Intuition

Weblog November 25, 2007

By Chris DiGiorgio

Intuition is a very big part of my spiritual exploration.  The definition of intuition is the act or faculty of knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes, in other words it is a perception without anything other than a feeling.  As I was growing up, I often was taught not to trust my intuition.  However, as the years have gone I realized how important my intuition is. Trusting my intuition does two important things it works on my trusting the universe or the divine and also trusting myself.  I often go through in my spiritual work doubt.  This is a natural by product of spiritual work.  A great teaching of twelve step programs is to surrender to GOD, intuition facilitates this.  Yes many times the doubts creep in and that may masquerade as intuition so therefore I use my meditation practice to search deeper.   Spiritual Practice is always the searching of who I truly am.  Part of this has to be intuition, I learn more about myself by searching inward.  Perceiving the world visually alone only gives me part of the picture.  Perceiving by intuition gives me a fuller picture. 

So how do I work on perception or intuition?  I do exercises during my meditation.  For example, recently I was in a hall with approximately 400 people.  We were meditating and waiting the arrival of Sai Maa. During the meditation I wanted to perceive when Sai Maa walked into the room.  This was a good exercise for me, could I feel if her energy was in the room. I encourage you to find situations where you can test your perception.  During your meditation, find a situation where you might be able to test.  An example might be a friend you might be meeting.  Try to figure out a topic your friend might bring up before the meeting or the clothes they might be wearing.  See how it lines up.  Working on your intuition and perception are important parts of spiritual work.

In light of Thanksgiving Week... Here is the Proclamation for Thanksgiving

By the President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln

A Proclamation (1863)  ( Thanksgiving Proclamation)

The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.  To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.  In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.  Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of ur settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.  Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.  No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.  They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.  It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.  I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.  And I recommend  to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

Intuition

Weblog November 18, 2007

By Chris DiGiorgio

Intuition is a very big part of my spiritual exploration.  The definition of intuition is the act or faculty of knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes, in other words it is a perception without anything other than a feeling.  As I was growing up, I often was taught not to trust my intuition.  However, as the years have gone I realized how important my intuition is. Trusting my intuition does two important things it works on my trusting the universe or the divine and also trusting myself.  I often go through in my spiritual work doubt.  This is a natural by product of spiritual work.  A great teaching of twelve step programs is to surrender to GOD, intuition facilitates this.  Yes many times the doubts creep in and that may masquerade as intuition so therefore I use my meditation practice to search deeper.   Spiritual Practice is always the searching of who I truly am.  Part of this has to be intuition, I learn more about myself by searching inward.  Perceiving the world visually alone only gives me part of the picture.  Perceiving by intuition gives me a fuller picture. 

So how do I work on perception or intuition?  I do exercises during my meditation.  For example, recently I was in a hall with approximately 400 people.  We were meditating and waiting the arrival of Sai Maa. During the meditation I wanted to perceive when Sai Maa walked into the room.  This was a good exercise for me, could I feel if her energy was in the room. I encourage you to find situations where you can test your perception.  During your meditation, find a situation where you might be able to test.  An example might be a friend you might be meeting.  Try to figure out a topic your friend might bring up before the meeting or the clothes they might be wearing.  See how it lines up.  Working on your intuition and perception are important parts of spiritual work.

Awareness

Weblog November 11, 2007

By Chris DiGiorgio

A very important part of my spiritual journey is awareness.  Awareness is perceiving or being conscious of your surroundings, the things that are affecting you in the present or past and how that relates to your feeling world.  When I meditate or pray, thoughts come forward.  Sometimes these thoughts are making me aware of some things in my life.  Different meditation practices either allow me to put these thoughts away or work with them.  I choose many times to work with it.  I feel there is a reason, these thoughts are coming forward.  I take the time to figure out these thoughts.  Is this thought bothering me? Is it something I need to work on? Is it creative? Is it an overall positive or negative thought? During the meditation process I release the thought and more on.  This allows me the time either to clear my mind or become aware of another thought. 

So awareness will come with this process.  The key in the spiritual path is to continue to seek and find out more about myself.  Since starting my spiritual practice full time, I find during the day I am more aware of my surroundings.  I know what is bothering me or if I am happy.  Knowing this is a key component of self awareness.  For me that is in a nutshell what spiritual practice is to me.  What is my relationship with myself?  What am I seeking?  How does this relate to the GOD of my understanding?  With this knowledge how does it help me to know myself better?  With this knowledge how do I serve GOD better? Take the time to do spiritual practice and see if you become more aware.

Let Peace rule my heart

Weblog November 4, 2007

By Chris DiGiorgio

“Let the Hawk that rules my soul become a Dove” in the song Glory Glory Album: Dancing in the Light  Artist: Shrdibhai and the Seventh Ray

In Eastern Philosophies they call it Maya.  In the west we call it illusion.  Many times my mind races with thoughts that make my heart hard.  Part of my spiritual awakening is understanding the difference that is in my heart and what is in my mind.  The practice for me is to listen to my heart and allow it to be the strongest voice. 

It is so easy for me to let my soul become a hawk. Daily stresses in life and the hectic pace I lead often move me from peace to fear.  I know that I can choose to live in fear or choose at this moment to live in peace.   Part of my spiritual journey is always checking my heart.  I know that if I do the spiritual practice that my heart will be in the right place.  I am so often having my mind move in many different directions I forget my heart and soul.

So how do I move my heart in a peaceful direction? Part of the answer is awareness.  It is important for me to check in and see how I feel at this moment.  I also remind myself at that moment I am pure peace.  Changing the noise from fear to peace in my mind helps me.  Take the time, to check your heart and become aware if you are ruled by peace or fear and change the noise of fear to peace.