Tag Archives: Tree of Life

Does “Self-Help” Help the World?

“Grace happens when we act with others on behalf of our world.”
― Joanna Macy

As the personal growth industry continues to grow beyond 44 billion dollars annually, it’s worth asking whether the millions of people taking self-help programs, meditating, doing yoga, breath-work seminars, psychedelic retreats, etc. are then working to make the world a more peaceful and just place. While I used to believe the answer was a resounding “yes,” I now think a bit differently.

It seems clear that people can participate and benefit personally from such practices, and yet not necessarily gain awareness of their relatedness to other beings, or find empathy and behave ethically towards them. It’s quite possible to use personal growth and even spiritual practices to become better and more efficient at behaviors that exploit and manipulate others.

I know that for some people that’s a very radical thing to hear. We’re often told that if someone becomes less rigid, less burdened by guilt or shame, more confident, they will become kinder, more generous and act in ways that make for a better world. This is often the case. But it’s often not. This is why ancient wisdom and spiritual traditions emphasize behavior, speech, action and work as equally important as inner development. And they also emphasize the development of consciousness that does not place the personal self, a segment of humanity, or humans at the center of the universe.

Intention is the key. If one enters “personal growth” with an intention to profit for themselves, it is likely that will be the result. If the intention includes cultivating awareness and compassion towards others, (humans, animals, plants, non-organic “things,” Mother Earth), that will bring about a different result. One can focus the intention of their inner work, prayerfully, to be the embodiment of the love, goodwill and compassion that is the true nature of their Soul, or essential nature.

So here’s another pitch for my upcoming course:

The Tree of Life, drawn from Jewish mystical teachings and embraced by mystics from many lineages, offers a path towards integrating inner and outer work. Teachings and practices from the Tree of Life provide the opportunity for personal and planetary healing and gaining guidance for committing to the work in the world that brings the light of peace and harmony to all beings. Information and registration links are here.

Blessings for the benefit of all life on Earth,

New Course – Cultivating the Inner Tree of Life

12 Session Online Experience
Starts Sunday, January 19th
Meets every other week

Learn a series of meditation practices for healing, guidance
and for serving in accord with your Soul’s calling

Register here

“All theory, dear friend, is gray,
but the golden tree of life springs ever green.”
–Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We are all facing the same predicament: Our attention is being called and pulled in a myriad of directions while feelings of helplessness, anger, fear and grief are rising up and swirling throughout. How do we stay centered and relate to each other and the world with courage, kindness and love? Where do we find guidance and direction?

In my over fifty years of spiritual practice, I’ve explored a range of pathways. Each has helped me to center, develop greater awareness of my essential nature and grow as a mature human being. Each has helped me to serve more effectively in whatever role I can play in the great work of making the world a more just and compassionate realm.

Several decades ago I began to explore the teachings of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. I found here more than a symbol for the human mind/body and the nature of Reality. The Tree of Life is a tool and method for experiencing and integrating directly the essential qualities that we seek in psychological and spiritual growth. I’ve been working for several years with individuals and small groups bringing these teachings forward and have found they provide answers to the questions we face in these times. I am now launching this online course that brings it all together.

Skills you will get from this course

Deepen meditation skills whether you are a beginner or seasoned meditator.

Enhance kinesthetic experience of your body and the healing energies that resolve pain and increase vitality.

Access sources within the Tree of Life for creativity, compassion, wisdom, strength and love – the divine attributes of your true nature.

Heal the conflict between the inner man and woman.

Learn to take responsibility for your state of mind – transform “negative” emotions.

Invoke your ancestors and spirit allies to assist in your life journey.

Basically, my hope and intention is that this course will deepen your multi-faceted, spiritual awareness and help you develop a disciplined daily practice that is of benefit to you and all life on Mother Earth.

We will explore and experience together

Mindfulness practices for clearing the mind chatter and moving beyond the thinking mind.

The tree as both a cross-cultural symbol for human development, and the Tree of Life as a map of divine and human powers and attributes.

Practices for navigating in consciousness. Journeying deeply into the nature of the Sephiroth and the Tree. Discerning real or imaginary creations of the mind?

Understanding experiences of unity and duality – balancing the poles of yin and yang, male and female, giving and receiving.

Processes for healing the wounds of the heart.

Walking your visions with strength and opening to the sustaining support of Mother Earth.

Why the Tree of Life

The form and meaning of the Tree of Life were originally developed by Jewish mystics and further adapted by Christian, Sufi and Western esoteric spiritual teachers. Yet, many of the studies involving the Tree remain largely abstract and intellectual. This course will focus on experiential practices using meditations, divinations and invocations that explore the Tree in a way that opens you to the deep healing energies and spiritual guidance within. My approach draws from a range of spiritual lineages that include mindfulness meditation, the light-fire teachings of Agni Yoga, shamanism, alchemy and depth psychology.

The structure of the Tree of Life is similar to the chakra system of the East. There are centers (Sephiroth) that are sources of energy and places in consciousness that serve as emanations of attributes of your Soul and the Divine Source of all-that-is. Different than most depictions of the chakras, the Tree of Life has, in addition to the central column, axes that have centers to the right and left of the human body helping to balance the feminine and masculine, (yin and yang) aspects of your nature. The Tree also brings a focus down lower in the body to the feet with the aim of balancing transcendence with embodiment, coming to and serving the Earth.

The relationships of the different Sephiroth to each other form triangles and other patterns that express a range of states of consciousness. Each Sephira is related to elements of nature and mythological beings as well as psychological and spiritual qualities. Learning to navigate the Sephiroth and their relationships is a mind expanding and transformational process quite different from simply studying them theoretically or cognitively.

Course structure

The course will consist of twelve 90-minute, online sessions. All sessions will include experiential meditations, lecture and question and answer periods. All of the sessions will be recorded so participants will have access to them during and after the completion of the course. In addition, all participants will have access to over 10 recorded meditations that can be used for your own ongoing practice. The content and sequence of materials in the course will be flexible and proceed according to the needs of those attending.

Sessions will be online meeting every other week (except where holidays are involved).

All sessions will be recorded in case you miss a class.

Supplemental recorded meditations will be available for practice in between classes.

Sessions will be Sunday at 7 PM Eastern Time/4 PM PT and will be 90-minutes.

Fee for course including all materials is $500. Scroll down to register.

Register here