Please excuse the long delay from the last post here.  The Center just held a most important ceremony last weekend, the Sun Moon dance, with about 60 people here.  It was an amazing weekend, 27 dancers, and many people who came here and experienced ceremony for the first time.  The energy was just amazing.  When so many people come together to focus on their spiritual growth something magical happens.

I was the leader of the drum, which provided the heartbeat and song of the dance.  There has been a lot of controversy about who is qualified to sit in this position lately, so for me, there was a quality of uncertainty “is what I am doing right?”  One of the dance leaders said, “if we are doing it wrong, we’ll know, the energy won’t be there”.  Gratefully that was not the case!  Every drum round and song carried the energy the dancers needed.  I was so relieved!  Yet  the discussion around this subject has been a blessing to me, since as a result I tuned in to the Spirit of the Drum and received messages strong and clear about the role of the drum and my part in it.  I asked recently why the learning seems to be so difficult and the answer came “because you don’t pay attention to it otherwise!”

On Saturday night after a long day, a group of people were standing around the central tree, waiting for a private ceremony to begin, when I heard these words:  “In small moments like these, Grace is given.” My interpretation of this is that when we wait for Spirit-led ceremony to happen, listening for guidance and acting in faith, regardless of how long it takes, how tired we are, then we are blessed.  God doesn’t just show up in  big, showy actions, but is ever available when we give of ourselves.

On Monday, when the songs of the Eagle and Condor were played, and the prophecy regarding them was shared: “when the eagle of the north and the condor of the south fly together, peace will be present on the planet”. The voice spoke to me again, saying “you see how it is done, a piece at a time” reminding me that the smalll things we do affect everything.  Who knows, perhaps the simple fact that two sacred songs were played with intent might be the final “tipping point” that brings peace to the world.  I know the blessings of the dance will continue for me and the truths that were shared will enliven my life for some time. CRose

Grace and gratitude come from the same root word, which caries the meaning of gift or given. What I try to remember is that I live in a virtual “sea of grace”, in which grace is all there is. Whatever I can see, hear, taste, touch, feel, smell is some form of grace or gift, waiting for me to recognize and accept it. Recognizing and accepting have always been the hardest parts of it all for me!

I have had a relatively easy lifetime, yet I remember very clearly some experiences, which did not feel anywhere close to being a part of grace. Was my perception, which resulted in my feeling anger, hurt, fear, or disappointment, based on a clear understanding of the inherent nature of the experiences? Or was my perception blocking me from receiving something precious? My memory wants to say the former, but I believe the latter.

Yes, I agree:  my negative, suspicious mindset is really like an umbrella, holding off the gifts of life.  But I have found that a “thank you” — even if I must growl it — eventually has the effect of folding the umbrella and setting it aside.

This I do know and have experienced: If I can muster just a smidgen of gratitude, while looking the experience squarely in the face, I will see [eventually] that the hand of grace was behind it, offering me something beneficial.           — Perry

Just recently, I got the information about my spiritual job is to be happy. (See post below). I have since been mulling that over for insight. Several things having occurred in my life on the work and health fronts, I was wondering how one goes about being happy when it feels as if the universe is testing me. Then, as I did morning prayers on my deck one morning this week, I heard ” you have to be available for grace.”

What is that about? I would think that grace is available all the time. Why would I have to do anything other than believe to receive it? Some time ago I had a “teaching dream” (one where you are almost awake and Someone is telling you something) and this one had the visual of streams of Light and Energy coming down from God, only I had my umbrella up and it was not being received. The umbrella is negative attitude, fear, lack of trust, disbelief, etc. If God is continually raining grace down upon me, I have to put down the umbrella and allow it.

Why would I not do that, I ask myself? And remember a time when I was very naive and innocent, so much so I wore my “heart on my sleeve” and constantly felt hurt and ridicule by others who took advantage of my naivete. So I closed down, became more cynical, shut down my heart, not consciously of course, but through thinking that “so and so won’t be able to hurt me again.” It felt like protection, and it is…Protection from Grace.

What would it be like to put the umbrella down and be in God’s grace? I don’t know yet. Stay tuned.

One of the first major events at the Center for Peace was the Harmonic Convergence in August, 1987, which was all about the Mayan Calendar, earth changes, and what in the world is going to happen.  In those days I had a lot more time to meditate, listen to my Guides, and write than I do today.  Several times in those days I asked my Guides about this 2012 and what’s going to happen.  Consistently, I was told gently and firmly:  “That’s not your job.  Your job as about changing your mind, your life, and supporting others in doing the same.  And, by the way, when you are doing that you are changing the world and the future.”

If the “world’s going to end” tomorrow, my job is to be the most full and fulfilled Perry Robinson there can be.  I can focus on that; because I know that no one truly “dies”.  So whether I have fifty more seconds to live or another fifty years, my job is to change my mind, change my life, and support others in dong the same.

I totally agree with you, Cheryl, and with Joseph Rael:  Whatever 2012 is about, the quality of life at that time will absolutely depend upon what I — WE — do between now and then.  I am curious about that; AND I will spend very little time watching the clock tick.  – Perry

Contentment and happiness?  I guess the difference is one of quality and depth.

I can be content, for instance, just sitting at my computer playing “solitaire”.  Nothing is bothering me.  I am not upset about anything.  All systems are AOK.

But when I experience a “slice” of insight, or a moment of beauty, or witness someone “getting” a bit chunk of his/her life’s wisdom, or have a wonderful Fathers’ Day with family and friends, or in any of a thousand ways that I touch into what I call the Radiance of Life, these experiences “take the lid off” the spring of happiness and I get in touch with that unlimited pool of happiness, which flows into my consciousness.

I can “make” myself content; but I cannot “make” myself happy.  Happiness happens, when beyond expectations or striving I allow myself to be at one with life and with myself living and allow the natural resonance of this Garden of Eden to be my home.

There is quite a buzz of books on the ending of the Mayan calendar in 2012.  I am reading one now by Patricia Mercier that I really like.  In it, she meets and travels with Don Alejandro, the leader of the Queche Maya, who came here to the Center some years ago.  One of the insights is about the Web of Light and Life that is being woven by our current actions.  I like to think that the end is not permanently written as a disaster, but we can affect things even now 4 years out, by our thoughts and deeds.  Indeed, she calls this “weaving the golden threads”  bringing about changes throught positive actions and prayers. 

 In years past, when Joseph Rael was asked about “earth changes” or other predicted catastrophes, he always said “We’re changing that!”and went on the talk of buidling peace chambers, chanting for peace, the upcoming dances for visionary experiences, fire ceremonies, etc.  I still believe we have made changes in what might have been a darker future and now is certainly the time to not focus on our differences, but pull together to weave those golden threads into a future of peace and harmony.  CRose

Every now and then I “get information”, which I believe comes from Spirit into my mind based on the training I have taken and spiritual practices I have done.  I have learned shamanic journeying and practice it with a group here.  Journeying is “sending” your spirit out to get information and/or healing through spirit guides that have agreed to help do this spiritual work with you.  Another practice I do is to sit quietly in early morning or at night before retiring and ask for “guidance” to come to me about the day ahead or about the events of the day just ending.  So after utilizing these practices for quite a while, now information sometimes just comes to me, usually when I am engaged in some repetititve task that keeps me busy and my mind lightly engaged.

So yesterday, it came to me as I thought about the many jobs I do that “Your job is to be Happy!”.  I heard those words out of the blue, popped straight into my head with a neon light flashing. 

There are two parts to receiving spiritual information, one is to get yourself into the space where you can receive and the other is to use the information that comes to you.  The second is definitely the harder one.  So what do I do with the instruction “to be happy?”

I think I am fairly content in my life in spite of my tendency to “whine” about whatever small or large thing currently engaging my attention.  But I would not characterize myself as especially cheerful or happy.  I think my past roommates would agree with that assessment. 

Can you help me explore the difference between contentment and happiness? 

As I have written, I read a lot.  One book I am currently working my way through is written by Gary Zukav “Soul to Soul”.  One section discusses “loving the truth”.  The statement is made ” I love the truth more than I need to be loved.”  I have a long history of trying to please people.  I suppose I pleased people in order for them to love me and often that required NOT saying anything that would cause them to cease the loving.

Then a couple of years back something happened that caused me to rethink the whole truth vs.getting loving piece.  I realized the consequences of not speaking the truth could be worse than not being loved.  Other people could be hurt by my silence, how to justify that for my ego’s protection?    So I began my love affair with the truth, my truth, a truth.  The question is to discern WHEN to say that truth and when the greater good requires silence.  It’s a discernment I fear I sometimes fail to properly choose when I speak.  Do I have the right to determine when I follow my own guidance regardless of how it affects others?  Someone siad to me, what if everyone did that?

Any thoughts on that, Perry?

Hi,  This is Cheryl Rose checking in.  I’m the one on the right across from “fuzz-face” also known as Perry.  We share many viewpoints about spiritual subjects that are similar.  And a few that are different, so there might be some interesting dialogue between the two of us. 

I like to read a lot on spiritual subjects and always come across ideas and quotes from my current readings about which I would love feedback.  So I’ll be sharing some new books.  And also talking about events occurring at the Center for Peace.

Looking forward to comments and exchange of viewpoints.  Right, Perry?

Welcome to Centerpoints.  In this blog I intend several things:

1. to express thoughts which come to me as “I need to share this” from time to time.

2. to welcome your thoughts of the same nature.

3. hopefully, to encourage all people to be open to — and to listen to — the Divine Presence within, by whatever name you wish to call It.

4. to focus on what “has worked” for me on my journey of inner peace.

So to begin:  I have difficulty visualizing THE ALL THAT IS [one of many terms that I usually substitute for what most people call "God"] being impressed with either my doctrine or yours; so I hope to stay as far away from “dogmatism” as possible, inviting you to do likewise.

What has worked well for me is to accept the idea that THE ALL THAT IS somehow has a “hand” in my life and, maybe, knows me better than I know myself. This make it easier for me not to rely so much on “what I think about myself” [especially, when I am down] or to worry so much about what others may think of me.

There’s something freeing about that for me.
Perry