Chilean Words of Wisdom

Last night my friend, Dorothy, took me out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. The restaurant I chose is one of my favorites; a Chilean place named Pomaire. I had discovered this place over a decade ago, when my then-boyfriend from Chile brought me there. I recently rediscovered it and had forgotten how incredibly delicious the food is and how nice the people are. Perfect for celebrating my birthday.

My last visit there I had spent some time talking with the owner; a real gem of a soul. Last night we picked up the conversation right where we left off. I told him that it was my birthday, he told me that his just passed. "A Libra?" I rhetorically ask him. He goes on to tell me that Libras are bridges--connectors--"we connect people." How true I think, knowing how magical many situations there have been in my life. I then remember a song that Derek often plays in his workshops.

It goes:
"I would whisper love so loudly, every heart could understand
That love and only love can join the tribes of man
I would give my heart's desire, so that you might see
The first step is to realize that it all begins with you and me.

Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don't you think it's time."

We talked about the President of Chile coming to NYC a couple of weeks ago and the meeting that took place between him and the President. The restaurant owner had recently set up a non-profit organization to help the children of Chile and many Chilean politicians and ex-pats were joining together to get this foundation started. "I connected all these people." Yes, a bridge he was.

I tell him about Derek & the House of the Children and what the organization is doing for children in India and El Salvador. We talk about changing the world, sharing what you have and the redistribution of wealth. I remember and share what an old friend once said to me: "If Jesus couldn't save the world, what makes you think you can?" True. But I don't have to. Recently I was sitting with Derek asking him about changing the consciousness of a group. "You can't. All you can do is change your own thinking. When each person changes their own thinking, then the group changes."

Just focus on cleaning up my own consciousness...I can do that.

The restaurant owner goes on to tell me that all you ever need to do is to affect the life of ONE person. Even better if that person is a child.

Two people from two very different walks of life working toward the same goal. Beautiful. And now I am the bridge between them.

Another tidbit of insight from my Chilean friend...

I start talking to him about making asado, a beef roast that I have tried to perfect for years to no avail. He tells me the secret of making a good asado. You dip a handful of parsley in beer and go like this; motioning like a priest with Holy Water on Good Friday. "Oh, like you are blessing it?" I ask. "Exactly. But you want to know what really makes the food taste so good? When you make it with love. Because it is energy."

Now where have I heard that before? Derek, is that you?

I also talk to him about one of my favorite Chilean phrases,"en pelota" which literally means naked. He tells me that in Chile people say, "Vamos a hablar en pelota." which means "Let's talk honestly...transparently." I thank him for clarifying that phrase for me. Because if someone had said that to me, I may well be the first to take my shirt off.

Go visit the Buddha yourself and have an INCREDIBLE meal made with love.

POMAIRE
371 West 46th St
b/w 8th & 9th Ave
212 956 3055

And tell him Linda sent you.

Derek back in New York!

Finally and to everyone's utter surprise, Derek O'Neill (my spiritual teacher) came to NYC this past weekend. He has not been here in close to a year, and his students have been able to see him only in Ireland. Having him in the Big Apple was an absolute delight!

Almost a thousand people came to his workshop on Sunday and the line for admittance spanned an entire City block. The intensity of the energy was like being at the week-long workshop in Ireland. I personally was happy that friends & family of mine were able to attend and see Derek in action. They hear so much about him from me, but to truly understand what he is all about you have to see him. One of these people was my mother, who was curious & slightly skeptical of Derek. We sat separately so that we could each have our own experience independent of the other person. Derek walked up to my mom at one point to do a healing on her back. "How did I know you had back pain?" Derek asks my Mom. "They tell me everything." I sit there smiling, knowing that my mom's socks were not only blown off, but were now probably hanging from the church rafters.

The day was beautiful, amazing and loving beyond belief. He reintroduced the Rising Star energy, which was in the form of a Rising Star healing for all in the room. He did hands-on healings right next to me, so to watch him work that close was an absolute blessing. Time stood still, yet 8 hours passed in the blink of an eye.

Just about everyone I talked to napped on Monday, taking down time to integrate the energy from the workshop. I spoke to my Mom in more detail about her back and her overall impressions of Derek. She told me right after the workshop was over, "Now I understand why you are always going to Ireland." After expressing a desire to go to his week-long class she tells me, "but I am still not giving you money to go. Because now I might need it for myself."

So, let me get this straight...before you wouldn't give me money because you 'didn't believe in it.' Now you won't give me money because you do. Hmmm. Mom logic. Don't try to understand it. But it makes sense to them apparently.

PS: Guess who threw out their back this morning and was unable to walk while their back was in a full spasm. Nope, not Mom...guess again...yup...that would be me. Maybe I should stop and listen to all of these great teachings more carefully. And see if Derek can sort me out too.

For more info about Derek, you can go to his website: http://www.moretruthwillsetyoufree.com/ and for more information on the healing center he opened in the south of Ireland go to: http://www.creaconpremaagni.com/.
He is truly a Master, so any chance you have to see him you should take it.

Pilobolus and Abundance

This evening I saw an amazing performance of Pilobolus--a modern dance troupe whose bodies do things that mine now can only dream of. I see them perform every July/Aug at the Joyce Theater in NYC. It is something I look forward to doing every summer. Not only do I watch them for the sheer awe of their dancing, but having danced from childhood through college, I watch them and nostalgically remember the feeling of being a dancer myself.

Watching them tonight I especially took notice of their bodies and the muscle definition that resembles Greek gods/goddesses. I recalled how dancing was indeed a great form of exercise and how many dancers I knew did nothing else to build muscle--only dance. During that time in my life, I never worried about my body. I never danced to stay fit. I never danced for a good workout. I only danced because I loved it. Having a great body was just a by-product of a great love.

So it is with abundance I realized. Many of us, including myself, work to pay the bills. I have spent the last 15 years in the fashion industry, progressively getting more and more frustrated. I got to the point where I was working in fashion primarily because it was what I had my degree in, it was what I was trained to do, and it was the job that I could make the best salary at. Now I am at a point where I want to spend more and more time in JOY. For me, that means allowing myself creative outlets and taking a step toward being a full-time healer & teacher. If for work, we do something we really love, then it is not really work for us. Therefore, we put in the extra effort it takes. We become naturally successful at what we enjoy doing. We excel at what we love. And when we excel, people take notice. How can we expect to do well at something we dislike doing? How long can YOU fake it for?

I understand FULLY what it means to have to provide financially for yourself without any real form of a safety net. I know what it means to be responsible and that my thoughts may come across as idealistic and not very realistic. And I do realize that I may still need to take another job in fashion before I can fully support myself doing something else. I just want to get to the point where I am doing something because I love to do it. I refuse to waste my life being unhappy or settling because I thought I couldn't do any better.

My new motto:

1. Focus on what you love

2. Do the best you can

3. Let go of the outcome

And because I can't end this posting without cracking a joke...

4. Don't try to imitate that college dance performance video you showed to Mike. Like when he said, "Can you still do that?" And I said, "Sure..." and gave myself a charley horse.

Stressed? They're not.

For the next 3 minutes and 22 seconds, imagine your life to be free of any stress...your heart sings...your mind rests...you are one with the Universe...with the doggies...swimming laps...Ommmmmmm.........

We have so much to learn from animals. To just BE IN THE MOMENT. Think they are worried about paying the bills? About the size of their rearend? Whether or not they will meet their deadline at work?

I don't think so.




(ps: My apologies in advance for whatever videos pop up when the dog video is finished. It is random so I have no idea what you may see. Thought the dog video was worth it. Besides, face it, it is pretty funny watching dogs swim.)

In the Beginning...

So, where the heck did this name come from..."there's a bug in my lotus?" I am sure you are wondering. If not, I'll tell you anyway.

Last October, I went to Ireland on one of many trips to see my spiritual teacher (Derek O'Neill) for a week-long workshop. During the week, we ventured out into the Irish countryside to visit various sacred sites. One of these was Powerscourt. Powerscourt, located in the Wicklow mountains, has some of the most beautiful gardens you have ever seen. While there I used my new digital camera to snap some amazing photos. One of the pictures was of a lily pad in a small pond.

After the day at Powerscourt, I got on the bus to go back to Dublin, and was showing my pictures to some friends. People loved my 'great little camera' and I was proudly showing off the zoom capabilities. On one of my favorite photos, I zoomed in to show the details of the center of this flower (the one posted here on the blog.) Upon seeing what my naked eye had missed, blurted out, "there's a bug in my lotus!"

Typical. Just typical. "Isn't that just the story of my life?" I said to my friend Cindy Sonam, who was laughing at my realization. "You're really funny, you know that?" she asks. I know...and I don't say that in an egotistical way. But if I had a dollar for every person who has asked me if I have considered being a stand-up comedian, not only could I retire by now, but I could have quite the set-up in Bella Vista, Arkansas. Or some other random place like that. I confess to Cindy that I am thinking of writing a book. A book about my spiritual journey. "People are so SERIOUS about their spiritual journey. And it's such a joke. Not the journey part, but how serious people get." "You should write a book. It would be great." "Thanks, Cindy. Maybe I will."

Fast forward to July 2007...

If you haven't yet figured it out, God has a sense of humor. I can say this with ABSOLUTE certainty. And I am going to prove it.

Last week I was Divinely Inspired to build my own website. I was prepared to hire a website designer, but since money is tight, I have been pushing it to the back burner. DESIGN YOUR OWN was the message I got, and looking into it, realized that I could do it quite easily and for little cost. So I did it. Then I got thinking about wanting to teach more. And decided that I was going to put out a newsletter full of teachings and distribute this freely. But how was I going to do this? How would I get people to sign up? How would people find me?

And here's where the God humor comes in.

Yesterday morning I am in the bathroom (on the toilet, no less) and that Divine Inspiration comes to me again. This time I am told to START A BLOG. A blog?! That's brilliant! Why didn't I think of that? So, does God decide to give me this flash of insight while I am meditating? With candles and incense burning? With soft music in my ears and my mantra on my lips? Noooooooooo. Apparently, God likes to speak to me while I am on the can.

You know, I got the inspiration for Oil 'n Vinegar (my line of essential oil blends) while I was in the bathtub. Hmmm. Maybe, I'll start giving workshops in my bathroom. Apparently the reception is pretty good in there.

So this is how "there's a bug in my lotus" came to be. And as my friend Ann Hueslkamp pointed out so loving last night, this is not to be confused with that OTHER blog, "there's a bug up my ass."

Just Call Me Grace

Oh, if coffee pots and mugs could indeed walk. If you asked me about this 3 weeks ago, I would have sworn that they could.

And did.

Let me preface this story by stating very matter-of-factly that I am not a morning person. Make no qualms about it, there is nothing chipper about yours truly in the birth of a new day. And on weekends, both friends and family know not to even call before 11 or 12:00. However, with a good cup of coffee to start me off, I am much more tolerable.

And so started a random Saturday morning about 3 weeks back. I woke up and shortly thereafter made my way to the glass and plastic divine incarnation known as the coffeemaker. My boss had recently returned from a trip to Italy, and brought me back my favorite coffee from Rome. (In fact, the only time I ever get this coffee is when my boss goes to Rome, since I have not yet found an importer here in New York.) So I made my delicious coffee and rested on the couch.

Five minutes or so had passed when I decided to interrupt the coffee-making and sneak a cup before the whole pot was brewed. I walked into the kitchen and lo and behold, there was my coffee pot sitting next to the coffeemaker. “Thank God that the coffeemaker has a stop-drip feature,” I thought, knowing that my little machine would be crossing her proverbial legs while 10 cups of Rome’s finest brew rushed through her veins. But alas, my little coffeemaker couldn’t hold it and had quite an accident on my kitchen counter. And not just any accident. My counter was soaked. The placemat under the coffeemaker barely did any good. There was hot coffee under my cell phone holder, under the espresso machine, under the toaster. Everywhere. After a few expletives and half the roll of paper towels, the mess was sopped up. I realized that in my quick response I had managed to save one precious cup of joe.

I poured my coffee and used the last of my half & half for my cup. “At least I have one cup,” I thought to myself and settled back down on the couch to my breakfast. I started to eat my blueberry muffin, and with my muffin laden fingers, reached for my coffee. Before I knew what was happening, my coffee cup slid out of my grip and spilled all over the living room coffee table. And a coffee table it was. Coffee on the bills to be paid, coffee under the flowers, coffee staining my books and even coffee on poor Oprah’s face on the cover of her newest magazine. “C’mon!” I yelled to no one in particular. So again I started the cleanup process, using the balance of paper towels left on the roll. A mouthful of coffee was all that remained and I gingerly set the cup upright again on the table. As I was Windexing the mess left behind, I hit a stack of books, which hit the cup. The cup did a perfect triple pike dismount and landed spilling my morning dreams on the carpet. At this point, I started laughing out loud.

“It’s not easy being me,” a phrase that I said jokingly time and time again now proved itself to be true. I shook my head and realized my lesson. Pay attention, Linda. Be aware of what you are doing. Be present. Be in your body. See what is happening around you.

Many times in life when the going gets tough, I get going…to a spiritual plane that is. I frequently zone out to some other dimension and am just fine operating from that standpoint. Escapism? Perhaps. But I like to think that I am more at home somewhere “up there” than I am right here, right now. Eckhart Tolle talks about “Mind Strategies for Avoiding the Now” in his book The Power of Now. He suggests, “Wherever you are, be there totally.”

Smart.

I now realize that I did not come to this earth to escape it. I came to experience it. Every beautiful, ugly and coffee-filled part of it. And it was something the Universe was reminding me of.

Lesson learned, I called my mother to share my insight. She suggested that maybe the real lesson was that I shouldn’t be drinking coffee.

Now, now. Let’s not get crazy.