In my final semester of high school, I decided to work with the youngest humans possible. This led to what I call “Being With Children.” My work was with babies, toddlers and up to the age of 5+ year olds. One could say I was an 'educarer, as young ones primarily need the bond, care, modelling, Presence and Love of a parent.
My desire was to ‘see’ and ‘acknowledge’ the brilliance, essence and individuality of the person at the earliest age. I wanted the environment and world a child grew up in to be a Conscious, Loving one; the experience of being truly seen, recognized.
The focus being ‘what is within this child that they are showing me.'
How can I facilitate the inner process of what wants to happen-
What they are already talented at-
What needs developing-
What is in their Heart that I can support in their journey of growth in
these foundational early years-
I also focused on helping young children be in touch with and learn to express their emotions and feelings. Also how to communicate with another, especially when conflict arose.
Emotional development and the foundations for communicating are very relevant in the beginning years, as the right brain is functioning the first six to seven years. This is why academic work is not appropriate for very young children, despite our society not realizing this and in many cases emphasizing early beginning academic accomplishment in preschool in preparation for Kindergarten, which is still several years too early. Rudolf Steiner is very clear about this in his indepth knowledge of the first three years of life and beyond. He was and continues to be successful as a worldwide educator of parenting and teaching children, literally from birth through high school. His teaching is based on following Natural Law and growing up close to Nature, learning via the freedom to explore on one’s own. In this way the child learns from within, from firsthand Experience, firsthand Discovery. And from self-motivation based on inner curiosity and engagement through play. This has been the philosophy and way I have worked with young ones, which truthfully applies to all ages, universally.
As adults we are still learning, have much to attend to that was skipped or inappropriately taught, Conditioned. Typically the teaching comes from someone outside, from books, memorization, formulas 'to follow.' It is taught in a pressured and competitive environment. None of which leads to learning firsthand via Experience in a Natural setting with the Freedom to Explore and Truly Discover via self-motivation.
What I am discovering is that even in relationship to one another as adults, the same Recognition, Insight, Respect and Understanding of our peers, partners, associates is extremely key in harmonious productive relating. The freedom to discover and learn as a child is applicable to allowing one another this same process as an adult. We are still learners and growing into areas that we were not really able to ripen and bloom in childhood and adolescence due to the limitations of Consciousness in & around us.
After working with young ones for thirty five years, I began transitioning to working with the ‘young child in the adult,’ which most humans are living with, know it or not. Parts of oneself that did not get parented, meaning adequately nurtured and responded to at home. Alot of this culminating in the existence and reactivity of the Ego, the immaturities we carry with us and live from in 'adulthood.'
Little did I know that thirty some years later I would also simultaneously encounter Jyotish (Vedic Astrology). Jyotish reveals an indepth map that is immaculately recorded via the planets, reflective of one's karma, (one's previous thoughts, words and actions). This self-made Karma is then refelcted back in one's current lifetime.
In 2010 I began studying myself from this depth and complex vantage point. Tremendous understanding comes via this 'map. 'Jyoti' means 'Light.' Understanding one's Vedic astrological chart is a very powerful Light with which to 'see.' and comprehend from. Like turning a light on in a dark space, tremendous relief and clarity come as Light dispels misperception in the forms of confusion, doubt, fear, even anger. This brings greater range for Space, Clear Perception, Understanding and Compassion with oneself and others.
Buddha's Teachings are clearly, eloquently and poetically presented by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, who took it upon himself to re-enliven the stale, faulty, traditional monastic presentation of Buddhism in the late fifties, early sixties. I began working with his teachings in the early nineties. Thich Nath Hanh's teachings, along with the brilliant, incredibly articulate Eckhart Tolle, and Eugene Gendlin's FOCUSING TECHNIQUE, have served to create a basis from which i have been able to practice what is meant by 'Witnessing.'
Witnessing is the ''Watching of the Inner Play' of emotions and inner dialogue/thoughts. One is learning to 'bear' and 'Watch' what is difficult, uncomfortable, intolerable, painful. A lifelong practice. One comes to experience that through Being Present, the inner process of Compassion arises naturally. I've expeirenced Compassion to create a literal 'Immunity' around me in the face of adversity and egoistic perception and reactivity. Thich Nhat Hanh & Eckhart Tolle’s teachings allow very intricate and complete explanations thus, understanding, from which to practice anytime, anywhere.
I had a lot of emotional pain left over from childhood, which I wasn’t aware of until my last semester of high school. It took several decades of focusing on spiritual teachings, yoga asana practice, mantra sadhana, therapeutic work, healthy diet and lifestyle for me to gain momentum on the pain. Suffering has been an amazing teacher for me as well. I could not tolerate the static, the confusion of emotional suffering. Eckhart refers to as the ‘Pain Body.’ I was compelled to seek change, growth. I find healing to be intrinsically related to Truth, (realizing Truth is relative). It was suffering that motivated my search, my inner work, my daily yoga asana practice, my work with diet and lifestyle, mantra and meditation, and the practice of Focusing.
I consider Focusing to be one of the ultimate yogic techniques for meeting any type of inner / outer difficulty. Most of all, calming Mind and Body , Allowing Mind & Body to Connect, Listening to my Heart, Learning to live in alignment with Ahimsa (Non-Harming). The Heart is where my Inner Teacher finds its truest and strongest resources and reflections.
So it has been and continues to be, a matter of finding the Answers Within. This is a very Creative and Exciting, Inspiring Process!! One that each of us has the opportunity to choose to experience. Realizing this may sound like a lofty statement. Easier said than done. True. Yet the potential for Health and Well-Being is always here. It may be clouded, buried, hidden. Still if we can realize we are always 'choosing' something. If we can begin to experience what is going on within us, our habit patterns of thought, of emotion, of the words and tones we speak, of the actions we take. . . . . we will begin to know the Truth of this choice-making. We will begin to see how we create our own Reality, inner and outer situations. We will be able to own our choices. We will see how we are responding to our choices. We will be able to know this Empowerment. And use this choice-making to adjust what isn't working for us. Thus find Resolve and find what works. And move in a synchronous motion and direction towards our Evolution, in Peace and Harmony.
My desire was to ‘see’ and ‘acknowledge’ the brilliance, essence and individuality of the person at the earliest age. I wanted the environment and world a child grew up in to be a Conscious, Loving one; the experience of being truly seen, recognized.
The focus being ‘what is within this child that they are showing me.'
How can I facilitate the inner process of what wants to happen-
What they are already talented at-
What needs developing-
What is in their Heart that I can support in their journey of growth in
these foundational early years-
I also focused on helping young children be in touch with and learn to express their emotions and feelings. Also how to communicate with another, especially when conflict arose.
Emotional development and the foundations for communicating are very relevant in the beginning years, as the right brain is functioning the first six to seven years. This is why academic work is not appropriate for very young children, despite our society not realizing this and in many cases emphasizing early beginning academic accomplishment in preschool in preparation for Kindergarten, which is still several years too early. Rudolf Steiner is very clear about this in his indepth knowledge of the first three years of life and beyond. He was and continues to be successful as a worldwide educator of parenting and teaching children, literally from birth through high school. His teaching is based on following Natural Law and growing up close to Nature, learning via the freedom to explore on one’s own. In this way the child learns from within, from firsthand Experience, firsthand Discovery. And from self-motivation based on inner curiosity and engagement through play. This has been the philosophy and way I have worked with young ones, which truthfully applies to all ages, universally.
As adults we are still learning, have much to attend to that was skipped or inappropriately taught, Conditioned. Typically the teaching comes from someone outside, from books, memorization, formulas 'to follow.' It is taught in a pressured and competitive environment. None of which leads to learning firsthand via Experience in a Natural setting with the Freedom to Explore and Truly Discover via self-motivation.
What I am discovering is that even in relationship to one another as adults, the same Recognition, Insight, Respect and Understanding of our peers, partners, associates is extremely key in harmonious productive relating. The freedom to discover and learn as a child is applicable to allowing one another this same process as an adult. We are still learners and growing into areas that we were not really able to ripen and bloom in childhood and adolescence due to the limitations of Consciousness in & around us.
After working with young ones for thirty five years, I began transitioning to working with the ‘young child in the adult,’ which most humans are living with, know it or not. Parts of oneself that did not get parented, meaning adequately nurtured and responded to at home. Alot of this culminating in the existence and reactivity of the Ego, the immaturities we carry with us and live from in 'adulthood.'
Little did I know that thirty some years later I would also simultaneously encounter Jyotish (Vedic Astrology). Jyotish reveals an indepth map that is immaculately recorded via the planets, reflective of one's karma, (one's previous thoughts, words and actions). This self-made Karma is then refelcted back in one's current lifetime.
In 2010 I began studying myself from this depth and complex vantage point. Tremendous understanding comes via this 'map. 'Jyoti' means 'Light.' Understanding one's Vedic astrological chart is a very powerful Light with which to 'see.' and comprehend from. Like turning a light on in a dark space, tremendous relief and clarity come as Light dispels misperception in the forms of confusion, doubt, fear, even anger. This brings greater range for Space, Clear Perception, Understanding and Compassion with oneself and others.
Buddha's Teachings are clearly, eloquently and poetically presented by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, who took it upon himself to re-enliven the stale, faulty, traditional monastic presentation of Buddhism in the late fifties, early sixties. I began working with his teachings in the early nineties. Thich Nath Hanh's teachings, along with the brilliant, incredibly articulate Eckhart Tolle, and Eugene Gendlin's FOCUSING TECHNIQUE, have served to create a basis from which i have been able to practice what is meant by 'Witnessing.'
Witnessing is the ''Watching of the Inner Play' of emotions and inner dialogue/thoughts. One is learning to 'bear' and 'Watch' what is difficult, uncomfortable, intolerable, painful. A lifelong practice. One comes to experience that through Being Present, the inner process of Compassion arises naturally. I've expeirenced Compassion to create a literal 'Immunity' around me in the face of adversity and egoistic perception and reactivity. Thich Nhat Hanh & Eckhart Tolle’s teachings allow very intricate and complete explanations thus, understanding, from which to practice anytime, anywhere.
I had a lot of emotional pain left over from childhood, which I wasn’t aware of until my last semester of high school. It took several decades of focusing on spiritual teachings, yoga asana practice, mantra sadhana, therapeutic work, healthy diet and lifestyle for me to gain momentum on the pain. Suffering has been an amazing teacher for me as well. I could not tolerate the static, the confusion of emotional suffering. Eckhart refers to as the ‘Pain Body.’ I was compelled to seek change, growth. I find healing to be intrinsically related to Truth, (realizing Truth is relative). It was suffering that motivated my search, my inner work, my daily yoga asana practice, my work with diet and lifestyle, mantra and meditation, and the practice of Focusing.
I consider Focusing to be one of the ultimate yogic techniques for meeting any type of inner / outer difficulty. Most of all, calming Mind and Body , Allowing Mind & Body to Connect, Listening to my Heart, Learning to live in alignment with Ahimsa (Non-Harming). The Heart is where my Inner Teacher finds its truest and strongest resources and reflections.
So it has been and continues to be, a matter of finding the Answers Within. This is a very Creative and Exciting, Inspiring Process!! One that each of us has the opportunity to choose to experience. Realizing this may sound like a lofty statement. Easier said than done. True. Yet the potential for Health and Well-Being is always here. It may be clouded, buried, hidden. Still if we can realize we are always 'choosing' something. If we can begin to experience what is going on within us, our habit patterns of thought, of emotion, of the words and tones we speak, of the actions we take. . . . . we will begin to know the Truth of this choice-making. We will begin to see how we create our own Reality, inner and outer situations. We will be able to own our choices. We will see how we are responding to our choices. We will be able to know this Empowerment. And use this choice-making to adjust what isn't working for us. Thus find Resolve and find what works. And move in a synchronous motion and direction towards our Evolution, in Peace and Harmony.