Tag Archives: self-development

by | October 16, 2023 · 3:44 pm

Why entire societies are in the stranglehold of fanaticism

In recent weeks, we have witnessed a troubling surge in violent conflicts, ranging from devastating civil wars in Africa to appalling human rights violations in the Middle East and Ukraine. In the face of such blatant disregard for the fundamental principles of humanity, we are compelled to reaffirm and fortify our own core values and principles.

The great Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung, often referred to the lack of self-awareness and understanding of one’s own dark demons as possibly the greatest threat to humanity.

Jung wrote, “that it is not famine, not earthquakes, not microbes, not cancer but man himself who is man’s greatest danger to man, for the simple reason that there is no adequate protection against psychic epidemics, which are infinitely more devastating than the worst of natural catastrophes.”

When mass madness takes entire societies into a stranglehold

There are several historical precedents where “mass madness” in the form of fanaticism gripped entire populations such as in Nazi Germany and in the witchhunts and inquisitions of the Middle Ages. Some villages in Europe literally had their entire female populations wiped out by the frenzy of “witch burning”.

Jung described the rise of fascism in Germany “as nothing less than [an] outbreak of epidemic insanity. . . No one knew what was happening to him, least of all of the Germans, who allowed themselves to be driven to the slaughterhouse by their leading psychopaths like hypnotized sheep. 

There is a thin veneer between civilized, decent behavior and the tipping point into the darkest shadows of human nature.

Radical fanaticism and the change in brain patterns

Radical fanaticism by definition is the unquestioning devotion to a particular belief, ideology, or cause. When a person becomes a radical fanatic, their behavior and thought patterns can significantly change, and these changes can also be reflected in brain activity:

  • Exposure to extremist ideologies and constant reinforcement of such beliefs can reshape neural pathways, strengthening connections related to those beliefs. This is especially the case when individuals are exposed to repeated propaganda or information silos, mentally blending out all alternative views or perspectives.
  • Fanaticism involves heightened emotions such as fear, anger, and a sense of righteousness. Such intense emotions shut off the prefrontal cortex responsible for logic and thought, activating instead the brain’s “animal” reptilian region responsible for fight or flight. You are literally in “automatic” mode and no longer in charge of your thoughts and behavior.
  • Radical fanatics generally exhibit confirmation bias, interpreting information in a way that confirms their existing beliefs, favoring their own group, and dehumanizing those outside their group and belief.
  • Being part of a radical group can trigger the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, creating a sense of reward and belonging, that reinforces the behavior and beliefs associated with the group.

The emergence of radical behavior and extremist ideologies in societies has historically been a gradual process, often taking decades to fully manifest. However, the advent of social media, particularly those lacking stringent checks and balances to curb fake news and disinformation, has injected a particularly potent accelerant into an already poisonous mix.

Standing guard at the gateway to the mind

Social media is providing the platform to dangerous individuals with psychopathic tendencies, malignant narcissism, and fanatical beliefs, allowing their toxic ideologies to spread far and wide at an alarming speed.

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In the face of the escalating peril posed by contemporary political narratives, it is imperative for us to act as vigilant guardians of the mind. We must exercise heightened caution, particularly regarding politicians and news outlets that propagate messages of hatred, division, anger, fear, and discontent in fanning the flames of grievance culture. These forces are driven by a sinister agenda and are actively seeking to manipulate you.

Genuine freedom and happiness spring from the bedrock of inner tranquility, gratitude, tolerance, and kindness. True self-love embraces inclusivity, recognizes the inherent worth of all individuals, and eschews exclusivity. In nurturing these qualities within you and in your community, you will be fortifying your mind against the corrosive influences of animosity and discord, fostering a more compassionate and harmonious world for all.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. I’m excited to announce the release of my latest book, “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living.” If you enjoy it, you might also be interested in my previous works, “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago.” You can find all of these titles at reputable bookstores near you.

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by | October 10, 2023 · 7:02 am

Is there a God?

When confronted with the question of belief in God, many people respond with discomfort, embarrassment, or confusion. The term “God” has become so heavily laden with emotions and misconceptions that even those who identify as “spiritual” or “religious” shy away from openly discussing the concept.

Navigating an authentic discussion about God, spirituality, and beliefs has become especially challenging in a world that is progressively secularized, marked by feelings of isolation, and a sense of disconnection.

As a child, I had a fixed image of “God”. I was told he was the father residing in heaven and imagined him to be an old man with a long flowing beard, like the Gandalf character in “Lord of the Rings”. Some churches and medieval paintings portray him as a stern figure in the sky who punished bad behavior.

Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com

Why does God allow evil and suffering?

Atheists therefore gain much traction when they deny the existence of a “God” based on empirical evidence and science. They would also argue that if there is a Creator, or an all-powerful, all-knowing “God,” why does he allow wars, natural calamities, and all the cruelties that humans commit on fellow humans?

“The world has gone crazy,” a man in my local post office lamented recently. He was having a bad day with “crazy” customers but he was not entirely wrong. Much of the dysfunctional and crazy behavior we observe on a daily basis can be attributed to a separation from the inner core or what the mysticists would call the “inner spark” where the soul resides.

In our modern world humanity has become alienated from the natural world. All things are seen predominantly through commercial eyes where nature is exploited, destroyed, and harvested. It is far removed from the animism belief structure of the ancient peoples who believed that everything in nature, including plants, animals, rocks, rivers, and other natural phenomena, possessed a spiritual essence or soul.

“God”, or the universal intelligence, the higher deity, expresses herself/himself in everything that we see around us. The Franciscan friar and author Richard Rohr defines God as a universal presence that permeates all things.

In experiential spirituality “God” can be directly experienced through contemplative practice and inner transformation by emphasizing love, compassion, and the interconnectedness of all life. The experience is beyond externally imposed conceptual thinking that tells the individual what to believe, and how to behave.

Meister Eckart, the 13th-century Dominican monk, and Mystic, spoke of the “inner spark” or the direct experience of God’s presence within the human soul.

Ultimately, the term “God” arises from humanity’s inherent desire to rationalize and conceptualize the ineffable, a concept that mystics assert is beyond the realms of both conceptualization and rational thought.

A deep personal spiritual experience defies linguistic expression, transcending the limitations of words and explanation. It is what Albert Einstein essentially defined as the “cosmic religion” of the future.

We have been given the power of choice

In some religions, evil is seen as part of the dualistic existence. Man has been given the power of free choice and the two opposing forces of good and evil are in constant struggle. Evil behavior can generally be described as actions with conscious intent to cause harm, destruction, and suffering to others. Murder, torture, genocide, and extreme forms of violence are universally condemned by most cultures and belief systems.

Evil occurs where there is complete separation from the “inner spark” or from the interconnected matrix of divine purpose. The presence of evil, according to some religions, also provides an opportunity for a greater purpose, such as the development of virtues such as love, courage, compassion, and resilience.

We are imperfect beings. In the acceptance and understanding of that dark side within, our inconsistencies, our shame, and failings we become empowered to make a shift in consciousness by choosing the light.
Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. I’m excited to announce the release of my latest book, “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living.” If you enjoy it, you might also be interested in my previous works, “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago.” You can find all of these titles at reputable bookstores near you.

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by | October 2, 2023 · 4:16 pm

Walking the earth with reverence

On one of my walks on the Camino de Santiago in northwestern Spain, I met a woman who was on the pilgrimage to deal with the grief of just having lost her husband to whom she had been happily married for many years.

Like her many people walking the Camino are at an inflection point in their life, walking off their grief from the loss of a loved one, the trauma of a divorce, or the fears of dealing with a life-threatening illness.

The shared community experience of doing an 800-kilometer walk over many weeks is one reason why some pilgrims come back every year to walk the entire route or some sections. There are few places in the world where complete strangers would exchange some of their most intimate experiences only minutes after meeting each other.

The sacred path

One morning, as we continued our journey, the woman I had been walking alongside for several days seemed unusually introspective. Eventually, she shared a vivid dream she had experienced the previous night.

In her dream, she found herself before the iconic burning bush, a scene drawn straight from the pages of the Bible’s Book of Exodus. In this powerful vision, God revealed Himself to her through the flames, just as he had to Moses centuries ago. But in her unique version of the story, a gentle voice emanated from the fiery foliage, urging her to tread the path ahead with reverence. The encounter left her awestruck, marking our journey with an undeniable sense of divine purpose.

The universe, or God, has many ways of whispering to your innermost soul, particularly in dreams. Treading the Camino path with reverence has led to a profound transformational shift in people who have walked this ancient path. It is a crash course in the lessons of life.

When traversing the earth with reverence, the senses awaken to the profound beauty of God’s creation. In the presence of mindfulness, enchantment permeates every moment. Conversely, when the mind is agitated and in haste, there is disconnection. Life’s wonders appear fleeting and superficial. A stressed mind remains trapped in the tunnel vision of flight, missing the intricate magic that weaves through existence.

The magic of the moment

Magic reveals itself in the tiniest of moments. Just a few days ago, I ventured into a rocky cove for some snorkeling. In the midst of the tranquil turquoise water, a pair of fish glided past, their scales aglow with a rainbow of colors, a mesmerizing effect created by the angle of sunlight filtering through the water’s surface.

It was a fleeting encounter, but within those brief seconds lay an astounding beauty. I would have entirely missed the moment had I not chosen to pause in stillness at one particular spot for a few precious minutes. In that space of quiet connection, the universe unfolded its secrets, reminding me that the most extraordinary experiences often come from the simplest acts of presence.

Serenity unfurls its wings in unhurried slow, deliberate breaths. It whispers through the silence of the mountains and echoes in the steady, gentle cadence of the waves.

Nature, in its eternal wisdom, guides you inward with each inhalation and exhalation, inviting you to rediscover the tranquility within. Amidst the clamor of the external world and the cacophony of maddening crowds, respite can be in the simplicity of aligning your breath with the rhythm of the natural world. Chaos fades, and solace is found in the gentle embrace of the universe.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. I’m excited to announce the release of my latest book, “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living.” If you enjoy it, you might also be interested in my previous works, “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago.” You can find all of these titles at reputable bookstores near you.

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by | September 26, 2023 · 6:17 am

Liberating the mind from attachment

Go into your own ground and learn to know yourself there. The outward man is the swinging door; the inner man is the still hinge – Meister Eckhart

Life is a rollercoaster of natural and spontaneous changes constantly forcing us to tread unknown paths. While some people may excitedly embrace a new beginning others retreat into fixed belief and ideology, providing the illusion of a safety cacoon in a world of “turmoil.”

But resistance to the natural flow of life and attachment to fixed thoughts, beliefs, and things is one of the greatest causes of human suffering and misery. Staying in the moment and finding peace in the acceptance of reality is thus at the core of the Taoist and Mystic teachings.

Throughout history, wise prophets have faced vilification and persecution for their courage in exposing the hypocrisy of religions based on firm behavior rules, fearlessly shedding light on the discrepancies and contradictions inherent in entrenched beliefs. They especially questioned the existence of an authoritarian Father God figure “out there in heaven” who, like a strict parent, would punish his children for bad behavior. All natural or personal calamities were attributed to punishment by God “for sinful behavior.”

Meister Eckhart, a 14th-century Dominican monk whose writings are more topical today than ever, had to answer charges of heresy before an Inquisition in 1326. He barely escaped a death sentence. His writings were banned. Other Mystics of the time like Giordano Bruno and Marguerite Poret were not so lucky. They were executed or burned at the stake.

Straying from religious doctrine and liberating the mind from externally imposed belief was a dangerous undertaking in the Middle Ages. In modern times political beliefs, sometimes using religion as a cover, tend to vilify opposing beliefs as a threat to justify all means in destroying the “enemy.”

Fanaticists of the political and religious nature see the world only in black and white. The belief becomes closely intertwined with the Ego mind and identity. A different or multi-layered interpretation is perceived as a direct threat to the self.

Words in ancient languages such as Aramaic, the lingua franca during the time of Jesus, allowed much room for individual interpretation. The word for God “Abwun” could mean “Our Father” but also the absolute, pure oneness, creation, source of all power and flow of blessing.

One of the most powerful messages in the Bible is found in the Gospel of John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. When replacing the “word” with “consciousness” the text is filled with a much broader meaning.

“In the beginning was Consciousness, and Consciousness was with God, and Consciousness was God”.

Eckart describes a process of spiritual transformation when the divine spark within transcends its individuality or Ego and enters into a state of divine consciousness.

It’s a moment of pure presence when the soul feels at One with something much greater than the self.

Aligning with divine consciousness is opening the heart to the universe and detaching from worldly attachments. It is beyond conceptualized thinking and complete immersion in a state of oneness.

“You should know that true detachment is nothing else but a mind that stands unmoved by all accidents of joy or sorrow, honor, shame or disgrace, as a mountain of lead stands unmoved by a breath of wind. This immovable detachment brings a man into the greatest likeness to God,” according to Eckart.

In a world feeding on the messaging of negativity, it becomes a challenge to train the mind to stay the course of positivity. We can easily be pulled into the abyss of grievance culture when emotions such as anger, anxiety, and fear can be triggered in millions of people by one message on social media.

Modern man has largely been disconnected from what can be described as the divine expression through nature of which he is an essential part. Places worshipped as sacred by ancient peoples have been conceptualized as things that could be harvested, exploited, and destroyed. The void is trying to be filled with the addiction to short-term gratifications: Accumulating more things, more food, more kinky sex, and more substance abuse.

Where is your passion?

Is it a surprise that depression has reached epidemic levels on a global level? But in the pain of suffering more and more people are searching for new meaning and purpose. Where do I come from and where am I going? What excites me and drives my passion? What elevates my consciousness and boosts my vibrational energy.

The author Michael Gladwell describes in his book “The Tipping Point” that it takes only a small number of people to initiate social change. We are currently experiencing both a global environmental and mental health crisis. History has proven that such crisis situations can galvanize people into action.

We are at the tipping point of realizing on a spiritual level that the crisis we are finding ourselves in has not been created by a punishing external father God figure for bad behavior. It is a direct result of our own actions and behaviors and we have the power to change those actions and behaviors.

We as a collective humanity have dug our own rabbit hole. We need to liberate the mind from fixated false belief structures and start doing the inner work. More and more people are awakening to awareness through meditation and other disciplines of the mind. There is a growing realization that every thought comes from a state of consciousness, turns into a thought, a word, and then into an action.

When you are no longer at war with yourself you will emanate compassion, love, empathy, and trust, aligning with divine consciousness.

The “word” in John 1:1 refers to the union with the Inner Christ or what the Buddhists call “Buddha Nature” – the inherent, untainted “seed” that resides in all things. Seeking the Inner Christ or Buddha Nature is the path of the spiritual seeker.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. I’m excited to announce the release of my latest book, “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living.” If you enjoy it, you might also be interested in my previous works, “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago.” You can find all of these titles at reputable bookstores near you.

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by | September 19, 2023 · 5:30 am

Surrendering to humility

Walking the Camino pilgrimage route in northwestern Spain is an analogy of life and a fast-track course in self-development and soul elevation. It is why many people who start this 800-kilometer walk as a sporting endeavor end it as a pilgrim.

A fellow pilgrim once said to me: „If you don‘t walk this path with humility, it will force you to become humble.“ It is a mantra that has remained etched in my mind as one of the many life lessons learned on the Camino.

Life gets in the way of a plan

Life inevitably gets in the way of a meticulous plan or agenda. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a financial plan or pension savings scheme. You should simply be aware that even the best of plans can be scuttled by external events out of your control. You should therefore be prepared all the time to adapt, amend, and surrender to the flow of change.

On the journey of the soul, the pursuit of knowledge is an endless path of discovery. However, within various religious communities, there exists a phenomenon often referred to as the “spiritual ego.” This tendency can manifest as individuals within a group belittling those outside their faith or belief system, portraying them as less enlightened or unaware of profound truths, while they remain blind to their own hypocrisy and failings.

The universe has its own sense of humor in bringing us back to humility if we denigrate others with our inflated pride. 

The Ego-Throne

The Achilles heel of the high achievers who have phenomenal success and then come crashing down is the illusion they created it all by themselves while seated on the golden throne. Their decisions are always infallible. Criticism by underlings is seen as disloyalty so they are eventually surrounded by sycophants and boot lickers.

History is full of examples of captains of industry, emperors, presidents, and superstars who lost everything because they withdrew into a cocoon far removed from the real world and the lives of ordinary people.

The challenges of good leadership

Aware of the temptations of power, the Stoic Roman philosopher emperor Marcus Aurelius (161 to 180 AD) had a servant follow him through the streets of Rome whispering in his ear: “You’re just a man… just a man,” to keep him humble. He is remembered to this day as one of the “Five Good Emperors” of the Roman Empire. His “Meditations” continue to be studied and revered for their insights into Stoic philosophy and the challenges of leadership.

During my more than a dozen walks on the Camino I’ve met some extremely wealthy people walking the path with a simple backpack and sleeping by choice on a bunk bed in a pilgrims hostel rather than spending the night in a luxury hotel. 

It was an eye-opener to hear their stories of how they had transitioned from grief, financial ruin, and other obstacles that life had thrown at them. They all shared the same traits: Kindness, humility, and wisdom embedded in the knowledge that nothing can be taken for granted. The most precious things in life are free, and happiness can be found in the smallest of things. 

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. I’m excited to announce the release of my latest book, “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living.” If you enjoy it, you might also be interested in my previous works, “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago.” You can find all of these titles at reputable bookstores near you.

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by | September 12, 2023 · 7:15 am

The biggest obstacle to living your destiny

Just prior to the year 2000 there was a strange phenomenon spanning the globe with large groups of people believing that a catastrophic event would extinguish all life on earth at the turn of the clock into the new millennium.

There was the rumor, that the Y2K computer bug would cause major power outages and computer breakdowns across the world as the calender rolled over into the year 2000. Some Christian sects saw in the year 2000 the Apocalypse and the Second Coming of Christ.

In the end, the year 2000 came and went without much incident. The cults of course found various explanations why things didn’t turn out as they predicted. The calculations were slightly off and the apocalypse would occur at a later date or the reason it didn’t happen was a result of the faith and intensive prayers of the followers. Some followers downplayed the significance of the failed prediction or quietly forgot their predictions.

Fixed belief can completely derail you from your destiny

The event was however very revealing of how a fixed belief can completely derail and capture the minds of millions of people. We are seeing the same phenomenon in the drumbeat of political propaganda and fake news. Once a mind has been locked into a belief. There is no rational argument that will persuade the person to change his or her mind. It is wasted energy to engage with a person who is unwilling to listen or possibly see things from a different perspective.

While the term “sin” in the religious context is often equated with moral transgressions, the deeper spiritual meaning is more complex. It could be explained as a disruption of spiritual harmony, causing harm to the self, and straying from the path of your destiny.

The universe finds expression in nature

A principle in nature is constant flow, adaptation, and evolution. The universe, or God, finds expression in nature. And, we humans are very much part of the interaction with all living beings.

In the coming decades, humanity is at the cusp of making a major leap in the evolution of consciousness. But it can also go the other way with a major breakdown in civilization as we know it if we fail to do the internal and external work.

Internally we need to confront the demon of addiction. It is the addiction to the immediate gratifications, like substance and food abuse but especially the fixation to limiting political or religious beliefs. The new spirituality is cosmic by nature, emphasizing a deep, interconnected relationship between the individual and the universe as a whole. It transcends traditional religious boundaries and is characterized by a sense of awareness and awe for the natural world around us.

This is the stepping stone to the external transformation. Since the industrial-revolution humanity has seen the earth as a material object that needed to be exploited, in contrast to the ancient traditions that saw the divine in every object and living thing. The earth itself was seen as the Mother, a living entity. Certain places were pinpointed as locations with a high-energy vortex and portals to the hereafter. They were chosen for ritual and worship.

The cathedrals, chapels, and churches in Europe were often built on such ancient locations which is why these quiet spaces offer particular sanctuary for quiet stillness.

Especially during times of stress, uncertainty, and emotional turmoil time spent in solitude or in nature will calm the mind and open the senses to the whispers of the soul. When surrounded by the beauty, sights sounds, and smells of nature you become realigned with the bigger whole.

Allowing the mind to recover from stress and mental fatigue in nature helps restore cognitive functions and clarity. When you practice deep walking in nature you will regain your natural pace and rhythm.

Exposure to sunlight and the natural day-night cycle can help regulate and improve sleep patterns. Adequate sleep is essential for mental well-being. Sunlight plays a crucial role in the production of Vitamin D in the body, essential for bone density, muscle function, immune support, and cardiovascular health.

A principle of nature is constant change

A principle of nature is the cycle of change. Plants, animals and insects are constantly adapting to changing environmental conditions and seasonal cycles. Part of God’s evolutionary plan is constant refinement and perfection. By embracing nature’s wisdom you rediscover purpose and meaning.

The disconnect from our natural environment is responsible for much of the emotional turmoil and imbalance we see around us. With the pull of technology and digital distraction becoming ever greater, it is becoming more important than ever to take a time-out in nature to rediscover who you really are and who you are destined to become.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. My new book “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living” has just been published. You might also find my other books “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago” of interest. They are available where all good books are sold.

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by | September 5, 2023 · 6:57 am

Connecting to your inner wisdom

Understanding and managing your emotions is key to achieving personal growth and accessing a higher vibrational energy. You can only tap into your inner wisdom by transmuting the charge of your toxic emotions such as fear, shame, anger, and grievance.

This poses a particular challenge during a time when social media and the political narrative feeds on negativity and our darkest toxic emotions.

Your body is the most authentic recording device of everything that has happened in your life. You will dream of events that happened decades ago because those memories are stored away somewhere in the depths of your body cells.

When you dream of when you were a seven-year-old and stole the cookies from Grandma’s closet, you have in some way not closed with that incident emotionally.

Your head-mind probably made up all sorts of reasons why taking those cookies was in order, while your sub-conscious heart-mind knew very well that what you did was stealing and that you hurt Grandma because you lied to her.

A tension or dissonance between head-mind and heart-mind, like acting against a gut feeling or doing something where all the alarm bells are running at a heart level, are just those things that the body will always remember.

Training your “heart-mind” to be emotionally mature is one of the reasons we are here on earth. We humans are imperfect beings, and probably the most disconnected of species from ourselves and our natural environment.

We have incarnated as souls to use our bodies as instruments of learning.

The heart is not merely an organ of the cardiovascular system that transports nutrients, oxygen and hormones throughout the body and removes metabolic waste. In the spiritual sense the heart is described as the “seat of the soul.” It is the first organ that develops in the fetus and is the connection between our physical and non-physical (soul) selves.

Impulses or thoughts flow first from the heart and then to the brain. The brain dissects, rationalizes and analyzes. The “heart-mind” is authentic and closest to the true self or soul purpose. Knowing the difference between “head-mind” and “heart-mind” is the spiritual learning part.

Our body is constantly sending us signals about what we need to hear and work on. The problem is that we are so caught up in the world of distraction that we mostly fail to listen until the body gets really angry and calls a time-out with some illness or malady. It is no surprise that cardiovascular diseases top the list in much of the Western world.

Regaining the connection

Regaining that connection to the “heart-mind” comes mostly during times of solitude, during meditation, prayer and deep walking. That is when we become aware of our emotional state of being. Some of the “emotional memories” stored in the body could go back many years or even decades.

These energies can be transmuted very well with the ancient body arts of tai chi, qi gong and yoga that were developed and refined by spiritual masters over many generations.

It is only fairly recent that these ancient arts have reached the Western world. One of the great tai chi masters, Cheng Mang Ching, was ostracized by the Chinese community in New York when he began teaching tai chi for the first time to Western students in the early 1960s.

If you walk the main Camino Frances, you will be walking for five weeks or longer. After two or three weeks on the road you realize that the Camino is much more than a mere physical exercise.

Not only does the body start detoxing, but I have noticed on my walks that dreams, childhood events, and memories of traumatic relationships that occurred many years ago return with a particular clarity.

These are particularly precious healing moments when old trauma is released to open up the channels for a flow of new energy.

Whatever the heart-mind hasn’t transmuted emotionally will at some stage come back to haunt you. It is why the mother on her death bed has that last wish before dying to reconcile with the son she hasn’t spoken to for years.

Volunteers and therapists companioning the dying have told me that the deepest regret is most often not having made amends with innermost family members. A peaceful death then only comes when that “something” has been dealt with.

What Chinese medicine has known for centuries, modern medicine is confirming with latest research. Many a serious illness has its origins in emotional baggage stored in the body-mind.

There is a particularly poignant passage in the third Beatitude of the Bible: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

In the original Aramaic language, spoken by Jesus, the meaning is more subtle: “Tubwehun l’ makiche d’hinnon nertun arha.” This roughly translates to: “Renewal to those in emotional turmoil and blessed are those who can soften that which has hardened in their bodies.”

While walking in solitude you will inevitably be confronted by the same phenomenon as when lying alone awake at night: Hundreds of thoughts will be passing through your mind of past and future things.

One thought chases the next as you wind yourself up and down in a spiral of dancing monkeys in the head.

You won’t control those thoughts by practicing mind control methods. The mind does become aware of what it is thinking about and can extract itself with an accusatory finger of “why can’t I think of something else? Why can’t I let go of these worrying concerns in my head?”

You will notice that as the body releases tension during your walk, those dancing monkeys gradually start disappearing as you begin the descent from the head into feeling the body.

This is best done by aligning to the present moment by focusing on your breathing and counting the inhaling and exhaling of breaths.

You can also start by feeling each step touching the ground, feeling the ground and how the energy of the earth moves from your foot up your legs, spinal cord, neck and the crown of your head. Start by walking very slowly, aware of the present moment, just concentrating on these small things to liberate your mind.

Our ancestors practiced ceremony and rituals to transmute trauma on a body level. Animals still have this mechanism intact. A herd of antelope will run apparently haphazardly in all directions when one of them has been killed by a predator. Their bodies shiver and shake, but minutes later all has passed and they will resume grazing as if nothing has happened.

Calming mind and body

Transitioning from the depths of our lowest emotional frequencies, such as anger, shame, resentment, hate, greed, fear, and anxiety, towards the pinnacle of human evolution involves embracing the transformative power of compassion, love, empathy, gratitude, peace, and serenity.

Even as you ascend the ladder of higher consciousness, the complete liberation from toxic emotions and feelings remains an elusive goal; you are, after all, only human. However, through unwavering commitment and diligent practice, you can expedite your exit from the rabbit hole of negativity.

It will empower you to savor extended periods of vitality, hope, and inner tranquility, enhancing your overall well-being and vibrational frequency. It is the recipe for longevity and good health.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. This is an extract from “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul. All my books are available on Kindle, and paperback where all good books are sold. If you would like to order in batch to gift to friends, family and employees you can contact me by DM for a special discount.

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by | August 22, 2023 · 7:55 am

A time to reap your rewards

If you want to enjoy the rainbow you must be prepared to take the journey through pain

In our culture, there is a festering poison of feeling entitled to special benefits or privileges without having made any effort to attain them. If you haven’t invested in the pain and walked the burn that brought you success you will never fully appreciate what you have and risk losing all.

In the ancient Taoist philosophy of the Five Element late summer is associated with the Element Earth. Using the analogy from farming: If you have invested wisely in seeds and fertilizer to plant your crop in spring, and diligently irrigated and weeded your fields in the summer, you will most likely be in the fortunate position of reaping a good crop in late summer.

Every sports star knows that you have to be disciplined and train for several hours every day for several years to reach the top league. Learning a new language requires learning on a regular basis. If you start a new business you have to invest money first, risk failure and maybe start all over again before finally making it.

Investing more than the average

The most successful people constantly push their boundaries and do much more than the average. It not only demands thinking creatively, breaking free from self-imposed limitations, and pursuing ambitious dreams, but putting in the work and the effort.

An entitled person will only see the rewards and compare. “Why can’t I have the same? I’m after all more beautiful, more intelligent …” It is the mindset that spends more than it earns. It is reaping the crop before it has ripened. There is an old English proverb: “Cheat the earth and it will cheat you.”

Falling into the trap of the blame game

Unconscious people are in the blame game and weak because they are victims of everything. Instead of taking complete responsibility as the captain, they think everyone else is responsible for their unhappy condition.

It’s so easy then to accuse the government, other nations, other races, business competitors, parents, siblings, and other people of the situation we find ourselves in. Few people are capable of taking full responsibility for whatever happens in their lives.

The crop will never bear fruit and grow to its full potential if the field is overgrown with weeds. Bugs only thrive in an unbalanced environment.

We subconsciously accumulate customs, habits, and opinions from the people we surround ourselves with and the information with which we feed our brains.

In the book of Wisdom, the I Ging, the earth is described as the receptive, receiving, and softer energy of the female or yin. It is the counterpart, but not the opposing force of the creative Yang. The enormous and receptive force of Yin needs the Yang force to exert and channel the force.

In much the same way, the heroic leader studies the situation at hand, responding accordingly. Action is never taken without a clear grounding and the realization of what path needs to be taken.

Mother Earth provides life. She provides nutrition and room for all beings, be they of a good or bad predisposition. To illustrate this particular importance in comparison to the other elements, many of the ancient writings and drawings have the earth element positioned centrally with the other elements around it. It also emphasizes the importance that at the end of each change cycle, we go full circle back to earth—to the source.

We need thought processes and thinking to accomplish tasks and to give room to our ideas and creativity. The challenge is to get a feeling about when we cross our own boundaries and those of others.

Do I have enough resources to go ahead with plans? Do I make provision for more or for less? Do I have enough in reserve? Or do I live from too much-borrowed energy, becoming indebted to other people and borrowing money?

These are the questions that need to be asked in almost any life situation where the need for change or turnaround is called for, especially if we are feeling constant fatigue after surrounding ourselves with certain people or are met with constant obstacles.

The balanced earth person is trustworthy, generous, and of a stable temperament. They sometimes are slow to respond, but will be thinking things over carefully before giving you a reply. This could be very irritating for an imbalanced pumped-up person expecting a machine-gun reply.

Symbolically, he would be the plump, pot-bellied, sitting Buddha at peace with himself, centered with the universe, and observing calmly while everything around him is falling into loud chaos. They are the steadfast rock in the ocean storm.

In the philosophy of the Five Elements, the Earth is described as being gracious and filled with abundance for all that life has to offer. On the other hand, it demands respect and the absolute maintenance of ethical standards that encompass all living beings. If these are violated, the consequences can be merciless. What is my true motivation? What effect does it have on others? Am I orientated to fulfilling my own greedy needs, or do I have a broader picture in mind?

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. This is an extract from “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living” which has just been published. You might also find my other books “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago” of interest – available where all good books are sold.

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by | August 15, 2023 · 8:58 am

Self-worth and finding purpose and meaning

As you walk the path of life with its up-and-down cycles of dealing with the loss of a loved one, a significant health issue, or financial challenges it is easy to lose self-esteem, passion, and your sense of purpose and meaning.

At the core of how you feel and care for yourself is how you define your place in the world. Are you passionately enjoying what you are doing? Are you a grateful and happy person when you get up in the morning?

What we call a “midlife crisis” can also be a time to redefine purpose and meaning. You might be finding yourself in an unfulfilling job or engaging in repetitive and monotonous routines that suck away your life energy. But you lack the courage or are too fearful to make the necessary changes.

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A once fulfilling or loving relationship has degenerated into hate and recrimination. A job that was aligned with your values and purpose has changed so much that it has just become emotionally and physically exhausting.

Loss of meaning and purpose shows itself in negative thinking, constant bickering, and irritability. You will be compensating the search for existential meaning with addictions to bad foods, alcohol, substance abuse, or digital entertainment. This lack of self-love and self-esteem will inevitably manifest itself in body shape and appearance.

Major life transitions, such as a job loss, retirement, or a divorce, can lead to shifts in identity and purpose. Goals, purpose, and meaning need to be redefined.

A healthy sense of self-worth can be cultivated with the three pillars: body, mind and soul.

  • Looking after your body by doing regular exercise is key. Only 4,000 steps a day of active walking in nature will already significantly boost your metabolism, bone density and mental health, according to latest research. Avoid processed foods, sugars, artificial sweeteners and soda drinks. A mainly Mediterranean diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, olive oil, fish, and a little meat not only feeds your body with vital nutrients but also your brain.
  • Feed your mind with positive thoughts. Replace a negative thought with a positive thought. What is going well? What is good in your life? Stop comparing yourself with others. There will always be people who appear to be wealthier, more successful, and happier than you. Read good books and train your mind by solving puzzles, learn a new skill or language.
  • Soul purpose, meaning, and validation are often found in a community or a tribe sharing the same values, and ideals. Experiential spirituality comes from within. Practices such as meditation, deep walking, mindfulness training can open the gateway to a profound spiritual experience, characterized by a sense of union with the divine, and a feeling of being interconnected with all of existence.

In essence. you have to define or redefine your purpose every new day. Be grateful to be alive. Every new day offers a new perspective and new opportunity. When on your authentic soul path, you will be evolving and growing until the day you die.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. If you’ve found this article of interest you might want to read more in my books. “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living” has just been published. You might also find my other books “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago” of interest – available where all good books are sold.

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by | August 8, 2023 · 6:44 am

Are you a “no” person?

Are you finding yourself trapped in self-talk emphasizing all that is not possible when the universe is constantly sending you messages on how you can escape the negativity trap and live a life of purpose and meaning?

The story goes that a village in the Italian Alps was hit by floodwaters with all the locals quickly heeding warnings from rescue workers to leave in buses for shelters on higher ground. All but one man refused to leave. Eventually, the rescue workers came by in speed boats with the waters rising rapidly. Again the villager refused to leave saying: “God will look after me.”

Failing to get the message

As the waters rose the villager had to eventually climb onto his rooftop. A rescue helicopter swooped low offering help. Again the villager refused help: “I’m staying. I’m putting my trust in God to help me.”

The inevitable happened. The man drowned. Reaching heaven’s gate, he accused God of ignoring his prayers. “What do you mean?” God responded kindly. “First I sent buses to the village to rescue everyone, then I sent the rescue workers in speed boats and finally I sent the helicopter and you still refused to get the message.”

When trapped in a spiral of negativity or in the sadness of that which once was and is no more, you will never perceive the whispers of the universe, offering you new opportunities in the ever-turning cyclical spiral of life.

The message from the universe could come in a casual word dropped by a passenger in a train, an image on a billboard or in a book full of wisdom that puts you on a completely different trajectory.

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The underlying fear and trauma

If you have a partner, a dear friend or a family member who responds with a “no” to everything you are suggesting, then you might consider the following. There might be underlying fears and trauma for their negativity. They might be in the process of transmuting these fears and trauma by taking a necessary painful walk over the hot coals.

They might respond with “no” because they are stressed out and feeling emotionally drained. You will see with great clarity an opportunity for them, while they are not seeing it at all, making you angry for wasting your time with them. You can only react with patient communication and active listening in breaking down the barrier.

Stepping out of the comfort zone

Stepping out of the comfort zone takes courage. Most people would rather suffer all their life in quiet misery than make the change that could completely transform their life. One of the major reasons why people are risk-averse is that they fear the shame of failure and loss if things go wrong. Staying in the comfort zone provides a certain sense of predictability and control. Meanhwhile, the mental imposter feeds low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence with negative self-talk: “That’s impossible. I’ll never manage that. I can’t do that. I don’t have the skills, money, and talent that others have.”

The seeds of low self-esteem are often sown in early childhood with the constant criticism from parents, siblings, teachers and peer groups far outweighing tangible and positive reinforcement. Especially those individuals who are different or highly talented will feel the pressure to conform to the lowest common denominator of the tribe.

Meanwhile opportunity has been waiting all along at the other end of the smokescreen. Overcoming the fear of walking an unknown path involves acknowledging these fears, taking it one step at a time, building self-confidence by acknowledging those steps, and practicing self-compassion. The first steps are a painful walk in leaving well-known territory, and the “protection” of the tribe

But ultimately the walk into authenticity is highly rewarding. By facing and embracing new challenges consciousness and personal growth are elevated. You increase your resilience by facing all the storms of life.

There is no satisfaction greater than the realisation that the universe is sculpturing you into the person you were always meant to be.

Reino Gevers – Author – Mentor – Speaker

P.S. If you’ve found this article of interest you might want to read more in my books. “The Turning of the Circle: Embracing Nature’s Wisdom for Purposeful Living” has just been published. You might also find my other books “Deep Walking for Body, Mind and Soul” and “Walking on Edge: A Pilgrimage to Santiago” of interest – available where all good books are sold.

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