Grow Through Intimacy And “Ultimacy” By Following The Three Cardinal Directions To Integrity
Prepare Yourself for Love, Share Love With Another, and Put Love to Good Use
During your journey down the Heartwood Path, especially if you enroll in the two subsequent courses, you will find a mixture of the microcosm of intimacy (with yourself and your partner) and the macrocosm of “ultimacy” (with others in efforts to effectively produce justice). This mixture will produce both enjoyment and justice for all if you follow the words on three prominent virtual signposts––the Three Cardinal Directions–– along the Heartwood Path, which are:
Prepare Yourself for Love, a topic addressed the first four courses;
Share Love With Another, a topic covered in the Heartwood Path for Couples Course (Course Seven); and
Put Love to Good Use, a topic covered in Courses Five, Six, Eight, and Nine.
Take the first step in following the First Heartwood Path Cardinal Direction (Prepare Yourself For Love) by engaging in this present course, entitled “Kosmos,” which is about developing an understanding of the universal principles that lead to integrity.
One needs to be both whole and appropriate to have integrity.
Think about how you can experience more of the joys of the Earth and spread them to other people. Pouring out your goodwill on others is a worthy process. It makes the world better and it builds integrity.
To do the best job for others one needs to make sure one sustains or even increases one’s happiness by safeguarding one’s positive emotions, by being curious, by being content, by varying your activities, and by having enthusiasm. Having already done some important activities to increase your happiness, now is a good time to work on another way to help you arrive at Gladandgreen Junction: arresting the chatter of Inner Dialogue.
To The Parts Cogitation…
HumaNatureConnect Activity
Sink Into The Pond Of Serenity
If this is not a day when you prefer to spend time in nature without an agenda, do the following activity:
Meditating
For this activity you will need to find a pond, an ocean, or a stream. Imagine that this body of water is synonymous with your mind. Like the body of water, your mind is agitated on the surface but, deeper within, it is more serene. Thinking of the body of water as your mind, drop a pebble into the water. As the pebble sinks deeper, it passes from a surface world of disturbance to a deep world of silence and peace. Imagine the serenity deep within your mind. Concentrate on your breathing to control your thoughts.
Practice becoming aware of the space or interval between thoughts.
In your journal, write down the nature of the disturbance associated with the constant thinking at the surface of your mind and the lack of disturbance deep within your mind, at the space between your thoughts.
Nocturnal Pilgrimage
Reach Out To Your Dream Characters
Now that you have Dream Tended for numerous inner world nocturnal episodes, it is time to become a host for one or more of your Dream Figures.
“Relax, become receptive, and imagine that you are asking the (Dream Character, we have been using the words “Dream Image” for the same thing) into your home, to join you in conversation . . . Ask the Dream Character, “How are you?’ Take the time to listen to the response” (Aizenstat, 2009, p. 41). Be patient. “Get curious about what the image is doing . . . Do not ask the (Dream Character or Dream Image) too many questions about yourself. . . Ask it questions about itself . . . Go back and forth in dialogue from a place of caring” (Aizenstat, 2009, pp. 42-43).
Engaging with a nature-oriented dream character can provide profound insights and promote serenity. Here are five good questions to ask such a character to help you on your journey to becoming serene:
"How do youbetter embrace the present moment?" This question encourages the dream character to share wisdom about mindfulness and the importance of being fully present, helping you to let go of past regrets and future anxieties.
"What do you learn from the cycles and rhythms of nature?" This question invites the dream character to explain how natural cycles, like the changing seasons or the ebb and flow of tides, can teach you about patience, acceptance, and the natural progression of life.
"How do you cultivate trust and let go of control?" By asking this, you seek guidance on how to develop trust in the natural order and process of life, helping you to relinquish the need for constant control and foster a sense of faith.
"What do you think is the significance of interconnectedness in nature?" This question prompts the dream character to reveal how all elements in nature are interconnected, offering insights into the importance of relationships, empathy, and understanding the broader picture.
"How do you find balance and harmony in my life?" This query encourages the dream character to provide advice on achieving balance, drawing parallels with natural ecosystems where harmony is maintained through balance and mutual support.
These questions are designed to elicit responses that can guide you toward a more serene, balanced, and mindful approach to life, drawing on the wisdom inherent in the natural world.
Don Pierce, St. Louis, Missouri.