and on the next day we walked in the El Yunque Rain Forest…and found an awesome waterfall to play in.

We then did some “girl-stuff” and spent a day at the beauty parlor, got dressed up and went out for a glass of wine in the Old San Juan Hotel. It was early in the week and a quiet night…just perfect for us.

Here she is with Venus, the Goddess of Love ...

We had a lovely visit with Belkis’ family…mother, father and two sisters...

Here is Belkis dancing the Bachata...I've got the music and she showed me how to do it...I'll show you when I see you. It's so much fun and easy to do...

Then, out that evening with Belkis’ sisters, touring Old San Juan…here is how the hotels used to be back then, open to the sky...

...and Flamingo dancers outside under the stars...

The final week was a precious gift from Belkis and her sister, Sheila … a quiet, relaxing week alone, at her sister’s ocean-view beach apartment.

In closing, it took me years of delving into the Truth to realize that happiness is my true nature. Now, it appears that it is time to allow this that I am to shine through every ounce of this Being in life itself. Hafiz says it so beautifully for me…

I am happy even before I have a reason.

I am full of Light even before the sky

Can greet the sun or the moon.

Dear Companions,

We have been in love with God

For so very, very long.

What can Hafiz now do but

Forever Dance!

May I have this dance?

...for the rest of my life? Amor...amor!

Essence Ordinaire

Here we are in Canada...

[The Ottawa River at Sunset from Gatineau, Quebec]

This past week I was here in Canada visiting Saroja and some very dear friends in Gatineau, Quebec. It brought up a few things to share with you beginning with a story from Osho …

A king went into his garden and found wilted and dying trees, shrubs and flowers. The oak said it was dying because it could not be tall like the pine. Turing to the pine, he found it drooping because it was unable to bear grapes like the vine. And the vine was dying because it could not blossom like the rose. Then he found one plant, hearts-ease, blooming and as fresh as ever. Upon inquiry, he received this reply: “I took it for granted that when you planted me you wanted hearts-ease. If you had desired an oak, a vine or a rose, you would have planted them. So I thought, since I can be nothing but what I am, I shall be that to the best of my ability.”

You are here because this existence needs you as you are! Otherwise somebody else would have been here. You are fulfilling something very essential, something very fundamental, as you are. [“Take It Easy” Vol. 2, pp. 101-103 by Osho]

So, “we can be nothing but what we are” and being that “to the best of our ability” … this fits.

While here in Quebec with Saroja, I am reminded of my first talk in the Tampa Unity Church some years ago. I had just returned from Canada after being with my father’s passing, and happened to have a tube of toothpaste that I purchased there. In Canada, everything has both French and English on it, honoring both languages present. As I was considering what was to be shared in the Sunday Talk, I happened to have the toothpaste tube facing up with the French on the label. It said, “Essence Ordinaire.” When I turned it over to see what that meant, it was “Regular Flavor.” Yes! This is what was to be shared that morning.

Have we tasted our regular flavor … sensed this ordinary essence that we are? Are we looking for something unusual to happen, in a final awakening? Well, this beautiful French language says it all. Our essence is ordinariness. Sri Bhagavan reminds us … it is our natural state.

Relaxing into this Essence Ordinaire … we are fulfilling something very essential, very fundamental, simply being as we are. From here, we are contributing what is truly significant to the Whole.

Enjoying this simple, natural and ordinary Essence that we ARE...

Thank you, Saroja, this has been a beautiful week!

Saroja and friends, Hafiz and Gulabo. (The last time I was here was ten years ago when we gave and I SIT program. It was a very significant experience for me then as now.)

Just sit there right now.

Don’t do a thing.

Just rest.

For your

Separation from God

Is the hardest work in the world.

- Hafiz

The “rest” is a “stop” and all is melting into THAT.

Giving way to this melting feeling …

Falling into this Embrace

Being fully consumed by this Love,

By this Fullness,

By that which has no boundaries.

Surrender NOW into that which has captured you …

And invite whatever arises into Your Heart.

All is included in this Embrace …

- Elizabeth

Home Is Where The Heart Is

[Chataqua Park in Boulder, Co., a favorite spot to view the Flat Irons ]

It has been only three months since I came to Boulder, Colorado. But, it seems like a lifetime has passed.

Recently, my Inner Guidance directed me to continue the journey that was started last December. I am to continue on in the Great and Wonderful Mystery and not settle in anywhere for right now.

What has been my experience being here in this lovely little spot in the Universe?

When we usually visit a city for the first time, as a tourist, we proceed to see the various favorite sites and attractions of the area. With my living here the experience was not as a tourist but as a welcomed part of the community. I experienced the Heart of Boulder.

Of course, it started much like everyone else, by being captivated by its beauty and its history. And, I proceeded to see and learn as much as I could. This led me to the beginnings of Boulder through the eyes of Chief Niwot …

Chief Niwot or Left Hand(-ed) (c. 1825-1864)

was a tribal leader of the Southern Arapaho people and played an important part in the history of Colorado. Chief Niwot and his people lived along the Front Range often wintering in Boulder Valley, sit of the future Boulder, Colorado. Despite breaching the borders of Arapaho territory, early prospectors were welcomed by Niwot in Boulder Valley during the Colorado Gold Rush. Through Boulder County, many places pay tribute to Chief Niwot and the Arapaho tribe. Niwot, Co., Left Hand Canyon, Niwot Mountain, and Niwot Ridge are all named for him. Additionally, a main thoroughfare through Boulder is Arapahoe Avenue.

That was from the history books. But, to me, his true contribution to Boulder was from his vision of harmony with the white man. He held this commitment even up to the end of his life no matter what was happening around him.

This statue of Niwat stands by Boulder Creek, where he and his tribe stayed.

When I walked along Boulder Creek, where he and his tribe lived, I felt the sacredness of this land that was blessed by this beautiful being and his people.

In this sacred space, it came to me that Chief Niwot’s vision and commitment lived on and set the context for this beautiful heart-felt community of Boulder. In my own experience, arms were opened wide in welcoming me in so many ways.

Through those who assisted me in this awesome healing process…

[This is Brooke and Pamela at Sound Health]

Through those who opened their home and Heart to me …

[Elizabeth and Richard]

Through those who showed me the beauty of Boulder …

[Spencer]

[Richard]

Through those who welcomed me into their family …

[Jenna, Kelly & Emily]

And, through those that I met along the way that extended their generosity in many different ways.

It has been difficult to follow the Heart in this one and leave this beautiful community…this Heart Sanga. But, I now realize that when I left last December on this journey, it was to meet the global community of the Heart. This particular community in Boulder is just a facet of it and so I see now that I am to move on and meet up with this Heart Sanga in its entirety.

Chief Niwot gave a blessing to those living in Boulder. He said, “People seeing the beauty of this valley will want to stay, and their staying will be the undoing of the beauty.”

I understood the first part of this right away but not that last part until now, in writing this to you. What came to me; in the staying and holding onto what I have here, I will undo the beauty of what has been experienced and project my experience on something out there. It now goes with me wherever I am as a sacred aspect in me, one that confirms that Love and Harmony is our true nature and is at the Heart of this universe. And, confirms further that my home is where the Heart is. This is what lives on eternally no matter what the appearances.

A deep gratitude and a huge hug wraps around this lovely community as it goes with me and contributes something very precious to the remainder of my journey wherever it takes me from here. I love you all from the bottom of my Heart.