Where Am I a Lie?

Originally published: 8/18/2015


Arthur Douet

Dear lovers of the holy earth, and seekers of the song of blessing,

I am just returning from the Santa Fe area, after communing with amazing shamanic colleagues and teachers for a few days. I am reminded of what has been taught to me again and again:

Our goal in life is to become a walking blessing.

It's such a simple phrase! But like all of the other simple spiritual phrases we hear, there is nuanced work involved. Knowing (or spouting) a simple phrase is not enough.

What is the nuanced work involved to become a walking blessing? The first task is about letting go, or "releasing stored energetic patterns." Letting go sounds easy, and of course it's not. But our journey to wholeness, to healing, and to wisdom, begins there. One of my favorite lines from the poet Rilke:

I want to unfold.
I don't want to stay folded anywhere,
because where I am folded, there I am a lie.

The first step in the shamanic path is the step of unfolding. We ask ourselves "where am I a lie?" What a magnificent question to ask yourself! What a fearful question! If there is a single thing that keeps us from stepping forward on our spiritual life it's that we aren't asking that question, or we aren't answering it truthfully.To answer that question truthfully brings us into our power, and this is our only goal in life - to be in our power.

Try using those three lines form Rilke as a mantra or prayer today. Every time you are stressed, or filled with fear and doubt and the lust for revenge, say them quietly to yourself. Or loudly to someone next to you.See what happens. Or, if you dare: take 15 minutes of no distraction and ask yourself again and again, "where am I a lie?" Be ready for a deep ride.

Don't fall into the trap of assuming that when you think you are beautiful or powerful, it must be a lie. In actuality, you are likely far more beautiful and far more powerful than you believe yourself to be. The trick seeing with the right eyes. Wahoo, dear Human Beings and Human Be-comings!

If you really want to unfold - if you want to work your path, check out the workshops and classes I'm offering this fall. The Dark Mother Retreat is already filling fast and it's a whopper experience of letting go and releasing energetic patterns. Actually everything I offer has at its core the release of stored energy patterns, and rewriting your spiritual DNA.

And please plan to come to the last drum of the summer-- the massive Gathering of Earth Lovers outside at Hidden Falls, August 29th! This is year five of this gathering, and usually more than 100 people come to drum, dance and live with wild beauty for a day.


May the blessing of light be on you-
light without and light within.
May the blessed late summer sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire
to warm you through the night.

Jaime

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