12/21/17

12/21/17

7:40 PM

Me: Hey Charlie. I’m feeling playful.

Charlie: I know. You want to call me “honey buns” or something.

Me: Good grief. It’s embarrassing how well you know me.

Charlie: Why embarrassing?

Me: Well, it’s even more embarrassing now knowing that everything we say might be posted on this blog.

Charlie: Let me assure you that if there is anything we talk about that should not be posted I will let you know.

Me: Oh that’s a relief. So, what’s up for discussion now?

Charlie: Relationships.

Me: What kind of relationships?

Charlie: All relationships. It’s important for people to see relationships as reflections not as real things.

Me: That’s a bit challenging Charlie. How can relationships not be real things?

Charlie: Reality from your perspective is not as solid and objective as people think. What you see in other people, or even other things and animals, are reflections of who you are and has nothing to do with anything outside of yourself.

Me: Your talking about me or everyone?

Charlie: Everyone and everything. The eyes you’re looking out from, the ears and all your senses, are just receiving various kinds of vibrations. It’s the mind that deciphers them to create its pseudo-reality. Every sensory input is deciphered by the mind not by anything “real” outside itself.

Me: I’ve heard that before but it seems impossible to believe that if someone hurts someone or even kills someone, that’s not real?

Charlie: If someone kills someone or anything, it’s still just a shift in perspective.

Me: I don’t know Charlie. If someone hurts or kills me I can see how it’s a shift in perspective but it’s real isn’t it?

Charlie: No, not real in terms of villain/victim. Those mental conceptions are illusory constructs. If you eat a fruit it’s not a victim and you are not a villain. There is just shifting energy of life source. All things and all points of awareness are shifting focal points of energy.

Me: Aren’t we getting a little carried away Charlie? I don’t know if this is a good subject for the blog. It seems to abstract.

Charlie: The point I want to make is that whatever people think is being done to them is actually just a perception in their mind creating an emotional response. If you read about a mass shooting your fearful or angry response comes from a mental construct; beliefs and patterns of thought that have come together in the mind. If you see a tree fall are you horrified by all of the life that is destroyed with it? Birds nests? Ant colonies? All the life that gets crushed under it?

Me: That’s different.

Charlie: It’s only different according to your mind's perspective. People have things categorized by good/bad, just/in just, acceptable/unacceptable etc.

Me: You’re telling me suffering isn’t real. How can anyone buy that? Animals suffer.

Charlie: Pain and suffering are two completely different things. All living things can feel pain. It's built into the living body for the purpose of preservation. But suffering involves all the mental stories people tell themselves about being a victim or villain. Those beliefs about losing what they hold dear or getting what they don’t want, add layers of suffering on top of normal pain, which is just a passing physical sensation. There’s so much mental confusion in the minds of people.

Me: Are you sure you want me to post this Charlie? Some people might get upset.

Charlie: Yes. Post it. Some people will understand it and try to pay more attention to their fabricated beliefs that are causing too much suffering. Not everyone will hear it of course.

Me: Oh dear. Okay.

Charlie: We’ll probably talk a lot more about this later on down the road. This is good enough for now. Good night my honey buns.  I’ll meet you in your dreams.

Me: Lol!  Good night Charlie. <3

12/20/17

12/20/17

1:35 pm

Me: Hi Charlie.

Charlie: Hi my love.

Me: What should we talk about?

Charlie: So much to say.

Me: What stands out? Anything?

Charlie: Not off the top. How do you feel?

Me: I’m tired. I have so much to do before everyone comes for Christmas.

Charlie: Everything will get done. It will be a good time.

Me: How can you know things like that?

Charlie: I can see it. It’s the trajectory of this timeline but things can skip.

Me: Skip?

Charlie: You know, depending on what your thoughts are doing. When you are feeling peaceful and anticipating things with an open mind and spacious heart things seem to ’magically’ work out. You’ve been meditating and practicing metta so things are on a good trajectory.

Me: Trajectory? You mean as in aiming in a good direction?

Charlie: That’s one way to see it. It’s more energy related though not spatially.

Me: Is it true that if people have a more open heart things just magically work out?

Charlie: It may seem like magic but it’s actually quite scientific from an earthly perspective. Most people think that just being nice and lovable is like burying their heads in the sand and not acknowledging the suffering in the world. But like I said yesterday, it does no good to be in an ongoing state of fear or anxiety. Those states of mind will shut down creative solutions. You basically get locked into reactivity, which is just karma running off. It goes nowhere and becomes self perpetuating. Whereas a mind at peace is an open door inviting insight and creative solutions. It’s very powerful. It can create anything. But when worries and anxieties arise they cast a shadow and close the door on inspiration and creative responses.

Me: I guess that’s why the Dalai Lama says cultivating compassion is the most powerful thing people can do for the world.

Charlie: Yes. It’s not just an airy fairy thing. It’s essential for finding wonderful and creative solutions for the hardships of the world. The solutions are out there ready to be received but right now there’s so much anxiety and fear that not enough people are receiving the solutions. It doesn’t matter what any state of affairs looks like, no matter how hopeless things may seem. Solutions are everywhere. But a fish can’t receive food if it keeps its head in the mud.

Me: Cute analogy – weird but I get the point.

Charlie: I’ll work on my analogies. Lol! J It’s fun.

Me: Anything else?

Charlie: I like that you really want to let go of your concerns about this blog. It feels like an active stretching your faith doesn’t it?

Me: Yes.

Charlie: You’re worried about not having answers if people start asking questions.

Me: That’s for sure.

Charlie: Don’t worry. Just stay with me. Just keep doing what you’re doing. You know it’s hard to swim when you’re all tensed up.

Me: That’s a really good analogy. I like that one.

Charlie: :-)

12/19/17

12/19/17
1:00 PM

Me: We're back aren't we Charlie. It's been a long time since we talked on paper.

Charlie: We've been through a lot with Mika's kidney transplant and now getting ready for Christmas. You've been a bit scattered but at least you've been meditating again. Nice.

Me: Yeah. I'm feeling a lot more grounded especially now that Mika can drive again and his new kidney is doing great. What a relief. Is there anything to talk about?

Charlie: I know you're feeling apprehensive about this blog.

Me: That's because, as you know, I've never shared you with anyone. Is it going to effect the way we communicate? I don't want anything to change. I like things the way things are with you.

Charlie: The only thing that could change is if you get spooked and drop the ball. I hope you won't throw me out the window again. If you stick with it you won't regret it. You're just nervous about people's reactions. You also just don't trust yourself to be consistent. Just forget all that. You worry too much.

Me: Tell me about fear Charlie.

Charlie:  Well, it's like a contraction in a muscle.  It keeps things moving. But this world, especially these days is having a real Charlie Horse of a cramp in its psyche. Lol!  No pun intended. Anyway, all the fear that's being presented in the media is just to steer unaware people in a certain direction.  Yes, there are some people who want to control everything but people don't need to be controlled. There's a fear cycle happening.  If someone cries 'fire' everyone becomes frightened, which makes other people frightened, which ends up with everyone reacting from their survival reptilian brain. When that happens (this certainly isn't the first time) people lose their ability to access wisdom, insight and creative solutions. It's not that fear is innately bad. Every living creature has it, even plants. It's just when it becomes chronic. Unrelenting fear creates chaos not solutions. It also makes people sick and depressed as you know. There's a lot of confusion about how to respond to fear. If you're being physically attacked you have built in instincts to react. But if you're just being emotionally challenged by something some people believe you have to kill the perpetrator to get rid of the problem but that's not a good solution. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but the best way to deal with it is to find a way to not be afraid. That way you have a far better chance of gaining access to insight. The solution will appear either as an idea or the fabric of the environment shifts. I know peace, love and avocados may sound flimsy and unrealistic but it's not. It creates a potential for vastly more creative solutions by providing access to parts of the mind that are shut down when there is chronic fear.

Me: What do you mean 'the fabric of the environment can shift?'

Charlie: That's an enormous subject. It's not so much that the fabric of the environment itself changes but your perception changes. You know those artist who create 3D works of art that look completely different depending on where you're standing? One side looks like a jumbles mess of metal, boxes and wire and the other side looks like an exquisite portrayal of a beautiful face or something. It's all in the point of perception.   It's actually much more complicated than that, which involves shifting paralleled realities but let's not get too complicated right now.  For now, let's just say standing in fear creates a perception of a jumbled, confusing mess while an open heart and mind can see the creative solutions and move forward with inspiration.  So whatever you can do; meditate, breathe, send out loving prayers, smell flowers and look at the sunrise, find things to be grateful for.. these aren't passive, wimpy things. These are doorways to creativity. Just hold the wish to see powerful solutions and then, when they come to you by way of an idea or intuition, if your heart and mind are open and clear, you will be motivated by inspiration, not fear.

9/03/17

9/3/2017

12:34 PM

Me: What do you think is going on Charlie? I’m not feeling well. Am I getting sick?

Charlie: You’re off balance. It’s mostly stress related and that’s causing a chemical imbalance. It’s mostly in your digestive system. You’re not assimilating nutrients very efficiently right now. That’s why you feel tired even when you’re getting plenty of sleep; even too much sleep. And too much sleep adds to feeling weak and sluggish. It’s all from worrying too much. You worry about money, the weather, the kids, your health… good grief.

Me: I know your going to tell me to meditate more.

Charlie: Of course. So many of your problems are just from worry and anxiety lately. Stop worrying. I’ve got you.  Don’t worry. It’s not healthy and it’s definitely not helping anything. Why don’t you just go meditate now and we’ll talk later. You’ll feel better.

Me: Okay.

8/30/17

8/30/2017

8:08 PM

Me: We got a lot done today didn’t we Charlie?

Charlie: A lot of work on putting our conversations into print on the computer. Yes, indeed.

Me: It was a good day.

Charlie: Every day is glorious but it’s always the best when you know it’s a good day too.

Me: Is there anything I need to know about where we're going?

Charlie: Do I know where we're going? I know where I am and I’ll be there with you wherever you’re going but you tell me, where are you taking me?

Me: I thought you were in the lead.

Charlie: No, you lead. You lead, and then I’m there too.

Me: I lead? I don’t know how to lead!

Charlie: that’s why we’re here. To learn. To grow. Do you remember getting on a bike without having training wheels for the first time?

Me: Yes.

Charlie: What did you say?

Me: I’m scared. I can’t.

Charlie: So, why did you do it? Why did you keep going?

Me: I felt like I just had to. I wanted to be like the big kids. I wanted the freedom.

Charlie: You wanted the freedom. Even if you got hurt? Remember those really bad falls? Stitches, bruises, scrapes…

Me: Uhhh…

Charlie: Would you do it again? That’s where we are. You see? Right here. No training wheels.

Me: What should I be doing Charlie?

Charlie: Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Let go open your heart, feel the power of being open and balanced with the wind in your hair. Open. No training wheels. It’s all good.

Me: Wow. I’ll sleep on that. Good night Charlie.

Charlie: <3 <3 <3

8/28/17

8/28/2017

8:55 AM

Me: I’m back. :-)

Charlie: I love that you’re back. What do you want to talk about?

Me: Let’s talk about what I need to do.

Charlie: That sounds awful. Let’s talk about what you want.

Me: Oh, okay. So, you mean like generally or specifically?

Charlie: Let’s start with really general.

Me: Okay. I want to be happier.

Charlie: Oh yeah, that’s pretty general. What does “happy” look like for you?

Me: It looks like freedom. Freedom to travel, go on adventures, retreats, have and do things to improve my home, help my family. It feels outgoing and confident. It feels healthy, vibrant with close fun loving relationships. I would feel supported emotionally and able to create something really meaningful.

Charlie: You aren’t feeling all of these things for a reason, just one reason. You’re in a contracted state. Your mind is generating fear and self-criticism. You’re beating yourself up and beating yourself up for beating yourself up. It doesn’t look very pretty from where I stand but you’re doing it to yourself. From my point of view, you’re throwing a tantrum and when you’re not throwing a tantrum you’re having a pity party. You’re angry because you’ve had two “failed” marriages and you blame yourself for everything. You even blame yourself for every problem your grown children have. You blame yourself for getting wrinkles and gray hair, for not having a better, cleaner car, for not having more coaching clients and making more money. Your tantrums and pity parties are very contracted and self-indulgent.

Me: Well that’s pretty straightforward of you to point all that out.

Charlie: someone has to. Bill has done a big job of pointing all that out to but it just makes your tantrums and pity parties worse, coming from him. No wonder you keep dumping him. You’ve done a good job of confusing him you know. He triggers you so much because your hypersensitive and egotistical, which makes so many things feel like an attack. Your confidence and self-esteem look like a train wreck. You’re slithering around a dark rain forest floor, ready to attack anything that moves.

Me: Gosh Charlie, you’re making me look horrible.

Charlie: Well, this part of you is not exactly lovely. But it’s like focusing on your sh*t instead of the other 99% of you that is wonderful beyond description. If you could only see yourself from my point of view. But even if I went on and on, page after page about how incredible you are, you won’t hear it because of where you are standing.

Me: Give me a solution Charlie.

Charlie: You know it. You know that place where you and I meet in the heart of meditation. You know very well. That’s where your heart merges with me and we float above the rain forest. I want you to come back to me there. You know that changes everything inside you and outside you.

Me: Why did I stop meditating?

Charlie: Your relationship with Bill tipped you over and you slipped into a downward spiral again. This isn’t new for you. You’ve done this fairly often throughout your whole life; everyone does. Some people are good at getting back on track quickly, before the downward spiral takes them too far down, but even those people will have a dark night of the soul at some point. It’s part of living a human life in this realm.

Me: Tell me what that point is Charlie

Charlie: It defines the edge. It pushes the limit. It expands the frontier. You may not see or understand much from that perspective but that’s where all the seeds of creation – good and bad – are being planted and germinating. From the absolute creative point of view, there is no” good” or “bad”. Remember your story that you wrote about 10 years ago called The Human Acorn?

Me: Yes, of course. Thanks Charlie. It would be good for me to read that again. I don't know where I put it. I guess I could Google it. That was a cute story and it was pretty popular on the Internet. I know everything you say is right and I always feel better talking with his way. And I know I always feel better sitting in our heart of meditation together, just breathing together in Love. <3 :-)

Charlie: <3 <3 <3

8/27/17

8/28/2017

8:55 AM

Me: I’m back. :-)

Charlie: I love that you’re back. What do you want to talk about?

Me: Let’s talk about what I need to do.

Charlie: That sounds awful. Let’s talk about what you want.

Me: Oh, okay. So, you mean like generally or specifically?

Charlie: Let’s start with really general.

Me: Okay. I want to be happier.

Charlie: Oh yeah, that’s pretty general. What does “happy” look like for you?

Me: It looks like freedom. Freedom to travel, go on adventures, retreats, have and do things to improve my home, help my family. It feels outgoing and confident. It feels healthy, vibrant with close fun loving relationships. I would feel supported emotionally and able to create something really meaningful.

Charlie: You aren’t feeling all of these things for a reason, just one reason. You’re in a contracted state. Your mind is generating fear and self-criticism. You’re beating yourself up and beating yourself up for beating yourself up. It doesn’t look very pretty from where I stand but you’re doing it to yourself. From my point of view, you’re throwing a tantrum and when you’re not throwing a tantrum you’re having a pity party. You’re angry because you’ve had two “failed” marriages and you blame yourself for everything. You even blame yourself for every problem your grown children have. You blame yourself for getting wrinkles and gray hair, for not having a better, cleaner car, for not having more coaching clients and making more money. Your tantrums and pity parties are very contracted and self-indulgent.

Me: Well that’s pretty straightforward of you to point all that out.

Charlie: someone has to. Bill has done a big job of pointing all that out too but it just makes your tantrums and pity parties worse, coming from him. No wonder you keep dumping him. You’ve done a good job of confusing him you know. He triggers you so much because your hypersensitive and egotistical, which makes so many things feel like an attack. Your confidence and self-esteem look like a train wreck. You’re slithering around a dark rain forest floor, ready to attack anything that moves.

Me: Gosh Charlie, you’re making me look horrible.

Charlie: Well, this part of you is not exactly lovely. But it’s like focusing on your sh*t instead of the other 99% of you that is wonderful beyond description. If you could only see yourself from my point of view. But even if I went on and on, page after page about how incredible you are, you won’t hear it because of where you are standing.

Me: Give me a solution Charlie.

Charlie: You know it. You know that place where you and I meet in the heart of meditation. You know very well. That’s where your heart merges with me and we float above the rain forest. I want you to come back to me there. You know that changes everything inside you and outside you.

Me: Why did I stop meditating?

Charlie: Your relationship with Bill tipped you over and you slipped into a downward spiral again. This isn’t new for you. You’ve done this fairly often throughout your whole life; everyone does. Some people are good at getting back on track quickly, before the downward spiral takes them too far down, but even those people will have a dark night of the soul at some point. It’s kind of comes with the package of living a human life in this realm.

Me: Tell me what that point is Charlie

Charlie: It defines the edge. It pushes the limit. It expands the frontier. You may not see or understand much from that perspective but that’s where all the seeds of creation – good and bad – are being planted and germinating. From the absolute creative point of view, there is no” good” or “bad”. Remember your story that you wrote about 10 years ago called The Human Acorn?

Me: Yes, of course. Thanks Charlie. It would be good for me to read that again. I suppose I could just Google it since I don't know where I put it. That was a cute story and it was pretty popular on the Internet after I published it. I know everything you say is right and I always feel better talking with his way. And I know I always feel better sitting in our heart of meditation together, just breathing together in Love. <3 :-)

Charlie: <3 <3 <3