MY APPROACH TO MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY had no order, design or road map. In fact, I didn't know I was on a journey for several years. Later, I realized that I have always been on my journey as have and are, all of us. But, in the beginning, I felt a need to explore, to seek out more than my traditional religious upbringing had given me, or that I had been able to get out of it.

There is no secret here; I read a lot of books, listened to tapes, took home study courses, attended workshops, went on trips and mostly, opened my mind to learning, accepting and assimilating from whatever source I could. What was particularly hard for me when I started on my quest is that I've been a businessman all my life, with very inside-the-box thinking. Things were black and white and tangible. Spirits and guides, energy, auras, chakras, that is, the non-tangible world, were difficult to understand or accept. With time, journeying and meditation, these concepts have become what are real for me. I rely less on the black and white, the tangible, and much more on the intangible.

When I was young, I was taught that God could be found in church and we should live as Jesus did when we were outside church. I was never taught that God was part of the trees and plants, flowers, water, air, earth, and us. I was never taught that we are all one.

Thus, my definition of spirituality encompasses traditional religion, but much more as well. For me, spirituality is the essence of our being, both internal (our relationship with God and our higher selves) and external (our relationship with people, nature and everything around us). I feel strongly that in order to interact with others, with community, in the most effective and loving way, it's best to be comfortable with yourself and your spirituality.

In the process of defining and assimilating my spirituality, I've also learned a lot about what might be considered non-spiritual states of mind, but which, I believe, are all part of the spiritual continuum. Some of these include thoughts on making choices, letting go of ego and others, or on how to achieve goals. These and other ways of living on this planet, and looking at life, have become part of my life and spirituality.

I know something has become part of my spirituality, has allowed me to take one more step on my path, to climb to and then pass my base camp, when it becomes integrated into what I now call my spiritual tapestry. I no longer think of it in terms of "I believe." It's more like, "I know." It is now part of me, part of my spirituality and it affects the way I think and the way I approach any activity in life.

I came to think of the spiritual path I was on as a spiritual tapestry, comprised of a series of threads of different colors and sometimes different thicknesses. Each thread in the tapestry represents a thought from one source, a bit of philosophy from another or a concept from yet another. The thickness is determined by the amount of information or its importance in guiding me on my path. This tapestry will continue to grow as I continue to explore, being open to learn and assimilating newly learned concepts into it. This of course, is a metaphorical representation of my spiritual beliefs, but can serve to help focus on what is meaningful to someone. Writing this book has in fact, allowed me to focus, crystallize and more completely understand my spiritual feelings. I hope it will help you too.

I'd like now for you to take a journey to connect you with the boundless energy of Pachamama - a Quechua word that means at once, Mother Earth, the universe and time. While an ideal journey may take place in a quiet room, or out in nature allowing you to focus just on the journey, the reality of our everyday lives may not allow that to happen. If you are in a city, with horns beeping or emergency vehicles rushing by with sirens blaring, that's okay. Don't get upset by the intrusion, just allow it to be, and focus on your journey. And, if your mind happens to wander off the journey, that's okay, too. Gently bring yourself back into focus and continue.

Now, relax, and take a few minutes to connect with Pachamama.

Journey to Connect Energy:

• Either sitting or lying down, please close your eyes, empty your mind, and take a deep breath...
• Breathe in cool, refreshing relaxation and exhale all tensions, all worries, all your problems.
• Again, in the most comfortable way for you, breathe in cool refreshing relaxation, and breathe out all your worries, all of the past, all of the future.
• And, one more time. Breathe in the present, the here, the now.
  Feel, as you breathe in, the energy of Pachamama flowing through your body.
• Feel the universal energy flowing through every fiber and cell in your body.
• And breathe out all of your troubles, all of your problems.
• And now, at your own pace take a few more natural breaths, and just feel the energy around you. Feel the relaxation filtering throughout your body. Feel the beauty, and love, and power of Pachamama.
• Come back to the here and now.

This journey takes little time, yet relaxes you, can lower your blood pressure and, I believe, opens up your mind to further learning.

Wasn't that simple? Didn't it feel good? And, it didn't cost anything. Why don't we do this for ourselves, once, twice or three times a day, myself included? Why? We don't have time; we have too many things to do. Maybe, we feel we don't deserve to relax, to feel this good. If you get nothing more from this book, and I think you will, at least make this part of your daily practice - and DO IT. Even once a day or once a week is better than not at all. This does not eliminate all your problems, or pay your bills, but it puts you in a better frame of mind to deal with life's challenges, and it's good for you.

Journey to Intention:

• Please sit or lie in a comfortable position.
• Take several deep breaths as before and relax.
• Now, take a moment and clear your mind.
• There are many ways to do this, but one method I use is to visualize a blank white board or blackboard. Focus on it, and it will empty your mind.
• Or, if your orientation is more auditory, know, feel and experience complete silence.
• Allow your intention in reading this book to drift into the emptiness.
• Accept the first thought that comes into your mind.
• Be with it for a few moments.
• Keep this thought in your mind as you continue to read this book and do the journeys.
• Come back to the physical world.

My intention in writing this book was that I asked for guidance to help others find their spiritual paths, their spirituality and, especially, to learn to trust themselves. I'll discuss more about intentions in Chapter 6.

I became convinced at some point during my journey, that in order to find the answers to my problems, my path, my spirituality, I had to find The Way. I thought there was only one way, and I just hadn't found it.

I think that this belief occurs because formalized religions promote it. Many wisdom keepers and workshop speakers, books and tapes will tell you that if you follow their teachings, you will become enlightened. I have, in fact, had shamans speak to me about the way things are, as though they are the only ones who understand and know.

I truly believe that most of these teachers are sincere in their beliefs. I have come to know some of them intimately, and discovered that they are just as human as everyone else (another revelation of the obvious). They have strengths and weaknesses as well as ups and downs just like the rest of us. They have problems on the earthly plane with financial concerns just like we do. They have their own special gifts, but we shouldn't expect them to be perfect. However, because they often come from a different culture, or country, or have spent twenty years in a Tibetan monastery, we tend to put them on a pedestal and believe everything they say.

I must tell you that I have the deepest respect for their knowledge and experience. Some have endured hardships and studied many years to achieve their status. Often, a guru tries to create an air of mystique, of separation. A true guru or shaman doesn't need to. Their humility and recognition that they are just like the rest of us, actually sets them apart. And, in the end, they are still speaking from their experience and learning, which may or may not resonate with us on our paths. In fact, everyone is unique. We have different physical makeup, background and experiences.

The bottom line, as we would say in business, is to take what makes sense for you and let the rest go - trust yourself to know what's right for you (see also Chapter 8).

Early on in my journey, I felt that if I didn't reach enlightenment through a particular book, course, workshop or CD, then I had failed. I came to realize that everything you do happens for a reason, there is no coincidence in life. I learned something from every approach, every attempt at defining my path. I have come to understand and accept that I may not reach enlightenment in this current lifetime. I have come to realize that what is most important is recognizing and enjoying the journey. I'll get there when it's appropriate and have great and diverse experiences on the way.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different ways to do almost everything, why there are so many ways to cure for example? Among many others are aromatherapy, reflexology, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, Reiki and, oh yes, Western medicine.

Why do we have all these different ways of healing? It seems obvious that sometimes one works for one person, and another one works for someone else with similar diseases or similar problems. Why do we have different religions? I think that whichever Supreme Being is believed in, whether that Supreme Being is called God or Vishnu or pick a name, it's the same Supreme Being. Why choose one religion over another? Partially due to upbringing, to be sure, but when we become an adult, we can make our own decisions and some people do change. We choose to recognize and celebrate and honor the Supreme Being in a way that resonates with us. Again, this seems obvious.

How many different ways are there to get in touch with our higher self, our collective unconscious, the universe? We can do it through shamanism, journeying, hypnosis, Freudian psychology, and many other methods. Different people use different ways. Why? Because that way resonates with that person. It just seems right, and often you don't understand why.

It is probable that as we progress on our paths, we will add a particular thought or technique that makes sense at that point, and perhaps release another that is no longer useful or resonates with us. This is perfectly all right. This is your higher self or inner being making adjustments as you progress.

It is likely that a particular kind of therapy, thought process, or perhaps a series of questions, will help you resolve a problem. After it is resolved, you file that therapy away in your mental filing cabinet until another similar situation arises. You will have already discovered and used the tools to do so.

For me, after looking at a number of ways, I realized I was taking something away from each one, some a little, some a lot. Then it occurred to me that this is my way. I finally realized that there wasn't necessarily just one path to follow, but potentially threads from many different ways building my path. Your way may be similar or completely different. You could find one religion or guru that satisfied your spiritual needs, or you could do as I have, and incorporate different beliefs to cultivate and develop your way.

A simple example might help to clarify what I'm talking about. Let's use writing and the creative process. Some say that you should draw circles and follow one related item to another to develop ideas and story lines. Others would say that you should write each day, no matter what you write, just to get something on paper. Or, you should be disciplined and write at the same time and in the same place - your special writing place. You could walk or go to different places for inspiration; use sweetgrass or incense or some form of aromatherapy to help you write and be creative; or visualize a famous writer that you admire and imagine his talent seeping into your body. Some people use a pen to write with, others, a #2 pencil and still others, a computer. I could go on, but I think the point is clear.

Writers use different means to be creative, to get ideas and to solve problems in their work. Every one of the techniques I mentioned are valid for someone and I respect whichever way a writer chooses. For me, I use a combination of handwriting, then transfer to a computer, then make changes on a printed draft. I walk to help answer questions about plot, direction, or any other problem I might be trying to resolve; I write in different places, and write only when it feels right. That works for me, it's my way. Use what works for you.

We will talk of living in the present, being open to learn, setting intentions and so forth. Don't feel like you have to totally master one aspect we discuss before considering and working on others. Again, don't feel as though you need to suspend previous beliefs or change whatever practices you are doing now. You don't. Some old beliefs may change and some new beliefs may become integrated in your spiritual tapestry.

I believe that after having read this book, you will have the tools and direction to determine your path. My goal is not to learn everything about my path and purpose, but to confirm to myself that I'm doing what I should be doing and making the right decisions.

Life, on this planet isn't perfect and neither are you. That you try to live in the present, to let go of ego, that is what is important. When you find yourself straying from what you are trying to do at the moment, gently bring yourself back and continue.

If you wait for the perfect moment to do this or that, you won't do it. If I waited until I had more time to write this book, it wouldn't have been written - ever. While you can work to change your present circumstances, know and accept them for what they are and press on toward your goal - the perfect time is now.

Don't expect to be at the end of your journey by reading this book and doing the journeys. It is a continuing journey; the secret, and the fun, is to keep working at it.

© 2007, Robert Y. Southard, All Rights Reserved

From Ordinary Secrets, by Robert Y. Southard. Published by O Books, ISBN 978-1-84694-0675. Reprinted with permission. To order, click on the thumbnail above.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert Y. Southard is a Certified Hypnotherapist, a Shamanic Reiki Master Practitioner, and developed the HypnoJourney™, a combination of ancient and traditional shamanic journeying practices with more modern hypnosis techniques which he presents in CD’s and workshops.