August 30, 2009
Dear Friends,
Two weeks ago I wrote about a small miracle I experienced during the annual gathering in Pacific Grove, California, of the United Centers for Spiritual Living. Today I want to describe another miracle that occurred during that week-long event at the Asilomar Conference Center.
This miracle involved a new friend of mine, Jeanette Alexander of Seattle, Washington. Jeanette is a wonderful composer/pianist, and her beautiful instrumental pieces truly touch the heart.
One evening, anyone attending the conference was invited to participate in a talent show. Even though Jeanette rarely sings, she had just written a song that she wanted to perform while she played the piano . . . and she wanted to have some additional musical accompaniment, as well.
Although this conference always hires a large group of accomplished, professional musicians to play at the general sessions, Jeannette only asked two musicians she already knew to join her.
Well, events at this conference usually start very early in the morning, and they end very late in the evening. And on this particular night, right before it was Jeanette’s turn to perform, the musicians who had agreed to accompany her were so exhausted, they excused themselves early—with apologies—and went back to their rooms.
To say that Jeanette was disappointed would be an understatement. Performing solo was not her desire, and not what she had signed up to do. She was really counting on having the musical support she needed to make her song come alive in the way she heard it in her mind.
For a while, Jeanette considered dropping out of the show. But something inside of Jeanette urged her to perform anyway, and she decided to heed that internal nudge. She took the stage, sat down at the piano, and announced that she had not planned to perform by herself, but she was willing to do it.
As she started to play and sing, guess what happened? The drummer she had asked to accompany her had not yet left the building. And when he heard Jeanette, he hurried onto the stage, sat down at his drum set, and began to play along.
Then, a bass guitarist—someone Jeanette had not previously asked to help her—walked onto the stage, picked up his guitar, and added a bass line to the piece.
Within a few more moments, an acoustic guitarist joined in. And finally, one more musician stepped in and started playing his flute.
Right before the eyes (and ears) of the audience, what began as a solo number was evolving into a full-fledged performance by a well-coordinated ensemble.
Jeanette was so elated by what was miraculously manifesting, she smiled at the audience and sang out, “I’ve got me a band!” But this wasn’t just any band. For the most part, this band was comprised of the highly acclaimed musicians who had been hired by the conference. It was a group of very talented artists that Jeanette had long desired to play with . . . and now—unexpectedly—it was happening!
The way that Jeanette’s piece expanded right there on the spot was even better than Jeanette’s original intention. And everyone in the audience was profoundly touched by the magic of that moment.
So, what’s the “moral” of this story? It is something I mention quite often in these weekly messages. It is simply that fact that when it comes to living life in the divine flow, we are all “in the same boat!” We all need the help of each other to get “down the stream” to fulfill our mutual dreams.
Each musician who stepped onto that stage sensed that truth within himself, and felt divinely inspired to come to the assistance of a fellow traveler—to literally play the part that he was being divinely directed to play so another’s dream could be fulfilled.
One day soon, you, too, will feel called to aid someone on his or her journey. And you can rest assured, that after you render that assistance, you will be blessed in a similar manner.
Trust that the Universe knows what you need, it knows who can help you, and it is always encouraging those helpful people to come to your assistance.
By the way, guess what Jeanette’s song was about? It was about getting where you want to go in life “on a wing and a prayer”—knowing that Spirit is always there to support you.
How incredibly appropriate.
Steven
P.S. For more information about Jeanette’s music, visit her website at www.JeanetteAlexanderMusic.com.
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Small Miracles, Continued
August 23, 2009
Dear Friends,
Last week I wrote about all the small miracles that occur in our lives—the kind of synchronistic events and happy coincidences that seem so insignificant, we tend to easily forget them and begin to take our good fortune for granted.
But that raises a question. Can any miracle actually be “insignificant?” In other words, is there even such a thing as a “small” miracle?
Certainly, by direct comparison, one miracle can appear to be more significant than another. But if you look closely at how that larger miracle came to be, you will usually see that there were a number of smaller miracles that were involved in the process.
For instance, the wonderful home that Carol and I are now living in was not the one that we had originally agreed to rent. That deal fell through. But we then manifested a home that was better in several important ways. It had the Red Rock view we wanted, the storage and office space I needed, and enough flowering bushes to satisfy Carol’s desire for a little “green” out here in the desert. It was a magnificent manifestation, and Carol and I love to tell the story of how it all came about.
There is, however, one part of the story that I tend to forget about. You see, when Carol and I were in Sedona looking for a home to rent, it was the first week of August, 2006. But we couldn’t really move here until three months later. At that time, homes were renting so readily in Sedona, the only way a house could be “held” for us, was if we went ahead and started paying rent immediately . . . and that was something we just didn’t want to do.
Well, as it turned out, we didn’t have to. Not only was the home that we manifested perfect for us in both form and function, it wasn’t even available for rent until the first of November—exactly when we wanted to move in. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for all involved.
So, was that little synchronicity a “minor” miracle? Not in the scheme of things, no. It was a major component of the whole process. Which brings me back to the question I asked at the beginning of this week’s message: Is there even such as thing as a “small” miracle?
My answer is, of course, no. Generally speaking, every happy coincidence and every synchronistic event plays an important part in the flow of your good. And, like I wrote last week, if you want to experience the flow’s miracles more freely and more frequently, it is up to you to recognize the value of every miracle of every size, and be consciously grateful for each and every one.
Here’s to living life in the divine flow, and celebrating all the “small” miracles that have made such a “big” difference in our lives.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Last week I wrote about all the small miracles that occur in our lives—the kind of synchronistic events and happy coincidences that seem so insignificant, we tend to easily forget them and begin to take our good fortune for granted.
But that raises a question. Can any miracle actually be “insignificant?” In other words, is there even such a thing as a “small” miracle?
Certainly, by direct comparison, one miracle can appear to be more significant than another. But if you look closely at how that larger miracle came to be, you will usually see that there were a number of smaller miracles that were involved in the process.
For instance, the wonderful home that Carol and I are now living in was not the one that we had originally agreed to rent. That deal fell through. But we then manifested a home that was better in several important ways. It had the Red Rock view we wanted, the storage and office space I needed, and enough flowering bushes to satisfy Carol’s desire for a little “green” out here in the desert. It was a magnificent manifestation, and Carol and I love to tell the story of how it all came about.
There is, however, one part of the story that I tend to forget about. You see, when Carol and I were in Sedona looking for a home to rent, it was the first week of August, 2006. But we couldn’t really move here until three months later. At that time, homes were renting so readily in Sedona, the only way a house could be “held” for us, was if we went ahead and started paying rent immediately . . . and that was something we just didn’t want to do.
Well, as it turned out, we didn’t have to. Not only was the home that we manifested perfect for us in both form and function, it wasn’t even available for rent until the first of November—exactly when we wanted to move in. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for all involved.
So, was that little synchronicity a “minor” miracle? Not in the scheme of things, no. It was a major component of the whole process. Which brings me back to the question I asked at the beginning of this week’s message: Is there even such as thing as a “small” miracle?
My answer is, of course, no. Generally speaking, every happy coincidence and every synchronistic event plays an important part in the flow of your good. And, like I wrote last week, if you want to experience the flow’s miracles more freely and more frequently, it is up to you to recognize the value of every miracle of every size, and be consciously grateful for each and every one.
Here’s to living life in the divine flow, and celebrating all the “small” miracles that have made such a “big” difference in our lives.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Small Miracles & The Divine Flow
August 16, 2009
Dear Friends,
I just returned home from presenting my workshop in Pacific Grove, California, at the annual gathering of the United Centers for Spiritual Living.
Like I always do, I passed out a form at my workshop so people could sign up to receive my weekly inspirational messages via email.
Soon after my workshop, I sat down to enter all the email addresses I had collected into my contact list. One of the email addresses was difficult to read, and when I sent a test email to that address, it bounced back as “no such address.” I tried several more letter combinations, but none of them worked either. Finally, I gave up.
The only thing I knew for sure was that this person’s first name was Sadhna. And sadly, Sadhna was not going to be receiving my weekly emails. I did not know who Sadhna was. And whoever this person was, he or she was just one individual out of over 800 people attending this particular conference.
About an hour after giving up on Sadhna, I had a sudden urge to go down to the social hall for a cup of tea. When I walked onto the deck of the center, someone motioned me over. It was a woman who had attended my workshop, and she wanted to tell me how much she had enjoyed it.
We had only talked for a few seconds, when another woman standing nearby asked me if she could purchase a book from me. This woman happened to be wearing a green jacket with her name clearly embroidered on the front. And guess what that name was. You got it! Sadhna!
Out of 800 people—and in a very short amount of time—the divine flow had brought Sadhna and me together, and I was able to sign up her up for my weekly emails after all.
Now, this story is no major miracle—I realize that. But that is exactly the point I want to make today.
I think I have made it very clear in my book, in my workshops, and in these weekly messages, that it is extremely easy for you to unconsciously block or limit the experience of the divine flow in your life. Obviously, when you live life forcefully or fearfully, you are going to experience the divine flow to a lesser degree, because you are actually interfering with the manifestation process itself.
But even if you are doing a pretty good job of recognizing and cooperating with the divine flow in your life, that experience can still be diminished if you don’t make a conscious effort to appreciate each and every little miracle that manifests in your life—even something as “seemingly” insignificant as two people running into each other in a timely manner.
Like everything in life, even the divine flow can be taken for granted. And the more you take it for granted, the more likely you are to easily forget many of the miracles that have happened in your life—especially the smaller ones. Even recent occurrences can quickly be forgotten.
If you really want to fully experience the divine flow in your life, I suggest that you always take a moment to stop what you are doing and be consciously grateful for every little miracle that occurs. Celebrate it! Revel in it! Only then will you begin to get an accurate sense of how miraculous this world of ours truly is.
As Albert Einstein is quoted as saying: “There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
I choose the latter way of living. And it has improved my life dramatically.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
I just returned home from presenting my workshop in Pacific Grove, California, at the annual gathering of the United Centers for Spiritual Living.
Like I always do, I passed out a form at my workshop so people could sign up to receive my weekly inspirational messages via email.
Soon after my workshop, I sat down to enter all the email addresses I had collected into my contact list. One of the email addresses was difficult to read, and when I sent a test email to that address, it bounced back as “no such address.” I tried several more letter combinations, but none of them worked either. Finally, I gave up.
The only thing I knew for sure was that this person’s first name was Sadhna. And sadly, Sadhna was not going to be receiving my weekly emails. I did not know who Sadhna was. And whoever this person was, he or she was just one individual out of over 800 people attending this particular conference.
About an hour after giving up on Sadhna, I had a sudden urge to go down to the social hall for a cup of tea. When I walked onto the deck of the center, someone motioned me over. It was a woman who had attended my workshop, and she wanted to tell me how much she had enjoyed it.
We had only talked for a few seconds, when another woman standing nearby asked me if she could purchase a book from me. This woman happened to be wearing a green jacket with her name clearly embroidered on the front. And guess what that name was. You got it! Sadhna!
Out of 800 people—and in a very short amount of time—the divine flow had brought Sadhna and me together, and I was able to sign up her up for my weekly emails after all.
Now, this story is no major miracle—I realize that. But that is exactly the point I want to make today.
I think I have made it very clear in my book, in my workshops, and in these weekly messages, that it is extremely easy for you to unconsciously block or limit the experience of the divine flow in your life. Obviously, when you live life forcefully or fearfully, you are going to experience the divine flow to a lesser degree, because you are actually interfering with the manifestation process itself.
But even if you are doing a pretty good job of recognizing and cooperating with the divine flow in your life, that experience can still be diminished if you don’t make a conscious effort to appreciate each and every little miracle that manifests in your life—even something as “seemingly” insignificant as two people running into each other in a timely manner.
Like everything in life, even the divine flow can be taken for granted. And the more you take it for granted, the more likely you are to easily forget many of the miracles that have happened in your life—especially the smaller ones. Even recent occurrences can quickly be forgotten.
If you really want to fully experience the divine flow in your life, I suggest that you always take a moment to stop what you are doing and be consciously grateful for every little miracle that occurs. Celebrate it! Revel in it! Only then will you begin to get an accurate sense of how miraculous this world of ours truly is.
As Albert Einstein is quoted as saying: “There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
I choose the latter way of living. And it has improved my life dramatically.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Friday, August 7, 2009
Meditation and The Divine Flow, Part 3
August 9, 2009
Dear Friends,
This message concludes my three-part series on meditation, and how a daily practice of meditation greatly enhances your ability to live life in the divine flow.
Two weeks ago I explained how meditation helps create gaps between your thoughts, so you are more readily open to divine insights, inspiration, and intuitive guidance. Last week I described the way that meditation helps you stay more connected to your spirit throughout the day, so you can respond to challenging people and situations in a wiser way.
This week I want to point out how meditation helps you maintain present-moment awareness, which is one of the keys to living life in the divine flow.
If you are not familiar with meditation, you might assume that it’s all about mentally escaping the now moment. And yes, there are plenty of guided meditations that do, indeed, take you somewhere else in time and space. But strictly speaking, most guided meditations are really visualizations, which serve a different purpose.
The form of meditation that I practice is specifically designed to center all of your attention in the here and now, by focusing first on your breathing (because your body is always in the present), and then focusing on a mantra (a special phrase you repeat to yourself) to help displace your usual thoughts—the kind of thoughts that propel you elsewhere.
It’s true, that after your meditation is over, it may be a challenge for you to stay in the present moment, and not drift off into reflections on the past or projections into the future. But your tendency to do that will be greatly reduced . . . especially after several weeks of consistent practice.
And the benefit of being more centered in the here and now? You will be much more aware of all the divine signs and celestial synchronicities that are guiding you to your highest good.
As I have said many times before, the presence of the flow is sensed in the present. The present is where you have to be in order to see the signs and notice the synchronicities.
In short, to receive the gifts of the flow you must be here, now. And being here—now—is what meditation, as I practice it, helps you do.
I hope that my last three messages have added to your understanding of meditation, and the important part that it plays in living life in the divine flow—how it helps you be more intuitive, more responsive, and more present.
For more information about the form of meditation that I practice, here is a webpage I found that describes it nicely:
www.alternative-medicine.net/meditation/english.html
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
This message concludes my three-part series on meditation, and how a daily practice of meditation greatly enhances your ability to live life in the divine flow.
Two weeks ago I explained how meditation helps create gaps between your thoughts, so you are more readily open to divine insights, inspiration, and intuitive guidance. Last week I described the way that meditation helps you stay more connected to your spirit throughout the day, so you can respond to challenging people and situations in a wiser way.
This week I want to point out how meditation helps you maintain present-moment awareness, which is one of the keys to living life in the divine flow.
If you are not familiar with meditation, you might assume that it’s all about mentally escaping the now moment. And yes, there are plenty of guided meditations that do, indeed, take you somewhere else in time and space. But strictly speaking, most guided meditations are really visualizations, which serve a different purpose.
The form of meditation that I practice is specifically designed to center all of your attention in the here and now, by focusing first on your breathing (because your body is always in the present), and then focusing on a mantra (a special phrase you repeat to yourself) to help displace your usual thoughts—the kind of thoughts that propel you elsewhere.
It’s true, that after your meditation is over, it may be a challenge for you to stay in the present moment, and not drift off into reflections on the past or projections into the future. But your tendency to do that will be greatly reduced . . . especially after several weeks of consistent practice.
And the benefit of being more centered in the here and now? You will be much more aware of all the divine signs and celestial synchronicities that are guiding you to your highest good.
As I have said many times before, the presence of the flow is sensed in the present. The present is where you have to be in order to see the signs and notice the synchronicities.
In short, to receive the gifts of the flow you must be here, now. And being here—now—is what meditation, as I practice it, helps you do.
I hope that my last three messages have added to your understanding of meditation, and the important part that it plays in living life in the divine flow—how it helps you be more intuitive, more responsive, and more present.
For more information about the form of meditation that I practice, here is a webpage I found that describes it nicely:
www.alternative-medicine.net/meditation/english.html
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
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