Posted by Karen Hadalski at 20 September 2012

Category: Nature

What a gift nature is to us.  After a week of breathing-in clear, cool air; being on, in, and near the water; and hiking Rhode Island’s beautiful shore line and wooded trails, all the built-up tension of being confined to air conditioned rooms just melted away–as did my allergy-induced asthma.

New England’s rocky, picturesque sea-scapes and wild, crashing waves are, at once, soothing and invigorating.  Our time- share is located on the spacious, private grounds of one of Newport’s century-old mansions and overlooks an inlet frequented by schooners and fishing boats.

Each evening, after dinner, my husband and I would wrap ourselves in a blanket, settle into adjoining Adirondack chairs, and soak in the silence–penetrated only by a fog-horn, waves lapping the rocks, or the occasional song of a night bird.

Years ago, I took Werner Earhardt’s “est” training in Manhattan.  One skill we all learned was to create a private mental sanctuary to which we could escape when we wanted to meditate, reflect, or just relax.  Mine was a rocky beach where I could climb onto a smooth ledge, smell the sea, feel its spray, and view the horizon.  Our Newport escape is similar to this and might be the reason I feel so centered and peaceful while there.

As I get older, I find myself thinking about what I’ll miss most about life on Earth when it comes time to make my transition into the realm of Spirit.  It always comes back to the same thing–Nature and the many non-human creatures that inhabit it.  People?  Not so much.

As I read the papers, watch the news, and struggle to understand what it is about human “nature” that is so adept at creating chaos out of order, disharmony out of harmony, and death out of life, it is difficult to wax nostalgic.  Confident that pure, unselfish, true love transcends physical existence, I know I will always be close to those with whom I’ve shared this.  And, to me, that’s all that really matters.

But nature and the animal kingdom–WOW!  Can you imagine the qualities of a Creator who gifted us with such a magnificent planet to act-out our lives upon? (Or, as Shakespeare would say, to “strut and fret” upon?)

Nature played an important role in the lives of each of the women I write about in my soon-to-be-released book, Ten Difficult Women: Their Impact and Legacy.  But I like Anne Frank’s take on things the best. When in confinement, hiding from the Nazi’s, she wrote about missing the outdoors more than anything.  If one “peered into the depth of nature,” she wrote, one would surely come to know both God and inner happiness.  Amen.

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 30 August 2012

Category: Uncategorized

This will be my last Thursday blog until September 20.  Each year we take a much needed break from too hot, humid, & buggy Virginia Beach; work; and computers to celebrate the end of summer and head to the rocky shores, crisp winds, magnificent mansions, and scrumptious restaurants of Newport, Rhode Island.

If you’ve never been there, its a great vacation spot for people of all ages.  If you enjoy walking, you can explore the bluffs on Cliff Walk’s three-and-a-half miles of scenic paths, with the sea on one side and 19th century summer “cottages,” once lived-in by America’s original “1%,” tucked behind high fences and neatly manicured hedges on the other.

While few of these mansions, built by many of our country’s most successful entrpreneurs and industrialists, are currently occupied, most have been preserved with original furnishings and artwork and are open for guided tours. Some of the tour guides dress in period costumes and assume the roles of Vanderbilt or Astor family members and house staff, presenting an idea of how day-to-day life went for those listed in America’s first Social Register.

Even if you’ve not visited these they might look familiar, as many Hollywood films have been shot here.  For example, the mansion, “Rosecliff,” was the setting for “The Great Gatsby, ” “True Lies,” and “27 Dresses.”

There are many other points of interest as well, such as: The International Tennis Hall of Fame, Naval War College Museum, the first American Synagogue, the church where JFK & Jackie Kennedy were married, Green Animals Topiary Garden, Newport Sailing School and Tours, the Polo Fields and matches, Fort Adams, and many public parks, beaches, and recreational boating opportunities.

Altogether, a great place to re-create oneself.  Happy (non)Labor Day!

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 23 August 2012

Category: reincarnation/karma

Most of us can name more than a few “significant others” who came into our lives at exactly the right time to provide what we wanted, needed, or hoped for in our journey. I never gave much thought to how these encounters took place or who/what brought us together until recently.

As I mentioned last week, I am currently re-reading Dr. Michael Newton’s Journey of Souls. In one section, his clients are asked about final preparations in the spiritual realm before embarking on their next earthly incarnation. One interesting  exercise they mention is being taught a series of subconscious “prompts” that will  work to increase their probability of recognizing a person important to their life’s purpose when he or she comes along. These are usually sensory memories, such as the sound of a persons voice, the feel of holding or being close to someone, the “memory” of a particular object–such as a pendant or ring–and, most commonly, seeing deeply into and through a particular set of eyes.

When I began to reflect on the particular attraction that drew me to many important relationships in my life, I realized that eyes were usually the magnet or the repellent.  But, even more fascinating, was the unusual circumstance or third person that often facilitated the meeting in the first place.

For instance, I met my husband through a friend who was attracted to him and asked me to accompany her, for moral support, when she knocked on his door and invited him to a party she was planning. They lived in the same apartment building. A baseball fanatic, he was watching the final inning of a world series game and was curt and rude.  Though my friend didn’t seem to mind, and only heard the “okay” part, I was instantly turned-off and couldn’t understand what she found attractive about him (good looks notwithstanding).

To make a long story short, I stayed as far away from him as possible at the party, and barely glanced at him when refusing his invitation to dance.  He wasn’t at all attracted to my beautiful friend, and kept following me around.  Afterwards, when we talked, my friend said it was obvious they had “nothing in common”  and she really wasn’t interested in getting to know him further. She also said he asked her for my name & telephone number & she gave these to him!  I wasn’t happy.

After refusing to go out with him numerous times (he was persistent & there were no such things as answering machines or call-waiting back then) he just showed up at my door one day.  When I opened it, a pair of startlingly deep and beautiful green eyes met mine and immediately pierced my heart.

That was nearly four decades ago.  Our relationship has been rocky and challenging.  We are VERY different in very many ways.  Yet it is, at this point, clear to us that we are indeed soul mates who both needed and decided to take this journey together.  To say it has been a “learning experience” is a HUGE understatement; and, I definitely see it as karmic. Yet, I can’t imagine myself with any other man.

Another thing Newton’s clients state is that it is best to follow one’s immediate, emotional response when something like this happens rather than to think too hard or rationalize before making a decision to get involved or run in the opposite direction. Definitely advice worth pondering…

 

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 16 August 2012

Category: reincarnation/karma, Spirituality

I’m re-reading Journey of Souls this week.  I recently lost another friend and find that I often, spontaneously, peruse either this or Destiny of Souls shortly after losing someone close.

Somehow, reading about the stages a soul passes through, the assistance it receives, and the reunion with one’s spiritual “family” is comforting and makes me feel a little closer to my friends by experiencing, vicariously, what they are probably experiencing.

There are so many belief systems and constructs to contemplate, evaluate, and sift through where the topic of life after death is concerned.  This is the main reason I set-out on my quest to find the “Truth” at age twelve.

I never found the explanation offered by my Sunday School teachers about what happens to us after we die to be either believable or attractive.  Where Hell is concerned, though the image is certainly scary, my child’s heart could never believe that the God of Creation, our heavenly “Father,” would ever relegate any one of his children to such a horrid place.  I thought, there must be a better, more loving and constructive manner by which He teaches His children the error of their ways, the consequences of their actions, and provides a road to redemption.

With regard to Heaven, I was taught that this is an actual “place” where, if one was perceived as “good,” he or she would live forever, somewhere amid the clouds, cavorting with angels and playing the harp or something.  I pictured it as portrayed in the children’s book, The Littlest Angel, and thought: “What a boring life!”  I mean, you spend your whole time on Earth hoping to get there, and then what?  An eternity of unproductive nothingness? Again, my child’s mind could not wrap itself around such a meaningless “plan,” and this is what catapulted me into a quest that would last a lifetime.

While the larger questions of why we are created, live, die, and what the eternal life of a soul really entails were answered to my satisfaction when I discovered  Eastern and mystical Christian and Judaistic teachings about reincarnation and karma, the actual process by which we transition from physical to spiritual life; what we experience between lives; and what the ultimate goal and destination is in the realm of spirit still poses questions.  The continuing desire to find answers to these is what draws me to knowledge shared by those who have undergone Near Death Experiences and knowledge gleaned and recorded by psychologists such as Dr. Michael Newton during regression therapy and hypnosis sessions.

If you are at this point in your personal quest, I would highly recommend the two books noted above.  He has also written two additional books which I haven’t yet read:  Life Between Lives and Memories of the Afterlife.  All are published by Llewellyn Publication.

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 9 August 2012

Category: Uncategorized

Well, the only words I can come up with today are the following, written by my fifth grade buddy, Evelyn Watson, in my birthday autograph book:

Head’s heavy, brain’s dumb,

Inspiration won’t come.

Can’t write, bum pen,

Best wishes, A-Men.

This is what happens after ten straight weeks of 90 to 100 degree weather!

They say that no great culture ever emerged from a tropical or semi-tropical climate. “They” are right.  Now I know why!

Stay cool and pray for a speedy autumn and a long, crisp, cold, rejuvenating winter.

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 2 August 2012

Category: Body-Mind-Spirit

Health and wholeness are such magnificent gifts–gifts we usually take for granted until we lose them!

I love to watch the Olympics.  Though I prefer winter sports, I’m really enjoying the gymnastics, aquatics, equestrian and fencing competitions this summer.

With the camera’s ability to zoom-in on the athletes’ faces and eyes, the mind-body connection is so apparent.  Talk about focus, self-mastery, and self control!  They have it all.

Can a healthy, disciplined mind exist independently from a healthy, disciplined body? While there do exist rare geniuses who are confined, due to physical impairments, to limited physical activity or wheelchairs, I thinks these must be rare exceptions, indeed.

Since moving to Virginia Beach, the seasonal allergies I’ve dealt with most of my life have become acute and evolved into “allergic asthma.”  Due to the looooong, scorching, humid summers; many varieties of molds; and vast array of ever-pollinating vegetation, those of us with breathing problems never get to enjoy the “down time” that gives our bodies a rest.

As a result, I’m now taking steroidal medications just to be able to breathe.  Even my cat has developed asthma! I also need to spend more time indoors and less time getting the healthy, outdoor exercise I’ve always enjoyed in the past.  And, man, has this life-style change affected my general mood and energy level! It has also affected my brain. I’m finding my ability to focus & concentrate diminished and my sharpness & creativity blunted.

Needless to say, I’m counting the days until we can recoup the value in our house, supplement our retirement income with social security, and move to a crisp, clean, healthy climate (with not state taxes!)–hopefully, the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

In the meantime, I’ll have to “remember the days” and live vicariously through the tightly toned bodies, high energy level, and sharp-as-tacks minds of the young Olympians.  How fortunate we are to be able to enjoy such body-mind harmony, strength, and brilliance–even if it is only in our imagination and from the too soft comfort of our couch.

 

 

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 27 July 2012

Category: Spirituality

I write a lot about this personal attribute as I, along with humanistic psychologist, Abraham Maslow (1908-1970), believe it to be the highest attribute and achievement possible in the human experience.

Signature qualities of a self-actualized person include: realizing one’s full potential; self-fulfillment; self-expression; a striving for personal growth and peak experiences; the search for knowledge and meaning; a basic acceptance of nature, or “the way things are;” and a strong sense of morals, ethics, insight, and self-transcendence.

In Karma, I speak of the highest spiritual goals being Self-actualization and re-union with God.  That is, the full knowledge and expression of our spiritual individuality–a reclamation of our original, “immaculate concept” in the mind of our Creator–along with the will to free ourselves from karmic ties and earthly attachments in order to be free to make our spiritual ascension.

I am currently editing my next work, Ten Difficult Women: Their Impact and Legacy (copyright 2012). When relating these ten remarkable subject women–from different times, places, cultures, ethnicity’s, and socio-economic backgrounds–one thing they all share is their self-actualization: as women and as human beings.

As a consequence, each has transcended her personal interests and concerns, felt-needs, and desire for ease and pleasure to make important, lasting contributions to her own society and future generations.

Maslow believed that, in order to attain this highest, most fulfilling state of being, we must first find ways to fulfill the four lower needs in his hierarchy: biological and physiological, safety, emotion-based needs of belonging and love, and self-esteem.

If you haven’t given much thought to why you sometimes feel “something is missing;” or, that you aren’t giving enough or Being and becoming all you are capable of Being and becoming, you might find his construct and theories both interesting and enlightening.

You can obtain a listing of his various books, articles, and audio/visual downloads at: http://www.maslow.com/index.html.

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 20 July 2012

Category: Spirituality

No matter how upbeat and optimistic we strive to be, everyone has bad days, sad days, and days we wish could be “do-overs.”

So, how can we refocus, re-energize, and keep going during such times?  Here are a few things that work for me:

* Connect or reconnect with a trustworthy friend whom you can be open and honest with–and who has good listening skills.

* Get out of the house or office and into nature.  Even a short walk along the shore, in the woods, down a quiet country lane, or in a local park can sometimes be enough to activate the “reset” button.

*Drop what you are doing (or brooding about) and focus on your pet for an hour:  Play with your cat.  Cuddle your rabbit.  Take your dog to the park for a game of fetch or a nice, long walk. Groom or ride your horse.  Really watch and appreciate the beauty of your pet birds or aquarium fish.

* Journal.  In other words, talk to yourself about what ails you.  Writing down problems and disappointments externalizes them and can be the first step toward understanding and resolution.

* Meditate, pray, do yoga, or whatever you do to spiritually center yourself and transcend the mind chatter that is throwing you off-balance.

* Listen to good music, wander through an art gallery, visit an arboretum.  Immerse yourself in beauty.

*Borrow a kid for the day.  Play, have fun, and soak-up some of his or her youthful exuberance.

* Begin and end each day with an inspirational thought, prayer, or meditation.  There are many “daily meditation/thought for the day” publications in print.  Two such magazines are: The Upper Room (non-denominational Christian) and My Daily Visitor (Catholic Christian).

If you’d rather surf the Internet, there are many inspirational websites and blogs out there.  The first e-mail I open each morning is a “Thought for the Day” from The Association for Research and Enlightenment.  Each begins with the phrase: “Make the World a Better Place Because Ye Have Lived In It” and is followed with a short reading by Edgar Cayce.  Here is one from a couple of days ago:

“Hold no grudges.  Find no fault with others.  DO show appreciation for all efforts, not only for self but appreciation for the OPPORTUNITY to speak to and with others as to how they should appreciate THEIR opportunities among their associates in WHATEVER walk of life it may be.”  Reading 2514-3

Have a good day!

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 12 July 2012

Category: Spirituality

One of the most serious impediments to spiritual centeredness and growth is attachment–to things, memories, ideas, habits, places, outcomes–even to relationships and beliefs.  This is not to say that you shouldn’t have or value any of these; but, to be “attached” is a totally different thing.  Attachment means to be tied or fastened to;  its antonym is, “to be free.”

Perhaps the three most detrimental attachments on my list are: things, memories, and habits.  Just think about how much time and effort materialists put into earning the money, or ingratiating themselves to others, in order to acquire all the things they think they need to surround themselves with in order to feel successful, secure, and good about themselves.  Then, how much more time and effort is wasted on keeping all that stuff clean, shiny, showcased, and in good running order. (And, of course, authentic, lasting feelings of security and self-worth can only be generated from within, anyway.)  Can you imagine the good that could be achieved if such a person exerted the same amount of energy, and spent even a fraction of the money it takes to acquire and maintain a lot of useless stuff, to selfless, philanthropic endeavors?

Attachment to memories of times long ago, people long gone, and events that occurred decades ago is another waste of time.  I have known people whose “reality” consisted of yellowed photographs, dog-eared letters, and sentimental reveries of a past that probably exists only in their imagination, instead of living, learning, growing, and contributing to the Present. It is easy to become stuck in the past when so much attention is focused upon it; and, as a result, to fritter away the most precious commodity available to us–TIME. The mantra:” BE Here Now ” could be a useful antidote to such wistfulness.

Habits, I’ve read, can even outlive one’s physical life and keep a departed soul earthbound in order to continue on with them.  Spiritual teachings frequently talk about “entities” which hover around people who indulge in their previous, earthly addictions–like smoking, drinking, gluttony, and specific sexual activities.  Their attachment to certain habits and sensations enjoyed when in embodiment continues to be so strong that these overshadow everything else–even the desire to ascend to higher, purer spiritual realms.  I guess this is why liquor stores advertise “Wine and Spirits” for sale!

Attachment to relationships which are no longer harmonious, uplifting, or compatible with one’s current  sensibilities, life goals, and values can go beyond deadening to become depressing and destructive.  This is especially true in certain adult child to parents, parents to adult child,  and dysfunctional marriage situations.  Clinging to such inappropriate relationships can almost always be traced to psychological dependencies, fear, laziness, or strict conformity to social expectations and an overwhelming desire to “look good” to others.

A tie to geography is yet another stultifying and, it seems to me, unnatural attachment.  We are born and raised where we are born and raised because our parents chose to live in that place.  Once we evolve into mature individuals, our unique interests, climate and cultural preferences, career, and independently formed friendships should naturally steer us to the most appropriate location for us to thrive in.

Finally, long-ago formed ideas, beliefs, and the desire for particular outcomes should be re-evaluated, discarded, updated, or replaced at regular intervals and when it feels natural for us to do so.  As my favorite essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, states:  “Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”  It is also unnatural to our growth and evolution.

Don’t be afraid to grow, move, learn, change, evolve. When you do, you become as a clear, lively, babbling brook.  When you don’t, you risk becoming like one of those still, stagnant, smelly puddles off to the side.

 

Posted by Karen Hadalski at 5 July 2012

Category: Spirituality

During each 4th of July, my thoughts turn to our nation’s and the world’s warriors.  What are their personal qualities?  Why do they choose such a vocation? Can one with a warring mentality be a spiritual, high-minded person, as well?

Since I tend to view the latter as being peaceful, centered, and internally motivated, to believe that one can be both would seem a contradiction in terms. However, while writing Karma, I gained new and different insights.  One section of the book features interviews with and profiles of people who believe in reincarnation and karma, and one of those written about is General George S. Patton, the distinguished U.S. Army General from WW II.

I only included him because I wanted to provide a broad sampling of people from diverse backgrounds and occupations and remembered him as one who openly discussed these beliefs.  While researching his background, I learned that he came into the world with past-life memories intact, innate talents and skills, a self-perceived knowledge of his soul’s purpose, and an extraordinary drive to fulfill it.  He “knew” he was meant to become a great soldier as clearly as he “knew” he had fought on numerous battlefields throughout a series of past lives.

Patton was also a poet; and, in his lengthy poem, “Through a Glass Darkly,” he writes:

So as through a glass, and darkly

The age long strife I see

Where I fought in many guises,

Many names, but always me.

So forever in the future

Shall I battle as of yore,

Dying to be born a fighter,

But to die again, once more.

Patton clearly believed his destiny was to continually be born and die a warrior.  And, his prolific writings seem to indicate that he understood “destiny” to be the result of uniting one’s personal will with the will of God.

I had a hard time entertaining Patton’s view that it could be God’s will that anyone should actualize and perfect him/ herself a “perpetual warrior.”  This reluctance emanated from my personal bias against viewing war as a noble endeavor or acknowledging military types as the highest expression of humanity the world has to offer. Yet, I also felt moved to delve more deeply into this bias. When I did so, I bagan to recall the many portrayals of warriors in religious literature, myth, legend, and history.

For instance, Archangels are Principal angels.  One of the nine orders of celestial attendants of God, they are pure spirit and have never descended into human form.  Archangel Michael has forever been depicted as an armored, sword-wielding warrior, and there are many biblical references to God’s “army,” “legions,” and “hosts” of angels.

Several revered saints were soldiers, including St. Louis, the Crusader King of France; St. George, the dragon-slaying Christian Knight who is the patron Saint of England; and the visionary soldier and martyr, St. Joan of Arc.

Many godly men of the Old Testament were men-of-arms, including King David, Samson, and Joshua.  There existed religious-military orders, such as Knights Templar’s and the institution of medieval knighthood–the Age of Chivalry–which refers to combatants of courage, valiance, generosity, courtesy, and gallant behavior on behalf of society’s weakest members–especially women.

Many of the friends and acquaintances I interviewed discussed their views about war and soldiering in thought-provoking ways, as well.  Most noted a distinction between types of and causes for wars, noting that, though generally pacifistic, they would enlist for battle in wars being waged for causes they believed in–such as those which prompted American involvement in WW II.  Others noted that if it became necessary to defend themselves, their family, their country, or their freedoms they would willingly enlist.

Still others stated they would enlist only if every possible effort had been exerted to resolve differences and injustices and had failed.  One noted that Jesus said, the greatest expression of love is one who gives up his life for his friends; and that those who truly believe in a cause, and perish in defense of their comrades or innocent civilians, might be expressing  ” a very high form of love.”  Another feels that, if one does engage in battle for what they believe to be a just cause, he or she should look to the Bhagavad-Gita for guidance and strive to perform their duty with the “detachment” this holy book describes.

Much to think about.  And, when combined with the selfless, heroic stories and motivations of the many wounded troops interviewed on television yesterday, I think it is time to let go of my long-held bias and admit that warriors can, indeed, be spiritual, high-minded, and engage in battle.

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