| Every person has certain qualities or presences in | | | | to depression. |
| their heart which are awkward, disturbing or | | | | Exercising the voice of the inner critic and tyrant |
| negative. One of your sacred duties is to exercise | | | | is a practice many of us engage with almost |
| kindness towards them. | | | | hourly. We are not used to practicing kindness and |
| John O`Donahue - Anamcara:Spiritual Wisdom | | | | forgiveness that then deepens into |
| from the Celtic World | | | | self-acceptance and compassion. |
| One of the key aspects of the spiritual journey is | | | | We have to begin with intention. This is the |
| learning to become an alchemist. The true | | | | correct use of our will. Intention is the building |
| alchemist is one who turns the lead of negative | | | | block of all life. It is the most creative act you can |
| presences in the heart into the gold of | | | | engage with but you need to do this consciously. |
| compassion and forgiveness. | | | | Most of us do not start our day with focusing our |
| On the spiritual journey, which is the hero's | | | | intention for the day and then allowing the miracle |
| journey turning lead into gold is one of your | | | | of creation to move through us. The secret is to |
| sacred duties. This is not a duty that is imposed | | | | simply intend kindness, trust the process and let |
| from without but a spiritual discipline willingly | | | | go into Love in action. |
| exercised in response to a commitment of the | | | | You are created as an expression of the Divine in |
| heart of the highest good. | | | | form. You are not here to prove that you are |
| One essential way (which is the invitation to | | | | deserving. You are not here to prove anything. |
| essence) is through kindness. Kindness involves | | | | You are here to be. This creative force that |
| gentleness. This gentleness begins with | | | | flows through you is an experience of delight (the |
| non-judgement and silent witnessing. This is | | | | light). It is naturally expansive. It is you who feels |
| bringing into the light that previously judged dark. | | | | uneasy when you block it. What serves to block it |
| Kindness means acceptance but not indulgence. | | | | is unkindness and judgment exercised as a |
| How often do you take a moment when you | | | | habitual reaction to the moment. |
| exercise a practice of making whole that which is | | | | You can allow yourself to be radiance in form. |
| divided within you? How much time do you give in | | | | This is your sacred duty. You are invited to |
| your day to the sacred duty of kindness. This is | | | | become a disciple of unconditional regard and |
| when you make a mistake, say something that | | | | kindness moving more deeply into forgiveness |
| might have been better left unsaid or engaged | | | | and compassion. Then you have learned to be a |
| with some action that compromises your integrity | | | | true magician. You have learned a key secret of |
| (sense of being one). | | | | alchemy. You have learned to become a true |
| What tends to happen is that we judge ourselves | | | | friend to yourself. You begin to feel whole. |
| as having failed, having been a bad person, or | | | | You can learn more about the secrets and power |
| berate ourselves for having fallen from our high | | | | of intending, trusting and letting go into Love in |
| standards of behaviour. Then the inner voice of | | | | action that will give your heart more of the |
| the critic and the tyrant begins to have a field | | | | presence it truly desires. The Anam cara |
| day. They begin to pile on further judgment and | | | | Experience is an invitation to feel connected to |
| your energy begins to spiral down. This can lead | | | | friendship at the deepest level. |