Greetings to all of you on this the first day of 2007. It's a beautiful day here in Glastonbury. Wherever you are, we trust the sun is shining on you too!

Ready to release the old and bring in the new?

Its only a few hours into the new year and although we so frequently begin with good intentions, why does it seem so hard to stay on the straight and narrow? This Openhand newsletter "Brand New Start" addresses the issue...

• Giving up addictions “Denial is not a river in Egypt!”
• ”Be a lamp unto yourself” last words of the Buddha
• Openhand key events 2007
• Unfolding into who we are

Giving up addictions - Denial is not a river in Egypt!
So did you begin the New Year with some well intended resolutions? Decided to give up tea, alcohol or chocolate or to let go of that relationship that is no longer working? Are you applying a method to your endeavours or are you just hoping that your resolve will be strong enough? In my experience, mind lead resolutions simply deny what we are truly feeling and only a deeply honest confrontation and unravelling of our emotions can yield lasting change. Techniques such as hypnotherapy and Neuro Linguistic Programming can help but all to frequently they seem to be used to create false realities. Denial is not a river in Egypt! If we simply sweep issues under the proverbial carpet, then all we really end up doing is creating a ruck over which we will surely trip at some point. So what is the alternative? Here is a simple 5 step process that helps confront what we are truly experiencing and without denial, make the higher choice, the one that is in line with our true selves:

1. Accept the issue has a purpose:
   First accept the issue is there for a purpose. It was created for one reason only - to learn something about ourselves. If we contemplate deeply and honestly what the issue reveals and don’t allow ourselves to be judged for it (EVERYONE has similar issues of one form or another), then ultimately we will find we can be AWESOMELY okay with it
2. Surrender into the issue:
   When we are awesomely okay with something, we don’t ‘tighten’ internally around the issue and don’t make it worse than it is - we don’t create false realities about it. Then we can surrender into the behaviour and experience it as much as we want to - so if you can’t resist eating junk food, or smoking or drinking etc keep on doing it and be absolutely clear about not feeling bad about it - watch any tightness or self judgement arising within you
3. Ask what the issue reflects about what you are being on the inside?
   When you are satiated with your ‘fix’, ask yourself “what is this ‘drug’ reflecting about what I am being on the inside?” Locate that feeling within you that the drug provides - relaxation, expansiveness, joy for example. Then in quietness settle deeply into the feeling exploring ever ‘corner’ and aspect of it. There may be more subtle experiences such as a vibration or gentle warmth. Bring into your awareness a knowing that this feeling is inside of you all the time
4. Stoke the inner flame:
   As often as you can throughout the day, locate this inner experience - even if you have to stimulate it with the addiction until over time, you can locate the feeling without using the stimulus. The more you stoke this inner flame, the stronger it grows until it becomes the ONLY thing worthwhile having. Then you will discover that the addiction has downsides that not only inspire this inner flame but also extinguishes it
5. When the flame is high enough, make the higher choice:
   Once you have discovered how to fan the flame without any external influence and you know that the addiction extinguishes it, then at some point you will be ready to give up the addiction and make the higher choice - that which has the power to make you feel good the WHOLE time. There are likely to be many occasions before that point is reached when you surrender back into the addiction - be awesomely okay with that. Eventually the realisation will dawn that nothing can give us the flame - our divine destiny - but our own inner focus. However the inner flame first has to be high enough in order to make that authentic choice.

Be aware though, this is no ‘quick fix’. It requires dedication and patience - a thorough and honest exploration of who we really are. In my experience, just like mind lead resolutions, ‘quick fixes’ get quickly unfixed!

Last words of Gautama, the Buddha

"Be a lamp unto yourself.
Don't search for light anywhere else;
the light is already there, the fire is already there.
Just probe a little deeper into your being, enquire.
Maybe much ash has gathered around the fire...
Just probe deep inside, and you will find the spark again.
And once you have found a single spark inside you,
you will become a flame, soon you will be a fire...
a fire that purifies, a fire that transforms,
a fire that gives you a new birth and a new being.
Be a lamp unto yourself."

Openhand key events 2007
Although as in the song, much of our events calendar for 2007 remains unwritten, there are some key dates that simply jumped onto the page and we have a very exciting feel about the way they are evolving. The energy is building strongly and we would love to see you take advantage...

• "Openhand Unity Weekend": Glastonbury 27th/28th Jan...more info
• "Way of the Heart": Findhorn 22nd-25th Feb...more info
• "Unfolding into Light": London 17th/18th Mar...more info
• "Way of the Heart": Glastonbury Easter 6-9th Apr...more info
• "The Transfiguration": Snowdonia 1st-7th Jul...more info
• "New Year Retreat 2008": Goa, India 27th Dec-4th Jan 2008...more info

Unfolding into who we are

Whether we know it or not, our experiences in life are generated specifically by our attachments which arise from a perceived sense of lack or the fear of loosing something we already have. However the true self is already complete and whole and without need. Since the purpose of life is to reveal our full splendour, we will keep calling to ourselves similar patterns, events and relationships until we have seen the attachments and released them. There is no avoiding them - the only way out is through.

So as the New Year begins, we are invited to always be in the place of the observer through the unfolding events, to be honest with ourselves about the things we think we want, and then find that place within that is already complete. If we can trust in this through all the trials and tribulations of life, then a magical supreme being will simply unfold before our very eyes, far ‘superior’ than our wildest dreams. What ever we can possibly dream for ourselves is not enough - we are more than that!

Love and best wishes throughout your unfolding in 2007!

The Openhand Team