Self-Discipline

Real power and authority is not power and authority over others, but over the self.

Image: Chinese character for Self-Discipline

Respect!

Have the heart to forgive souls for being who they are not, and the respect that inspires souls to become who they are.

Image: Chinese character - Self Respect.

 

Two really pertinent thoughts for today...

The Wonder of Silence:  The disease of anger needs the medicine of tolerance; the pain of disappointment needs the medicine of hope; the violence of revenge and spite needs forgiveness; fear needs courage ego needs self-respect. Through inner silence we receive the strength to heal.

A Part of Me: If I keep the weaknesses of others in my mind, they soon become a part of me.

Rural Health

Heywire, the ABC’s online forum for young people, airs views of rural youth.  Young people living in rural and regional communities have used the Heywire space to talk about mental health services – and the need for change. 

Source: http://www.acys.info/?a=23714

Youth mental health to be debated on Insight

Source: http://acys.info/youth_field_xpress/index/no.162_february_2010/YFX_February_2010.pdf 

A debate about youth and mental health will be SBS TV Insight's first show for 2010, airing next Tuesday, 23 February, at 7.30pm. Since Professor Patrick McGorry was announced as the 2010 Australian of the Year, youth and mental health issues have gained prominence. The program will feature Professor McGorry as well as other experts, carers and young people who have been dealing with mental illness. For further information, go to: sbs.com.au/insight (Source: email from Auskar Surbakti, SBS News and Current Affairs, 3 February 2010.)

Love all

Image: Chinese character - Heart

Love can never be exclusive. The sun does not choose to shine on some flowers in the garden and not others. Love is inclusive and has many faces - caring, listening, sharing from the heart, just accepting someone for what they are right now, are all acts of love, as long as you seek nothing in return. It all starts with acceptance of yourself - you're just fine as you are right now, warts and all. It's not that you will stay that way for ever - but you might, if you don't accept. The secret key to the greatest door called love is acceptance. First your self, then others (especially the ones you currently resist) and eventually ...all.

Talking to the Self

Image: Chinese character - Self respect

When you talk to yourself in your mind, which self do you address? And how? Usually people do not talk to their divinity, but to the most superficial aspects of their everyday personality. And often its a stream of fears, complaints and mindless repetition of old things. If we talked that way to another human being, we would have to apologise. Learning to talk properly to the self is a spiritual endeavour. Thoughts from the past and worries about the future do not create good conversation. Instead learn to talk to your mind as if it were a child. Talk to it with love. If you just force a child to sit down, he won't. A good mother knows how to prompt her child into doing what she wants. Be a good mother to your mind, teach it good, positive thoughts so that when you tell it to sit quietly, it will. Love your mind. Stay happy.

Ammachi's 2010 Tour!

Public Programs:
6 and 7 April (10.00am and 7.30pm both days)


Retreat:
8, 9, 10 April

Public Program "Devi Bhava": 
10 April (7pm)

Location:
Sandown Racecourse, Multi Purpose Room, 591-659 Princes Highway, Springvale, VIC 3171

For more  information visit Amma's website: http://www.ammaaustralia.org.au/Tour/Amma_Tour.htm

Astrological Forecast for Sunday 14 February 2010

TAURUS: (Rising Sign)
Just as Neptune and Chiron come together again in your career sector, reforming an alignment they temporarily put on hold, a New Moon falls here today. With Venus gone and the period of establishing what you're aiming for behind you, this is a day for drawing a line in the sand and letting the next phase begin, that of turning desires and dreams into reality. It’s time to start walking the talk, making this the first day of the next phase.

VIRGO: (Ascendant & North Node)
Any self doubts that may have plagued you just 24 hours ago are gone and old beliefs that may have held you back in the past have been challenged and prevailed over. It’s today that the Sun and Moon come together to form a New Moon in your work sector, on the very day that Neptune and Chiron come together again, resuming their alignment here. The heavens are coming together in support, making this the first day of the rest of your journey.

SCORPIO: (Moon Sign)
Just a day after an opposition between Mercury and Mars forced you to come up with an achievable work/life balance, ensuring that you’re able to achieve what you want on both the professional and home fronts, you have a chance today to commit to that. It’s a New Moon in your home, family and property sector that gives you an opportunity to draw a line in the sand and turn a fresh leaf. This is a day for new beginnings and a fresh start.

Amazed at Mother Nature

On my way to town today I noticed a Black Crake which must have been hit by a car around the Macleod Morass ... A fellow Black Crake was standing on the road near its dead friend, oblivious to the oncoming traffic.

When I returned home, I noticed that the dead Crake was removed from the road and its living friend was hovering around it, almost mourning.

Isn't mother nature amazing?!

What's a Black Crake?  see below :O)

Buddha...

A Buddha photo given to me just after my son was born... photo of a photo, one of my favourite artworks in our house!

Determination and Patience

Determination is the strength that will enable you to pass the barrier of useless thoughts in order to create positive thoughts and to be successful in whatever you wish. It comes from within and its partner is patience. Patience teaches you not to push but rather to wait and appreciate the game of life instead, knowing that nothing remains the same, and everything will change at some point. ~ thoughtfortoday.co.uk ~

Patience, like concentration, requires the skill of the heart!

Spiritual Language

To create the future we desire we need a spiritual language; we must speak from the heart and in the language of the soul - a language of trust, faith and higher values, of inner growth, love and listening.

Meditation

A racing mind that reacts sensitively to little things indicates thinking that has lost its spiritual strength. Meditation restores that power. thoughtfortoday.co.uk 

I love that the image "concentration" contains the heart (character on right hand side).

The Invitation (by Oriah Mountain Dreamer)

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Simple things in life...

What is Holistic Counselling? Holistic Counselling is a psychological and spiritual approach to counselling. The holistic approach deals with notions of self-realisation, recognises a range of personal potentials, deals with the whole person, and recognises the person in the context of psychological, social, cultural, biological, ecological and spiritual factors.

A wide range of techniques and skills are utilised in the holistic approach. In order to work with the whole person it is imperative to explore the individual's life journey and work within the framework of the individual's own personal mythology. Holistic Counselling is an organic rather than mechanistic approach which values the exploration and integration of the various states of consciousness whilst being aware of human complexity and diversity.

Since Holistic Counselling is a different school of thinking in Australia and the Western world, it is re-framing notions of mental health in the Western world. Thus re-defining notions of psychology and spirituality.

Paying respect...

http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/yellow

Consider the Consequences

Become very, very sweet. Remove even the slightest trace of anger. Whatever you think, whatever you say, consider carefully all the consequences beforehand. By performing actions knowing their consequences, success is definitely experienced.

thoughtfortoday.co.uk

Peaceful Soul

Always maintain the awareness- I am a peaceful soul, and allow peace to influence your thinking and judgment.

thoughtfortoday.co.uk

Good Wishes

By freely sharing your wealth of good wishes, you earn the guarantee of a right to happiness.

thoughtfortoday.co.uk

Uncovering the Personal Journey

Merryn Padgett, is an extremely passionate person; with diverse skills across holistic and corporate backgrounds. Compassionate, empathic, and genuine; Merryn provides a safe and nurturing container for clients to awaken and reach their true potential.

For many years Merryn worked in a corporate environment enjoying the many benefits of such a career, and simultaneously feeling alien to the dogma which surrounded her daily. In 2005 Merryn was encouraged to follow her passion for helping people help themselves. She resigned from a corporate career and enrolled to study a Diploma of Holistic Counselling Practice with CAE/Phoenix Institute. Since embarking on a quest for knowledge of Self and others, Merryn has experienced an amazing and alchemical life change.

2006 saw the birth of her first child, and the integration of an unprecedented spiritual energy that sent her forth on her personal journey for knowledge. She completed a Certificate IV in Youth Work and is currently undertaking a Diploma of Community Welfare Work. While she contemplates the next step in her journey, Merryn enjoys a quiet, contented life in a coastal town in Victoria.