By John Ashbrook
Once again, here are some short thoughts on several subjects excerpted from my personal journal. Hopefully, they will inspire you to ponder their greater ramifications.
ON WOMEN…
A woman’s intelligence is much more than facts and left-brained Intellectualism. It extends beyond those limits to an art form of simplicity, playfulness, appropriate naivete, creativity, intuition, and free-flowing spontaneity that cannot be measured in academic terms. Instead, it can only be felt as a calm knowing that demands no proof because it is simply not provable in the limited terms of earthly explanation. A woman’s essence is not about proving deadlines and accomplishments. It is about knowing, peaceful living, and free-flowing, expressive experience.
ON THE INTERNET…
It Is important to note that everything in life is symbolic of a greater spiritual significance. The Internet, with all its ideas, information, and creativity, is only symbolic of the unspeakable vastness of the greatest ocean of knowledge, ideas, and experience known as the universe.
ON INTELLECTUALISM
Intellectualism is too often nothing more than the creation of complexity in order to serve the ego. New-age thinking is more about exposing simple truths that anyone can understand and benefit from.
ON LOVE…
Love cannot be demanded, forced, or legislated. These things will only create the opposite of love – fear and resentment.
ON FORGIVENESS…
What good is a sincere apology without sincere forgiveness? Refusing to forgive yourself or others is a refusal to move forward, an excuse not to grow.
ON CREATION…
Love is the great creator. Every act of unifying love is like a newborn star firing up and becoming another spotlight in the darkness, lighting the path for the force of life in its eternal quest to spiritualize all that is.
ON INTIMACY…
Real intimacy can only exist between two people when vulnerability is present. It takes great courage to risk being vulnerable, but if we are to be truly intimate, someone must reach out. Someone must be willing to risk rejection. Too much caution cannot foster a loving relationship.
ON PRIVACY AND SECRECY…
Privacy is a real need for all of us. Time alone is the only way to explore your real self to discover the unlimited aspects of your being. Sharing your discoveries will come later, but first, you must have privacy. Secrecy is something we use to hide something negative. Secrecy has no intention of revealing because to do so might cause alienation. The problem is that secrecy has a way of expanding and creating a web of fear and deceit. Have the courage to reveal your secrets; then and only then can they be dealt with and resolved.
ON AUTUMN…
The soul of autumn is introspection. We find ourselves going over the past, but the destiny of autumn is transformation, and we come to the realization that change is the champion of freedom.
ON JOY…
Abundance is the natural byproduct of joy. A joyful soul attracts prosperity like a magnet. In today’s world, one must cultivate joy as a discipline, the result of which enhances one’s physical health and personal self-esteem.
ON THE HEART…
The heart symbolizes the soul’s need to be filled with joy. It is interesting to note that the heart is located slightly to the left of center; therefore, it is controlled by the right brain. The right side of the brain is the realm of the feminine, and the feminine principle is creative expression. Nothing creates more joy in the human soul than self-expression. So we can see that when a person is not expressing their creativity, the energy flow between the feminine right brain and the heart is compromised. Over time, this weakens the heart, and the chances for a serious heart attack begin to exist.
ON THE NEW PROSPERITY…
In the next century, prosperity will be measured by the level of one’s personal freedom. This freedom will be qualified by an individual’s openness and willingness to experience and express the infinite aspects of their being. A healthy self-image will be the result of multi-dimensional living.
Humankind will remove the paralyzing shackles of the ego’s need to cling to the security of one identity.
John Ashbrook
