WP_Query Object
(
[query] => Array
(
[category__in] => Array
(
[0] => 67
[1] => 23
[2] => 64
)
[post__not_in] => Array
(
[0] => 6964
)
[posts_per_page] => 50
[ignore_sticky_posts] => 1
[orderby] => desc
[_shuffle_and_pick] => 3
)
[query_vars] => Array
(
[category__in] => Array
(
[0] => 67
[1] => 23
[2] => 64
)
[post__not_in] => Array
(
[0] => 6964
)
[posts_per_page] => 50
[ignore_sticky_posts] => 1
[orderby] => desc
[_shuffle_and_pick] => 3
[error] =>
[m] =>
[p] => 0
[post_parent] =>
[subpost] =>
[subpost_id] =>
[attachment] =>
[attachment_id] => 0
[name] =>
[pagename] =>
[page_id] => 0
[second] =>
[minute] =>
[hour] =>
[day] => 0
[monthnum] => 0
[year] => 0
[w] => 0
[category_name] => creative_living
[tag] =>
[cat] => 67
[tag_id] =>
[author] =>
[author_name] =>
[feed] =>
[tb] =>
[paged] => 0
[meta_key] =>
[meta_value] =>
[preview] =>
[s] =>
[sentence] =>
[title] =>
[fields] =>
[menu_order] =>
[embed] =>
[category__not_in] => Array
(
)
[category__and] => Array
(
)
[post__in] => Array
(
)
[post_name__in] => Array
(
)
[tag__in] => Array
(
)
[tag__not_in] => Array
(
)
[tag__and] => Array
(
)
[tag_slug__in] => Array
(
)
[tag_slug__and] => Array
(
)
[post_parent__in] => Array
(
)
[post_parent__not_in] => Array
(
)
[author__in] => Array
(
)
[author__not_in] => Array
(
)
[suppress_filters] =>
[cache_results] => 1
[update_post_term_cache] => 1
[lazy_load_term_meta] => 1
[update_post_meta_cache] => 1
[post_type] =>
[nopaging] =>
[comments_per_page] => 50
[no_found_rows] =>
[order] => DESC
)
[tax_query] => WP_Tax_Query Object
(
[queries] => Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[taxonomy] => category
[terms] => Array
(
[0] => 67
[1] => 23
[2] => 64
)
[field] => term_id
[operator] => IN
[include_children] =>
)
)
[relation] => AND
[table_aliases:protected] => Array
(
[0] => wp_term_relationships
)
[queried_terms] => Array
(
[category] => Array
(
[terms] => Array
(
[0] => 67
[1] => 23
[2] => 64
)
[field] => term_id
)
)
[primary_table] => wp_posts
[primary_id_column] => ID
)
[meta_query] => WP_Meta_Query Object
(
[queries] => Array
(
)
[relation] =>
[meta_table] =>
[meta_id_column] =>
[primary_table] =>
[primary_id_column] =>
[table_aliases:protected] => Array
(
)
[clauses:protected] => Array
(
)
[has_or_relation:protected] =>
)
[date_query] =>
[request] => SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS wp_posts.ID FROM wp_posts LEFT JOIN wp_term_relationships ON (wp_posts.ID = wp_term_relationships.object_id) WHERE 1=1 AND wp_posts.ID NOT IN (6964) AND (
wp_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id IN (23,64,67)
) AND ((wp_posts.post_type = 'post' AND (wp_posts.post_status = 'publish' OR wp_posts.post_status = 'acf-disabled')))
AND ID NOT IN
(SELECT `post_id` FROM wp_postmeta
WHERE `meta_key` = '_pilotpress_level'
AND `meta_value` IN ('','employee')
AND `post_id` NOT IN
(SELECT `post_id` FROM wp_postmeta
WHERE `meta_key` = '_pilotpress_level'
AND `meta_value` IN ('' ))) GROUP BY wp_posts.ID ORDER BY wp_posts.post_date DESC LIMIT 0, 50
[posts] => Array
(
[0] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 8253
[post_author] => 3
[post_date] => 2021-05-14 18:30:40
[post_date_gmt] => 2021-05-14 18:30:40
[post_content] =>
It’s spring. Here in Colorado we’re grateful for every drop of rain, and we’ve gotten many wet days recently. Once the trees are all in leaf it will be the greenest time of year. So it’s also time for my annual tradition of teaching our readers about the wood element from the perspective of Chinese five element philosophy.
The qualities of wood (I’m italicizing it to distinguish it from wood, the substance and building material) are seen in the characteristics of plant growth, especially in spring, the wood season. They’re within all humans as well, to a greater or lesser degree depending on the individual.
One of the first things we notice as plants come back to life is a certain toughness, a determination to rise, to grow, and to break out of the dormancy of winter. A few weeks ago there were lots of little flowers and tree buds everywhere and I was feeling enchanted by it all. Then we got several heavy snows and hard freezes and I said dramatically to my wife, “It’s not fair! Those tiny baby leaves and flowers! They barely got a chance!” But a week later they were back at it, all the tougher for it.
Within every plant is the gift of vision and a plan. Plants have the “vision” of phototropism, meaning they sense and grow always toward the light. This forms their plan (along with producing new plants that will do the same) and they adhere to it unwaveringly.
Bamboo is considered the quintessential embodiment of these virtues. Not only does it grow rapidly toward its destination without any distraction (no branches), but it remains flexible. That is, despite its determination to get where it wants to go, it doesn’t become rigid or brittle in this pursuit. It’s strong, but it bends in the wind. In addition, its hollowness is considered symbolic of its ability to remain open and unattached to its goal.
A person with healthy wood has a clear vision of where they’re headed in the short term and the long term. They know the plan that’s going to enable them to make their vision a reality.
One of my favorite tools for clarifying your vision, crafting your plan, and staying on track with it is our Dreambook + Planner. It’s on sale now for 50% off.
When needed, someone with healthy wood energy employs the spring qualities of vigor, determination, decisiveness, and tenacity. Yet, there’s nothing ruthless about the pursuit of their plan. Another of wood’s virtues is kindness, specifically the kindness of mutual support which emerges when we recognize that all plans can peacefully coexist.
When we encounter obstacles, healthy wood helps us to not lose sight of where we’re headed. In fact, when I said, “It’s not fair!” previously, that was completely untrue. Fair and unfair are meaningless in nature. Obstacles happen. Little obstacles, like traffic that interferes with one’s plan to be at work on time. And big obstacles, like a fatal illness that interferes one’s plan to live a long life and change the world.
The typical wood response to an obstacle is anger. Ideally, we feel the anger willingly, let it move through us, and even allow the surge of emotional energy to reignite our vision, attain perspective, perhaps modify the plan, and keep growing.
Other (less pleasant) options are to resist, deny, and/or amplify the anger, leading to rage or numbness/depression. We might insist (often subconsciously) that the obstacle shouldn’t have happened. A plan that started out as “to get to the finish line and have fun along the way” might become “to fight this obstacle for as long as it takes” or “to have no plans because what’s the use?” This is what happens when we lose our vision.
In such cases, it’s important to remember that humans, too, have phototropism. Like plants, we also have a natural inclination toward the Light (however we define it). It’s how we orient our vision. When shined inward it may reveal that the personal plan which seems to be lost, stolen, or thwarted is but the spark of a greater soul plan, such as “to fully experience human life, to transmit the light, and be of service to the world.” I believe our soul plan can’t be thwarted because it doesn’t depend on the specifics of our circumstances but on who we choose to be.
I encourage you to spend some time in nature and bring your curiosity. What can you learn about life from the dynamics of the natural world? For extra support, consider a healing session with me and use our acclaimed Dreambook + Planner.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
[post_title] => Accessing Vision, Flexibility, Tenacity, Kindness, and Perspective
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => accessing-vision-flexibility-tenacity-kindness-and-perspective
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2021-05-14 18:58:21
[post_modified_gmt] => 2021-05-14 18:58:21
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://thedragontree.com/?p=8253
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 2
[filter] => raw
[webinar_id] => 0
)
[1] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 8641
[post_author] => 3
[post_date] => 2022-04-08 21:50:03
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-04-08 21:50:03
[post_content] =>
During a particularly hard break-up in my 20s, a friend advised me, “The more present you are during this process, the bigger the present you’ll get out of it.” And though I barely understood what that meant, I gave it a try and an odd thing happened. I saw that I was choosing the big, dramatic grieving process I was going through. And that meant it was optional.
In The Art of Presence, Eckhart Tolle says, “Through thought you cannot possibly grasp what presence is.” But he gives some clues to point us in the right direction. He says it’s there, “when you’re not thinking about the last moment, or looking to the next one.” And he uses phrases like “a state of relaxed alertness” and “a spacious stillness,” to describe it.
Thich Nhat Hanh said, “The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence.”
Our presence is tremendously rare and hugely valuable. Especially in this age of epidemic distraction, it’s increasingly difficult and uncommon to choose a voluntary time-out from technology, data, and our own mental analysis. But unlike the artificial value of a coin that accidentally got stamped with a head on both sides, our presence can do for us what nothing else can. And we can make it more abundant by simply choosing it.
Although it may not put food in our belly, most other problems disappear with presence. The need to fix or relive the past disappears. The need to avoid certain unwanted events in the future disappears. Even if we're working on something now that will benefit us in the future, with our presence, we work on it now in order to work on it now. And that’s enough.
The allure of distraction, which so often threatens our presence, dissolves when we practice being present. Do you know the word obviate? I like to write using words that almost everyone understands, but there’s only one word I can think of that means “to make unnecessary,” and that word is obviate. Learning to deepen our presence obviates the urge for distraction and mental departure from our current reality.
With presence, we perceive all kinds of intelligence and detail that we’re otherwise deaf and blind to. We know when to eat and when to stop eating. We know how to move our body in a way that doesn’t cause pain or injury. Our work becomes more interesting. Our relationships become healthier. We listen better and we feel heard.
With two kids, my presence is requested almost incessantly. I hear the word Papa at least 100 times a day. Often, I hear it ten or more times in quick succession. We all yearn for someone’s total presence with us. These are the moments of connection between what is the same in both of us. Presence uncovers what’s real in this moment. And that’s refreshing, exciting, and affirming.
When we’re all so busy that we see time as a commodity, it can seem that giving our presence to someone else is like giving away our treasure. But are we actually giving something away?
Of course not. When we “give” our presence we gain the present. To withhold our presence means both we and the other person miss out.
So, how can you learn to be more present? It takes practice. If you’re new to this, I don’t recommend making a goal like, “I’m going to be more present from now on.” I don’t want to discourage you, I just want you to be realistic about what you’re up against – a lifetime of habits and a sea of tantalizing distractions.
Try something a bit less ambitious, such as this: Once a day, as you begin some activity – whether it’s buying groceries, playing Candyland, eating a meal, and listening to a friend’s problems – select this activity as an exercise in presence. In your mind, identify what exactly you’re doing – “I’m vacuuming the floor” – and devote yourself to that. Don’t run away in the middle of the activity. This means don’t pick up your phone, don’t depart in your mind to explore other thoughts and ideas, don’t visit the past, don’t anticipate what’s next, don’t judge. Just dwell in the present. Be saturated by the present. Feel everything. Accept everything. And let each next moment come.
Over time, quicker than you might think, you’ll start regaining your attention. You’ll be able to focus on something for more than five seconds. You’ll begin to yearn for this, which will make your practice much easier. And as you start willingly selecting more and more moments to be completely present, you’ll experience an unending offering of presents.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
[post_title] => A Free Pile of Presents Just for You
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => a-free-pile-of-presents-just-for-you
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2022-04-08 21:50:03
[post_modified_gmt] => 2022-04-08 21:50:03
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://thedragontree.com/?p=8641
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[webinar_id] => 0
)
[2] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 8656
[post_author] => 3
[post_date] => 2022-05-05 20:14:03
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-05-05 20:14:03
[post_content] =>
There’s a well-known spiritual quote from philosopher and teacher Jiddhu Krishnamurti. The story goes that he was speaking to a group of students (who saw him as an enlightened master), and he whispered, “Do you want to know my secret?” At this, the room fell silent and everyone leaned forward. Then he continued, “I don’t mind what happens.”
What I like about this idea is that it’s simple; it speaks of a state of transcendence of the ego and unshakable peace. But as an expression of absolute spiritual truth, it also lends itself to spiritual bypassing and illusions about spirituality.
The tricky thing about Krishnamurti’s statement is that he was presumably speaking not from his ego but from an expanded state of consciousness, his higher Self. Thus, while not minding what happens was his outlook from this state, it’s not necessarily the path that got him there.
In Krishnamurti’s case, he went through a series of spontaneous, often painful experiences over many years that caused an opening of his consciousness. That’s not something we can replicate at will. So what can we garner from this “secret”?
It’s a good opening to a discussion on how we relate to absolute spiritual truths while existing in a world of relativity. Even among non-dual spiritual traditions (meaning, all the world is considered to be an expression of one great Being, and separation is an illusion), there is often a distinction made between the Source in an absolute sense (which is formless) and the many forms it takes in the relative world.
In the realm of the relative, which is where the majority of human minds dwell, relativity directs nearly every aspect of our lives. For instance, when we say something is good, we’re usually not coming from the experience that the universe is fundamentally Good, and therefore all of its expressions are imbued with that same essence of goodness. What we mean is that things are good relative to some other way they could be. Thus, we’re directed toward things that we perceive as better than our other options and away from things that seem worse. And absolute spiritual truths – like “the universe is fundamentally good” – are simply lofty concepts to most people. We do get glimpses of them though (as I’ve written about in my articles on “gaps” in the dominant egocentric state), and these often fuel a drive for spiritual awakening.
People who have gone through a certain form of spiritual awakening (what’s sometimes referred to as enlightenment, liberation, or moksha) often describe it as an experience of becoming perpetually conscious of the absolute. This doesn’t make the relative disappear, but the awareness of the undying oneness that unifies all apparent differences enables them to play in relativity without the “high stakes” feeling – and the anxiousness and drama that go with it – that most humans experience. This is why it’s referred to as liberation, which can be a very appealing notion to anyone who wants to be happy.
So, apparently from this state, Krishnamurti said, “I don’t mind what happens” because, in an absolute sense, nothing is ever wrong. Nor is there such a thing as tragedy or victory. To win a race just means one part of the Source crossed the finish line before another part of the same Source (or God beat God, if you prefer that name). Likewise, the death of any given expression of the Source is akin to a red blood cell dying and being recycled into a new blood cell; the Whole has lost nothing in the process.
It's important to recognize that an absolute spiritual truth is different from an uplifting life principle or a good piece of advice. If someone told you their “secret” is “Focus on the good” or “Don’t sweat the small stuff” or “Practice gratitude” or “Don’t take anything personally” you could immediately adopt it and start living it. But to a person who hasn’t realized and directly experienced it, an absolute truth isn’t actionable in the same way. And in relative terms, the absolute may make no sense at all.
Imagine that a dog is biting your leg and you think to yourself, “I’m going to be spiritual about this. What did Krishnamurti say? Oh yeah, I don’t mind what happens. I guess I’d better breathe through this. Whew, that’s a lot of blood. Do I just let him keep gnawing? I don’t mind. I don’t mind. I don’t mind. If I call 9-1-1, does that constitute “minding”?” I doubt many people would take an unrealized spiritual truth to this extent, but as you can imagine, it’s possible to get into some trouble this way.
Next week we’ll try to find the usefulness in statements of absolute truth and we’ll talk about what to do if you do mind what happens. Meanwhile, I always love to hear what readers think of these philosophical explorations.
Be well,
Peter
[post_title] => Can We be Misguided by Spiritual Truths?
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => can-we-be-misguided-by-spiritual-truths
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2022-05-05 20:14:03
[post_modified_gmt] => 2022-05-05 20:14:03
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://thedragontree.com/?p=8656
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[webinar_id] => 0
)
)
[post_count] => 3
[current_post] => -1
[in_the_loop] =>
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 8253
[post_author] => 3
[post_date] => 2021-05-14 18:30:40
[post_date_gmt] => 2021-05-14 18:30:40
[post_content] =>
It’s spring. Here in Colorado we’re grateful for every drop of rain, and we’ve gotten many wet days recently. Once the trees are all in leaf it will be the greenest time of year. So it’s also time for my annual tradition of teaching our readers about the wood element from the perspective of Chinese five element philosophy.
The qualities of wood (I’m italicizing it to distinguish it from wood, the substance and building material) are seen in the characteristics of plant growth, especially in spring, the wood season. They’re within all humans as well, to a greater or lesser degree depending on the individual.
One of the first things we notice as plants come back to life is a certain toughness, a determination to rise, to grow, and to break out of the dormancy of winter. A few weeks ago there were lots of little flowers and tree buds everywhere and I was feeling enchanted by it all. Then we got several heavy snows and hard freezes and I said dramatically to my wife, “It’s not fair! Those tiny baby leaves and flowers! They barely got a chance!” But a week later they were back at it, all the tougher for it.
Within every plant is the gift of vision and a plan. Plants have the “vision” of phototropism, meaning they sense and grow always toward the light. This forms their plan (along with producing new plants that will do the same) and they adhere to it unwaveringly.
Bamboo is considered the quintessential embodiment of these virtues. Not only does it grow rapidly toward its destination without any distraction (no branches), but it remains flexible. That is, despite its determination to get where it wants to go, it doesn’t become rigid or brittle in this pursuit. It’s strong, but it bends in the wind. In addition, its hollowness is considered symbolic of its ability to remain open and unattached to its goal.
A person with healthy wood has a clear vision of where they’re headed in the short term and the long term. They know the plan that’s going to enable them to make their vision a reality.
One of my favorite tools for clarifying your vision, crafting your plan, and staying on track with it is our Dreambook + Planner. It’s on sale now for 50% off.
When needed, someone with healthy wood energy employs the spring qualities of vigor, determination, decisiveness, and tenacity. Yet, there’s nothing ruthless about the pursuit of their plan. Another of wood’s virtues is kindness, specifically the kindness of mutual support which emerges when we recognize that all plans can peacefully coexist.
When we encounter obstacles, healthy wood helps us to not lose sight of where we’re headed. In fact, when I said, “It’s not fair!” previously, that was completely untrue. Fair and unfair are meaningless in nature. Obstacles happen. Little obstacles, like traffic that interferes with one’s plan to be at work on time. And big obstacles, like a fatal illness that interferes one’s plan to live a long life and change the world.
The typical wood response to an obstacle is anger. Ideally, we feel the anger willingly, let it move through us, and even allow the surge of emotional energy to reignite our vision, attain perspective, perhaps modify the plan, and keep growing.
Other (less pleasant) options are to resist, deny, and/or amplify the anger, leading to rage or numbness/depression. We might insist (often subconsciously) that the obstacle shouldn’t have happened. A plan that started out as “to get to the finish line and have fun along the way” might become “to fight this obstacle for as long as it takes” or “to have no plans because what’s the use?” This is what happens when we lose our vision.
In such cases, it’s important to remember that humans, too, have phototropism. Like plants, we also have a natural inclination toward the Light (however we define it). It’s how we orient our vision. When shined inward it may reveal that the personal plan which seems to be lost, stolen, or thwarted is but the spark of a greater soul plan, such as “to fully experience human life, to transmit the light, and be of service to the world.” I believe our soul plan can’t be thwarted because it doesn’t depend on the specifics of our circumstances but on who we choose to be.
I encourage you to spend some time in nature and bring your curiosity. What can you learn about life from the dynamics of the natural world? For extra support, consider a healing session with me and use our acclaimed Dreambook + Planner.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
[post_title] => Accessing Vision, Flexibility, Tenacity, Kindness, and Perspective
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => accessing-vision-flexibility-tenacity-kindness-and-perspective
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2021-05-14 18:58:21
[post_modified_gmt] => 2021-05-14 18:58:21
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://thedragontree.com/?p=8253
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 2
[filter] => raw
[webinar_id] => 0
)
[comment_count] => 0
[current_comment] => -1
[found_posts] => 233
[max_num_pages] => 5
[max_num_comment_pages] => 0
[is_single] =>
[is_preview] =>
[is_page] =>
[is_archive] => 1
[is_date] =>
[is_year] =>
[is_month] =>
[is_day] =>
[is_time] =>
[is_author] =>
[is_category] => 1
[is_tag] =>
[is_tax] =>
[is_search] =>
[is_feed] =>
[is_comment_feed] =>
[is_trackback] =>
[is_home] =>
[is_privacy_policy] =>
[is_404] =>
[is_embed] =>
[is_paged] =>
[is_admin] =>
[is_attachment] =>
[is_singular] =>
[is_robots] =>
[is_favicon] =>
[is_posts_page] =>
[is_post_type_archive] =>
[query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => fab03f38f5333b8bb3ac8cf63ff6543e
[query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] =>
[thumbnails_cached] =>
[stopwords:WP_Query:private] =>
[compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array
(
[0] => query_vars_hash
[1] => query_vars_changed
)
[compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array
(
[0] => init_query_flags
[1] => parse_tax_query
)
)
Cart
