Suffering is caused by a lack of balance in giving energy and receiving energy. If you give more than you take in, you will suffer. It’s a simple law of physics. That is why, as you have said many times before, we must live in this exact moment for the pure splendor of it. We must think of ourselves as holy children, and deserving and needing of our time and attention. We must not be so wrapped up in the serving mode, the helping mode that we neglect ourselves. If we put ourselves last, that is why we will be sick and disconnected from our source. The source is love. And where do we begin with that but with ourselves? — You speak of forgiveness. I would add that forgiveness is very often a process. People who have been victimized, especially repeatedly and over a period of years (sexual victimization is only one of many forms) usually find it very difficult and perhaps impossible to “forgive” their victimizer/s. I think in many cases, we need to sit with the person who has had this experience, and instead of talk about forgiveness talk about the person’s human, individual experience. For a long time this does not include forgiveness. It includes hate and violence of heart. The experience of betrayal is a brutal thing. Instead of talking about forgiveness at this point, we must discuss the perpetrator not getting away with her/his crimes, being held accountable. It includes bringing things to light. Talking about forgiveness is, in my opinion, putting the cart before the horse for some people and at some times in their lives. – I once saw a PBS show on forgiveness. It shared about three or four people talking about their personal experience of brutality. Some chose forgiveness, some did not. I took from this that forgiveness is a personal choice. It should never be thrust on others, in the black and white world where forgiveness is the only way to move forward. Sometimes people cannot forgive. That is their perrogative, and I think should be respected. — I agree with you, my dearest dear, that forgiveness brings a great deal of resolution and peace. I agree that blame only brings you down. I also think it’s more complicated than that, and that part of our discourse on what peace means must include the human suffering component of forgiveness. — I would propose that we consider that peace can be achieved without forgiveness. I propose that we allow the value of nonviolence to take its place in the circle instead. Forgiveness, in my view, must not be a prerequisite for peace. much love, mari

Very true, Tania. Much too much for a blog. Blessings, mari

To just be requires all systems to pause….and so necessary for the human soul….thank you