How Judgment Colors Our Existence

When beginning a spiritual journey, it is important to be extremely clear about one's own idiosyncrasies, foibles or failings. Until one becomes completely clear and honest with oneself, this is a complete impossibility. Owning one's own failings is the imperative first step on the spiritual journey. Before that, it is simply lip-service. 

Judgment is the biggest culprit, from which stems most of our ills. I do not mean ills in the sense of just illness, though that is also a part. Illness comes from prolonged negative mindsets, and these mindsets all begin with judgment. We learn from the cradle on. Our parents or guardians instill values. These values may be skewed, but as children we take in these things we are taught and hold onto them, sometimes throughout our entire lives, never once doubting that what we were taught was true. In addition, we may put our own spin on these values, creating something new, that was never taught at all.

Sometimes, once we grow and mature, we are able to take a mental step back and examine these beliefs that were instilled in us with a new and fresh perspective. Sadly, far too often these things are left to fester inside as we chafe at them. Somehow they never get examined for flaws, but are swallowed whole and left there to create havoc. 
  

"In this way, disease is passed along in families."

Christiane Northrup is a medical doctor with a new and spiritual mindset. From her was the first time I had heard of this concept. It is our belief systems that create illness. Our parents learned their beliefs and values from their parents, who received theirs from their parents and so on. They pass their beliefs and values to their children, and we continue this by passing them along to our own children. If our beliefs and values are flawed, that is colored by judgments, then these judgments eventually create illnesses. As we pass along our own judgments, in the act of teaching our children about values and beliefs, we are also passing along the kind of belief or judgment that will eventually create that same disease in their bodies. And thus, a "genetic" disease, passed along in families. 

Not all disease is passed along in families, you might be thinking. This is correct. All disease is brought on to the self from long held beliefs. These beliefs are generally negative, and always judgmental. Whether we are judging ourselves or someone or something else, judgment lives in our every moment. From a fleeting thought ("Oh, just look at me. I look such a fright!"), to a longer held thought ("I am so fat."), to a sustained thought that might permeate the entire life ("There is never enough time!"), we are creating judgments and pronouncements constantly. All of them are negative in nature. All of them are residing in our bodies somewhere. With enough of them and over time, we become ill, and then wonder why this should happen.

These particular thoughts seem innocuous enough on the surface. If we delude ourselves into thinking these kind of thoughts are fine, could not possibly cause illness, or "everyone thinks this way", then eventually and with time, they become set in stone, so much a part of us that we cannot see beyond them. These are quite innocuous thoughts, in comparison to other possibilities, true. The idea is to identify the things we judge.

"We live in a world where there is never enough time. As this belief is passed along, all our busy, rushing lives become busier and even more rushed. This cycle cannot end until we cease stating this concept to ourselves and to others."

My Guides stated this to me one morning during meditation: 

"Every, single thing you do comes with a choice. How you choose to see a thing will color or change its appearance according to how many filters [of judgment] are applied. Judgment can take infinite forms. How do you judge your present? How do you judge what you imagine as your future? Judgment creates your concept of 'what-ifs', which are strictly inventions based on lack of trust, lack of acceptance that you are guided and cared for. In judgment, you narrow your own sight, dimming, dulling, filtering.

The only way to live is to view your world with the perfect, fresh, innocence of a child; a child who KNOWS all is well and perfect in their world."  

Another morning, I was told:

"All the body is health. 'Healing' should never be necessary, but for the constant 'filters' humans create for themselves. These filters, through which you view and experience your own particular worlds, dull down the efficiency of the body, effectively 'rusting shut a very fine piece of machinery'. This is a sad choice. A sad use of free-will."

An example of how our judgments get the upper hand was given in a vision one morning. The vision was of a huge bear, holding a tiny human infant in its arms.The bear held the infant tenderly, with no sign of danger toward the infant. Normally, one would see this huge bear holding a tiny defenseless infant and immediately conclude the infant is in danger. This scenario would be seen as dangerous and terrifying. Seeing the infant held with those tremendous claws was truly a fearful sight. Yet I was being taught that this, while seemingly true, is only based in judgment, where all the "what-if" scenarios spring to mind. I was admonished to release preconceived notions. Release judgments. 


I have been on a spiritual journey, questing for inner peace, acceptance and non-judgment for many long years. This blog is the story of how I worked past some of the many issues. Outside of spiritual questing, I am an avid cook. Join me also at "A Harmony of Flavors" Blog, Website, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. I am an artist since childhood and recently began painting in acrylics.  
 

What is Meditation and How to Do It

Meditation can mean different things to different people. Sitting quietly constitutes meditation for some. My husband felt for a long time that "meditation" was having the TV on and just letting his mind wander. I believe that this opinion has changed now, but having the mind wandering and chattering away is not meditation. The point of meditation is to still and quiet the mind, still the constant chatter that takes us to all the negative places we tend to dwell. When we are completely still and quiet, this gives the body a chance to relax and heal, while the mind is at peace in the stillness. But how to accomplish this seemingly impossible task?

From my own experience, meditation becomes easier the more it is practiced. At first, the mind chatters incessantly and that point of stillness never manifests. Long ago, back in the 1960s, I recall the admonition to focus entirely on one's navel. This is in order to give a focal point. But let's face it, the navel is not an entirely exciting focal point! At least, it never worked for me. 

Over time, it seemed that if one can make a particular place the "meditation place", and re-create the same type of background each time, the mind tends toward relaxing as this routine becomes known and one becomes accustomed. For some, it will be lighting a candle. For me, it was a certain type of incense I enjoyed. Smelling this incense set the tone. Very non-specific music, without much variation in tone and played very quietly, can also help. In the 1990s, I meditated daily and used a sandalwood incense (because that is what I liked) and on occasion played a cassette tape (at the time) called Santosh, by PC Davidoff. It was soothing and calming for me, and it gave me a solid 26 minutes of uninterrupted music. The other thing that is helpful is to create a safe place to go to, in the mind. 

Safe Place?

A Peaceful, Safe Place

A safe place is just a place in imagination. If you can create a space in the mind that conjures up the feeling of complete safety and relaxation, this is what is wanted. For me it was a place surrounded by high rocks and with a view of some snow-capped mountains and many trees around me. I had "tried out" many other places over the years, such as a deserted beach or a pretty herb garden, but I kept coming back to the place surrounded by rock. This safe place is totally for each individual to go to, so it is created as the perfect space, if there was such a thing, for you. Let the imagination soar here, but it is best to keep it in nature. All of these things can possibly help, and there may be other things to set the mood for meditation. None of them are absolutely necessary. I pass them along only to give some examples.

The next most important thing is to turn off phones! The last thing needed is a phone call to ruin the moment and the mood that has been created. 

A Peaceful, Safe Place

Okay, So What Else?

When one can achieve a still and peaceful mindset during meditation, then the higher self becomes more receptive. The higher self is that spirit part of us that is connected to ALL. It is in this receptive place that we become attuned to that part of us that is always peaceful and calm, always connected, and able to receive answers to most any question. Whether it comes through intuition, or an Angel or a Guide, answers are given and we can begin to allow the true self to shine through rather than the mind with its chatter, telling us other things than our highest good. 

Some people will hear things. Some people see visions. In my case, it is a little of both. I do hear answers and sometimes have conversations with my Guides. I am also a very visual person, and prefer to read a book than listen to it on CD. In this case, I am also given pictures in my head, that demonstrate a point and paint a great illustration for what must be done. I am often shown an animal and I will later look up the animal in my "Animal Speak" book, by Ted Andrews. At other times I am shown things that I have no idea what they are for, but I accept the visions and move on.

If you never see a vision or are shown an animal, this does not mean you are doing something wrong, but only that this is a completely subjective practice, and we must do what works for each one of us. When my quest began in late May of 2015, I was taken on a true adventure with a whole lot of visuals. 

In August, I began reading "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle. In the latter half of the book, he wrote of being silent and setting all one's focus on the act of breathing. I tried this, right there and then, and found that if concentrating only on breathing, no extraneous thoughts could even form! This does not mean that it is an instant cure for a wandering mind, but it does truly help. Just gently bring the focus back to the breathing in and out and let go of all other thoughts. This has also turned out to be very helpful when I wake in the night and cannot sleep. If it does not always put me back to sleep, at the very least, I know my mind is peaceful while I focus on breathing.

Of late, I follow Tolle's breathing exercise to set my frame of mind and this takes me easily to a still and quiet place where my mind is relaxed and free. I hope that some of these ideas can help you to create a good meditation practice.


I have been on a spiritual journey, questing for inner peace, acceptance and non-judgment for many long years. This blog is the story of how I worked past some of the many issues. Outside of spiritual questing, I am an avid cook. Join me also at "A Harmony of Flavors" Blog, Website, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. I am an artist since childhood and recently began painting in acrylics. 

Intuition or Angels or Guides

Different people have different beliefs. That is accepted. As we travel through life, our beliefs sometimes change, but still there are such varying ranges within belief systems that sometimes it is hard to fathom.

Most people believe we have some kind of intuition. That voice that helps us along sometimes, where suddenly we just "know" something, or a direction to go. A sixth-sense is sometimes another way of expressing this intuition. We just have a feeling. Some believe we have a "higher self" that speaks to us. Then there are those who believe in Guardian Angels. Whether or not these angels speak or not depends on the person one talks with. Those who believe in Guardian Angels generally fall into the category of "religious" on some level, but not necessarily. And then there are those who believe we have Guides, as do I. 

"It makes no difference how one believes, whether one is religious or not religious at all, or whether 'there are no such things as angels or guides.' We are still guided, daily."

I believe I have Guides. I believe these Guides are entities in spirit form, that may or may not have lived a physical life here on earth, and who are there to help when we need. They provide the "voice" that sometimes tells me to buy something in the grocery store (which if I ignore, most often it was something I really needed, but felt I knew better). That voice also sometimes tells me that if something is left where it is, it might fall and break or spill. Easy things to rectify, and I am exceedingly grateful. Most of us chalk that down to intuition or just a "feeling." Yet once one gets past the doubting stage, it becomes easier over time to hear what the Guides are saying, and even to have conversations. 

Ana, sketched as I see her

I have had two active Guides for many years. One presented herself to me as a Native American woman, older, chubby and round faced, with mostly gray, grizzled hair and a huge grin. Her name was given me as "Ana", but pronounced with the second syllable stressed: a-NA. I was given to understand that the actual name was much longer, but that this was an acceptable shortening of the name. Ana would give me short, mostly one syllable answers like "yes" or "no" or "possibly". She rarely gave any sort of conversation, though I feel her there all the time with her smiling countenance. I sketched a picture of how I see her at right.

Another Guide came to me some years later, and her name was far harder to decipher. There was a jumble of letters, out of which I cobbled "Hajnia", and while I was given to understand that this was not quite it, the name was fine to use that way. After all, names do not matter all that much to an entity who no longer has a body or gender. Hajnia is the Guide who will actually give me more fleshed out answers, and sometimes conversation. I have had these two, plus a few others who seemed to be around but without communication.

I am writing this blog to establish how it is that I see things, and how I experience my guides. Take this in the spirit it is meant, and understand that a quick substitution for any of the alternative beliefs stated above will work. This blog is about my own personal journey and the things I have experienced along the way.

If you are of the mind to find out something about a Guide of your own, I would first suggest meditating on a daily basis. Create your own safe place in your mind: some place where you would feel absolutely safe and relaxed. It can be any place you like whether at the top of a mountain or at the sea shore, in a hot dry desert, or a lush green meadow. I chose something with high rock walls, and as it turned out, that was not by accident, but I didn't find that out until much, much later. Once you have a pace set in your mind, take yourself there and compose yourself for meditation. Relax and do your best to stay in the present, aware of things around you without any particular focus on them. Relax and see if you can feel a presence. Ask for a name. Say hello!

It really can be as easy as this. It may take some time if you find it difficult to relax and meditate, but if this is the case, then as one of the sayings goes, 

"Meditate for 10 minutes daily, unless you don't have time, in which case meditate for 30 minutes."

I have been on a spiritual journey, questing for inner peace, acceptance and non-judgment for many long years. This blog is the story of how I worked past some of the many issues. Outside of spiritual questing, I am an avid cook. Join me also at "A Harmony of Flavors" Blog, Website, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. I am an artist since childhood and recently began painting in acrylics.