Tag: Dan Millman

A Cure For Bordom

“Banality is like boredom: bored people are boring people, people who think that things are banal are themselves banal.
Interesting people can find something interesting in all things.”
― Idries Shah

 

Does what you’re doing seem really tedious? Does it feel like the world has ceased to entertain you and that what you do seems repetitive and has lost meaning? When is the last time you studied something new? or made up words to a song inside your head? When is the last time you really tried to answer questions about meaning that you may have given up on? When is the last time you wondered how your life would be different if everyone you knew was gender-swapped? How about wondering if it was possible that everyone around you had actually reached the peak of spiritual evolution and your mission in life was to learn from them everything you possibly could? Do things seem a bit less boring now? As Dan Millman expresses it in his Peaceful Warrior books “There is never nothing going on,”
Blessings, G

 

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Come This WayCome This Way by G A Rosenberg

 

Balanced AbstractionBalanced Abstraction by G A Rosenberg

Removing the Armour

“You haven’t yet opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior’s way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability–to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt. All along I’ve shown you by example that a warrior’s life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior’s sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.”
― Dan Millman

 

What do you use for armour? I have used humour and I have used anger. I have used words,  sorrow and resignation. Each of these offered me various degrees of protection. They protected me from love. They protected me from awareness. They protected me at times from realizing that things were not as frightening as I believed they were. They protected me from exposing myself to my whole being. Now this warrior is weary. Piece by piece I dismantle my armour. I realize that even if battle killed my form that this is merely a suit of clothes that I wear. I have worn others in other lives. If I become hurt, then I will learn the lessons of pain and I will grow stronger. I will lead with my love and my thirst for understanding as open as I can and I know that no matter what transpires I will triumph.
Blessings, G

 

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Contemplating TransformationContemplating Transformation by G A Rosenberg

 

Emoting StarEmoting Star by G A Rosenberg

Finding the Love

“A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does”
― Dan Millman

 

Finding the love in what you do is easier sometimes than it is at others. Obvious yes but still how often do we miss the obvious because it doesn’t fell like it is worth stating? I love making art. I love writing poetry. I love thinking about thing I have never thought of before or thinking of an old thing in a new way. I love walking in nature. I love meditating. I love reading. I love talking to really amazing people both online and off and learning from them. I love music. I love exploring the nature of the All and of love. It has brought more joy to me than I can say that I’ve been able to do so many of the things that I love this past year or two and I feel like I have been touched by a unique grace.
Then there are the necessities, the things we don’t necessarily love that we have to do. Like cleaning the bathroom or washing the dishes or laundry. You can add to the list dealing with loved ones when they’re cranky or having serious questions with people who don’t want to climb out of their box even to look into mine. Yet still with some effort I can get those done. While cleaning I can engage in a conversation with myself about myths or legends or the nature of love. I can listen to an audiobook or I can make a game of the cleaning. Just how clean can I make that toilet? I can write an ode to the leftover pasta sauce on the underside of the bowl I can think of the faces of all those I love or recite a theme song to a 60’s television show. I can find the joy or the love in what I do. Oh its not always easy. You know what else isn’t easy? Anything you fail to try to do.
Blessings, G

 

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Queen of the Fractal GladeQueen of the Fractal Glade by G A Rosenberg

 

SplatteredSplattered by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – November 17 2012

“Moderation? It’s mediocrity, fear, and confusion in disguise. It’s the devil’s dilemma. It’s neither doing nor not doing. It’s the wobbling compromise that makes no one happy. Moderation is for the bland, the apologetic, for the fence-sitters of the world afraid to take a stand. It’s for those afraid to laugh or cry, for those afraid to live or die. Moderation…is lukewarm tea, the devil’s own brew.”
― Dan Millman

 

I admit it. I go to extremes. I’ve never been very good at doing something part way. I have to throw myself into any belief system, lifestyle or adventure I find myself in. I guess in the context of our conversation yesterday, I am a gourmand rather than a gourmet, I can’t just sample something, I have to become it. Eventually it will occur to me how extreme whatever I have been doing is and I will incorporate the parts that worked and let go of the ones that didn’t . This process sometimes takes awhile and requires lots of self-checking. Eventually tho I integrate that experience and go on to the next one.
I don’t believe I’m alone in this process. I have seen many people do this with relationships. They find the one man or woman who can show them most what they need to learn, experience the relationship, usually get hurt in just the way they need to and then go on. Hopefully they can see that that person was brought into their lives to teach them those things and not hold on to anger and resentment for the lesson.  Learning the lesson without becoming bitter at the instructor can be a difficult dance. It helps to remember that we are the ones who have drawn that person, that particular lesson into our lives if only by our need to learn it. Accepting the responsibility precludes indulging in victimization.
Blessings, G

 

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Ten of Cups by G A Rosenberg

 

Ten of Swords by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – November 6 2012

“You haven’t yet opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior’s way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability–to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt. All along I’ve shown you by example that a warrior’s life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior’s sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.”
— Dan Millman

 

Most of the time when we refer to someone as being lucky in love, we mean that they have had happy and successful relationships. Perhaps and regrettably the phrase is used more often than not in negation, talking about someone’s lack of love.  Yet to me every chance I have to love brings fortune especially if I can enter into it with little or no expectations, especially that of having my love reciprocated.

What an amazing gift of the universe, this ability to feel the essentiality of another person and to truly value them. The more we can love, the more we can appreciate the gift that the other person is and the more people whom we can love the greater the gift.

With deepest gratitude, blessings and love, G

 

Lost in an Opalescent Landscape by G A Rosenberg

 

Braving the Elements by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – September 18 2012

“A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does”
― Dan Millman

 

Somedays it gets harder than others. Could be a thousand small fires or messes spring up that have to be solve. Perhaps arguments with loved ones. Perhaps we fell just distracted diffused and impatient and irritable. Somedays we have to work to feel love for what we’re doing and see the beauty that’s out there. Because face it, the world has as much magic when we’re a mess as it is when we’re centred and feeling the joy.  It may be a bit more difficult to see it and appreciate it. Sounds like it may be time to take a deep breath, count to 10 and find something to appreciate, something that may make us smile. Curiosity has always been a good thing for me. What can happen next? What outlandish thing can I think of? What could the true nature of that flower be? How many colours in the sun? What’s the most beautiful thing in my line of sight. What do you love? Where can you see it the most closely? Go there if only in your mind…

Blessings, G

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Ganesh Within by G A Rosenberg

 

Lonely Orb in the Mind Stream by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – July 14 2012

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
― William Butler Yeats

Another night walking the dogs. The skies are hazy due to fires in Washington and the moon down to her last quarter so the night with its first cool breeze kind of wraps around us as we walk. I hold the question in my mind about what subject should I use for tonight’s blog and the answer comes back “Wonder” and for several minutes the inner light flashes on. I reach out for a tree and I feel it still filled with life not only its own but that of the moss and bugs that call it home. A plane flies overhead and I get struck by the lives of all the passengers, some of them reading and sleeping. Others waiting to land with the accompanying little thrill of anticipation that strike so many of us at take offs and landings.

I pass houses and people sleep, read, watch television, read email, each ones with lives at least as vital as my own. Grass and other plants sleep for the night but still have the imperative to grow and thrive. I have been experiencing first hand that Dan Millman quote from his Peaceful Warrior books that there is ‘never nothing happening” and its amazing. I feel gratitude for the gift of insight.
Blessings, G

 

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Night Journey by G A Rosenberg

 

Atomic Teal Mandala by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – January 24 2012

“‎”When we feel stuck, going nowhere–even starting to slip backward–we may actually be backing up to get a running start.”
— Dan Millman

This quote resonates in all kinds of ways. Lately, despite minor ups and downs in my art and my life, I have felt a bit stagnant. Physically, I’ve been fighting colds and emotionally and mentally while working on the upbeat, knowing its all emotional weather patterns, I have been like a plane circling in the air looking to either land or take off and perhaps uncertain which one I’ve been heading for. I’ve been this way before a few times, usually before pretty intense life changes. Perhaps a new cycle may be about to begin. I find one thing about this feeling heartening. I have more patience with myself, with whatever emotions may flow through, even with whatever life may bring than I have had before. I trust the universe. It hasn’t let me down before. I only hope ultimately the reverse may be true also.
Namaste, G

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Seated by G A Rosenberg

Seated2 by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – December 7 2011

“So be gentle with yourself; show yourself the same kindness and patience you might show a young child – the child you once were. If you won’t be your own friend, who will be? If, when playing an opponent, you are also opposing yourself, you will be outnumbered.”
–Dan Millman

This lesson seemed to take so long to learn and accepting it has been one of the nicest things I can do for myself. So often, it feels easy to take things on when someone criticizes us. We feel bad then we start to feel sorry. We may lash out at the person who has criticized us without even trying to understand what brought them to say it. Usually it is something in them. When you feel criticized take a moment to ask your friend, your self. “Is this true?” “Do I really do this?” Perhaps you do then you can say to the person honestly “Thank you, I hadn’t realized…or thanks this is something i’ve been struggling with” Then go on. If its not true, thank them for their feedback (without sarcasm, remember they’re on their own voyage) then go on. This is not always easy. Namaste — GAR

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Act of Will by G A Rosenberg

Patterns Rising into the Light by G A Rosenberg

Quote of the Day – June 04 2011

“The first step to change,… is accepting your reality right now. Honoring your process. Compassionate self-awareness leads to change; harsh self-criticism only holds the pattern in place, creating a stubborn and defensive Basic Self. Be gentle with yourself as you would with a child. Be gentle but firm. Give yourself the space to grow. But remember that the timing is in god’s hands, not yours.”

                –Dan Millman

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Loving Hands by G A Rosenberg