Gaia: Sacred Walk - INTRODUCTIONS.... Let's Get to know each other

Re: James: Teacher of The Path

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:37:59 GMT

Welcome James!

What a wonderful way to introduce yourself!

James: Teacher of The Path

http://jamesbaquet.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:36:58 GMT

Hi, Everybody!

I love the idea of this pod!

In my own teaching, I emphasize that "all things, at all times, teach": There are lesssons in everything fromliterature and films, to mosquitos and air conditioning.

The key is to see the walk as sacred.

And let's not forget the literal walk. As an obese 53-year-old with diabetes and high blood-pressure, it's imperative that I lose some--OK a LOT of--weight. And so I walk.

Living in a city in southern China, I find the walk is sometimes challenging: heat and humidity, traffic, pollution, poor behavior. But just as often, I see the granny with her granddaughter, the lovers out for a stroll, the joy at a chance encounter of old friends.

These things renew my dedication to walking.

You can read more about me at my Gaia profile, where I blog regularly.

You can also find me on my personal homepages, www.jamesbaquet.com (where I blog more extensively) and jamesbaquet.ning.com (with forums, e-courses, and free essays).

I'm fairly new to Gaia, and would enjoy meeting "friends" with common ideas. And of course, I'll see you all here in the group!

peace,
James

Re: Hello to everyone

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:56:03 GMT

I think every single one of us has been given the gift to be able to express what is in our hearts. I happen to like words, but I've seen a great many people do it far more eloquently with a single smile.

I welcome you to the Pod and love the conversations you are taking part of!

Re: Hello to everyone

http://thesearch.gaia.com — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:22:26 GMT

Hello all,

I am a technical training developer and come to Gaia (I miss Zaadz) to balance myself out. Gives my spiritual intuitive self a chance to speak up. This is such an amazing group. Jill does such a good job of saying things. Thanks everyone.

Re: Hello to everyone

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:20:30 GMT

WELCOME ERICA!

Very nice introduction. I am glad you are here!

Re: Hello to everyone

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:02:34 GMT

That all sounds very exciting! Welcome!

Love,

Nicole

Re: Hello to everyone

http://enlightenmentadvisor.gaia.com — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:26:58 GMT

Hello, I posted first right away at the feeling small post before introducing myself here, so I will begin a little more professionally this time.

My name is Erica and I am the Enlightenment Advisor for northeast ohio. I have a www domain that focuses on the bridges between mind, body and spirit but also ways you can tap into, accept, visualize potentials from avenues you had never thought of before, well at least until now. I offer a plethora of different resources to nourish the soul, enhance the mind, entrain the brain, inspire the thoughts, cajole the spirit, mend the body, heal the ailment, adjust the imbalance and remove the suffocating external debris that disallows healthy living !
I am working on my 42nd year and if I pass it, I will be granted on the 25th of July to head into my 43rd year reaping the rewards of places I have been, people I have met, things I have learned and shared and things and persons I have yet to be rewarded with . . .
I look forward to the continued challenges.

sharing the light and happy March,
Miss Erica Hidvegi, the Enlightenment_Advisor, B.A. Psych/M.A.
Transpersonal Studies- Cnslng/Author, Artist, Photographer,
Entrepreneur & Freelance extraordinaire
http://www.enlightenment-psych.net

Re: Finding that which is sacred

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:01:09 GMT

Dawn, I agree with Nicole. It is a wonderful way to honor your friend.

I enjoy whatever people feel willing or able to offer on this pod. I know one wonderful woman who leaves me private messages and refers to herself as my lurker. She loves to read and is not as inclined to write a public statement. Even those that appear like fallen pods may have folks reading them.

I encourage everyone to participate as they feel nourished in doing.

Re: Finding that which is sacred

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:18:44 GMT

Dear Dawn,

That's a beautiful way to honour your friend... yes, sad how many pods are just lying around, but some have to die so that more vital and relevant ones can thrive...

love,

nicole

Re: Finding that which is sacred

http://kynnaisling.gaia.com — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:16:33 GMT

Thanks for the wonderful reception ^_^ It's nice to see that some of these pods are very active! I found a few with great ideas that have been totally abandoned. I guess there are enough of us who believe in the sacred.

I'm not sure I agree with that particular definition of perfection. Then again, I absolutely hate the word "perfect". Not even our Creator made things "perfect" to our definition. I think perfection doesn't exist except in the divine. So by striving to release the sacred within ourselves, we become more perfect, simply by being attuned and striving for the sacred within ourselves and our world.

One of my favorite quotes, since we're putting them out here, would be

"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, you rejoice and the world cries."

I'm posting that for my friend Chad, who died a few weeks ago, and most definitely lived his life that way. I only hope that people will say the same of me.

Re: Hello to everyone

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:53:58 GMT

I want to say welcome!

I love our pod. And it is "OUR".

I am so humbled and encouraged and excited by the magnificent journey each person begins. The stumbles and triumphs and the quite moments in between.

And although I thank you for your wonderful words.... it is US relating and not me relating to you!

Ok... Group hug!

Re: Hello to everyone

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:29:40 GMT

welcome! yes, Jill has a special way of relating to us all here...

love,

nicole

Hello to everyone

http://dhyan-salima.gaia.com — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:51:06 GMT

I have been reading many posts in this pod and love what people contribute, love to learn about so many different walks of life and different paths. Hope to be able to contribute something to for everyone to read, think about, move with just like I am moved by many things I read here.

My spiritual journey started with 11 when I got curious about reincarnation, life after death, meditation and yoga, which all was a bit unusual in the small town that I grew up in. But through all the changes in my life this has been the one constant - my spiritual search, my love for God and my interest in meditation.

After trying to learn everything about all of the major world religions, being a sannyasin of Osho, checking out different other groups,... I have been very involved with the Miracle of Love and Kalindi for the last years. It has been a very rich, life changing experience full of realizations, movement, breakthroughs into more consciousness,... I am very grateful for everything that I got to experience and learn so far in my life and am looking forward to what else there is to learn.

Dear Jill,

I love how you take care of this pod and care for all its members. Thank you, was rather refreshing to see.

Re: Finding that which is sacred

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:17:54 GMT

Wonderful, Jill, yes, I have missed me, too :) had a bad year...

Love,

Nicole

Re: Finding that which is sacred

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:35:21 GMT

Nicole, I have missed you!

Years ago I was reading my fiiend's huge etymology dictionary. I went on line (since I do not have access to the book) and this is what they have said:

perfect (adj.): c.1225 (implied in perfectiun), from O.Fr. parfit (11c.), from L. perfectus "completed," pp. of perficere "accomplish, finish, complete," from per- "completely" + facere "to perform" (see factitious). Often used in Eng. as an intensive (perfect stranger, etc.). The verb meaning "to bring to full development" is recorded from 1398. Perfectionist is 1657, originally theological, "one who believes moral perfection may be attained in earthly existence;" sense of "one only satisfied with the highest standards" is from 1934.

I think it was the complete and perform that combined for that one. My friend was getting her doctorate in an ancient langugage.

Re: Finding that which is sacred

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:00:13 GMT

Hi Jill

I was curious to look up perfect on line... to find that wonderful definition "full of might" but couldn't (see below). Could it be the meaning of perfect in a different language?

Language is so interesting, especially as it relates to the sacred. We're having quite the conversation about it and other topics relating to the sacred in the new pod is_there_a_god?

Blessings,

Nicole

per·fect [adj., n. pur-fikt; v. per-fekt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective

1.	conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: a perfect sphere; a perfect gentleman.

2.	excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement: There is no perfect legal code. The proportions of this temple are almost perfect.

3.	exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: a perfect actor to play Mr. Micawber; a perfect saw for cutting out keyholes.

4.	entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings: a perfect apple; the perfect crime.

5.	accurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.

6.	thorough; complete; utter: perfect strangers.

7.	pure or unmixed: perfect yellow.

8.	unqualified; absolute: He has perfect control over his followers.

9.	expert; accomplished; proficient.

10.	unmitigated; out-and-out; of an extreme degree: He made a perfect fool of himself.

11.

Botany.

a.	having all parts or members present.

b.	monoclinous.

12.

Grammar.

a.	noting an action or state brought to a close prior to some temporal point of reference, in contrast to imperfect or incomplete action.

b.	designating a tense or other verb formation or construction with such meaning.

13.

Music.

a.	applied to the consonances of unison, octave, and fifth, as distinguished from those of the third and sixth, which are called imperfect.

b.	applied to the intervals, harmonic or melodic, of an octave, fifth, and fourth in their normal form, as opposed to augmented and diminished.

14.	Mathematics. (of a set) equal to its set of accumulation points.

15.	Obsolete. assured or certain.

–noun Grammar.

16.	the perfect tense.

17.	a verb form or construction in the perfect tense. Compare future perfect, pluperfect, present perfect.

–verb (used with object)

18.	to bring to completion; finish.

19.	to bring to perfection; make flawless or faultless.

20.	to bring nearer to perfection; improve.

21.	to make fully skilled.

22.	Printing. to print the reverse of (a printed sheet).

[Origin: 1250–1300; < L perfectus, ptp. of perficere to finish, bring to completion (per- per- + -fec-, comb. form of facere to do¹ + -tus ptp. suffix); r. ME parfit < OF < L as above]

Re: Finding that which is sacred

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:46:27 GMT

Welcome Dawn!

This has to be the quote of a lifetime "but I believe that our redemption lies not in becoming perfect, but in always striving for it"

Quite a few years ago someone told me that the root of the word "perfect" meant "Full of might" and I thought.... OMG.... someone forgot to tell me that I am perfect!

If our daily walk simply becomes one which we honor a better part of ourselves one tiny step at a time, we are embracing the gift we have been given in this life!

Anyway... Welcome! What a wonderful way to begin your journey in this shared experience.

Finding that which is sacred

http://kynnaisling.gaia.com — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 07:41:33 GMT

I fell in love with the idea of this pod when I saw it. Since I began my solo journey away from conventional religion and into free thought and spiritual and religion study and pursuit at age 14, I have been arrested by the unshakeable conviction that all things happen for a reason, that there is sacred, divine energy in every moment of every day and every stone and every bug under them. When I was seventeen, I discovered and devoured the Celestine Prophecy, a wonderful, wonderful read for anyone who enjoys spiritual advancement and enlightenment (Warning: Not a book for the sheep of the world! Read all material with an open mind and your OWN judgment!), which solidified my faith in my ever-changing, ever-expanding beliefs.

So here I am now.

My name is Dawn, I'm twenty-four, born and bred in the heart of Central Illinois, in a town large enough to let me appreciate city living and small enough to instill small town, old-fashioned values. In short, I am particularly proud of my upbringing and my sense of right and wrong and my code of honor. Not to say I think I'm perfect, but I believe that our redemption lies not in becoming perfect, but in always striving for it, always trying to be that little bit better of a person. Anyone who understands, from that, why I love Norse mythology, is closer to my heart than most. Very few people understand the Norse philosophy.

I believe that all truths have more than one facet as well as more than one side. I believe in multiple yet complete truths of reality and spirituality, subjective reality, the eternal truth of shades of gray. I believe that Terry Goodkind knew what the hell he was talking about when he wrote the Sword of Truth series. I believe in balance. More than anything, I believe in balance and the divinity and spirituality of balance.

I believe in balance in healing and believe myself to be a natural healer. I'm currently studying massage therapy because the emotional and psychological effects of the human touch are profound and life changing.

There are no coincidences. The Celestine Prophecy says that all people and situations are brought into our lives for a reason, that each person has a message for us that we need to hear and every situation has a lesson we need to learn. I believe that with all of my heart. I look forward to the lessons each of you has to teach me. I look forward to sharing my lessons with others. And more than anything, I am grateful for the sacred that is within each of us and in every moment of what we call the mundane.

~ Dawn

Re: So nice meeting all of you!

http://jillianne.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:44:21 GMT

That was wonderful! I always like to feel like I know what people find beautiful about where they are!

Re: So nice meeting all of you!

http://ilsemulder.gaia.com — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:26:55 GMT

Dear Jill,

Thank you!

What I love most about my country, mmm... it depends on what you're looking for. If you like cities, then Utrecht (my home town) and Amsterdam are a good place to start (because of the architecture and history and the canals (of course!)). But if you like quieter places, or nature, then I'd visit the eastern and middle part of the country - with castles, woods, fruit orchards and slow rivers with really nice 'dijken' (I forgot the Enlgish word for this, is it dikes or embankments?).

Hope this helps, but feel free to ask if you'd like to know more!

Love,

Ilse