Category Archives: Metaphysical/Spiritual

Metaphysical/Spiritual, Weekly Torah Parashat

Lech Lecha

October 27, 2020 Michael Leave a comment

We are in the third reading called Lech Lecha – Genesis 12:1 – 17:27. The reading starts with God talking to Abraham – “God said to Abram, “go away from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.”

Last week’s reading, Noach, was about the flood and the tower of Babylon. …. ..The portion ends with God destroying the tower. During this time there was one language with all the people (unity). “God descended” to see the city and the tower that the sons of man had built. God said, ‘Come, let us descend and confuse their speech, so that one person will not understand another’s speech. God scattered them all over the face of the earth….”

Why did God flood the earth and why did He destroy the tower? Questions to be explored. Nevertheless, now Abram is told to move.

So, why do I include these Torah Portions in each week’s posts? I have been ‘following’ the Torah Portions over the past 10 or so years. Loosely at first and more intensely the last 3 years. Each week I research the portion and connect to the actual reading in the Bible. I also have a Zohar. The Zohar is a 23 volume work which interprets each Torah section. Each year I receive a new insight. Whether you identify as Jewish or Christian, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic or some other religious, spiritual or mystical school follower,, The first 5 books of the Bible; The Torah is a significant scripture.

I could be wrong, but as your yoga guide, I am confident that there is value in applying some inquiry here. Just as I am confident there is value in looking at the teachings of Jesus, The Buddha and other teachers of wisdom like Ken Wilber or Goenka or Genpo Roshi or Bill Harris..

REMEMBER: In order to do this work you do not have to believe or have faith in anything. In fact, the instructions are to remove your belief or better said…..suspend your belief as well as your disbelief…just like when you reach the end of the exhale….extend the exhale; stay empty….Find your “still point.

Metaphysical/Spiritual, Weekly Torah Parashat

Noach

October 22, 2020 Michael Leave a comment

For those of you checking in to the weekly Torah sections we are in the 2nd reading in Genesis 6:9 – 11:32. I found 2 interesting videos to begin to paint a perspective on this reading. The second video is from one of Nedra’s favorite Kabbalah teachers who she knows personally…

Metaphysical/Spiritual, Weekly Torah Parashat

Bereshit

October 11, 2020 Michael Leave a comment

What happened in the Garden of Eden?

Today is the first Shabbat. It is called Bersheet or Bereshit. The Torah section is Genesis 1:1 – 6:8. It covers a lot of happenings and time….like 1500 years bringing us up to the next weeks reading which is called Noach – Genesis 6:9 – 11:32.

Here are two short videos that will provide youth some perspective.

Metaphysical/Spiritual

The Yellow Brick road

August 14, 2020 Michael Leave a comment

The “Yellow Brick Road” is a 10 blog series; An introduction and initial orientation to several “maps of the territory” I have discovered in my 40 years in search of a cure for “my” condition of Type 1 Diabetes.

When I was 14 (going to turn 55 next month) I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. My biggest challenge in life has been living with this dis-ease. It is an extremely difficult and dangerous physical condition.

Without injecting insulin I would not survive for much more than a few days. From the day I was diagnosed my greatest desire has been to experience a healing; a cure. I have not found the “cure” yet, however, my quest to fulfill my desire has introduced me to multiple paths of inquiry.

Fifteen years ago I was introduced to Yoga and Chinese Medicine and Crania-Sacral Therapy and Kabbalah and Integral Theory and Spiral Dynamics and Vipassana Meditation and Zen and many other wonderful, dynamic and profound wisdom paths and inquiries of Truth.

The experience of living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) has been and continues to be a profound “map” for me.

The structure of this presentation is a step-by-step, or, a brick-by-brick, process texturized and colored with the introduction and orientation of multiple scientific, meta-physical and mystical perspectives; “maps of the territory.”

Interjected throughout are some short video clips, personal experiences and awarenesses.

The video’s are for imparting information, introducing “tools” we may acquire during our journey, and setting the “mood.” or cognitive-emotional “canvas.” The music videos don’t have to be listened to their end. You will probably “get it” once you hear the first couple seconds of a song. Some of them are worth the listen all the way through, I think.

Simply click on the light green link to access each “Brick.”

Continue reading →

Diabetes, Metaphysical/Spiritual

Intuition

September 13, 2019 Michael Leave a comment

After 43 years of injecting insulin and surviving I can tell you that your most important and useful tool in your “bag of tools” is your intuition. It takes time to develop but as those of us know who have been dealing with this physical condition and the daily minimum requirements needed to stay here, the “math” does not always work. There are times when I am in the 200’s and I can do a correction according to the numbers and I can check 2 hours later and I am 25 points higher. Too many factors at play for the numbers to work the same all the time. It’s kinda like playing whack-a-mole all day long sometimes. I realized about 20 years ago that I could develop my intuition. Make it stronger. Bring it more into play. I understand it. That’s why, after being introduced to yoga, I continued to inquire into it, practice it and even went to a 30 day intensive 200 hour yoga teacher training. I use to be a corporate trainer; hiring and training sales people and managers. I think I will make the yoga room my new training room.

It is my experience and my current working assumption that what is within is what is worth seeking. Having to live with T1D is like turning up the volume on needing, wanting. We now need insulin, a way to deliver it and a way to continually check where our blood sugar is at. The focus is put on us. There is a saying or quote you may come across when exploring Chinese Medicine. …. “The bigger the front, the bigger the back.” SUDDENLY, upon diagnosis we are confronted with a bigger front; tremendous work to stay healthy and alive. I am here to tell you it is doable and it is made more doable when you cultivate your intuition. This is not a condition to rely on the Doctor, Nurse, or CDE for. They are excellent in introducing you to the “game” and monitoring your “results.” But they can’t do what you have to do. And knowing the math and the grams of carbs and your stressors is important. More important is you connecting to, inquiring into, awakening and growing your intuition.

We all struggle with the daily grind of this dis-ease. All of us. I have always seen it as a curse. And I am not here to tell you it was a blessing in my life. It freakin sucks a#@. However, there is an opening that appears with this struggle that I am saying is worth, at least inquiring into. And this opening can lead to a tremendous blessing. It is the opening of going within and knowing thyself. There are many ways to do this. Stay safe today.