STILLNESS & STABILITY Medicines from With-In
by Michael Vasquez

My greatest interest in this life is to continue to understand what connects us and what separates us, from a personal experiential perspective, from my observation of my outside world and from my inter-personal relations. I also study history, how and why it repeats itself, Cultural Traditions and Lineages of Higher Learning, all in hopes of a deeper understanding of the Human condition and our many expressions of it.

Both historically and in contemporary times, traditions and lineages seem to recognize that we tend to over-look the tools, gifts and qualities we were given at birth (pre-birth intelligence), in favor of, , the teachings, activities and distractions of our post-birth experience. In other words, what is happening outside of us is not understood as to how it relates to our inside feelings and reflections. Perhaps one of the greatest mis-conceptions of Human experience...It has always been known that to see ourselves, it is necessary to have that Inner connection to what we feel, the ability to reflect inwardly and measure what we feel, with what is happening...as the MOST accurate measure that is beyond thinking and thought. Injury and interruption to this inside/outside relationship is often not acknowledged and the process itself is, in most cases, blocked.

To balance our mind/body/spirit and our perceptions on the inside with our understanding of what is going on outside of us at any given moment, takes a certain type of skill that is like a light being turned on in a dark room. Very simply, Stillness provides reflection, provides calm, provides clarity and allows a deeper relationship with:

• connection to dis-connected parts of ourselves
• alignment where confusion/distraction cause separation
• balance returned, where imbalance has reigned
• over-all stability that can adapt to challenges