Soul Self Help
The History of This Website
Soul Self Help is the first website that A.J. Mahari put together online in April of 1995. It is a site that she wrote a lot of information for and assembled some other information for as well. For information that was contained in The Self Mastery Blog and Narcissism (NPD) Blog that were available on this site please check back for that information to be posted soon at A.J.'s Main Blog You can find her BPD Blog and check back here soon for her new Loved Ones of BPD Blog address (currently being moved).
As A.J. Mahari, herself reflects, "Finally, now, in 2009, this site has been re-designed and I have added to that re-design a new theme. The theme that this website uses as its base is a theme that has unfolded in a very rich and meaningful way in my own life in years since I first created this site with the theme of the transitional nature of change and the metaphor of the butterfly. This site's theme is now, "Perfect speed is just being there." which is my favourite line in Richard Bach's book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull".
The Purpose of This Website
Soul Self Help reflects my experience in my own life of actualizing a more consciousness awareness of and to healing, recovery, purpose, promise, and passion in ways that represent my authenticity and my overall spiritual and general life philosophy. A philosophy that has as its centre the belief that pain and adversity are not only challenges but that they are also wonderful growth opportunities.
This website features self help and self improvement information designed to assist you in the change you seek in your life. Designed also to inform you on various issues related to healing and recovery on the path toward personal growth and personal enlightenment. An on-going process of increasing your awareness to the unfolding moment in your life with a focus on how to be more fully present to each and every unfolding moment, one moment at a time, safe in the knowledge, emotional equanimity, and peace of knowing that through the practice of radical acceptance, "Perfect speed is just being there."
The Symbolism of The Seagull
The symbolism of the seagull in particular in various Native American Cultures includes a care-free attitude, versatility, and freedom.
In Celtic Mythology birds are used to represent prophetic knowledge and skill. When one combines the animal symbolism of a wide variety of cultures the bird, generally, is symbolic of communication, freedom, and sight along with the soul and transcendence. They are spirits of the air representing ascent - a rising upward movement.
The movement upward from a lower to a higher state, generally within the journey of life is, in my opinion, the ascent of the authentic self - the soul - as each one of us continues to mature, to grow, to evolve, and to seek authentic self improvement from and through which we seek to more fully be present to the here and now. The ascent that is this upward movement throughout the journey of life which may well not be limited to this world is profoundly illustrated by the journey of Bach's main character, Jonathan Livingston Seagull in his book of the same name. As Bach's character, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, continues to soar, to learn how to fly higher and faster, applying the lessons of his experience, an Elder tries to guide Jonathan with the wise words, "... perfect speed is just being there." It is an example of the importance of not only the journey and the reached for destination but also the importance of experiencing each moment of the journey. To that end, Bach's character is given the lesson that I think we can all benefit from applying to our own life philosophies of "Perfect speed is just being there."
I interpret the importance of "Perfect speed is just being there" to be a message about the reality that no matter what is going on in our lives at a given time the best way to meet any and all challenges or mistakes and stresses - which are truly growth opportunities - by just being present to them - just being there. Wherever or whatever there means or is representative of in your life right now.
Sometimes, in our lives, the there has to do with unresolved emotional pain that our unwillingness to face gives our power over to in ways that leave us stuck in patterns that block change and growth and self improvement. If we aren't consciously present to the the there moments of our lives "perfect speed" is rendered irrelvant because our choices are impeding our movement. Instead of having any movement to contend with we end up stuck. Stuck with aspects of our pasts colouring and in fact, often, re-creating past experience in our here and now in ways that rob us of the precious and sacred unfolding here and now moments of our lives. Moments that come to pass as all moments do. Moments that we cannot ever get back again.
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