Living In Balance

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We are living in a world that is spinning out of control. Everywhere you look, senseless violence is bringing misery and death to innocent people. I know from learning my own Creation stories that there has always been violence in this world, but the level of insanity seems to be increasing at an alarming rate.

We have become "strange, misshapen creatures." Our diets and lifestyles have made many of us fat and unhealthy. Television, video games and the internet have isolated us and has led a breakdown in society. Terrible "plagues" have come upon us. How many of you know someone with fibromyalgia, autism, ADD, or cancer?

I believe that this is largely due to people being "out of balance" with the world and each other. From the Beginning Creator taught each tribe of man how he should live. And in the beginning, we were all tribal people. We were given ceremonies to keep us balanced and to heal us when we did something "wrong" which made us sick. Our ceremonies honored each stage of life and every person was a valued member of his society. But as each indigenous culture was destroyed, our ceremonies were virtually lost. This was hongsw the Conquerors were able to defeat us.

Our ceremonies were our Power. They kept us from believing the lies we were told. A long time ago, the People knew about the lies but went along with them so they would be allowed to live. But they still remembered their own ceremonies and teachings and practiced them in private. As generations passed, the old ways were forgotten and now a vast majority of our People have become the same as their oppressors.

We are at the end of a 26,000 year cycle and are entering into a new world. It is time now for us to go back to our own teachings and ceremonies so that we may be in balance and ready for what lies ahead.

But how can we get back in balance if we are no longer part of a traditional group that practices the ceremonies and remembers the ways?

Here are five areas that each of us can work on to help ourselves get back into balance.

1. Be in harmony with your environment.

There is a commercial out now that pretty well sums up how disconnected people are from the Natural World. A happy family is reveling in the fact that the poison they used on their immaculately manicured lawn killed all the dandelions. "We hate dandelions" they chortle. But the lowly dandelion is a wonderful healing herb and is used to cleanse the blood and liver.. They destroyed the natural balance to obtain "perfection." And how many times have you heard people complain because it was going to rain and ruin their weekend plans or their hairstyle? Water is life. Without it we are all doomed. We have become too important in our own minds.

2. Be at peace with your circumstances. This isn't always easy, especially when faced with illness or one of the many storms of life we all encounter. But understanding that everything happens the way it is supposed to, even though it might not feel like it at the time, allows us to face any situation with a calmness which comes from knowing we are part of Creator and can never be separated from him.

3. Be content with the day. Count blessings instead of wishing for more or different outcomes. Tomorrow brings another chance. Worry, jealousy and fear cause chemical changes within our cells that lead to physical, emotional and mental breakdown. You don't have to let it happen.

4. Rid yourself of anger. Anger is an acid that destroys the vessel that contains it. Remember, all things will balance out in the end. If someone hurts you, the Universe will handle it. If you don't get the job, a better one is on the way.

5. Be free from anxiety. This is a hard one for most of us. It is easy to say we trust in Creator, but it is hard sometimes to let go of old fears and doubts. Learn to meditate. There are lots of exercises which you can learn to do which will help. There a millions of people in this country alone who take drugs for depression and anxiety. Learning to be in balance would save lots of money and much needless suffering.

There is a wonderful world waiting to be born. It is time to separate from the old thoughts and actions that lead to misery and suffering. But each of us has to make that journey on our own. Reach for the Light! You won't be sorry.

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"It had been Nashibitti who had taught Leaphorn the words and legends of the Blessing Way, taught him what the Holy People had told the Earth Surface People about how to live, taught him the lessons of the Changing Woman - that the only goal for man was beauty, and that beauty was found only in harmony, and that this harmony of nature was a matter of dazzling complexity.

"When the dung beetle moves, Hasten Nashbitti had told him, "know that something has moved it. And know that its movement affects the flight of the sparrow, and that the raven deflects the eagle from the sky, and that the eagle's stiff wing bends the will of the Wind People, and know that all of this affects you and me, and the flea on the prairie dog and the leaf on the cottonwood.
--Tony Hillerman in Dance Hall Of The Dead