[Thespiritexpress] Book recommendation

Sat Jan 23 08:36:48 PST 2021

> Thanks for sharing this Lydia, you express yourself very beautifully and
truthfully. There is racism all over the world and it's time we look at
ourselves and others as One.   All the posts on this topic are heartfelt
and so necessary, I am so glad we are having this conversation with love
and respect. "Making a safe place into a brave place" Lei, is such a
great way to frame it!

With love, Roz


Warm greetings and much gratitude to all for sharing your thoughts and
> your truths.
> Lei, your urging us to "making a safe place into a brave place," struck me
> because when it comes to exposing myself to so many well-informed people,
> who express themselves so clearly, logically, and tactfully, I can't even
> budge from this safe place!  I listen and I want to learn. Thanks, Lei,
> for making me want to be brave now.
> Through marriage and my former husband's career, I was strongly urged to
> adopt U.S. citizenship decades ago. The first time I felt real pride in
> being American was after President Obama's inauguration because it
> relieved me of guilt for the way blacks were treated and how now they
> could stand tall and feel equal to the whites. The world would see how the
> U.S. truly is the land of opportunity for all.  Recently, when I and the
> world witnessed the treatment Mr. Floyd and others received and how it
> resulted in the joining of whites with blacks in protest, I felt this was
> our opportunity to be clear-eyed and come clean.
>
> From experience I am beginning to realize what white privilege means.  It
> is a good life.  I will read the book Taylor recommends because I not only
> want to discuss the topic of white privilege and/or otherness with my
> children and grand-children, I want also to try and sort out the baggage I
> carry from being raised in a culture of crushing Dutch racism from my
> father towards the Indonesian culture my mother represented.  So,
> experience is a strong influence.
>
> What Ron and Toni make possible is impossible to put into words.  I am
> reminded of a section from The Way of Mastery: "Here, I am free.   Heaven
> is now.   The past is passed away and I choose anew."
>
> I like that by means of The Spirit Express courageous folks have delved
> into a delicate, current topic.  The future will no doubt present us with
> matters of conscience such as the movement of desperate, displaced
> persons, homelessness, etc..  Thank you for indulging me.  I am joyfully
> grateful to each of you and I carry you in my heart.
> Lydia
> ________________________________
> From: thespiritexpress-bounces at lists.mcn.org
> <thespiritexpress-bounces at lists.mcn.org> on behalf of Leah ‘lei’ Angela
> Sahagun via Thespiritexpress <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 2021 6:52 PM
> To: Sue Coulter <wildcoult at hotmail.com>; cathy fantulin
> <graciefantulin at gmail.com>; thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org
> <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org>
> Subject: Re: [Thespiritexpress] Book recommendation
>
> Dear Beloveds ~ I am soaking in a bath of love that is poured by all of
> you. As one of the more younger in this human lifetime age and Filipina
> American in this very sacred groups I am part of...it brings me hope and
> joy that these conversations are being had in this specific space.
>
> Since my return to urban life in Tongva and Chumash territory, City of
> Angels, I have been very involved with many of these movements we are
> speaking of. I listen mostly as I want to only emanate Oneness in these
> BIPOC space ~ many people are easily reactive and are still finding ways
> to articulate their feelings and relations as more trauma is unpacked.
>
> I also choose to be in my own truth as I used to work for City of LA
> testing incoming police candidates and my husband as a recruiter. One
> immediate thing that communities can speak on that has nothing to do with
> race, racism but although affects the behaviors, trainings, how officers
> are promoted, etc is qualified immunity.
>
> I thank you for speaking on these topics and I encourage you to please
> continue and engage with your closest people. Mostly what I hope for is
> more listening, especially listening to those who identify as non-white.
> Encourage more safe spaces to transform to brave spaces ~~*
>
> Mabuhay ka! (To you! To life, to living)
> Salamat po (thank you, respectfully)
>
> ~ lei
>
> On Jan 22, 2021, at 6:29 PM, Sue Coulter via Thespiritexpress
> <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org> wrote:
>
>  Beautiful beloveds,
>          Thank you, each and everyone of you for your deep, authentic
> sharing with reflection and clarity around this pertinent topic.
>   It is my hope that this may happen in several safe circles of
> connection across our country…an exchange, dialogue on a topic
> that is truly in need of exactly that.  After joining in this
> morning's shake yoga, meditation & sharing time a thought came to
> me just as time was up.  Perhaps it’s the BLM movement and the
> idea of building a wall along Mexican borders to keep them out
> are yet another painful reminder of what everyone has already
> spoken about: institutionalized racism that has been and still is
> rampant in our country.  Taking those examples of what’s
> happening for beings who stand out the most for their skin color
> and/or language as an opportunity for each and everyone of us to
> take a deeper look at how we judge and treat others differently
> that aren’t in alignment with our beliefs or perceptions.   In
> other words, it’s no wonder that the obvious visual differences
> have been at the root of such horrific racism over the
> centuries…I remember as a child that one of the biggest messages
> in my schooling was to pick out which of these things is not like
> the other (images that we had to choose from)…which made me learn
> to pay attention to what was different, what looked different,
> what didn’t belong…rather than how to see the similarities and to
> celebrate what I share in common with others.  But now, in this
> time of polarization of an overly strong sense of us &
> them…republicans vs. democrats, Trump vs. Biden…that we get to do
> the deeper reflective work within ourselves…as whatever is
> present in Trump, is present in me…my part is to drop judgement
> and perceptions and see the oneness, that which connects us all
> and what is the truth ALWAYS: LOVE.  Thank you for this
> opportunity for me to be more present and aware of how I
> contribute to this divide.  In this new year, it’s my intention
> to put my focus on unity, love, compassion, kindness and
> forgiveness.  May it be so!!! Blessings, Sue
> On Jan 22, 2021, at 5:03 PM, cathy fantulin via Thespiritexpress
> <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org<mailto:thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org>>
> wrote:
>
> Amazing topic and viewpoints.
>
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:27 PM Riantee Rand via Thespiritexpress
> <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org<mailto:thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org>>
> wrote:
> Dear Taylor.
> I thought a lot about what you brought up at Mastery. Thank you for that.
> For years I have been uncovering all the small forms of racism hiding in
> the recesses of my psychy under different names, often not recognizable as
> such.
> You say: "I personally plan on spending the rest of my life unpacking all
> the layers of everything she so clearly addresses in this book.” And it
> would probably take a life time to do that (quite a chase!), but for
> myself, especially after the lesson we read on Tuesday I have been
> reminded of  a much easier way to do it. I just have to remember, every
> time I encounter another, when I learn about their lives, easy or
> burdened, that IT IS THE PERFECT LIFE FOR THEM and that they called it to
> themselves because it is designed to perfection ‘just for them.’ When I
> truly and totally understand and trust this, TOTAL EQUALITY IS
> ESTABLISHED. I just have to remember when I feel sorry for the unfairness
> of some situations, or when I am in awe of another’s accomplishment, or
> when I compare myself to others, that MY LIFE IS PERFECT FOR ME. In this
> way we are all equals and there is no room for victimization.
> Much love and gratitude from me also for all of you who share their wisdom
> during Mastery.
> Riantee
>
> On Jan 19, 2021, at 19:31, Taylor Slevin via Thespiritexpress
> <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org<mailto:thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org>>
> wrote:
>
> Dear Toni and all who were in the Mastery Class today,
>
> The book that I highly recommend is called “White Supremacy and Me” by
> Ayala F. Saad
>
>  and working for equality for All.
>
> Sending much love and gratitude to You and Everyone on this path of
> awareness,
>
> Taylor
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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