Luke Adler Healing Unleashed

thru thick and thin

2011-05-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

One of the most endearing sentiments that has remained true from my childhood to present day is a combination of loyalty and dedication. I remember feeling a profound sense of loyalty to my peer group as a kid -- that I would do anything to protect my friends. I found comfort that they would do the same for me. This feeling of support allowed me to take bigger risks because of which I continue to do so. These are values espoused by all forms and sizes of social organizations from street gangs to high levels of government. Loyalty, keeping secrets, confidence, trust, friendship, safety. This current of feeling is the pinnacle of human achievement. This is the most valued currency of humanity. Within in this flow is also, forgiveness, grace, tenderness, and healing.
As I deal with personal challenges, I am held up by the loyalty and dedication of my friends and family. I can endure great hardship because of that support. Most of the time I am able to offer that confidence as well. In fact it is an honor to do so. To be let in by a friend, to be part of someones' life --- I feel so grateful. I sometimes tease my wife, "you really love little old me" Amidst all the great work I've done on myself, I wake up everyday not remembering what I've accomplished, and being surprised by the beauty around me.

It's as if everyday were the first day of my life and the

world is interested in little old me...it can't be...but it is!

As I move through my life loyalty and dedication are precious commodities. Material things in excess are empty and frivolous at best. Our value is our in unity.

Through thick and thin may our families, friendships and as a species be together in spirit, support each other in life, endure in the world, and make this planet a more magical home.

the path prose

2011-05-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

life is inherently dynamic.

its funny how just as I get comfortable with a situation it begins to change. Or in many cases I would like things to change because they are too comfortable and predictable. Either way, life finds a way to teach me to let go...

I believe the Bible says something like, life is but a vapor. It's so true. Whenever are we? Wherever are we? Life goes on.

The more present I am, the more time seems to flex like plexi glass, warping its structure, texture and dimensions.

De ja' vue anyone?

Have you been here, done this, before?

I strongly sense I have. I project we have many times ... whose to say when. Not to get to out there but here I go anyway.

Life emits its animating force from the

dynamic vortex heart structure of existence.

As I attune to that Heart, the beauty, preciousness and paradoxical nature of opposing values swirl. Within that motion a compelling force moves me in a clear trajectory of service, honesty, power, love, and joy. There are other experiences too. I choose to focus on the aforementioned...most of the time.

Amidst the seeming chaos, purpose awaits. It awaits your initiative, resolve and commitment. Our work is serious, challenging, often difficult .... and if we want we can enjoy it, have fun, drink bliss. Vamos Muchachos!

Beautiful Me

2011-04-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

Have you every had a great coach or mentor? These extraordinary people sit with you when you're stuck and help you move into the unknown. A great coach is a visionary. My mentors see my potential and through their guidance turn their vision into my reality. Eventually I see their possibility for me. I see myself through their eyes. I witnessed my fear and limitations fall away, and a strong, smart, and beautiful being emerge.

To see yourself through the eyes of someone who sees the best in you

this-is-an-extra-ordinary-sight

Today, I see me full of vigor and joy. My smile is beaming and eyes overflowing with spirit. My skin is glowing and hair shiny and glistening even under overcast skies. I am eating lunch, slowly enjoying every bite and chewing my food to liquefaction. My digestion is hardy and strong. My entire GI tract is working smoothly, easily absorbing the nutrients from the delicious organic vegetables, fruit, grains and proteins I'm eating. The large intestine is effortlessly and regularly moving bowels for elimination. My beaming smile, reflects how great I feel.
Man! I am sleeping like a baby. Falling to sleep quickly, getting deep rest, and waking up refreshed and inspired for all of the fun and creative things I am doing today. My breath is full of vitality, lungs feeling strong and fit. Breathing I can feel the pranic life force powerfully flowing through muscles and into the marrow of my bones.

My mind is clear and focused which is reflected in my erudite, crisp speech. Everything I do is full of intent. In my heart I feel connected to a spiritual source of power and grace that permeates every aspect of my life. Lighthearted and fun, I am laughing often during the day. I am committed deeply to every aspect of life, and it shows in the joy I share with co workers, friends and my family. My work life is truly fulfilling and I have plenty of resources to live the lifestyle I want, giving regularly to those in need.

Eyes wide and glistening I am stoked to live this day, knowing that I make a difference in the world just by being me. Different emotions flow through my body during the day. As they appear I breath life into them letting them wear new grooves into the contours of my vast Soul.

From timbre of my voice and inflection of my words people can feel I am comfortable being vulnerable which allows them to be open.

Full of love in my heart, gratitude is spilling over, as I remember how blessed I am just to have life, let alone the other countless things I am consciously grateful for.

I catch a glimpse of me in the mirror, and for a moment
I don’t recognize the face in the reflection.

It seems like it could be the face of anyone in the world, and then I see it. I see the light of my Soul shining through the body. I can feel my purpose within that light. Even though I look radiant and beautiful, I care about something much deeper. One overriding desire pulsates withing me like a homing beacon. And that desire is to share my heart with the world through my word, action and deed and receive the heart of the world in the same way. That is enough. That is the point and purpose of my life. Give. Receive. Give. Receive.

My heart is rock solid love and it is beautiful to witness.

This is my vision and my reality.

read this out loud as a daily affirmation of who you truly are.

as you read it, feel into your cells and bones.

breath the words into your body.

let them marinate deep inside.

the one you are looking for.

2011-04-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

guest post by melinda iglesias

it's amazing how a sunny morning can change my whole day.

even more amazing, is how it changes around me.

here in the PNW we value sunshine;

we are grateful for it every time it shows up.

some of you who are thinking, "no! i need a few more weeks of transition time before i shed all the layers i've been using to protect myself throughout the long, long winter." i agree with you! it is challenging to make the transition so quickly. i know, without a doubt however, that we will get a few more days of rain to help with reflection and contemplation before the big spring shift occurs.

that being said, on days like today i catch myself considering how i might re-create the effect that the blazing light of a sunny day has on me, in my own dark times.

now you might laugh, but i mean this literally... at least for those of us who endure the winter in cold, rainy, damp, grey oregon for all of the winter months. we don't know what else to do but bask in the light of spring (when it finally arrives).

i notice the following about myself and others when the sun is out:

i must get outside, i must commune with nature,

something that always makes me feel incredible

i smile more and others smile back

i make more of an effort to make eye contact, others do too

i laugh more

i am sweeter in my thoughts and interactions

..maybe even more authentic?

i would even go so far as to say that i get more accomplished when it's sunny out

i guess then, the question is how do we re-create the effect of the sun in our lives?

what qualities do we imbue ourselves with to better prepare us for life's challenges?

how can we consciously meet a situation, person or moment in life with the intention and energy that is given to us when we are re-charged?

here are some of the responses i received when i posed this question

what do you do to recharge?

eat lots of fruits and vegetables, slowly

spend time by myself

watch television

read a book

go for a walk

sleep

meditate

cook

clean

hang out with friends

go out and be in nature

hang out with good friends and loved ones

burn palo santo and sage

practice yoga, in a class or by myself

it seems that reoccurring theme for this time is cultivating relationships,

healthy and nurturing ones....

the 'good for you' ones, not only with others, but with yourself.

a great teacher once said,

"the one you are looking for, is the one who is looking".

all love, melinda.

you'll be better for it.

2011-03-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

guest blog by melinda iglesias

our biggest fear is not that we are inadequate.

our biggest fear is that we will achieve and thrive,
our biggest fear is stepping out, into our deepest self, into our true potential.

what i could be, my best self, the potential i have inside,
is what scares me the most.

recently i have been rebuilding my relationship with the amazing person that i know is deep inside of me. i think about it all the time... always working toward being more authentic.
living more and more in my heart.
it's like being in a relationship, with myself!

i am constantly checking in, trying on different scenarios. what feels good? lunch with friends, or time by myself? yoga or a hike? do i want to share myself with that person, would it be better if i didn't? what does the exchange in my relationships look like currently? what insights do i have in regard to my relationships? am i being authentic or ingratiating? do i speak the truth with grace and equipoise or do i ignore conversations i should be having to make the other person more "comfortable"?

what are my dreams? what do i want to be tomorrow?

your questions may and will look different- as our questions will be based on where we are in our journey. but, for just a moment, think about it, think about all the things you could possibly be and how amazing you could be at each and every one!

what keeps you from making those a reality in your life?

remember saying,
"when i grow up i am going to be a (insert dream here)!"
reflect, think, pause, and remember what it felt like, viscerally, to say that sentence.
did you take a deep breath before you said it?
did you have an enormous smile on your face?
what were the reactions to your statement?
were you supported in your dreams?
what does it feel like to say that sentence right now?
can you still identify with that person?

sometimes i wonder where that person went...
sometimes i wonder where that authentic, overzealous, unstoppable young lady is.

re-creating, maintaining and nurturing my connection to her is vital.
much of the world we live in today does not always support being authentic, being in your heart, living your greatest potential, your life's purpose. rather than filling our hearts and minds with what is wholesome we stuff ourselves to the point of discomfort, numbness and eventually paralysis. in doing so we slowly chip away pieces of ourselves, forgetting our true nature. leading ourselves down a treacherous path of isolation and victimization.

so how do we get back from that path?
and how do we stay away from it?
we re-learn, re-program, we re-member.

a great teacher once said, "from the perfect comes the perfect, arising in the form of perfection, remaining perfect in it's perfect nature... when this is true law, why do we human beings experience imperfection, why do we feel broken and scattered, why do we keep crying out and weeping?" the teacher then goes on to say, we do this because of our forgetful nature.

we forget & fear the authenticity it takes to step into who we truly are.

when you hear that voice inside your head that instructs you to do something, what is your immediate reaction? are you inviting your heart's thoughts into your mind? the heart is where the earth and the sky meet... the midline, the balance. i invite you to really consider, what do you do when you begin hearing your heart?

are you already living in your heart?

can you live in your heart always?

listen.
i believe you can be a person and live in your heart in every facet of your life. try listening to that voice a little more and see how it goes.. try it on. the voice will reshape how you interact with your families, friends and partners and even your interactions with yourself.

practice.
practice is everything.
practice listening to your heart
practice yoga
practice meditation (even if you have never tried before)
practice asking questions
take off that outer casing that shrouds and dims your beautiful light...
tell someone about it, or do it in front of them.
change the way you interact and ask for support while doing it.

listen, and, practice.
be kind to yourself, compassionate with yourself..
step into your most full you.
give your current-self some serious stretch marks.
you'll be better for it.

The Courage to be Uncomfortable

2011-03-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

Last night belligerence came to my front door.

At 2:30 a.m. my wife and I were awoken to what sounded like a jet engine whistling towards our house. This was followed by the sounds of tires screeching, steel scraping and glass shattering against the asphalt in front of our house. Adrenaline infused we burst out of bed called 911 and I went to check to see if the driver was ok. As I opened the front door I could see a large figure lifting himself out of his vehicle. It was an eerie scene. He limped over toward me awkwardly and I could smell sweet alcohol on his breath. It was terrifying in a primordial sense, how he so overtly flirted with death.

A month ago one of my long time patients died in a horrific car crash up in the Cascades.

There have been other such losses recently. Some dramatic and unexpected and others I saw coming.

I’ve been asking myself could I have stepped in and made a difference? For some of them I think I could have and yet something stopped me. Sometimes, I find that rather than share what may make someone feel uncomfortable I ingratiate them.

That is, I get nice, when I really want to get real --- be authentic.

I’ve been working on being aware of ingratiating my whole life and it continues to be an area for me to refine. Sometimes rather than ingratiate I will distance my self from someone or a situation.

Either way I'm afraid to create discomfort. I'm afraid to hurt people's feelings. I'm afraid of not feeling needed and loved. So I do nothing.

Ingratiating it self is not a problem. It’s when I ingratiate instead of share my truth that becomes a problem for my life and health.

As I approached the driver to check on him, He was beginning to panic as he started to grasp the implications of his actions. I instinctively comforted him by placing my arm on his shoulder, and said, “hey man it could have been a lot worse, you’re still alive”. He then asked me to help him get the rest of the beer out of his car that was perched on its side against the curb. At that moment, barefoot on the cold wet asphalt a chard of glass sliced the arch of my foot and I knew I couldn’t help him. The emergency response was on its way. I began to distance myself, making my way back to the house, towards my wife. I explained the situation to her and we watched to make sure he was ok.

The great sages of Chinese Medicine say that ingratiating is a way we lie to ourselves to make us think that what we are doing is ok, when we know deep down it’s not.

My patients and I have an agreement to be honest and respectful of one another. My job is to offer an invitation for healing, their role is to make a choice to accept or amend my offering. In the security of this agreement a lot of healing can take place rapidly. In life outside the clinic I sometimes struggle to intervene with people I care about because the rules are less clear. I may instead ingratiate or simply hold a space of neutrality.

The drunk driver forced me to look at my behavior. How belligerent and off balance does someone have to become before I step in and make an offering? It’s an important inquiry.

Life is short and precious. I’m working on being more courageous, speaking my truth not just when it’s safe, but when and where it matters most. How ‘bout you?

The Argument of Nature

2011-02-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

As long as the sun shines, the rain falls,

and the world spins, you will heal, physically

mentally, emotionally, and spirituality.

Follow Nature

The pace of nature is elegant. The night blooming jasmine, emits her intoxicating fragrance hours after dusk. The desert rose curls centripetally inwards as the moon rises, with the peaking sun the desert rose uncoils white spindles of fleshy petals reaching towards the suns' rays.

The timing of Nature is exquisite.

Gradual, steady, Nature displays its power, beauty and force with rhythm and timing. The ocean tide, steadily rises and falls, swells and subsides with exact calculation.

We can count on Nature because She is true to her Self. She honors her pace.

I notice the opposite phenomenon in myself at times and in our world. Rushing to work, high stepping from patient to patient, scarfing lunch down with minimal enjoyment. The pace of Nature is forgotten and my energy, inspiration, and enjoyment wane. How do I become steady, consistent, and strong? Watch the Old Growth Doug Fir. Year after year, from the heartwood concentric circles over lay themselves upon one another. Five hundred years later the great grandfather tree is still going. I can learn a lot from Nature.

How do you go from disease to ease ... with lasting improvement? We do it like Nature.

I can't argue with Nature. Nature is steady. In most instances a disconnection from Nature is always at the source of disease and in order to correct it we must reconnect to our source --- to Nature.

We forget we are Nature too. Like plants and animals we are born of the natural elements. This is where we physically come from and will return.

How do you heal the afflictions of worldly life? Connect with Nature in you.

I'm not talking necessarily about forests, flowers, and water here --- although that helps too. What I'm getting at is forming a connection to your Natural rhythms. Not the rhythms of work life, home life, or evening traffic. I talking about Your Rhythm.

Nature as it freely and spontaneously seeks to express itself through you. Where to you block, impede, go unconscious and on automatic to your Nature? Do you know what I'm referring to? Nature is always making a play at reminding you to sync up.

Are you in sync with that pulsation?

Healing happens when we align with the undulating surge of life force. We are not meant to be at 100 percent output all the time. The lifewave rises powerfully forth surging to its crest and gently coalescing back to its source. The intercostal muscles contract drawing the ribs in all direction, the lungs fill with life giving oxygen, exhaling the ribs retract. On and on Nature shows its power. When we are not careful with nature, She reminds us with illness. How can we more fully attune to Nature?
This is our constant inquiry.

Healing. You can disagree with science, religion, politics and so on, but Nature... Nature is its own authority. And you are Nature. Tune in.

Food for Thought. Thought for Food

Love Out,

Luke

LL says, Who Do You Luv?

2010-11-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

I love me some hip hop and R&B. There was a great song in the early 90s called Who do you Luv? by one of my favorite artists, LL Cool J.

For me this time of year is about Love, family and friends.

I love so many people and I'd like to share about one in particular during this season of gratitude.

I love my brother, Brent. I remember being four years old and my parents told me I was going to have a brother. I didn't really know what that meant at the time. When my mom came home from the hospital, my brother was giggling and smiling. He was chubby and cute as hell. When he was 8 or 9, I tortured him and his best friend Donnie by making them fight one another. It was pretty sad. Now he's bigger and stronger so I watch my mouth and hope he doesn't plot revenge.

We are four years apart so our peer groups never overlapped until recently. Now, my brother and I are men with jobs, responsibilities and partners. We're pretty good friends too. We adventure together, talk about surfing, business, and life. He is moving to New York after the holidays for an indefinite period of time. I will miss him. I already do. New York will be awesome. He's ready to take a bite out of the big apple. New York will love him. I'm proud of my brother and proud to be his brother. Brent I'm grateful you are my brother and wishing you an awesome adventure on the East coast.

To all of you out there during this time of graditude, who do you love? Tell me and them about it. Spead Love!

My Brother and I and our best friends.
Love.... Luke

Neuroplasiticity, Nuetrality, and the Power of Self Love

2010-11-22T13:23:00.001-08:00

The brain and body are inherently neutral. They don’t by nature have a preference for good, bad, right wrong, sour, salty, etc. It’s a curious phenomenon. Preferences are learned. Just as you can learn to be healthy, you can learn to be unhealthy.

In this way the brain/body serve our choices.

I use the term brain/body because they are one and the same. What occurs in the brain affects the body and vice versa. What makes humans unique is the higher function to choose, freely whatever we desire.

Over the last year, I’ve been researching the field of neuroplasticity, which has profound implications for health and consciousness. For many decades the held belief in science is that after passing through critical stages of development in early childhood the brain remains unchanged. Scientists believed (and some still do) that the brain is structurally fixed, and remains that way throughout life. As the adage goes, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” As early as the 1950s researchers challenged this notion, with studies showing that the brain did change. Through out the 1970s and into the last two decades research has extensively shown that the brain can and does change your entire lifetime.

Neuroplasticity is the anatomical and physiological changes in the brain that occur from new learning. Every cell in the body is connected to the brain for input and output. The brain/body loop passes information and directions electrically via the central nervous system thirty times per second. Our bodies and brains are one and the same. Hundreds of studies and real life cases demonstrate that the brain does change throughout life. What you think, say, and do matters, and have a profound effect on habituating your brain/body. In Buddhism they call this idea imprints. In Hinduism it is called samskaras – the karmic traces of your past actions imprinted on the subtle system.

Everything you’ve ever thought, said and done has left a trace of itself in your brain/body and subtle system.

Allow me to illustrate my point...

I have fond memories of sledding in the mountains of Idyllwild, and Mt Baldy, California as a kid. My brother and I built jumps and bombed our plastic saucer sleds down the track, launching into the air and laughing our heads off as we crashed into the slushy snow below. As the day went on our tracks deepened, we created a direct line that slung us bull’s-eye onto the snow ramp below. Likewise the more we think, say, or do something, the stronger the neuron or nerve pathway develops in the brain and body. When we become really good at something, we don’t have to think about it. It just happens automatically. This occurs because the amount of neuron connections in the brain increases, sending information faster than conscious thought. Through repetition and refinement we become skilled at life's activities.

You can fully trust your brain to do whatever you tell it to through regular practice.

The neutrality of the brain and body means that innately you have freedom of choice to create the reality you want. All of us come into the world learning a reality beseeched to us by our forbearers. As life goes on, many people discover there are elements of their inherited reality that are pleasing and unpleasing. This is where remembering neutrality is important. You see, just because you see the same tendency in your mother in you doesn’t mean you’re doomed to become your mother or pass it along to your kid.

You can teach an old dog new tricks.

The first step is to recognize what’s triggering you about a particular issue. Bring consciousness to it. Breathe and make space for it to exist. Then make a new choice. Over and over. This is one of the principles of neuroplasticity. To wire a neuron you must fire it. Fire to wire, wire to fire. What you focus one will bear results over time. This is guaranteed. Whatever you’re working to shift in your life keep fiddling.

Don’t give up. When you give up you lose your ability. Which is the next principle, use it or lose it. If you are not firing a network of neurons, they become weakened and recruited for other tasks.

Another principle of neuroplasiticity is in order to make a neuron you have to break an existing one. It’s called, make it to break it and break it to make it. If you are breaking and old habit, you don’t want to dwell on what a bad habit it is and what a bad person you are. You want to focus on the change and what a great job you are doing.

A recent discovery in neuroplasticity is that the brain becomes most plastic or changeable during an intense experience.

Research shows the most powerful positive emotion you can experience that changes your brain/body is Love.

When you love something your brain releases a plethora of hormones and neurotransmitters that calm the nervous system, balance the endocrine system, boost the immune system and several others. So I say lets take all that love and point it back to its source. When you love yourself your whole being shines with health and vitality you have energy to exchange with the world. This is the power behind self love. It’s not a trending fad. Self love works. Try it. Let me know how it feels. Neuroplasticity, wild stuff! .... Love, Luke

Self-love with A Soft Heart

2010-11-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

Guest Post By Sugarwilla

I feel incredibly honored to have been asked by Luke to guest blog for this site. So much so that it actually paralyzed me. I wanted my post to be perfect and live up to the standards already set forth in his and other guest posts, so I ended up using that as a reason to procrastinate. Then I remembered that this topic is about the Love Culture Revolution and self love, and thought, anything I write will be just exactly what needs to be said and read. And then, as part of my self love, I had to reiterate it to myself a couple of times before I believed it. :)

I want to express how important it is to proceed through life with a soft heart.

And by that, I mean to be kind to oneself so that the kindness is easily passed on to others. Almost without conscious thought.

There are so many unhappy things happening in the world and so many people relate to others in harsh, unloving ways, often to get their point across. What they may not realize is that their strategy may actually be having the reverse affect on the person/people on the receiving end of the message. They are not treading softly through life.

Please don’t misunderstand. I am not suggesting that we all walk around like pushovers and whisper our thoughts, beliefs, feelings. In fact, I’m suggesting the opposite. I’m suggesting that we proceed and proclaim/sing/speak our thoughts, beliefs and feelings. I’m suggesting that we proceed by checking and rechecking our value systems and standing up for our beliefs.

I’m suggesting we do this through love.

Do you realize that when love is behind a message, it’s almost entirely impossible for it to have a sharp edge and impact? Think about a mother who loses her child at the mall for a minute or two. When she finds her child, she may yell and cry and scold the child. But most often, those actions come from a place of deep love and fear of loss, not anger or control. Children aren’t often scarred emotionally from that experience because they can sense on a cellular level that their mom was simply acting out of love. It’s subtle, but obvious to our sub-conscious.

That said, if you can honestly share your opinion with others while coming from a place of love, you’re message will be received. This doesn’t guarantee that the recipient will agree with your opinion but they are disarmed and will more likely consider your stance.

Your acceptance of their opinion, same or different than yours, would come from a place of love. It is possible to accept and love someone with different political, spiritual and other values we hold dear, when you approach it with a soft heart.

The ultimate goal is to enrich our love of self in order to increase our enjoyment of our life.

So, what are other ways we can do this,
besides approaching others with a soft heart?

One thing I have noticed about many people is that when they criticize another, they are often focusing on a trait that they don’t particularly accept about themselves. It’s rather interesting to see this play out. The man who calls another manipulative or controlling often displays those traits himself. The woman who focuses on another woman’s insecurities and judges her for it, often suffers from insecurity herself.

So, let’s reframe it.

As part of the Love Culture Revolution and our quest for self-love, let’s start complimenting others on their “beauties”. Beauties being admirable character traits, talents, physical beauty, inner beauty....you name it.

For some people it’s awfully hard to give someone else a compliment, for fear that it diminishes their own favorable traits. That may stem from a place of insecurity. For example, a woman may have self talk that says “If I point out my girlfriend’s talent, the people around me may focus on her and not me”, so she refrains from giving out a very deserving compliment. Interestingly enough, if she were to check in with herself, I would guess that her holding back would actually not feel congruent. We inherently feel the need to empower others but our own limitations often get in the way.

The gift is this: By empowering others, by complimenting them, appreciating them, acknowledging them, we are empowering, complimenting, appreciating and acknowledging ourselves. And once we begin to
believe in the beauty of ourselves, we will continue to want to pass that love on to others.

It will become natural. And as the love is given out and received, it grows and grows and grows.
Don’t worry about giving away all of your love. Love expands and the more that you give the more that comes back to you.

It really starts at “home” and home is where your heart is.
Start there and work your way outwards.

Keeping It With You

2010-10-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

Guest Post By Melinda von Reis-Iglesias

I have the good fortune of working in an environment focused on healing: physically, mentally and spiritually.

I have excitedly chosen to make this a mirror for my personal life as well.

As of late, there have been many moments of self - (and just plain) - realization.

You know what I am talking about… the “a-ha” moments; moments where your mind and body go into the state of pure bliss because, once again, you have “figured it out!”

These moments come by way of a conversation, argument, or other experience. In the space following the realization I know that I would never make that same mistake again - I know that I have learned something that deeply humbles my ego.

For the first day or maybe even few days, that “lesson” is with me... often it does not stay. How do I keep it with me? How do I avoid stumbling back into that same pattern?

How do i keep moving forward, lesson learned?

This past weekend I got into a discussion - and when I say discussion I am being diplomatic - this past weekend I got into an argument, with my partner. An argument where I didn’t want to hear much, was defensive and needed an attitude adjustment. We were discussing some serious areas in our relationship, areas where I have had various “a-ha” moments. Areas where i am “keeping it with me”…and of course, the dreaded areas where I am not.

Maybe it is my Taurean nature, but it seems old habits die hard. Specifically, being more careful with my words and what comes out of my mouth, being more understanding and not wanting things my way all the time... and mostly just working on really hearing my partner. Being a good listener is easy, actually hearing what the person is saying, is a lot more challenging. I have had countless "a-ha" moments in these same areas, but let me tell you, I risk more and more every time I don't "keep them with me".

When I say “keep it with me” I am talking about a specific neurological process that actually occurs in our brains. What I experience when my emotional + logical brains connect. For example, you are discussing a situation where you did wrong... you feel remorse about what you have done and assure the person you hurt that you are sorry. You can't believe you've done this, and you will never do it again.

...remember what your teachers used to say, ”take the ‘knowledge you learned in the classroom’ and apply it!”

The way you learn isn't that first "a-ha" moment, but rather, when you are face to face with scenarios that look just like the ones before them. The scenarios that have yielded the same end results over and over again. The difference? You make a conscious decision to change that path.

You then create a new path or synapse in your brain - for this new way of thinking, behaving, or being and it gets stronger every time you choose it.

The act of creating the new synapse actually causes the one that came before it to dissolve; severing the tie to the old behavior. Powerful image, huh?

I am choosing to look at the practice of “keeping it with you” as sort of a game. Not a game in the sense that the outcome does not really matter, or that I don’t take it seriously. Looking at this practice as a game means I really look at it for what it is - teaching my brain new things - and reinforcing them - that way I am not caught up in more than I need to be.

It's beautiful..
We all have this auspicious ability in all of us... ultimately, we will be the ones healing ourselves.

Does Self Love Make You Squirm?

2010-10-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

The inquiry of what you love about you is shaking things up. Its making people squirm, me included. I have asked a lot of people the question this last week and it has revealed some cultural tendencies we carry around self worth, success and self love. I have heard responses like, "isn't that narcissistic?" or "that's a hard one" on occasion. Immediately and every time, I witness a physical reaction; fidgeting, eye twitching, emotions coming up through the voice. Watching myself ask others the question, sometimes I feel a little uneasy and self conscious thinking, "do I seem like a wimp for asking this?".

The question, what do you love about you hits right up against its' opposite, What do you not love about you?

Asking and answering what do you love about you is healing and freeing physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Watch how you and others react when you ask and answer the question. It really amazes me how quickly the question melts me into my Heart. Keep asking yourself, what do you love about you?

What you love about you is about is social change. We are refining culture to value self love. As I said in the previous post, this is not the next new age fad of love thy self. With a light heart, I am serious that in order to deal with the crises of human rights, clean drinking water, renewable resources and so on, we need to start at home with self love. A friend, mentor and extraordinary healer, David Elliott says this about self love:

"Self love connects you to everyone and everything. Once you love yourself you can effectively move out into the world and love others...For love to exist in the world it has to happen inside you first, then it can propagate 360 degrees around you"

Loving you takes some effort. It takes work. I've worked with thousands of people on this and the ones who change, keep at it daily. After some time, the change takes root and the old values fall away.

In general, the old values of success are based on material accumulation and physical sacrifice. From this antiquated notion of success we will never be able to solve our socio-environmental crisis without changing our values of success. Notice, I didn’t include economic in the previous statement. I’m confidant our economy will shift. The question is, can we sustain it?

To take it further – because we fundamentally do not value ourselves, do not practice loving ourselves, and self love is not a cultural value, we can’t truly love and respect each other, the planet and its resources.

This is not a black and white issue. Of course some of us do love ourselves to various degrees. What I see in the world is that most people don’t or have very little self love. The primary value around success is more like the following:

If you are not dog-ass tired by the time you finish work – then you didn’t work hard and you are not a success.

If you don’t have a big house and a fancy car then you didn’t make it.

If you don’t have your act 100 percent together then work harder.

If your health isn’t suffering a little then you are not sacrificing enough.

A strong work ethic is important, don’t get me wrong. I’m not promoting abandoning your real world responsibilities. The trend I’m seeing in my clinic in Eugene and in the media is that people motivate by beating themselves up, self flagellation – perhaps a relic from the Judeo-Christian inheritance. I am seeing people from every social economic stratum in major health crisis because they’ve beaten themselves up so hard with their over-sized commitments that their bodies are surpassing the tipping point of what can be physiologically withstood. I am seeing this trend in nearly every age range.

Self-love may seem simple and straightforward. It's not.

Self-love does not happen automatically, we have to bring awareness to it; breathe it into our cells. Our innate default is to glaze over our achievements or just as useless, gloat in them.

Humility is not ignoring your goodness. It is deeply valuing it.

When we beat ourselves up and perpetuate the cycle of giving without receiving, the cycle of giving and receiving is incomplete. If we push hard enough, we reach a point of depletion, where we have to take a break or quit. This is not sustainable. At some point the body stops us or we become resentful of someone or some thing. The objectification of resentment is a smoke screen that hides resentment of self and the pain of not honoring your Heart. This all stems from lack of self love. 10 things you love about you. Love Cultural Revolution starts with you. Let's go.

more Love… Luke

10 Things You Love About You

2010-09-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Mark this day in your calendar. Today is the launch of the Love Cultural Revolution. I'm starting a self love campaign. Beneath the crisis of oil, water, coal, foodstuffs, healthcare, human rights, environmental protection, lies the fundamental lynch pin that keeps all other crisis spinning in chaos. I'm talking about the crisis of no self love. Today we are shifting the values of our culture. We are shifting the way we relate to ourselves, so as to shift the way we relate to one another and the planet. I am starting with me. These are the ten things I love about me:

I love my sense of humor

I love being goofy and singing loud when I get home from work

I love my good Heart

I love that I’m learning to take care of myself and be gentle

I love that I show up to work, even when I want to stay in bed

I love that I know when to change my diet when my body shows signs of weariness

I love that I love my wife, family, and friends

I love that right now my heart is swelling and aching as I share what I love about me

I love being creative an innovative about business, healing and spirituality.

I love being courageous and sensitive in challenging situations

I love myself deeply

I think that was eleven, but you get the idea. When you write these down take a few deep inhalations and exhalations to root the self love into your being. Then say them out load and breathe them in even deeper. Every time I do this my body begins to tingle and heat up. We are social beings and reality gets created by sharing with each other what's happening in life. So in order to launch the Love Cultural Revolution, I request that you share the 10 things you love about you with me and every one you can think of and that you ask people, “What do you love about you?”. Let's hear it.

Love you … Luke

2010-09-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

Cultivating a thriving spiritual, professional and personal life is what I'm up to in the world. I love promoting healing combined with creativity, innovation, and action as an expression of love and gratitude for self and life. It's a tricky dance working with people with varied health concerns. Some just want relief from symptoms, some want to go deeper, and some want to go to the deepest depths and make an offering from that place. I am happy and grateful holding space for people to heal and grow to whatever extent they are willing and able. What really lights my fire is people transforming. That is, letting go of an old way of being and moving into a new realm of being. This takes massive courage.

   You could say life is all about transformation.
   caterpillar to butterfly kinda stuff.

Being great at life is lowering your resistance to this natural phenomenon and hey, maybe even enjoying it a little.
   Birth, life,death. Over and over. That's it.

The Upanishads say this cycle is occurring all the time. In fact it is happening so fast, we don't recognize it; like frames of a movie. Because we don't see it, we experience life as if it were a continuous narrative. In reality it is not. Therefore in any given moment, you could choose to be any way you want. Cool! - and - Scary! "You mean, I'm responsible for how I experience life?" Agggghhhhh! kinda funny. he! he! he!

   Becoming responsible for your life doesn't mean all your problems disappear. I wish! Sometimes I find myself on a great outward stroke of skillfully dealing with challenging situations. Other times the muscle to deal with issues becomes atrophied and the fear, dread, and monkey mind have a ball with my psychophysiology. This scenario: not so much fun as it can lead to physical manifestations, aka health issues. Access to love, power, and fulfillment lie in being fearless in face of your circumstances. Wherever your at with your journey, may it continue to unfold with ease and joy. May we link together and support one another on the path.

lovetolovetoloveya ...Luke

Groomzilla

2010-09-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

Standing before the precipice of the Indian summer a cool breeze touches my face. I am settling into a new life and a new vision of the future. Sadness arises and subsides as the coming of age years fade away and an established rootedness of the trajectory of my life emerges. Images from movies like Stand By Me, The Goonies, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off flash through my mind as I have moved through the same life experiences, rich with anguish and joy. The nostalgia of youth swoons me like a dove in still full moon light waters. A sigh of delight falls over me as we move into another season and another life. I want to share so much with you about healing, life and love.

The healing train is a movin’ and summer is making a grand exit. Big News. I got married this summer. Whoooo hoooooo!!!!! Can you believe it! It has been an amazing ride. As we encroached upon the ceremony, something began to stir inside me. This rite of passage is nuanced with cultural heritage, emotional unpeeling, and the dissolution of old beliefs and foraging of new ideals. I remember when I asked Emily to marry me on the Oregon coast almost a year ago. Within minutes, I experienced a shift that felt like an enveloping of protection and guardianship. It was as if a multi-layered down blanket enshrouded itself over our relationship, somehow buffering the commentary and opinions of the outside world, allowing us to gestate in a kind of womb leading up to marriage. With the wedding a month a way, I felt the beginnings of a squeamishness, ready to be birthed, initiated and presented into another realm of both worldly and spiritual commitment and existence. I am so grateful, fulfilled and honored to live my life and interact with so many heartfelt people. If you are reading this, you are one of them. Thank you for your Love and support.

You may have heard of the term bridezilla. I have a confession. I really gave my fiancée a hard time after we got engaged, that I would not stand for any bridezilla-ness. I mean I was explicit and adamant about it. I didn’t want micro management or nitpicking regarding any aspect of our wedding. Admittedly, I was a jerk at times, of which I’ve apologized profusely and need to do more so. Things always have a way of coming back around. You may or may not have heard about the bridezilla concept, but I’m sure you haven’t heard of the groomzilla concept. Oh Yes. I was probably the first GROOMZILLA. It’s embarrassing to admit, but it is true. My now wife was so awesome throughout the wedding process. It was an honor to marry her. I on the other went through a total freak out, “I want cupcakes, not cake!”, “The DJ better do a great job!”, “I hope the venue doesn’t suck”, I mean groomzilla to the max and I’m not proud of it. Groomzilla. Now you have it. As I write this, I need to pause to catch my breath, because I have revealed to you my impervious, ridiculous nature. I am human and I love not being perfect.

never stop loving yourself...

2010-09-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

you know that voice inside, that voice that tells you to do something you don't want to do? and you know it's right? that's your heart. That is the universe speaking through you. and then there's the other voice, the voice of reason, logic and practicality; that tells you not to be different, not to rock the boat, not to... express yourself. Loving yourself doesn't mean lollypops, rainbows and balloons all the time. It means doing the work that the universe asks of you and in these times, it asks a lot.

To be healthy, vibrant, full of life, is to love yourself and risk taking action where the results are unclear. We can negotiate, temperate and pace ourselves, but we can only deny that voice for so long before thedenial begins to deaden our senses, our perception and our passion. Never stop loving yourself, never stop listening to the voice that asks you to risk... that makes you nervous inside.

I am convinced that most people with persistant anxiety and stress have built structures of reason and logic around not listening to that voice of the heart. All of us wish sometimes that voice would go away, even the brightest stars can fall without integrity i.e. some recent major sports stars. This is after all, real life and the people who are making it happen, who are the engines of this world, listen to that voice no matter what. You don't even have to be full-on about it, you don't have to take it to an extreme, trust yourself, honor yourself, never stop loving yourself. Together. Onward!

Luke Presents at the Pain Society of Oregon

2010-05-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

On May 21st, 2010 I presented a lecture titled, "Acupuncture, Freedom From Pain" at the Pain Society of Oregon Annual Clinical Conference. The conference focus was Advancing Multidisciplinary Pain Management: Science, Policy and Advocacy. I spoke with western physicians, surgeons, nurses, physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists. I shared about the importance of integration and acupuncture and Chinese medicine being a significant part of pain management. Above are some excerpts from my talk.

Love and Healing Healing and Love

2010-04-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

Love and Healing Healing and Love the stars at night flashing above
The sweet grass, Palo Santo, cedar, and sage, with honor to you respectfully I engage

Love and Healing Healing and Love the Sun the Moon, your eyes reflecting the Love
Indigo springs, Bryce creek, the Mckenzie, and Sea, to the one in all the all moving in me

Love and Healing Healing and Love my brother my sister the heart gives a nuge
The whisper, the secret, messages to share, my family, tribe, community come near

Love and Healing Healing and Love filled to the brim, it's more than enough
Too much I cry, the nectar too rich, you love me, I love you, the heart needs a stitch

Love and Healing Healing and Love, It's all around us, the idolic peace dove
Hanuman, Laxshmi, Saraswati, Ganesh, the deites magnificent, the last one Mahesh

Healing and Love ... I love the spring
Healing and Love ... the spring loves me
Healing and Love ... my friends and family so dear
Healing and Love ... together united no space for fear
Healing and Love ... are an elixir so pure
Healing and Love ... the alchemy meant to endure

Love and Healing ... it's all that I need
Love and Healing ... like a farmer to a seed
Love and Healing ... a gift to the world
Love and Healing ... like the luminous blue pearl
Love and Healing ... my purpose is found
Love and Healing ... enough to go around

Healing is Love, that's the truth
Love is Healing, Like my Moof

Healing and .............................................. love.
Love and ................................................. healing.

Are you beginning to get my meaning, or are you simply enjoying the feeling...

Love and Healing Healing and Love

Insurmountable Beingness

2010-04-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

Some of my best friends played college soccer for one of the nations best teams. The best player on the team was named Conrad. He played on the under-24 national team and the Olympic team in the Sydney Games that placed in the top 5. Conrad went on to play professionally in the English Premier League. When I asked my buddy what made Conrad so talented. He said, that Conrad was not a glamorous showboat kind of a player, he was very talented, and very consistent. He performed at the same level every day in practice and in games. Conrad was a player his teammates and coach could count on to perform day in and day out at the same level.

Being rock-steady is a virtue I admire. We all have good days and bad days. Who do you know that shows up to perform even on the worst of the bad days? Someone who is insurmountable is incapable of being overcome or passed over, as defined by dictionary.com. There is steadiness to this virtue that is rock like and solid. Someone you can depend on to be there. This virtue calls on our strength and at times our grit.

I have a patient who has been to deaths' door numerous times at a young age, born into a body that does not function like most. He is so brave, so steady in his attitude that despite the surgeries, months in hospitals, enduring pain, his attitude remains insurmountable. I am always inspired to work with him and in awe of his presence.

What part of you is insurmountable, unstoppable, rock-steady? All the people I know who display this virtue do so with Heart. This strength comes from the Heart. From the center of the chest, a place of tender strength that abounds and spirals centripetally. The churning of the Heart alchemically generates an elixir that you can physically draw strength from. In Chinese medicine we call this Heart and Kidney Jing. To be insurmountable you must steadily draw energy or qi from the Heart Kidney Jing, being mindful of your reserves so as not to deplete them. This requires a keen awareness of your energetic gas tank so to say. This balancing of output and input is artful when it comes to being insurmountable in life. How full is your energetic gas tank? Are you remembering to fill up? Share your thoughts..
warm regards....Luke

The Energy Wants to Move

2010-04-14T14:37:00.001-07:00

Acupuncture is energy medicine. This morning as I began treating patients. I noticed the energy differently than before. Something came together. "Clicked" if you will. How it usually goes is after my I perform the intake, exam, assessment and diagnoses I turn to my intuition and feel into what would be the best treatment for the patient. At this point in my career most of this happens automatically. Today something revealed itself in a more vivid way.

I usually begin my point prescription with one point. This morning I did just that. After the point went in, I immediately saw a change in the energy flow of the patient and I could see where it was stuck. When I say "see", I mean I could see with my eyes and sense with my intuition where energy wanted to flow and where it was blocked. From here I preceded to follow the body's cues and use my training to choose the best point to balance the system. Energy continued to open and balance. The patients could feel the change too. The changes were instantaneous.

Personally, this feels like a stage change rather than an opening of a state that closes down. A whole new realm of interaction opened to me that before was kind of piecemealed together. I realize my practice of medicine is evolving and I am able to more permanently remain steady with me intuition. I play in the realm of energy all the time, today it feels more tangible, perceptible, and intriguing.

In reflecting, this level of interaction has always occurred. Although my awareness was somewhere else, more in my head perhaps, with occasional energetic openings. It feels a little like riding a bike. Once you learn, you never forget. Another level of sight opened, and my vision is more clear.

Remember the Fort

2010-04-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I always had a least one fort. You know a fort. Kinda sounds funny as I write it and hear it in my mind. I grew up in the San Jacinto Mountains north of Palm Springs and Banning, CA. My best friend Molly and I built forts all over the place, in trees, low laying chaparral, and abandoned barns. When we went to the fort Molly and I built stations, made plans, and created worlds that left our imaginations swirling. The fort was a place I felt safe to be creative and have fun. That was the primary purpose of the fort.

Yesterday I had no plans for lunch. The sun came out, so I decided to go for a walk to the local store. The sun poured over my face and neck. I was loving it. I bought a fresh pressed organic vegetable juice and began the journey home. As I strolled an older man sat down at a bus stop. I was inspired to find a place to sit and relax in the sun like the man. Several paces further was the tattered Em's Baseball stadium where I played high school soccer. A few moments of nostalgia past as I recollected the good ol' days. Just below me off the side walk, concrete steps sloped down to the entrance of the abandoned stadium. I found a nice place to sit near a puny cedar tree to take in the warm sunshine. Thoughts swirled through my head. I settled in and noticed beneath the cedar tree, a wave shaped network of branches created a rounded shelter from the environment. My mind flashed to the forts of childhood as I recalled the fun of my youth. "This was my fort" I thought. My own place to dream. My fort is close by, just a few hundred yards from my office. I can go there and be imaginative or just feel safe. For me it's healing. I invite you to go out and find your fort. A place for you to dream, to rest, and to play.

Love, light .... Luke

The Bachelor Party

2010-04-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the movie The Hangover me and my best friends since adolescence set off for a record setting week long bachelor party in Baja California. Now you may be asking yourself why is Luke sharing this with such a broad audience and what does a bachelor party have to do with Healing? Well, the answer is three fold. Number one. I haven't taken a vacation since I started my business two years ago. I've taken a handful of trips but they've always had some business or family agenda attached. The breakthrough for me in taking a just for fun and relaxation vacation was to recharge, getaway, and rest. Often healers are the worse offenders of taking care of themselves and I was falling into that stereotype or archetype if you will. Number two. I love to surf and Baja is one of the best kept secrets for surfers for several reasons. Unless you know the terrain, it is easy to get lost and succumb to moderate or severe trouble. Therefore, not many people venture south of San Diego. Also the surf is incredible and the beaches are pristine.

As to what this trip had to do with healing. As much as I love offering healing, my body and spirit were pushing me to look at my own healing. The spirit of giving and sharing my gifts as a healer were becoming strained by a deep sense of enduring. It was like I was trying to prove to myself I could keep going without solid me time. I needed some time for my own healing to let my soul sing. So taking courage I put my practice on hold for a week and I left. I'm back and I feel really great, inspired, and more clear about by purpose with people.

So back to the party. We scored big time. There was a solid south by southwest ground swell that kept the surf pumping for a solid week. We surfed until we could no longer move. My first session in the water was at sunset. The water felt so good and my muscles were sooooo out of shape. For the first time ever, I questioned whether I was strong enough to continue surfing. My heart pounding, choking from a lack of oxygen and salt water cocktail, I thrusted my surfboard under the six foot crashing wall of white water. Surfacing, my muscles twisting and burning I prayed not to get pummeled into the nearby jetty. Finally the corduroy set of waves diminished, as I lay panting, forehead pinned down on the fiberglass surfboard. I could see the silhouettes of my buddies what seemed like a four hundred yards away in the line up laughing overflowing with joy and love for this awesome time we were sharing. Catching my breath I lifted heavy arms, attempting to paddle up the beach and try to catch a wave with my best friends as we kicked off the party.

After and hour in the water my eyes began to burn and my corneas felt like sand paper rubbing against my eyelids. I looked in the mirror when I got back to the house, my left eye was completely blood shot and both eyes were puffy beginning to swell. No I was not drunk and had not consumed any shell fish. The ocean was giving me a healing. The swelling lasted about twenty four hours. After which I felt supremely improved. I realized how much I use my eyes especially at work. The stories, the emotions and pain that I feel through my eyes were releasing and I felt better. Thank you to the great oceans for your healing.

I'll post some more stories, pictures and video on facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?cropsuccess&id=651969836#!/group.php?gid=111354815552735. Feel free to comment or share. Healing is Universal. Love, Light, and Fun .... Luke

People are Universal

2010-04-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am super pumped about this blog. Over the last two years I've seen thousands of patients at my Chinese Medicine and acupuncture clinic in Eugene, OR. I've interacted with people suffering from a sprained ankle to the terminally ill. My soul has been rocked to its core as my judgments and prejudices have been challenged and dismantled. People are universal. We all have the same problems, issues, and hang ups. We all at some point in our life must face the deterioration of the body, and out of that confrontation, we come face to face with our mortality, our fear, and maybe begin to ask the deeper questions. Who am I? Why am I here? This blog is a forum for sharing my and your insights into the deeper questions about healing, life, and coming into wholeness. Please feel free to share. Your spelling and articulation does not have to be precise. The act of sharing alone is very healing. Let the work begin.

Love,

Luke