Often are the times when the words of another strum the chords for a song my mind, heart or spirit enjoys humming right along with. Therefore, we here at Moments Count will treasure opportunities to offer you the thoughts, wisdom and insights of others who enjoy playing with imaginative ideas and conjuring creativity to enhance the ever-expanding possibilities of perception.
So please, relish, as I did the sage keenness of this richly crafted piece by Christine Ranck PhD.
Guest Article:
CHRISTINE RANCK Click here to visit Christine's website
Carl Jung, Shrink Extraordinaire, was a protégé of Sigmund Freud, another shrink extraordinaire. But then they had a fight and broke up. This was probably a good thing for all of us.
Carl Jung studied unbelievable coincidences, and came up with the word “synchronicities.” This famous story is fascinating.
Jung had been working with a woman patient who was very rigid and not making any progress in therapy. One day, however, she came in to see him, having had a powerful dream the night before about a Scarab Beetle.
Now this excited Jung because he happened to know that in Egyptian mythology the scarab beetle is a symbol of rebirth and transformation. So Jung thought that dreaming about the beetle was a really good sign for her, and maybe she was on the verge of a change!
He was about to make that dream interpretation to her when they both heard a tap-tap-tapping on the office window.
Away to the window Jung flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear but a BIG OL’ BEETLE, which proceeded to fly around the room!
Needless to say, everyone was shocked! Jung caught the beetle in his hand, and then he told the woman his dream interpretation. The beetle’s appearance was enough to break through her blocks, and the next time she came back, she was indeed transformed—and the therapy moved along very well from then on. (First however she had to overcome her post-traumatic stress disorder from having a big beetle shoved in her face. Kidding.)
Legend has it that the idea of synchronicity came to Jung (in the 1920s) during a conversation with Albert Einstein over dinner. (OK I’m just taking a moment to imagine having a little din-din with EINSTEIN, after also hanging out with FREUD. The brain-power in that neighborhood was, well, genius.
Jung studied gazillions of these meaningful coincidences and decided that they are the surface effects of a deeper, more holistic reality—a sort of fusion of inner life and outer universe. He said that major life transitions have more synchronistic events, and signal periods of personal growth—but also help it along. That is, synchronicities have an effect.
They can be signposts that you are on the right track, and that you are in the flow of some energy that is very resonant with purpose. It is always a good idea to follow up on them. They tend to lead to adventure, and places you wouldn’t normally go.
Ignite!
Ignite the Genius Within!
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Somewhere in you is an artist. Somewhere in your life is an artist that you can appreciate and support.
What is always important is that we take the opportunity to express the artist within and to understand and support the artists in our lives. And when we make the choice to criticize we need to be honest enough with ourselves to understand from where the criticism arises.
For the art that is created is an expression of the interior landscape of the person who created the art and there is no criticism of that expression that does not become a criticism of the human being.
Resources to find your inner artist:
Below are a few of links that we think are helpful if you are thinking about exploring your creative side. If you know of other good resources let us know and we’ll post those links here as well.
Click to visit Burridge Studios Website
Paint something:
Bob Burridge is an internationally acclaimed artist who teaches art in a way that allows you to look at your own work and develop along the lines you choose for yourself. And as he says: “It is stress-free, but be warned: you could wind up with too much enthusiasm for painting.” Bob’s workshop schedule includes classes all over the US. And his initial “Loosen Up” workshop is a great way to find your creative side no matter what medium you want to work in.
Find your inner troubador:
Although this is not a link to lessons, it’s a link to song from one of my absolute favorite musicians, David Wilcox about the song that won’t shut up until he gets it out of his head. So if a song is really struggling to get out of your head, find a local guitar teacher and find your inner troubador! Then post your cover on David’s page! And remember that the right teacher for you will make you feel very good about yourself!
How to change that little voice that says “I can’t…”
Click to visit Ignite The Genius Within Website
“We always get exactly what we want. However, we are not aware of most of what we want. To make matters even more challenging, most of us are not even aware that we are unaware of wanting all kinds of things we aren’t conscious of. That is why there is so much disparity between what we think we want and what we actually get…”
I am one who seeks my self outdoors.
Nature is gracious in its sharing with me. And, I am appreciative.
Its gentle spontaneity, capricious temperament, easy conversation and ceaseless energy offer me respite.
When wandering in fields and meadows, through forests and deserts, along shorelines and foothills I know I will hear inner sounds of my own.
I have learned when I am in the open spaces I can see beyond my physical world to my internal world.
For it is here the quiet journey of a breeze tripping through leafy tangled branches causes me stop. There is so much to know in catching the play of that tiny breeze — a whisper, a rustle, a languid hush.
The nimble tap dance of the talented creek along the pebbly stones. If I close my eyes for a moment too long I have to push down the urge to applaud the performance, every time….
Last night though, it took a long, long time for a grin to leave my face. You see, a fat raccoon decided maybe he needed to wrestle me for just whose piece of apple it was he was scamperin’ away with, his or mine. Well, I’ll tell ya’, I looked at his clear-eyed determination behind his tailored ebony mask and had to chuckle. ‘Cuz, dang! I knew I’d lose that wrestlin’ match, even if I’d wanted that ol’ apple!!! So, he’d better just hurry, scat off and have his snack. But, as he left, I offered him a little smile of respect for his wily ability to make his way in his rangy world.
But, I’ll tell ya’ there’s nothing in this whole world that pulls me
closer to center than looking up at the sky through the majestic magnetic silhouettes of huge powerful trees spiring upwards. Taking in the vision of the tops of an immense forest scraping the sky allows me to breathe with the peace of knowing how large and small is my passage on this voyage we are all taking; it reminds me how quickly it docks and helps me remember we will each disembark….
Oh, but that same sky at night, well now, that’s just such a different space. A huge shadow land above, deep, dark, black, blue and that inky canvas is freckled with tiny illuminated dots we call stars. From our very first mesmerizing childhood gaze at them they sparkle our imagination and light our dreams. And, on these fireballs, so far away, we lovingly wish for all manner of magic we long to twinkle in our lives.
I guess sometimes we forget our lives are the magic.
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Moments Count Audio Adventures presents an other worldly adventure with Brooke Leigh Sheldon. You are walking one lovely day, without a care in the world, when a very unexpected opportunity presents itself to you. You will be offered the chance of a lifetime. What will you do?
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