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Connecting with the Divine—August 2008

by Arleen Hannich | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles

Getting Started With connecting with the divine: Your Relationship With the Divine

Hi everyone, welcome to this column on connecting with the Divine. My name is Arleen, and I’m excited to explore this topic with you. I hope you’ll participate with me and share your comments and questions.

To get the ball rolling, I’d like to share a story with you. I call it “Are you a Baby Monkey or a Kitten?” I’m not sure of its original source, but I heard it from one of the Guides at the Oneness University in India. Though simple, this story made quite an impression on me, and I believe it sets the stage perfectly for our future discussions. The story went something like this…

There are two kinds of relationships with the Divine.

One is to rely on the Divine during an hour of need. Picture you clutching on to the Divine--holding on for dear life! This is the baby monkey relationship. A baby monkey holds onto its mom. The mom pays no mind to the baby as she is jumping from tree to tree. If the baby lets go of the mom, the baby falls, because the mom cannot hold the baby safe. If your relationship with the Divine is in the baby monkey category, you believe: "It's my responsibility to hold on." "I have to connect."
In the second type of relationship, you don't approach the Divine only when there is a necessity. Instead, you see the Divine is constantly with you. If you feel this way, you are in the kitten category. The mother cat holds her kitten and protects it. The cat's first attention is on her kitten. The kitten innately trusts its mother to keep it safe. When you have this relationship with the Divine, you live in gratitude and adoration and know that you are carried. You do what you need to do, and you know you have the support of the Divine without asking for it.

It is common for us to have each of these relationships with the Divine at different times in our lives. When you have the second relationship--that of the kitten--miracles become common in your life. You are an empty basket waiting for gifts from the Divine.

If you feel more like a baby monkey than a kitten today, don’t worry. As you grow on your Spiritual path, it is natural to feel more and more like a kitten. Here is the most important thing to remember: Whatever relationship you have with the Divine doesn't matter. It just matters that you have a relationship with the Divine!

Often the distance between where you are and where you want to be seems huge, and that can be discouraging. I’m here to remind you (as the Divine reminds me) that you are not as far from the Divine as you may believe. Even though you may feel separate from the Divine, you are not. The challenge for you is not in connecting with the Divine; the opportunity is to re-discover your connection, to experience it every day--a much easier process than creating a new connection!

What is your relationship with the Divine today? Of course, this relationship changes all the time, but knowing “generally” where you are right now is helpful information.

Below are some fun and easy activities to help you get started answering this question. If you’re feeling courageous (and I hope you are), I recommend you choose the activity that feels least comfortable for you. Trust me--it will be worth it!

For an even more incredible experience, I invite you to ask the “child-you” (that is still very much alive within you) to participate as well. When I asked “Little Arleen” how she feels about God, her list was different from “mine” and included anger, disappointment, and feelings of betrayal. All very important to see and acknowledge.

If you can do more than one of the below activities, that’s even better. You’ll find that with each one, you’ll uncover different aspects. For instance, writing a list highlighted a lot of the polarities I have in my relationship with the Divine. I feel moments of glory and awe and also hours of doubt. Drawing a picture showed how distant I still feel from the Divine at times, while moving my body helped me see how much I still feel the need to protect myself from the Divine at times.

To begin an activity, inhale deeply, hold for a few moments, and then slowly release your breath. Continue these deep cleansing breaths until your body, mind, and spirit are feeling more relaxed, settled, and connected. When you feel a sense of calmness, begin to breathe normally and comfortably. Reflect on a few things in your life today that you are truly grateful for. Just take a few moments to allow yourself to be submerged in this gratitude. Then, when you’re feeling ready, proceed with one or more of the below activities.

To end your session, take a few minutes to offer gratitude to yourself, “Little You”, and the Divine. Then journal on your experience.

Activity 1
Write down six or more words/phrases that describe your relationship with the Divine today. Then, since intention is so important in our lives, invite the Divine to help you write down six or more words/phrases that describe the relationship you will have with the Divine a few months from now.

Activity 2
Draw/color (crayons, any kind of paint including finger-painting, colored pencils, markers, whatever!) a picture that describes your relationship with the Divine today. Later, repeat the preparation process and with the Divine’s help, draw another picture that shows the relationship you will have a few months from now.

Activity 3
Move your body in a way that reflects your current relationship with the Divine. You may find yourself in one posture, or you may find yourself doing several movements. Afterwards, take a few moments to center yourself, and ask the Divine to help you move your body in a way that reflects your upcoming relationship with the Divine.

Activity 4
Listen to your Inner Guidance. What activity does it recommend? Possibilities include toning, singing, sculpting, making collages, drawing mandalas, choosing plants or animals and writing your own story, etc.

I hope the above activities inspire and encourage you. Please feel free to share your experiences with me--I would love to hear from you!

Thank you for joining me today. My invitation to you throughout this month is to enliven your relationship with the Divine. If you are feeling angry with the Divine, feel and communicate your anger. If you are feeling joy, show your joy. Remember, the most important thing is that you have a relationship with the Divine. It does not matter what that relationship looks like!

by Arleen Hannich | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles