Sufi practice can change your life!

The conscious breathing, movement, and sound of this practice make it easier to access a meditative state. Regular practice quiets the nagging voices of the negative self and promotes peacefulness self acceptance. The behaviors and misbehaviors of others gradually become less triggering. By doing the Sufi work you begin to trust life and your inner guidance system

Like any human skill, e.g. singing, running, dancing, skiing, and playing the piano -- the Sufi work must be practiced -- always! When you stop, your skill immediately starts to decay. 

I noticed this about running. I used to run marathons and complete 50-mile weeks. I did speed workouts and ran up steep hills at high altitudes to improve. Even one day off had an impact on my stamina and speed. 

I find that I lose control of my paintbrush and forget how to mix colors when I fail to do watercolor at least once a week.

My speaking gets sloppy and my thoughts muddle when I don’t give speeches.

It is the nature of the human body and mind to require practice. Neural pathways are reinforced through repetition. They disintegrate when neglected. Muscles lose their mass and memories lose clarity. 

Although Spirit is our nature, it takes work to keep our human bodies in tune and alignment with our Spirit. Otherwise, the body will revert to instinct and habit.

When asked how much spiritual work we needed to do, Adnan, my spiritual teacher, would say, 50% to Spirit and 50% to the world.

I thought he must be joking. I was doing as much Sufi work as I could: summer camp, summer extension, traveling with Adnan to Texas or California, a 2-week Christmas workshop, local Spring workshops, and weekly classes with Adnan’s students even a trip to Spain. Yet this was not nearly 50%. 

Now I get it. Sufi work and daily life must become integrated.

I used to see my life as divided into 2 parts: Spiritual work and Daily life. I did not mix them. They were two separate realities divided by time and space.

Since starting to teach the Sufi classes, this separation has been dissolving.

Everything reminds me of Spirit: 

• This morning’s pummeling rain on my umbrella, the rivulets of water rushing down the pavement, and the wetness of my jeans and shoes, put me into the moment, woke me to the wildness of the weather, and the intensity of life. 

• I find sharp words or complaints more easily wash over me rather than contaminating my thoughts and emotions.
• I no longer require an apology, making-up, or restitution.
• I remember to love and accept my human imperfections and that of others.
• I am learning to expect the best and notice only the best from everyone. 

I don’t get this right all the time! Sometimes I have to vent my frustration through writing or walking. The goal is not to react. Slowly, I learn to ignore my triggers.

You may have noticed that to improve and grow you must challenge yourself.

For the last ten years or so, I had fallen into the habit of maintenance -- daily yoga, morning meditation, and going to summer camp for a recharge. It was comfortable. However, I was treading water and not going anywhere.

Since starting to teach my Sufi class on Zoom, and particularly since teaching twice a week, I am experiencing quantum leaps in my emotions, intuition, and creativity. It is the practice of staying in the moment which must be maintained while teaching, that I attribute to these changes. 

You don't need to teach to keep growing. As long as you keep upping the anti, you will progress. You can change by doing the practice every day – breathing, movement, and chanting.

Did you know that there is a Sufi class on Zoom every day of the week except Tuesday?

Think how much would you change if you did the Sufi practice 2 or 3 times a week. Every increase will take you to a new level.

Spiritual work does work. Do the practice, your practice, every day and see what happens. 

Want to stretch yourself? Come to both my Friday and Sunday classes or ask about the Sufi mailing list of Zoom classes and try out the other teachers.

This Friday, April 5, we return to 9 am PDT. Sunday, April 7 is at 8 am PDT.

The Zoom link is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89999494833?pwd=V2pOS28yYUdXM3hkaW1rVWIvSjBUdz09

Meeting ID: 899 9949 4833

Passcode: SUFI

Here's a time converter link to check the time in your location.

Be peaceful. 

Michelle

Dr. Michelle Peticolas

Life Transformation Coach

Empowering Women to Reinvent Their Life After Loss

Secrets of Life and Death

https://www.facebook.com/secretsoflifeanddeath.com