DREAMS

Honoring my fascination with dreams, I learned a good method of working with them from the writings of Robert Johnson, Jungian analyst and author of many wonderful books.  He wrote “ He,” “She,” and “We.”  He said that his book, Inner Work, might have been called “It.”  I love his books and had the privilege of seeing him in person at the Jung Center in Houston, Texas many years ago.  I keep journals of my dreams and search for the meaning to me personally but also sometimes receiving deep meaning from the great Source energy.   Read more...

CATS AND CONSCIOUSNESS by Cindy Sullivan

From Marj, Your Pocket Grandmother,

Cindy Sullivan is one of my favorite writers.  She happens to also be a member of my Women’s Wisdom Group, so I asked her permission to post this latest essay.  Enjoy!

 

CATS AND CONSCIOUSNESS

 

At 65, I still don’t know what to do with my life, but meanwhile, I am feeding abandoned cats, transforming the world one cat at a time.

 

In so many ways, this is “not me.”  I don’t really like cats, never wanted a pet, find animal stories tiresome. But still, every morning at 7:00 a.m. I find myself putting on jogging shorts, packing up baggies of cat food, and driving to the path at the edge of the university where 15 to 20 abandoned and feral cats live between the dorms and the bay.   Their’s is a perilous existence. On the water side of the path is brush and marsh land which is home to gorgeous shore birds, but also to raccoons and coyotes. On the other side of the path is a long stretch of dorms and parking lots. The path itself is used by oblivious joggers, racing  bicyclists,  student bird photographers, maintenance men on big noisy carts, lawn keepers with mowers, men with metal sticks for stabbing trash or  smelly chemicals to control pests,and  the occasional dog, with or without its owner. If I try to feed them before full light, the raccoons chase them off and eat the food. If I am later than 7:30 a.m., flocks of sea gulls attack them and eat the food. This university sits on an island. Other than boat, the only way off is by way of a very busy four-lane highway. The cats are stuck.

I never intended to feed the cats; I used the path for a 3 mile jog. It took about 6 months before I started noticing the same cats peeking at me along the trail. As they got used to me, several would howl piteously as I ran by. Before long I started talking to them and then I took them a Christmas dinner including paper plates and wet food and water! Their excitement brought me joy. Things progressed or regressed depending on your point of view. Word spread an  before long there were 15 or so cats scattered along the path waiting for food every morning. I couldn’t carry both food and water so I made a decision that I would just take food. Even that is heavy, and before long I stopped running and just jogged, and then I stopped jogging and just walked, and now I just go feed the cats.

 

Some say to me that cats are wild animals and capable of caring for themselves. Perhaps. I  could say the same thing about humans, but I wouldn’t leave you outside with no shelter and no food and no water forever until you become food for coyotes or die from hunger, or heat and thirst and exhaustion,or from cutting yourself on a broken bottle.

 

 

This cat endeavor costs more than I can afford; it takes more time than I want to spend; it keeps me from exercising; it  makes going out of town painful. And it makes me a bit of a laughing stock among my friends and acquaintances. I now fit the cliche of the  old woman using her small pension to feed cats. I endure all sorts of empty comments and knowing smiles from people who really think I am getting my own needs met in the cliche of feeding strays. There is more.

 

We who are awake like to think of ourselves as Evolutionaries, as people who are living beyond  the insanities of modern culture. We aspire toward social artistry. We work to  transform the consciousness of ourselves,and all humanity. It  seems, however, that we have vastly under-estimated the incredible richness of the natural world that is really here.  If we are to live in transformed consciousness,  then, surely, we must offer the animal and plant and, maybe, even the mineral kingdoms our compassion, or at least our understanding.

 

Culture is obviously opening to inclusivity. We are trying to let to go of attitudes of racism and sexism and ageism, but what about speciesism?  I look forward to a time when we include the other species on the planet when we speak of loss due to fire or tornadoes. How can a newscaster possibly say, “fortunately there was no loss of life” after a forest fire. Do we so take the trees and grass and birds for granted that we don’t see their loss. Or is the recognition just too painful to carry. If I truly open my heart to all the pain there is here, will I be able to stand up? Maybe not. But ignoring it isn’t working either. Joseph Campbell called humanity the consciousness of the planet.  If so, then we must start growing our eyes and our hearts to embody the dignity of that position here on Earth. We need more wisdom!

 

As a culture we have progressed to the point where we look to nature for more than oxygen and wood and water. We do recognize its outrageous beauty and its ability to model almost everything from architecture to sustainable social systems.  But we still act like the top of the hierarchy, expecting that our good fortune will trickle down to the animals. At the risk of sounding ridiculous, I really  do feel  that as humans live more satisfying lives and find bigger dreams, then so should the elephants, and the trees, and, yes, even the humble cats.

 

Anyone who has paid real attention to an animal knows that creatures are capable of moral choices. These little cats are living at the extreme of survival. They are skinny, scarred, and scared. But still, they share their food. And when I have poured their little piles of food on the cold cement of the lamp posts where I feed them, they stop, look at me and meow before ravenously attacking the food. You can call it what you will, but I call it gratitude. And as I come back down the same path where they have been fed, they call to me with their tiny little voices from the high grass at the side of the path where they hide. Usually it is just a single vocal sound which sounds to me  like, “I am here. Thank you.”

 

We all know the blessings offered by nature. Every one of us has enjoyed the comfort of a leafy green tree offered in a time of pain, or the sweetness of a rose bush in a place of despair. We feel deeply humbled in the majesty of mountains and  the power of the ocean.  Our feet are joyful walking on green  grass, and we smile watching squirrels chase each other in play. The sight of a dolphin leaves us breathless and a spider web leaves us awed. How then can we ignore their pain and their despair when we make decisions about oil drilling and parking lots and another, yes, another Walmart.

I know I sound preachy and way too serious. I haven’t made you laugh,  or opened your hearts. But I so am deeply deeply troubled by this issue that I can’t get to my own “lightness of being.” I just want to stand on street corners like the Salvation Army and scream at people to wake up, or drive around town with an enormous megaphone castigating strangers, or run away, join Green Peace and spend my life chasing Japanese whaling boats.

 

I once had a wisdom dream. I was lying absolutely still and a million wasps covered my face. I knew that if I so much as blinked an eye I would be stung. I imagined the pain and knew I would die. So I was caught between paralysis and death. What to do? After some agonizing time pondering my choices, Wisdom came as a disembodied voice. She said, “There is a third option; communicate with the wasps and ask them to leave.” In  absolute wonder I immediately awoke. Since then, I have never doubted the profound intelligence of nonhuman life. That doesn’t mean that I will let scorpions live with me, but it does mean that I will think hard about what to do about such a situation.

We speak blithely about the religion of kindness, but does it stop with our neighbors?

I don’t know how to make the whole nature-people-living-together-in-a-finite-space- thing work, but I know with my whole being that unless we offer compassion and graciousness to all living things, we will not, cannot move into transformation.

 

What would happen if humanity began to make intelligent and wise decisions based on the needs and desires of the animal kingdom even when it meant having to give up some of what we want? Imagine a huge out cry of relief and appreciation coming from all creatures —from whales and wild horses and dragonflies and flamingos. Imagine  cherry trees and azaleas and jasmine and magnolias all blossoming in gratitude. Can we begin to perceive the unfathomable beauty of such a festival of joy?  Surely, even  Al Qaeda would have to give up hatred and fall into the splendid light of such a powerful loving  consciousness.

 

 

Cindy Sullivan

NEW YEAR! NEW YOU!

My first event in 2013 is a workshop I am planning for the women of our church.  The workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday,  January 12, 2013 and end at 1:00 p.m.  Why the women of our church?  Since 2009, Paul and I have been enjoying our membership in Unity of Wimberley, a congregation of incredible people.  First, there was a core group from the beginning who were willing to put effort and time into the creation of this organization.  I am so grateful that they persevered through the founding years so that it could grow into the spiritual community that now exists.  There are artists, scientists, writers, naturalists, teachers, counselors, ranchers, entrepreneurs, business folks, healers, and many more categories of people who attend Unity of Wimberley.  We have found a spiritual home and are very grateful for the stimulating, growth-provoking Sunday services.  The leadership of Reverend Ellen Debenport is the major reason we like this community.  She is the real attraction factor and every talk she gives provides great food for spiritual growth.  Kit Holmes is music director and brings us to new spiritual levels of celebration in every service.

So, I want to give something back.   This workshop is my contribution to our Amazing Year, 2013,  at Unity of Wimberley.

“New Year-New You” is a workshop featuring the roles that women live, just because we are born female.  We are daughters, mothers, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, wives, lovers, independent women, mid-wives and spiritual women.  I will use my old Possible Woman workshop and condense it from the time span of one whole weekend to a short (four hour) workshop.  I intend it to be provocative, stimulating, inspirational, and safe.  I want to have fun with whomever shows up.  So I will incorporate some of Jean Houston’s mystery school, some of Jean Shinoda Bolen’s “Goddesses in Everywoman” and some of my own story as well as the stories of the women who attend.  All we have is our story and if we want to create an amazing year in 2013, this workshop will start that process.

If you are one of the women from Unity of Wimberley, please plan to attend.  Let me know if you are coming so that I can prepare for you.  I will have a sign-up sheet at church and the fee is a donation to Unity of Wimberley.  Yes, you may bring your friends even if they are not regulars at Unity.

Bring journals, dress comfortably, and prepare to open your heart and mind to the new year in the most amazing possibility ever.  Dream in advance about 2013, who you want to be, what you want to do, and the things you want to have.  Be ready to envision and receive your highest possible good, your truest self, and a future that creates your happiness advantage.

As my friend, Betty Rothenberger in California, signs her letters……..I, too, say…..

“in the dance…”

With love, Marj Barlow

 

 

May 6, 2011 WOMEN’S WISDOM GROUP

Note from Marj–This post is written by Debra LeBlanc.  Debra and Barbara Morris are now administering this group.  (My intention is to create the future by wise succession planning–and this is turning out to be a good move!).  Debra writes so well, Barbara keeps up with the logistics and the two of them are excellent leaders of this group, which is still going strong since 1981.  Population shifts but the spirit remains.  Enjoy Debra’s narrative of the fabulous meeting at Mary Davis’ lovely townhome in Boerne, TX.  A good time was had by all.

from Debra:  Good Afternoon Wise Wonderful Women,

I hope you all had a wonderful Mothers’ Day week-end!! What a lovely day Sunday was!

We had a great turnout for our April meeting at Marys’ home in Boerne. Thirteen [13] awesome ladies came to share the excitement of not only getting together with one another, but also the royal wedding. In honor of both William & Kate and Mothers Day, we were treated to royalty as well. With a glass of champagne in hand, [9:30am] and twinkle Tiaras’ on our heads we toasted the newlyweds and  All Royal Mothers!! Thank You Mary for hosting us and for feeding all our hungry bellies!
You ladies looked ROYAL!!

I would first like to share with everyone the exciting award Marj has received at the Possible Woman Leadership Conference of 2011. The beautiful glass award is inscribed as follows:

““`Woman Of Inspiration Award 2011

““““`Dr. Marjorie R. Barlow
In recognition of your dauntless Vision,

dedication to Integrity and tireless Pursuit

of continuous Learning.
You are truly an Inspiration to all.
Read more...

WOMEN’S WISDOM GROUP–01/14/11

Note from Marj:  The following is an abbreviated version of Debra’s incredible account of our meeting this week.  I am so grateful to the young women, Barbara and Debra, who have pitched in to help out on the necessary details of keeping this group going.  We have met continuously since 1981.  The population has shifted over the years but the culture is still outrageously edgy!  Thank you, Wise Women of South Texas. Read more...