"One must ask children and birds how strawberries and cherries taste."---Johann von Goethe

"So young a child ought to know which way she's going, even if she doesn't know her own name!"
---Lewis Carroll

"Everything is ceremony in the wild garden of childhood."
---Pablo Neruda

"All children are artists, and it is an indictment of our culture that so many of them lose their creativity, their unfettered imaginations, as they grow older."
---Madeline L'engle

"Are we not witnessing a situation where children are conciously rejecting their parents' value despite love and devotion given to them? The present situation has arisen because parents have failed to transmit a sustaining faith to their children. The basic reason for this failure is that the parents themselves lacked faith. Without faith, their love was an image not a reality, a statement of words not an expression of feelings."
---Alexander Lowen

"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently."
---Friedrich Nietzche

"Learning how to become emotionally literate is one of the best investments that human beings can make for themselves, their children, and the future."
---Ayman Sawaf

"The meaning and significance you choose ARE your reality -- choose a better meaning and significance and you choose a better reality -- and not just for yourself, also for people around you -- especially for children in your care."
---Laura Teresa Marquez

"Emotion is the chief source of all becoming-conscious. There can be no transforming of darkness into light and of apathy into movement without emotion."
---Carl Jung

"When awareness is brought to an emotion, power is brought to your life."
---Tara Meyer Robson

"The Role of Ego
In most spiritual traditions, the role of the ego-personality in the process of reaching Enlightenment is, to a great extent underestimated and misunderstood. Unless we see clearly that the ego in itself is something absolutely positive and, as such, the only tool for arriving at higher levels of awareness, we have no way to understand the process of awakening.

Many seekers are confused and not able to comprehend the apparent paradox of transcending the ego without actually annihilating it. In Buddhist psychology, there is a concept that ego is not real, for it is only a play of so called five skandhas. This concept is missing the elemental understanding that our body-mind operates as an alive and coherent organism of intelligence in a purposeful and meaningful way. The ego cannot be found anywhere as such, for the one looking for it - is the ego. It is too close to be found, but certainly it is always there.

It is difficult to define what the ego is, for it is not anything substantial. We would define ego as a self-conscious function of individualized consciousness capable of relating to its surroundings and itself in a centralized and intelligent manner. The ego is not an entity, but rather a unified field of identity - it is not fixated on a point, but operates within a spatial consciousness. It has many layers and many aspects.

In Buddhist tradition there's a concept of "no-mind," and so we tend to think that our being is simply divided into the mind and the no-mind. This is far too simplistic. Even when we go beyond the gross level of thinking, the mind is still functioning and the ability for self-relating is retained. This thing called ego is constantly accompanying the process of meditation and, allows us to create clarity and understanding. The art of resting within the stillness of our being, and the self-conscious movement of our intelligence are not separated from one another. Without the gentle checking of our state during meditation and cultivation in general, we would be unable to make any progress in the practice. This is the function of the ego.

Now, before going deeper into the issue of how the ego and enlightened state relate to one another, we need to understand what Enlightenment is. True Enlightenment has nothing to do with any modification or transformation of the ego-personality in terms of eliminating desires, negative emotions or developing positive qualities. Neither does it involve seeing into the "non-existence" or "emptiness" of the ego. Any "seeing" or conceptual understanding is confined only to the relative functions of our intelligence. The state of Enlightenment is truly a new dimension of being, beyond the realm of personality.

Most traditions refer to Enlightenment as an awakening and permanent abiding in the state of "thoughtless awareness," also called "Rigpa," "witnessing consciousness" or "presence." Complete Enlightenment however goes deeper into the nature of reality. Even the state of Presence, which represents consciousness in its purest form, belongs to the realm of experience, that is, to the realm of time. The final Enlightenment takes us to the place of Pure Rest in the non-abiding ground of all existence, which is beyond awareness and its modifications. This is what the Unborn is.

The ego-personality not only participates and promotes the shift of our being into the deeper dimensions of reality, from the state of Presence to resting in the Absolute, but it also allows us to comprehend our post-Enlightenment situation. Enlightenment is not the end of our growth. The understanding of the Enlightened state and its relation to the ego as well as to the manifested reality is constantly evolving. The ego and Enlightened state co-exist in a very interesting way - they relate to each other.

In the case of the non-awakened person, there is total identification with the functioning of the mind. One is living in a semi-conscious, dreamlike state. This is called the darkness of ignorance. After awakening, the thought process is no longer in the centre of our being; one abides in the unconditioned stillness of the original state. But we should not forget that at the same time, the self-conscious intelligence can and does relate back to that stillness. For example, how the ego relates to the Essence results in various stages of absorption. Even after realization, the ego and our Essence are in a very rich and dynamic relationship - they are simultaneously present.

Those masters who claim that they have no ego, prove to have a certain psychological ignorance; or they are using the term in an improper way. They are most likely victims of certain idealistic, linear and simplistic spiritual logic. The transcendental logic embracing the apparent paradox (the co-existence of the ego and the egoless state), goes beyond this simple logic in the apperception of the truth which is not conceptual but alive.
The goal and purpose of Enlightenment is not to eliminate the ego, but to enlighten it. How could we possibly enlighten it if we deny its very existence? To enlighten the ego is to create within the personal intelligence a clear understanding that our personality, with all its limitations, and our timeless essence, is an indivisible, dynamic whole. It is here that the humility, intelligence and the highest spiritual realization meet. Ego, the operative centre of our personality, even after melting with the Source, must face this never-ending challenge of fulfilling the dynamic balance between its participation in the manifested reality and of resting in the Absolute. The absolute dimension and human perspective are truly one. But although they are one, they give birth to one another in the continuous process of arriving at wholeness."
http://www.purifymind.com/RoleEgo.htm

Every one of us is a child of God (LOVE). We must breathe this into our bodies day in and day out. We must awake from the dark slumber of ignorance and embrace our true identities. Each of us has been educated about life in some manner and in some context. Awakening to our Divine origins enables us to by-pass these finite teachings that keep us restrained in powerful holding patterns.

It is important that we all learn what LOVE really is. Many people associate pain and great levels of dysfunctionality and/or fantasy with love. This issue has been derived by millenia after millenia of false teachings and inbred ignorance. But, the good news is that our collective consciousness has continued to expand and information is more readily available than ever before. So, that means help is here or on its way. [And if you live in the LOVE that you ARE, you will find that it is always here.] To assume our share of responsibility, we must look for the information everywhere we go and with everything we do. And we must lace that responsibility with the concept of always looking for the silver lining. It is always here. We just need to expect it.

I grew up with a mother who was into "magical thinking." It really crunched my ability to be optimistic---to think positively. I was very concrete in my thinking as a young child. [I think most children are.] When my mom projected big ideas into my "ozone" layer, I would get attached to those ideas and start creating little stories, thoughts and feelings around those ideas. I would get so excited. When the ideas never materialized, I was devastated. And this experience was repetitive for me. Really, it was over and over. Eventually, I found it much easier to believe pessimistically than to believe optimistically. Negatives are simple to create and accomplish.

Voila! I became a "glass is half full" kind of girl.

But, as an adult---one that has had a lot of practice with living and getting who I truly am---I have learned that our parents all come from the same wacky world we were born into. They suffered as much if not more than we suffered. We all have been experiencing a dark universe that is finite and saturated in scarcity. This is a man made place.

Yet, this wacky world is only a persistent illusion that we can step out of right now. It does take work to see through the Maya; but the work really pays off.

Let's go back to our true origins. We were conceived in God (LOVE) first, our parents second. We are, therefore, children of the Source of all things. Every single one of us! Our parents are a physical "structure" given to support us and watch over us in our youth, a "structure" that I believe we chose for ourselves so that we can grow and develop into our Highest Self: LOVE. Egos are created in each of us so that we might learn and expand from our various bodymind experiences---so that we might become fully aware of who we ARE in God and who God IS.

As we begin to substitute this knowledge into our own creatively written scripts of what is occuring in life, we begin to see change in ourselves and then changes in everyone around us. We begin to know infinity. When we connect with the truth that God is ominiscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, we start to realize how massive our reality is. We are eternal children of LOVE.

Love is so very much. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
Love never fails. [1 Corinthians 13:4-8]

Now imagine all of those qualities expanded and multiplied throughout the spacelessness of eternity. Imagine those qualities as an entity that encompasses all of life. Imagine the cosmic body the entity has. Imagine that entity has a living, beating heart. Imagine that entity holding you in Its heart forever. There is no beginning. There is no ending. Time ceases to exist. Imagine that entity's heart unfolding into the physical universe so that it can be experienced everywhere as a tangible piece of the Great Being. Imagine being constantly nourished by the Great Being. Imagine the unfolded heart captivating you with daily miracles and sweet whisperings. Imagine your soul remembering that it has been moving through the most amazing dream called individuation. Imagine your mind and body awakening to the forever LOVE. Imagine what that LOVE is like, what it feels like, what it looks like.

You ARE always in that LOVE because you ARE always in God. It doesn't matter if you don't believe it. You ARE. It doesn't matter what you think, feel, do, or expect. God has you in the center of His heart forever. He created you to be deep inside of Him. You are His LOVE. You ARE LOVE.

And it is with this perspective that we must "rearrange" our way of living. By viewing ourselves as the children of God that we ARE, we step into a whole new world. We are infinitely connected to the Source of all things: Abundance. We have no want or lack. We have total faith that everything we should have will be...or IS. We know LOVE.

The universe is perfectly designed to support our functioning. If we have a "need," the ever perfect universe, a structure that is also an inherent part of God, will provide for us. If we view the universe as separate from the Source, we will stumble and fall on semantics and rigid thinking. That is not the point. God uses the universe just as He uses the human body. They are structures created for a purpose and that purpose is LOVE.

As children of God we will eventually all unlearn the small lessons of living just as we learned to ride a big person's bike sans the training wheels of our earlier bike. As Thomas Troward stated, "The great secret in life is learning to see things in their wholeness, and to realize the inside and outside simultaneously."

The more we concentrate on what we ARE: LOVE, the more we will experience that LOVE. This is not easy for many of us. But, that is ok. It doesn't have to be easy. It just has to be practiced. We each have a unique path. The best way to start connecting with this path is to become extremely self-compassionate. When you hurt, say you hurt. When you screw-up, say I love you self, this was a great learning experience. When you need to be heard, say I need to be heard. And on and on. Love yourself no matter what you do or don't do, no matter how you perform or don't perform, no matter what love yourself!

Again, I will implement my favorite Joan Zone theory: The Airplane Theory: When the oxygen mask drops down, put the mask on your face first or the whole plane will go down.

So...learn the practice of loving you. Imagine that beautiful God called LOVE. See yourself in Its heart. Now imagine loving parents, loving siblings, loving employers, loving neighbors, etc. With each day that passes, get to know the real you. You ARE LOVE. Begin to think in loving terms. If you have a thought that is out of place with LOVE, renew your thinking. Exchange the words with new words that convey LOVE toward yourself and toward the persons involved:

"I am so mad at ..."
"...is a child of God. I release any and all bad feelings toward...and also toward myself. I live in LOVE."

LOVE is transformative. If we embrace our identity as LOVE we will transform ourselves and the world around us. The Maya will fade away before our very eyes. There are tricks that can be very helpful. Creative visualization is one of the strongest techniques around to aid us in our transformations. For instance, we know that in this incarnation we were born into a seemingly randomly selected family. Often we were abused or traumatized in such families. But, as adults, we have the power to heal these wounds by giving ourselves all the LOVE that we may have been denied. We simply spend time being still and quiet, opening our mind's eye to all that we needed as an earth child, and then imagining us holding, soothing, and creating abundance through our LOVE for all of our inner children. The more detail the better in such visualizations. This process can be instantaneous, but it can often take years of repetition. Remember LOVE is patient and kind so be that patience and that kindness.

LOVE is everywhere because God is LOVE. Grow to expect the abundance of God. Unlearn any thought or concept that dictates that God withholds, or acts in scarcity. Our personal consciousness and our collective consciousness have been expanding since the dawn of time. Release yourself from periods in time that have very little to do with you. You wouldn't continue to use a horse for travel once cars were invented, so why would you rely on old Scripture and stories that have historical merit but no contemporary merit. Progress with the Word. Embrace LOVE that is full and complete.

When we know the LOVE that we ARE, life will be a snap. But as our Ego and our Essence are in a rich dynamic relationship, so are we with the Creator. The relationship is one of profound beauty. It is eternal LOVE.