Dr. Tom Garcia

Come to the fire

purpose

I Want To Hibernate

Awaken Together From A Long Winter

human hibernation syndrome

This has been a long winter. And I love winter—snow shoeing  through the woods, packing a sled in the bracing cold, and making fires at night.

Winter also comes with the urge to be in a cocoon, to turn inward like a bear in hibernation—or head south for the winter. 

The primitive desire to slow down goes back to the distant past when we followed the rhythms and cycles of nature. In the winter it was practical to lay low because food was scarce and physical movement burned precious calories.  

The orientation of our culture tends to ignore nature. 

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Gratitude: Being Complete with the Past

Gratitude Being Complete

Did you know????

“You can’t love your kids and worry about them at the same time…” 

The first time I heard that, I was thinking what you’re probably thinking right now… what do you mean I can’t love and worry about my kids at the same time? Doesn’t worrying about them mean I love them?

Of course you love your kids. Of course you worry about them. But love and worry, draw from two different energies. They are two different vibrations, two different frequencies. It’s like trying to listen to disco on a country radio station. It can’t be done because they’re on two different frequencies.


Gratitude and Worry

Worry is focusing on what you don’t want to have happen. It’s setting a negative intention. 

So, as our kids were growing up, I re-trained myself. Rather than say, “Be careful!” I’d say, “Have fun. Be safe. Call your dad.” In this way, I oriented them to a different focus: one that communicated trust instead of worry.

The same is true of gratitude. You can’t be grateful and worried, or grateful and upset at the same time. They’re different vibrations, different frequencies. The universe knows the difference and doesn’t respond to words alone, it responds to your vibration.

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Deepen and Strengthen Your Connection

When we lose someone close to us, we have an opportunity to reexamine our beliefs, ideas, and constructs around death–and life. Our approach to death says something about our  approach to life.

Death gives us an opportunity to look deeply into life, to question what we value, and what we need to let go of to live fully. 

There are several questions that come alive at the fire:

Who are you? Do you know who you are?

Why are you here–for what purpose?

Who sent you? Do you know–really know–Who sent you?

Why Am I Here on Earth?

Deepen and Strengthen Your Connection

At this point in my life, I’ve lost both parents, aunts and uncles, several cousins, and many dear friends. Each passing gives me pause to consider my own existence–always a sobering self assessment.

In the fall many years ago, I made a fire and stayed out all night after a close friend had passed away. Everything I believed about life and death had been turned upside down and my life felt like it was unraveling. I was experiencing a sense of profound loss and something else–a burning desire. 

Beside the fire I stood cold and alone with hot tears in my eyes. 

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The Power of Deep Gratitude

Years ago I had an experience in the woods, an encounter with nature. It was late and the fire was burning low. I casually stuck my poker stick into the fire to stir the embers. Without warning the fire erupted and flames whooshed straight at me. In one swift motion I was on my feet moving away from the fire, which was suddenly burning fiercely as though it had a hidden source of oxygen.  

As I paced back and forth, eyeing the fire warily, I heard these words:

“I see you. You walk my land, take my trees, drink my water, breathe my air.
‘Thank You‘ will do.
Sage, sweetgrass, and tobacco, these are my currency–make your offerings. Your prayers, these are my language–speak aloud your prayers.”

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