It takes a whole lot of human feeling
to be a human being

- Carmen McRae, one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics

Each moment offers the possibility of remembering the way home, our human place of balance and harmony within the vast web of life. Each child born invites us to turn in the direction of a new way, a new world balance, so close and yet seemingly so far… What will it take to remember?

All living beings enter life with a blueprint for unfolding and growing toward maximum becoming and actualization. To do so requires a set of circumstances, a response from the receiving environment that answers these innate instructions. In nature, we can observe the unfolding of a spider, a bird, a fox, or an oak tree according to their design. No external instructions are provided, patterns are inborn and carried forth, generation after generation. Barring any interruption, the young will be delivered into an environment which will provide for optimal growth through all stages of life into fruition and actualization.

Human Actualization is the full becoming of our species’ universal as well as unique individual qualities, living at the core of each one of us. Actualization assures a grounded and open being, prepared to fully meet the world according to the native design of the species, within its ecological niche, in the larger circle of life.

It has been said that the only species that forgets its “original instructions”, as many indigenous cultures name this inborn blueprint, is humankind. We can remember, though, by bringing our humble attention and deepening gratitude to many indigenous cultures on the planet that always have carried and celebrated this knowledge, and still do, at an impossibly high cost to themselves as they continue to hold the medicine bundle of the species, the sacred knowledge of the web of life that must not be sacrificed. We will be helped to remember by witnessing the universal song of beauty that still sings through the clouds of trauma and loss, theirs as well as our own.

For a balanced future to come into existence on Earth, we would be well inspired to follow these instructions as parents, teachers, healers, extended families and extended human communities.

- Miriam Dror, "Original Instructions for a Thriving Future to be Possible," a webinar sponsored by Science & Non-Duality - https://www.scienceandnonduality.com/webinar/natures-blueprint

A child should be allowed to take as long as she needs for knowing everything about herself, which is the same as learning to be herself. Even twenty-five years if necessary, or even forever. And it wouldn’t matter if doing things got delayed, because nothing is really important but being oneself

- Laura Riding, American poet, critic, novelist, essayist and short story writer

A poet is somebody who feels, and who expresses his feelings through words

This may sound easy.  It isn’t

A lot of people think or believe or know they feel — but that’s thinking or believing or knowing; not feeling. And poetry is feeling — not knowing or believing or thinking

Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel. Why? Because whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself

To be nobody-but-yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are

- Edward Estlin Cummings, also known as E.E. Cummings, e.e. cummings, and e e cummings - an American poet, painter, essayist, author, and playwright

Children need good enough nurturance in order to flourish. Here are four ways:

1. Verbal Nurturance: Eager participation in multi-demensional conversation. Generous amounts of praise and positive feedback. Willingness to entertain all questions. Teaching, reading stories, providing resources for ongoing verbal development.

2. Spiritual Nurturance: Seeing and reflecting back to the child their, her, or his essential worth, basic goodness and loving nature. Engendering experiences of joy, fun, and love to maintain the child's innate sense that life is a gift. Spiritual or philosophical guidance to help the child integrate painful aspects of life. Nurturing the child's creative expression. Frequent exposure to nature.

3. Emotional Nurturance: Meeting the child consistently with care, regard, and interest. Welcoming and valuing the child's full emotional expression. Modeling non-abusive expression of emotions. Teaching safe ways to release anger that do not hurt the child or others. Generous amounts of love, warmth, tenderness, and compassion. Honoring tears as a way of releasing hurt. Being a safe refuge. Humor.

4. Physical Nurturance: Affection and protection. Healthy diet and sleep schedule. Teaching habits of grooming, discipline, and responsibility. Helping the child develop hobbies, outside interests, and own sense of personal style. Helping the child balance rest, play, and work.

- Complex PTSD, From Surviving to Thriving, Pete Walker LMFT Berkeley (adapted)

Within you there is a stillness and sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself

Whoever wants music instead of noise, joy instead of pleasure, soul instead of gold, creative work instead of business, passion instead of foolery, finds no home in this trivial world of ours

Some of us think holding on is what makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go

I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value

There is no reality except the one contained within us. That is why so many people live such an unreal life. They take the images outside them for reality and never allow the world within to assert itself

To hold our tongues when everyone is gossiping, to smile without hostility at people and institutions, to compensate for the shortage of love in the world with more love in small, private matters; to be more faithful in our work, to show greater patience, to forgo the cheap revenge obtainable from mockery and criticism: all these are things we can do

You know quite well, deep within you, that there is only a single magic, a single power, a single salvation...and that is called loving. Well, then, love your suffering. Do not resist it, do not flee from it. It is your aversion that hurts, nothing else

- Hermann Hesse, German-Swiss novelist, poet and painter

Through times thick and days thin,
Love always wins

Through sun and rain and snow and hail,
Love does not fail

Love resides in us. Love surrounds us.
Love, we can trust

Love is our guide, always by our side
There when we cry and when we fly high

May beings everywhere share
Love untethered,
Love strong and gently weathered,
Love old and wise and smooth,
There to always soothe

Love holds us in clarity and uncertainty
In community and alone
Love's light always shines bright,
Through rain and clouds
When our vision is blocked
With misty notions of what's real,
Love will always heal

Love never fails
Love always prevails

- JM, poet and trauma survivor

There may come a moment in life when the world no longer stimulates us and we feel deeply apathetic, even abandoned. This can motivate us toward the search for our real nature beyond appearances. When we no longer find interest in activities and states, when we no longer feel much pleasure in objects and human relationships, we may find ourselves asking: "Is there something wrong with this world or with my attitude toward it?" This serious doubt can lead us to ask: "What is the meaning of existence? What is life? Who am I? What is my true nature?" Sooner or later any intelligent person asks these questions.

- Jean Klein, master of Advaita Vedanta in the tradition of Ramana Maharshi and Atmananda Krishna Menon and author of many books on non-dualism.