I Promise Myself

~ The Optimist's Creed ~
~ From The Secret ~

I Promise Myself...

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

Christian D. Larson
(modified by The Secret)
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I had originally planned to publish this post on Saturday (January 15th), but I ended up working on about 3-4 other blog drafts instead (I have about 25+ drafts at the moment :). It is easy to get too deeply mired into research for those other topics due to their complexity and requirements for integrity and consistency. However, it seemed better today.. or rather better late than never.. to just keep working on this post and "commentary", and get it up when I could.

I also noticed that with a retrograde season of craziness starting and stopping.. (Mercury was retrograde until January 15th), there is most certainly no one ending... or beginning.. and that understanding a "state of promise" takes time and patience and faith, and sometimes even a little bit of the mystic.

Actually, since I often find myself deeply influenced by the moon, and the sign it is in, it seems that more than a little mysticism is at play here. The moon was still in Aquarius up until Saturday night, and there is just something about Air signs that don't work for me. However, I noticed without knowing it at the time... that as soon as the moon had changed on Saturday (into Pisces), things shifted dramatically for me. By Sunday, I was thinking about this post again and the need to work on it and get it done was building up with the next transition into Aries on Wednesday.

See Universal Lunar Calendar for the details.
[ASIDE:
I looked at the calendar just after the "initial" blockage on working on this particular post (on January 19, 2010) so I'm intrigued by my responses and energy without having known it was in an air sign "phase".
And I haven't yet touched on the phase the moon it is in fact in... which brings into play a whole other set of dynamics.
END]

Then with the moon shifting into what I like to call the "little sparking campFire" (Aries) on Wednesday (into Thursday), I found myself immensely inspired.. driven to be working on other writings, posts and drafts as well. The fire of creativity.. beginning, unleashing.

THE ELEMENTS/ELEMENTALS:
(in case you're not familiar with them, which is different than “familiar”)
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The Four Elements of Magic and Nature:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/161929/the_four_elements_of_magic_and_nature.html?cat=34

Classical Elements:
(NOTE ones in Greece)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_element

Elements in Fiction:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elements_in_fiction

Classical Elements in Popular Culture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_elements_in_popular_culture
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In further reflection, perhaps what I needed was more time to be sure this depth of insight is what I wanted to share, to dump out there for the "world" to see, and to expose that part, that vulnerability of myself along with my interpretations of this "statement of belief" and the concepts it encompasses for me.

And then I had an interesting example this past Sunday night (Jan 17, 2010) that impacted deeply for me in some of the statements above from the "I Promise Myself..." creed, and on finding compassion.

Compassion for myself.
Compassion for others.

Yet, it took until Tuesday, and then again today, Thursday, for me to recognize those lessons fully, and explore and to do the additional research to go along with everything I wanted to reveal here. And I know that I will update this section here with regards to compassion.. with the next moon shift, as there is something yet under the surface, that I haven't yet been able to flesh out and to bring to the light.

[ASIDE:
I do tend to be a bit excessive (read obsessive ;) about my links, research, etc.. so it perhaps takes me a bit longer to post & share something, but the perfectionist in me is not sure it can be done any other way ;)
END]

QUOTES of RELEVANCE:
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Peace is not just the absence of violence but the manifestation of human compassion.
-- Dalai Lama.

The only sin we never forgive each other is difference of opinion.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Be kind, remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
-- T. H. Thompson.

Everyone needs to be loved... especially when they do not deserve it.
-- Unknown.

Kids need love the most when they're acting most unlovable.
-- Erma Bombeck.
(And adults acting like kids when their "triggers" are hit..)

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
-- Dalai Lama.
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So.. framed by thoughts from the Dalai Lama, and quotes that remind me of the path that must be walked.. I thought.. what better time than now to embark upon a new phase, a new journey... one of empowerment, of achievement, of improvement, of beauty, of truth, of imagination, of commitment, and of promise.

I Promise Myself... many things.
And among them,
that this year WILL be different.
I feel the shift.
I feel the change.
I will take a different path to BEing.
I Promise Myself...
I Promise Myself... many things.

REFERENCE/BACKGROUND on Retrograde:
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FROM Astrology on the Web:

"Mercury turns direct at on the day of the Capricorn New Moon on January 15th, which is itself conjunct the planet Venus, a benefic planet. This should be quite a good day all round, with some surprising benefits, especially for those who wish to make a new start. Merc stations on the fortunate Fixed Star, Kaus Borealis, which has the reputation of promoting of idealism and humanity, being endowed with bright ideas, enterprise and a sense of justice.

All areas of communication are affected by this phase, especially in matters related to teaching, healing, professional advice, workplace relationships (especially those with employees and subordinates), the military, and communications connected with such matters. Small animals may be important amidst the confusion. This period brings travel snafus, mail mishaps and missed appointments of all kinds. Documents can go astray. Be sure to carry a diary and refer to it often."