SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 234

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ Continuing with our exploration of the 12 styles of the Mandala process, we now move on to the style of the Dreamer, or the Way of Imagination. Since this is a new area of exploration on this journey we will stay with this style for a while. Edward Bastian writes: 

The Dreamer naturally dwells in the imaginary awareness of possibility, intrigued by images arising from the limitless depths of consciousness.

·         Do you have vivid and memorable dreams?

·         Are you drawn to spiritual symbols, icons and imagery?

·         Are you naturally interested in mythological stories and beings?

·         Have you had a rich and vivid imagination since childhood?

WHEN YOU REALLY THINK about it, everything we do involves imagination. This is true both when we are awake and when we are asleep. Imagination is a part of every perception and cognition—the food we choose for breakfast, the thoughts we think, the words we speak, the scents we smell, the forms we feel, and the sounds we hear.

+ The ability to imagine is a wonderful gift.  We can use it for many purposes, indeed all purposes.  It can lead us into all kinds of opportunities to be creative and happy and it can get us into trouble too.  In other words, we need to be intentional and careful with this gift.

+ The 12 styles of Mandala: Creating An Authentic Spiritual Path: An InterSpiritual Process by Edward Bastian are listed in SE206.

+ The 7 steps of InterSpiritual Meditation by Edward Bastian are listed in SE21 and SE213.  They are described fully in his book, InterSpiritual Meditation.

+ To get inspired and illuminated by Ed Bastian, I invite you to set aside some time for these videos:

·         Seven Steps of InterSpiritual Meditation (11 minutes)

·         15 minute introduction to InterSpiritual Meditation and the Mandala Process

·         2 hour lecture & conversation

+ Spirituality & Practice emphasizes the practices of Beauty, Creativity, Imagination & Wonder: The Practice of Beauty | The 12s Gallery on Beauty | The 12s Gallery on Creativity | The Practice of Imagination | The 12s Gallery on Imagination |  The Practice of Wonder | The 12s Gallery on Wonder

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Heavenliness page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Heavenliness” or "Imagination" or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

+ You can always find a link to any of the Spiritual Explorations posts by going to http://abundancetrek.com/sepostsaccess.html