When I tuned into the June (2012) Theme, it took me a little while to decipher the essence of it. Actually, it took me several days, with the closest word being ‘Oxytocin’. If you Google Oxytocin, you’ll get several versions of the hormone’s primary function, but a common agreement is that it is the hormone for bonding, including reproduction and childbirth. It is involved in the chemical reactions that produce that warm fuzzy glow in your heart, either after orgasm, cuddling newborn babies or being with loved ones.
However, Oxytocin in itself did not describe the essence and eventually the theme sprouted as “Things that warm your heart”. As per the limited mind in foresight, I could only grasp snippets of what was to come – I thought, “Hmm, a month of appreciation of the beauty of life and simple things that give you a glow of love”. At the beginning of this
month, that meant roses and hugs and clear blue winter skies and the gentle warmth of the winter sun. As usual, the mind only can go so deep, grasping only the tangible things that it has already linked to ‘warming the heart’.
What I learnt this month was so much deeper than that.
A friend of mine went into a coma this June and due to the miraculous world of Facebook, a group of friends were able to be (somewhat) involved in the tough journey that his wife had to go through. We received daily posts and in turn were able to provide our support, even though most of us were so far away. A request for 4-hourly healings was conducted by many, each finding their own way to send support and unconditional love. I was touched by the miracle of connection in the 2 weeks before our friend finally was proclaimed out of the coma ‑ seeing people take just 15 minutes from their busy daily lives to send him healing, the supportive posts, the amount of people willing to be woken up in the middle of the night if needed.
This reminded me of teary times in my life during large national disasters, such as the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami or the 2011 Brisbane floods. Not because of the deaths or the loss of homes and services. It was joyful tears --- of the humanity and compassion that sprung to life to help people in real need. People giving up their time and resources to help each other, provide support and connection, when only days before were just strangers who wouldn’t even give each other the time of day. Through real disaster (not delusional self-involved dramas), there seems to be a breakdown of self-proclaimed barriers, the ‘I, I, I’ or ‘what about me’ --- and instead an opening of the heart.
month, that meant roses and hugs and clear blue winter skies and the gentle warmth of the winter sun. As usual, the mind only can go so deep, grasping only the tangible things that it has already linked to ‘warming the heart’.
What I learnt this month was so much deeper than that.
A friend of mine went into a coma this June and due to the miraculous world of Facebook, a group of friends were able to be (somewhat) involved in the tough journey that his wife had to go through. We received daily posts and in turn were able to provide our support, even though most of us were so far away. A request for 4-hourly healings was conducted by many, each finding their own way to send support and unconditional love. I was touched by the miracle of connection in the 2 weeks before our friend finally was proclaimed out of the coma ‑ seeing people take just 15 minutes from their busy daily lives to send him healing, the supportive posts, the amount of people willing to be woken up in the middle of the night if needed.
This reminded me of teary times in my life during large national disasters, such as the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami or the 2011 Brisbane floods. Not because of the deaths or the loss of homes and services. It was joyful tears --- of the humanity and compassion that sprung to life to help people in real need. People giving up their time and resources to help each other, provide support and connection, when only days before were just strangers who wouldn’t even give each other the time of day. Through real disaster (not delusional self-involved dramas), there seems to be a breakdown of self-proclaimed barriers, the ‘I, I, I’ or ‘what about me’ --- and instead an opening of the heart.
Maybe, it is these disasters highlight our humility and fragility – that we are susceptible to the same things, so in essence the human shell – no matter what race or religion – have the same limitations and need the same basic resources (including love). In this, we find connection. Or maybe, real disasters temporarily dissolve our delusional self-importance, shine a light that our deadlines or belief-driven goals are just self-made constructs that hold no clout in what really matters –in the face of a real disaster. The need to succeed to fill the emptiness of not good enough, the need to fight to destroy those who threaten our internal ideals or the need to shine to dampen the pain of insignificance - it is all temporarily shattered. Through the shattering of our egoic focus, all is left is the shining of our hearts.
Who knows – all I know is that it is not only natural disasters or health emergencies that bring on human connection. There was a page on the internet that showed pictures that will restore your
faith in humanity (click here to view). And yes, it brought tears to my eyes. What was the key? To me, it was the connection – connection between sexuality, between religions, between generation gaps, between species, between each other. The human heart has such a beautiful capacity to love. It also creates connection across all time & space through the vehicle of love.
Real connection stirs the spirit. It often bubbles laughter up from the soul or brings tears to the eyes. It is the deeper warmth of community, of people dropping barriers and opening hearts, of sharing resources, of love shared across the country or the world –regardless of race, religion, sexuality or any other society boundaries founded on the illusion of separation.
faith in humanity (click here to view). And yes, it brought tears to my eyes. What was the key? To me, it was the connection – connection between sexuality, between religions, between generation gaps, between species, between each other. The human heart has such a beautiful capacity to love. It also creates connection across all time & space through the vehicle of love.
Real connection stirs the spirit. It often bubbles laughter up from the soul or brings tears to the eyes. It is the deeper warmth of community, of people dropping barriers and opening hearts, of sharing resources, of love shared across the country or the world –regardless of race, religion, sexuality or any other society boundaries founded on the illusion of separation.
So, while my heart is warmed by the beauty of a blooming rose and the warmth of the winter sun --- I realise now a deeper aspect to the theme of this month. Maybe the real theme should’ve been ‘connection’. It is not only the beauty of the rose that warms my heart – it is the connection of that beauty that rings inside of myself – the beauty that temporarily suspends the ‘me’ full of worries and infuses presence. I am touched by the un-conditionality of my partner leaving a rose next to the sink, so that I might find it when I do the dishes in the morning – a connection made in absence. It’s more than just my delight of the warm sensation of the sun’s rays sinking deep into my bones, but experiencing the connection of my spirit in this world – the feeling of being alive in that moment. I am blessed by the sun shining life-giving essence down on me and by the earth supporting me underneath.
I am alive – we are connected – this is what warms my heart.
I am alive – we are connected – this is what warms my heart.
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