The Gratidudes Blog

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

- Albert Einstein

Even those who avoid the news at the best of times, know of what is going on in Haiti.  It is one of those things that shows how interconnected we all are.  It challenges many in believing that there is actually a God. “How could it do something like this?”  I believe that each of us have our own journey of awareness around this.  I continue to have faith in a higher power.  I have my beliefs and pray that each of us will find our own way to find peace with these events.  I see that with all that is happening as countries come together to support, as every day people are sending in waves of money, as  rescue workers are flying in from all around the world, that there is a higher power present.   

We can avoid the painful feelings that surface when we watch the nightly news, or we can allow ourselves the feeling of compassion that is seeking to express itself.  Already we are seeing floods of money being sent to the Red Cross to help mobililze rescue teams and support the millions of people who have survived this incident.  This is one way in which we are each able to help.  We make a difference with our prayers too, though we don’t see it necessarily on the nightly news.

I remember being a young boy and sitting in front of television sets staring at the pictures of starving children in Ethiopia,  at the time of their great famine in the 80’s.  It spurred the whole Live Aid phenomenon.  I wished as a young boy that I would have been able to make a difference.  I thought I had no power to do anything to help.  It wrenched at my heart, that I was not able to do anything.  Or so I thought.

Now, there is new science from institutes like HeartMath and the Institute of Noetic Sciences ( IONS ) that are demonstrating the power that we do have within us to affect things far off.  It is the scientific validation that so many need, for the teachings of the great spiritual teachers of  the last few thousand years at least.  We may not all be in the position to offer physical aid to Haitians ( and I know there are many who would fly there now if they could ), but we are each in a position to offer our thoughts and compassion.  These thoughts, and these feelings of compassion, ripple out through our universe.  They do not change the tide of events that have already happened, but they are felt by all those who still live, and can lift up their spirits and help them process the feelings of grief, anger and helplessness.  People often think that prayers are not enough at this time, that action is needed more.  Action is needed.  Prayer is needed too.  The effectiveness of action is affected by the global prayers taking place at this time. 

Just this week I began to reread a book “Waking the Tiger” by psychologist Peter A Levine who has been working with victims of trauma for some time now.  In it he speaks of how community can come together and help with the healing of trauma.  For these Haitians, it is not a case of just getting on with their lives, their consciousness has been affected by this trauma.  I pray that each and every Haitian is able to receive the support they need, and that together they can rise out of this, and thrive.  Once the physical rescue work has been done, much will have to be done within the hearts and minds of all Haitians.

So how can we offer our help. 

Because we do not see the pain surrounding us each and every moment like the Haitians do, we can assume responsibility for how we feel and, I believe, share our feelings of compasison.  I have released tears this week myself.  Tears that our western world could so easily ignore, but tears that have helped change where I pray from.  Once I released them I felt like I was able to offer greater levels of compassion for the survivors of this devastation.  Then there are the tears of acknowledgement from that little child in me that says that I can make a difference, even though I am not physically there

We all have different ways in which we pray.  I will share briefly the way that resonates with my heart.  Read Gregg Braden’s “Iasaiah Effect” and you will see how he speaks of the ritual of ancients and modern day indigenous in praying for people and things, that they pray from the place of living in the wish fulfilled.  Speaking the prayer as if that which we are praying for has already happened, and feeling the feelings they would feel if it already happened.  Now, we cannot possibly know what is in store for the Haitians in the years ahead, and cannot control it, but we can pray for the highest good, the inner peace, the compassion, and the joy of each Haitian.  

Rather than focusing on things to happen, we are focused on states of heart and mind.  Feel the feelings of peace, abundance, joy, love and compassion in your heart.  Now picture that radiating out to the land of Haiti.  When you feel complete, release it.  It is out of our control now.   This is where I have learned to have faith and trust, because our prayers are not always immediately reflected in the outside world and definitely not on TV.  There is a divine timing to it.  I believe fervently in the power of your prayers to make a difference.  Pray without ceasing.

I trust that whatever religious teachings are dear to you, however you pray, that your message will reach their hearts, when you vibrate those feelings of love and compassion out there.  

And, yes, for the energy that you can offer financially, when you choose, be sure that it is a trusted organisation.

I have chosen to support the Red Cross of Canada knowing that the money is reaching the places where it is needed most.

in gratitude,

MattiDude