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       #Post#: 85--------------------------------------------------
       Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: yogasimplifiedmethod Date: October 11, 2022, 12:03 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Chapter Five - Merging With Others
       Reflect on the first page of the chapter, highlighting several
       questions: Where will you find protection, comfort, and support
       when life on the path gets difficult? Who will ask penetrating
       questions that force you to dig deeper for self-understanding?
       Etc... In this chapter, Dr. Goldberg talks about companions and
       camaraderie. I like to call it the buddy system. In scuba
       diving, we always have to have a buddy with us at all times to
       make sure we're safe. Since we cannot speak underwater (some
       technology allows people to say, but for the most part, divers
       use gestures or board to communicate), we must be aware of our
       well-being and buddy at all times. We are taught to expand the
       standard ways of communication while exploring the depths of the
       sea. Our emotions and thoughts also have depth; we're not taught
       just to "dive in." We must go through a process to prepare
       ourselves. This includes trust, patience, alertness, hand
       gestures, etc. The same can be said for many other facets of
       life.
       Choose one of the travel tips at the end of chapter five that
       resonates with you the most. For instance, I will answer
       question five.
       On a scale from 1-5, I would say I'm a 3.5. There are many
       topics and beliefs I question that would probably give a reason
       for those to question my spirituality simply because I don't
       follow the norm. I don't follow spiritual teachers, wear
       traditional spiritual clothing (certain colors based on my
       mindset or name-brand gear), and try to stay quite grounded and
       process my thoughts/emotions versus acting upon them. That is
       just me, personally. I have witnessed many spiritual people
       completely lost in life yet portrayed to the world a persona to
       garner believers. I'm a devout follower but dabble in many (as
       the book suggests). I believe I am no better than others and
       where they are in life, and what may direct me down a peaceful
       path, maybe troublesome for someone to do the same. They may be
       unfilled.
       What question would you like to answer for yourself?
       Chapter 6 - Possible Delays Due To Organized Tours
       Discussing travel tip, question one. Has an organization ever
       spoken to you with reflective questions? I would like to look at
       The Collective as an example. The reason(s) why you love going
       to the Collective is probably because you do get to be yourself,
       there is no pressure to conform, nobody is fanatical (unless
       you're just a fanatic about a format :-)), nobody is pressuring
       you to give more, instructors encourage you to be the best
       version of yourself with their support, everyone feels
       important, seen and heard at the Collective.
       Another organization may or may not come to mind when answering
       these questions, but I can say for me personally I know I have
       encountered some subtle hostility in certain environments over
       the years. Fortunately, nothing too debilitating but enough to
       make me decide where I should channel my energy to.
       Feel free to talk about the Collective, charitable organization,
       school activities, outside clubs, etc., that you felt [or did
       not] feel a part of and what you learned from it.
       #Post#: 93--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: Kelli Cook Date: October 13, 2022, 3:50 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Chapter 5
       I have to begin with, this is the first time I have ever dabbled
       or read into a spiritual path.  As I mentioned before, I grew up
       in a very Catholic Family, but once I was on my own, I did not
       return to that religion and to be honest, could not tell you
       much about it to this day.  I was forced to attend.  So for me,
       I do not necessarily have a spiritual companion or am I one
       either.  Des, I would say you are the closet one to it, as you
       are the beginning of opening up this view to me!  I feel like
       you emulate a lot of the qualities this book lists off to us as
       your YTT students.
       I am going to specifically answer question #5 from the Travel
       Tips.  I hope to cultivate the ability to listen deeply without
       judgement and to “walk her talk” and help others walk theirs.  I
       hope to continue the discipline of learning more after our YTT
       journey and remain consistent in my practice.  And with this
       newly developed knowledge, I hope to share it with others and
       encourage them to try what has helped me so tremendously .
       Chapter 6
       Again, in this chapter, my mother was in the back of my head.
       While I love her dearly and she honestly is not one who belongs
       to the “cult” of organized religion.  She believes whole heartly
       in her Catholicism and cannot understand why I do not.  I am
       lucky enough she respects the boundaries and it does not truly
       cause a wedge between us, but I know it disappoints her and at
       times she finds ways to bring it up.  Especially around
       baptizing my son, Bryce. So with that said, reading this chapter
       actually really helped me be OK with my decision.  There are a
       handful of things I just do not agree with in organized
       religion, in the Catholic faith, and that is OK. I have
       experienced some things in my life that the church would not be
       OK with. It makes me uneasy and upset to think that they could
       have conformed my way of thinking on a matter to be something
       different. The church sees it this way, and so do you, kind of
       thinking.  This did not sit well with me.  Again, to each their
       own.  And like the book said, there are devout honest
       trustworthy people who find the good in organized religion and
       these people also see the good in others and are not judgmental
       if your views do not align with theirs.  They can understand
       other perspectives.  But unfortunately there are many others
       that lean the other direction as well.  I am going into a
       tangent now 😊  This clearly is a subject that hits home!
       The quote at the end of the chapter REALLY spoke to me.  Hit
       home.  “Strictly speaking, no one seeking the peace that
       surpasses understanding really needs the trapping of an
       organization – not the buildings, not the rituals, not the
       anointed leaders, not the fellowship – because the true abode of
       the Divine is the heart.”
       Collective Studios is also an AMAZING example of this.  This
       studio has brought back the fire inside me to move my body,
       breath, take time for myself, be kind (everyone is SO nice when
       you walk into the place).  The studio is so relaxing and
       calming.  The instructors are amazing and kind.  I look forward
       to going to the studio every time!
       #Post#: 95--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: heidi91@comcast.net Date: October 15, 2022, 7:03 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I have to start off by saying this book really makes you think
       about things deeply. I also grew up with not much focus on
       religion I was baptized as a child in the Catholic Church but
       growing up never really attended church services. My husbands
       family are faithful Catholics so I grew to learn more from him
       and before I was married I as an adult made my confirmation to
       have the knowledge to raise my children and be able to educate
       them. I never fully embraced it I just don’t fully agree with it
       all and being the mother of a gay son it made me realize so much
       has to change with not only the Catholic church but many other
       organizations in life but that’s a whole separate topic…. Lol!
       Just sharing that as background kinda like Kellie mentioned I’m
       not focused on one specific spiritual organization. I chose
       question 2: I would love my spiritual friends to be
       compassionate, to be trustworthy, to be educated, to be strong
       minded, some to be open minded and integral. I wish I had found
       this book years ago I think it would of saved a lot of heart
       ache but grateful to have it now.
       #Post#: 96--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: heidi91@comcast.net Date: October 15, 2022, 7:11 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Chapter 6 although I don’t follow any specific spiritual
       organization I am grateful to be part of an amazing team at
       work, sometimes jokingly I call it a cult… lol I as you know
       Anna hairstylist and I also educate other stylist all over the
       United States for a company called Eufora based in California
       and it’s an amazing group that on reading chapter 6 made me
       think of the people within this community everyone truly believe
       in each other we want others to succeed and do good. There’s no
       judgement everyone is open honest and inviting. There’s
       constructive criticism not belittling. I guess in some respect
       this is part of my spiritual organization.
       #Post#: 97--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: oliviamarotta Date: October 15, 2022, 12:46 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=heidi91@comcast.net link=topic=10.msg95#msg95
       date=1665835381]
       I have to start off by saying this book really makes you think
       about things deeply. I also grew up with not much focus on
       religion I was baptized as a child in the Catholic Church but
       growing up never really attended church services. My husbands
       family are faithful Catholics so I grew to learn more from him
       and before I was married I as an adult made my confirmation to
       have the knowledge to raise my children and be able to educate
       them. I never fully embraced it I just don’t fully agree with it
       all and being the mother of a gay son it made me realize so much
       has to change with not only the Catholic church but many other
       organizations in life but that’s a whole separate topic…. Lol!
       Just sharing that as background kinda like Kellie mentioned I’m
       not focused on one specific spiritual organization. I chose
       question 2: I would love my spiritual friends to be
       compassionate, to be trustworthy, to be educated, to be strong
       minded, some to be open minded and integral. I wish I had found
       this book years ago I think it would of saved a lot of heart
       ache but grateful to have it now.
       [/quote]
       Heidi, I'm so glad you shared this and I can relate a lot to
       your experiences and feelings. My family grew up attending
       church on special occasions and we were enrolled in CCD
       throughout elementary and middle school, and all received
       confirmation in high school. I never felt like I connected to
       the faith in the way that others seemed to.
       My older brother is gay which makes it very difficult for me to
       support institutions that view him as less than whole or
       unworthy of the same rights and love as anyone else. Luckily, my
       family and my parents are all so supportive and accepting of
       him, as he deserves nothing less, but unfortunately that is not
       the case for many people in the LGBTQ+ community. I am sure your
       son is so grateful for your open-mind and unconditional love!
       #Post#: 99--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: Niki Ehrenkranz Date: October 15, 2022, 4:20 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Chapter 5
       Question 6- Reflecting on the quote: Searching for an answer
       with a companion is better than searching alone. Walking through
       life alone can, at times, make you feel lost or feel like you're
       going in circles.
       Being able to ask someone for help can make you feel supported.
       Talking through an experience with a friend that may have worked
       through a similar experience may provide a different
       perspective. Discussing experiences may help learn from others
       mistakes or help decide which direction to continue in.
       Walking with someone to find "the way out" or the way home
       allows you to work together but also speak up when you have a
       gut feeling. Know when to be the student and when to be the
       teacher.
       Chapter 6
       TCS is the only organization that I am currently part of that I
       feel very aligned with. Being part of YTT allows me the space
       and community to reflect on spirituality which I have not done
       outside family and friends in years.
       Growing up my family jumped to a few different synagogues in
       search for what aligned with us, following friends or people as
       we evolved. I never felt pressure to conform, everyone was
       always warm and accepting. My parents allowed my sister and I to
       make our own spiritual choices. I've always felt connected with
       something bigger than myself, as I continue to evolve it's
       finding communities like TCS that encourage self discovery and
       drive to learn from others.
       #Post#: 104--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: oliviamarotta Date: October 16, 2022, 10:19 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Chapter Five - Merging With Others
       [I]Travel Tip: list the most important qualities you would like
       your spiritual friends to have.[/i]
       I think that it is most important for a spiritual friend to be
       trustworthy and a good listener. They should genuinely care to
       share in your life experiences and offer advice or thoughts
       without pushing their beliefs or experiences on you. On the
       other hand, a spiritual friend that just tells you what you want
       to hear is not beneficial for either party, as one carries on in
       disillusionment and the other feels unfulfilled in their ability
       to speak their mind honestly. It is important to find a balance
       between being supportive but also conversing truthfully and
       openly.
       Chapter 6 - Possible Delays Due To Organized Tours
       I would say that an organization I did not feel at home in was
       the fashion program at the college I attended as a freshman. I
       went to New York for college, thinking that I wanted to pursue
       an education and career in fashion merchandising. I worked
       really hard throughout high school to get good grades and
       qualify for scholarships so that I could attend this school,
       however it didn’t play out as I had imagined. My classes were
       filled with girls who were more concerned with which designer
       bag they were going to carry to class than about the assignments
       or topics of discussion. I felt completely out of place
       attending lectures in leggings and a sweater, as my classmates
       looked as if they were about to attend a fashion show. Certain
       professors even commented that the fashion faculty takes note of
       what you wear to class, so dress to impress. I felt like there
       was such an emphasis on materialistic things rather than the
       knowledge that we were supposed to be acquiring. I performed
       well in my classes and was able to understand the material, but
       I knew that this was not an environment I was meant to be in. I
       didn’t care if my shoes were from this season or last season’s
       collection, but I realized that a future in this field meant an
       entire career of networking with superficial people who can
       dress the part but not think critically about the fashion
       business. I made the decision to transfer schools at the end of
       my freshmen year, and am so glad I did. I found a really great
       community of friends at the college I transferred to, with
       people who valued me for the person I was and not who I dressed
       to be.
       #Post#: 117--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: yogasimplifiedmethod Date: October 16, 2022, 7:16 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Kelli Cook link=topic=10.msg93#msg93
       date=1665694204]
       Chapter 5
       I have to begin with, this is the first time I have ever dabbled
       or read into a spiritual path.  As I mentioned before, I grew up
       in a very Catholic Family, but once I was on my own, I did not
       return to that religion and to be honest, could not tell you
       much about it to this day.  I was forced to attend.  So for me,
       I do not necessarily have a spiritual companion or am I one
       either.  Des, I would say you are the closet one to it, as you
       are the beginning of opening up this view to me!  I feel like
       you emulate a lot of the qualities this book lists off to us as
       your YTT students.
       I am going to specifically answer question #5 from the Travel
       Tips.  I hope to cultivate the ability to listen deeply without
       judgement and to “walk her talk” and help others walk theirs.  I
       hope to continue the discipline of learning more after our YTT
       journey and remain consistent in my practice.  And with this
       newly developed knowledge, I hope to share it with others and
       encourage them to try what has helped me so tremendously .
       Chapter 6
       Again, in this chapter, my mother was in the back of my head.
       While I love her dearly and she honestly is not one who belongs
       to the “cult” of organized religion.  She believes whole heartly
       in her Catholicism and cannot understand why I do not.  I am
       lucky enough she respects the boundaries and it does not truly
       cause a wedge between us, but I know it disappoints her and at
       times she finds ways to bring it up.  Especially around
       baptizing my son, Bryce. So with that said, reading this chapter
       actually really helped me be OK with my decision.  There are a
       handful of things I just do not agree with in organized
       religion, in the Catholic faith, and that is OK. I have
       experienced some things in my life that the church would not be
       OK with. It makes me uneasy and upset to think that they could
       have conformed my way of thinking on a matter to be something
       different. The church sees it this way, and so do you, kind of
       thinking.  This did not sit well with me.  Again, to each their
       own.  And like the book said, there are devout honest
       trustworthy people who find the good in organized religion and
       these people also see the good in others and are not judgmental
       if your views do not align with theirs.  They can understand
       other perspectives.  But unfortunately there are many others
       that lean the other direction as well.  I am going into a
       tangent now 😊  This clearly is a subject that hits home!
       The quote at the end of the chapter REALLY spoke to me.  Hit
       home.  “Strictly speaking, no one seeking the peace that
       surpasses understanding really needs the trapping of an
       organization – not the buildings, not the rituals, not the
       anointed leaders, not the fellowship – because the true abode of
       the Divine is the heart.”
       Collective Studios is also an AMAZING example of this.  This
       studio has brought back the fire inside me to move my body,
       breath, take time for myself, be kind (everyone is SO nice when
       you walk into the place).  The studio is so relaxing and
       calming.  The instructors are amazing and kind.  I look forward
       to going to the studio every time!
       [/quote]
       When something is forced upon a person, it leaves such PTSD in
       the mind, especially if it's something that person just does not
       jive with. I appreciate the sentiment of opening you up, and I
       hope I'm not the only one as you continue to navigate through
       the fluctuations of thoughts, meanings, emotions, and decisions
       as you move forward. As far as walking the walk and talking the
       talk, it's all about being real and as they say "authentic." But
       even the word authentic is diluted in this industry, so as long
       as you negate the struggles as well as the wins, people will get
       the information you share with them. If they don't get it, they
       will want to, at the very least, learn something from it.
       The book is really a powerful read; simple but cuts through the
       BS. Dr. Goldberg has been around a few years, and his anecdotes
       are so refreshing to know, a yogi scholar who has dabbled in
       drugs of spiritual fixes reminds us, we have what we need
       inside. If you want to dabble now and again, great, but don't do
       it because "all the cool kids are," it's more about tapping into
       your personal beliefs and stand firm in what works for you and
       you only.
       The Collective is a great foundation of support, interaction,
       uplifting, energetic, and calming all at the same time.
       #Post#: 118--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: yogasimplifiedmethod Date: October 16, 2022, 7:21 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=heidi91@comcast.net link=topic=10.msg95#msg95
       date=1665835381]
       I have to start off by saying this book really makes you think
       about things deeply. I also grew up with not much focus on
       religion I was baptized as a child in the Catholic Church but
       growing up never really attended church services. My husbands
       family are faithful Catholics so I grew to learn more from him
       and before I was married I as an adult made my confirmation to
       have the knowledge to raise my children and be able to educate
       them. I never fully embraced it I just don’t fully agree with it
       all and being the mother of a gay son it made me realize so much
       has to change with not only the Catholic church but many other
       organizations in life but that’s a whole separate topic…. Lol!
       Just sharing that as background kinda like Kellie mentioned I’m
       not focused on one specific spiritual organization. I chose
       question 2: I would love my spiritual friends to be
       compassionate, to be trustworthy, to be educated, to be strong
       minded, some to be open minded and integral. I wish I had found
       this book years ago I think it would of saved a lot of heart
       ache but grateful to have it now.
       [/quote]
       The faith many of you were raised on has its intentions and the
       amount of followers is astonishing! If it works for others,
       fantastic but a belief should never be forced upon others. I too
       have a gay stepson and there was bit of hesitancy coming out to
       us, but we celebrated it and reminded him no matter what he
       believes, who he loves, we love him the way he is. So I can
       relate to that to some degree and religious beliefs within the
       family. It can be tough and if the gut instinct is to not follow
       fully to a belief, it brings you a sense of control, knowing
       nothing is controlling your thoughts. RoadSigns is all about
       embracing what works for you.
       I'm glad you are enjoying the book now and hopefully, you will
       be able to recommend it to others in the future as a resource.
       #Post#: 119--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Road Signs - Chapter 5/6
       By: yogasimplifiedmethod Date: October 16, 2022, 7:25 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=heidi91@comcast.net link=topic=10.msg96#msg96
       date=1665835863]
       Chapter 6 although I don’t follow any specific spiritual
       organization I am grateful to be part of an amazing team at
       work, sometimes jokingly I call it a cult… lol I as you know
       Anna hairstylist and I also educate other stylist all over the
       United States for a company called Eufora based in California
       and it’s an amazing group that on reading chapter 6 made me
       think of the people within this community everyone truly believe
       in each other we want others to succeed and do good. There’s no
       judgement everyone is open honest and inviting. There’s
       constructive criticism not belittling. I guess in some respect
       this is part of my spiritual organization.
       [/quote]
       Being an educator is such a rewarding position, isn't it? I
       enjoy reading about the camaraderie within the company that
       helps others and encourages others to expand. I think it does
       have a spiritual element because deep down and wholeheartedly
       you enjoy what you do and the energy the company has. Look at it
       through the lens of the fab four pathways; Devotional, Action,
       Knowledge, and the culmination of such gives you a reason to
       stay with the company, to be an educator, to be a part of
       something that gives back and your expertise is celebrated.
       *****************************************************
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