The Law of Giving and Receiving

“The universe operates through dynamic exchange…giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe”

Deepak Chopra

What the bird with the human head knew:

by Anne Sexton

I went to the bird

with the human head.

and asked,

Please Sir,

where is God?

God is too busy

to be here on earth,

His angels are like one thousand geese assembled

and always flapping.

But I can tell you where the well of God is.

Is it on earth?

I asked.

He replied,

Yes. It was dragged down

from paradise by one of the geese.

I walked many days.

past witches that eat grandmothers knitting booties

as if they were collecting a debt.

Then, in the middle of the desert

I found the well

it bubbled up and down like a litter of cats

and there was water,

and I drank,

and there was water,

and I drank.

Then the well spoke to me.

It said:

Abundance is scooped form abundance,

yet abundance remains.

Then I knew.

How do you see your life? Is your glass half – empty or half – full?

Getting ready for this class turned out to be unexpectedly challenging. Inevitably, the Law of Giving and Receiving  touches on  the topics of wealth, abundance and money. Things were about to turn interesting.

First, the words wouldn’t come.  Finally when they appeared, I couldn’t string them together into a somewhat coherent sentences – like  a  torn string of pearls, the elusive bead-words rolled away in every direction. I went for a walk instead….

Of course, like the wise always say – in every challenge there’s a seed of opportunity and so I went on examining my own believes about giving, receiving and the abundance.

I grew up in the Soviet Russia. I am sure many people here in the west have heard a lot of different and scary things about our life behind the iron curtain. But truly, it wasn’t so bad. We got up in the morning, had breakfast, went to work or school, had supper once we came back home, watched TV or read books and then went to sleep. Sound familiar, doesn’t it?

And then there were parts of our lives that might seem completely wild, almost incomprehensible to you.  Shortages… – be it food, blue jeans or something else – there were shortages. We went through bouts of no sugar ( none at all in the stores!), eggs, butter, detergent, matches etc. some times for a few days, sometimes for a few months, and sometimes for years. I know it is hard to imagine – but remember, this once was an everyday norm for Russian people, nothing really unusual.

Of course, where there are shortages there are people with access to coveted goods.

And so it went – person’s value in the society wasn’t determined by anything else but his or hers ability to get those items. Everybody wanted to have this person as a friend, at the same time secretly resenting them for being “better”.

Fiddle – di – di, you would say, what does it matter? What does this have to do with my life?

Here is the scoop: getting up close and personal with the notions and believes I’ve formed as a child  feels like  holding a mirror up to some of my current behaviors and habits….Hmmm, didn’t see that coming!

Material model of the universe is bound to create and reinforce this poverty thinking – the idea that there’s not enough to go around – things, money, time,… staff. And on the flip side, if you possess that which is coveted – wealth, new car, vacation home – then you are better then your neighbor…Start digging deeper and your self-image, your Ego might get a little threatened. No wander I was a little flustered!

So what did we do in the class?  Unlike the Law of Pure Potentiality, this class turned completely experiential. We took time to feel  the Law of Giving and Receiving -  in our breath, in our hands, in some yoga postures. We talked about the importance of intention. When we give  more out of obligation or guilt, rather then  genuine desire to create happiness, we end up feeling resentful or exhausted ( just think back to Christmas)

Here are the ways to practice the Law of Giving and Receiving every day:

Whoever I encounter today I will offer a gift – a flower, a thought, a prayer.

Today, I will gratefully receive all the gifts offered to me – birds’ song, kind words or material gifts.

I will make a commitment to circulate most important gifts in my life – gifts of time, caring, love and attention.

This Law is alive in your Heart Chakra and the mantra for this law is:

Om Vardhanam Namah – I am the nourisher of the Universe and the Universe nourishes me.

Namaste!