Steve Taylor's August Newsletter
|
Dear
I hope you are well. I recently got back from a holiday in the far north-east of Scotland - one of the most idyllic parts of the British Isles. After months of lockdown, it felt so rejuvenating to go away. Northern Scotland is so unpopulated that it feels like you’re in the middle of a giant forest, with tiny spots of human habitation scattered here and there. There are a lot of wide, fast-flowing rivers too, and beautiful lakes (or lochs, as they are called in Scotland). One day we had the wonderful experience of swimming in a lake called Loch Morlich, which is surrounded by spectacular hills and forests. We also went to an amazing place called Roseisle, where there is a beach on the other side of a pine forest, and the beach was full of mist in the sunlight. I swam in the sea and thought I was in heaven - and I
was! Who needs heaven when the world itself is a paradise?
We were quite close to the Findhorn Foundation, which is one of the most famous spiritual communities in the world. So of course we paid a visit to Findhorn. I went there once before, when I was 25. That was not long after I had discovered the world of spirituality and was busy
exploring many authors and practices and paths. Back then Findhorn seemed like an amazing place and I felt envious of the people who lived there. I thought they had something that I didn’t, and that they must all be undergoing major spiritual development. So it was interesting that this time my reactions were different. It’s a beautiful place with a serene atmosphere, but I didn’t feel envious. I talked to a few residents and saw them as normal people who were trying to improve
themselves and the world. The difference now is that I see spiritual development as an inner journey which does not have much to do with your external environment. Obviously some environments are more amenable to spiritual development (such as monasteries), but the wonderful thing about
spirituality is that it is essentially independent of external conditions. It doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing, you can always cultivate and maintain inner stillness and serenity.
The Clear Light
As you may know Eckhart Tolle is publishing my new book of poetic writings through his 'Eckhart Tolle Editions' imprint. Eckhart has written a foreword for the book too. He he has also given us a wonderful quote for the book 's back cover: "Steve Taylor’s The Clear Light is not only a book of inspiring
spiritual and poetic reflections, but also a powerful and invaluable guide to the realization of who or what you are beyond the conditioned mind. If you read it slowly, attentively and repeatedly, it can take you beyond identification with the content of your mind and into the clear light of present moment awareness." Thanks Eckhart!
I’ve just received the full wraparound cover the book. It looks good, I think!
The book is published at the end of September in the US (slightly later in the UK).
In the US you can order it here. In the UK, you can order it here
New Articles
Since last month I’ve had a few articles published. One article is about ‘spiritual depression’ – a form of depression which isn't widely known. It arises when we lose touch with our spiritual sensibility, or repress spiritual experiences because we don't understand them. You can read it here
My new article from The Conversation, making a case that human beings aren''t intrinsically selfish, but naturally altruistic and egalitarian. We are good! (At least the great majority of us.) You can read it here
Finally, not an article but a poem. My poem ‘The Human Race will Rise Again’ was given a beautiful treatment here
Gateways of the Soul
by Serge Beddington-Behrens
My friend Serge Beddington-Behrens has just published a wonderful book called 'Gateways to the Soul,' which I heartily recommend. I've known Serge for five years now, since we happened to be sharing a dormitory at a conference in Italy, and love spending time with his wise and compassionate soul. I had the great pleasure of writing the foreword to the book, in which I write: "Serge has done us a great service in sharing so many of the gateways of transformation that he has developed over the years. In this book, you can feel his loving soul connecting with yours. This book is itself an example of the
‘ensoulment’ that our world so desperately requires." (Coincidentally, the book is published by the Findhorn Press, where I was two weeks ago!)
New Poem
Let me finish with a new poem. I’ve often felt that there's a 'world of pettiness' which I don't want to get involved in - a world of ego battles and struggles where people argue about trivial things and get offended and feel resentful and retaliate, and so on. I’ve always felt that there is much better way to live, and a much better way to treat other human beings
and yourself. So I’ve always tried never to fall out with anyone, never to argue about trivial things, and always to treat other people with respect even if they try to play ego games with me. Here's a poem I've written about it:
The World of Pettiness
Keep outside the world of pettiness, if you can.
If you step into the world of pettiness
you may never get out again.
The world of pettiness is like a soap opera
where people act out endless episodes
of falling out and reconciling
of resenting and retaliating
of comparing and competing
with their minds full of judgement and prejudice.
In the world of pettiness
life is a tournament, and every day is a game
where people show off their skills
and compete for each other’s respect.
They’re always ready to take offence and to take revenge
if they feel slighted or devalued.
The world of pettiness may even seem exciting
full of drama and stimulation
like the center of a city at rush hour.
But if you step inside the world of pettiness
you’ll lose yourself in the noise and stress.
You’ll lose touch with your essence
and lose sight of your purpose.
So live quietly and simply, away from the crazy city.
Be still and self-sufficient
so that your ego doesn’t hanker for attention
or feel wounded by disrespect
Keep your mind above the madness around you.
Let other people think you’re aloof.
Let them hate you if they will.
But only give them love in return.
All best wishes and blessings, Steve
All best wishes and blessings
Steve
|
|
