A Collection of Aphorisms

[Katherine Lopa]

FOR ME, I shall . . .

For me, I shall accept myself for what I am; be mindful of what I can become; and be aware that I am now, and always will be a product of how I choose to spend my time.

Realizing that the responsibility for what I feel, for what I say, and for what I do is ultimately, and forever, within me, I will pray to my God to give me the courage to face, with glad heart, this responsibility He has given me.

I shall strive to be aware of my feelings, and with that awareness, to be self-loving enough to speak up for where I am, fearing no consequences of the choices I freely make.

I shall seek to be open and sharing with those who are willing to be open and sharing with me—being fully conscious that openness is the key to intimacy, and that intimacy must be based on mutuality, lest it be used as a weapon against me.

I shall strive to integrate what I feel, what I say, and what I do; for it is my belief that herein lies the basis of self trust, the knowledge that I know how to protect myself, the willingness to risk, and the ability to lover others without feeling the need to mold them into an extension of myself. This, to me, is the source of true happiness.

I shall endeavor to re-educate myself, and to continue to discard old theories that make me subservient to others.

I shall continue to grow in the knowledge that I am unique and different from every other person on this earth and that it’s OK to just be me.

I shall rejoice in the progress I have made thus far, and I shall work not to forget that I neither have to be perfect, nor do I have to grow at any pace other than my own.

I shall hope that I may always remain willing to grow, to change, to risk, to hurt; for I believe that God did not intend that we should have the great rewards of wholeness without paying the price. This is what the parable of the talents say to me.

I shall take solace in the belief that most people want love, openness, honesty, intimacy, self-esteem; and it is these wants, and others, that we share in common with our fellow men—through our very souls we are fused with all we chance to meet. The person who has learned to suppress these wants is in need of my support and my encouragement, not my disdain.

I shall attempt to teach those who seek my counsel, but shall not accept responsibility for their choices, nor shall I protect them from their pain—for as we would physically cripple a person we constantly carried, we would mentally, spiritually, and emotionally cripple the one we did not allow to stand alone.

I shall work to separate who I am from what I do, that I may slow down and reap the benefits of my labors. I shall try not to base my self-worth on my accomplishments or on my possessions, but yet neither will I discount, or allow others to discount me for what I am able to attain.

I shall actively search for one other kindred soul who is strong enough to stay separate from me, open enough to be candid with me, caring enough to be gentle with me, self-assured to have no need to manipulate me, courageous enough to be risking with me, exciting enough to arouse me—and when I find this person, and if we meet on common ground, we shall establish a relationship that can be ended only by our own choice, not by any adversity or outside force.

- Author Unknown

[Kylie]

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
Friedrich Nietzsche

[Kylie]

God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches you by means of opposites, so that you will have two wings to fly - not one.
-Rumi

"Appear as you are,
Be as you appear."
-Rumi

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whomever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-Rumi

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.
-Rumi


Don't grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.
-Rumi

People of the world don't look at themselves, and so they blame one another.
-Rumi

We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.
-Rumi


We rarely hear the inward music, but we're all dancing to it nevertheless.
-Rumi

[Andrew]

"Only that illumined One who keeps seducing the formless into form had the charm to win my heart. Only a perfect One who is always laughing at the word two, can make you know of Love." - Hafiz

[Katherine Lopa]

The supreme state of human love is . . . the unity of one soul in two bodies.

- Sri Aurobindo

P.S. To those fortunate enough to meet their twin flames, you have the best, and may you, thereby, pass the test.

[Andrew]

'Because he is balanced, the forces of nature trust him and reveal their secrets to him.'

'There are no gurus outside ourselves. Not only do we have to figure out all the answers for ourselves; we have to figure out the questions as well'

'Salvation is the salvaging of the attention you give away on negative and unwanted thoughts. Your freedom is the ability to stand clear in God self. The master has the controlled ability to impress with light. This is his power. He is able to harness energy. The choices you make qualify the light within you as it reflects back outward'

- The Heart of Huna, reflecting the teachings of Kahuna David Bray