It is funny that one little word can cause so much controversy. I begin chapter one in my book explaining why I have to use the word God, and go on to describe my take on God in the context of the book. If you have not read the book, the reason I have to include God in the discussion is because the etymology for the word health implies the need to be ‘at one with the sacred and the holiness of life’. Conveniently we have come up with a word that embraces that and that word is God. Unfortunately, so much pain has been inflicted on humanity in the name of God that just hearing the word causes some people to become emotionally triggered. So much so, they are extremely resistant to participating in anything that involves God.
Even to this very day, much pain and suffering is being inflicted throughout the world in the name of God, but I would argue that equally, there are some absolutely amazing and wonderful things throughout the world also being accomplished in the name of God. Unfortunately, emotional scars are not easy to erase, and even in our relatively peaceful Australia, which is predominately Christian, there are too many people carrying the pain of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, all at the hands of what were thought to be God’s appointed representatives.
Part of the objective of this book is to expand people’s ideas about the nature of God and identify ways that would allow them to embrace a new expression of being in relationship with God. This is important, because the model of healing promoted by the book requires us to experience divine relationship to be healed. Dissatisfaction with the Christian God has seen many people turn towards Eastern religions. It seems that there is safety in a non-Christian God. Revealing the primitive teachings of Jesus, that is, the teachings of Jesus before they became distorted by the early Christians, is a key objective on the book. In doing so, a new idea of God emerges, which embraces both masculine and feminine elements, and particularly gives greater emphasis to the divine feminine. If you can reinvent you idea about God, you will find that deep mystery is fundamental to the teachings of the primitive Jesus, and a new face of God emerges which looks nothing like the one painted by contemporary Christianity.
A recent reader of my book had this to say …”I read your book over the Christmas break and it has opened a whole new world to me. I guess that I had developed an interest in Eastern spirituality partly due to my ignorance of and frustration at the way Christianity had been delivered to me in my youth. However reading your book is fascinating as I think it made me realise that there is so much that is ingrained in our cultural upbringing that is related to Christianity and that while we try and understand the eastern approaches to higher levels of understanding, there is often something missing and I think that could be the cultural context of our upbringing.”
You would be doing yourself a disservice if you refused to read my book because it was, in part, about God.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
A Graceful Instant
In the last paragraph of the Preface of my book Metanoia, Renovating the House of Your Spirit, I write about grace.
When wealth, power and acclaim are our priorities, life-style diseases naturally occur. When the things we treasure most are transformed to peace, joy and justice, then health and wellbeing are natural consequences. To be able to convert our priorities from the former to the latter requires us to rise above ignorance, avoidance and attachments, three states of consciousness that the Buddha called the Three Poisons. This conversion is not easy, since it goes against cultural convention. Who are you without wealth, power and acclaim in this world? People who dare to walk to the beat of a different drum have been called perculiar and are often ostracised for their choices.
To sustain our commitment to transform requires hope, given the inate challenges of any change compunded by the judgements of others. The experience of hope naturally arises from grace. In my personal experience, when I have made the decision to be committed to this conversion, and having demonstrated my commitment (faith) through adopting a willingness to listen and seek understanding, I have been blessed with a graceful moment, resulting in hope. In Chapter 14 I describe my experience of this graceful moment.
This book describes a process of transformation which enables anyone to live in grace constantly. This conversion or transformation process is what the ancient Greeks called Metanoia.
Grace is a constant that we either resonate with or not. When we resonate with grace our mantra for living includes joy, peace and justice. When we do not, our priorities revolve around possessions, power, and popularity. This book describes the sacred journey that can bring all of us into the experience of grace that in turn, transforms our priority for accumulating possessions into a priority for accruing joyful moments. It transforms our drive for power into a consuming desire for stillness and peace and our need for acclaim into anonymous actions of justice and mercy.
When wealth, power and acclaim are our priorities, life-style diseases naturally occur. When the things we treasure most are transformed to peace, joy and justice, then health and wellbeing are natural consequences. To be able to convert our priorities from the former to the latter requires us to rise above ignorance, avoidance and attachments, three states of consciousness that the Buddha called the Three Poisons. This conversion is not easy, since it goes against cultural convention. Who are you without wealth, power and acclaim in this world? People who dare to walk to the beat of a different drum have been called perculiar and are often ostracised for their choices.
To sustain our commitment to transform requires hope, given the inate challenges of any change compunded by the judgements of others. The experience of hope naturally arises from grace. In my personal experience, when I have made the decision to be committed to this conversion, and having demonstrated my commitment (faith) through adopting a willingness to listen and seek understanding, I have been blessed with a graceful moment, resulting in hope. In Chapter 14 I describe my experience of this graceful moment.
The most blissful peace envelops his body as if he (I) has been carried to an oasis of grace in a desert of fear. For an instant that seems to fill the universe, the Fool (me in this case) knows he is safe, as if cradled in the arms of a loving mother. The Fools feels comforted in his despair and maybe for the first time in his life he hears words that cannot be heard with ears. ‘Peace, be still’ courses through every fibre of his being, the sound of which resonates with every cell of his body, causing the Fool to be consumed with tranquillity.
***
The Fool now remembers his birthright and for a moment knows that the things that were once so important to him have no worth, since nothing could be a precious as what he is feeling now.
This book describes a process of transformation which enables anyone to live in grace constantly. This conversion or transformation process is what the ancient Greeks called Metanoia.
Monday, January 18, 2010
A New Model of Health
In the Introduction of Metanoia I propose a new defenition of health.
Can you imagine a consultation with your health practitioner (HP) that went like this?
HP: So Russell, your health's not too good. As you know, in the new model of health and wellbeing, health is a manifestation of being in harmony with the Divine. What of your consciousness or awareness demonstrates the nature or quality of your relationship with those things that are sacred and holy? Since the Divine can only be experienced in this instant, what percentage of your day would be spent being in the here/now? How often throughout your day do you hold a prayer of gratitude in your consciousness? In what way do you maintain a regular sabbatical practice?
HP: A significant part of Divinty is the Divine Feminine, which has profound association with Mother Earth, mothers and women, both individually and collectively. In what way does your life demonstrate respect for Mother Earth? In what ways are you minimising your carbon footprint? What are you doing to actively demonstrate your honouring of motherhood? Do you avoid those expressions that belittle the intrinsic worth of women? Sexism? Pornography? Since all human life comes from a mother's womb, in what ways do you show respect for all human life? In what ways do you fail? How are you demeaning to others?
HP: Reflecting over your last week, what were three random acts of kindness that you performed? How do you regularly participate in meaniful service? How would you know if your involvement in these acts of service were a natural expression of your love of your fellow man, or a way to obtain your fix of validation?
HP: In what way do you honour your body, the temple of your spirit? How would you know that you were conscious of the food you select, prepare and partake of? Does the food you eat regularly have you offer the food mantra - YUM? In what ways does your body and mind get adequate rest and relaxation?
How often do you meditate? Describe your exercise routine? How do you know that you are not addicted to exercise?
HP: How do you honour your mind? How often do you read uplifting literature? What do you do to stay mentally active? Do you fill your mind with images of violence and horror? Do you manage the activities of your mind or does it control you? How much TV do you watch?
HP: In what does your lifestyle provide you with soulful experiences? When does your heart sing? When do you experience bliss? Are your relationships filled with joy? What role does intimacy play in your life?
As you can imagine, this would be no ordinary consutation, and equally, the remedy would be no ordinary medication. This concept is in no way designed to eliminate the wonderful work already performed by doctors and allied health practitioners, however, it would be the focus of a health consultation. If these were the sorts of issue that were responsible for creating sustainable wellness, it is easy (in this model) to understand why we have so much sickness and disease throughout the world.
In my book Metanioa is propose that the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount was the remedy that he presented, which was capable of creating lasting health and wellness. Stay posted as I continue to present more blogs on Metanoia, Renovating the House of Your Spirit.
Health is physical and emotional wellbeing sustained by a sense of individual worth, which is a natural expression of being in relationship with the Divine, the holy and sacred.
The evidence of healing would be voluntary self-loving behaviour, honouring body, mind and spirit, as well as loving others through both random acts of kindness and purposeful service. It would also honour the feminine and reverence Mother Earth through sustainable living, with an acknoledgement of God through a constant prayer of gratitude.Conversely, disease is the consequence of becoming seperated from the Divine through having one's sense of individual worth defined by power, possessions or acclaim. Evidence of being in a state of disease, besides the obvious physical and emotional symptoms of sickness, would include ego-centric conduct accentuated by addictions and/or avoidance behaviours. It would also include a disregard for Mother Earth, disrespect for the sanctity of motherhood and women, and a token acknowledgement of God.
Can you imagine a consultation with your health practitioner (HP) that went like this?
HP: So Russell, your health's not too good. As you know, in the new model of health and wellbeing, health is a manifestation of being in harmony with the Divine. What of your consciousness or awareness demonstrates the nature or quality of your relationship with those things that are sacred and holy? Since the Divine can only be experienced in this instant, what percentage of your day would be spent being in the here/now? How often throughout your day do you hold a prayer of gratitude in your consciousness? In what way do you maintain a regular sabbatical practice?
HP: A significant part of Divinty is the Divine Feminine, which has profound association with Mother Earth, mothers and women, both individually and collectively. In what way does your life demonstrate respect for Mother Earth? In what ways are you minimising your carbon footprint? What are you doing to actively demonstrate your honouring of motherhood? Do you avoid those expressions that belittle the intrinsic worth of women? Sexism? Pornography? Since all human life comes from a mother's womb, in what ways do you show respect for all human life? In what ways do you fail? How are you demeaning to others?
HP: Reflecting over your last week, what were three random acts of kindness that you performed? How do you regularly participate in meaniful service? How would you know if your involvement in these acts of service were a natural expression of your love of your fellow man, or a way to obtain your fix of validation?
HP: In what way do you honour your body, the temple of your spirit? How would you know that you were conscious of the food you select, prepare and partake of? Does the food you eat regularly have you offer the food mantra - YUM? In what ways does your body and mind get adequate rest and relaxation?
How often do you meditate? Describe your exercise routine? How do you know that you are not addicted to exercise?
HP: How do you honour your mind? How often do you read uplifting literature? What do you do to stay mentally active? Do you fill your mind with images of violence and horror? Do you manage the activities of your mind or does it control you? How much TV do you watch?
HP: In what does your lifestyle provide you with soulful experiences? When does your heart sing? When do you experience bliss? Are your relationships filled with joy? What role does intimacy play in your life?
As you can imagine, this would be no ordinary consutation, and equally, the remedy would be no ordinary medication. This concept is in no way designed to eliminate the wonderful work already performed by doctors and allied health practitioners, however, it would be the focus of a health consultation. If these were the sorts of issue that were responsible for creating sustainable wellness, it is easy (in this model) to understand why we have so much sickness and disease throughout the world.
In my book Metanioa is propose that the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount was the remedy that he presented, which was capable of creating lasting health and wellness. Stay posted as I continue to present more blogs on Metanoia, Renovating the House of Your Spirit.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The Italian Experience
Hi,
In the Preface of my book, Metanioa, Renovating the House of Your Spirit, I relate a little of my experience while living in Italy. I chose Italy more from inspiration than design. Having decided that was where I wanted to go 'providence moved too', and I was led to Walter and Larissa Vecchio from Brisbane. Walter and Larissa own and rent out their apartment in Monte San Biagio, Latina Italy.
This is the village of Monte San Biagio.
Our apartment is just to the left of the church.
Entrance to our second floor apartment in Monte San Biagio.
Where the first draft of the book was written, on a makeshift desk.
In the Preface of my book, Metanioa, Renovating the House of Your Spirit, I relate a little of my experience while living in Italy. I chose Italy more from inspiration than design. Having decided that was where I wanted to go 'providence moved too', and I was led to Walter and Larissa Vecchio from Brisbane. Walter and Larissa own and rent out their apartment in Monte San Biagio, Latina Italy.
Monte San Biagio a 'castello' village that was situated on the historical border between the Papal state and the Spanish territories, being in the latter. My partner, Anna Schaumkel and I lived in the village for just over 8 months, during which time we developed special friendships and became completely immersed in the food, language and culture. The people, because of their generosity and hospitality, made the whole experience as fantastic as it was. We lived in a small two-bedroom apartment that included all of the creature comforts of home, a toilet, shower, kitchen etc. It may strange that I make particular reference to that, but in some parts of the country any of those features could be missing.
I was totally committed to completing the first draft of the book while living there. The whole reason for being there was to be removed from my comfort zone and conditioned life so as to be more awake and present while I was writing. Each day I would arise at about 6am and would write until 3ish, only stopping for breakfast and lunch. I never had writers block and mostly was disappointed when I had to stop each day. Generally I wrote 6 days a week, but on rare occassions we would take a 'tiki tour' of our region on our 250 Honda Scooter, taking two or three days off. As Monte San Biagio was on the train line between Rome and Naples, for 12 euro round trip and only an hours travel time, we often travelled to both destinations taking in as much history and culture as time and financial constraints would allow.
In the book I make reference to a trip that we made to Monte Cassino. Walter Vecchio came from Cassino and told me that at the monastry, some of the church services incorporated Gregorian Chanting. I couldn't get there fast enough! But, I got more than I bargained for. I describe in the book an experience of familiarity and emotional connection to both the venue and the experience that defies logic. Tears streamed down my face as I sat in the bascillica listening to the chanting. I felt like I had come home, or returned to a place or an experience that was profundly familiar. It was during this moment of awareness that I 'heard' a voice that explained how I had returned to compete something started previously and never finished, and this was my time to complete it. Being in the first two weeks of our experience in Italy, it became the fuel that sustained my focus during the three years that it took me to complete the writing of the book.
As I read back over what I've published, I sometimes wonder where the words came from. It's as if they came through me and not from me, because I read the words and find it hard to imagine that I had the ability to come up with what was there. Even the referencing, I know I have been a student of the scriptures for many years, but I look at some of the scriptural references and wonder how I found them, especially when they aren't particularly familiar. Historical references made their way to my drafts, presenting themselves to my awareness for the very first time, and being just perfect for what I was writing at the time.
As Anna and I travelled, we came across many historical artifacts and art that completely aligned with the things I was writing about. As I continue with my book blog, I will add in some of the photos and stories of my Italian experience that align with what was being written in the book.
When I arrived in Italy, I felt like I had come home, and as far as I know, and our family tree has been researched back several hundred years, there isn't a drop of Italian blood in the family line. I look forward to the time that I can return back to Monte San Biagio and Italy.
This is the view from the balcony of the second cloister at the Abbey of Monte Cassino.
In the book I make reference to a trip that we made to Monte Cassino. Walter Vecchio came from Cassino and told me that at the monastry, some of the church services incorporated Gregorian Chanting. I couldn't get there fast enough! But, I got more than I bargained for. I describe in the book an experience of familiarity and emotional connection to both the venue and the experience that defies logic. Tears streamed down my face as I sat in the bascillica listening to the chanting. I felt like I had come home, or returned to a place or an experience that was profundly familiar. It was during this moment of awareness that I 'heard' a voice that explained how I had returned to compete something started previously and never finished, and this was my time to complete it. Being in the first two weeks of our experience in Italy, it became the fuel that sustained my focus during the three years that it took me to complete the writing of the book.
As I read back over what I've published, I sometimes wonder where the words came from. It's as if they came through me and not from me, because I read the words and find it hard to imagine that I had the ability to come up with what was there. Even the referencing, I know I have been a student of the scriptures for many years, but I look at some of the scriptural references and wonder how I found them, especially when they aren't particularly familiar. Historical references made their way to my drafts, presenting themselves to my awareness for the very first time, and being just perfect for what I was writing at the time.
As Anna and I travelled, we came across many historical artifacts and art that completely aligned with the things I was writing about. As I continue with my book blog, I will add in some of the photos and stories of my Italian experience that align with what was being written in the book.
When I arrived in Italy, I felt like I had come home, and as far as I know, and our family tree has been researched back several hundred years, there isn't a drop of Italian blood in the family line. I look forward to the time that I can return back to Monte San Biagio and Italy.
This is the view from the balcony of the second cloister at the Abbey of Monte Cassino.
This is the village of Monte San Biagio.
Our apartment is just to the left of the church.
Entrance to our second floor apartment in Monte San Biagio.
Where the first draft of the book was written, on a makeshift desk.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Introduction
In November 2006 I relocated from Brisbane, Australia to Monte San Biagio, Italy for the express purpose of writing a book. In August 2007 I completed the first draft and returned home to complete several edited drafts of the same book. In July 2009 I self-published my first book, Metanoia, renovating the house of your spirit. This blog will be an ongoing discussion on some of the key issues raised throughout the book. I invite anyone interested in the issues discussed to participate in the dialogue. It is my wish that this become a forum for exploring profound practical spirituality.
Having been involved in the 'alternative healing' profession for over 30 years, both as a clinician and educator, it became obvious to me that both the 'medical' and 'natural' approaches to health were deficient, particularly when it came to 'life-style' diseases. Sure there was much that they were doing to treat the disease conditions, but in terms of stemming the rapid spead of the disease, they have proven to be ineffectual.
In the introduction to the book, I propose a new paradigm of healing based on the etymology of the words health and disease. In summary, the word 'health' suggests being in a holy or sacred relationship. Disease also inferred a state of relationship, but a distanced or seperated state of relationship. I then suggest that if this meant that health was about spiritual relationship and that 'the Church' (and for the sake of this discussion the Christian Church) is the guardian of spiritual wellbeing in contempory Western society, then the epidemic of disease would also suggest that the Church is falling short in its objective.
This model of healing sits well outside of the 'norms' of conventional Western tradition. Firstly, it highly limits its association to comtempory healing modatities since it suggests that 'spirituality' is fundamental to the paradigm, and secondly, it implies a form of spirituality that is either absent or ignored by Christianity. Those arguments alone will be sufficent to marginalise this book, although I would also suspect that talking about God and strongly referencing the Tarot might also extend the margin.
Having said all of that, and assuming that you are still reading, what I present in this book requires the reader to be patient while I completely paint on all of the 'canvas'. What I reveal in Metanoia is new contempory thought. This model of healing is being presented, possibly for the first time in over 500 years. I hope that you will join me as I discuss and explore in greater detail, knowledge and mysteries that reveal a sustainable remedy for health and wellbeing.
The blurb on the book cover reads...
With peace and awareness
Russell Sturgess
Having been involved in the 'alternative healing' profession for over 30 years, both as a clinician and educator, it became obvious to me that both the 'medical' and 'natural' approaches to health were deficient, particularly when it came to 'life-style' diseases. Sure there was much that they were doing to treat the disease conditions, but in terms of stemming the rapid spead of the disease, they have proven to be ineffectual.
In the introduction to the book, I propose a new paradigm of healing based on the etymology of the words health and disease. In summary, the word 'health' suggests being in a holy or sacred relationship. Disease also inferred a state of relationship, but a distanced or seperated state of relationship. I then suggest that if this meant that health was about spiritual relationship and that 'the Church' (and for the sake of this discussion the Christian Church) is the guardian of spiritual wellbeing in contempory Western society, then the epidemic of disease would also suggest that the Church is falling short in its objective.
This model of healing sits well outside of the 'norms' of conventional Western tradition. Firstly, it highly limits its association to comtempory healing modatities since it suggests that 'spirituality' is fundamental to the paradigm, and secondly, it implies a form of spirituality that is either absent or ignored by Christianity. Those arguments alone will be sufficent to marginalise this book, although I would also suspect that talking about God and strongly referencing the Tarot might also extend the margin.
Having said all of that, and assuming that you are still reading, what I present in this book requires the reader to be patient while I completely paint on all of the 'canvas'. What I reveal in Metanoia is new contempory thought. This model of healing is being presented, possibly for the first time in over 500 years. I hope that you will join me as I discuss and explore in greater detail, knowledge and mysteries that reveal a sustainable remedy for health and wellbeing.
The blurb on the book cover reads...
I look forward to hearing your comments.Drawing on his diverse knowldge of the Scriptures, the Marseille Tarot and Temple Culture, Russell weaves together a harmonious tapestry of ancient symbols, practices and teachings to reveal a sacred journey of healing. When applied personally, this spiritual map provides guidance towards achieving health and vitality, clarity of mind, reduced stress and a greater capcity for intimacy. In a broader context, the sacred knowledge revealed in Metanoia leads to a deeper reverence for Mother Earth and her environs, and a love of the Divine expressed through a contant prayer of gratitude. When practiced authentically, this formula can create sustainable personal and global healing.
With peace and awareness
Russell Sturgess
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