As many of you know we were part of a wonderful project called “Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project“. Created by those wonderfully enlightened folks at [The Middle Way], [Zen-Inspired Self Development], and [UrbanMonk.net]. The project was fantastic and led me to a whole new group of enlightened ones to read and be a part of on this crazy path we each share yet walk alone. To read Beyond Zen’s part of the project, check out this post: A Story of Compassion and Dying.

I want all of our readers to also enjoy some of the great writing from this project; stories of compassion, concepts of compassion from many spiritual themes, and discussions on definition of the word “Compassion”. The list is below, enjoy!

~La Boheme

Entries

Ben Lumley at The New Horizons Project.

Kris Vockler at Beyond Zen.

Corinne Edwards at Personal Growth with Corinne Edwards.

Isabella Mori at Change Therapy.

Paula Kawal at Journey Inward Coaching.

Liara Covert at Dream Builders.

David Bohl at Slow Down Fast.

Deb Estep at Deb_Inside.

Swami Nirmalananda Giri and ReddyK at the Atma Jyoti Blog.

Mary Jaksch at Goodlife Zen.

Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression.

Robin at Reflections on Compassion, posted at Yogini Myspace Blog.

Karen Zara at Abaminds.

Jenny Mannion at Heal Pain Naturally.

Evan Hadkins at WellBeingAndHealth.Net.

Shawn Williamson at do you LIVE or simply EXIST.

Patricia Singleton at Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker.

Alex Blackwell at The Next 45 Years.

Akemi Gaines at Gratitude Magic.

Vitor Bosshard at The Fractal Forest.

CG Walters at Into The Mist.

John Torcello has also contributed an entry by email, I’ve included it in the comments below.

Brightdays at Brighter Days for you and me!

Karen at Loving Awareness.

Krista at Lucid Amphibology.

Karen Lynch at Live The Power.

Andrea Hess at Empowered Soul.

Waters at Waters: The Last Thing I Wanted To Give.

Eric Grey at Deepest Health.

Stephen Hopson at Adversity University.

Em Dy at Pulse: Intention to Treat.

Iain Hamp at Follow Your Passions.

Rahul at Raw Speak.

Stephen Miracle at AltNoise.Net.

Pearl at Interesting Observations.

Mark at My Tropical Escape.

Matthew at Loving Awareness.

Daylle Schwartz at Lessons from a Recovering Doormat.

Charities Link at Charities Link.

Mihaela Lica at Pamil Visions eWritings.

David at Virginia Breeze.

Jerry Summers at Nothing Like Now.

Wishbone at Wishbone.

Arvind Devalia at Make Things Happen.

Samir Bharadwaj at Samir Bharadwaj dot com.

Kris Vockler interviews Leslie Blackburn; Artist, Engineer, and Yogini.

KV: We first met on a Sacred Journey to Egypt in November of 2007, what events prompted you to take this trip and what had you hoped to get out of it?

LB: Egypt called me about five years prior to the trip, as I was opening up to an awareness of a connection with Egypt that’s been reflected in many things during my life. I remember creating a Sphinx out of paper maché in 2nd grade, writing a paper on how I wanted to be an Archaeologist when I was in 5th grade, and a strong connection to cats, especially big cats (pumas, panthers, tigers) which I view as power animals of mine. As I started to piece these things together I consulted with a wonderful psychic advisor of mine asking her why I was feeling this draw to Egypt? What should I be aware of? She knowingly plunked a statue of Sekhmet in front of me, lent me a copy of “Initiation” by Elizabeth Haich, and put me in contact with Body Mind Spirit Journeys. My body lit up with goosebumps (a common sign I get when something really resonates with me!) Immediately I knew the connection was real.

Then I had an interesting twist…a series of synchronicities guided me into a trip to Peru. For a reason that I was not aware of at the time I needed to first travel to Peru. At the time, I thought perhaps it was Peru instead of Egypt. And in fact, when Andrea (director of Body Mind Spirit Journeys, who led both the trip to Peru and the one to Egypt) told me over the phone that many people end up traveling to both places with her – my first reaction was that I would just be up for one such major trip, and that a second to Egypt was unlikely.

Ah, divine guidance, I’ve learned now over the years to trust it and go for it. And sure enough, the trip to Peru was life changing! I believe I needed that trip first, to prepare me for the next phases of my life. Peru was immensely heart opening, at a time in my life when I had been reconnecting with my creativity and the divine feminine. Years in an engineering career in corporate America had squashed some of these aspects away, and it was time to reconnect. That trip to Peru is another whole topic in itself!

Finally, after more synchronicities, the means to make a second major trip presented itself. Shocked, but also recognizing the guidance for what it was, I signed up for Egypt as soon as Andrea posted the details. I headed into it knowing there was a great deal of healing and releasing I had yet to do. I feel that I was meant to be there to not only experience these healing aspects for myself, but also as a lightworker to help raise global consciousness. I was drawn there to learn these aspects and to share with and teach others.

KV: Were your expectations met or did the trip make any turns you didn’t expect?

LB:Both! There were aspects of the trip that I expected, but so many that were new and wholly necessary. At times I expected certain things to happen that didn’t, then I wondered why, then I realized…there I go again with the mental “thinking” process, the checklist. When I opened my heart to let the experience unfold as it may, that’s when I felt the most fulfilled. Now mind you, I say this with the utmost love and respect of list-making, it’s one of my strengths (I should buy stock in Post-its)! But I’ve come to recognize and honor both the logic side and the intuitive side…and there are times when I need to rely on my heart center. I found in Egypt that this was particularly demanding. This brings me back to my reason for heading to Peru first. Peru, being the feminine psychic center of the Earth, is naturally a very receptive, juicy, warm and open place and the people there reflect that. Egypt, being the masculine psychic center of the Earth, is a bit more harsh, dry and structured. So I believe the resistance I felt, or the tendency to kick-in to my logic self, was heightened while I was there. And all the more reason I needed that trip to Peru first, to help me with the necessary opening and receptivity that was harder for me in the past but proved to be critical for my healing and learning in Egypt.

KV: From your website it would appear that the Engineer was the first to come out in you, then art, then yoga. Is this how it unfolded? Was art a part of your younger life?

LB:Yes, art was a part of my younger life. Drawing was a love of mine from an early age, Mom even saved a coloring book picture from when I was 2 ½ yrs old, red was definitely my favorite color! As I grew, I was encouraged by teachers to learn more and had the opportunity to attend an honors art class at the University of Cincinnati when I was a high school student. However, when it came time to decide on a college major, an inner self, likely fueled by adult “shoulds” about money, won my internal debate between graphic design and engineering. As I proceeded through my degrees and career, what remained of the artistic side was funneled only into structured drafting and computer aided design (CAD), the creative side was subconsciously tucked away.

So as an adult, the engineer came first. I’ve led a highly successful career in the engineering field at a major corporation. As I’ve mentioned before, I was drawn to reconnect with my feminine/creative in recent years and picking up my art again has been a major aspect of that…both as a catalyst for and a result of connection with the divine feminine. I took some classes, and one in particular, “Intuitive Painting”, helped me open up my work into new realms.

Meanwhile, yoga became a part of my life close to 10 years ago when I was heavily in engineering career mode, along with being an endurance athlete (both very “type A”). I was training and competing in triathlon (swim/bike/run) and headed into my first Ironman race (2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, 26.2 mi run). The training took a tremendous toll on my body, and I turned to yoga to add flexibility and balance (strengthening the tiny muscles that provide stability and injury avoidance). I immediately enjoyed my practice for it’s physical benefits…and over time I realized the mental and spiritual benefits. Eventually, I added a regular meditation practice as well. Now, I enjoy the great depth of the yoga principles, in many aspects of my life.

KV: As for becoming a Yogini (an accurate description of you), when did spiritual seeking come into your life and what triggered it?

LB:Motherhood. The birth of my daughter, that is. What really cracked me open was my pregnancy and the birth of my daughter. Life for me has changed so immensely during that period and the years after she was born. My new infant taught me lessons that, for me, could not have been learned by reading a book or taking a class. She continues teaching me new things to this day.

As I awoke to a new reality, it was wonderful in many ways but painful in many others. I recognized my marriage wasn’t working, and made one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made. Wow, it sure is hard to wake up…you no longer have the option of just going back to sleep and ignoring your life! I had to face up to making a major change. As I ended the relationship with my husband, my daughter’s father, I questioned myself over and over again. The guidance I received kept reassuring me I was on the right path, and for the first time in my life I had to “let go of the steering wheel” as a dear friend and advisor told me. Reflecting on my relationship with my ex-husband that spanned half of my life to that point, I honor and respect the time we had together as it was exactly what I need through those phases of my life, even though it was time for it to end.

KV: You speak of the “Flower of Life” on your site and we talked about it on the trip as well, we symbols in Abydos. How did you discover this and what prompted you to study sacred geometry?

LB:Another wonderful outcome of my trip to Peru! But first, a bit of background from childhood:
In addition to drawing, one of the other aspects of my childhood was a huge interest in and proclivity to all things geometry…shapes, colors, lines, 3D objects, puzzles. I remember being very drawn to a topic in an honors class I took in 6th grade called “topology”…it still intrigues me to this day. Per Wikipedia, Topology (Greek topos, “place,” and logos, “study”) is a branch of mathematics that is an extension of geometry. Topology begins with a consideration of the nature of space, investigating both its fine structure and its global structure. I remember reducing the alphabet to only 5 or 6 basic topological elements, and drawing them on a balloon to illustrate how they can be stretched and shaped into all 26 letters. Also, I recall setting up mirrors into a triangular pattern and gazing, as if meditative, into the infinite field created by them.

So, fast-forward once again to Peru. While there, I connected with 3 amazing new friends. Although we had only just met (in this lifetime that is!) we felt a very deep connection. As we discussed all matters of spirituality and life, one of the people (Ed Spina, author of “Mystic Warrior”) gave me some recommendations on books. Two of these resonated right away, since Melchizedek & Sacred Geometry had come up twice before, and sure enough I got those goose bumps again! So the first two books I read once returning from Peru were “The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, Volumes 1 & 2”, by Drunvalo Melchizedek.

Drunvalo’s work was so familiar to me, in a subconscious yet “knowing” sort of way. I was able to recognize so many aspects, for the first time pulled together in one place, and with new information that made my heart sing (and more goosebumps!). This launched a whole new field of my reality, and I followed up by attending his workshop on the Flower of Life in addition to scouring other books and references.

Sacred geometry is the language of creation. It is a fundamental truth, a oneness that exists beneath all the formalized religions and beliefs. Practicing it has been very eye opening for me. By practicing I mean actually creating the shapes, forms and images using the tools of sacred geometry – a compass and a straight edge. Just seeing the images or reading about them doesn’t have the same effect as the action of recreating them. This is the central premise I use as I teach and learn about sacred geometry, it’s a hands-on experience!

KV: What’s next for you on this path you are following? What focus has you right now?

LB:My intention for the year is to continue to move into this new space, integrating the divine feminine and masculine and sharing my gifts with the world. This includes continuing with my art, teaching and learning through One Space. I am working with some wonderful people to create a workshop series on Embodiment, the first of which, on awakening the divine feminine, is planned for March 2008. Sacred sexuality and tantra are my current focus, my partner and I are planning tantra instructor certification later this year. Also, I would like to explore the integration of sacred geometry with sacred sexuality. I believe there’s a connection and would like to research this area more fully to be able to harvest and share this information.

I embrace continuing on my personal path which has been the integration of the ever-unfolding feminine in body and psyche with masculine direction and purpose – Love in action!

KV: Thank you so much for your time Leslie.

LB:Thank you so much for this opportunity to share – Leslie.