From Linda's Desk
Inspiration from "A New Earth"
Linda Tellington-Jones
TTEAM Connections Volume 10 Issue 2 April-June 2008
Each time I begin to write my newsletter report I wait for inspiration to come as my fingers hover lightly with anticipation over the keyboard on my trusty computer named Spirit. I take some quiet time to "listen" before I begin and breath in the beauty that surrounds me where I usually write - sitting at a table on the second story of our Hawaiian home. When I raise my eyes from the computer the painting of Pegasus that was on the cover of the 2006 CELLebration Forum program fills my view. Just beyond are flowers in an antique vase that has a scene of a lovely fairy standing by a tree under a full moon next to a mushroom. And next to the vase is a 12-inch high unicorn with a fairy sitting sidesaddle. This image fills me with indescribable joy. I'm certain I have been a fairy in another lifetime!
Beyond that in my line of sight is a bronze mermaid resting on a ledge at the top of the stairs, in front of a window through which I see palm fronds waving gently in the tradewind breeze. When I cock my head to the left and look up waiting for words, I am often overwhelmed by the beauty of dancing waves in Heeia Bay about 1000 feet from where I sit. Sometimes, when the afternoon sun begins to dip toward the ocean in preparation for another spectacular sunset, and the wind is playing gently with the waves, it looks like a million diamonds are sparkling on the water. It takes my breath away.
While waiting for words to come this time I ask my computer for the definition of "inspiration" and choose - "Divine guidance and influence on the human being". Divine guidance is how I have brought TTouch into being and what gives me the passion and strength to continue to travel and share the work around the world. But I've felt a shift as though I have been injected with new energy and vision and it's a result of participating over the past ten weeks with millions of people around the planet studying Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, on a free on-line course with Oprah and Eckhart.
I originally signed up wanting to know how an on-line course worked because that is where I want to take TTouch Training so it is readily available to children and to adults who cannot afford the time or money to attend a training in person. From the first minutes of reading A New Earth I was hooked. I've been studying and practicing many of the concepts for decades, but this book, and this course, have given me invaluable tools for understanding myself and my fellow travelers on this planet. Such simple and doable concepts - not new - as Eckhart Tolle is so quick to point out - but concrete ways of being in the world which make a difference not only to each one of us, but to the collective whole. If you listen to what is happening all over the planet, you must realize we are in critical times. The fact that more than 10 million people from 139 countries joined together to practice the lessons in this book - going beyond ego to choose to remember who we are as one with Divine Source - with simple exercises to help us practice being Present in each moment of our day - is simply phenomenal.
My aha's in this book began on page 2 and continued throughout every single chapter. My first underline: "Seeing beauty in a flower could awaken humans, however briefly, to the beauty that is an essential part of their own innermost being, their true nature. The first recognition of beauty was one of the most significant events in the evolution of human consciousness. The feelings of joy and love are intrinsically connected to that recognition. Without our fully realizing it, flowers would become for us an expression in form of that which is most high, most sacred, and ultimately formless within ourselves. Flowers, more fleeting, more ethereal, and more delicate than the plants out of which they emerged, would become like messengers from another realm, like a bridge between the world of physical forms and the formless. They not only had a scent that was delicate and pleasing to humans, but also brought a fragrance from the realm of spirit . Since time immemorial, flowers, crystals, precious stones, and birds have held special significance for the human spirit."
This free On-line Oprah/Eckhart Tolle course included a weekly discussion available on the internet at Oprah.com. Fortunately, Oprah is keeping the entire 10 sessions and the accompanying meditations available for ipod or internet download all summer, so it is not too late to sign on. I was so jazzed to think of millions of people making this shift together during the course, and from all the friends I have who participated in the course almost everyone is continuing to replay the online sessions, reread the book and continue to exchange experiences. So join us in this worldwide opportunity for transformation and at least explore the possibilities of the oprah.com Eckhart Tolle/Oprah course as soon as you finish reading this newsletter!
During the second week's discussion Oprah read a poem about the significance of trees. That made me think about the messages I received from trees and Nature Spirits and made me remember how important it is to recognize the gifts we receive from Nature. The following is a message I received from a 1000 year old Morton Bay Fig tree in Byron Bay, Australia in 1982 when I was visiting with Michael and Treenie Roads. This is the tree Michael spoke with in his ground-breaking book, Talking with Nature. Knowing of my love of Nature Spirits and all being, Michael suggested I take my journal out and sit with the tree. Here is what I wrote:
Heaven On Earth
Come sit by me and I will tell you a story.
Sit on me. Anywhere in the sun.
Once upon a time I was one of many like
me. We had lived long upon this earth and
had acquired much wisdom.
Our understanding and love sent out positive
vibrations which had far reaching effects.
Then came man with his lack of understanding.
“When was this,” I asked.
It is not important as the time of which I
speak is not measurable in your mind. The
negative ions which were created by disruptive
thoughts and actions, caused disturbances
to what you think of as the atmosphere, but is,
the delicate “Balance of Nature”. (patterns of
molecules or molecular structure of which you
were recently told.)
The imbalance or negativity became so
great that the entire planet was effected. As
was your universe. That is what caused that
actual axis imbalance of your planet. This is
when the shift in axis occurred.
In order to re-balance or re-align the
earth, your people must once again recognize
the Kingdoms of the Plants, Animals, and
Minerals and the Nature Spirits as One and as
vital to the survival of the Planet.
That your race recognize the God within is
only the start. That we are recognized as one
with you in the balance of existence is the key
to - Not only survival - but to “HEAVEN ON
EARTH”.
I got fired up when Eckhart wrote that we have to simply go inside our bodies and to do so begin by really looking at our hands - feel our hands - to remember our Being - that divine self that is without ego.
This jumped me to thinking about TTouch and the ways we have been guided to work with our animals over the past 20 plus years - without ego. And the brilliance of Nobel-prize winning Sir Charles Sherrington when he stated that "Every cell in our body knows its function within the body, and its function within the universe." It was reading that statement in 1976 that made me realize that all I had to do to support healing in another being was to convey the message with my hands - "Remember your perfection."
Another realization that The New Earth has given me with renewed clarity are tools to help me be aware that every action I have - every word I utter - every thought I think - does make a difference not only to myself and all those whose lives I touch - but to the collective consciousness.
This is not new. Rupert Sheldrakes's book The New Science of Life first made me aware of the collective consciousness 30 years ago and I have been working on the practice ever since. The Course In Miracles that I studied in 1982 was another very important step in my evolution. And Dr. Emoto's Messages From Water brought another invaluable milestone to my awareness.
What happened to me in this 10-week course was an awakening of a new awareness inspired by three words in the final chapter of A New Earth:
Acceptance, Enjoyment, Enthusiasm. If I do not have at least one of these attitudes in everything that occurs in my life, then I will suffer. And suffering has to do with ego. And ego is a lack of remembering the Divine Spirit that is each one of us.
For many years now, I have been giving thanks each day for the gifts in my life. But, since doing this Eckhart/Oprah course I have been practicing Thanksgiving and gratitude from moment to moment - no matter what the situation - checking myself constantly in each situation that is even slightly uncomfortable to make a shift away from ego, and give thanks for what is.
In March, just before setting out on a four-month teaching tour, Roland and I met with Tom and Michelle Mitchell and their two little girls and I received another huge piece of the Life Puzzle from Tom. Tom has been a special messenger in my life for 25 years. He has been a member of our Animal Ambassador Advisory Board for many years and is responsible for the concept of the Companion Animal Certification Trainings. And it was Tom who read the "Heaven On Earth" message from the fig tree in my journal and insisted I must share the information. In March, Tom and Michelle had just completed a weekend training with a Hawaiian Kahuna and Tom shared an invaluable piece of wisdom with Roland and me. "That I am responsible for everything that happens in my life." It's not new information, but there was a quality in the transmission that Tom received from the Kahu that he was able to pass on to me - so that I got it on a new level with new intention to act upon the information! I first read about taking responsibility in the book, Seth Speaks by Jane Roberts about 40 years ago, but combining this with a new depth of understanding and clear steps to release ego - and constant, joyful, mindful re-membering that I am a part of Divine Being (God), gives me new strength and purpose to live every moment of my life working to be a compassionate, supportive, caring human Being.
It's so exciting to constantly check in with those three little words Acceptance, Enjoyment, Enthusiasm and find a way to be grateful for each small gift in my life. And in addition to giving thanks, I send Heart Hugs, prayers and blessings to all of my fellow Beings on the planet - human Beings and Animals and Plants and Minerals and Nature Spirits as well as to Mother Earth.
Several participants in the TTouch trainings I just finished in Santa Fe (April for dogs), Minneapolis (April for companion animals), Virginia TTEAM training (May for horses) and Virginia TTouch for You (May for humans) were enrolled in the Eckhart/Oprah course and it was enjoyable to discuss how beautifully the TTouch philosophy fits.
Act rather than react;
Cooperation rather than competition;
Mindful intention;
Compassion rather than sympathy;
Observe without judgment
These principles have been cornerstones of TTouch Training, and going beyond ego is what all of us involved in TTouch have been practicing for many years.
Alohanaielele (Linda TJK)
