Pendell Pittman – Page 4 – Journaling Life's Sojourns

Healing Journey

As some of you know, I have worked for many years with Energy Healing. Energy healing is a general term for holistic practices, some of them ancient, that activate the body’s subtle energy fields to remove insufficiencies in a person’s innate ability to heal oneself.

Recently, when I attended each of the three on-line “Zoom” gatherings of which I am a member, there was a common theme that, with every story told, showed itself to be universal. I call it the “Healing Journey”.

*Healing Energy*
*Photo cred: @SharonMcCutcheon*

If you will indulge me — Here follows a retrospective view of a healing journey upon which I and my wife Melanie embarked, and which I journaled for review. Here is a portion of the first chapter:

The initial two months of my own Healing Journey (which began with a rapid ride to the local hospital’s emergency room on August 19, 2016) found me with steadily diminishing energy, draining cognizance, in a nine-week marathon amid a mantle of semi-conscious mindlessness.

A long, constant sleep was prompted by enough of a disconnect between my central and peripheral nervous systems that it brought a temporary pause in several of my bodily functions. Albeit my “Higher Mind” in control of my autonomic and endocrine systems was still intact and mercifully available to the currents emanating from the source of Life Energy.

Nevertheless, further mysterious downturns in the overall wellness of my physical capacities led our doctors to surgically perform a brain biopsy in search of the cause of any sorts of unfamiliar autoimmune maladies.

Their conventional tests were varied and elaborate. Yet, in the end, they led to the treatment of symptoms only – helpful as far as it could go, yet nothing that yielded a conclusive determination as to what the real cause was.

That health-focused adventure culminated with me and Melanie (my angel-incarnate wife and suddenly made caregiver responsible) facing what I call a “near-Ascension (i.e. a ‘near-death’) experience”.

Although sufficiently intense to require full, rapt attention, that particular crisis nevertheless afforded me essential psychic space for sublime glimpses of the non-physical realm (some would call it “Heaven”)– a cosmic perspective that made for an unimpeded witnessing of my own page in the “Book of Life”.

Moreover, it bestowed on me a renewed commission: To forge a fresh soul agreement with Currents of Spirit (ineffable currents that I will translate in words, as best I can at present) in vital service to Mankind. The core question of intent then, from the higher consciousness present with me, was this:

“Does your soul choose to hold steady for now in your Life Substance of Ascension amid this ‘third density’ of the ‘Here and Now’ (governed by the time and space of the earthly realms)? Or choose Ye for its release to ascend from here-now, for to abide in wait for the New Day?”

My answer was simply this: ‘I still have unfinished work to do on Earth. Hence, according to the pledge expressed in the ‘Shaman’s Prayer’, I choose to shelter my Soul in place on Earth now, while I hold safe my Ascension in You amidst the heavenly aspects of Earth, for the sake of others in Human Being. All for (the) One, and One for (the) All”.

Then, in the moment I had spoken that answer, the ceremonial proceedings of Soul Agreement with Spirit ensued, as a celestial chorus in Oneness resounded.

And it was then that I saw my Melanie’s face trained on me at close physical range and with earnest intent, helping me return from Inner Realms to Earth’s here & now. Quite a unique warmest of reunions for two lovingly kindred Souls.

I give deep thanks for every moment granted as this Healing Journey continues.

Stage Fright

When I was a singer decades ago — performing opera roles, musicals, and concertizing wide ranges of classical vocal repertoire — “performance anxiety” (i.e. “stage fright”) was common among several of my performing-artist friends.

At times, they would tell me that their stage fright was becoming a matter of course almost every time they presented themselves before an audience.

Performance anxiety

In the decade when I was in my 20’s, and in the midst of various stages of my performing arts training, distractions like stage fright just didn’t exist for me.

I was busy studying music in college, composing in grad school, then honing my vocalism at Cleveland Institute of Music, while incessantly singing in public for any audience within earshot (big or small –“cultured”, or not so much).

While I was living and learning in an especially supportive world, there were precious few external distractions. I felt so self-assured in expressing myself — Right up until the day when I had a powerful awakening:

I had boldly ventured from a decade of stringent tutelage into the “real” world of professional music-making. From that first moment when I passionately envisioned myself being paid handsomely to provide “Artistry” (a subjective “product” intangible to many), I could not stop my own visceral “performance anxiety” from infusing this, my newborn experience, with self-doubt.

Out of concern for my friends and myself, I sought to learn all about “performance anxiety”. Subsequent research showed me that “stage fright” is often experienced as an unnerving apprehension vaguely sensed before or during one’s appearance in front of an audience.

It can affect self-conscious people, each in different ways. For example, it can beset even veteran professionals: musicians, dancers, politicians, athletes, public speakers — Anyone.

Symptoms are observable in specific ways that affect the human capacities:

Physically: Sweating, altered heart rate, headache, upset stomach, chills or nausea
Mentally: Confusion, disorientation, memory lapses, or avoidance of failure and ridicule
Emotionally: An urge to escape from the situation, distress or agitation

Well, that sort of scientific research on stage fright is all well and good, and with regard to each of the elements of Soul depicted, we could tell each other stories galore!

And yet I, for one, can see larger implications attending the words, “stage fright” — More than a performer’s personal unease over being seen, judged, devalued, or discredited.

Even that term lends itself to wordsmithery. For example, the “Stage of Life” sounds grand in scope with vast and varied terrain. Then…

The Stages of One’s Life on Earth have ages and stages amidst the Eternal Present Moment.

So, what was all that sudden self-doubting tribulation in me really about? Self-doubt amidst performance anxiety may include a number of emotional questions and cognizant perceptions — Perhaps some like these:

My assessment of what would be expected of me: Was it realistic, or not so much?
My new, assertive employer’s original opinion of me … Was it in fact overestimated?
Is my listless self-doubt giving me frets because I underestimate my capacities?
Am I racked with insecurity over the possibility that I will be rejected, then dejected?

Bottom-line:
Living is filled full with both stage fright and glorious flights of Destiny in the making! Hence, we find that — if we relax and allow it — every stage of “performance anxiety” makes way for an awesome performance of SourceEnergy powerfully manifested and artfully expressed.

So May We Let the Divine Performance of Life Begin & Never End

Visionary Generations of Humanity

Earlier this week, I gave a speech to fellow Toastmasters who regularly come together to learn and exercise leadership and communication skills. This particular speech was my finishing touch on a months-long project of mine — the topic being “Visionary Leadership”. And during those several months, it came closely home to me that great lessons can be learned and lent when one takes responsibility to be a leader who communicates a vision to others.

My speech stated examples of essences along these lines:
“A visionary leader ensures that the vision held is actuated (made real) beyond oneself. This is accomplished early on by outlining a strategic plan for achieving goals, then empowering those whom one leads to generate a vision and resultant actions of their own creation.”

And successful visionary leaders are, first of all, leaders of themselves by creating a Vision Statement, one which supports a Mission Statement, outlining values, purposes and goals.

Relatively easy for me, or anyone, to say. Yet obviously, it is the actual doing that counts.

Leading the doing of anything worthwhile calls for communication. And any integrous communication must have its facts straight. Continually, I find that keeping facts straight is more important now than ever before — especially when streams & screams of MIS-Information often play out — loud & large in this rapidly real-time Information Age of ours.

Acts of Doing come in a myriad of forms by people of varying ages. Case in point, five recent Presidents of the USA, present and past, are now over 70 years of age. Former President and Nobel Peace Prize-winning philanthropist Jimmy Carter is still going strong at age 96.

And, on the other end of this current generational range of lives, the youngest generations now living are notably and nobly represented. Here follow three outstanding examples of excellence:

Millennial, 31-year-old Whitney Wolf Herd is the youngest female CEO ever to take a company public. Last month, Time magazine’s headline, in its Profile article, “Queen Bee”, said of her, “Whitney Wolf Herd turned a vision of a better Internet into a billion-dollar brand.” She herself was reported as stating, “The Internet has megapower to shift behavior, if you use it for good.”

Generation Z’s currently most famous 23-year-old, Amanda Gorman, read her poem, “The Hill We Climb” at the recent Inauguration Ceremony for President Biden and Vice President Harris. Days later, former First Lady Michelle Obama was interviewing Amanda, when she voiced this:

“Amanda, You are part of a rising generation that isn’t afraid to call out racism and injustice when you see it. How do you think Art fits into these larger social movements? Do you think about these things as you write?”

“Absolutely”, Amanda answered without hesitation, “Poetry and language are often at the heartbeat of movements for change. Poetry is the lens we use to interrogate the history we stand on and the future we stand for.”

Now, a Generation Alpha, industrious 10-year-old — named Bellen Woodward, living in Leesburg, Virginia — is already on a mission for Inclusion regardless of skin color. Her “Vision Statement” includes this summary: “My different shades of Peaches and Browns can hopefully match everyone — including me, my friends, and my classmates.”

Again, as Time magazine reports: “Bellen has created her own line of crayons in tones that reflect the wide spectrum of skin colors she sees in the world — claiming the title, “World’s First Crayon Activist!”

“The world belongs to those who shape it. And however uncertain that world may feel at a given moment, the reassuring reality seems to be that each new generation produces more of what these kids have already achieved — Positive Impact in All Sizes.”

Well now, that ends our quoting and interviewing for now. And, for a couple more minutes, let’s engage together in a bit of wordsmithery:

We have, until now in this post, used the word “Generation”, to refer to all of the people born and living at about the same time, and regarded collectively.
OR “Generation” is also the name for the acts of creating, causing, making, or engendering something.

Now, the word “Humanity” can refer to human beings collectively, the human race as a whole. OR we can employ the word, “Humanity” as a synonym for several positively uplifting words: humaneness, kindness, benevolence, empathy, compassion, and brotherly or sisterly love.

So now then, let’s combine the words generation and humanity in a statement that reads as follows: “May the visionary generations of our humanity bestow upon one another Humaneness, Kindness, Benevolence, Empathy, and Compassion through our manifest expressions of Brotherly and Sisterly Love.”

The new, combined reference resonates with me when, at times of intensity, I have a seasoned, internal alerting mechanism that cues me to stop and take a few deep breaths. Then, in quietude, I offer up thankfulness for the Currents of Love, Truth and Life.

Those Currents imbue me with kindness and patience with myself, as well as compassionate openness to others. And, in this pristine moment, I remember the last verse of John Lennon’s visionary communication set in his legendary song, Imagine, “You may say I’m a dreamer, But I’m not the only one, I hope someday you’ll join us, And the world will live as one.”

Where Truth Abides

There, Truth & Love Never Fail

A common definition of Truth is this: “The property of being in accord with fact or certainty. In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that represent the reality in beliefs, propositions, or declarative sentences. Truth is usually held to be the opposite of falsehood.”

Yet where do the essences of Truth actually abide? And by what means are they sustained?

The words truth and fact are seen often as being interchangeable. And yet they are not …

A fact is defined as something that is known, proven to be true, then able to be agreed upon. Or, in select instances, it is information used for reporting news, for evidence, or as a part of a publication.

Yet after remarkably short spans of time and repeating, facts may well get blurred into fiction — beliefs or statements (often inadvertent) that are false, yet still accepted as truth.

As you saw in our previous blog post, “Care with Origin Myths”, what seem like factual answers come to you in various forms, including myths that, over time, become entrained sources of legends, folk tales, or other determinant patterns of concept.

Actually, Truth is of quite a different nature than fact. It is a powerful element that sublimely imbues a Soul’s deep feeling realm, self-governed thought, and honed physique with currents of Love and Life.

Being constantly and contently aware of Truth is by no means dependent upon external fact-finding for assurances of verity in one’s ongoing experiences. Rather, the Spirit of Truth bestows Divine Illumination that compels a uniquely deep love for the Source Energy within one’s Highest Self.

Here follows two meditative exercises that I originally generated and have found useful in my Energy work, specifically with “Emanation-Actuated Resonance” (i.e. “EAR” training).

The first mediation, taken from 1 Corinthians 13, beautifully describes those Essences of Love. I suggest that you meditate, morning and evening, with the following text in front of you:

“Love is patient, Love is kind.
Love does not envy, It does not boast, It is not proud. It does not dishonor others.
Love is not self-seeking; It is not easily angered; It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with Truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

This second exercise introduces a simple, down-to-earth (yet telling) set of questions for you to ask yourself alone, in privacy and meditative quietude. Eight questions await you (herein below):

— What is your earliest memory?
— When did you first fall in love? With whom, or with what – a lifestyle, pursuit, vision? What?
— How has your life been different from that which you envisioned earlier on?
— Who has been kindest to you in your life?
— What are the most important lessons you have learned in life? From whom (if applicable)?
— If you could forever hold onto the most treasured memories in your life, what would they be?
— What does your future hold?
— How would you like to be remembered?

The Ever-Sustaining Field of Your Respected, Protected Soul with Your Highest Self Is …
Where TRUTH Abides

Care with Origin Myths

Where the Truth Abides

Life on earth requires translation, interpretation, mitigation, organization, fortification …. Then again, does it really? Why would it?

Life’s requirements, along with its rewards, have been “scribed” (journaled in writing) down through the ages. And the writers had imaginations that could overflow into “origin myths” — myths that, over time, become entrained sources of legends, folk tales, fairy tales and the like, with icons — heroic and villainous. All were written in a multitude of languages and dialects.

Origin Myth
Photo Credit: David Vives on Unsplash

And all the while, countless words have been spoken by millions, if not billions, of people every day, with but a fraction of understanding shared and acknowledged.

An initial origin myth for mankind involved Adam & Eve. Fear and confusion beset Adam when he beheld the Garden of Eden in the cool of the Day, yet he could only glimpse it through the narrowed view of time/space limitations that he & Eve had manifested by and for themselves.

Another origin myth, familiar to avid Old Testament readers, is the Tower of Babel. According to the story, a united human race in the generations after Noah & the Great Flood, who spoke a single language, migrated to the land of Shinar. Once there, they decided to build a city with a tower they thought was tall enough to reach to heaven.

At this point in the narrative, a telling element surfaces: At some later date, this (soon to be enduring) origin myth was altered to depict a “God” now personified and strikingly similar to a younger strain of human Beings.

Although fraught with opinions and attitudes susceptible to external factors — such as, in this instance, the crowd of idol worshippers gathered at the foot of their lofty tower! — this vengeful god was a supreme authority who could summon ranges of power far beyond mere mortals!

As the story culminates — “God”, frowning down upon their untoward city and tower, confounds their speech so that they can no longer understand one another, and then scatters them across the world. In the end, the legendary title for this realm was changed to “Babel” — emulating the babble of the people’s incomprehensible attempts to even communicate together, much less agree.

So, hold on for a second: Where does Truth actually abide, and by what means is it sustained? Mercifully, the truly eternal Present Moment inherently expresses everlasting (hence outlasting) Patience with human Being, and nothing closely akin to vengeance. And hence, it waits for Truth to be manifested and expressed on earth by willing and able human Beings like us.

A relatively recent origin myth centers around Saint Patrick, who became one of Christianity’s most widely known figures, as well as the namesake of “St. Patrick’s Day”, which was celebrated this week (on March 17), both in Ireland and America.

An intriguing element, in this general vein of origin myths, is as follows: Whereas Saint Patrick has been ongoingly acknowledged as the Patron Saint of Ireland, the alive Patrick was not actually Irish. He was born in Britain, not Ireland, to wealthy parents in the fourth century AD.

Yet, at the age of 16, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family’s estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity — until he managed to escape and disappear by living like a roving shepherd in the remote fields of others.

Lonely, afraid, and turning to religion for solace, he reportedly heard a voice — which he believed to be God’s — speaking to him in a dream compelling him to become a missionary and to convert all willing people of Ireland to Christianity.

Much that has been written about his rather surreal experience, and others of St. Patrick’s ensuing visions and miracles have been seen as mythic. Thus, St. Patrick is still regarded as iconic and a model of the proud bearing of other Irishmen made whole by real-life examples.

In that wise, half (23 out of 46) of the Presidents of the United States boast some measure of Irish heritage. Among them were Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, and Harry Truman. The Presidents in my lifetime have included JFK, LBJ, Gerald Ford, the two George Bushes, Ronald Reagan, Barak Obama, and our current President, Joe Biden.

As to our original question earlier in this post: “Where does Truth actually abide, and by what means is it sustained?”

Often, such depth of longing for truth is sincerely queried with skepticism (yet with care to avoid being suspicious or cynical) in light of a worldview that might appear to be saturated with highly-managed misinformation that flatters its “pros” and disparages its “cons” — all, loudly unleashed far ahead of accurate fact-finding — nevermind being even close to ways that would help one discern Truth.

In light of the posturing of other present-day “pseudo-myths” continually laid out for mass attention and hardy consumption, is there enough time and space for careful consideration of the effects of potential origin myths on the rational, self-governed thoughts, attitudes, and actions of those in generations here now — alive, growing, maturing, and envisioning being character-driven leaders in the World’s future?

Well now, let’s take a deep, deep breath … Such mental and philosophical calisthenics (as are those with which we just exercised in the last two paragraphs) will not spasm into paralyzing conundra, IF you and I each simplify any questions we have for “the World” — simplify them to do what?

To answer, for our own individual selves, two (2) straightforward questions:

What, in this present moment, is most needed in my world? and …
What must I do now to be able to provide for that world — no more, no less?

NOTE: These can come off like trick questions, or actually be easy to traverse …
The “lead line” to the latter, easy-to-traverse approach might sound like this:

“In each present moment — with each deep, deep breath —
I will let the Currents of Life appear to my Highest Awareness
In Their own good time, rhythm, style, and magnitude.”

In next week’s blog post, we will further explore “Where Truth Abides”
Best Regards for now … — PenDell