MEDITATION NEWSLETTER
Grace
Grace is the path that guides me
As we move towards the New Year, and as the year turns from darkness into light, I have been reflecting on the moments of grace as they occurred throughout this year and throughout time.
In her annual winter solstice ceremony, Sally Kempton guided us to reflect on the moments of the past year. She encouraged us not only to consider what we learned but also to think about our difficult experiences. She instructed us to envision each experience as an offering to the great Self. Through these offerings, we learned to view all experiences, both negative and positive, as gifts that can be surrendered and released.
Reflecting in this manner, we begin to see how events might have created value, and through this, we find gratitude. In this way, one can enter the New Year with a clean slate, unattached, and ready for whatever comes next.
Click below to listen to Awakening Process 101 Episode 17 “The Guiding Force of Grace.”
Beings who’s presence defined the meaning of grace
Unfortunately, this year, two of the most important beings in my life passed away. Their presence defined the meaning of grace for me. Meeting them both forever changed the course of my life beyond my wildest dreams.
Sally Kempton, my teacher and close friend, passed away on July 10th. Her impact on me and those who knew her is indescribable. We are all blessed to have been exposed to the enlightened teachings of Kashmir Shaivism and to have met a teacher whose transmission was infused with Shakti in such a powerful way. Since her passing, I have been rereading and relistening to her words, and I am again blown away by her ability to describe and teach meditation in such a palpable way. Her understanding of powerful, ancient, yet timeless Hindu texts, and her ability to teach them to a modern world, is beyond my understanding.
Battle Boots, my thoroughbred and closest companion, was the physical representation of love. We met in March 2006, and from the moment we met, we were like two peas in a pod. He taught me what unconditional love is. He opened up the door for me to find it within myself so that I could also pass it on to others. He showed me presence because, for him, there was nothing but the now. We began a journey of healing together, and over the years, we both turned into calm, loving, present beings. I met him with my presence, and he met me with his intense, all-encompassing love. Battle Boots passed away after experiencing several weeks of unexpected illness on August 3rd.
Both Sally and Battle Boots were doorways into the infinite. Through meditation, Sally revealed to me the true nature of the world. Battle Boots demonstrated that it is through love and presence that we can access that doorway, the doorway to stillness. These losses are, of course, devastating. Yet, I am left in awe of the incredible grace of having had the honor of meeting them.
Awakening 101 and 2023
We continue to plug away and embrace conversations about awakening, life’s purpose and the possibility of transformation. My mission to demonstrate that change is possible and that awakening can be for anyone remains stronger than ever. As I look back at the year, two grace filled events stand out significantly.
The year began with a spontaneous suggestion from my closest friend, Louise Juel Severin, who proposed that we create a podcast based on the ideas and concepts of Awakening 101. We followed through and have since created 26 episodes of our podcast Awakening Process 101. Each time we sit down to record, I am in awe of my brilliant and talented friend, Louise, who, with curiosity, navigates our conversation through the themes of Awakening 101. This project has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
In creating the podcast, I discovered Nicole Venglovicova (via YouTube), who is now an invaluable member of Awakening 101. Throughout this year, she has been my teacher and guide, and has become a dear friend. She has taught me a range of skills, from editing in Premiere Pro to optimizing my blogs for search (SEO), and using ChatGPT, among many other essential tools in today’s world of online media. Nicole lives in London and we have never met in person, but our meetings are always a blast. Grace! With Nicole’s assistance, I have achieved my goal of becoming a one-stop shop, gaining complete independence in all things tech and social.
Through these moments one learns that grace isn’t just a fleeting moment; it reshapes our understanding of life itself. As I navigate this journey, the memories of Sally’s and Battle Boots’ remain, demonstrating just what Sally says in her book Meditation for the love of it; the masters of Kashmir Shaivism often pointed out that “Grace is an ever-present force in the universe, more pervasive than gravity.”
To read further about Grace click on the link below to read my Blog: “Grace is Real.”
