Follow your ‘Heart’ Path
In The Craft of the Warrior, author Robert L. Spencer explores what it means to be a current-day warrior. I loved this book, and I read a lot, but Spencer does a beautiful job of weaving all the terrific teachings of don Juan through Carlos Castaneda into his original thoughts. The works of Castaneda form a cornerstone of the modern warrior myth. To date, Castaneda has written eight books about his experiences over more than two decades with a Yaqui Indian warrior and teacher, don Juan.
A key concept of don Juan’s teaching address a person’s path. He states eloquently, “For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse it’s full length. And there I travel, looking, looking, breathlessly.”
Are you on a path with heart? If we let our heart guide us would we have made the same decisions we made today? Am I accumulating personal power, impeccability and the warrior way ‘with heart’? I can be honest and say I’ve made many choices, particularly in my early days of management, where I followed a different path; self-absorption, self-promotion, greed, and otherwise ‘getting ahead’ in ways that were very successful, but perhaps not always with heart.
I’m taking up the challenge of ‘heart-making’ decisions (notice I didn’t say heart-breaking decisions) with awareness, responsibility, discipline, impeccability, and gratitude. Part of being ‘grateful’ is detaching yourself from tasks and material goods that aren’t necessary to carry along the path with you. They bog you down, weigh heavy on your heart, mind, body and spirit. Having gratitude is learning how to say ‘no’, to anything -so that you can say ‘yes’ to the things that matter, the things that should hold a warrior’s attention.
In The Teachings of don Juan – Castaneda asks, “So will you teach me?” “No”, replied don Juan. “Why, is it because I am not an Indian?” “No”, replied don Juan, it is because you don’t know your heart.” What is important is that you know exactly why you want to involve yourself – in anything you pursue; work, relationships, projects, and particularly your purpose.
Filed under: Uncategorized on August 16th, 2009
I have been brought to a place of a heart path – after rearing children and knowing they are well on their way and aren’t afraid to look people in the eye with confidence. A 31 year commitment of marriage ended and remains a difficult reflection.
But life goes on and I have a new path that will take me the rest of my life. I now live in a house that we are building (my sweetie and I). It is blasting snow on the windows and I am so grateful that we are not still in a tent! I sit comfortably by the wood/coal stove accessing the world outside thanks to the solar panels and the satellite dish that power this computer’s life. I am being taught so many things by the struggles and the steps to building a business. I know my mind is still adapting from the career life I gave myself to for 20 + years. I also know that all the experiences of my life have culminated in the path that I now follow. I would love to share with you the passion that I feel for being here. My nearest neighborhood was thriving 800 years ago, Sand Canyon Pueblo and all we need do is look on the ground to see their presence still. Thanks for being out there with such great reflective and thoughtful offerings on your blog! Happy Birthday to my forever friend who has grown so much since our 21st B Day!