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December 31- LUMINOSITY

The Twelve Nights of Christmas: #7, Luminosity.

Look back at your darkest moments of the last year, and remember what qualities in yourself and others lit the way for you.

The darkest hours are often the most beautiful, if you open your eyes. Too often they're clamped down tight from pain or fear.

For nearly the entire year, I experienced intermittent pain and stiffness in my hands, shoulders and feet. I never received a "legal diagnosis" and for that I am so grateful. I have no label, no i.d. tag to walk around with in sickness, and in health. As the year ends, the symptoms have subsided.

While I did receive care and sympathy, healing treatments and assistance, one of the greatest gifts that I received was the assumption that the condition was transient. The other was my realization that I could be happy, even while in pain. It was like being in another state, a foreign environment even, but there with my own toothbrush and wearing my favorite Mephisto sandals. I was just visiting. If I had staked a claim, I may still be living there.

Photo: KonaBoy

Wild expectations for the New Year!

"Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest expectations unless he or she begins with some wild expectations."
-Ralph Charell

If you remember, last week I wrote about celebrating the twelve days of Christmas and so I've been posting daily "Twelve Nights of Christmas" personal responses. I found out that the list printed in the magazine was a year old but I decided that it would still be a valid exercise and I have not been disappointed. I've used the topic of Generosity in some of my classes this past week and it's even more fitting today, on the cusp of a New Year.

In giving myself the gift of Positive Expectation, I'm throwing out the notion of resolutions and all of the actions that involve the words should, must, and need. Rather than focus on the things I might consider to eradicate or improve, I'm going to first feel myself living happily with everything in place. It's not the same as visualizing or repeating affirmations, this is about experiencing the high of success and accomplishment before it happens. I'm certain that the resulting "to-do" list would be vastly different, even wild.

This sounds good to me:

Do the Energy work first, and then take the inspired action. Because when you take an action to try to correct something that is wrong, all the action does is amplify what is wrong... There's not enough action in the world to compensate for your vibration. (Abraham-Hicks)

Another spin I'm adding: hold every moment as the cusp of a New Year. Thirty-something years ago, I decided to quit smoking and left my half-smoked pack and lighter on the table in the Poi Pounder room at the old Kona Surf Hotel on a New Year's Eve. I haven't had a cigarette since then. Because of that success, I hold off all life changing actions for New Year's Day and miss out on the ensuing 364 days. I want to hold that power in every NOW moment of my life.

2008 looks like the best year ever for me, and I wish the same for you!

Photo: Liesel Elliot

December 30- FLUIDITY

The Twelve Nights of Christmas: #6, Fluidity.

Consider the importance of flow to your well-being and happiness.

This I truly believe:

"Your happiness is the most significant contribution that you could make. In your reaching for happiness, you are opening a vortex which makes you an avenue for the Well-being to flow through you. And anything that is your object of attention under those conditions, benefits by the infusion of your Well-being." -Abraham-Hicks

Which then comes first, getting in line with the flow or feelings of happiness? Taking my cue from yoga, it would be alignment first. There will be many times, even while in the flow, when new choices and directions will present themselves. As long as I choose to go with the flow I'll be able to float along in well-being and happiness.

Maybe it's time for a new Christmas carol: "Let it Flow! Let it Flow! Let it Flow!"

Artwork: Floating by Hillary Riggs

December 29- SOLIDITY

The Twelve Nights of Christmas: #5, Solidity.

For 12 minutes, simply feel your soul's solidity.

I did, and now am filled with gratitude for every minute of my existence. Life is meant to be lived in ascending order. Bring it on!

Original Photo by Jerrie Stafford.

December 28- NOBILITY

The Twelve Nights of Christmas: #4, Nobility.

Make a list of people from whose noble qualities you can learn.

I'm sure that Lynn Jericho intended for us to define nobility as: exalted moral excellence, as opposed to the idea of the class of people born of high rank in Great Britain (dukes and duchesses, etc.). I apologize but I can't seem to separate the concept of royalty from the word "nobility".

While some people may find it easy to come up with a list of people such as the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Gandhi, visualizing them in (their) costume does not equate to the word "nobility". Moral excellence, yes. Nobility, no.

As I was pondering this, I had my hands on the back of a woman on my massage table and thought, "Wouldn't it be great to list every person that comes into my life? If I looked for that quality of nobility in each person (even if I have to picture them in Medieval costume) I'm sure I'd find it."

You should have seen the cast of characters! A blacksmith, a Baroness, a Princess, a couple of knights and a jester all came through the studio. While it may sound trite, the simple and playful act of fitting them for a role made me aware of their noble qualities:

• Blacksmith- strength and pride of workmanship
• Baroness-generous
• Princess-mindful and kind
• Jester-joyful and optimistic
• Knights- focused and organized

Artwork:Elizabeth I, Wikipedia Commons

December 27-HUMILITY

The Twelve Nights of Christmas: #3, Humility.

Think about how Humility can become a great source of strength and power for you.

The size, strength and apparent omnipotence of the Sun always gives rise to a sense of Humility within me. It also signifies unconditional love because it shines all over the world, no matter what the people are doing or not doing. At war or at peace, in poverty or in abundance...we are all worthy of its light.

Over the years, I have seen some amazing results in the bodies and lives of folks in my yoga classes and in my massage practice. So much so that I can not deny the fact that the choice to heal, recover and advance, all rests within the individual. The therapy and/or practice is the medium; the therapist or teacher, the messenger. I have a deep sense of Humility for the successes.

What I want to cultivate is that same sense of Humility when there are no outward expressions of a healing, a recovery or connection. Just as I am able to laud someone for their progress, I want to be able to place the responsibility of no progress, even disappointment, back to the person. It has been difficult to release myself of that responsibility.

A deeper sense of Humility would see that it is all the same on both sides of the coin. The effectiveness of my classes and treatments could be amplified. I could be a better messenger.

Photo: Cosmos

December 26-GENEROSITY

The Twelve Nights of Christmas: # 2,Generosity.

Think of three people and what you can give of yourself to them.

I read recently that the greatest gift that we can give anyone is the gift of Positive Expectancy. Here's the gist of it from two Abraham-Hicks articles:

We would like you to reach the place where you're not willing to listen to people criticize one another… where you take no satisfaction from somebody being wrong… where it matters to you so much that you feel good, that you are only willing to think positive things about people…you are only willing to look for positive aspects; you are only willing to look for solutions, and you are not willing to beat the drum of all of the problems of the world.

The greatest gift that you could give to anyone you love is the gift of positive expectation. But you can't give someone positive expectation until you know the Laws and have practiced them yourself enough so that they are very familiar.

The three people I have chosen to give my gift of Positive Expectation are:

1. Moku-wai Busch, as he recovers from a broken ankle and makes his way back to work as a massage therapist, and to joy as a para-glider.

2. Brede Shiotsuka, my son, so that he may have a rewarding year (and life) full of love and abundance.

3. Myself. I want positive expectation to become my nature and be able to increase my Gift list. More, more, more!

Artwork: Night11.Spaces.live.com

December 25-RECEPTIVITY

The Twelve Nights of Christmas:

#1, Receptivity

What gifts from the universe have you declined to accept or acknowledge?

I was just thinking about this last week: I want to allow myself to place more trust in my intuition. It is that innate sense of knowing what’s going to happen, a direct perception and quick insight. I believe I possess a lot more of that ability than I care to admit or display and therefore believe that it’s a gift that I’ve declined to fully accept or acknowledge.

Photo: TreeHugger.com

The Twelve Nights of Christmas

Seeing within changes one's outer vision.
-Joseph Chilton Pearce

Did you know that Christmas was once banned in Boston? The Puritans apparently viewed the celebration as a form of English decadence. In modern America it's all a fuss about Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Let's give it up and not even take part in that conversation, it's bad for digestion and circulation.

I was raised in the Buddhist faith but we always had a tree, exchanged gifts, believed in Santa Claus and said "Merry Christmas". I have never spent a single Christmas in the snow but a brisk,cool Hawaiian breeze instantly evokes the sound of sleigh bells and the scent of a pine tree. "Merry Christmas" releases a flood of endorphins within me so my memories of Christmas are all good and I intend to keep it that way.

This year I'm trying something new. I read an article in the December issue of Ode Magazine that suggests turning the Twelve Days of Christmas into a few minutes of reflection each evening from December 25 through January 5. Here's what's been suggested by Lynn Jericho, a counselor in New Jersey:

• Dec. 25-RECEPTIVITY. What gifts from the universe have you declined to accept or acknowledge?
• Dec. 26-GENEROSITY. Think of three people and what you can give of yourself to them.
• Dec. 27-HUMILITY. Think about how humility can become a great source of strength and power for you.
• Dec. 28-NOBILITY. Make a list of people from whose noble qualities you can learn.
• Dec. 29-SOLIDITY. For 12 minutes, simply feel your soul's solidity.
• Dec. 30-FLUIDITY. Consider the importance of flow to your well-being and happiness.
• Dec. 31-LUMINOSITY. Look back at your darkest moments of the last year, and remember what qualities in yourself and others lit the way for you.
• Jan. 1-REFLECTIVITY. Let an image from the outer world settle in your mind and write down five thoughts you associate with it. Reflect on it and how you might transform it.
• Jan. 2-EQUANIMITY. Pick a recent event and review it in light of various possible emotions like happiness, anger and fear.
• Jan. 3-FECUNDITY. Celebrate the richness of your imagination. Hold this vision and then plan tomorrow's activities. Keep it alive during the day.
• Jan. 4-SAGACITY. Think of yourself as an elder who has learned from the trials and triumphs of experience. What are some profound lessons?
• Jan. 5-UNITY. What ideas, yearnings, themes or insights have come together for you through the holidays?

Will it end with an Epiphany, or Darsana, at the end of Twelve Days? Hopefully, it will be more than the vision of one mynah bird in one papaya tree. Merry Christmas!

For those who just want to be entertained:

*Watch Lynn Jericho's Inner Christmas movie.  NOTE (12/26/07): According to Lynn, the Ode Magazine article printed the 2006 Twelve Nights list. If you sign up for her list this year, it will be different from what I have above.

*The 12 Days of Christmas (YouTube, Straight No Chaser). A beautiful, a capella rendition.

*12 Days of Christmas from the Rainbow Warriors for football fans.

Photo of the Pantheon in Rome: by Soren Daalsgard from Astronomy Picture of the Day

Stepping Stones

One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks.   -Jack Penn

Moku-wai, The World's Most Joyful Massage Therapist (usually available at Kona Yoga) returned to the Big Island after two weeks paragliding in Mexico. I can't wait to hear the stories of all of his adventures because he has a way of turning simple tales into outright, guffawing marathons! Krista and I once folded up in laughter as Moku described a terrified mouse that his cat had brought into his bathroom. We loved his interpretation of a cornered and mortified mouse so much that we kept asking him to do it over and over again. We are his audience.

But the audience must wait. On his last day in Mexico, Moku broke his ankle and he's having surgery today in Waimea. I have gone through his appointment book and cancelled all of his massages for this week, so that only a bit of pain and discomfort and a quick recovery are waiting for him. He's got all of the acupuncture and massage he needs, right here in his audience.

I anticipate that he will also have tales to amuse us when he relays his surgery and hospital stay, but what I really look forward to is the way that he will use this 'stumbling block' as a stepping stone. Some people wait for the opportunity to blame a pratfall for their misery. Others, like Moku, grab the chance like a relay baton and head for the finish.

Of course, he won't be sprinting or even walking very fast for a while but he'll be thinking. When forward motion is denied, we become aware of all of the other directions available to us. Sometimes we choose another way, sometimes we become even more determined to go forward and sometimes, we sit down in front of the obstacle to simply appreciate where we are.

Stepping Stones by Rob Gonsalves.

Update: December 7, 2009. Moku-wai fully recovered from his injuries and then decided to get into the best shape of his life. He has lost over 50 pounds, continues to paraglide, and he may just be funnier than ever!

This post has been submitted to Prevention Not Prescriptions.