Spiritual Guidance Blog

One of the spiritual teachings I study is A Course in Miracles (ACIM). Part of the ACIM teachings is offered in the Workbook for Students that offers daily lessons to practice the teachings in my daily life.

Any spiritual teaching / discipline I have come across invites the student to practice. Take, for example, body centred practices such as yoga or tai chi, the student is encouraged to practice the asanas and movements. Maybe it’s teachings from a spiritual or great faith tradition; in which case the student is invited to practice the teachings in the scriptures or texts. Maybe its meditation or breathwork; here the student is invited to sit and meditate and/or practice their breathwork.

In all cases, practicing the teachings is what allows us to imbue and imbibe the teachings to live a healthy life (physically, mentally, and emotionally). Without practice, the teachings may become merely abstractions that make no sense.

In the ACIM gatherings I host, we talk a lot about practicing the teachings through our daily practice. We talk about the challenges and rewards of our practice.

I am blessed to have an orientation toward, and tolerance for, discipline. So, practicing my spiritual teachings is not difficult for me. But not everyone welcomes discipline and the opportunity to practice their spiritual teachings.

At a recent ACIM gathering, students were talking about their practice and their challenges with staying committed to their practice. I reflected on the students’ comments and shared that I have come to see my practice as a privilege. My choosing to practice is a privilege. And I honor that privilege by practicing. Some days my practice feels better than other days. But I practice just the same. To not practice is to dishonor the teachings.

How do you view your spiritual practice? Is it a privilege for you? If so, how do you honor your practice?

Robert Meagher has been ordained as an Interfaith Minister and certified as a Sacred Attention Therapy (SAT) Therapist. Robert is the Founder and Spiritual Director for Spiritual Guidance and Co-Founder of the Center for Human Awakening.

If you have been following my writings recently, you know that cycling is a passion of mine. Over this past season, I have been offered the awareness that cycling has become sacred to me and it has demonstrated itself as a form of spiritual practice. As such, I have embraced the teachings of my cycling adventures.

Last season I was blessed with the experience of cycling over very long distances. On one occasion I joined a group of riders for a 225 km excursion. While the outing was intended to be recreational in nature, with no competitive angle, there were numerous riders who did decide to make the event a race to see who could complete the 225 km route in the least amount of time. I had no intention of participating in the race aspect of the day. I simply wanted to enjoy the long ride at my casual pace.

When the outing started, many of the cyclists took off ahead of me in their pursuit of victory over this very long route. I simply settled into my comfortable pace and moving meditation on my bicycle. I had cycled with some of these riders before and knew that their approach to cycling long distances was to exert themselves over 20-25 kms at a time, and then rest for a while, often stopping for periods of 15 – 20 minutes, before resuming cycling. I, by contrast, cycle slower, stopping every 15 – 20 kms, but only for a few minutes at a time; long enough to enjoy nutrition and nature breaks.

As the excursion moved past the 100 km point, I noticed that I was passing some of the riders who initially darted off ahead of the pack at the beginning of the ride. These riders were stopped along the side of the road on one of their rests / breaks. At the 150 km point, I noticed that I was passing yet more of the riders who initially darted off ahead of the pack at the beginning of the ride. After more than 12 hours of riding, I finished the 225 km route ahead of more than half of the other riders; many of which had started their ride in a hurry to complete the route first.

I trust you have heard the wisdom teaching “slow and steady wins the race.” I wasn’t racing on this day, but I was cycling slow(er) and steady. As it turns out, this slow and steady approach allowed me to complete the 225 km route in a shorter time than those who approached the outing as a race.

My approach to cycling long distances is a metaphor for my life. No need to rush. No need to hurry. Just go about your daily life at a comfortable, steady pace. No need to exert myself unnecessarily. Life is not a sprint; it’s more like a marathon.

The experience was, and continues to be, an important reminder to be aware of how I am living my life. Are there times and places in my life where I dash off the start line with the intention of getting to the finish line first? Are there opportunities to slow things down a bit when I feel rushed and under pressure? Am I living my life like I am in a sprint / race?...or am I living my life to so that I may endure? These are all metaphorical questions. But you get the idea.

Sometimes hurrying and rushing does get us to the finish line first. But what I’ve learned from long-distance cycling, is that slow and steady will more often than not allow you to finish ahead of many, if not most, and be ready to hop on your bicycle and do it again the next day.

Robert Meagher has been ordained as an Interfaith Minister and certified as a Sacred Attention Therapy (SAT) Therapist. Robert is the Founder and Spiritual Director for Spiritual Guidance and Co-Founder of the Center for Human Awakening.

If you have been following me over the past few years, you know that I love cycling. It has become a passion of mine. The more I cycle, the more I realize that cycling has become a moving meditation. Cycling has expanded to be a spiritual practice and teacher for me.

Turn the clock back 20+ years ago when I first moved to Ottawa, CANADA, and started exploring the National Capital Region by bicycle. Back then, other than public transit, my bicycle was my sole means to commute to and from where I wanted or needed to go. My rides would typically be leisurely outings along the amazing National Capital Commission (NCC) dedicated bike paths through parkland and meandering riverside pathways. Rides would typically range from 1 – 10 km in length.

Between 10 – 15 years ago, I started using my bicycle for more than just commuting to and from places I wanted or needed to go. Cycling became a pastime. I would spend the morning or afternoon touring around the region. My joy and love of cycling expanded and the distances I would cycle expanded too. I was now riding distances of upwards to 25 kms on a single outing.

About 10 years ago, I started to think of my cycling as an outing for part of the day. I would leave before noon, find myself a nice, quiet spot to stop and have a lunch I prepared for myself. Then I would carry on cycling for a while longer. Now my rides would regularly see me cycling 50 kms or more on an outing.

The more I adventured on my bicycle, the more I saw, and the more wonderment flourished. I became inspired to keep exploring further. I became energized to see what lay beyond ‘that’ stop sign, where ‘that’ road would lead me, what ‘that’ destination would be like to cycle to and through. My love for cycling just kept growing.

Then, 5 years ago, I started setting new goals for myself. I wanted to cycle 100 km in a single day. This was a big deal for me. I gradually worked myself up to the distance, first cycling distances of 60 km, then 70 km, then 80 km…on a regular basis. I remember how exhilarating it was to be able to cycle 100 km on a single ride. I was also becoming aware of how meditative my long(er) rides were becoming. I would lose myself in a blissful state of being, of cycling for hours at a time, stopping only for brief nature and nutrition breaks.

Today, my rides are typically 150 – 175 km in distance, riding for 8 - 9 hours. Earlier this season I completed one ride of 225 kms, taking me more than 10 hours of riding to complete. Next season I intend to join an international group of cyclists—with a Chapter here in Ottawa—called the Randonneurs. The Randonneurs is a long-distance and ultra-long-distance cycling club. Rides range from 100 – 1,200 kms. Yes, you read that right…upwards to 1,200 kms. The thought of riding for days on end excites and inspires me beyond description!

What’s the point?

The point is…when you are ‘in love,’ the energy of love expands. The energy of love never, ever stops expanding. The very nature of love is to continue to expand, without any incumbrances. My cycling journey and adventures are merely a metaphor for the expansive nature of love. My rides are symbolic of loves never-ending extension of healing energy.

Have you ever heard the expression, ‘Follow your bliss.’? Well, if you follow your bliss, you will not only find love, but you will be ‘in love.’ Your joy, peace, and contentment will be indescribable. Your life will be a meditation in grace and tranquility. You will live your life in the heart of the Divine, where love is all there is.

Robert Meagher has been ordained as an Interfaith Minister and certified as a Sacred Attention Therapy (SAT) Therapist. Robert is the Founder and Spiritual Director for Spiritual Guidance and Co-Founder of the Center for Human Awakening.

Emotionally-charged moments can offer us an abundance of opportunities for healing. We have a tendency, however, to avoid emotionally-charged situations. We have numbed ourselves to living our lives so that everything unfolds without us having to feel our emotions. Feeling our emotions has become so taboo that we have become a culture of automatons. Worse, we have learned to repress and suppress our emotions. A recent outing with my partner allowed everyone to experience the magical healing that feeling our emotions offers.

My partner, Sherwin, has been living with Parkinsons for over 20 years. At present, the symptoms are what may be described as advanced. Sherwin’s mobility is significantly compromised and it has become necessary to acquire an electronic mobility aid to help him perform daily tasks and activities.

For several months, we have been working with a local organization that matches donors of electronic mobility devices with those in need of these devices. During June, Sherwin was matched with a donor and we scheduled a day and time to visit the donor and view the device.

So, on the day in question, Sherwin and I ventured to New Edinburgh to visit the donor of the mobility device. It just so happened that New Edinburgh was the neighborhood that Sherwin grew up in as a boy. So going back to New Edinburgh was a trip down memory lane that brought up many emotions for Sherwin. As we drove through New Edinburgh, Sherwin would share how he used to play “over there,” and “visit friends over there,” and “attend school and church over there”…and so on. In recalling his childhood, there were precious moments where Sherwin became emotional and teared up. It was a wonderful mix of joy, as evidenced by the smiles on Sherwin’s face and excitement in his voice, and who knows what else as tears ran down his cheeks.

We finally arrived at the donor’s home. We were greeted by the donor (we will call him Fred) and a representative from the organization that facilitated the matching of Sherwin’s needs with the donor who had an electric wheelchair to be donated to someone in need (we will call him Phil).

Sherwin took some time to look over the electric wheelchair with Phil and tested it out. It was determined that the wheelchair was in good working order / condition and would serve Sherwin well. At that point Sherwin turned to Fred and asked, “Why are you donating this wheelchair?” It was a perfectly natural question to ask; but what unfolded was a most precious moment.

Fred responded, “My wife lived with MS, and she passed away last month.” Fred started to cry. Fred gathered himself and continued, “It was her wish to donate the chair to someone in need.”

Upon hearing Fred’s words, and witnessing the depth of emotion flowing from Fred, Sherwin started to cry. Sherwin managed to eek out through his tears, “Well, if you are willing to donate the chair to me, I sure could use it. Thank you.”

I glanced over at Phil and he too was crying. While I cannot know for certain why Phil was crying, I suspect it was a combination of being moved by the very touching scene unfolding, and knowing that he had played a crucial role in bringing together Fred and Sherwin to witness and experience this precious moment.

Surprisingly, I did not cry. I was moved beyond words, but I was moved with and to joy. I was so grateful to be present in the moment and experience these three men openly sharing their emotions with each other. I just smiled at everyone. As the intensity of the emotions gradually settled down, I walked over to Fred, shook his hand, and thanked him for his kindness and for donating the wheelchair so Sherwin may be able to improve the quality of his life. I did the same to Phil.

It was such a rare moment, to ‘be’ with these three people who were brought together by Divine intervention—to witness a depth of feeling that was so genuine, so heartful, and so heart-centred. I felt truly blessed.

Robert Meagher has been ordained as an Interfaith Minister and certified as a Sacred Attention Therapy (SAT) Therapist. Robert is the Founder and Spiritual Director for Spiritual Guidance and Co-Founder of the Center for Human Awakening.

One month not long ago I injured my right knee. I had lifted a heavy object one day, and the next day my knee was swollen and non-weight-bearing to kneel on.

I became distraught over this turn of events. I immediately went into worry mode and catastrophized about all the things I would not be able to do because of my knee injury. I became upset that my knee injury may affect my ability to ride my bicycle (a passion of mine). I became further upset when thinking about how the injury may affect my ability to fully participate in my upcoming Great Cycle Challenge---or if I would be able to participate at all! Even though I had no idea how bad, or not, the knee injury was, I immediately went into catastrophe mode and assumed the worst.

I immediately started my own rehabilitation, which focused on using various essential oils to treat the injury. I continued with my daily workouts, but with much less intensity. To my pleasant surprise, my knee showed gradual signs of improvement each day.

I made a full recovery in the following weeks. As a precautionary step, I had some xrays to see if there was any internal damage. The xrays came back negative. I gradually returned to my normal exercise regimen, at my normal intensity. I was able to enjoy my bicycle rides as I did before my injury.

When I reflected on my experience, I realized that my early catastrophizing was not helpful. Sure, I was upset and worried, but to have allowed my mind to run away with thoughts of how this was going to affect my life was way out of proportion at the time. It simply did me no good at all worry about what might be (or might have been if I had not lifted that heavy object in the first place!).

The experience was a welcome lesson for me in easing into all that life offers. Instead of bemoaning my circumstances, I need to welcome all that unfolds. Dare I say, I need to enjoy it all…even an injured knee. Worry, upset and fear is not the vibrational mode required for healing. The only vibration that heals is love.

Robert Meagher has been ordained as an Interfaith Minister and certified as a Sacred Attention Therapy (SAT) Therapist. Robert is the Founder and Spiritual Director for Spiritual Guidance and Co-Founder of the Center for Human Awakening.