Take Care of your Inner Being - Steve Taylor's October Newsletter

Published: Wed, 10/26/22

Steve Taylor's October Newsletter

Dear

I hope all is well with you. My life has been fairly quiet recently, which means I don’t have much to write about in this newsletter! However, the quietness has been lovely. I’ve been able to write a lot of new poems. Out of all the different kinds of writings I do, I feel most authentic when I write poetry. I don’t have much control over my poems. A phrase, a couple of lines or an idea for a whole poem come to me – sometimes in response to something or someone I see, to a passing thought, sometimes for no particular reason. Then I sit down and start writing them down, and usually by the end of the day I have a new poem. I slip very easily into a state of flow and stay in it until the poem is finished. Sometimes it takes an hour or two, sometimes a few hours. I’m not even sure if my poems have any literary value, if they are any ‘good.’ But I have to write them whether I like it or not. Often it feels as though they don’t come from me at all.

I write the poems much faster than I can publish them. At the moment I have about 200 unpublished poems, so I’ll have to bring out a new poetry book soon! The only thing is, publishers are not very enthusiastic about poetry, as it usually doesn’t sell very well. Perhaps I’ll publish a book of ‘Complete Poems’ myself in a couple of years. I’ll include a couple of my new poems at the end of this newsletter.

Upcoming Books

My next book ‘DisConnected’ will be published in April next year. You can see it here if you haven’t already.

In the meantime, I’m writing another book for my publisher New World Library, presently called ‘The Adventure – A Practical Guide to Spiritual Awakening.’ (Let me know if you can think of a better title, but I quite like The Adventure.) This book is based on the workshops I’ve been leading over the past few years, where I focus on aspects of spiritual awakening and cultivate them. So the book has chapters on qualities such as acceptance, presence, detachment, gratitude etc. The subtitle will be 'A Practical Guide to Spiritual Awakening.' This is my first book of direct spiritual teachings, so I’m really looking forward to it.

Online Event with Serge - 'Crisis and Transformation'

On Nov 1st, I'm holding an online dialogue with my good friend Serge Beddington-Behrens, including meditations and questions. It's at 7 pm UK time (or 2 pm EST). The session will be recorded if you can't make the actual time. The title is ‘Crisis and Transformation.' I've held a few of these dialogues with Serge over the past year or so and they are always a wonderful experience. That's Serge and I in the photo above. More details here

Beyond the Brain

On Nov 4^th, I’m pleased to be a keynote presenter at the 'Beyond the Brain' online conference. I'm addressing one of my favourite topics, the evolution of consciousness, and its relationship to spiritual awakening. More details here

New Articles

I’ve just published a new article on my Psychology Today blog, called ‘The Happiness of Not Thinking.’ You can read it here.

If you like, you can also read my previous blog on the similarities between psychedelic experiences and near-death experiences. I’m not a massive advocate of psychedelics, because I think it’s easy to become reliant on them, and there are more organic and effective ways of generating awakening experiences. Nevertheless, I think that psychedelics can have a role in ‘opening the door’ to a wider reality, and bringing a shift of perspective. But I like what Alan Watts said about them: ‘Once you get the message, hang up.’ That is, you don’t need to keep doing it! The article is here

Two New Poems

You Are Not Important

The thought that you’re important

is the source of your frustration

making you feel that you deserve more attention

that you should be treated with more respect.

The thought that you’re important

is the source of your exhaustion

making you feel that your role is crucial

that the world is watching and judging you

expecting you to achieve more and more.

The thought that you’re important

is the source of your depression

convincing you your problems are more important

than anyone else’s, even the world’s.

But how can you be important

when so many billions of beings share this planet you

each with their own center of consciousness

their own perspective, and their needs and rights?

How can you be important

when aeons of space and time stretch around you

through the endless darkness of the universe?

You are not important.

No one is watching the drama of your life.

The world barely registers your presence

and will barely notice your absence.

What is important is not you

but what moves through you -

the subtle energy that connects you to others

the deep force that drives your impulses

to love and grow and create

the quiet voice that speaks through you

with a wisdom beyond thought and mind

when you lose your sense of self

and forget your self-importance.

Take Care of Your Inner Being

Be sure to take care of your house.

Make sure it’s spacious and tidy.

Fill it with your favourite objects

so that you have a refuge from the world.

Be sure to take care of your body.

Be attentive to its needs

for rest and exercise and sustenance

so that your life will be long and fruitful.

Be sure to take care of your career.

Choose a role that suits your skills

that focuses and stimulates your mind

so that your life has purpose.

But above all, take care of your inner being.

Turn inside yourself, from time to time

to check that all is well

like a mother who checks on her sleeping child.

If your mind is turbulent, give it time to rest.

If your thoughts are busy, let them slow down.

If your emotions are trapped, let them express themselves.

If your soul feels wounded, give it time to heal.

Then the harmony of your deep being

will illuminate every space you occupy

pervade your body with rich vitality

and guide you surely through your life.

All best wishes and blessings, Steve

Calverley Building, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences
Leeds Beckett University
Leeds West Yorkshire LS1 3HE
UNITED KINGDOM

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