my shadow

“Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.” ~Carl Jung

Journal entry from February 19^th 2021:

While listening to the YouTube video “Embrace the Darkness (Carl Jung & The Shadow)” by Einzelganger (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXm-K_b2bps), it reminded me of the time, many years ago, when I was returning from a walk.  As I was nearing the house that I was renting for me and my son, I said in my mind, “Please show me my shadow self”.  In that moment, I was then innately moved to look down, and lo and behold, I saw my actual shadow before me on the sidewalk.  This may not seem so incredible except for the fact that I was walking toward the rising sun, which meant my shadow should have been behind me and not visible in front of me.  I was struck by this moment of profound curiosity as I looked down at my shadow, then back up at the sun, and then back down again at my shadow, totally immersed in the moment, with no-mind, as I let go of trying to figure it out and, instead, just stood there bathing in the experience, transfixed and transformed, which seemed like an eternity, yet by the measure of clock time (as Eckhart Tolle refers to it), it was probably only seconds.  I then looked behind me to see if my shadow was there, too, and there was nothing.  I then noticed the brightness and warmth of the sun on my face, even though the sun was now shining on the back of my head.  That’s when I looked up and discovered that the sun was being reflected in the second-story windows of the high school building, an institution of higher learning.  The reflection of the sun in the windows helped to cast my shadow before me on the sidewalk. The practical understanding of the situation did not distract me from the profound experience I just had, which continued to manifest in several other profound instances, since that moment many years ago.  It was by turning toward, embracing, and going through my shadow self that I was able to re-connect with the ESSENCE of the Universal Life/Love Force.   

p.s.

“I tap into the energy of the universe and reach beyond my ego.”
~ Wim Hof

After the original manuscript for “the Tao of pool: And the Continuum of Belief and Beyond” was completed, there was a continual unfolding that took place, a rippling effect that continued each and every day.  Many manifestations of coco-created musings and happenings continued to come to me and thru me and began to fill the pages of hand-written journals.  I had thought of adding a section to the end of the book, like the “p.s.” (postscript) at the end of a letter, but I then decided to share some of those journal entries here, instead, to demonstrate this ever-unfolding process and to take the opportunity to honor and point to other re-Sources that not only validate the Universal messages and consilient themes in “the Tao of pool”, but also help to expand them. 

For example, “the Tao of pool” was birthed and then put into electronic form several months before I became aware of Wim Hof and the Wim Hof Method.  When I first heard him talk during the Sounds True podcast, “Insights at the Edge”, in November 2020, about “The Cold as a Noble Force”, Wim and his message instantly resonated with me on many levels.  It was after I purchased his book, “The Wim Hof Method; Activate Your Full Human Potential”, and began reading it, that it became abundantly clear why he and his message deeply resonated with me.  Not the least of which is the opening quote for this section, which is found on page 131 of his book.  I read that quote on Sunday, February 28^th 2021, as I was nearing the completion of coco-creating a book proposal for the very Sounds True organization that not only brought Wim Hof into my awareness but also his book which is published by Sounds True. 

Another example of this ever-unfolding process also comes from a Sounds True podcast on January 3^rd 2021 as “Insights at the Edge” host Tami Simon interviewed Acharya Shunya regarding “Sovereign Self”.  As with Wim Hof, I instantly felt a deep connection with Acharya and her universal wisdom, which supported and validated the words, purpose, and intent of the “the Tao of pool”.  Shortly thereafter, her book, “SOVEREIGN SELF: Claim Your Inner Joy and Freedom with the Empowering Wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita”, became a welcomed addition to my library of complementary re-Sources that illuminate the path to higher levels of consciousness.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that her book was separated into three main “parts”, rather than chapters.  This honored my coco-creative process of separating the “the Tao of pool” into three main “parts” of the Whole.

“Sovereign self-governance, an empowered, bold life on this planet, is your destiny and none other.”
~ Acharya Shunya

Interestingly, during the podcast with Acharya Shunya, host Tami Simon described Acharya’s book as “the kind of book to read, to study, to contemplate, and then to read, study, and contemplate, again.  And then to give to your friends, and then read, study, and contemplate, again”, which named the very process by which I felt “the Tao of pool” would best be utilized.  Tami Simon’s comment illustrates that there are layers to these books, just as there are layers to the EGO, and it is through contemplating discussions that these layers are able to be pulled back to eventually reveal the ESSENCE of the Universal Life/Love Force that abides in us all readily available for us to be reawakened to. 

Welcome to Ripplings

“Ripplings” are the continued rippling effects of being playfully open & one with life, first described, and describbled, in “the Tao of pool“.