Welcome to the Ball

In all ten directions of the universe,
there is only one truth.
When we see clearly, the great teachings are the same.
What can ever be lost? What can be attained?
If we attain something, it was there from the beginning of time.
If we lose something, it-is hiding somewhere near us.
Look: this ball in my pocket:
can you see how priceless it is?

- RYOKAN (1758-1831)

We often search the world to find the perfect cure, but what if everything we ever needed was already contained within? This is the gift of acknowledging Life Force Energy and learning how to play with it, kind of like a ball. It so easy to take ourselves very seriously, but what if life could be fun, even amidst all the chaos? Perhaps a light attitude is what is needed? Light as a feather or air in a balloon. Light as the sun or a candle on a lonely hill.

Whatever it is you find yourself doing, whether it’s energy healing, or yoga, or mediation, etc. and the energy feels stagnant or stuck, you might ask yourself: Am I trying too hard? Do I want results so badly, I’m actually holding that point of view in place? Ironic isn’t it, that sometimes the thing we want most, can seem the most elusive, but that’s only because we expect it to be a certain way. Let go of expectations and suddenly there it is, so much greater than imagined.

Like Playing Ball

Sounds simple to talk about, though of course the practice is a practice. Wanting, receiving and letting go. It’s kind of like playing ball. You might want the ball but if you over focus on the person holding it and pressure them to throw it your way, they’ll get annoyed and will either lunge the ball at you when you least expect it, and away it'll roll, or they’ll pass it to someone else. Instead, if you’re relaxed about it and have patience, they’ll happily pass it to you. You’ll most likely catch it, and then what happens next? You pass it back. That’s how you have a game. Hold onto it for too long, everyone complains or gets bored and wanders off.

It’s sort of like this with everything we do, though the breath comes to mind. We breathe in gently with light intention and then we let go and exhale, and repeat. Rather than becoming an exercise of endurance and rigor, especially when doing Quantum-Touch, it becomes fun. We hold the person lightly in our awareness, but again, no pressure required. I bring this all up because sometimes I have encountered people working very hard at doing energy healing techniques, and lamenting that they’re not feeling anything.

In these cases, I might pass on the wisdom that I have received from my teachers, to work a little less hard, give your body the space to feel the energy flow. We are our bodies and the energy is not separate from us, even if at times it may feel this way. If you think about it, it’s actually miraculous that we’re here at all. Every breath we take and every breath we give is a great gift to be appreciated for miles.

Something to Play with When Feeling Down

This might be something to play with when feeling down or depressed. Simply begin with your breath, feel it stretch, each inhale and exhale. Feel the motion it creates within your body, giving you life right now. What a gift to marvel at!

Being in nature is so effective for this reason. Nature contains the breath, the very air we breathe, in infinite abundance. Every tree holds all the answers of the universe. As you breathe, allow yourself to listen. What message are you hearing today?

This is what I hear:

You are worthy
You are love
You are the sky
And the stars above

You are the night
As you are the day
You are the curtain
As you are the play

You are this moment
And everything that flows
You are the gift
With ribbons and bows

You are splendid
Just as you are
And in your own life
You are always a star.