Summer Solstice

It is the beginning of summer, the solstice.  

The tilt of the earth leads to much warmer days and longer 

periods of light in the Northern Hemisphere.

We attune our mind, body and spirit to the season's bountiful

qualities and exuberant energy.  Yang energy is 

at it's fullest.

This year there is a rare Summer Solstice full moon to 

accompany the day.  This event hasn't occurred in over

70 years and won't happen again until 2094.

Something truly special indeed!

Enjoy your summer days.  Be healthy and happy.

Relax and be creative.  Take the time to learn something new.

Be thankful for all you have, definitely 

try to stay positive throughout these interesting times. 

Diane Fergurson



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photo:  Greenwood Gardens

Beauty Everywhere

Against the Storm by Jude McConkey

It's been a tough winter for most of the country this year.

When it gets to be this time of the season, where many people's attitudes have hardened and soured even deeper then usual, its important become even more aware of ourselves.  When you feel yourself wading into that pool of  funk, try and step back... realize what you're doing, and adjust your perspective so it doesn't bleed over onto other people's lives and environment.

Try being nice...or, just be quiet.

The following passage is taken from the book "The Tao of Joy Everyday" by Derek Lin

Wise words ~

Beauty Everywhere

One powerful effect of Tao cultivation is that, more and more, you are able to look at everything through the eyes of the Tao.  When this happens, you will suddenly see much more that is good, and present everywhere you look.

Those who have experienced this know that it can be an overwhelming in a positive way.  It is not about thinks like the sunset or a rainbow that are already considered beautiful by everyone.  It is about tremendous beauty in the most commonplace and ordinary places.  Look at the crinkle of someone's smiling eyes.  Look at the fascinating patterns in the clouds.  Look at the symmetrical design in a leaf.  There is so much beauty in existence that no human mind can possibly contain it all.

There is something behind all this.  We can never see it, but if we close our eyes, we can sense its presence.  We can never hear it, but if we remain quiet, its whispers will resonate silently.  It is telling us without words that everything is exactly as it should be, and the beauty we see is the reflection of the beauty within all of us.

Look for goodness and beauty and you will find them.  Negative feelings like anger and resentment will recede.  When you are immersed in all that is good and beautiful, you cannot feel angry or resentful.  There will be no room in your heart for such feelings, for it will be filled to the brim with joy and gratitude.

The stunning photograph "Against the Storm" is by photographer Jude McConkey

It is available through her shop on Etsy.

Derek Lin's "The Tao of Joy Every Day" is available through Amazon.

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Silence on the Spiritual Path

There is no denying, it has been a long and difficult winter for many of us this year.  

As with anything else in life however, we do have a choice how

we handle it. 

Try to embrace the natural quiet and silence that winter brings into our 
lives instead of becoming frustrated.

As pointed out through the words from Taoist author Deng Ming - Dao,

silence is actually a very 
important aspect to our spiritual development.  

As one progresses on the path, one seeks silence more and more.

It will be a great comfort, a tremendous source of solace and peace.

Once you find deep solitude and calm, there will be a great gladness in your heart.

Here finally is the place where you need neither defense or offense - 

the place where you can truly be open.

There will be bliss, wonder, the awe of attaining something pure and sacred.

After that, you will feel adoration of silence.

this is the peace that seems to elude so many.

This is the beauty of the Tao.

"Snowy Crossing" courtesy of Jude McConkey Photography.  

Prints available through her shop on Etsy.

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Spiritual Warrior - Conversations With Healer Darren Orr

Nature Forest Print by Jude McConkey

"Spirituality not practiced under fire, stress and duress is worthless and pointless.

If you practice in the hopes of attaining everlasting peace--you're deluded and

in stasis. Its easy for anyone to be happy, calm, peaceful when everything seems

perfect. Can you still remain centered, balanced, happy and peaceful when your

life falls apart?? ---that's the true test of a spiritual warrior   ~DO~

MBS:  I was reading a quote you had on your FaceBook page the other day (above)

and it referred to a person being or developing into a "spiritual warrior".

I know that the term "spiritual warrior" gets thrown thrown around pretty loosely sometimes to describe all kinds of situations and issues pertaining to spiritual attainment.

So I my question is, what is it to be a spiritual warrior?

 Darren:  My definition of a spiritual warrior would be: One who can face and embrace the

 fears within their own minds.  Having the discipline to delve deep within ones

 own darkness on a daily basis. As Lao Tzu states in the Dao darkness within

 darkness the gateway to all understanding. It takes courage to be a spiritual

 warrior and look at oneself truthfully openly and fearlessly, accepting oneself

 in its totality, the light and the dark, bringing harmony to your own duality. 

 Many believe a warrior to be one who kills or destroys, especially from

 an external perspective of soldiers, the military and war. This is not what

 I'm talking about. A spiritual warrior does not kill or destroy they transform

 and transmute. This is what the Daoists were really referring to when you read

 about alchemy. It's a transformation process where you transmute the base elements

 of yourself (fear, anger, negativity) and use them as compost to grow new life

--unconditional love, health and healing. This is also what the resurrection means

 in a broader symbolic form. You die or let go of the old and use it so new life can

 be born. This is why to train as a spiritual warrior no matter the system, they use

 the breath. As you inhale you take in new life and as you exhale you release all

 that is unwanted. To become conscious of that exchange and interchange between the 2

 on a moment to moment basis allows you to fully experience the grandeur,

 beauty and majesty of life and fulfill your destiny in this lifetime. 

It's so easy in spiritual circles to literally get caught up in spiritual samsara--

thinking everything is all light. They use the teachings as way to distract themselves

from themselves keeping it superficial so they don't have to face their darkness,

pain, fear and negative habitual patterns. The other common misconception is many

mistakenly think a teacher, guru or sifu is going to save you. No one can save you.

You are the only one that can save you. That realization that this path of the spirit

is in it's essence a solitary journey and you must trek within the uncharted internal

terrain of your deepest darkest fears alone and face them alone is the path of the

spiritual warrior. Each persons life is unique unto themselves, no can live your life

for you or give you some magical pill or key to health, healing, enlightenment or any

other desire. The teacher can only point the way back to your spirit. The warrior must

walk the path and navigate the dangers along the way. The more the teachers words are

aligned with their actions and life experiences, the more powerful and profound the

example will be. 

I have two living examples of a spiritual warrior that I get to witness, learn from and

love. My father Donald Orr and my teacher pointing the way for me by how he has and

continues to live, Ted Cibik.

Both have endured, faced and embraced hardships that would cripple most people yet

they choose to live, thrive and survive daily. The true test of spiritual warrior is

when everything is gone, and your life is on the line, how do you respond?



Darren Orr is a Doctor of Classical Chinese Medicine in Medical QiGong Therapy with a specialization in Dao-yin. He is currently training in ShenGong to be a Formless Daoist Priest. He is a Medical QiGong Master, nationally certified massage, bodywork and somatic therapist, Reiki Master, sound healer, Dao yoga, Dao Yin and meditation teacher. Darren is an A-Z practitioner specializing in life-altering illness, palliative care for the terminally ill, bereavement services for family, cancer, PTSD, fibromyalgia, addiction, mental/emotional imbalances, chronic pain and stress management as well as preventative medicine. CEU courses, lectures, workshops, seminars, classes, qi parties, and corporate wellness programs also available. Serving the tri-state area in a triangle from Philadelphia to NYC to Atlantic City Nj. Long Distance therapy also available.

You can contact Darren at:  d.orr333@gmail.com

You may also be interested in reading our interview with Darren about healing and the practice of Qigong.

Also his article - "Shedding Our Acquired Life Roles and Medical Qigong"

 

Nature Forest Print is courtesy of photographer Jude McConkey.  Prints are available through her

shop on Etsy.

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From Jing to Qi to Shen: An Interview with Healer Darren Orr, Part 1

I'm very pleased to have had the opportunity to conduct this insightful three part interview with my former teacher, Darren Orr.  I was fortunate enough to have studied with Darren for several years, both privately as well as in a group setting. Spending quality time and learning from this wonderfully intelligent, kind and loving soul is something I truly appreciate and will never forget.   
 ~ diane

Darren Orr is a Reiki master and teacher, a nationally certified massage therapist and a Medical Qigong therapist and teacher.  He specializations are in Oncology, chronic pain, stress management, life-altering illness and palliative care for the terminally ill. Darren is also currently enrolled in a 3 year Medical Qigong Program, a Graduate Degree of over 2,000 hours.  When he graduates in 2012 he will have become a Dr. of Medical Qigong. Darren also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and maintains private practice in New Jersey.  In addition he lectures, writes and teaches Dao yoga and meditation classes in which sound therapy is utilized as part of his sessions.



Question:  How did you begin your journey in the Healing Arts?

Answer 

I think it was a combination of affinity, synchronicity and my destiny.   I grew up living with someone who was in constant chronic pain, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.  I lived and felt firsthand the strength and weaknesses of our Western allopathic model of medicine.  I never realized that there were any other alternatives to surgery and the management of symptoms other then with drugs and pharmaceuticals. 
Later, as I got older, I had a former girlfriend who had just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
I was holding her hand one day and I had an epiphany that changed my life and awoke my slumbering spirit. I felt my qi.  I had no idea what is was, I just knew I felt it. Over the next week we were doing research on the Internet about Fibromyalgia and kept coming across references to Qigong. We had never heard of Qigong before, but the articles kept saying that it was the root and foundation of Chinese medicine for over 5000 years and that its primary aim is to examine and get at the root cause of the disease thereby eliminating it.
The articles also referenced recent studies that showed that Qigong could treat and even “cure” so called “incurable” diseases that Western medicine could not.

This is where the synchronicity and affinity comes in. I happen to mention what we found to my mother, who is a labor and delivery nurse, and she said that the next day they happen to be having a nurse’s appreciation day at the Hospital where she worked.  They were giving a Qigong demonstration followed by Kirlian photography and a Reiki session.  Of course we attended, and the first thing we did was learn to feel our qi.  I immediately realized that this is the exact sensation I had felt a week prior, holding my girlfriend's hand.  It was almost like a light switch had been flipped on and I instantaneously knew that my life’s calling was to use this energy to help, assist and benefit not only people in their health..but the healing and well being of all of life and the earth as well.

Since that day I have been consistently and diligently studying and gathering, cultivating and regulating my qi... always eager to learn, grow and enhance my skill and mastery of the Great Communicator.

Question:
It's interesting that you bring up chronic pain.  I've had several people discuss pain with me lately.
Chronic pain and pain from injuries.  What insights can you give us about pain?  What are some things that you have found out in your practice and experience that can help people help themselves during rough periods?

Answer:
That's a big topic!   lol...
All beings suffer. No one escapes life without trials, tribulations and pain. Whether the pain is physical, mental/emotional or spiritual in nature, I feel it's a signal to slow down and become more aware, to pay attention and be present in this moment ...which is the only moment we are alive.
Pain is a wake up call.
For the most part, people tend to either focusing in the past or projecting into the future, very few actually are present with what's going on in their internal universe. Pain is a beacon or signal to begin introspection and to pay attention. Pain is also an excellent meditative tool that's been used for millenia by ancient indigenous cultures the world over to shift and uplift consciousness and spirit.

 Most people tend to grasp or cling to things that make them feel good and reject or instinctively push away that which is painful. That is the way of the ego. Yet pain is a wonderful teacher.  Pain teaches us acceptance and patience in the face of difficulty and if looked at properly, actually allows us to better appreciate the good in our life. I think the most important factor in dealing with pain is one's own mental attitude and how they choose to deal with it.

 Everything in life is a choice. We cannot control what happens to us in life because all life is in constant flux and change.  But, we do have control over the choices we make in response to those events particularly in dealing with pain. If we can embrace the pain and not push it away, it can be the seed from which a universal compassion can arise... because when looked at properly, you see that pain and suffering isn't just unique to yourself, but shared amongst all life.

The problem is that in our culture we don't have the tools to deal with pain. Everyone wants only good things to happen.  People fail to understand that pain and pleasure are two sides of the same coin, yin and yang. You can't have one without the other, they are inseparable. Our culture also lacks the necessary tools to allow people to learn from their pain in constructive and positive ways. When faced with pain most people look to a magic pill to lessen the discomfort instead of looking for the root cause as to why the pain is there in the first place.

That is why the ancient awareness and healing disciplines of Qigong, meditation and Dao yoga are so beneficial and useful in this modern era. These techniques provide you with the tools and techniques to delve deep within the depths of your being to uncover the root causes of pain, illness or disease.

Question 3:  What about people who won't let go of emotional pain?  I know you've come across may people like this in your private practice.

to be continued in Part 2


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Qigong Interview with Joanne Kornoelje