Comments on: Prickly Situations or Enlightenment from a Cactus Flower – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 5

By: Sheila Finkelstein

Sheila Finkelstein — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:03:14 +0000

Beautiful, Marifran. Thanks so much for your comments and your contribution to empowering me to “shine.”

I love the added dimension you brought, considering jumping to another flower. Would you be different? Wonderful how you fully got into this exercise.

With appreciation and love,
Sheila

By: Marifran

Marifran — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:53:35 +0000

In the flower, I am a ladybug exploring the myriad of textures, colors, and sizes. I get lost in the layers, the crevices, the soft and the unusual. Tiny places like the stigma, filament, and receptacle are fun and the large spaces of petals and stem thrill me. It is all fascinating and exciting. In this wonderland, I know I will not ever run out of new discoveries. Already I am a permanent resident of this lovely, safe place. Sometimes I get hyper-focused on one aspect of my flower foundation. Despite loving my flower world, at times I get distracted and long for distant flowers to expand into. What would another flower world look like? Living in another flower, who would I become? What part of me would evolve? While wondering, I continue enjoying the flower I’m in. I see no prickly parts, nor do I find them.

Thanks Sheila, for your brilliant ideas and sharing them in the classes you do. I love this exercise. It makes me realize how much I love my life.

By: Sheila Finkelstein

Sheila Finkelstein — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:35:07 +0000

Pat,
Thank you for your very moving share. How blessed are the people with whom you work to have you there with them. What a gift you are to be with them as you evidently are, seeing them as enlightenment.

And, I appreciate the acknowledgment.

With love, Sheila

By: Sheila Finkelstein

Sheila Finkelstein — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:32:34 +0000

Thanks so much, Morgine. I appreciate your deep, thoughtful, poetic response and your added interpretations and perspective on the thorns. I am also most appreciative of the acknowledgment.

Responding with love.

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:01:07 +0000

Dear Sheila,
Again you have struck a chord in me! I work as a volunteer at a Hospice House and I often find myself in a “prickly situation” on just what to say or how to approach either a patient or a family member. Yet, my time spent there in the presence of these wonderful open people who allow me in at this most precious time in their lives always gives me the feeling of privilege…the soft, wonderful light in your photo makes the “prickly” situation a gift! That is how I feel every time I have spent meaningful time with a dying individual…they have given me a gift of enlightenment! Keep up our fabulous work! My best to you!
Pat

By: Morgine

Morgine — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:33:03 +0000

I immerse myself deeply into the picture and find we are kindred spirits. At the center of me is a bright fire burning, my essence, my brilliance, glowing and flowing, radiating out into all of creation, connected to everything and everyone. I feel soft, delicious, loving, embracing, and feel embraced and loved my myself. I begin my days now nestled deeply into my sheets, recognizing God in all things and how I am always surrounded by the love and beauty I can find in all things, seen through these unconditionally

I have also often lived within the confines of my mind, bristling with thorns of all kinds, atop succulent and rich and vibrant ideas, filled with life awaiting to burst open and flower into some exciting new creations! My thorns could be those negative thoughts about not being good enough, or smart enough, or slender enough or whatever. They prevented me from taking actions myself because I used them as excuses and worries about being hurt. Thorns could be my judgments about myself or others or life itself. In the past I used these thoughts and beliefs, and ways of being, to keep others at a distance and myself safe, or so I thought. My very presence said, “please do not touch” or you might be hurt by my reactions!! I could not be responsible for what might happen, again or so I thought. I played the role of victim and blamed others and life and created endless stories about my life.

Today I am learning to see my thorns differently. They are beautiful and important too. They serve to get my attention and wake me up to what is important, right here and now. They keep me alert to those valuable ideas and messages coming from within my radiance, always glowing and shining light on my next step I can take to create yet another new vision or dream in my life. I am best when I am not rushing through things. When I take my time to “carefully pick” my next best choice in every present moment to move me forward and closer to my dreams.

This remains one of my favorite pictures you share. I am always reminded that I am all things combined into one. I am both the soft and glowing radiance of my Presence and the essence of whomever I am “Being” in every moment, and the vast and infinite, unlimited resource of succulent ideas and creations waiting to be uncovered and opened in some future moment, holding new and exciting adventures for me to explore!

Thank you for asking and sharing! Endless Magic & Appreciation, Morgine