GETTING BACK IN TOUCH

     It was wonderful to visit with my dear friends, David and Karen Hendley, last weekend, and to have David play a couple of his songs in the Circle. In addition to being a talented singer/songwriter and nationally-respected ceramic artist, David was my best friend at Trinity University in the early 1970's. We went our separate ways after graduation; in short order, he moved to California, earned his MFA, became a professional potter and built an amazing homestead and studio on 74 acres of forest land, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Meanwhile, I drifted around, following my musical inclinations to London, New York and San Francisco, before settling back in San Antonio and co-founding Celebration Circle.

 

LOSING TOUCH

     We completely lost touch with each other for over 20 years, but reconnected instantly when we met again by happenstance at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 2002, as if it had been just a few weeks instead of two decades. While we still don't see each other as much as I'd like, time and distance don't seem to matter that much in our friendship. Although it's usually a year or so between visits, each time we get together, the conversation just picks up right where we left off.

     As usual, last weekend's re-union felt all too brief, although we did have time for a couple of meals and some heart-to-heart talks. One of the things I treasure most about our relationship is the long pauses that often arise in our conversations.  Neither of us has a need to fill the void with social niceties; we simply allow silence to resonate in the space between us until the next topic emerges at its own pace.  Our many years of friendship have taught us to trust the silence, to know that something of real interest will arise in the gap between our words, if we will just give it time.

 

FEELING TOUCHED

     I mention this aspect of my relationship with David as a metaphor for the similar presence of silence and willingness to trust that I am cultivating in my relationship with Spirit.  At the risk of over-simplification, I believe the process of spiritual growth requires me to turn inward, enter the sacred silence and trust the profound sense of mystery I encounter there.  Not just once or twice, but continually, time and again, day after day. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes not -- as was the case with the story of my thumb and surgery, which I discussed in last week's newsletter.

 

STAYING IN TOUCH

     This week has brought a different set of choices and challenges; but my underlying story remains the same. I'm so grateful for my deeply personal relationship with this impersonal and infinitely mysterious Source that is beyond naming or explaining, but remains unfailingly Present. However often I may forget, I have an abiding faith that I will always be led to the next right step, and that the perfect person, place or thing will always emerge, as long as I can resist the urge to make it happen "my way" or according to my time line. At least, that's my story, and I'm glad to be sharing it with you.

With gratitude and blessings,

     Rudi Harst

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

ALL SHALL BE WELL

     My left thumb started hurting a couple of years ago, shortly before the car wreck Zet and I experienced. Because we both had more painful and pressing injuries to deal with after the wreck, I delayed taking action on the hand, until the pain increased to the point where the thumb locked up and became immobilized. An orthopedic hand specialist diagnosed it as Trigger Finger, a common occupational hazard for long-time musicians, massage therapists and others who use their hands extensively. Repetitive use can cause the main tendon that runs through the affected finger to develop a knot, which then can't slide through the protective sheath surrounding the tendon, eventually causing the finger to lock in place.

 

CONSIDERING SURGERY

     The doctor recommended a surgical procedure which is fairly common, involving an incision at the base of the thumb, and has 96% average success rate. However, in about 3% of the cases, the surgery doesn't help; and less than 1% of the time, the situation gets worse, with some patients suffering permanent nerve damage and/or stiffness in the finger. Sounded dangerous to me.

     I'm fairly risk-aversive by nature, and generally avoid allopathic medicine by habit, so I decided against the surgery, consulted other experts, tried dietary changes and experimented with finger exercises to no avail, before finally electing to have a steroid injection. That effectively reduced the pain for several months, but eventually it returned, just as the doctor had predicted it. He recommended surgery once again, saying he'd performed this identical procedure several thousand times over the years, without failure, and that I'd almost certainly be playing guitar without pain within a couple of weeks.

 

CHOOSING TO FOCUS

     Still, I delayed taking action, not wanting to risk being one of the rare patients whose condition worsens after surgery. But after a couple more months of pain, I finally realized how silly it was to keep worrying about the 1% chance of failure, versus the 96% chance of success. Instead, why not focus on my Soul Purpose, which is "to experience, explore and express the free flow of Spirit moving through me" and which DEFINITELY includes my love of playing guitar. Why not concentrate on trusting the Holy Mystery, rather than on my trust in a surgeon - or lack thereof.

 

FEELING THE DIFFERENCE

     That's how I wound up at the TSAOG outpatient clinic yesterday morning, where I received excellent service and compassionate care, resulting in a relatively painless operation that literally took ten minutes from incision to finish. I went home with my hand heavily bandaged and a prescription for a narcotic painkiller which proved to be completely unnecessary. Instead I took a 1M dose of homeopathic Arnica and one Acetaminophen, applied an ice pack and some essential oils, then enjoyed a good night's sleep. I awoke feeling well-rested and pleasantly surprised by how good my hand felt, all things considered. I didn't need any additional Acetaminophen, and was even able to play a few chords on the guitar, albeit gingerly. Yes!

 

AFFIRMING MY FAITH

     In the aftermath of all that, I feel humbled once again by how easy it was to let myself be run by my fears and resistance to change. And how simple it was to make a new choice to focus on faith instead, with a willingness to trust in the ever-evolving mystery of life unfolding within and around me. That's why I'm taking this opportunity to tell you my story, and affirm that all is well, and all shall be well - today, tomorrow and always. For this awareness -- and yet another opportunity to remember -- I give thanks.

With gratitude and blessings,

     Rudi Harst

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

Robert Crazy Horse Moreno

Robert Crazy Horse Moreno, 

 beloved brother in Spirit, passed from the physical plane early Monday morning, January 28th, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was healthy and full of life until two weeks ago, when he contracted a viral lung infection from which he did not recover. Crazy Horse was a steadfast member of the Celebration Circle community for almost twenty years, always grounding the energy of our gatherings with his clear, calm and loving presence. A respected Apache elder and chief, he was a very humble, kind and generous man, who will be greatly missed.

His family has invited all members of the Celebration Circle to attend a memorial service for Crazy Horse  this Saturday,

February 2, at 1:30pm 

 at Castillo Mission Funeral Home, 520 N. General McMullen, San Antonio  78218  

Visitation also from Noon - 6:00pm.

Interment will be at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at a later date.

ADVANCING THE DREAM

     As Spiritual Director of the Circle, I am very proud that for the sixth year in a row, Celebration Circle is helping host DREAMWEEK San Antonio, a city-wide series of events and actions that advance the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by proliferating and modernizing his aspirations of a more equitable and enlightened society for all. It's a privilege to support this free exchange of ideas on issues of tolerance, equality and diversity, knowing that our spiritual community is helping foster the consciousness of Oneness, Equality and Compassion in the world.

     I really hope you can join us this Sunday morning as we celebrate our Oneness - and possibly attend one or more of the 1,000+ events being throughout the city now through January 26th.  Together we are truly helping to "keep the Dream alive" - and thriving. For more information about DREAMWEEK San Antonio, click here.

With blessings, 

Rudi Harst

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

CULTIVATING PEACE

Once upon a time, long ago and faraway, or perhaps it was a time not that long ago, in a place much closer than you might imagine... a sage was listening to a young man complain about a neighbor who was making life difficult for him. "What can I do?" asked the man.

 

Pointing to her own shoes, the sage answered, "If you want to keep from getting thorns in your feet as you walk, you have two choices. Either you can cover the whole world with leather, or you can put leather on the soles of your feet by wearing shoes. Both methods would work, but which is the more practical?"

 

"Wearing shoes, of course," came the answer.  "In  the same way," continued the sage, "we tend to think we can achieve happiness by the controlling the outer circumstances of our lives, such as other people's behavior. But, the more we attempt to achieve happiness by controlling the people and things around us, the more we encounter frustration, fear and disappointment. Far better to work on transforming your own mind and cultivating patience and equanimity."

 

May the stories, songs, silences, prayers and ritual space we share together in Celebration Circle serve us in remembering the truth of our Oneness with all that is, and support us in cultivating inner peace and equanimity in our daily lives.

With blessings, 

     Rudi Harst

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

SETTING SACRED INTENTIONS

      One Sunday morning late in December last year, a friend approached me after the morning Circle with a big smile on his face and said "the best Christmas present I got this year was the New Year's Letter of Intention I wrote to myself in the Circle last January." And then, just a few minutes later, a different person approached and used exactly the same words to describe her letter as being the "best Christmas present" she'd received as well!  Both of them said they're looking forward to taking part in our annual guided meditation letter writing process again this year.

 

EXPRESSING NEW POSSIBILITIES

     That goes for me, too! Writing and reading my Sacred Intentions has always been one of my favorite Circle activities. That's why I really hope you'll be there with us in this Sunday's Circle, and take part in our process of forming Sacred Intentions collectively for the coming year. Of course, it's something you could do at home alone, too. But it's just not the same as being part of a large group of people who are aligned in consciousness, truly feeling our Oneness with our deepest Self and our Source while supporting ourselves and each other in tapping into the Field of Unlimited Possibilities.

 

FEELING OUR CO-CREATIVE POWER

    Whether you're physically present in the room with us, or participate via our Facebook Livestream video, your co-creative energy would be most welcome and helpful. It just wouldn't be the same without you. In any case, I trust your New Year is off to a great start, with much more goodness headed your way in the days and year(s) to come.

 

With blessings, 

     Rudi Harst

     Speaking of starting the New Year on a powerful, positive note, I'm delighted to report that the Circle has met and exceeded our Year-End Fundraising Campaign goal of $20,000!! We have received $21,513.67 to date, which means we've more than made up for the lost income from our postponed Altar Show, and have started 2019 with abundance. THANK YOU to all who have donated and made this happen with your prayerful thoughts, creative fundraising ideas, and generous donations! Please continue to hold abundance for the Celebration Circle in your heart as we work to restore our Circle savings account. And if you would like to help us do so, you can make a one time or a recurring donation by clicking the donate button below. 

With abundant blessings for you,

    Zet Bear

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.

RELEASING THE OLD, EMBRACING THE NEW

"Angel of Fire" by Dirk Magdahl 

     As the old year draws to a close, may you release all that no longer serves you, letting it burn in the Sacred Flame. And as the New Year unfolds within a field of Infinite Possibilities, may you, may we and All Beings be blessed by your willingness to be Present, Prospered and Peaceful.

     With best wishes for a Healthy, Happy and Harmonious New Year,

     Rudi Harst

MARVELOUS NEWS

     If you've been reading, you know that we kicked off our Year End Campaign at the end of November with a goal of raising $20,000 by December 31. So far 62 donors have helped us raise $18,025.67. THANK YOU to all who have donated and THANK YOU to those that will. Please continue to hold abundance for the Celebration Circle in your heart. And if you would like to help us reach our goal you can make a one time or a recurring donation by clicking here. We only have $1,974.33 left. Can you help us get there? Every amount makes a difference! We can do this together because We Are One!

With gratitude for the gift that YOU are,

     Zet Baer

THANK YOU for holding the Circle in your heart by visualizing a generous flow of financial abundance. Thank you for supporting us as we continue our work of fostering a creative, inclusive approach to spirituality. We are deeply grateful.