| Supposedly, all the answers to life's riddles are right in | | | | Perhaps we learned to put on a happy face as a child |
| front of us-in our own "backyard." I believe they | | | | because we were taught to bury our pain. So |
| reside in our nature. If we could simply stop | | | | we became a jokester. Others perceived us as light |
| resisting who we are, we might just discover the | | | | and playful. But maybe our true nature is sensitive, |
| combination lock that liberates our soul from its prison | | | | deep and serious. |
| of repression. One's nature is a quality of being | | | |        |
| and expression-an intrinsic response to our | | | |     We need to explore |
| existence. The nature of a butterfly is vitally | | | | the energetic feeling accompanying what we assume |
| different from the nature of a snake. Both are | | | | is our nature. If the energy is forced or heavy, |
| being true to themselves and couldn't trade places if | | | | coupled with internal emptiness, pain or longing, then |
| they tried. Yet we humans attempt to homogenize | | | | we're probably caught in a synthetic nature created by |
| ourselves and swap natures as if they were | | | | our psyche's defense structure for emotional/spiritual |
| costumes. But, more than just an outfit, our | | | | survival -- compensation for not feeling loved for who |
| natures are built into the very fabric of our | | | | we are. All judgmental programming of our |
| being. Consequently, it's really painful when we | | | | disposition must be released in order to unearth and |
| deny our nature and attempt to live a life counter to | | | | heal the wounds beneath this artificial nature. We're |
| our core. | | | | aligned with our essence when the energy is strong, |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | focused, clear, uplifting, affirming-with just the right |
| Â Â Â Â We often spend years | | | | "click" that declares our natural groove. Â |
| trying to override our nature. We think that someone | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| else's nature is more desirable and try on their | | | |     We each have |
| essence like clothing that's the wrong size and style. | | | | an individually appointed Divine nature that is a |
| We put ourselves through contortions to fit into that | | | | playground for exploration, creativity and |
| attire because supposedly it's better than our natural | | | | augmentation. When we allow our nature to |
| self. To walk a path contrary to our nature only leads | | | | inform us of our path, we then live a life that is |
| to unhappiness and struggle because we're out of | | | | spiritually authentic. The Universe then responds |
| synch with ourselves. We give others the | | | | in gratitude for our willingness to embrace the quality of |
| power to judge our nature which erodes self-esteem. | | | | our essence with increased opportunities, ease and |
|  | | | | joy-filled showers of support. |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| Â Â Â Â Our nature is designed | | | | Â Â Â Â The Tibetan's golden, |
| to be the optimum channel for the soul's expression in | | | | loving, wise, playful nature radiates in all directions as he |
| this lifetime. So it must celebrated. Otherwise | | | | teaches: |
| we live a life of censorship-our natural tendencies | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| locked in a straightjacket that suffocates the | | | | Â Â Â Â Human nature is a |
| psyche. We can't obliterate our fundamental | | | | composite of millions of threads of light woven into an |
| nature. | | | | overall matrix. Each individual carries one of these |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | exquisite threads-a golden strand of uniqueness that |
|     I've had many dogs, | | | | must be honored through full embodiment. |
| each of them with an individualized nature, even though | | | | Everyone has a particular nature that is |
| they're all the same breed. Their particular spark | | | | specifically endowed with a quality of energy, light, love |
| of Divinity in this lifetime carries its own signature, not | | | | and sound to represent the soul's special expression |
| generic to the breed. Similarly, siblings may come from | | | | for this lifetime. Although self changes |
| the same family but each have strikingly different | | | | throughout life's journey, this unique, precious, |
| "natural" responses to their upbringing. We're | | | | differentiated nature endures in its essential |
| not meant to be homogenized. It's not self-loving to | | | | quality. |
| fight one's nature. The mandates of the tribe that lump | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| us together and override the very flavor and spice we | | | | Â Â Â Â Humankind is working |
| individually bring to the human soup must be | | | | hard to prevent the extinction of various animal |
| overthrown by the commitment to honor our | | | | species. Likewise, the Masters are dedicated to |
| individualized nature. | | | | forestalling the possible extinction of certain |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | temperaments, manifest by humankind, that are integral |
| Â Â Â Â Â It's in my | | | | to the Divine Design. Consequently, everyone has a |
| nature to talk to people, serve, philosophize, dig deep, | | | | responsibility to openheartedly embody their essential |
| theorize, obsess over astrology and metaphysics, | | | | nature, strongly establishing its place within the |
| hunger for the truth and be fascinated with the | | | | patchwork quilt of the human condition. If self fights his |
| process of transformation. It's also in my nature to | | | | her nature, then it starves/atrophies and is in danger of |
| need lots of fun time, be a homebody, play | | | | becoming extinct. Without that one exquisite thread, |
| outside, be intense-futuristic- sensitive-analytical, | | | | integral to the Divine Plan, humanity's great tapestry |
| play music, crave animal companions, be a moonstruck | | | | unravels. It's imperative to preserve and |
| night owl under the magic of the stars and to desire | | | | strengthen self's particular nature. Self is the |
| change. I've often fantasized about leaving my | | | | only one who can guarantee its continued existence. |
| counseling work to do something completely different, | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| like run a B&B, a coffee shop, an import business, a | | | | Â Â Â Â Perhaps the soul has |
| theater company. In attempts to abandon my nature, | | | | painfully endured the starvation of many lifetimes |
| these fantasies have filled me with wonderment. What | | | | imprisoned within an imposed false nature. This |
| would it be like to trade in my texture for another kind | | | | resulted in the loss of deep spiritual connection that |
| of fabric-a different quality of life? But | | | | fostered a blindness to the exquisite uniqueness of the |
| endeavors to reject my nature and follow the lure of | | | | soul's timber and its importance in the orchestral |
| these daydreams inevitably result in a dead-end | | | | symphony. Then the soul's distinctive quality of |
| feeling-as if I had just stepped out of my body and | | | | sound could not be heard. |
| was trying to replace it for another. I end up | | | |        |
| surrendering these prospects to an acceptance of | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Everything that |
| who I am and what I came here to do. There | | | | you want from others is an extension of your own |
| truly is no other course. | | | | nature. Don't ask others to embody your tone. It's |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | impossible to really know self when you project who |
|      I've always | | | | you are onto others. Take back the pieces of |
| admired people who get up at 6 am, are competitive in | | | | your makeup by erasing all the external obligations |
| sports, scientific, physically handy, savvy in cities, | | | | about the way you're supposed to be. Then quietly |
| introverted enough to spend long hours alone without | | | | allow self to listen, see and feel the inherent quality of |
| craving companionship, mellow ...all the qualities that | | | | energy that holds your personal Stamp of Divinity. |
| aren't me. Then I remember the importance | | | | Follow the mystical path of your uniquely individualized |
| of honoring my true nature-to see the way that | | | | cast and its tremendous impact on the overall human |
| it shapes my life as a gift-not an obstacle. I'm | | | | composite. |
| grateful for who I am. | | | |        |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | Â Â Â Â Sound the Divine |
| Â Â Â Â Are you being true to | | | | Chord intrinsic to self's being. Self's essential nature |
| your nature? Are other characteristics of being | | | | rings like a bell. It cannot be negated. Explore all of its |
| seductive to you? Can you accept who you are- | | | | evolving facets. Persist into the heart of the |
| what you came here to do? What qualities naturally | | | | magnificent quintessence that is self's Soul Autograph. |
| emanate from you? Are you introverted, extroverted, | | | | With full commitment, create an external life that |
| upbeat, serious, a risk-taker, relaxed, ambitious, | | | | carries this nature forth through the earthly |
| laid-back, funny, sweet, probing, active, passive, steady, | | | | world. |
| bouncy, wild, conservative, wacky, scientific, artful, | | | | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
| boisterous, pensive, silly, talkative? There are endless | | | | Â Â Â Â To unequivocally |
| nuances of being that shape the human | | | | embrace one's nature leads to profound inner |
| condition. Individually we reap the rewards of color, | | | | peace. Claim it! Probe its bottomless pith. |
| form and expression when we employ our natural | | | | Expand through it. Artistically portray it in daily life. The |
| inclinations to direct our soul's essence  | | | | natural path of alignment with self's Divine Texture |
| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | | | | magnetizes happiness, spaciousness, freedom from |
| Â Â Â Â How do we discern | | | | judgment, unconditional love and the generosity of spirit |
| the difference between our true nature vs. protective | | | | that gives everyone the permission and |
| characteristics acquired as compensation for wounds? | | | | inspiration to bask in their exceptional being. |