August, 2009

After sending last month's newsletter on Transcendence, I got curious to see if anyone would suggest "practicing Nonviolent Communication" as a path to transcendence.

Indeed, during my very difficult month, I felt most present while I was teaching NVC, mediating and giving empathy.

Many thanks to Madonna Reid, who wrote in the following (edited for length):

"The essence of Nonviolent Communication is Transcendence. The practice brings us into the moment where we can experience distance between feeling, thinking, and sensations. While being 'the space' we realize thinking, feelings and sensations are transient, 'clouds' passing in the sky.

"Nonviolent Communication helps us experience at ANY time we choose (intend) to see the truth, we are not our feelings, needs, sensations, thinking. We ARE transcendence. Not something we achieve in some future event. It is who we are here and now.

"The result of realizing this truth about our identification is compassion. Nonviolent Communication is the essence of compassion and transcends the field of illusions (feelings, thinking, sensations, and needs). What more profound spiritual practice could there be?"

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Transcendence through Perspective

Gratitude was another common theme in the suggestions. Ellia Ryan suggests,

"Remember this is only happening in this moment. This, too, shall pass.

"Being present means embracing everything about what is happening--I can learn something form every experience.

"I am thankful and grateful for what and who I have in my life, and the opportunities that are open to me."

And Sherry Krainick adds,

"I often remember to be thankful. That I am the creator of my life and I can make different choices and be grateful for that! It always helps to connect with nature, a walk, digging in the dirt, hugging a child."

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Transcendence through Magic

Fred Turner wrote in with a few suggestions:

"Meditation. It's all about transcendence, becoming still and (re)connecting with the Divine, Source, Spirit or whatever name one chooses.

"An all night fire circle-drumming, dancing, chanting from dusk to dawn-especially when one does this three nights in a row.

"A magic performance. Magic is the ONLY art form that is all about transcendence and that white light moment of astonishment."

Fred's wife, Martia Denniston, expanded on art forms:

"Any creative activity which one has a passion for, whether drawing and painting, sewing, cooking, gardening, performing, etc., can produce experiences of transcendence.

"That is, when you become so engrossed that you lose all sense of your little ego 'self' and you engage your higher Self in the passion of the moment, so that you lose all awareness of time and place.

"There is that transcendent sense of creativity flowing through you, something greater than you guiding the way forward..."

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Transcendence through Fun and Community

I was inspired by Briana Barrett's abundant list of transcending practices. Here are a few of my top favorites from her suggestions:

*Put on a gala dress to do dishes (becomes dancing around in front of a full length mirror, too!)

*Get on my bike for no reason (becomes an awestruck communion with the air, the mountains in view, and the water, if I get closer to it-and endorphins)

*Make up a journaling exercise and do it (becomes a firm sense of self)

*Call a friend and marvel (becomes a bonding experience no matter what we discuss)

*Keep monthly dates with four friends (becomes a deepening ritual that feeds both of us, and something we can look forward to, such that it really relieves stress before it accumulates-prevents stress, even!)

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"Small" Steps to Transcendence

Ceci Miller wrote in with several ideas mentioned above as well as these:

*Watching birds (they're small and yet so straightfoward and focused, with a little lift!)

*Watching children play (they're right in the moment- when they're happy, happy. When they're mad, mad.)

*Reading books to children (transcend the usual stuff on my mind, giving time, attention, love)

*Writing stories for children (creative writing happens in the 'zone'-a place of transcendence!

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Transcendence through Music

Being a musician myself, I couldn't agree more with the words of Christina Ibanez:

"MUSIC...that always helps me with my transcendence! Sometimes the most simple and beloved piece of music in a time of need can lift my spirits 100 fold!"