I used to love that saying, “Love and light.” I used to sign all my e-mails with that - about 10 years ago. I used to think that was the way to go - see the love and be the light. Don’t get me wrong - I love those two words - ‘love’ and ‘light’ but that pithy little quote just doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s like spitting into an ocean. Not enough. What do I mean? How can I be so calloused and mean? Well, if your big girl panties are on, let’s go deal with it, shall we?
Here’s the deal, folks. As always, this is JUST what I know, what I’m experiencing, what I’ve gotten from other people, and from my own guidance. We’ve all picked different races to run, so we’re different training paths. If you’ve chosen the 1K fun walk, then you’re pretty much where you were before you chose. If you chose the 2K fun walk, you’re going to go through a little bit of change, but again, not too much. Add to that a 5K, 10K, 1/2 marathon, marathon, super marathon (100 miles), and Iron Man/Woman Triathalon. Make up your own, as that’s what’s really going on, anyway. We’re picking our path to get us where we need to go - some choose to go further, some not so much. It appears to me that the “Love and Light” Club may not have signed up for the same race as the Super Marathoners, because I know quite a few of the SM and they are getting their butts kicked in several areas. That is just fine. If we’re all respectful of the choices we all have made, we’re great. But what seems to be happening is the 1K fun runners are criticizing others because of their ‘sucky attitudes’ and of ‘making things so difficult.’ I’ve heard some of them say, “This is all so EASY - what’s wrong with you?” when I’m laying there on the ground, panting and sweating, crying, swearing and full of dirt. I can’t say anything back to them, well, because I’m panting too hard from the exertion. Does it HAVE to be THAT hard, you may be asking. Well, I guarantee you if you’re training to do the triathalon orthe marathon or super marathon, then, YES, there will be soreness, and time spent in training (spiritual training is 180 degrees different from our physical work - we may have time to get to that later), and fatigue and hurt muscles. So unless you’ve been in that kind of hard training your whole life, this is going to be difficult for you. I don’t know of many who were already those world class spiritual athletes. I thought I was in pretty good ‘shape,’ spiritually speaking, but it turns out I may have thought I was studlier than I actually am, for these past months, especially, have truly and most completely kicked my spiritual butt, but in a GOOD way, for sure, but it’s not for sissies.
I get pissed off that my super marathon buddies are not only having difficult times personally, but they aren’t getting the support they need from their friends who just keep saying, “what’s wrong with you?” instead of shutting up, listening to what’s going on in the marathoner’s life, and even if they can’t really relate because they aren’t on the same training track, they can be respectful and not judgmental and condescending (crap - I sound judgmental and condescending, don’t I? Sorry - let me tuck my attitude in a little, and proceed). Here’s the deal, guys - it’s different for everyone. I understand and accept that not everyone WANTS to do the super marathon (or whatever the heck I’ve signed up for - it’s something big, I know that), but PLEASE don’t criticize those doing that big work, if you’re not doing the big work. It doesn’t mean you’re better, or more spiritual, or smarter, or more able, than anyone else - it just means that you’re going a different way.
The ‘love and light’ crowd may be taking the cruise path, while I may be on the Mt. Everest path. I just know that this energy thing has been unrelenting lately, and for good reason - the race date is fast approaching (and I’m not talking about the Fargo Marathon!), and there’s no time to take a break. The soft shelled stuff won’t cut it, anymore. It’s time to get real, get down and dirty, and really commit to your journey. You can’t bail, you can’t back out, you can’t stop - it appears that you HAVE to keep going, whatever that means to you. And you can do it!!! I know you can, or you wouldn’t have signed up for whatever you’ve signed up for. But for those who are feeling that huge push, you can PUSH BACK! Get angry, ball your fists, scream, swear, say what you need to say, do what you need to do, stand up to those who seek to oppress or silence you (whether people or energy), do a little ass kicking - beat your chest and show your warrior side. You NEED that masculine energy to help catapult you through these current times. For those are sticking to the love and light path, go for it. If it works for you, that’s just great. Perfect. But it’s not for everyone. It’s not for me right now, as I feel this red hot energy coursing through my whole system. If I DON’T take action, i get really crabby, can’t sleep, start pacing. We’re encouraged to use that energy to power through these current times. The only way out is through, and you don’t get through by sitting blissfully chanting “all is well.” If you know me, you know that’s funny because that phrase is actually one of my most-used catch phrases, so you see I’m NOT being mean to others if I’m also talking about myself!
Honesty, clarity, and yes, love love love - but not the quiet grandmother love that says, “anything’s okay - you’re good” - it’s the grandfather love that says, “Get up off that couch and come chop some wood!” It’s action where action is called for. The spiritual work? Yes, it’s internal - it’s finding our biggest hurts and blocks and working unrelenting until we heal ourselves. It’s finding joy and living that joy, it’s releasing everything (and everybody) from our lives that isn’t in our highest good, it’s laughing, and crying, and being real. It’s being HERE, 100%, present, in our bodies, in our Truth, in our lives. It’s being real. Not fluffy, not light, not smiley smiley. When I used to play basketball, I’d come home after a 3 hour practice totally drenched in sweat. I guarantee you I didn’t smile much during practice, and sure as heck was always dog tired. But happy? Heck yes - I loved what I was doing, was committed, and doggone it, I was really good at it. But only because I DID it, not because I sat around saying, “Oh, I’m a great basketball player.” You’ve got to do the work, my friends, whatever that means to you. Respect others, support unconditionally, and believe in your path - it’s perfect for you. And always remember - you wouldn’t have signed up for it if you didn’t know you had it in you to do it. What is it that you have to do? Only you know that for sure - I’m just busy training for my own race, wiping the sweat out of my eyes, and trying to keep my eye on the road. Not for sissies, not for sissies. So I leave you with this wish: Love and Light AND kicking butt…