Body’s buzzing after watching this clip of Will Smith and Matt Damon in The Legend of Bagger Vance. Presence is gathered awareness.  When awareness is gathered, habitual loop of thoughts and feelings recede into the background. We are absorbed in the field.  In the flow. Out of the way…let IT choose us.  Can’t think it…seek it with your body…your instinct.  

Beautiful.  On Oscar night, here’s to the movies for taking us there.

We use the Enneagram in the Integral Recovery program in Utah.   Here’s Part One of an 11 part series in which our conversation on the Enneagram and Recovery was taped.  

People become addicted for countless reasons that are not always directly related to type. But, understanding type and recognizing core resistances is an invaluable tool in moving out of addiction.  

“At the core of Integral Recovery is Integral Recovery Practice, a sophisticated system of personal development that is specifically designed for those in recovery, which engages body, mind, heart, and spirit to produce extraordinary health and awakening on all levels of our being. Also central to Integral Recovery is the AQAL™ map, a conceptual framework that helps illuminate the disease of addiction—and the journey of recovery—in comprehensive and compassionate terms.work with people moving through addiction.”

After reading The Meaning of Mary Magdalene by Cynthia Bourgeault, I’ve this sense that a heart that has been secretly conversing, is speaking out loud in the clear air.   And many are listening.

It’s a sense that everywhere, silenced visions across the globe are no longer silent.   Faith, hope and love are driveshafts of creation.

That day I saw beneath dark clouds

the passing light over the water

and I heard the voice of the world speak out,

I knew then, as I had before

life is no passing memory of what has been

nor the remaining pages in a great book

waiting to be read.

It is the opening of eyes long closed.

It is the vision of far off things

seen for the silence they hold.

It is the heart after years

of secret conversing

speaking out loud in the clear air.

It is Moses in the desert

fallen to his knees before the lit bush.

It is the man throwing away his shoes

as if to enter heaven

and finding himself astonished,

opened at last,

fallen in love with solid ground.

David Whyte

This week, when I was reading my book on the beach, I looked up and I saw my friend dancing in the distance.  All by herself.   I wanted to dance by myself too.   I forget to dance when I’m alone.  I usually wait for weddings and parties and lots of people.

So, I took a long walk on the empty beach as the sun was getting low and when my iPod started to play “Viva La Vida,” I danced and sang.  And, I kid you not, a couple of whales stuck their noses out of the water at the same time and did that little splashy thing that whales do.  I pretended they were dancing with me.  

I don’t want to forget this. 

 The teacher in this video? He’s all grown up and he’s still dancing.