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God Bless Your Marriage (Poem)

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My husband and I attended my best friend’s wedding in Florida a few days ago. I wrote a poem for her and her new husband.

As I wrote the poem, I realized how it applies to all marriages. The poem tells us we can start something new. It’s never too late to forgive and try again. The most important part is to show how much we’ve grown.

No marriage can last without integrity. Integrity means being honest and having high moral principles. Love is the way to purify the heart. Meditation can purify the mind.

Marriage is challenging – but it can offer many opportunities for spiritual growth. Each person is responsible for themselves. But, as a couple, it’s crucial to show love, commitment, and support.

Here is the poem:

God Bless Your Marriage
A Poem for Sarah & Dan
March 2022

Love gives you another chance.
Embrace each other for life’s dance.
Play your cards right.
Keep integrity in sight.

Create something new.
Let it show how much you grew.

With gentle love,
And with God’s help above,
Step into your faithful carriage 
Because God will bless your marriage.

- GG

Winter Blues (Poem)

/ Tunnel Vision 8 
Winter Blues

During my winter blues,
I dream of something new.
I see the ocean tide;
My heart can no longer hide.

The deep blue sea,
Calls to me.
My mind opens to the water,
Because I am her daughter.

Winter, I grab you by sight;
My eyes see only white.
Someday the ocean will flow.
But, for now, it is frozen in glittery snow.

- GG

The Ancient Tao Te Ching

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Human Embryo’s First Cell Division (a pair/yin & yang)
Tao Te Ching
The Tao gives birth to the One, the Origin.
The One, the Origin, gives birth to the Two.
The Two give birth to the Three.
The Three give birth to every living thing.
All things are held in yin and carry yang:
And they are held together in the qi of teeming energy.

According to Yin and Yang, the ancient Chinese philosophy, no object exists without a partner. Therefore, there’s a partnership of masculine and feminine energies – like the sun and moon. So why does the world want to hide the truth about the moon and the feminine energy? The only reason I can think of is that the Origin is yin/Shakti. Ancient people fully knew the power of spiritual practices oriented towards Shakti.

The Tao Te Ching says that “all things are held in yin and carry yang.” The Institute of Medicine Committee on Understanding the Biology of Sex and Gender Difference says in their research, “All fetal genitalia are the same and are phenotypically female. After approximately 6 to 7 weeks of gestation, however, the expression of a gene on the Y chromosome induces changes that result in the development of the testes.”

In the beginning, the Divine Mother gave birth to twins: yin and yang. They are the same but different. In our patriarchal world (false yang), the sun is enormous compared to the moon. However, the ancient Chinese principles tell us that the sun and the moon are the same (twin forces). To move forward as a human race, we need to respect the feminine. It’s all about balance and remembering our Original Love.

As soon as our leaders tell the truth about the sun and moon, we can restore balance on this planet. The Tao Te Ching is more than two thousand years old (from 400 BC). It teaches us the one undivided truth, so we never forget our true Origin.

Namaste world.

Make Space for the Divine to Enter

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Ganga River, Rishikesh, India

Last month, I turned 51 years old. I thought about the next 50 years of my life. What do I want to do? How do I want to change my life?

Several things have changed since December 2021. I took a freelance job. I work for a publishing company that owns three newspapers and an advertising company. I am writing a lot more!

Sometimes I record the interviews for the paper. I get to hear my voice – the quality and how I communicate. I’m learning a lot about the tone of my voice and how I project words. I realize that I need to be more mindful about what I’m about to say.

Each year I focus on one chakra. For 2022, I’m working on my throat chakra. I want to become more aware of the vibration of spoken words.

My friend and mentor, Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz, says to be silent and listen with our hearts. I wish to bring more peace into my heart and mind. I want to be quiet and listen more.

Just before I turned 51, I cut my hair short. The last time I had my hair short was when I was 17 years old. I want to go beyond physical appearances – I’m ready for that change.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about India. I was there seven years ago on a study abroad trip. I miss the Ganga river and the ashram the most. When I was there, I met Ma Tureeya, a Catholic nun. She said, “Make space for the Divine to enter.” Meditation is the way.

I meditate in the morning, but I want to add an evening practice. I plan to continue to work with the chakras (see the chart below). It is interesting to note the connection of “SHAM” with shaman.

This chakra chart is from the book, “Shifting Frequencies,” by Jonathan Goldman.

I am ready for the next 50 years of my life! I am leaving the mother phase and entering the crone phase. I am excited to dive deeper into wisdom!

Namaste world.

Through Humbleness, We Can Love

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Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Waconia, Minnesota

This morning, my friend and I went to St. Joseph Catholic Church near my house. I was raised in the Catholic faith, but now I consider myself a Catholic-Buddhist. I love blending the religious traditions of the East and West.

I enjoyed spending time in the church with its old German architecture from the early 1900s (see the photo above). As I sat in the pew, I looked up at a large painting of Jesus, Mother Mary, and St. Joseph in front of the chapel. With my eyes searching for balance, I was pleased to see the representation of yin and yang (feminine and masculine). In the middle of the painting is Jesus, the Son of God.

I meditate every morning. So, even in the church, I closed my eyes to connect with my energy and calm my thoughts. I prayed to God. After my prayer, I received a message. The message said, “It is only through humbleness that we can truly love.” When we are humble, we let go of everything (especially our ego). When we are humble, we are open to love.

Today’s reading, during Mass, was from the Corinthians:

Love is very patient and kind,
never jealous or envious,  
never boastful or proud, 
never haughty or selfish or rude. 
Love does not demand its own way. 
It is not irritable or touchy. 
It does not hold grudges and 
will hardly even notice when   
others do wrong. 
It is never glad about injustice, but 
rejoices whenever truth wins out. 

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

After the message, I saw myself floating on my back in the lake. Just like floating, I need to trust and let go. Just like water, I can be humble and supportive.

Why is it so hard to let go of everything? Death is the ultimate letting go. But why wait until death?

Ego is a form of attachment. It looks for justification. It is the opposite of letting go – it wants to hold on. My ego looks for recognition. According to the dictionary, recognition is the acknowledgment of something’s existence. I need to let go of being “someone.”

Through humbleness, we can love. When we love, there is no judgment. The heart is open like the sky, and when we see our reflection in the water, we see the expansiveness of our soul.

Namaste world.

Inspiring Quotes By Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz – Part 2 (2/2)

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The Rugged Terrain of My Heart – Painting by Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz

Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz is my friend and mentor. I have known her for 30 years. She is a Sister of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis and has devoted her life to teaching and providing spiritual counseling. Sister Lucy was born on November 16, 1936, and died on March 28, 2022.

Here are some quotes by Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz (from her journals):

Aging is passing – experience something coming through us.

The Earth has meridians, and the body has meridians.

Memory holds Truth – quest for Truth.

Something more than biology is shaping my life.

Practice by sustaining the deep presence by listening to self first, then others.

Share ways to thrive.

Divine Will – What does God want of us?

The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Strive to desire what God desires for you and respond to the call. It always seems like it’s a surprise when God creates that newness for me and you.

Gemstones are from the Angelic.

Moon Goddess, I honor you and love you beyond understanding. I will stay open to your changes in me.

Explore change and how it is that we invite, resist, or learn with it and how it affects our relationships.

When we help other people get what they want, we get what we want.

Follow the silent whispers that echo down the golden spirals through the corridors of your own being.

Spiritual Direction: I call out something that I never saw in myself.

Where you turn, there is the face of God.

Creativity is the surest pathway to the Truth.

Follow your Heart. Wherever it takes you, and be happy. Life is brief and very fragile. It’s only loaned to us for a while. Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen, and take one moment at a time.

Honoring

My Soul Honors Your Soul

I honor the place in you

Where the entire universe resides

I honor the light, love, and truth

Beauty and peace within you.

Because it is also in me.

In sharing these things

We are united

We are the same

We are one.

– Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz

Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz in 1995.
Photo by Gina M. Gafford

Namaste World.

Inspiring Quotes By Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz – Part 1 (1/2)

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Labyrinth – Painting by Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz

Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz is my friend and mentor. I have known her for 30 years. She is a Sister of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis and has devoted her life to teaching and providing spiritual counseling. Sister Lucy was born on November 16, 1936, and died on March 28, 2022.

Here are some quotes by Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz (from her journals):

Always be kinder than necessary.

When you talk to anybody, just think your soul is talking to the Spirit of God.

To reach for our potential – Spirit is Medicine.

For those who are tripped up by “perfect.” When is it good enough?

How very little can be done under the Spirit of Fear!

The fondest memories are gathered when we share at the table.

The world needs our story.

I must live the life of the Gospel, understanding the way.

The original use of the word “courage” means “to stand by one’s heart.”

All of us are smarter than any one of us.

It’s odd that in our noisy and protracting world, it’s only when we come face to face with death, we experience what is often missing in life.

Go into your heart for what you desire. We are never distant from God’s heart.

When you nourish your soul, life falls into balance. Each of us creates our own “recipe,” adding the essential “ingredients” that sustain us best.

I want to encourage you to trust the mystical, divine, which comes as an intuitive pulse or rhythm. Trust your own experience of Holy.

What we don’t see is more real than what we do see. Spiritual vision is possible. What blinders must we remove to have more clarity?

From stress to strength. Every encounter with stress is a chance to turn your life around.

When you empty by sharing, you make room for more.

Follow the path that is leading us to the Best.

Leave something of value behind. What is it? I hear the call to honesty – deep honesty within myself.

Have you ever noticed the word “heart” contains the word HEAR? It is only in this way that we can learn what others want. And the words “silent” and “listen” contain the same letters. Perhaps this means we should be silent and listen with our HEARTS.

Gina Gafford and Sister Lucy Bruskiewicz in 1996.

Namaste World.

Living a Virtuous Life According to the Jesus Sutras

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What is done in this life will shape the next life. – The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Scrolls of Taoist Christianity, by Martin Palmer

In the new year and beyond, we can choose to live our best lives. Never give up on your goodness. Find the keys to open your heart – to open your treasure chest. In The Jesus Sutras, written by Martin Palmer, the Stone Sutra reveals how we can live a good life.

The Jesus Sutras, in the second sutra (the sutra of cause, effect, and salvation), states the following about living a virtuous life:

  • Virtue can only be practiced in this world.
  • The One Sacred Spirit controls everything, and you should do as the Spirit demands: good deeds in this life.
  • This is the only world in which you can perform good karma.
  • All acts of merit and benevolence must be performed in this world, not the next.
  • Become open-handed and not tight-fisted and narrow.
  • You can only be charitable and generous in this world, not the next.
  • Rid yourself of the evil and poison in your heart and abandon all your bad thoughts and jealousy.
  • With peace of mind, worship God in this world, for it won’t be possible in the next.
  • You will reap the consequences of this life in the next world.
  • If people wish to be virtuous, they should follow the commands of the One and Only Sacred Spirit.
  • Understand that the One Sacred Spirit presides overall existence to be venerated; strive to do what is right and be grateful for the grace you have received.
  • In order to see the One Sacred Spirit, people must keep themselves pure in heart, and as an act of grace, all will become clear.

Just as the sun tirelessly rises each day, we, too, get another day to try our best. The world presents challenges to us. We have the pandemic situation, job issues, relationship problems, etc. Sometimes it is easy to feel tired and defeated in life. However, the Taoist Stone Sutras encourages us to strive for goodness in every situation. We need to have self-compassion – it’s a lot of work living in this world!

Take time to rest and reflect. Look back on the last year and see how you want to change things in your life. How can you become more “open-handed” and generous? How can you create peace in your mind? How can you bring grace into your life and the lives of the people around you?

“The Jesus Sutras are translated and interpreted throughout the text. Four of the Sutras date from ca. 640-660 and remain primarily in private collections in Japan,” says Martin Palmer. The Chinese Character for Sutra actually means, “sacred literature.” The Chinese Taoists preserved this “sacred literature” in a substance that would last forever: stone.

May you be well, happy, skillful, and peaceful.

Namaste.

Twin Forces

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Together these two forces are locked in perpetual combat seeking to overcome each other. But this is impossible, for each carries the seed of the other within it. – The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Scrolls of Taoist Christianity, by Martin Palmer

Twin forces are needed to create life. These two forces are equal – yin and yang. The yin is the feminine force – the mother. And the yang is a masculine force – the father. The balance and blending of these energies create life.

Martin Palmer, in the book, The Jesus Sutras, says, “The Stone spells out the Chinese belief that when yin and yang were created, the lighter vapors of yang rose to form Heaven and the sun, the heavier vapors of yin sank to form the Earth and the moon. The yang sun creates day, and the yin moon creates night.” Both energies support life on Earth.

The mysteries of the moon and its strong connection to women must be honored again. The moon is like a womb – giving birth to new possibilities- the Shakti.

According to Taoism, the Trinity is the yin, yang, and qi (life breath).

Tao Te Ching
The Tao gives birth to the One, the Origin.
The One, the Origin, gives birth to the Two.
The Two give birth to the Three.
The Three give birth to every living thing.
All things are held in yin and carry yang:
And they are held together in the qi of teeming energy.

Namaste world.